by Cathryn Fox
In a move that took her by surprise, he tore open the shower curtain, grabbed a towel off the hook, and wrapped her in it. He grabbed his jeans from the floor and carried her into one of the bedrooms. A second later he was laying her out on the bed. He slid over her, his hot, hard body pressing her into the mattress as his mouth found hers.
She moved beneath him, loving the feel of his hardness meshed against her body. His lips left hers, and he buried his face in her neck as he shifted to the side. His hands slid over her body, touching, reacquainting himself with her curves, as he dipped his head lower to swipe the soft blade of his tongue across her sensitized nipple. She moaned and raked her fingers through his hair as warmth pooled between her thighs.
“You like that, baby?” he asked, his voice practically unrecognizable.
“Yes,” she cried out, writhing on the mattress, so needy, so desperate to feel him inside her. His hand pressed between her knees and when his fingers eased her thighs apart, she dug her nails into the bedding.
He slid lower, his breath scorching her skin as he breathed a kiss over her flesh. He drew in the scent of her skin before changing positions. He went up on his knees near the foot of the bed and when he caught her glance, a storm far more volatile and powerful than the one overhead brewed between them. Sexual energy sparked as he widened her legs even more and gave her a look that conveyed his hunger. He dipped his head and the second his mouth moved to the greedy spot between her legs, her chest rose on an intake of breath.
“Oh, God,” she whimpered as his tongue seared her clit in the most delicious way. Pleasure raced through her as she moved against his mouth. He continued to bring her higher and higher and the second he inserted a finger and found the hot bundle of nerves inside her, she burst into a million tiny pieces.
“Rye,” she cried out, curling her fingers in the sheets as her body let go, giving itself over to the incredible sensations closing in on her. She pinched her eyes shut and concentrated on the pleasure. Ryeland kept licking her, drawing out her orgasm. When her body finally stopped spasming, Rye climbed over her.
She flicked her lids open to find him looking at her, the emotions, the heat backlighting those pewter eyes arousing her all over again. He exhaled a shallow breath and ran his thumb over her kiss-swollen lips.
“I need to be inside you,” he said, the urgency in his tone, and longing in his voice doing crazy things to her. She traced her hands over him, unable to get enough, as he grabbed his jeans, pulled out a condom, and quickly sheathed himself.
Overwhelmed by the things he made her feel, she swallowed hard and touched his face. His hand closed over hers, his eyes serious.
“Tell me you want this.”
She widened her legs even more as he balanced on one elbow, his crown pressed against her opening. “I want you,” she whispered, lifting her hips and inviting him in.
He fisted her hair and jerked his hips forward, driving hard and deep and fueling the need inside her. He began pumping and she moved with him, meeting each powerful thrust.
“You feel so good,” he growled as blood pounded through her veins. “So good, baby.”
His thick muscles bunched as he shifted his body for deeper thrusts, and as he moved urgently over her, his thumb went to her clit. He circled it, toyed with it, then applied just the right amount of pressure to take her to the precipice again.
“Oh, yes,” she murmured, tossing her head from side to side as pleasure exploded through her. He rode her harder, faster, his growls telling her how close he was as her sex fluttered with a second orgasm. “Rye,” she called out. “So good.” She rode out the waves, working to catch her breath as she gripped him close.
“Jesus,” he bit out as her muscles clenched around him. He held her, absorbing her tremor, then between clenched teeth said, “I’m so close.”
She pressed her lips to his neck and breathed in his scent, consumed by the things he made her feel. A barrage of emotions raced through her as he drove in once, twice, then buried himself high inside her. She held him tight as he let go, and she whimpered and stilled as he depleted himself completely.
He collapsed on top of her and they remained that way for a long time, each holding on to one another as if their lives depended on it. He eventually slid off her body and discarded the condom. When he fell back onto the bed he pulled her close and a deep sense of belonging settled in her bones.
