by Amy Reece
“Hey, Mel,” Tony said around a large bite of cheesecake. “Seamus told me to tell you he was able to get your laptop out of your house. It’s in the guest bedroom.”
“Please thank him for me. That’s a huge relief. At least I can work now while I wait for my house to be habitable again.”
“You can thank him yourself tomorrow. Dad wants everyone over for another barbecue.”
“If Mel feels up to it, we’ll see.” Finn noticed she was mostly pushing her dessert around on her plate; she’d only eaten about half her salad, as well. Exhaustion was clearly catching up with her. “Listen,” he addressed his family members. “Mel and I haven’t had much sleep in the past two days, so we’re going to take a nap now.” He saw relief spread across her features.
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t let the door hit us in the ass on our way out, huh?”
“Antonio Cristoforo!” Moira’s exclamation was appalled, yet resigned. She turned to Finn and Mel. “You two go on and get some sleep. Cara and I will do the dishes quietly and then leave you alone. Tony, you clear the table and then take your noisy self away.”
Finn heaved himself up and grabbed his crutches before following Mel down the hall to the bedrooms. He could hear Tony grumbling as they left.
“I can be silent as the grave, Ma. Geez! Just cuz I’m the youngest…” His words faded as they retreated further down the hallway.
Mel’s soft laughter sounded tired as she reached for the knob of the guest bedroom door. “I love your family, Finn. I’ll see you in a couple hours, okay?”
“My family obviously loves you too. Hey.” He reached to touch her arm while balancing on his crutches. “Come to my room and let’s take a nap together. I need to hold you. I promise no funny business; I’m way too tired to even think about it.”
She looked up into his eyes, surprised, but then smiled crookedly. “That sounds nice.”
He ushered her into his bedroom and shut the door behind them. Someone had thoughtfully made his bed. He’d only stretched the truth a bit: he was never too tired to think about sex, but he didn’t think he was capable of actually acting on his desires right now. Maybe later. He leaned his crutches against the wall and sat on the bed to remove his boot before stretching out and patting the spot beside him. “Come here.”
Mel hesitantly reclined next to him with at least two feet between them. He smiled tiredly and reached for her, pulling her to spoon against him. He had just enough energy left to reach down for the light afghan at the foot of the bed and pull it up over them. He tucked Mel’s head under his chin and wrapped his arm around her. Yes. He was asleep within seconds.
***
The room was deeply shadowed when he awoke. A quick glance at the bedside clock informed him it was nearly 5:00 p.m. He was facing the opposite direction from when he fell asleep and Fluff was now curled against his stomach, snoring softly, and serving as a poor substitute for the woman he’d fallen asleep holding. He wondered where Mel was until he realized the warmth against his back was her; they had ended up butt-to-butt. He carefully turned over and slipped his arm around her waist. He inhaled the warm scent of her: shampoo, a lingering antiseptic smell from the hospital, and her own unique fragrance, which always drove him wild. He sternly told himself not to get carried away; he refused to rush her into anything. Instead he simply enjoyed the feel of her in his arms. He could get used to this; in fact, he had every intention of keeping her here—in his house and in his bed—from now on. She stirred and he knew she was awake.
“Hey.”
“Hey yourself.” She turned over and faced him. “That was a great nap.”
“Best ever.” He leaned in and kissed her quickly. “Sorry about the nap breath.”
She smiled. “No problem. I’m sure I’ve got the ‘zacklies.’”
“The what?”
“The ‘zacklies.’ It’s when your breath smells exactly like chicken shit.”
He burst out laughing. “Oh my God! I’ve never heard that before.”
“Yeah, well, my Aunt Karen was full of earthy little sayings like that.”
He brushed her hair behind her ear, noting the sudden sadness in her eyes at the mention of her beloved aunt. He realized she must be feeling very lonely and vulnerable right now; even more reason to not take advantage of her. But lying next to her in bed was becoming too much of a temptation, so he kissed her on the nose and reluctantly sat up. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. How does grilled cheese sound? If the gods are smiling on us, we may even be able to scare up a couple beers.”
“Sounds amazing. I was too tired to eat much at lunch, so I’m starving too. Beer sounds great—I’m avoiding red wine for a while. At least a few days.”
“Come on, Princess.” He held his hand out to her while balancing on one crutch. “I make a mean grilled cheese.”
They were in luck: his mom had stocked his fridge. He made a mental note to get her an extra-special Christmas present and give her an unexpected hug the next time he saw her.
Twenty minutes later, they had sandwiches and their second bottle of beer each while they cruised through Netflix looking for something to watch. They settled on an action thriller and settled back to relax. Halfway through the movie, Mel paused it and took the plates to the kitchen, returning with more beer.
“Can we talk for a few minutes, Finn?” Mel handed him a beer and sat, angling herself toward him.
He clicked the movie off. “Of course, sweetheart. What’s wrong?” What could he have done? The grilled cheese did an unpleasant flip in his stomach.
She bit her lip and shrugged. “Nothing’s wrong. I just think I should tell you some stuff about me, about why I freaked out when I saw you and Tatiana. When I talked to Cara the other night, she seemed to think it would help if I talked to you and explained.”
