Melanie felt her anxiety levels rising as Martin closed out the Addicts Anonymous meeting. She knew she had seen Andy come in just before they started. It had been almost a month since she’d seen him, and she could tell he looked worse for the wear. She hated to admit to herself that she was looking at him, that she even still cared. He had put her through a lot of misery, and she wasn’t quite sure she should feel anything good towards a man like that anymore.
So much had happened to her since the last time she saw Andy. She was sober, for one, but just barely. She had continued to drink for a couple of weeks after she began to attend two AA meetings a week with Martin. Her life had become nothing but improving herself at work and AA meeting with Martin. But somehow it turned out to be the healthiest thing for her.
She had finally woke up one morning without counting the weeks, the days, the hours her and Andy had been apart. She didn’t need to down a whole bottle of alcohol to forget that she ever had feelings for him and that he ripped her heart in two. It still hurt, but it was more like a scab was beginning to form, but she knew he could easily rip it off.
Caleb and Irene had been good about checking in on her and thinking of activities that didn’t involve alcohol, though Irene had been mysteriously absent over the last week and a half. Caleb had been at Melanie’s house many times over the past week because of it, complaining about being bored and lonely. She hated to admit that it comforted her that she wasn’t the only one that was feeling that way.
Melanie had started to feel, though, that she was on the verge of something, something healthy. She hadn’t gotten sober for someone other than herself. She was beginning to stand on her own, and somehow she saw that in a way, her weakness and addiction to Andy might have been part of the problem in their relationship. Maybe she could have a new and healthy relationship with someone soon. It could be Andy, but it could be someone else too. Her contentment was what she’d been enjoying most over the last couple of months alone, learning to be alright with herself.
Melanie took a deep breath knowing that the world she was slowly building back up for herself was about to change for better or worse.
She felt a familiar pang in her heart as she turned around to leave and saw him hanging around the door. Her mind went back to thoughts of addiction. Could she really afford to trade one for a living and breathing other? But she knew she had to talk to him at some point. If he were to ever recover he was going to have to make amends anyway, and she wasn’t the type to stand in someone’s way and watch them suffer like that.
She took a deep breath and began to stride forward, her head held high. She was going for confidence and general concern, trying not to give away any more than platonic signals. Luckily, Martin had beat her to him first. It made her feel more comfortable approaching.
“Oh, hi, Melanie, I guess you noticed Andy had returned. Well, I bet the two of you have a lot to talk about, so I’ll leave you to it.” Martin smiled and walked off, leaving Melanie blushing and feeling awkward. Martin had basically set them up to be alone like they still had feelings for each other, could still be a couple. She felt like her cover was just totally blown.
She looked to Andy and saw that he looked even worse up close. He looked much thinner than she remembered, and there were dark circles around his eyes. He looked more like he was going to a Halloween party than an AA meeting or a motorcycle club.
“Hi,” she said slowly, trying to let him lead the conversation. She couldn’t handle it.
“Hi, Melanie, can we take a walk?”
It would be a weird question for a first exchange between two people. It didn’t make a whole lot of sense, but somehow Melanie knew it was the right thing to do. Martin was right, they did have things they had to talk about if only to clear the air.
So, she nodded and let him lead her outside. She eyeballed his bike which was parked right outside. The familiarity was comforting and yet strange at the same time. She didn’t know if it was okay to have memories on that bike, too long to be on it with him again. She was glad as they skipped over the parking lot and headed across the street to the park. The lamps were all on, lighting it up like a football field on a Friday night, and the grass was perfectly green even in the moonlight.
“So, how have you been?” She felt silly asking the question, knowing the answer couldn’t be good, but what else was she supposed to say?
She watched Andy shove his hands in his pockets uncomfortably. “I’ve been better, to be honest,” he chuckled. “Can I be honest with you, actually?” Melanie could feel something coming, something she knew better than to feel excited about. But her heart still had Andy’s name on it. There was nothing she could do about it.
“Things have been pretty bad since you left. I’d like to spare you the gory details because they just aren’t something I’m proud of or that you need to torture yourself with. I have been trying to rearrange my schedule to get back here, get back on track.”
“And how is that going?” Melanie was honestly curious, searching for a way in, a reason to forgive him.
“Well, I feel like shit.” They both laughed knowing full well how true it was. “But I haven’t done blow in about a week now. I know it doesn’t sound like a long time, but for me I think it is.” Melanie nodded at that. She respected his plight.
