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Located in the heart of upstate New York, the estate is a captivating sight. The huge house stands tall, a testament to Adam’s father’s success as a self-made billionaire. Its modern construction harmoniously blends with touches of rustic charm, making it look comfortable before I even step inside. The pristine white landscape serves as the perfect backdrop, accentuating the grandeur of everything.
Even though we’re just showing up to stay for a few weeks, not for any sort of event, I have the oddest feeling that I’m underdressed somehow in my hoodie and leggings. I've spent my entire life moving from one trailer to another, cramped apartments with peeling paint. This... this is something else entirely.
The home itself reminds me of an impossibly huge log cabin. I would bet money that there’s a warm fire already lit inside, waiting to welcome us in from the cold. Even Adam’s less-than-enjoyable presence can’t detract from the little kernel of excitement inside of me.
Guiding the car around the circular driveway, Adam puts it in park right in front of the stone staircase leading up to the front door. I step out, the crunch of snow beneath my boot a fitting soundtrack to the moment. The cold air tingles against my skin, yet I hardly feel it. There is too much going on, both in my mind and around me.
I close my eyes for a moment, allowing the serene ambiance to seep into my soul. It's as if time slows down, and all the worries and hardships of my past fade away, if only for a moment. This place feels like a refuge—like maybe it could be a sanctuary from the world that has dealt me a tough hand.
Why does it feel this way, though? I’ve never been here in my entire life, and I’ve been dreading spending extended hours with Adam and his pushy attitude. Despite all that, something safe and warm is seeping in, and I can’t help but let it wash over me. I haven’t felt safe in a long, long time.
My thoughts are interrupted as the wind kicks up, and the snow starts to fall harder, the previous cheery, fat flakes disappearing into heavy sheets of snow as the storm rolls in. The blizzard rages around me, whipping my hair and stinging my cheeks. It's bitterly cold all of a sudden, but that's not what makes me shiver.
It’s something else entirely. Something that I never expected would hit me like this. Or…I guess, someone.
As I approach the grand entrance, my eyes fixate on the figure standing in the doorway, tall and commanding. My heart skips a beat, and the world around me seems to fade into a blur. Time slows down, every second stretching out as if to prolong this moment. It's as if the universe has conspired to bring me and this figure together at this precise instant and is doing everything possible to get the job done.
Oh god.
There’s only one person living in this place, besides the household staff that Adam had mentioned, which means the man in the door is Malcolm Mayfield, a man of undeniable presence and strength. His broad shoulders fill the frame of the doorway, and I can see the faint outline of tattoos peeking from beneath his suit sleeves. The sight sends a thrill through me, a curious mix of intrigue and fascination.
Our eyes meet, and in that instant, an electric charge passes between us. It's a connection that transcends words, a magnetic force pulling me toward him. I feel it deep in my core, a surge of desire so intense it's almost physical, like the collision of two souls recognizing their counterparts.
I try to steady my racing heart, my breath hitching as I take in his features. The dark waves of his hair, tousled by the wind. His hazel eyes, piercing and intense, hold a depth that beckons me closer. There's a hint of a smile on his lips, as if he feels the same gravitational pull that I do.
In this frozen moment, everything else fades into insignificance. The snowflakes falling around us, the biting cold, and even the troubles that led me here—all pale in comparison to the overwhelming connection that binds us.
I take a step forward, drawn to him like a moth to a flame. The blizzard may rage outside, but between the two of us, a different kind of storm brews. I cross the threshold, and I know my life will never be the same.
Adam is at my back, but I’ve completely forgotten he even exists. Malcolm's gaze locks onto mine, and a surge of warmth floods my being. But before we can fully acknowledge the palpable connection between us, the sound of my boyfriend dropping his luggage on the ground beside me shakes us out of the moment.
Adam strides in past me and into the foyer, his presence casting a shadow over the room. Malcolm's eyes narrow ever so slightly, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. The tension between father and son is clear, casting a disconcerting cloud over the moment.
"Adam," Malcolm greets curtly, his voice laced with thinly veiled irritation. "I wasn't expecting you here so early.”
Adam's eyes dart between his father and me, a mischievous smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Surprise, Dad. Thought I'd grace you with my presence for a little while."
Malcolm's jaw clenches, his frustration barely contained. "Fine. You know where your room is, so I assume you don’t need me right now. Don't cause any trouble. I won't tolerate any disruptions."
Adam shrugs nonchalantly, his casual demeanor contrasting sharply with his father's growing irritation. "Sure, sure. I'll be on my best behavior, I promise. Anyways, this is Melody Coolidge,” he gestures to me absentmindedly. “My girlfriend.”
I shift awkwardly, feeling like an intruder in their strained exchange. It's clear that Malcolm is not pleased with Adam's unexpected arrival, and I can't help but feel caught in the middle of their tumultuous dynamic. At the same time, I’m still reeling from how my instant connection with Malcolm has left me feeling confused.
"Thank you, Mr. Mayfield," I manage to stammer, my voice betraying a touch of nervousness. "I appreciate you letting me stay at your house."
Malcolm's gaze shifts from Adam to me, his expression softening with a genuine smile. "You're welcome, Melody. Please, make yourself at home. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
I nod, relieved that I haven’t earned his annoyance yet. The sudden change in dynamics with Adam's presence adds an extra layer of complexity to an already strange situation.
I offer a small, appreciative smile to Malcolm, silently expressing my gratitude once more. When his lips curl up too, I’m once more struck by the undeniable need to be closer to him. I want to put my hands on Malcolm’s chest, to feel if his body is every bit as chiseled as it seems to be under his black button-up shirt.
What the hell is wrong with me?! Ugh. I never think like this. Plus, my boyfriend is right next to me! Even if I had planned on breaking up with Adam, I never managed to accomplish the task, so feeling these things about his dad of all people is so, so wrong.
“Melody,” Malcolm says again, the deep, smoky baritone of his voice rolling over me. “Would you like me to show you to your room?”
I hear Adam snort. “Dad, she’s staying with me.”
Both Malcolm and I both tense up at this statement, but I manage to speak first. “Adam, we already discussed this. I need my own space to unwind. And we aren’t really…” I feel a blush coming over my face as soon as the words come out of my mouth. Why in the world did I even need to point this out? “…at that portion of our relationship yet anyway.”
