Authors: Melissa Jolley
They spent the rest of the early evening eating, drinking, and making small talk. Alec wanted her to stay desperately, but he knew he had no right to ask. He couldn’t be everything she needed him to be, and it was cruel to make her think otherwise. No matter how great the sex was, and, he was sure, would be again.
Damn, that shirt on her was driving him to distraction. If she wanted to get his attention it had worked
.
His gaze lingered on her bare flesh from her neck down to the first done-up button. Fortunately, she was too busy looking out the window to the courtyard to notice his ogling. She got up and made her way to the open French doors, leaning in the doorframe with her wine glass in hand. The last vestiges of sunlight aimed straight through the doorway and her shirt. He could see the shapely outline of her torso, and it roused the same passions in him that seeing her in the bathroom had. Having sex with Melody had appeared to unleash desires in him he had thought were gone forever, and damn if he didn’t want more of what they’d already shared.
He pushed his chair back from the table, but didn’t get up. “It’s getting late; you should probably get ready for work. The clothes should be dry by now.”
She nodded but didn’t speak, and he could see a hint of sorrow in her face. He couldn’t understand why her sadness was so unbearable to him. “Melody, come here a moment, will you?”
She walked around the large, solid table, and leaned back on the edge just across from him.
“What do you want, from this?” He shifted his index finger back and forth between them.
“What are you willing to give?” she countered.
Why he was even considering the thoughts running through his head was anybody’s guess; he just knew there was no way to shut them up, except, maybe giving them exactly what they wanted.
“I still love my wife. I don’t think I could love another woman as much.” Being honest with her was the only course. Alec wanted to be with her again, but he didn’t think love was in the cards.
“So, what are you willing to give?” she asked again.
There’s that damned determined face of hers.
It felt like terms for surrender, and he supposed in a way it was. He was surrendering to his baser instincts.”Sex, protection, and friendship; beyond that, I just don’t know.”
They eyed each other seriously for a moment, and then she smiled. “I can live with that.” She stood up, moved forward, and then straddled his legs, lowering herself onto his lap.
A long length of hair touched her face and he brushed it away as he stared into her eyes. They looked greener in this light. She held his gaze, and a surge of desire hit him like a truck. She really was the most impossible woman he’d ever met and that excited him beyond imagining. Sixty-plus years he’d abstained from sex; now, not even two hours after breaking that abstinence, he wanted her again.
As he gripped her behind, pulling her closer, she rubbed her core against his already hard cock. She leaned in, lightly licking his lips, then pushing her mouth onto his, their tongues engaging as they swirled around each other, neither of them breaking eye contact. When she pulled back, she nipped gently at his lower lip.
He stood, his hands still clutching her ass, and placed her where his dinner plate had been a short time ago. He was sure she’d taste even better, as he pulled at the satin shorts that slid easily down her legs.
Two buttons flew across the room as he ripped the front of her shirt. He didn’t take it off her, instead enjoying the view peeking out intermittently. When he took a nipple between his fingertips, he found the skin already tight with arousal, while he covered her neck with sensual kisses. As he moved his kisses to the base of her throat, he laid her slowly back on the table, opening her shirt, for a full view of her mouth-watering breasts. He caressed a straight line up and down the center of her body, with a single finger. “I thought you didn’t liked to be laid bare, Ms. Fremont.”
Her gaze met his. “I said, ‘I don’t like to be laid bare for the world to see,’ but for you I’m making an exception.”
While he watched her face he allowed his finger to meander and graze over a breast, and her eyes closed, a blissful smile appearing on her lips.
Eventually the invitation of her hard nipples became irresistible and he bent over her. The feel of her breast in his mouth made him harder than he thought possible as he swirled his tongue over the swollen nub. She squirmed beneath him as he used his hand to pinch and knead the neglected breast, until he was ready to swap. He pulled away, sucking at her nipple, and she inhaled sharply, a small cry of ecstasy escaping her lips. Alec repeated the scenario on her other breast, and this time the breath she sucked in between her teeth was followed by a long, low moan, her legs parting a little further.