Without thinking she reached out and grabbed his hand. It was meant to be a gesture of comfort, of understanding, but it was so much more than that. She felt that same tension she’d felt that first night when they met. It seemed life was circling back again.
The stars danced in his eyes as an unsure smile played upon his lips. She didn’t want to let go, so she started walking, pulling him along beside her. They stayed silent for a bit with their fingers intertwined before Melanie felt like she was going to burst open at the seams. No matter how risky it was, she had to let him know before it was too late. “I love you,” she announced, a bit too loudly, making Andy stop dead in his tracks.
He abandoned her hand to wrap his strong arms around her. At least some things hadn’t changed. He still felt like Andy. “Would you like to come home, babe?” She was expecting to hear his profession of love, but the way he asked the question, the way he said “home,” sounded like that’s what he meant. He was implying that she belonged with him. It was like music to her ears.
They raced to their vehicles like little children, causing cars to honk as they cut across the street. Andy got to his bike first and took off with Melanie driving her car close behind.
***
Melanie took Andy in with her eyes and saw the beauty in the broken man. The way he looked at her was enough to melt her skin off, and that alone made her want him.
They were lying in bed, and she had taken Andy’s shirt off which quickly turned into his pants and boxers as well. Now he sprawled before her as she searched for what remained of his god-like stature. He still had his muscle tone even though he was significantly skinnier. She made a note to cook him something good to eat to help him put some weight back on as she traced the outline of his six-pack with her finger. She felt his body shiver under her touch and she felt all-powerful. He was letting her decide how far they were going to go. He had told her he was just happy to be with her, the one he loved.
She thought being in love and knowing that the person loved you back must be a lot like being high. It was such an amazing feeling mixed with vulnerability and invincibility at the same time.
She planted a kiss on an unsuspecting dimple, but then went back for more. She let her tongue slip into his mouth and passionately kissed him while draping her leg over him. She pulled him in closer to her, her jeans pressing up against his bare skin. Suddenly, she felt strange being dressed when he wasn’t.
She pulled away from him and stood up so that he could watch her strip her clothes off and throw them in the floor. Melanie could see his mouth curving up into a smile in the dark room as she got down to her bra and panties before taking those off too.
She slid back into the bed, their naked bodies pressed together. They took each other’s hands as Melanie pulled Andy on top of her. His body hovered over hers, making her contemplate all the possibilities to come. “I love you,” he whispered to her, making her smile the biggest smile she’d had in years. It was the perfect moment. They were Andy and Melanie again.
She pulled him into another deep kiss, letting go of his hands. Both of them let their hands explore each other’s bodies, searing her skin wherever his hand landed. Their breaths were coming hot and fast as they felt the lust filling up the room. Melanie longed to feel him inside of her again. It felt like it had been years.
Melanie brought her knees up, spreading her legs in the process. Her center was dripping wet at the thought of being with Andy again. Andy got the message and increased the passion of the kiss as he slid inside of her.
Melanie moaned into his kisses as she felt his hard cock enter her. She wanted him to stay there forever sending pleasurable sensations shooting through her whole body. Sex with Andy was the best kind of addiction to have. It couldn’t possibly be bad.
Melanie reached out to the side, balling up the sheets in her hands as Andy shoved himself deeper and deeper into her, banging her as hard as he could. She felt his lips move off hers and travel down her collar bone then down her neck until he reached her chest, nibbling along the way.
Then, he bit down on her nipple, causing her to call out and reach up with one hand to grab his curly locks. She tugged on it, mixing the intense pleasure with pain as his body slammed into her in rhythm. The sheets began to tangle as they called out to each other, teeth gnashing and claws scratching as he slammed into her pussy so hard it made the headboard slam against the wall over and over. If Andy had neighbors, they were hearing the soundtrack of a lifetime.
Melanie began to feel her pussy tighten around Andy’s cock and knew she was close to climaxing. She begged him not to stop as her whole body shook to the feeling of his cock banging into her G-spot. As she screamed, it sounded primal, and her center began to pulse, hugging his shaft off and on, coaxing him to finish inside of her.
Andy collapsed to the side, their sweaty bodies still tangled up together as they panted staring into the darkness. Melanie managed to find Andy’s hand to hold and gave it a squeeze. It was all the strength she could muster at that moment. “Melanie, I am so sorry for how I acted. I don’t have an excuse or a good reason at all. If you forgive me, I promise I will never hide anything from you again. If I feel even the tiniest bit of an urge to go buy fucking blow again, you’ll be the first person I turn to. I want us to share everything.”
