Chapter 34: Chapter 34

MELODY

“Oh my God!! The hottie from the club is here! Did you see him—?” Jenny’s voice trailed off when she saw me.

Her expression shifted from excitement to concern. I knew there were tears forming in my eyes because my vision was swimming.

She was about to ask, but her eyes were locked on my laptop screen, where there was a picture of me and Xavier at the club where we’d met for the first time.

Gunner, a friend of Xavier’s, had taken the picture of us while we were dancing, lost in each other's eyes, kissing like no one existed, just us.

^Second day in New York^

~“Xavier,” I whisper-hissed when he grabbed my hand and dragged me along with him. I looked around to make sure we didn’t get noticed.~

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~He pushed the door open and locked it once we were inside. My heart slammed in my chest, my pulse pumping between my legs.~

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~I looked around. This wasn’t a room; this was a storeroom. Without warning, he pushed me against the wall and kissed me, hard.~

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~The kiss was long, hard, deep, and hungry, like he was calling for my soul to reach his.~

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~He nudged my mouth open and lapped his tongue against mine in a long, firm stroke, then sucked my bottom lip into his mouth before breaking away.~

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~We stared at each other, breathing hard. “Fuck,” he growled. His hand gripped my hair harder, and he found my mouth again, kissing me even more slowly, more deeply.~

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~My fingernails dug into the soft cotton of his shirt. I swirled my tongue against his until I felt the low vibration of his moan or growl, and I let my teeth drag against his lip.~

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~I sucked on his tongue.~

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~When we broke apart, he was panting softly. “This is one hell of a torture, baby. I can see you but can’t touch.~

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~“Especially when you walk around wearing the smallest tank top I’ve ever seen and some booty shorts,” he growled and kissed me again, kissing his way down my neck.~

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~“My parents are here, and they would hear us,” I moaned.~

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~His mouth twitched in amusement. Then he licked his bottom lip, slowly, and said, “Then you better be quiet, baby.”

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~He yanked my top and bra down, baring my breasts. Then he leaned down and groaned, running his tongue over the peak of one nipple.~

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~He flicked my hard, throbbing nipple with his tongue, and I gasped.~

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~“Mel?” Jake called.~

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Fuck!

~Xavier stopped and cursed under his breath, adjusting the bulge between his legs. I giggled, unable to control myself, and I adjusted my top and bra. “I’m going out with Dan this evening.”~

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~“Where?” he growled.~

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~I smirked. “Where we met for the first time.”~

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~He smirked back. “I will meet you there,” he promised and took off, grinning like a lunatic.~

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~I knew he was planning something.~

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~“Mel?” Jake called again, and this time his voice seemed closer.~

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Fuck me.

~I scrambled out of the room and met Jake in the hallway. He wanted to know what I was doing in the evening. He and Nick were going bowling. I told him I was going out with Dan.~

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~***

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~Dan and I walked in and found a spot at the bar. The bartender walked up and placed a napkin on the bar in front of me.~

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~It was the same bartender who’d served me last time I was here, not that I normally would have remembered him, but his shaved head, sexy grin, and brown eyes were impossible to forget.~

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~“Bloody Mary, please,” I asked, and Dan asked for a martini for himself.~

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~The bartender nodded and stared at me for longer than necessary. “Have you been here before?” he asked.

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~I nodded. “Almost a year ago,” I replied.

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~“Did we hook up?” He narrowed his eyes.~

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~I laughed and shook my head. “Damn,” he whispered and shifted his gaze to Dan, looking at him with interest.~

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~“I’m Jay.” He smiled smugly.~

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~“Melody, and he’s my friend, Dan.” Dan and Jay talked for a bit, then Jay went to make our drinks.~

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~Jay returned, setting our drinks on the bar. “Thanks.” I started digging my wallet out of my purse.~

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~“No need, hon,” Jay said. “It’s on the house.” He winked, not at me, but at Dan.~

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~“Will you be okay?” Dan asked, leaning closer.~

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~I nodded. I didn’t want to be a cockblocker. I sipped my drink, letting the sweet tang of the liquor linger on my tongue, the warmth flooding my chest.~

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~The place was packed full of people, some talking, all drinking.~

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~I felt someone’s presence behind me. I turned. He was in his midthirties, with blond hair and brown eyes. “Feel like company?”~

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~I shook my head. “I’m waiting for someone, thanks,” I declined politely.~

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~“I’m with my colleagues. I saw you sitting alone and thought you would like some company.” He looked back at his friends, and I followed his gaze and saw Xavier sitting with a few other guys.~

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~Xavier looked damn good in a pair of well-fitted, dark-washed blue jeans and a short-sleeved, light-blue button-down that fit his torso.~

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Playing a game, huh?~ I gave him a look.~

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~Xavier grinned at me before giving me a wink that made my heart flutter almost too painfully.~

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~I winked back. Game on.~

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~“Sure.” I stood and joined the other guy, the brown-haired guy in the love seat, ignoring Xavier entirely.~

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~Xavier looked me over from head to toe, and his nostrils flared before he swallowed thickly. I’d deliberately worn the shortest dress I had. It was my favorite black formfitting dress.~

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~The guy sitting next to me turned slightly. “What’s your name, beauty?”~

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~“Sara,” I replied and took another sip.~

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~“Beautiful name. I’m Cole.” He moved closer and put his hand on my bare thigh. Xavier’s gaze followed his hand, and his jaw clenched.~

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Should have thought before playing the game, huh?~ I smirked.~

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~“These are my colleagues, Gunner, Stefan, and Xavier,” he said, trailing his hand up.~

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~“Ah, Xavier. What a coincidence.” I laughed lightly.~

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~“Do you know each other?” Cole asked, unable to hide his surprise.~

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~Gunner choked. I assumed he knew about me.~

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~“Yeah, we hooked up once.” I shrugged, sipping slowly.~

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~Xavier grinned smugly. “Over a year ago.”~

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~“Nah. Nine months back,” I corrected him.~

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~“And you remember each other?” Cole asked, increasing the distance between us.~

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~I smiled and settled myself on Xavier’s lap. As soon as I straddled him, his lips crashed into mine, and we kissed each other hungrily, ignoring coughing sounds coming from the others.~

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~I pulled back, breaking the kiss. “Hey,” I whispered.~

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~He kissed the tip of my nose. I turned and burst out laughing, looking at their horrified expressions.~

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~Xavier laughed out loud too. “This is Melody, my girlfriend.”~

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~“Hey,” I waved at them.

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~Gunner laughed and shook his head amusingly.~

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~“Shit,” Cole whispered.

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~Xavier growled, “Stay the fuck away from my woman.”~

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~Cole held his hands up in surrender. “Do you have a sister like you?”~

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~My smile slipped at the mention of a sister.~

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~“Come on, let’s dance,” Xavier grabbed my hand and led me to the dance floor.~

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~We danced for an hour, reminiscing about the first time we’d met here. From the corner of my eye, I saw Dan sitting on a barstool, talking to Jay. I winked at him and told him to enjoy.~

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~After an hour, I left with Xavier. He’d booked the same room I’d stayed in the last time I’d come here for Reed.~

~

“Mel,” Jenny shook me, bringing me back to the present. I cried harder in her arms, and she let me, holding me tightly.

After I got control over my emotions, we sat there silently. She didn’t ask, but I could see the question in her eyes. I knew Jenny wouldn’t let this lie.

I sighed. After deleting the last picture of us, I shut down my laptop and told her the truth before she tried to start digging on her own. When I was done, she gaped at me.

“When you both loved each other so much, what made you leave him?”