Protecting Melody

by Susan Stoker

  Melody tried again. “Tex—”

  He interrupted her again. “I haven’t trusted anyone other than my doctors to see my leg since it happened. Not even the guys. No one. Just you.”

  “Would you stop interrupting me!” Melody huffed out irritably, but secretly pleased Tex had allowed her to see his leg when he hadn’t even showed it to his friends.

  Tex grinned down at her and acknowledged, not very apologetically, “Sorry.”

  “I have no idea why you’re self-conscious about your leg. Yeah, you hurt it. Yeah, you limp a bit. Yeah, it looks painful. But you, Tex, you’re amazing. You’re more than your leg. I like you. I liked you before we met. I didn’t talk to anyone else while I was hiding out. Only you. I hated to leave you waiting for me in that chat room. All that had nothing to do with your leg. It’s you. Your friends won’t care about your leg. They won’t pity you, they won’t think bad about you. They love you. You’re confusing as hell. One minute I want to smack you, and the next I want to kiss you. You say stuff I don’t get. And I don’t know what it means when you say you’re mine.”

  Still smiling, thinking her outburst was adorable, Tex told her, “It means whatever you want it to mean, Mel. We have a long drive ahead of us. We have to figure out who’s stalking you. You need to get your life figured out. But I hope somewhere in there we can make time to get to know each other even better in real life instead of only on the computer. Somewhere along the line I hope you can decide if you want me to be yours.”

  “Okay, Tex.” Melody knew she’d say anything to get away and have a second to think about what he’d just told her.

  Seeing the confusion on her face and having pity on her, Tex told her, “Okay, Mel. Go on, get ready to go. I’ll shower after you.”

  “Do you need help with—”

  As usual, Tex cut her off and said with only a hint of sarcasm, “I’ve got it. I’ve been doing it on my own for a while now.”

  “But I’m here. I can help you. I want to help you.”

  “Not today. Last night was hard enough for me. Let me get used to it.”

  Melody shook her head. “All right, but if you’re going to be mine, you have to let me help you sooner or later.”

  “Deal.”

  “Seriously you have to . . . wait . . . what?”

  “I’m going to kiss you before I let you up to shower.”

  Melody’s brain stuttered to a halt. He changed topics so quickly she was having a hard time keeping up, but a kiss? She’d been dreaming about him kissing her, really kissing her, since she’d met him standing in her hotel room. Hell, before that. She’d never admit, even under torture, that she’d gone to sleep more than once dreaming of the wonderful man she’d been chatting with online.

  “Did you hear me, Mel?”

  “Uh huh.”

  Tex grinned. “Fuck, you’re cute when you’re befuddled.” Then he leaned down and took her mouth with his own. He supposed he should’ve kept it light and sweet, but he didn’t feel light and sweet. He felt raw and exposed, and the chemistry they’d been dancing around for the last day exploded when his lips touched hers.

  Melody slanted her head to improve the angle of their kiss. Her hands came up to grasp at his sides. Tex drove his tongue into Melody’s mouth and stroked. He licked over her lips then plunged back inside. He mimicked what it might be like when they made love, because he knew they’d eventually end up doing more than just sleeping when they shared a bed.

  Tex almost lost it when Melody captured his tongue and sucked on it, closing her lips around it and caressing it with her own tongue in the process. He lifted his head and stared down at Melody.

  “Fuck, woman.”

  Melody smiled up at him and licked her lips. She flattened her hands at his waist and ran them up and down slowly. “That was . . . yeah . . . uh . . . wow.”

  Tex’s mouth quirked into a grin. “Yeah. Wow. Thank you for looking out for me.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Rolling over and sitting up, Tex said, “Now, go shower. I’ll take Baby out while you get ready.”

  Melody laughed. She’d forgotten all about her dog, who was still curled into a ball at the foot of the bed, watching them. “Okay, Tex. Whatever you say.” She got up off the bed, snooter kissed Baby, and walked into the bathroom, managing not to look back at the sexy-as-hell man sitting on the bed.

