Chapter 15

MELODY

Tremors gothrough me as he sucks on my nipple, his fingers moving slower and slower until they stop, only his thumb still gently stroking my clit. This is probably one of the most intense,longestorgasms I've ever had, my chest still heaving and wet arousal trickling down his fingers when a quiet hum surges through the house, the lights come on, and a voice rings outside.

"The power is back," Olivia says as ifshe'sstanding by the door.

Spooked, I step back, his hand falling from between my legs, my skirt sliding awkwardly over my thighs.

It's all crumpled, but my first thought is to tuck my breasts back into my bra.

"The door…" I murmur, and he rises to his feet. "It's unlocked," I add in a shaky voice.

What was I thinking?

"It's all right," he says, heading that way.

He steps outside and talks to Olivia.

At least it doesn't look like he just finger fucked me.

I want to laugh and cry at the same time.

"What the hell was that?" I murmur to myself, desperately running my hands over my dress to smooth out the fabric.

The lights in the room barely add a bit of glow.

Still panting, I look around the room.

What now?

My eyes stall on the bed as Itry toimagine us doing a repeat. Somehow, things no longer make sensein my head, but I'm not ready to see him go just yet.

Besides, it's still raining.

He says good night to our hostess and returns to the room. His eyes come to mine first, and I like how he wants tomake sureI'm all right.

He searches my eyes while I study his face.

A lot of the things defining people can be picked up on at a glance, and that's certainly true in his case.

There's confidence and determination even inthe wayhe talkswhilehis eyes speak of perspicacity, an innate capability of reading people, and the kind of great intelligence that goes beyond the stuff in books.

"I'm leaving," he says, taking me by surprise.

My first instinct is to open my mouth and ask him to stay.Tellhim there is no problem and there's room for both of us.

I evenpartmy lips to voice my proposal but quicklypushthe words back.

He flashes a smile when he sees me struggle.

"I'll see you in New York," he says nonchalantly, collecting his jacket. "And no more boyfriends," he adds humorously, although his warning isserious.

Without putting his jacket on, he pivots to me.

My bottom lip is rolled tight under my teeth as I try to keep my mouth shut and not say what I really want to say.

He snakes an arm around my waist, gives me a sultry smile, and murmurs against my cheek.

"Be good, Melody Hill. I'll be watching you," he says, the smile woven in his voicenotremoving the seriousness behind his words.

He leaves a kiss on my cheek and smoothly tears away from me while a kernel of disappointment blossoms in my chest.

The door closes behind him, and I still stare at it while his steps trail down the stairs.

He greets someone downstairs before the door opens and closes, and his car comes to life as he revs up the engine.

He took all the warmth in the room with him.

The window is still open but I don't want togo there and close itandthensee him vanish into the woods.

Even so, his car"s headlights cast a glow over the windows before he backs away, turns his ride around, and moves down the road, heading south.

"Interesting night…" I murmur, still torn and unfinished in some way.

He did what he'd promised me to do, and then he left. I could've asked him to stay.

I'm not so sure he would've done it, though.

Grappling with disappointment, I reach back and unzip my dress, take off my shoes, and remove my clothes, tights, and underwear.

Naked, I walk into the bathroom.

From a hanger, I pick up a satin robethat comes withthe honeymoon suite and drop it on the edge of the sink before turning the water on and going back to the room to bring the champagne and chocolate-dipped strawberries.

Minutes later, I slide into the bathtub, a glass of champagne and fruit coated in dark chocolate on the porcelain edge next to me.

As moments pass, the warm water does its magic.

I relax, enjoying the afterglow with my eyes closed, my body satisfied with the treat it's gotten tonight.

My brain alight.

"You can never have everything…" I murmur, my mind playing the sequence of events that unfolded tonight.

Sometimes, you need to get what you want whenever you can with whomever you can.

Jax London.

Grinning, I bring my drink to my lips.

He has no place in my life, and his threats have only turned me on, yet I can't stop thinking about him.

But I need to be extra careful with him.

Extra. Careful. Baby.

I laugh and drink more champagne before sinking my teeth into a strawberry.

It's hard to describe what happens next.

I think I get too focused on reviewing the sexy snippets lodged in my memory, or maybe the water floods my ears, and I can't hear properly for a second.