“Okay, but only if you want to. You don’t have to explain yourself, though.” He took a long pull on his beer, trying to disguise his eagerness. Maybe they could finally move past whatever had hurt her and caused her to withdraw from life.
She smiled crookedly at him. “Thanks, but I think it’s for the best. You need to know about my past if we have any chance of making this relationship work.” She paused and took a deep, fortifying breath. “Okay, here goes: when I was freshman in college, I met a guy who was really popular and good-looking. He asked me out and we dated for about a year. I was really shy and had never dated before, so I didn’t really know what to expect. To make a long story short, he pressured me into a sexual relationship way before I was ready. I later found out he’d been cheating on me the entire time. I’ve had a hard time trusting myself to date anyone since. I guess it’s made me kind of wary about men.” She took a long drink from her beer when she finished.
Wary? I’ll say. God, he’d like to get his hands on that bastard! He’d known it had to be something like this. Poor Mel! “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.” He took her beer and set it on the table before gathering her in his arms. “You haven’t dated anyone in the years since?”
She shook her head against his chest. “Some first dates, like I told you a while ago, but that’s it. There hasn’t been anyone I’ve cared about enough to take the risk of getting closer. Until you, Finn. You kind of slipped past my defenses when I wasn’t looking and I—”
He frowned as she broke off and looked away. “What? You can tell me anything, Mel.”
“I think I’m falling in love with you, Finn, but I don’t know—”
He grinned and swooped in to kiss her. He’d meant it to be fairly swift, but her mouth was a force to be reckoned with, and he could not make himself pull away. He forgot his own name when he was kissing her. Her lips opened beneath his and his tongue stole inside to taste and tangle with hers. Long moments later he remembered he had something important to say to her and pulled away reluctantly. “I do know. I’m head over heels in love with you, Melanie Blythe. I know we haven’t known each other long, but it doesn’t matter. I love you.” He w
illed her to believe him, to understand what he was trying to say to her.
She smiled the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen in his life and lifted her face to kiss him. He leaned back so he was resting against the cushions and pulled her on top of him. Patience became difficult to remember as they kissed slowly, luxuriously, and he allowed himself to touch and run his hands over areas he’d previously considered off-limits. Nothing seemed forbidden tonight. He knew he needed to pace himself because he wasn’t sure how far she was willing to go, and he certainly didn’t want her to feel like he was expecting anything simply because they’d declared their love for each other. He dared to run his hand under her t-shirt and over her bra, encouraged when she arched into his palm. He nearly leaped off the couch when she ran her hand under his shirt. He let her explore for a few moments before stilling her busy hands.
“Sweetheart,” he panted. “I need to stop. I’m going to have a hard time getting to sleep tonight if I don’t.” He cringed at his suggestive choice of words.
She bit that luscious lip again and looked up at him through her sooty eyelashes. “I don’t want to stop, Finn. I love you and I want to be with you.”
He tried to swallow past a throat suddenly bone-dry. “Mel, are you sure? We can wait, love. I don’t mind.” Of course he did, but he would do anything for her, including sentencing himself to a long, cold shower before bed.
“Make love to me, Finn,” she whispered against his lips.
Chapter Fifteen
Mel
She’d never woken up in a man’s arms or bed before. Evan had always insisted she leave almost immediately after they had sex, not caring if she had to walk across a dark campus by herself. Jerk. What did I ever see in him? Why did I waste so many first times on a guy like that? Her first time with Finn had been amazing and so special. Finn had cuddled with her afterward and they had laughed about not exactly following the doctor’s orders. He’d whispered in her ear about how beautiful she was and how much he loved her. Then they’d made love again. She lay curled in his arms, marveling about making love compared to having sex. Worlds apart.
She’d been extremely nervous, but it turned out he was too. He told her he wasn’t sure he’d be able to make it good for her because of his limited mobility, and was afraid she’d have to do most of the work. They’d managed well enough, however. He’d devoted himself to exploring her curves and learning what she liked, while he encouraged her to do the same. His single-minded goal seemed to be to please her, which he had done—twice. It was a beautiful, intimate exchange, and she couldn’t believe how close she felt to him. By the time he reached into his nightstand drawer for protection, nervousness was the last thing on her mind. He’d gently pulled her atop him and guided himself inside. She’d never made love that way before, but found it quite to her liking, giving her a greater sense of control than she’d ever experienced. He’d refused to let her look away, which made it even more intense. He’d grasped her hips, keeping her steady as she moved, allowing her to find her pleasure before he took over, thrusting faster and faster until he too, groaned in ecstasy. She’d collapsed against him and he turned them until they lay on their sides, breathing heavily as the sweat dried on their bodies.
