Page 58 of Brother to Brother

“Mm hmm, you?”

I chuckled, “I wasn’t asking, I was telling, and I’m glad you like it, too.”

She sighed in contentment and I actually cuddled her close. I couldn’t ever remember a time I’d engaged a woman like this. Usually I fucked it, and kicked it right out my fuckin’ door. I’d never had a woman of any kind of real quality in my life before. I didn’t have time for it, and it was kind of tough attracting any kind of woman with an understanding of this life that had the morals to live up to my expectations. I hadn’t thought Mel was one of those women in the beginning… I thought I’d learned differently by watching her, but she was always tucked into Grind’s side.

When he’d taken off out here, he’d said it was because of Mel, and hadn’t wanted to talk about it at all. I’d figured she’d walked on him. I never in a million years thought it was my brother who’d walked on her… Grind knew he’d had it good with Mel. She kept takin’ him back. Even after fuckin’ around with no good club sluts because they were there and they were easy, Mel had taken him back.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked softly.

“Why’d you let him do it.”

“Do what? Cheat?” she asked, and her sigh was heavy.

“Yeah.”

“I don’t know, to be honest… He said he loved me; said he was sorry and I believed him. I could and would forgive him anything as long as he loved me.”

“That’s not love, Baby.”

“Closest I’ve ever been to it,”

“No, it’s not; it’s really, not. Sit up for a minute, turn around and look at me.”

She did as I asked, slowly, and when she was at the opposite end of the tub, facing me, I pulled her towards me and into my lap. She was effectively straddling me and taller this way, so I had to look up, into those true blue eyes of hers.

I had to sigh, “Walking out on your lady, putting her last, fucking some other skeeze.” I raised my eyebrows and said, “Giving your woman who waits on you hand and foot, keeps your place clean, cooks your meals, and gives you freedom the fucking clap,” Melody jerked like she’d been slapped and I was pretty sure she hadn’t known that all of us guys knew but it just served to bring my point home, “I don’t care how much yousayto her that you love her, but that ain’t love, Baby. That’s the furthest thing from it.”

Her face crumbled and I didn’t like it, in fact, I wanted to build it up right quick, so I told her the truth of it, “Putting a roof over her head, holding her when she cries, being her strength when she has none left, protecting her, protecting the children you have with her, providing nourishment not only for their bodies, but for their souls…that’s love.”

She searched my solemn expression, her hands perched on my shoulders for the longest series of heartbeats my body had ever produced. Her eyes misted, and she wrapped my pony tail around her hand, tugging my head back as far as it would go. Her other hand resting on my forehead as her mouth crashed over mine and she kissed me as if she were a starving woman and my kiss would provide all the nourishment she’d need for the next thousand years.

I held her tight and kissed her back and it tasted sweet with relief and a lot like victory.

Chapter 25

Melody

“No.”

“Melody…”

“I said no, Archer!” I stared at him with disbelief over Noah’s head, hitching my baby up higher onto my hip.

“I ain’t exactly asking, Mel,” Archer said quietly. We’d come back from our honeymoon just last night, and already he was standing here telling me that he was leaving again, on a run, to Arizona no less, and that he would be leaving in just three days.

“This is unbelievable,” I uttered and he reached for me, I stepped back.

“Why?” I demanded, “Tell me;why now?”

Archer sighed and dropped his hand to his side, he hung his head and huffed a bitter chuckle, “That’s club business, Baby.”

I frowned and demanded, “You swear to me, youswear to me,that it’s legit club business and hasnothingto do with my parents.”

“I swear to you, it has more to do with the club than your parents, but I had planned on making a visit to them, too.”

I felt myself pale, “Don’t Archer. Please don’t, you don’t know what they’re like and we don’t evenknowhow long it will take for you to legally adopt Noah. Please don’t stir this pot until all is said and done.Please!”

“Hey, hey, hey!” He came to me and Noah both, and I was out of places to sidestep or back away, but I didn’t feel like putting space between us anymore. I wanted the comfort he was offering. He took both me and our son into his arms and held us, kissing the top of my head. “No tears,” he said and I nodded against his chest.

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