Melanie closed her eyes as she listened to Andy’s beautiful apology. Even though it wasn’t necessary, it was the best thing in the world for her to hear. She waited a moment to respond, feeling his chest rise and fall and his heart beat in the sweet silence. “You’re already forgiven, Andy, because I love you. But, please, do come to me. You can always come to me. And I promise to do the same, Andy, because I love you.”
Now that it was out she couldn’t stop saying it. Those three words seemed to fill a hole she never knew was there. She turned her head and planted a kiss on the top of Andy’s chest before settling her head down into him. She began to drift off, feeling happier than she remembered ever being in adulthood.
Andy breathed a sigh of relief as he walked into his apartment and collapsed onto the bed. He had just made it back from Texas where he’d had his court hearing and sentencing. He had to pay a fine as well as the court fees, but that was a small price knowing how it could have turned out. He was so glad to move on from that chapter and into the next.
He heard the shower turn off, signaling that Melanie would be out soon. He was too wired to go to sleep, and he wanted to see her before she had to leave for work, so he went into the kitchen to see what he could find to cook up for breakfast.
Melanie sauntered into the kitchen with a curious look on her face as he began pulling peppers, sausage, and eggs out of the refrigerator. With one swift move he yanked the towel off her wet body, leaving her standing there exposed.
She slapped him on the shoulder playfully and opened her mouth in mock horror. “Andy, I’m cold. I need my towel, c’mon.” He could tell she was trying not to laugh as he set all the ingredients down on the counter and pulled her into him. He planted a kiss on her lips.
“I can keep you warm, babe. No need for a towel. He wiggled his eyebrows making her break out in laughter and shake her head at him.
“I’ll see you at the breakfast table,” she announced, turning around and walking out of the room. Andy watched her bare ass wiggling on her way to the bedroom and whistled like a guy at a construction site. Things had gotten back to normal with the two of them very quickly, and for that he was glad.
He started throwing things into the skillet, trying to make a big omelet for Melanie. He was always trying to impress her with what he could whip together on a whim. This time was no exception. He worried himself over the eggs and sausage as if he were a chef at a five star restaurant. Andy smiled to himself remembering a time when Melanie told him he was cute when he was in the zone like that. She was always building up his ego like that. He didn’t know how he’d survived any amount of time without her.
It’s why he had backed off on runs a little bit, trusting Frank, his right hand man, to take on a few of them. He wanted to spend more time with Melanie and show her how dedicated he was to staying sober and staying with her. They were both coming up on a whole month of sobriety and were going to celebrate with a dinner and then speaking at AA about their struggle. As much as Andy hated speaking, he was going to do it with her and maybe save a few people like him in the process.
Melanie came into the room wearing her work clothes; a white top tucked into a black pencil skirt and a pair of black heels. He turned to get the full view of her walking to the dining room table. It made him think of a fantasy he had when he was a boy of sleeping with a teacher. She totally looked like a naughty teacher out of a porn film. He smiled to himself thinking about getting his hands on her.
Andy turned around and flipped the omelet over before walking up behind her, breathing down her neck. “What are you going to teach me today, miss?” He tried to sound as serious and sultry as possible. He saw her shiver in her chair as she turned her head to look at him. She was clearly holding back a smile. Andy walked away to grab her omelet and put it on a plate and bring it back to her. Then, he got back in the same position he was in before, standing over her shoulder. This time he gave her ear a tiny lick.
Then, as she tried to resist, he pulled out her chair and got down on his knees in front of her. He gave a mischievous smile before running his hand up her leg and thigh, landing just on the outside of her panties. He could feel that she was already getting wet, and this encouraged him to go on.
He moved her panties out of the way as she began to comply, spreading her legs as far as she could in the tight skirt she was wearing. He slid his forefinger inside her tight, wet pussy, feeling around the pink flesh. He pulled her skirt up to her hips as he watched her roll her head back and close her eyes.
He put two more fingers inside of her, getting his hand dripping wet as he banged her pussy with his fingers. It was the perfect way to start the morning and a perfect way to say hello after being gone.
She placed her legs on either side of his head and slid down in the chair as little moans escaped her lips. He loved the way she sounded when we was pleasuring her. It really got him going. He was about to stand up as he heard his cell phone going off. Who could possibly be calling him?
He jumped up and grabbed it, giving Melanie a kiss and motioning for her to eat the omelet he made her. He couldn’t wait to hear how she liked his cooking. He smiled to himself, picking up the phone to hear Frank’s voice coming through. He must have been calling about the run he did to let Andy know how it went.