Keeping his hands at her nipples, he kissed slowly down the center of her body, reaching the small strip leading to her pussy. He tantalized her clit with the tip of his tongue.
A moan escaped her lips. “Oh God, don’t stop!”
After he removed one of his hands from her breast, he skimmed it down the length of her body. She tasted good but needed more, and he obliged, placing two fingers inside her warm opening. She moaned wordlessly. He continued to pleasure her with his tongue, employing various strokes, while his fingers found her g-spot. He knew she wouldn’t last much longer when he felt a tightening around his fingers and the full force of her climax rolling over her body. The force of her orgasm made her grip his head with her fingers in his hair, pulling him to her as if she wished him to devour her fully, and then she relaxed, and her arms splayed across the table, her breathing heavy. “That was incredible.”
“We haven’t finished yet.” He smiled.
“Damn right we haven’t!” His shirt came off easily with her help as he kicked off his shorts. Alec knew he’d gone commando for a reason
.
When she reached down, she gave his cock a long firm tug before kneeling in front of him and taking him deeply into her mouth. Each movement she made, to and fro, altering the depth, moving him around her mouth, licking his shaft, the head, was absolutely torturing him. From the look in her eyes, Melody was loving every minute of it.
Without warning, she stood up. Gave him a steely-eyed look, then turned around, bending facedown over the table, spreading her legs, her hands gripping the far edge.
After rubbing both hands over her smooth cheeks, he gave her one hard smack, leaving a nice red handprint.
“Watch it buddy.” Amusement colored her tone.
He heard a stifled giggle before easing himself into her inviting core, and the giggle became a groan of ecstasy. As his hips ground into her ass, he reached his hand around and stroked her clit. Melody pushed back toward him and he plunged harder and deeper. She was tight and wet and he couldn’t think straight anymore, because he knew this wasn’t just sex. He knew there was far more to this, and he was already too deep to back out. At this realization, his physical body exploded into her, and she screamed. He leaned forward, kissing her neck and back. Both of them were breathing heavily and glistening with sweat.
This new information confounded him. What he’d had with Grace was soft, sweet, and generous love; this was pure carnal pleasure—it had to be.
That
he could live with, but not the betrayal of his heart—that was something he couldn’t bear.
When he pulled out, she rolled over, looking at him with a cheeky grin on her face.
“What?” He didn’t trust that wicked smile of hers.
“I was just thinking I’ll need another shower before I go to work.” Her grin widened.
“And...” His eyebrows lifted in curiosity.
“And I thought you’d like to join me.” She was positively purring now.
“You’ll be the end of me, woman.” He shook his head, smiling.
“No, I’ll be the beginning.” She took his hand and led him up the stairs.
After another enjoyable shower together, they reluctantly dressed, and Alec drove Melody to work.
The car pulled away and she watched with a feeling of uncertainty. There was no doubt in his ability to protect her, or his talents as a lover. Her uncertainty stemmed from her feelings for him. She’d only just met him, yet she felt as if they’d known each other forever—they were hand and glove; the trouble was convincing him of that.
“Yay, you’re not dead! I told you I liked him.” The heat-seeking missile of friendship, otherwise known as Rosie, bombarded her with a bear hug from behind, almost bowling her over.
“Just because he didn’t kill me doesn’t mean he’s Mr. Right.” Melody extricated herself from Rosie’s arms and gave her friend a look of amused consternation, which did nothing to dampen Rosie’s buoyant mood.
“Whatever. You fancy the pants off him, and if I’m not mistaken, he’s taken quite a shine to you too.” A smug smile curved her lips.
“Did you happen to see where the shine was coming from, because his heart’s not in this. Maybe you were looking below his belt line?” She didn’t like the bitterness she heard in her voice—she didn’t do the bitchy girl thing—and she adjusted her tone. “I won’t deny he is a nice guy, but he always calls me Melody. It’s so formal, like he’s afraid to call me Mel, as if it would break down some invisible barrier between us. Besides he’s still in love with...someone else.”
