Page 93 of Out of the Gold

Chase

I stand in theempty hallway in front of Melody’s door. Pulling my fist back, I rap. It’s only nine thirty, so she still could be out on Mark’s friend’s yacht. I mask my probable disappointment. While she was at a luxurious party, I was eating in the hotel’s restaurant with my sister. It was an unexpected surprise to see her, and I’m glad we caught up. I know Melody told me she treated her terribly growing up, but that’s ages old. Lindsay’s been through so much. And my guilt hasn’t subsided, no matter how well she’s recovering.

My thoughts scatter when the door opens and a drowsy Melody stands before me in the cutest pajamas I’ve ever seen. Not that I’ve seen too many, actually. Usually women wear sexy lingerie. Not one of them were as sexy as her.

My brain escapes me, all my finesse lost. “Hi.”

“Charles.” She plays with her long, loose hair, which hangs past her shoulders. She startles and jumps back into the room. “Come in.”

“Thanks.” I join her inside and she closes the door.

She looks like a jumpy cat. Where did this weirdness between us come from? “I won’t stay if you don’t want me to.”

“No. I mean, yes, I do want you to stay.”

Relief rushes through me. “I’m glad, because I definitely want to stay with you. Were you sleeping?”

“Not really. I had my eyes closed, but couldn’t relax.”

She’s a bad liar, but I go with it. “Oh.” I reach out and rub her shoulders. “Need a massage?”

“Mmmm, feels good.”

“Let’s get on the bed so I can give you a proper one.” I turn her body toward the bed and tap her ass. “Now get on your stomach.”

Obediently, she lies down as instructed and I straddle her. Leaving her shirt on, I run my fingers beneath the soft fabric and focus my attention on making her relax. Given her satisfied moans, I’m doing a good job.

“Charles, if you continue this, I’ll be asleep in no time.”

I lean down and kiss the back of her neck. In her ear, I reply, “Then I’ll cover you up with the blanket so you can get your rest.”

She twists so she now faces me, her hands landing on my shoulders. “Stay. Please.”

My cheeks inflate. “Since you asked so nicely.”

I toss my shirt over my head. Then I discard my pants and shoes. Wearing only my underwear, I slide next to her.

“I pictured you here with me, you know.”

“You did?”

She nods. “And here you are.”

I raise one eyebrow. “What was I doing? In your fantasy, I mean.”

“Sleeping.”

“I can do that.” I close my eyes and pretend to forget the warm woman lying next to me. And the insistence of my lower half.

Her hand lands on my cheek, and her finger traces my lips. Without opening my eyes, I snag the digit and suck it into my mouth. “I thought you said sleep.”

“I may have been mistaken. You must’ve fallen asleep after I wore you out.”

My eyelids pop open. “And just how did such a slip of a woman do that to big old me?”

She giggles. “It started like this.” Her hands drift down my abdomen, caressing the definition of my ab muscles, causing them to jump and my breathing to hitch.

“Then I did this.” She pinches the waistband of my underwear.

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