She took in his profile, beads of sweat plastering his hair to his forehead. Honestly, Ryeland was unlike any man she knew, and being with him like this felt so right. She cuddled into him and put her hand on his chest. He reached for it, and as their fingers linked she closed her eyes, just wanting to hear the sound of his breath.
The storm continued to rage outside, lighting up the sky, but he was in no hurry to move. His arms tightened around her and she gave a soft moan.
“Melody.”
“Yeah?”
He shifted to face her, his grin so damn adorable it set her heart racing. “I’m kind of into you.”
Butterflies took flight in her stomach and she tried not to giggle like a schoolgirl. “I’m kind of into you too.”
His grin widened as he brushed her hair from her face. “I meant to tell you, I registered for the MCATs tonight.”
“You did?”
“Yeah. Want to go with me when I take the test?”
“For sure.” He went quiet for a moment, like he was a million miles away. She touched his cheek and he looked at her. “What?” she asked. “What are you thinking?”
“What I’m thinking is how you talked about going to Toronto at the end of the summer. If I pass the test, maybe I could apply for schools there next year.” He leaned into her, his lips meeting hers. The kiss he gave her was so full of emotion and tenderness it stole the breath from her lungs. “I don’t want this thing between us to end come the fall,” he whispered.
Mel’s heart soared and it took all her effort to refill her lungs as she tried to wrap her brain around what he was saying, how the intimacies they’d just shared had changed everything between them. For the last few weeks she’d simply been living in the moment with Ryeland, too afraid to look ahead, yet he’d been thinking about his future—one with her in it. She resisted the urge to pinch herself, afraid to wake from this amazing dream, because never, ever in her life had things been so perfect, so right. Not only did it frighten her a little, it made her wonder when this bubble would burst and the world would fragment around her, because even though they were great together, and things seemed to be working between them, she couldn’t forget she had secrets and he had a family that hated her.
But maybe, just maybe they could overcome the odds and really make this work. She clung to that crumb of hope, needing to hold it close, because after tonight, the alternative was much too painful to consider.
Chapter Sixteen
Before Ryeland knew it, the summer had breezed by in an idyllic blur as he and Melody continued to lose themselves in each other. They saw each other almost every night, with the exception of the nights she spent with her mom. With Labor Day only a few weeks away, the night mountain air had grown colder, the leaves not too far from changing color. There were still a few weeks left of vacation season, but many families had already started heading home to prepare for the next school year. Ryeland and Melody weren’t without their own plans, and Ryeland knew soon enough he’d have to reopen the discussion with his father.
Over the course of the summer he studied while she perfected her chapters, and when she wasn’t writing she quizzed him. At times he even helped her plot. He loved her creative mind, her energy, the way she lit up when she talked about her stories. In fact, he loved everything about her and there was no denying how good they were together.
Originally, he hadn’t wanted to sneak around with her. She deserved better than that from him. But as their relationship progressed, grew far more serious, they kept things quiet, wanting nothing or no one to come between them—espec
ially his parents. As long as Ryeland continued to practice tennis with Suzette and put on appearances for family functions, his folks had kept quiet about Melody, no doubt hoping he’d simply get her out of his system and leave her behind when he went to law school in the fall.
But today was the day he was scheduled to take his MCATs and if things went according to plan, he’d be moving to Toronto with Mel and changing his path. They’d talked about their future, about having a family together, and had even been looking at apartments online. He knew his folks would go bat-shit crazy if they knew and his father would cut him off, but thanks to Melody, he’d come to learn his freedom, and following his heart was something he needed to do. He hoped someday his father would warm to the idea of Ryeland following his own dreams and they could be friends.
He walked her way when he saw her coming from Wolf Lodge. She hurried toward him. He loved how her face lit up whenever she saw him. He grabbed her backpack and shouldered it, then dropped a kiss onto her mouth.
She kissed him back, so warm and passionate he knew if he didn’t break it they’d never make it to Jasper in time to take the test.