“Well, whoever
she
is, she isn’t here now, you are. I saw the way he looked at you. He may not know it yet, but he is in love with you, and as you know, I’m never wrong.” Rosie put her hand up in a stop gesture, effectively halting the conversation as she turned and headed to the front door of the bar.
Melody watched her, dumbfounded.
Oh, you don’t know how much I wish you were right, my friend.
“Are you coming, or what?” Rosie held the door open and looked expectantly toward her. “I see I’ve given you something to think about.” Her smile grew as Melody shuffled past her.
“Oh, shut up.” The look of extreme malice she tried to conjure was ruined by the smile she couldn’t quell.
Rose chortled as she closed the door behind them.
***
By eleven o’clock The Pit was heaving. Melody was glad she was behind the bar, and not bottle and glass clearing. She didn’t like the idea of having to wind her way through a very crowded room with pint glasses stacked ten high and empty pre-mixed spirit bottles dangling from all her fingers. However, she did enjoy watching Rosie do it. She was so nimble and decisive. Melody always apologized; Rosie just bowled on through with a loud ‘excuse me’ or ‘clear the way.’
Although Melody was busy serving, her eyes automatically roamed over the heads, looking for Rosie’s bright pink hair. She was nearby, as she had only just headed back into the fray.
A moment later Melody spotted a head jerk, as if Rosie had been yanked forward and down. It wasn’t in the “hey mate give us a cuddle” way either, but in the “that’s my shoulder you’re dislocating” way. A brief gap in the crowd revealed a hand holding Rosie’s intricately tattooed arm, and a considerably less-than-thrilled look on her face.
“What the fuck!” Melody’s head swiveled from side to side looking for the nearest bouncer. He was on the other side of the room and facing in the opposite direction.
Shit!
“Be back in a sec.”
Her astounded customer just nodded as she bounded over the bar toward Rosie. Her best friend might look tough with her tattoos, body piercings, and goth rock fashion sense, but she was the softest person Melody knew.
“Hey sweetie, what’s going on?” Melody put a possessive arm around Rosie’s shoulder, pulling her upright. The man who’d tugged Rosie down softened his grip, but didn’t relinquish it completely. He was good-looking, but there was an arrogance about him that screamed
I’m too good for everyone
. He sat with three of his friends in a booth. They looked pretty hammered, and she guessed they’d been drinking for a number of hours.
A leer broke over the creep’s face. “We were just asking your friend to come party with us. You can join in too, if you want.”
“Thanks for the invite, but we’re working, so if you let go of my girl, we’ll be going.”
“Your friend looks like she’s up for a good time.” Melody saw his grip tighten again and felt Rosie tense under his touch. She desperately wished she had Alec’s ability to zap the guy to make him let go, but she didn’t, so she’d have to think of something else.
“Look mate, I’ve tried to be polite, but if you don’t let go of my girlfriend, you’re gonna regret it.” Melody kept a determined calm in her voice as she saw the penny drop in his expression.
“You’re lesbians?” The shock on his face was apparent and he loosened his grip enough for Rosie to pull her arm away.
“Honey, if you’re the alternative, I’m surprised there’s not more gay woman in the world!”
His scowl was intense and she quickly pulled Rosie away, keeping her arm in place, as she heard his friends guffaw behind them.
Melody swapped jobs with Rosie. There was no way she was letting her in arms’ reach of that asshole again, though she needn’t have worried. The next time she passed the booth it was occupied by a bunch of giggling women wearing tiaras and tutus, carrying a rather sad-looking male blowup doll.
Hens’ night.
By the time two thirty rolled around, she’d never been happier and sadder to be going home. Happy, because her day had been exhausting and sad, because she longed to be going home to Alec.
Alec had told her to wait inside for him, so she mulled around, filling the fridges for the next shift. She had reassured Rosie she’d be fine, got her to head home at the soonest opportunity, and talked one of the bouncers into walking her friend to her car. After about ten minutes the manager came out from the back room.
“Mel, I’m really sorry, but I’ve got to head off. One of the kids is being sick everywhere. Can I give you a lift somewhere?”