Page 36 of Captive Heart

Melody looked up at him with those huge, violet eyes which seemed far too innocent for all the atrocities she’d seen and experienced.

"I think I understand. You're saying that while I lived it, I endured it because there was no other choice. But now I've escaped what my life had become, I'm scared of the idea of being forced back into that scenario, because I know how much better things could be."

It wasn't a question; it was a statement. Micah nodded and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.

"Exactly! Now get some sleep. I'm right here, and I'll keep you safe. The club has top notch security, and no one knows where you are but for a handful of completely trustworthy people. And even if anyone did find you, they'd have to go through me to get to you, and I'm not going to let that happen."

Melody sighed and relaxed, closing her eyes obediently and tucking her head into the crook of his neck. Micah was glad she felt safe enough with him to do so.

He just wished he could relax as easily, but there was little chance of that when his body was experiencing some entirely inappropriate ideas of its own at having a naked and willing female body plastered so close that the only thing separating them was a skin-tight pair of boxers and his own moral values.

25

Melody awoke the following morning feeling surprisingly rested, given her disturbed night, and she knew it was wholly due to Micah's comforting presence.

She still couldn't work out just why she felt safe with him. It wasn't logical. Not when all of the dealings with men throughout her adult life had been calculated and conniving.

V and his cronies, especially. They were nothing but evil, vindictive beasts, the lot of them, liking nothing more than to torture and torment, physically or mentally—usually both.

V had been merciless enough on his own, but when the rest of his little gang were with him, he had been twice as cruel. It was as if he had to show off exactly how evil he could be. Exactly how thorough his control over her was.

And they were all just as bad, because not one of them had ever lifted a finger to try to help her. No matter what appalling and dreadful things he did, no matter how sick his twisted little games became.

Which brought her all the way back around to Micah and how it made no sense at all for her to trust him, to feel safe with him.

But she did.

When she looked at him, she felt things that were completely foreign. Was it appreciation, gratitude? Certainly, both of those things, but it was more than that, and she wasn't entirely sure she could quantify it. She felt this weird little flutter under her breastbone whenever he did anything for her, and the sensation had only gotten stronger the longer she had been with him, expanding to cause a slow-motion kind of rollover in her stomach.

Melody didn't know what that meant, only that she’d never felt it before.

It made her want to do something for him, to give something back. Micah said he didn't want a slave. But she could give him pleasure.

Melody rolled over and looked at him, her breath catching in her throat. He was so very pretty! She knew a man wouldn't like to be called that, especially one as blatantly muscular as Micah, but he didn’t have to know.

His lashes sat like dark crescents against his tanned cheeks as he slept, and Melody could look at him in a way she wouldn't dare while he was awake. Right now, his tousled, blond hair had more curl to it, since it had not yet seen a comb, and there was a hint of scruff on his chin which was so fair it wasn't really noticeable unless you looked as closely as she was now.

And as for his body! Even after seeing him in the shower yesterday, she was still struck by how he looked nothing like any of the other men she’d seen naked. None of them had even come close to looking like this! His shoulders were wide and defined and his biceps bulged, even in sleep. Melody itched to reach out and run her fingers across the muscular expanse of his chest, which looked like hard steel wrapped in supple silk. To feel the ridges that defined his abdomen beneath her fingers. She’d never been tempted to explore a man’s body before. And while she’d peeked yesterday, she was still enthralled.

Perhaps it was because his strength made her feel protected, instead of fearing for her safety.

Without thinking, she drew the sheet off of him. His thighs were as thick and muscled as his torso. There was nothing top heavy about this man, and Melody couldn't help smiling as a snippet of a memory slipped into her mind of watching the animated series featuring 'He-man' when she was a kid. Yes, Micah could almost be the real-life model for the cartoon figure, although he wasn't quite so muscle bound that his neck had disappeared into his shoulders. Thank goodness!

When she looked at her own skinny arms and legs in comparison, Melody knew Micah was right when he claimed her muscles had probably wasted, but as soon as she was healthier, she was determined to have Micah help her regain her strength and some additional muscle.

She wanted to have the chance to defend herself should it ever be necessary in the future. Determined that no one would ever again take something from her that wasn't freely given.

Maybe she could get a bit of a tan, too. She looked like a ghost with her milky white skin, which had rarely seen sunlight, and hair that had turned prematurely grey.

Hovering her hand over Micah's chest, she looked at the contrast. They were like complete opposites, except for the fact that his hair was also fair.

Her eyes finally wandered to the only part of him that was covered. The fabric of his boxers hugged his flesh like a second skin, moulding itself around a rock-hard bulge which left little to the imagination.

Realising he was erect had a shiver gathering at the back of Melody's neck and tumbling down her spine, and her mouth felt dry.

It wasn't fear she was feeling, though. She knew that much.

Her hand fluttered lower. Did she dare touch him again? He had enjoyed her touch the day before yesterday, but she had seen the doubt in his eyes. And yet she wanted to do something for him, still, and there wasn't much else she could offer.

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