  Chapter Seven

  “Wanna play a game?” Melody asked Tex. It was the day after they’d left California and she was bored. The first day was exciting, just because it was different. When she’d fled Pennsylvania, she’d rented a car with cash she’d pulled out of her bank account and driven across the country, but somehow this was different. She wasn’t as scared and since Tex had done most of the driving so far, she could watch the ever-changing countryside as it went by.

  They’d stopped somewhere in eastern New Mexico the first night of their trip. Melody thought it would be awkward when they stopped, but Tex made it easier than she thought it could be.

  He asked her to stay in the car while he checked in. He’d told her that while it might be a bit awkward to stay in the same room, he didn’t want to leave her alone, even if she was just next door. Melody agreed without reservation, after all, they’d spent the night before in each other’s arms and they weren’t strangers. Besides that, she felt safe with Tex. She didn’t want to be in a room by herself. She wanted to be with Tex.

  Tex had gotten a room with two queen beds, not wanting to push Mel into anything she wasn’t ready for, but when push came to shove, Melody had asked if she could sleep in the same bed as him. He’d agreed and after she’d once again massaged his leg and stump, they’d settled into each other arms.

  Just as she’d been drifting off to sleep, Tex said in a low voice, “I hate traveling.” Melody was instantly awake.

  “Why?”

  “Because without my prosthetic, I’m vulnerable. If something happens in the middle of the night, I can’t jump up and deal with it like I used to be able to. Whether it’s a knock on the door, someone trying to break in, a fire, or whatever. I’m stuck in bed until I can get my leg on. I hate it.”

  Melody wasn’t sure what to say. She hadn’t thought about it, but now that he put the images in her head, they wouldn’t leave. “You’re the least vulnerable man I’ve ever met.” She put every ounce of conviction into her voice as she could.

  “You don’t have to—”

  Melody interrupted him. “I’m not.” She felt movement under her cheek and lifted her head to see he was laughing.

  “You don’t even know what I was going to say.”

  “Don’t care. Whatever it was, was going to be crap. You could probably break someone in half if they broke in here. You could hop to the door and down the hall and outrun any fire that dared to try to burn you. If someone knocked, you could have your leg strapped on before they got any words out. In fact . . .” Melody pushed herself up even more and peered down at Tex in the dark room. “I bet you’ve practiced getting your leg on as fast as you can . . . haven’t you?”

  When he grinned sheepishly up at her, Melody smiled back and brought her hands up to tickle his sides. “How long? What’s your fastest time?”

  She let out a girly shriek when he flipped her over and trapped her hands in one of his above her head.

  “There I was, getting all touchy feely with you and you had to go and ruin it.” His words were said with a smile and a twinkle in his eye, but Melody still immediately felt bad.

  “Seriously, Tex, I’m sorry you feel that way, but if I had my pick between all your friends and you, as to who would be with me in this hotel room right now, I’d still pick you. You make me feel safe. Two legs, one arm, no legs, no arms. I’d still pick you.”

  Without a word, Tex leaned down and kissed Melody deeply and with all the emotion he couldn’t figure out how to put into words. Her trust meant the world to him. Since his surgery, he’d always felt somehow less than his other
SEAL friends. Two sentences was all it took to bring back his self-esteem.

  Not letting the kiss morph into anything more, it still seemed too soon, Tex turned again until they’d resumed their earlier positions. Throughout everything, Baby hadn’t moved, she just slept, snoring softly, at the end of the bed in a super-ball.

  When they’d settled down, and just as Melody was slipping back into sleep, she heard Tex whisper, “Twenty three seconds.”

  Melody merely smiled, turned her head and kissed his chest, and laid her cheek back down without a word. She’d known in her gut he’d practiced putting his prosthetic on.

  Now it was four hours into another long driving day and Melody was bored.

  “What kind of game did you have in mind?” Tex asked, briefly looking over at Melody.

  “Well, it’s not a game per se, but more of an information sharing thing. I’ll tell you something interesting about me, and then you do the same.”