“Hey, baby,” he said, his heart pounding madly as he inched back. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, totally blown away by Melody and the things she made him feel. From the first time he gave her a ride, he knew they would be good together, but things were even better than he expected. So much better in fact, it scared him a little.
“You all set?” she asked.
“As ready as I’m going to be, I guess.”
She jumped into the passenger seat. “Do you want me to quiz you?”
“No, let’s just talk.”
He slid behind the wheel and pulled onto the road. Every time he looked at her he found her looking back, a beautiful smile on her face.
“What?” he asked.
“I’m excited for you.”
“Don’t be too excited. I haven’t passed yet.”
“You will. I have faith in you.”
His heart warmed and he reached for her hand. “So…” he said.
“Sooo…what?” she asked.
“Come on, tell me. Did Marcus like the first three chapters enough to send them off to the publisher?”
Her eyes went wide and she nodded rapidly. “He did!”
“That’s great, baby.” He pulled her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “They’re going to love it.”
She made a face that said she wasn’t so sure. “I need to get the ending finished. If they ask for more I have to have it ready.”
“You can do it. You brought your laptop to write while I’m testing, right?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s going to be great. I can see it now. I’ll work for the next year to support us while you write and get published, then I’ll go to medical school and you can support me.”
She laughed. “Uh, I’m not sure I’ll even be able to support your pinky at first.”
He laughed with her. “I don’t care. I’d rather be poor and happy with you than rich and without you.”
Melody leaned back in her seat, and as she stared at the road ahead, she smiled. Honestly, he’d never seen her so happy or content. They’d come a long way over the summer, growing closer. While they talked and shared everything, there was still a part of her she kept closed off. He wasn’t sure what had really happened that night in the hotel he’d heard so many rumors about, or why she was too afraid to tell him, but he hoped that one day she would spill and he could help slay her demons.
They talked quietly about their future and enjoyed the scenery as they drove to Jasper. When he reached the office tower where he’d be testing, he parked and drew a centering breath, realizing he was more nervous than he thought.
Melody leaned into him and planted a soft kiss on his mouth. Then she inched back and licked her lips.
“What was that for?” he asked, his cock thickening.
“Good luck.”
“Come here.” He grabbed her and pulled her close, his mouth crashing down on hers. “When I’m done today, I’m going to take you back to your place and have my way with you.”
She chuckled and said, “On one condition.”
“No conditions,” he growled. When she angled her head and lifted her chin in defiance, he gave an exaggerated exhale and asked, “Okay, what condition?”
“Well, I’m writing a very complicated sex scene with ropes, and I might need you to help me play it out so I get it right.”
“Jesus, Melody.” He fisted his hair. “You can’t say something like that to me before I’m about to test.”
She laughed. “Oops, sorry.”
She reached for her backpack from the rear seat but he turned and grabbed it for her. She gestured toward a coffee shop across the street. “I’ll be there writing.”
“Okay.” He gave her another kiss. “I’ll be a few hours.”
Ryeland watched her cross the street and once she was inside the coffee shop, he made his way to the testing center. He showed his ID and signed in and for the next four hours he, along with twenty other people, sat in front of a computer in their own little cubicles. Exhaustion pulled at him as he finished the third section a moment before he was timed out. He pushed back in his chair and scrubbed a hand over his face. At least everyone else who’d taken it looked as wrung out as he was.
Working to clear his head as he walked outside, daylight long gone, he crossed the road, anxious to see Melody, to take her back to her place and help her out with that scene, but the second he looked at her, and saw the panic on her face, his heart dropped into his stomach.
“Baby, what is it?” he asked.
She held her phone up. “Sattler texted me. My mom. She’s in the drunk tank.”
He grabbed her and pulled her close. “Oh Jesus.”
“I need to go get her.”
“Okay,” he said and guided her to his vehicle. She remained mostly quiet, nibbling her bottom lip nervously as he drove them back to Deerfield. When he parked outside the police station, Melody jumped from her seat and darted inside.
