Page 86 of On The Edge
Instead of pulling back, she leans into my touch and holds my arm. The dichotomy of her clean, white fingers holding onto my heavily tattooed arm feels so right.
“You’ve already apologized. Made it up to me. Stood up for me.Chose me.” Her eyebrows knit together as she speaks and I lean in closer.
“I may have, but I need to do it by myself. I need to hold your hands and beg for your forgiveness by myself.”
Melody shakes her head slightly as if she thinks I’m ridiculous, but doesn’t say anything.
Letting me continue, she nods.
“I knew something was wrong back then. When Reis and Kai told us what happened, what they heard, I knew something was weird. That you wouldn’t say that about us so callously. But… I was young and dumb and I was so insecure that I thought it was true. I heard what they said and,” I say, my voice laced with shame as I fight the urge to drop my eyes. “And I didn’t do what I knew I should have, and talked to you about it. Instead, I took the cowards way out. Letting them talk me into leaving you. That’s not me shifting blame, it’s metakingit. I should’ve put my foot down. I should’ve trusted you and our bond more.I should’ve demanded we talk to you like everything in me was screaming to. But then, we got here… and everything moved so fast. We were broke, homeless, trying to make it, and even though I thought of you every day, I couldn’t face you after what we’d done. I figured you’d want nothing to do with us, if you still cared for us at all.”
The space between us is tense and quiet. Melody’s dark hair falling around her shoulders temptingly and I try my best not to stare at her oversized T-shirt too long. She’s not wearing any shorts, so if the hem of the shirt rises any, I’ll be able to see her panties.
Is she wearing any?
Stop, now is not the time.
“I should’ve been stronger and stood up to them. Made them see. And I’m so fucking sorry that I didn’t. It might have saved us all the heartbreak. We could’ve all been together from the beginning,” I say with a shaky voice, the emotion making my voice break. “God, I’m sorry, Melody.”
“Adam,” Melody says quickly, moving her hands to my face as tears line my eyes. “Look at me.”
Reluctantly, I look at her.
“Adam,” she whispers softly, looking at me with such care and love and understanding that it takes my breath away. “Are you going to fight for me now?”
My answer’s immediate and strong, “Yes.”
“I forgive you.”
And with those three words I feel the weight, the guilt, the anger, I’ve been repressing for seven years drip away. In its place is overwhelming love for her. For this beautiful, fiery, sassy, amazing woman in my arms.
The woman I’ve loved since I was a teenager.
Her dark eyes drop to my lips, and my breath catches.
I need her. I want her.
I want to taste her again, and this time, I want her to taste me.
We both surge forward at the same time, pressing together so there’s not an inch of space between us as I ravish her lips with mine. God, she feels so good. I’m going to take my time with her.
“Adam,” she moans, pulling back slightly to moan, wrapping her arms around my neck. Walking us backward until her legs hit the bed, I spin us so she’s sitting on my lap, straddling me.
“Is this okay?” I whisper against her lips.
“Please, don’t stop.”Goddamn, the way she whimpers… Ripping my shirt off over my head, I undress as quickly as I can without moving too far from her. Melody responds by doing the same, pulling the shirt she’s wearing over her head.
Oh my god.
“You’re breathtaking,” I say, marveling at the sight of the girl I love, completely naked on my lap.
“So are you.” She threads her fingers into my hair, pulling me in for another kiss and rolls her hips forward.
I might not survive this.
“Please,” she whispers against my lips as I run my hands up both sides of her thighs, feeling her silky, firm, skin under hand. Melody’s chest heaves with each breath as she presses her bare chest closer to mine as my fingertips move closer to the apex of her thighs. Slowly moving higher and higher.
“Please what, baby?” I ask softly.
