Forever and Always

by Beverley Hollowed

  “I will be eighteen the end of August” Melanie shot back quickly. “Please Mom”.

  “Melanie if you were a little closer to home maybe” Sarah sighed.

  “But Maggie won’t be that far away” Melanie replied. “Please”

  “This means a lot to you” Sarah said softly.

  “Yes Mom” Melanie whispered.

  “He means a lot to you, doesn’t he?” Sarah asked.

  “He means everything” Melanie replied as the tears final break free and trickle down her face. “Please Mom”.

  “Ok” Sarah sighed. “You’d better put Maggie back on the phone”.

  “Thanks Mom” Melanie said releasing a deep breath of air, she hadn’t realised she was holding her breath. “I love you”

  “Love you too Kiddo” Sarah said but then added. “And maybe it’s time you rang your Dad and told him that too”.

  “I will Mom” Melanie replied and handed the phone to Maggie.

  Melanie finally looked at Sam as relief swept across her face. His eyes were fixed to her, a mix of fear and uncertainty etched across his face.

  While Maggie spoke to Sarah, Melanie quickly explained to Sam about Mark and the fact that Maggie was needed to go back to Boston.

  “You’re leaving” Sam asked his face ashen.

  “That’s what Maggie is talking to my Mom about” Melanie replied turning back to Maggie who was finally finished on the phone.

  “Well assuming your Dad doesn’t freak out too badly” Maggie said as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. She looked so stressed out and Melanie felt a little guilty for adding to her stress.

  “Your Mom said you can stay here”.

  “Oh thank you Maggie” Melanie squealed throwing her arms around Maggie. Suddenly Sam was hugging them too.

  “Ok, ok” Maggie laughed. “Just don’t mess up and get me into trouble with your Mom.

  An hour later Melanie and Sam waved goodbye to Maggie as she headed off in her car.

  “Now I have you all to myself” Sam said as he pulled Melanie into his arms. He kissed her softly and pressed his head against hers. “I think I just might be the luckiest guy alive”.

  Melanie lead Sam back into the house and made him breakfast, then went to get dressed. They spent the day relaxing on the beach. Melanie loved spending time with Sam. She loved Sam.

  Later that evening Sam said he would drive to town to pick up some take out for them. While Sam was gone Melanie decided she should ring her Dad. She sat on her bed for a few minutes staring at her phone.

  “This is stupid” she said to herself. “This is your Dad. The one you could tell anything to, the one who sat by your bed for the two nights when you were in hospital when you got your tonsils out. The one who threatened Mr Cross, your third class teacher who made you cry when he accused you of cheating on a test, when you didn’t......The one who broke your heart with his careless words”.

  Melanie shook her head and tried to force these thoughts out of her head. Quickly, before she could change her mind, she pressed dial on the phone. It rang twice before he picked up.

  “Melanie” he said nervously, the sadness in his voice pulling at her heart. Tear instantly burnt her eyes.

  “Hey Dad” she replied after a couple of deep breaths to calm herself. “How are you?”

  “Better now hearing your voice” he said, she knew he was smiling. She could hear the relief in his voice. “How are you?”

  “I’m good” she replied, tears now freely running down her face. This was harder then she thought it was going to be. She just didn’t know what to say to him. How had they turned into strangers so quickly?

  “I’m glad” he replied, this was hard for him too. He wished she was right there with him some he could hold her close to him. “Mel, I am so sorry I hurt you”.

  “Please Daddy, don’t” she whispered as the sob she was fighting to hold inside escaped. “I just wanted to say hi .....and to tell you.... I am ok.........and to tell you...” She could barely breathe. She could hear his breathing change and she knew he was upset.

  “And to tell you I love you” she finally managed to say breathing hard to try and control her sobbing. “I will call again soon”.

  “Melanie, wait please” he pleaded. He had so much he wanted to say to her.

  “I gotta go” she whispered.

  “Melanie I love you” Alex said quickly.

