Page 10 of Shatter

I lay down on the bed next to her. I hadn't thought this far into it. I take the clean side of the cloth and gently wipe the streaks of makeup her tears have left from her temples. I wipe her neck clean, too, before bringing her a bottle of water.

I tuck my leg underneath me as I sit back on the mattress and tug her gently up so I can slide my body between her and the headboard; her back resting on my front. She hasn't spoken a word since she came, and the silence is beginning to worry me, but the smile is still on her face. So, I wait.

When her eyes flutter open, finally, she bends her neck and gives me the most breathtaking smile, upside down.

She moans in pleasure as she wiggles her body as if reacquainting herself with it.

Before I can second-guess myself, I drop a kiss to her forehead.

"Done with all this nonsense, Little Bird?"

The smile I would have burned the world down to keep disappears in an instant as she groans and turns away from me.

"Goddamnit, Hare-Bear. You couldn't have let me have just five more minutes, could you?"

She's storming around the room now, pulling her dress back on and finding her shoes.

I rush to my feet.

"What do you mean?"

I know I've fucked up, even if I don't fully understand how.

She's struggling to put one heel on and throws up her other hand in frustration.

"You're just one more fucking person in my life who thinks they know what better for me than I do."

I grip her hip to steady her so she can finish putting on her shoes. This feels like she's talking about a lot more than just what we did tonight.

"Primal play isn't for someone like you!" I shout back, irritated and a little frightened that this is going to become a regular thing. Melody is too pure, too good, too soft.

My eyes drop to her scraped knees, and I wince. Blood pools one on of them and has started to slide down her shin. I know I gave her what she asked for and needed, but I hated hurting her.

This is Mel, not one of my nameless regulars.

The strap of her dress is torn, so I shrug out of my suit jacket and settle it over her shoulders.

"Thank you," she whispers, softening slightly before reclaiming her pissed-off voice.

"How the fuck would you know, Harry? How the fuck would you know what's good for me? Have you asked me?! Has anyone ever asked me?!"

She storms past me, throwing the door open so hard it bounces against the wall. The lights in the hallway are still off, so she pauses, but I pull out my phone from my back pocket and turn the flashlight on for her.

She whispers 'thank you' again before stomping away. I give a non-committal grunt before following her out to the front.

"Can I drive you home at least?" I ask; guilt and nausea are an uncomfortable combination in my gut.

"Get fucked, Harry."

So, I stand there on the sidewalk and watch an Uber take her away.

It's only when I go back to our room to strip the sheets and clean up, and pick up her discarded underwear, do I remember that she has a boyfriend.

Chapter six

Melody

Giddiness shimmers through me as I practically float down the street.