  Expecting an argument, Melody was surprised when Tex agreed immediately. “Sure. You go first.”

  Melody looked down at Baby who was sleeping between them in the truck. She’d been an excellent traveling companion. Melody had never traveled for as many hours on the road as this with her before, but it didn’t really surprise her. Baby had always been reticent and quiet and eager to please. Melody supposed that had to do with whatever she went through before she ended up in the shelter. Melody ran her hand down her dog’s head and back. Baby didn’t move, but groaned in her sleep. Melody smiled.

  “Growing up, I was a cat person. My parents had cats and I always knew when I grew up I was going to have a household full of cats too.”

  “What happened?”

  “I got busy, didn’t think it was fair to have a pet when I was busy all the time. Then I saw Baby’s picture in an online ad the shelter had run and they’d said she would be euthanized the next day if she didn’t get adopted. Something about her face tugged at my heartstrings and I went right down to the shelter.”

  “She was lucky.”

  “No,” Melody countered, “I’m the lucky one. Baby is the best dog I could’ve asked for. It killed me to leave her behind when I left Pennsylvania, but I knew it’d be even worse if my stalker got a hold of her and killed her. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

  After a comfortable silence, Melody prodded Tex, “Your turn.”

  “I almost didn’t message you that first night.”

  “Really? Why did you change your mind?”

  “Well, there was someone calling herself Busty Betty who I messaged first. She didn’t answer.”

  “So I was your second choice?” Melody looked over at Tex and saw he was trying to hide a grin. She smacked him in the arm. “You jerk. You’re lying aren’t you?”

  Tex lost his battle with hiding his smile and laughed out loud. “Yeah, I was honest about almost not messaging you, but something told me it’d be worth my while.”

  “And was it?”

  “Hell yeah. Best fucking decision I’ve made in my entire life.” Tex glanced over at Mel so she’d know he was completely serious.

  “I’m glad you did.”

  “Me too. Okay, your turn again.”

  “My second toe is longer than my big toe.”

  Tex laughed out loud. He hadn’t realized how little he laughed until Mel came into his life. “I’ll have to check that out for myself.” He thought for a moment, then continued the game. “I can’t stand bananas.”

  “Bananas?”

  “Yeah, weird huh? I don’t know if it’s the consistency of the fruit or something. I just can’t choke it down.”

  “What about banana flavored candy?” Mel asked curiously.

  “Nope.”

  “That’s weird.”

  “Hey!”

  Melody chuckled. “Sorry, but it is.” She continued on with the game. “My secret obsession is watching COPS.”

  “Please tell me you’re kidding.”

  Giggling, Melody admitted, “Nope. Love it. People can be such idiots, and I especially love it when the police officers laugh at the criminals.”

  “I have an admission,” Tex told her.

  “Yeah?”

  “I’ve never seen an episode of COPS.”

  “Oh my God! We are so finding one tonight when we get to the hotel.”

  Tex looked over at Mel and smiled. She was really funny. He knew he enjoyed talking to her online, but he had no idea she’d be just as quirky in person.

  The rest of the day’s drive passed quickly. They went back and forth in sharing more information about themselves and their lives. She’d laughed harder over the last four hours than she had in the last year.

  They’d stopped a few times to eat and to let Baby stretch her legs and by the time they pulled up to the hotel that night, Melody felt as if she’d known Tex her entire life. It was dark when they parked in front of the hotel and Melody was exhausted. It was amazing how tiring it could be to sit in a car all day. She noticed Tex rubbing his thigh.

  “You want me to go in and get the room?” Melody didn’t want to make Tex feel bad, but she wanted to offer.

  “No. I’d prefer to take care of it myself. To make sure you’re safe here in the truck as I go in and rent us a room, but my leg is killing me and it fucking pisses me off that it’d probably be better if you went in and took care of it for us. I don’t think we’re in any danger here, as no one has been following us and we’re in the middle of nowhere, but I still hate it. You don’t mind?”