  “Bye Dad” and she hung up the phone, dropping it from her hands and sinking back on the bed, curling on to her side pulling her legs up to her chest and sobbed.

  Suddenly Sam was next to her and pulling her into his arms. She hadn’t heard him come back and had no idea how long he had been standing in her room. She buried her face into his chest and sobbed harder.

  “Hey it’s ok” he whispered softly his breath washing down her neck like a calming wave. She looked up at him and her eyes met his. He wiped the tears from her face. She felt safe and somehow stronger. She kissed his lips as he softly stroked her face.

  Suddenly something exploded between them and they could hold back no longer. He returned her kiss with a blazing passion that pulled into her very soul.

  He pulled her to him as he slowly lower her back on the bed, his mouth never leaving hers. Melanie’s head spun. She wanted this. She wanted him so badly. She was ready.

  Suddenly feeling brave she grabbed the end of his t-shirt she pulled it over his head. Quickly he opened the buttons on the light cotton blouses she was wearing and slipped the blouse off her shoulder, kissing her neck as he peeled it off her completely. His lips slowly made their way down her neck on to her chest and finally he reached her breasts. He stopped and glanced up at Melanie asking for permission. She smiled and he slowly unhooked the clasp in the front of her bra and softly kissed her breast.

  Melanie’s heart was beating so fast she thought it was going to burst right through her chest. Since the day when Sam told her he wanted to wait for their first time to be special she had thought of nothing else. They had come close a few times but never this far.

  Sam slid his hand down Melanie’s body till he came to her shorts. He hooked his fingers in side and gentle pulled both her shorts and her panties down. Melanie tilted her hips off the bed making it easier for Sam to get her shorts down.

  Now she was lying there naked. She could feel her cheeks flush as his eyes ran all over her body. His breath hitched slightly as he did. He stood up and slowly undid his buckle on his jeans and pulled open the buttons. His eye locked with her as he pushed his trousers and boxers shorts down. Melanie’s eyes instantly went to his erection. He was so ready too. Melanie blushed when she looked back up at his face realising he knew she had been looking at him, there. He smiled nervously at her.

  Slow he climbed back on to the bed balancing over her. His leaned down and softly kissed her lips.

  “Melanie, are you sure you want this?” he whispered into her ear softly. She could barely breathe. She nodded slowly and smiled. She was sure. He kissed her again and let his hands explore every part of her body until his reached between her tights and softly ran his fingers back and forth over her before he slowly slipped two of his fingers inside her. Her back arched as pleasure rushed through her like hot liquid through her veins. She moaned softly as she tugged his hair and pulled him too her.

  “Oh God Melanie” he groaned against her neck. “You are so beautiful”.

  Suddenly he kneeled up on the bed and reached down for his jeans.

  “What’s wrong” Melanie asked, worried she had done something wrong. He looked at her and smiled as he pulled a condom out of his pocket. Quickly he ripped the foil and rolled the condom down over his erection. Then he was back on top of Melanie.

  This time his legs slid quickly in between hers pushing her legs further apart. He stilled for a moment his eyes looking into her eyes waiting for permission. She smile and reached up until her lips met his and she kissed him.

  Slowly he eased inside of her. Her heart w
as pounding so hard. She felt a little pinch and she winced. He stopped immediately.

  “Are you ok?” he asked softly, concern written all over his face. “Am I hurting you?”

  “It’s fine” Melanie assured him. “It only hurt for a moment”.

  Slowly he pulled out and eased into her again. Melanie head was spinning. Stopping again he looked at her and she gave him a reassuring smile.

  Once again he pulled out and eased back in but this time he didn’t stop. He continued with a slow gentle rhythm. He kissed her as he moved inside her.

  Part of her couldn’t believe this was happening. It felt better than she ever imagined it would. Melanie slid her hands under his arms and around his back pulling him closer to her. She felt a strange quiver inside her body starting in the pit of her stomach and radiating out. Slowly but steadily it grew bigger and bigger. As Sam began to move faster and more urgently, Melanie’s body began to quiver. She closed her eyes and gripped his back so hard it made him groan and pushed him on, harder and faster.