His warm body was now curled around her from behind and the steady brush of his crisp chest hair against her back told her he was still asleep. The ceiling fan swept the cool morning air across the parts of their bodies not covered by the sheet, so she was grateful for his warmth. She still wasn’t used to the way the nights cooled off so drastically here in the desert southwest. She carefully and slowly turned over to be able to look at him and yet not wake him. His achingly handsome face was relaxed in sleep, his jaw sprouting scratchy black whiskers. Faint lines surrounded his mouth and etched from the corners of his eyes, but they weren’t nearly as pronounced as they had been when they’d first met. His cheeks had filled out some as well as the pain from his injuries faded and his appetite returned. She couldn’t begin to imagine all he’d gone through in the past few months, but she felt a pang in her stomach at the thought of him lying unconscious in a hospital bed. She wondered if he’d felt the same way when he saw her after the fire.
“You’re staring.” His words were a mumble and his eyes were still closed.
“Sorry. I can’t help it. I woke up in bed next to this amazingly sexy man and I can’t seem to get my fill of looking at him.”
He chuckled self-consciously and opened his cobalt eyes. “What a coincidence. I woke up in bed with an amazingly sexy and beautiful woman.” He brushed a brown tress out of her face and ran his thumb over her lips. “Last night was incredible, Mel. You pretty much destroyed me.”
She grinned. “Really? Is that a bad thing?”
“Not even close.” He leaned forward to nibble along her jaw up to her ear, making her shiver with delight. “I can’t get enough of you.
“Finn,” she murmured, reaching up to run her hands through his shaggy black hair.
“Yes, love?” His lips continued their journey until he reached her earlobe. He took it gently between his teeth, then soothed it with his tongue. He pulled away after a moment and tucked her close, running his calloused palms up and down her back. “Sorry. I’ll try to control myself. I know it’s been a long time for you and I don’t want you to be sore.”
God, she loved this man. “I’m fine. I can’t get enough of you, either. It’s never been like this for me, this…good.” His body shook against hers as he laughed.
“Stop, sweetheart. My ego is about to explode. I won’t be fit to live with.” He kissed the top of her head. “All right. Stop trying to seduce me again, witch. I hear your stomach growling, so let’s forage for some breakfast. I have a physical therapy appointment later this morning I’m hoping you’ll drive me to, and then I think I need a haircut. I’m supposed to start back to work in a few days, and I guess I should try to look professional.”
She fixed breakfast while he showered and shaved. She set a plate of eggs and toast in front of him before he pulled her on his lap and kissed her thoroughly, his hand sneaking up under the Journey t-shirt he’d given her to wear this morning. “Your eggs are getting cold,” she finally murmured against his lips.
“Spoilsport.” He grinned and playfully shoved her off his lap. “You are too tempting. That’s my new favorite shirt, by the way.”
“It’s super-soft and I love that it smells like you.”
“Consider it yours. I would love to see what Cara brought you from Victoria’s Secret, however.” He wiggled his eyebrows up and down suggestively.
“I hope she brought underwear. This is my only pair.” She filled her own plate and sat across from him.
“I love the thought of you running around commando.” He smiled at her oh-so-innocently as he ate.
“I will if you will.”
“You’re a sassy minx, you know that?” They ate in silence for a few moments. “Seriously, Mel. Are you okay? I’m afraid I was too rough last night.”
“I’m perfectly fine.” There was a slight soreness between her legs, but she found she was rather proud of it. “How is your leg? I’m afraid we weren’t careful enough. I don’t want your therapist to yell at you.”
“He’d be more likely to high-five me, actually.” At her look of consternation, he backtracked quickly. “Not that I’m planning to bring it up, of course. That could be construed as bragging.”
“What am I going to do with you?” She carried their empty plates to the sink and refilled their coffee cups.
“I’ve got a few ideas. You could start by letting me watch you take a shower.”
She laughed and bent to kiss his hair, still damp from his shower. “You’re incorrigible.”
An hour later, she was seated in the waiting room, waiting for Finn to finish his bi-weekly PT appointment. She’d grabbed her laptop on the way out and was rereading the last few scenes she’d written; it had been several days and a house fire since she’d even looked at it
. She found her mind wandering, however, back to the fire. What had caused it? And now there was an arson investigation? The thought had a frisson of fear creeping down her neck. Was it possible? Was it personal? More importantly, was it related to the disturbing things happening to her: the dishes moved, the doors left open, the feeling of being followed. She’d begun to believe she had imagined those things, but now she wasn’t so sure. Why in the world would someone target her? She was a complete nobody!
“Hey, Mel.” Finn came through the office door, followed by an attractive man wearing athletic clothing. “I’m done for the day. This is Jon, my physical therapist. He wanted to meet you.”
“Hello, Jon. Nice to meet you.” She stood to shake his hand.
“I had to see if Finn was telling the truth about having a real, live girlfriend. Nice to meet you too. I gave him some instructions on how to not undo all the work I’ve done on that leg while having crazy monkey sex.”
“Oh, my God,” Mel murmured as she felt the heat rise in her face.
Finn punched him on the upper arm. “Shut up. I told you I’d talk to her.”
“Is he okay? We didn’t…I mean…” Her words faded as her embarrassment took over.
“I’m kidding. He’s doing great, but he does need to stay on bottom for a while.” The therapist laughed as Finn grimaced. “I estimate about three more weeks on the crutches and then we can try a walking boot for a couple months. Hopefully you guys can wait that long to get more adventurous.”
