“I understand.” She did too. He was stressed and pacing might actually help the words flow.
“Guess it’s really simple. I want to meet Mac. If you don’t mind, I was hoping you could set it up. What do you think?”
I think that’s awesome. “I’d be happy to do that. Is that the thing you wanted to handle tomorrow?” Chris nodded. “Would you like me to call him now?”
“Sure, just don’t let him know I’m here. I . . . don’t want to talk over the phone.”
“I think in person is better as well.” She went over to the counter and took her cell phone off the charger. She dialed Mac’s number then put it on speaker phone. Although Chris didn’t want to talk to Mac, she still thought it was good for him to hear what Mac had to say.
Mac answered on the last ring. “Muller here.”
“Hi Mac, it’s Melissa. Do you have a minute to talk?”
“If you’re calling regarding my son, I have all the time you need.”
“I am. Would you be available tomorrow to meet for . . . coffee?”
Mac answered, “Yeah, but I won’t sleep at all. Might as well just tell me now. Did you find him?”
“Yes. And Mac, he’d like to talk to you.”
She waited for him to answer, but all she heard was coughing on the other side. When Mac spoke again she could tell the cough was more likely caused by crying. The sniffles came through clearly and his voice was shaky. “Chase? He’s . . . willing . . . to . . . see me?”
Melissa had seen Mac break down a few times while treating him. Each time it was about something he was facing internally, never the physical pain she’d been putting him through. I wonder if all this time it was over Chris.
“Yes, Mac. I can’t promise how it will go, but he’s agreed to meet you.”
She heard more sobbing as he said, “You don’t know what this means to me. I don’t expect him to . . . understand . . . or . . . forgive me. But to see him . . . to tell him . . . why . . .”
Mac wasn’t able to finish. “I think the coffee shop might be busy tomorrow. Would you mind coming to my home? It might give you some . . . privacy.” This was going to be an emotional meeting for Mac, and if she was right, for Chris as well. She didn’t want either of them holding back because they were drawing unwanted attention from patrons in the coffee shop.
“Send me your address. I’ll be there. And Melissa, no matter what happens tomorrow with Chase, I appreciate you doing this for me.”
“You’re welcome, Mac, but I really didn’t do anything.”
“You found my son.”
She looked at Chris whose eyes were also glistening as he fought back his own tears. “No Mac, your son found me. I’ll send you my address and we’ll see you at ten. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Melissa.”
When she ended the call she walked over and wrapped her arms around Chris. At first he didn’t move, then slowly his arms tightened around her as well.
“I’m sorry to have put you in the middle of this, but I don’t know if I could do this without you.”
She smiled up at him and said, “Of course you could. But I’m glad I could be of some help.”
“I don’t think you realize what you’ve done to me. Since I met you, all I have been thinking about is how I’ve been running so hard and how I don’t want to any longer.”
“There are things we can’t outrun,” Melissa said.
Chris reached up, cupped her face, and said, “And there’re things you can only do for love. I know I need to face my past if we . . . if we’re to have a future.”
She wasn’t sure she was hearing all his words as the word love seemed to be echoing in her ears. “Future?”
“I can’t promise what tomorrow will bring or the next days after that. I’m pretty set in my ways, and you know my lifestyle working with your brothers. But what I do know is I don’t ever remember feeling like I do when I’m with you.”
Her heart was beating so fast. It was as though he was reading what her heart had written. “I feel the same way, Chris.”
Pulling her into his arms, he said, “I can’t make a lot of promises, but what do you say about making life a bit more adventurous with me?”
“What exactly are you suggesting?” Melissa teased in a seductive tone.
“Maybe after visiting my parents, we take another trip to Italy and see it our way.”
“I don’t know. It’d be so expensive getting two rooms.”
Chris smiled, “I have the perfect way to cut costs. Maybe we can talk about it tonight?”
“Talk?”
“Hmm. You’re right. Maybe I can show you instead.”
Melissa yearned for him to claim her lips. She’d been dreaming of it since their dinner in Rome. She was tired of playing by the rules, always doing what was expected of her. Tonight, she wasn’t going to hold back. Letting her tongue slowly trace her lips she enticed him to claim hers. She knew it would be good, but damn, she wasn’t prepared for how her body seared with desire at his first touch.
Chris kissed her, tugged at her lips, then bit them gently. With a sigh, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Their moans filled the room. There was nothing slow and gentle in this kiss. There was no coaxing needed either, but the hunger, the urgency of it shook her. Melissa wasn’t going to hold back. Let the adventure begin.
She slipped her tongue between his lips and teased him until he opened for her. The passion only heightened as they devoured and explored each other. Her legs trembled, and she clutched at his shirt. The world was spinning, pushing and pulling at each of them until she found herself with her back against the wall. As they ground against each other, the pictures hanging on the wall threatened to break free. Let them fall.
She didn’t want anything to slow this down. She could feel his erection—his desire matching her own. As he trailed kisses down her neck, nipping and sucking, she was glad for the support, otherwise, she may have slipped onto the floor.
Chris’s hands had been on the wall, but they now slid down the sides of her breasts, stopping at her waist where he fisted the fabric of her shirt.