  “Oh Sam” Melanie cried, pinching her eyes shut as her body came apart beneath him. Her words sending him over the edge as he slammed into her one more time and stilled as he called out her name. He collapsed on top of her pinning her to the bed. His face buried in her neck, both of them breathing ragged and hard.

  Finally he lifted his head off her and looked at her face, a tender smile across his face.

  “Melanie O’Leary” he said as he kissed her lips softly. “I love you so much”.

  “I love you too Sam Cooper” Melanie replied and smiled.

  “Forever and always?” he asked.

  “Forever and always” she replied.

  “Are you ok?” Sam asked placing one small kiss after another from her ear down her throat to her neck. “I didn’t hurt you did I”.

  Melanie smiled brightly at Sam. Sam looked at her in confusion.

  “What is it?” he asked with a nervous giggle as he wiped stray strands of hair from her sweaty brow.

  “It was perfect Sam” Melanie replied. “Just like you”.

  Chapter 8They lay together for hours after they made love. It was almost midnight when Sam suggested they heat up the food he had brought back earlier that evening. Sam put his jeans on and Melanie just pulled on her dressing gown.

  They sat on the rug on the living room floor and watched some TV while they ate their food. Melanie would peek over at Sam from time to time. He had a happy, contented expression on his face as he ate and watched the movie they had put on.

  But Melanie couldn’t concentrate. All she could think about was the fact that she, Melanie O’Leary from Swords in Dublin had just made love to this amazingly gorgeous boy sitting beside her. She wondered did she look different because she felt different. She felt grown up, older, mature.

  “Penny for your thoughts” Sam said pulling her from her daydream.

  “I was just thinking” she replied and smiled.

  “Is that a good or a bad thing” he asked shifting closer to her.

  “Good I think” she replied and leaned over to kiss him. “Will you stay with me tonight”.

  “I would love to” he whispered. He picked up the remote control and switched off the TV. Standing up he took her hand and pulled her to her feet. Wrapping her in his arms he kissed her briefly. Then without saying another word he took her hand and led her back to the bedroom. They made love again before they fell asleep in each other’s arms.

  When Melanie woke the next morning Sam was still wrapped around her. She watched him as he slept. She couldn’t believe she had just spent the night with him. It was everything she had ever dreamed it would be. She felt a little stiff, sore and also very hot laying there with Sam wrapped around her. She tried to adjust her position without disturbing Sam but as soon as she moved, Sam’s eyes snapped opened.

  “Good morning beautiful” he said sleepily.

  “Good morning” Melanie smiled bright.

  “How do you feel this morning” he asked as he placed soft feathered kisses up her neck.

  “I feel good” she replied.

  “Well you look beautiful” he said spreading his hand out over her bare belly. “And you smell so good”.

  “I bet you say that to all the girls” Melanie said with a giggle. “And I am sure many have fallen for you lines before”. Sam stopped kissing her and leaned up on his elbow and looked down at her. His face looked troubled.

  “Why do you say that?” he asked sounding a little hurt. “Melanie I have never felt like this about any other girl. I love you”.

  “Sam I was kidding” Melanie said reaching up and gently brushing her fingers across Sam’s cheek.

  “I’m sorry” Sam said. “I just don’t want you to ever doubt what you mean to me”.

  “Ok” Melanie said surprised at Sam reaction to her joke. He kissed her softly on the lips and climbed out of bed. He disappeared into the en suite in her room. Melanie lay in the bed for a few moments. She felt a little confused by what had just happened. It was so unlike Sam. He was always happy and cheerful and such fun. Melanie remembered the last time he has acted like this was the first day they went out and that girl from the Italian restaurant made some offhand comment. His mood had change suddenly that day too.

  She sat up in the bed pulling her knees to her chest and looked over at the bathroom door. What was he thinking? Was there something she didn’t know about him? Her mind was racing.

  Suddenly her mobile rang and made her jump. She quickly grabbed it from the night stand and pressed the answer key.