“Hey, Frank my man. How are you doing? I just got back from Texas, from my hearing and am just having a little breakfast with my girl.”
“I’m so glad to hear you’re back with Melanie, buddy. You had us worried for a little while there.” Andy thought it didn’t sound at all like Frank was glad about anything. He sounded flat and monotone like someone devoid of emotion or worse, trying to hide an emotion. Andy’s mind jumped to a million conclusions like cargo getting taken or one of his team getting shot by another cartel.
“So, what’s going on, man? How did the run go? The Colombians are still being a pain in your ass, I bet.” Andy waited for a response, but it took some time for him to get one. Andy began nervously pacing the floor as he spotted Melanie getting up from the table and giving him the thumbs up about the omelet. He tried to smile at her as she went to get her makeup on, but he had a hard time hiding his distress.
“More than you know, buddy, more than you know. Look, there’s something I need to tell you, Andy. It’s pretty serious. So, the Colombians accused us of stealing the cocaine, of cutting it. They said it had been going on for a bit, and they had tried to give us the benefit of the doubt and all for some time now. Someone in the club is either using it or selling it for themselves. My bet is on Zoey and that crazy brother of hers, but the point is we’re in some big trouble.”
Andy collapsed onto the couch, feeling the color draining from his face. He knew the Colombians didn’t mess around with such things. The whole club could be in danger. But he found it hard to believe any one of them would screw them like that, especially Zoey. She had just saved their asses a couple months back. No way was she the culprit.
“What did they say, man? Is everyone alright, Frank? Please tell me that everyone made it back safe.” Andy could feel his blood pressure hitting the roof. He couldn’t stand being in the dark like that, and he couldn’t help but feel responsible for the whole thing. He was supposed to be there with them. He had abandoned them and something went wrong. It would serve him right to lose someone.
“That’s the thing, Andy, that’s why I called. You’re our leader. I know that, and so do they -- the Colombians. Buddy, they are so pissed, and I don’t know what they’re going to do. You should have just stayed in jail, let yourself get caught for possession. You and Melanie would have been so much safer that way. Now, the Colombians think it’s you. You’ve been blamed for the whole thing. You’re gonna have to do something big to get out of this, and I don’t know what. Be sure to lie low for a bit. And warn Melanie.”
Andy’s mouth felt completely dry as the whole thing sunk in. He was being blamed for a massive scheme, a betrayal on people who had punishments available to them worse than death. Why would he ever do that? Why would someone think it was him? It had to be the damned addiction, the way he had gotten careless with it and addicted again. It only made sense that he would be the one to steal if he was using so much. But it wasn’t like he was the only one. What was he going to do?
He watched Melanie as she grabbed a sip of orange juice straight from the jug. She smiled at him, but he couldn’t smile back. All he could think about was losing her. He couldn’t handle losing her again for any reason, especially to the Colombians. How was he going to save the love of his life and himself?
“I understand, Frank. You should keep your distance from me now, all of you should. Can I trust you to keep the club going? I have got some business to take care of. And thanks for the warning, man. You really are my best friend in the world.”
There was a pause on the line before Frank said anything. It sent a chill down Andy’s spine wondering what kind of threats the Colombians had already doled out to the rest of Satan’s Cubs MC. Was it going to be the end of them?
“Anytime, buddy. I totally get it. I’ll look over everything for you. We’ve backed off on the runs for now, anyway. You don’t have to worry. I’ve got this. You check in from time to time though and let me know the two of you are safe. You hear me? And keep that gun. It might come in handy.”
Andy wanted to throw up at the thought of having to protect himself in close quarters with that gun much less anyone else. Just when his life was getting better, things just had to take a turn for the worst. “I’ll do that, Frank. God speed.”
Andy hung up the phone, his heart beating out of his chest. He had a promise he had to keep now, and he was afraid of what Melanie might think or do. He stuffed the phone back in his pocket after turning it off. He didn’t want anyone using it against him.
He walked up to Melanie and kissed her neck, wrapping his arms around her. He knew he would do anything to keep her safe and out of this mess he’d gotten himself into.
“Melanie,” he whispered into her ear with a voice full of sadness and defeat. “We need to talk. Andy watched as she turned around and looked him in the eye. He could see the doubt and fear that was already there. And he was about to make it even worse.
Read on for a sneak preview of the unforgettable conclusion:
Recovery
Available Now
FREE for Kindle Unlimited customers