“Honey, are you sure about this? Because once I get a taste of you, I won’t want to stop. Hell, I don’t want to stop now.” Chris’s voice was husky with need. Her reply was to cup his buttocks and pull him closer. “Damn woman, you’re making it impossible to hold back.” He pulled back just long enough to tug her shirt over her head and throw it across the room. A low growl escaped his lips as he noticed the lack of a bra.
“First thing off when I got home. Didn’t expect so much . . . company and—”
But his lips started tugging at her hardened nipples and she couldn’t think of what else she wanted to say. She could feel the thickness of his arousal through the layers of their clothing as he rubbed against her. The throbbing at her center grew, and her moisture pooled. Her body erupted, tingling all over, and she wanted to feel those lips everywhere.
Taking one nipple gently to his mouth, he sucked and nibbled it. When she thought she couldn’t take any more, he moved his attention to her other breast, repeating the process.
But when he dropped to his knees, tracing kisses over her flat stomach, Melissa couldn’t bear it any longer. As he knelt in front of her, his hands slid beneath the waist of her pants and stroked the curve of her bottom until she felt the fabric of her pants slide down her legs, leaving her standing naked in front of him. She thought he would kiss her in her most private place, but instead Chris trailed kisses up again claiming her lips. Swiftly, never lifting his lips from hers, he picked her up and carried her to the bedroom.
Once inside he laid her on the bed, and she watched as he stripped off his clothes. When he returned to her his eyes roamed over her as though admiring what he saw.
“Damn honey, you’re beautiful.”
She looked at him and said the same, but her trained eye had caught the scars across his right hip and thigh. It was evidence of a wo
und, a severe one. She wanted to ask, but now wasn’t the time, and when he was ready, she was positive he’d tell her.
Boldly she parted her legs, giving him full access to her delicate folds. Chris took full advantage of what she offered. Inching downward, he kissed and licked his way to her most intimate place.
“You taste so sweet.” His words echoed through her.
She fisted the sheets beneath her when his tongue first touched her clit. His tongue teased while his strong hands clenched her buttocks, pulling her closer to him. She bit her lip trying to hold back, but her cries of pleasure escaped and filled the room.
“Oh . . . God, Chris . . . this feels . . . hmmm . . . so . . . good.” She thought she couldn’t take any more, but then he dipped a finger into her hot center. She felt herself tighten around his finger, and it didn’t take long to find the spot inside that made her quiver and rock her hips. As his thumb stroked her clit, faster and faster, her body begged to release. “Chris, I . . .” The waves of her climax shook her body.
He whispered, “You don’t know how badly I want to feel you wrapped around me.”
Melissa, too weak to move, pointed to the nightstand. Chris got up and opened the drawer as she lay there trying to catch her breath. She closed her eyes but heard him tear the packet and sheath himself before settling between her legs.
Chris wasn’t rushing it and teased her entrance. “Please,” she begged, needing to have him, all of him. Her body still burned hot from her first release and yet wanted, no needed, more.
He eased himself into her. It was sweet torture, but when she was comfortable with him, he entered her again with a swift deep thrust. Yes!
“Did I hurt you?” Chris asked, his voice husky with need. She shook her head and rocked against him.
She tried biting her lip to contain her moans, but he claimed them with his own. He knew when to take them forward and when to pause long enough for the intensity to heighten. Sensing her need for more, he went deeper and faster. The bed rocked and she no longer held back her screams of pleasure. Beads of sweat glistened on their bodies as he entered her over and over again until her body begged to release.
Clenching around him, her body shook, her toes curled, and she bit his shoulder as her climax took control. This time she felt him shudder against her. She heard him calling out her name, “Mel, Mel . . . Oh God . . . Mel.”
When the waves of their climaxes ended, they collapsed into each other’s arms. Legs entwined, breathing slowing, they lay holding each other, neither uttering a word as their bodies tried to come down from the ecstasy. Wow!
Nuzzling her throat, he said, “Honey, that was . . . beautiful.”
There were so many words he could’ve chosen to describe their lovemaking, but he’d picked the one that touched her heart the most.
She wasn’t sure what tomorrow would bring, if the magic of tonight would fade, but right now Melissa new exactly how she’d describe their first time together. “That was perfect,” Melissa replied as he claimed her lips again.
Chapter Sixteen
Melissa was more amazing than Chris had thought. When he was with her somehow things went a lot smoother than when he was alone. That didn’t mean the meeting with his father had been great, but it was a start. It took a lot of effort on his part, but Chris could see Mac through Melissa’s eyes. His father, once a tough-ass soldier, was now a man who still couldn’t find his way.
Mac had explained how the service was his life, his passion, back then. When it ended, he didn’t know how to function and felt as though there was nothing left to live for. That hurt because Chris had wanted to be so important that Mac would’ve fought hard to get back home to him. But he realized now that the reason why he didn’t have many memories of his father was because Mac had spent most of his time deployed overseas. The bond Chris had mourned, unfortunately, had never been there.