  “Hello” she said trying to collect her thoughts.

  “Hi Mel” Maggie’s tired voice came across the phone. “How’s everything at the beach?”

  “It’s good Maggie” Melanie replied trying to sound at normal as possible. “How’s Mark?”

  “He is still unconscious” Maggie replied sadly. “He looks pretty beaten up”.

  “I am sorry Maggie” Melanie said honestly.

  “Thanks sweetie” Maggie replied. “So how did last night go, were you ok on your own in the house?”

  “Yeah I was fine” Melanie replied feeling guilty for lying to Maggie. “Sam and I watched a movie and then he made sure everything was locked up before he went home. I am going to go meet him shortly to go swimming”.

  “That’s good” Maggie replied absentmindedly. Melanie was relieved. Maggie was obviously too distracted by what was happening with Mark. “Well I am just a call away if you need anything Mel. The doctor is here I will talk to you later”.

  Maggie hung up before Melanie even said goodbye. Melanie climbed out of bed and quickly pulled on some shorts and a t-shirt. She glanced at the en-suite door one last time and turned and headed for the kitchen.

  Melanie desperately wanted a shower but with Sam in the bathroom in the humour he was in she decided a cool glass of orange juice would have to do right now. She opened the fridge and pulled out the orange juice and then reached up and pulled a glass from the press above her head.

  As she poured the juice Sam appeared at her bedroom door. He looked nervous and uncomfortable. Immediately Melanie’s heart began to race and her stomach flipped.

  “I am going to go home and have a shower and get some clean clothes” he said, like he had rehearsed the sentence over and over again. His eyes didn’t even meet hers.

  “Ok” was all she could manage to say.

  “I’ll see you in a while” he said and still without looking at her he left. Melanie suddenly felt sick. She no longer wanted the orange juice so she quickly poured it down the sink. Her stomach lurched and she knew she was going to be sick. Quickly she ran to her bathroom and sank to her knees at the toilet and she threw up.

  When she finally stopped throwing up, she sank back against the cold tiled wall. What the hell had just happened? She thought everything was fine. The last four weeks had been the best of her life. Sam was everything she had ever dreamed of and more. She loved him and she tho
ught he loved her. What had changed? Then it hit her. She had just slept with him. And suddenly her Dad’s words about Mike came back to her.

  “That wasn’t love! He had only one thing on his mind! He would say anything to get you to do what he wants!”

  His words ran around and around her head.

  But Sam wasn’t like Mike. Or was he? What had changed? Why was he suddenly so distant and cold? Had he just used her? Suddenly she felt dirty and cheap.

  Melanie stumbled to her feet quickly as the tear pooled in her eyes. She pulled off her clothes and climbed into the shower. The hot water on her skin felt good. She filled her washed cloth with body wash and scrubbed her skin till it was sore, sobbing while she washed. She felt stupid and used and so unbelievably angry with herself right now.

  By the time she climbed from the shower her skin hurt and so did her head but her tears had stopped and now she just felt angry.

  She pulled on a pair of denim shorts and a clean white t-shirt. She pulled on her black canvas pumps and quickly pulled her hair into a braid.

  She checked herself in the full mirror. She looked fine except her eyes were still a little red and puffy. So she grabbed her sun glasses before she headed out the door. She needed to clear her head so she began to walk fast along the empty beach. She needed to put some distance between herself and the beach house and Sam.

  “Melanie” she heard Sam call from behind her. She didn’t stop instead her pace picked up. She wasn’t ready for a confrontation with him right now. “Melanie please wait!”

  “Go away Sam” she shouted her pace not slowing at all.

  “No I am not going anywhere” he said finally catching up with her and grabbing her arm. “You are not going to shut me like you have shut your Dad out”.

  His words stopped her dead in her tracks.

  “Wow” she hissed. “I can’t believe you just said that to me”.

  “I know you Melanie O’Leary” he said grabbing her by the hands. “I think I know you better than anyone else and I know you will put this wall up”.