He finally caught up to her at the front counter, pleading with the officer behind it, but the woman insisted there was nothing she could do. Ryeland grabbed Melody and pulled her away.
“I can’t leave her in there, Ryeland,” she said.
“I know. I’ll call my father. He’ll know what to do.”
Her lashes fluttered and after a moment of hesitation, she gave a quick nod. “Okay.”
Ryeland pulled his phone from his pocket and punched in his dad’s number.
“Ryeland,” his father said, answering.
“Dad, can you come down to the police station? I need some help.”
“Are you in trouble?” his dad asked, his voice hard.
“No. Please just come.”
Silence lingered for a second, then his father said, “I’m on my way.”
He led Melody outside to wait, and she paced nervously. “I hate the thought of her in there,” she said, folding her arms around her chest and hugging herself.
“I know, baby. We’ll get her out.”
Ten minutes later both his mother and father exited their car. Melody stepped away from Ryeland, moving into the shadows as his mother rushed up the steps toward him. She looked him over, her worried gaze assessing him.
“Ryeland, are you okay? What’s going on? What happened?”
He gripped his mother’s arms to calm her. “It’s okay. I’m okay.”
“Then what is all this about?” his father asked, the calmness in his voice belying the anger brewing behind his hard eyes.
Ryeland looked past his mother’s shoulders to Melody, who was leaning against the brick wall, her gaze darting nervously between Ryeland and his father. “Melody needs your help. Her mother needs a lawyer to help get her out and I thought you could help.”
His mother and father both stiffened, their deadly glances zeroing in on Mel, who started shrinking in on
herself.
“Ryeland—” his father began.
“I need you to help her,” Ryeland said, his voice low to showcase just how serious he was as he cut his father off. “I need you to do this.”
His father glared at him, something dark and worried moving over his face.
“Rita deserves what she gets,” his mother Eliza burst out and Ryeland’s head came back with a start. What the hell?
“Eliza,” his father said harshly. “Go wait in the car.”
“You know my mother?” Melody asked, her eyes narrowing as she turned toward Eliza.
“Stay away from this girl, Ryeland,” she continued to ramble as she shot a deadly glare Melody’s way. “She’s trouble. Like her mother.”
“Mom,” Ryeland bit out harshly and stood between his mother and Melody. He loved his mother but no way in hell was he going to stand there and let her talk about Melody like that.
“Eliza,” his father warned again.
Eliza went up on her toes and tried to look over Ryeland’s shoulder, her gaze shooting daggers. He shifted his position to prevent her from making eye contact with Melody. She made a huffing sound, then scampered off to the car.
“Ryeland, get in the car and take your mother home.”
Ryeland linked his hands together behind his head. “What, no? I’m not going anywhere.”
“You will if you want me to help.”
He turned to Melody who was staring at him with those haunted eyes of hers. Christ, he hadn’t seen her look like she had demons to slay in months now.
“Melody.” He grabbed her hands. “I don’t want to leave you.”
“I need to get her out,” she said, her voice tight.
His father stood there glaring at him, his arms folded, his face hard, dangerous.
“Okay,” Ryeland finally said, conceding because this was what Melody needed. He turned and made his way to the car. He slid into the front seat, looked at his mother and asked, “How do you know Melody’s mother?”
Chapter Seventeen
Mel followed Mr. Montgomery inside the building and stood back as he spoke to the officer behind the counter, the one who’d said she couldn’t help. Mel had no idea what he was saying or how he could go about freeing her mother, she was only grateful that he was trying to help. She stayed a few feet back and Mr. Montgomery didn’t spare her a glance as he was led through a security door. Mel found a chair and lowered herself into it, wringing her hands as she waited and prayed that he could free her mother. Honestly, she wasn’t sure how this would affect Ryeland. His father was pretty harsh with him, and even though Mel had been reluctant to let Ryeland call home, his father was the only chance she had of getting her mom out.