  Ignoring his frustration, Melody calmly told him, “I wouldn’t have asked if I did.” Melody was surprised Tex actually relented, especially knowing how important it was to him to take care of her and to be in charge.

  Tex leaned over and pulled out his wallet and handed her two one hundred dollar bills without a word.

  Knowing better than to argue, but planning on paying him back one way or another, Melody took the money. “I’ll be right back.” Rubbing Baby on her head, she told her, “Be good, girl. I’ll be right back.” Baby licked her hand then immediately turned and put her head on Tex’s leg. Melody smiled, shook her head, and closed the truck door.

  She came out five minutes later and opened the truck door. “Head around back. There’s a door back there we can use. Our room is on the first floor, on account of Baby.”

  Tex started the truck and followed her directions. The parking lot was mostly empty when Tex parked. They each got out, Melody holding Baby’s leash while Tex carried their bags.

  Melody used the swipe card to get them into the building and led the way to their room. She opened the door and Baby pranced into the room as if she didn’t have a care in the world.

  Melody unclipped Baby’s leash and turned to Tex. “I’ll take the bags. You go on and get changed. I’ll get Baby some water.”

  Tex put his bag on the floor and handed Mel’s bag to her. “I feel like I’m breaking some alpha man code here.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Tex ran a hand through his hair then answered. “I should be the one telling you to go and relax. I should be taking care of Baby . . . I’m haven’t done a good job of taking care of you so far.”

  “Bull,” Melody told him, putting her hand on his arm. “I’m not eighteen years old. I’ve been taking care of myself and Baby for a while now. And you are doing more for me right now than you’ll ever know. You came for me and you found me. I was scared out of my head, I’m still terrified my stalker is going to pop up behind us and attack me. But with you here . . . I feel like I have a fighting chance. I know you’re hurting, and I hate that. So me letting you get changed and get off your feet . . . well, off your foot. . . isn’t going to mean you have to turn in your man-card. Okay?”

  Tex took a faltering step to her and tagged her behind the neck. He drew her to him and put his lips against her forehead. “Thanks.”

  Putting her hands on Tex’s waist, Melody leaned into him and asked, “For what?”

&
nbsp; “For being a great traveling companion, for trusting me, for letting me take you home, for knowing I’d kill to lay on that bed and get off this leg.”

  Not knowing what to say, Melody simply said, “You’re welcome.”

  Tex lifted his head, looked her in the eyes, then leaned down. He kissed her once, hard, running his tongue over her bottom lip, but not giving her time to deepen the kiss. He pulled back. “Go see if you can find an episode of COPS. I’ll be right out.”

  Melody watched Tex as he turned and entered the bathroom. She stood there for another moment, until she heard the water in the sink come on. She shook her head, kicked off her shoes, and walked over to the dresser. She put her bag on top and dug through it until she found a clean T-shirt to sleep in and another pair of boxers. She dug in another small bag and got Baby’s bowl out and filled it at the sink with water. She put it on the floor and went back over to the television and turned it on. She stood in front of it flipping through the channels.

  When Tex walked out of the bathroom she was still standing there. “I can’t find it,” Melody told Tex in a mock devastated voice.

  “It’s okay. I’m not sure we’d be able to stay awake to watch anyway.”

  “Don’t think you’re getting out of it. I’m making it my mission in life to introduce you to the best show on TV today.”

  Tex shook his head at her. “God, you’re cute. Go on. Your turn in the bathroom.”

  “Don’t touch that leg. I’ll take care of it when I get out.”

  “Okay.”

  “I mean it, Tex.”

  Tex grinned. She read him so easily. “All right. I’ll wait.”

  “Thanks. Get comfortable, I’ll be right out.”

  Tex looked behind him at the king size bed. He hadn’t told her what kind of room to get, but she’d chosen a room with only one bed. He didn’t want to read into that, but he couldn’t help it. He pulled back the covers and climbed in, propping the pillows up behind him. Placing the lotion on the bed next to his hip, he put his head back and closed his eyes. He felt Baby jump up on the bed. She padded up to him, lay down next to him and nudged his hand.