Or maybe more.

The house is silent.

The wind died down.

Things seem all right, and I get carried away, reliving the pleasurable moments of this evening when heavy steps echo outside the bathroom entrance.

"Melody?"

His voice has the effect of a hammer.

I remove my hand from between my legs, pushing upright and pivoting at the same time, a scream on my lips.

The water sloshes over while I fightmy wayto the nearest towel before I give up on the idea and rise to my feet, covered in suds.

He looks at me from the entryway, unable to take his eyes off me, a slow smile tilting his lips.

"Were you waiting for me?" he tosses at me, dipping his gaze,for sureknowing what I was doing in the bathtub.

"What makes you say that?" I ask, stepping out of the bathtub and looking for my slippers… that are still in my suitcase.

I'm looking for the ones that come with the satin robe, but I can't find them because I can't focus.

"If you think I was masturbating because of you, you're wrong. I wasn't thinking about you," I say, irritated that I can't find my way around the bathroom, while he folds his arms over his chest and leans against the doorframe.

"Next time, lock the door," he says. "I didn't mean to scare you."

I finally find the satin robe and embroidered slippers.

I feel silly for using what was meant for other people, but it is what it is,

The silky fabric soaks up the water as the foamstillclings to my body.

I completely forgot to pat myself dry.

Heading to the other room, I slide my feet across the bathroom floor and wrestle with the fabric belt when he uncrosses his arms, catches me, and brings me to him.

One arm loops around my waist while his fingers slide inside my robe.

Dragging his fingers down, he opens my robe.

He looks down. And I look downtoo. Intrigued.

Slowly, he runs his fingers south, removing the rest of the foam while following the planes of my body.

His fingers no longer clean me up. They just stroke me quietly in awe as my skin responds with goosebumps.

I lift my gaze and peer at him, fascinated.

"You're so fine, baby…" he murmurs, and for the first time in a long while, or maybe ever, I have this distinct feeling that this man genuinely likes me.

He's either a great actor or truthfully ensnared by me.

Either way, I won't find the answer tonight, so I stop his hand from making trips down my stomach, knowing exactly where it's headed.

"Why are you back?" I ask, not irate butratherhopeful.

His eyes smile first while he splays his hand over my lower abdomen and gently touches my slit.

"I forgot my lighter and cigarettes."

He tilts his head toward the other room, and I remember him placing them near the window.

"I didn't hear your car."

"It's half a mile down the road. I came back on foot."

My eyes go to his hair.

"It's no longer raining?" I murmur.

He confirms with a tilt of his head.

"It's still windy, though."

"Why on foot?" I ask while he lowers his eyes and strokes my slit again.

"I wanted to get some fresh air and think about things."

"What things?"

That hopeful voice rolls off my lips again.

He brings his gaze to me, his fingers moving deeper, parting my folds.

"You weren't thinking about sex, were you?" I say, smiling while the first flicker of pleasure rises from his touch before pacing through my veins.

He clicks his tongue.

"No."

My silence makes him smile.

"But you were… " he says, tilting his chin toward the bathtub.

"I wasn't," I say with a pitiful lack of convictionin my voice.

"Why do you deny yourself these things?" he asks after a moment.

I suck in a long quiet breath.

"Because they are only things."

He seems unsatisfied with my answer.

"And then, these things can hurt," I say.

"How?" he asks, genuinely curious.

It's too long an explanation, and I have no intention of discussing it with him right now.

Everything has the potential to do harm. Even having fun. Especially having fun.

There's always a price to pay.

I gesture dismissively asin ‘I don't want to talk about this now' and start moving toward the other room.

But I'm going against his hand, and he stops me from pulling away.

"What about this…?" he says softly, pulling me into him.

My hands rest on his chest.

"What about lying on the bed in the other room and talking for a little while? You drink champagne and eat strawberries, and then I finger fuck you again before I leave?"

His lips barely tilt into a smile.

"What say you?" he murmurs.

The idea of experiencing earth-shattering pleasure again wins me over more than drinking champagne or eating strawberries.

"Good," he says before I get the chance to answer.

With that,he scoops me up and carries me to the matrimonial bed.