AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I turn and walk back into the suite, leaving the balcony doors open behind me to let the night in. All the lights are off except for those in the bedroom. I can hear water running in the bathroom, and the sound of Mel’s evening routine is calming. It’s another reminder that I’m doing the right thing.
“Mel.”
I stand in the bathroom doorway, arms crossed, gaze soft. She’s barefoot, her hair up and a silk pajama set hanging delicately from her shoulders and hips. There’s only a hint of hesitation before she responds. “Yes?”
“I’m not mad atyou. I want you to know that. I’m just mad in general.”
She takes the information in, her bare face blinking up at me. I fight the urge to step forward and take her in my arms.
“Is there anything you need help with?” The question makes my heart hurt, and it’s so much bigger than it sounds.
Mel’s eyes water again for a moment before she answers, “No. You’re already helping, Jenson. As much as this isn’t how I imagined things working out…it benefits us both, right?”
I move farther into the bathroom and watch her shoulders tense as I come to stand behind her, meeting her eyes in the mirror.
“How bad is it?”
“Bad,” she sighs. “The whole string of events at the start—the heart attack, infection, and the kidney failure these last few years. I have it under control but I want to get ahead of it if I can. I don’t know if you remember—Jodie donated a kidney when she was younger. So she only has one left.”
Her shoulders slump, the weight of the last twelve years settling over her. I reach out and massage my thumbs gently into her soft skin, trying to loosen the tension.
“There’s debt,” she breathes. “And at-home care sometimes, when it’s bad. She’ll need it in the future, too, if she can’t find a kidney transplant. And a few times each year we need to check in with Dr. Salazar, so the bills never stop coming.”
“I’m sorry.” It comes out as a quiet murmur. “You know I love Jodie. She made the best peanut butter and fluff sandwiches.”
A soft laugh bubbles out of Mel, sounding a little watery, but I’ll take it. We share a small smile in the mirror.
“You could’ve told me, you know. When you got to Dupont, I mean. I would have helped.”
“Yeah?” The question comes out wryly. “After walking in on you mostly naked, finding out you’re my boss—you think I could’ve just asked for a loan?”
I shake my head. “Not a loan; I’d give you the money freely, Mel. I still will. If you want to quit this.”
My heart seizes for a moment.
I wasn’t planning on saying that, but…it’s been in the back of my mind. For a few days, maybe. Not just because of tonight.
Her eyes search mine. And then she turns, depositing herself in my arms effortlessly. The silk top and shorts ghosts across my forearms, drawing a shiver from my body.
“No. We’re already in too deep.”
My heart thuds at her words. There’s a truth to them that I’m not sure she’s aware of.I’m already in too deep.The thought slips through my mind as Mel’s fingertips trail over my abs, rest at the top of my trousers.
There’s a shy hesitation to her actions that only fire me up more. It reminds me of when we were teenagers, kids really, just beginning to explore each other…the way she touched me so hesitantly, curiously, bravely.
I take her wrist and raise her right hand to my mouth, planting a kiss on her palm. Mel sucks in a breath, her chest heaving beneath the silk, nipples dragging a wake across the light pink fabric. Slowly, I lift the hem just enough to settle my hands at the dip of her waist and rub gentle circles with my thumbs. She sways against me, lips parted, and I can’t hold back anymore. I lean down and capture her lips.
This kiss is different from the ones we’ve shared so far. It’s not heated with tension, not done with the thought of others watching.
This one is just for us.
Her lips melt against mine, warm and supple. I part my mouth and let the delicate wet skin catch, teasing her lower lip with the tip of my tongue. Mel makes a mewling sound of need and presses up, our mouths slotting together more fully, her body dragging against mine.
With one swift move, I lift her onto the countertop. It’s more than big enough and my mind runs away with ideas. The marble is cold under her thighs and she squeals, pulling back with a grin. Her fingers make quick work of my shirt, tugging it up over my shoulders, tossing it away.
I lean in for another kiss.
I could do just this all night; lose myself in kissing her. Let the past and the present merge. Act as if we never lost one another to things we couldn’t control.