Where many kids threw a ball around with their fathers, Chris—or Chase as he was back then—spent his days in a small, rundown apartment with his mother. The only time Chris recalled ever doing anything with a parent was after he was adopted.
If there was any doubt about that, his Mom pulled out the photo album and had all the proof.
“Oh, look at your hair,” Melissa said laughing. “It’s almost as long as mine.”
“Enjoy it, because that book is history if I get my hands on it.”
His mother and Melissa said in unison, “Never!” Then they burst out laughing all over again.
“Mom, why is it I’ve never seen this before now?” Chris asked.
“Simple, you never brought anyone home for us to meet. And I knew when you did she’d want to see these.” She turned the page to show Chris at some school dance. He was wearing a pair of black slacks, a white dress shirt, and black suspenders.
“And you’re right, Mrs. Stratton. These are . . . priceless.”
“Please call me Tilly, and before you pull the Mr. Stratton card, my husband goes by Roger.”
Melissa smiled. “I’m so glad Chris brought me with him.”
“We are too. It’s been a while since he’s had time to come around. But we hope maybe now that will change,” Tilly said to Melissa, giving Chris the eye.
“Yes, Mom, I’ll make it a point to come by more frequently. But only if you promise not to whip out a new album each time,” Chris warned.
“Christopher James, you don’t tell me what I can and can’t do in my house.”
Chris shook his head. When the middle name came out, he knew he might as well give up. Besides, he had a feeling his mother was going to show Melissa with or without his permission.
“Mom, Dad, I want to tell you something.” Chris just wasn’t sure where to start. He didn’t want to hurt either of them. I’ve done enough of that over the years.
“What is it son?” Roger asked.
“I . . . met with Mac. Mac Muller.”
His mother looked shocked, but not his father. “How did that go?”
Chris shrugged. “I had a picture of him in my mind all these years. He wasn’t like any of it.”
“Are you okay?” Tilly asked.
“Yeah. I’m not sure if I’ll meet with him again or not. It was kind of left . . . open.”
Roger said, “I’m proud of you, son. It took a lot of courage to face him. Courage on both of your parts.”
“I somehow thought you’d be angry.”
“Why would I be upset? You’re my son. Always will be. I was worried if you didn’t come to terms with what happened with Mac, you might never be able to view us as your real parents.”
Chris looked at his mother, who seemed on the verge of tears. He got up from his chair and walked over to kneel in front of her. He pulled her into his arms and said, “If I never said it before, I’m sorry. But you are the only parents I know and the only ones I want.”
“Oh Christopher, we always knew that. I love you,” Tilly said. “We just wanted you to be able to love yourself. And I think that finally has happened.”
“What are you talking about, Mom?”
Tilly reached up and touched his face then looked at Melissa. “Christopher, a person cannot love another without first loving himself. And if I’m right, you’re in love with this young lady.”
Chris hadn’t put his feelings into words yet and he sure as hell didn’t want the words coming out of his mother’s mouth first. “Mom, don’t you think the albums were enough?”
She smiled. “I know, I’m pushing. But I wouldn’t mind some grandchildren running around here before I get too old to enjoy them.”
“Tilly, you’re going to scare Melissa,” Roger said.
Not to mention me. He was just getting used to the thought he wanted something long term with Melissa. Normally he avoided that like the plague. But hearing his mom talk about children should’ve sent him into a panic. Yet, like everything else with Melissa, it didn’t.
Chris got up and walked over to Melissa. She hadn’t taken her eyes
off him. He answered his mom while staring into Melissa’s beautiful brown eyes.
“I promise, Mom, before you turn ninety you’ll have a grandchild.” Of course his mother had only just turned sixty.
Melissa grinned as Tilly said, “I think there might be some wiggle room on that time table.”
Chris wasn’t ready to be a father today, but for the first time, he could picture having a Christopher James Stratton junior running around. To drive me crazy like I did my parents.
“Don’t worry, Mel, I promised you an adventurous life. I plan on delivering.”
She smiled. “I don’t know. It seems that parenting is one adventure after another.” Chris cocked a brow and she continued, “Maybe we can plan such an adventure in a few years.”
Tilly leaped off her seat as though she was told they were expecting. Chris shook his head and turned back to Melissa. “I’m not sure I should be thrilled or scared how well you fit in the family.”
“I was going to say the same thing about you,” Melissa replied.
“Good, because I can’t picture my life without you. I love you, Mel,” Chris said, pulling her close.
“I love you too, Chris.”
As Chris claimed her lips he could hear his mother start to cry. “Oh Roger, we’re going to finally have a daughter.”
Oh, Mom. He couldn’t argue with her because Mel was the one person who’d been able to heal what he never knew was broken. My heart.
Chris no longer feared becoming his father, Mac. He had people who loved him, and for the first time in his life, people he could allow himself to love in return. I love you, my Mel.
* * *
The End
Pre-Order Book 7, For Keeps
Releasing 4/6/2019
Also by Jeannette Winters
Barrington Billionaires Series:
Book 1: One White Lie (FREE!)
Book 2: Table For Two
Book 3: You & Me Make Three
Book 4: Virgin For The Fourth Time
Book 5: His For Five Nights
For Love Page 17
