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“You haven’t even tried your mousse,” he murmurs, scooping up a chocolatey spoonful and holding it up for me. “Here, taste.”
There’s a million other things right in the chair across from me that I’d rather be tasting, and that idea shocks me. Lust like this isn’t like me, and I’m almost ashamed of myself for my thoughts. But Malcolm is trying to feed me a bite, so I lean forward and let him give it to me, the cold metal passing over my bottom lip and making me jump just a little. Only when it’s fully in my mouth do I remember that he was licking the same spoon just a second ago, and now I’m doing the same.
The mousse is amazing. I barely notice it.
The spoon hits the floor, replaced by his thumb on my lips as I swallow. There’s a deep noise, almost a growl, building in his chest, and I wonder what it would be like to press against him and listen to it up close.
I know he’s going to kiss me. This is a man that takes what he wants when he wants, and right now…I really think that’s me.
Adam’s dad is going to kiss me, and I want him to. But at the last second, I flee like a scared bunny and hate myself for it. At the same time, though, I’m relieved.
Pulling away, I sit up straight in my chair once more, and Malcolm’s hand falls back to his side. He’s looking me over, like he’s trying to decide his next move, but then, he sighs deeply and stands. “Let me escort you to your room, Melody.”
That’s it? No fight? No argument? I almost protest, until I take his hand and feel how utterly stiff the man is. Oh. I’m doing this to him, and it’s taking him every bit of his willpower to hold back, just because I gave him the signal that I wanted him to do so. I guess it’s unfair of me to balk and then be sad he didn’t force the kiss on me just to assuage any guilt I might have.
Malcolm leads me again through the beautiful hallways and up the stairs, and all too soon, I’m at the door to my suite. “Do you need anything for the night?” Malcolm asks me, his tone flat.
“No…no. I don’t think so…” I shuffle my feet, biting my lip before looking up into his eyes again. “Dinner was wonderful. Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” Now there’s that intriguing darkness in his voice again, reeling me right back in. “Making you comfortable and happy will always be my pleasure, Melody. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. Anything.”
You! I need you! My heart screams, but instead, I tell him, “I will. Goodnight, Malcolm.”
He takes my hand and brushes his lips across the back of it, pleasure singing through my nerves. I might be crazy, but I think I feel the barest hint of his tongue coming out to taste my skin, but I can’t be sure. The idea of it makes my blood almost boil in my veins from wanting him. “Goodnight, Melody.”
He turns, and I back up into my room, closing the door behind me and rushing to the bathroom. Jerking on the cold tap, I splash water on my face, again and again. I need to get a hold of myself or I’m going to end up in even more trouble than I’m already in.
Malcolm Mayfield, billionaire and owner of this estate, wants to sleep with me. I’m sure of it. That alone would be survivable…but the fact that I want him with the same intensity is what’s going to get me in a lot of trouble.
The world has done nothing but take from me lately, and the temptation to grab something back, something pleasurable just for me, is going to be hard to ignore.
3
MALCOLM
It’s 2 am, and Adam still isn’t home.
Most of me doesn’t give a fuck, but the part of me that is still his father, and always will be, cares. The blizzard is still raging, and while he has places to stay in the city, it’s a far enough drive that I wouldn’t want him making it in the middle of the night if I have a choice.
So, despite being tired and wound up so tight that I might snap, I pour myself another two fingers of whiskey and settle onto the couch facing the large bay window. The house is dark and quiet.
I have to stop myself from remembering that Melody is just upstairs, just the guest suite door separating the two of us. The way she licked her lips when I almost kissed her, the feeling of her warm breath on my face…damn, this woman makes me feel lost, and that isn’t something I’m used to dealing with.
She’s making me crazy. I’m having these wild thoughts, like locking her in the house and never letting her go. Or providing for her every want and need, laying her down on the softest cashmere blankets and, starting from her feet, tasting every single inch of her.
I want to possess Melody in all ways, but she might just be the one woman on the planet I can’t have.
Well, can’t is a strong word. Shouldn’t have. But, if I want something bad enough, I’m going to take it, and I want Melody pretty damn bad.
Is she worth ruining my relationship with my son? The hard truth is that Adam and I already have a strained relationship. He’s a lazy freeloader and seemed shocked when I made it clear he was going to have to become his own man if he wanted to continue getting my help.
Hell, maybe losing Melody to me would be the final thing to make him realize that he has nothing to offer the world right now. It might be enough to make him change.
Even if he did change, though, I can’t give her up. Even now, with there being nothing between us but something combustive, I feel a possessiveness, and ownership even, of her. Melody Coolidge brings out the protector, but also the animal, in me.
She’s such a sweet little thing, too pure for this world almost, and that just makes me want her more. Up until now, someone like Melody was nothing but a fever dream for me. Yet, here she is, in the flesh, sleeping somewhere on the second floor above my head.
I guess Adam is just going to have to fucking deal with it. She’s mine, even if I’m the only one who knows it right now.
