Ryeland turned the page of his book and stole another peek at Melody as she punched away on her laptop. Here it was Friday night, and they were once again working together at Edible’s café in Copperville, like they had every other night for the past week. It was a quiet place to work—and because he wanted to be alone with her—here in Deerfield’s neighboring town, they were less likely to run into people who knew them, people who would bother them.
“Are you ever going to let me read it?” he asked, eyeing her over his book.
She looked up at him. “No.”
“Come on.” He dropped his book onto the table. “You let Marcus read it.”
“He’s my teacher.”
“I’m your boyfriend.” A strange look came over her face. “What?” he asked.
“I just…I guess I never…”
“Thought of me as your boyfriend?” She opened her mouth to say something, then shut it again. He reached out to touch her hand and slid his thumb over her wrist. He lowered his voice and asked, “Are you ever going to open up to me, Melody?”
“It’s a romance novel,” she said. “You don’t read romance.”
He pointed to his medical book. “Well, I’m reading a lot of things I never thought I’d be reading.”
She pursed her lips. “You won’t laugh?”
“No.”
She went quiet for a moment, like she was having second thoughts, then said, “Maybe another time.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.” She returned to her work and he listened to her click away. Curious, he asked, “How many books have you written anyway?”
“Four,” she said.
“Have you ever submitted any?”
“No.”
“Why?”
She gave him a look that showed her annoyance with him, but then said, “If you must know, I’ve never really finished any.”
“How come?”
“I don’t know.” She curled a strand of hair around her finger and shrugged. “I guess I just don’t know how to end them. I mean, I’ve read a lot of books, and books on the craft. I’ve studied how it’s done, but when it comes to mine, I can’t seem to nail the happily-ever-after.”
“Maybe it’s because you haven’t experienced it yet.” He winked.
“That’s kind of deep for a Friday night, Ryeland,” she said, a teasing look on her face. She pointed to his book, clearly wanting to drop the subject. “We still have another hour, so get to work.”
He gave her his best mischievous grin, finding it hard to concentrate when all he wanted to do was kiss her again. “And if I don’t? Will you get out the whip?” He pretended to look over the top of her laptop. “Didn’t I see you writing about that?”
“I don’t write those kind of stories,” she said, then under her breath she added, “I only read them.”
They both laughed and that’s when the door opened and in sauntered Justin and Nikko. Before Ryeland could close his book and put it away, Justin came bounding over. One look at his eyes told Ryeland he was high.
“What the fuck?” Justin said his gaze bobbing back and forth between the two of them. “So this is where you two have been hiding.” He put his hand on Ryeland’s shoulder and sank into the chair next to him. “You’re missed at the Cave, pal. Everyone thinks you’re hiding from Trevor.”
“I’m not,” he said coolly.
He watched the way Melody stiffened, and beneath the table he pressed his knees to hers. Her gaze darted to his and he hated the worry he spotted there. He reached under the table and gave her leg a comforting squeeze.
He turned to Justin, “What are you two doing here, anyway?”
“Justin’s got the munchies,” Nikko said as he settled in the seat next to Melody, sitting entirely too close. Possession raged inside Ryeland as he glared at Nikko. Ignoring him, Nikko pointed to the pastry shelf. “We’re here to get a dozen.” Nikko turned the question back on them as Melody closed her laptop and placed it over his MCAT book. “What are you two doing here?”
“Better yet…” Justin gawked at Melody and jerked his thumb toward Ryeland. “What are you doing here with this douche when I’m available and he’s not?”
Ryeland stiffened. “Back off, Justin.”
“Hey, I’m only kidding.” He gave Ryeland a playful punch. “Sort of.”
“What do you mean?” Melody asked, her voice low, her eyes cautious as they zeroed in on Justin.
“He doesn’t mean anything,” Ryeland said, gripping her knee. “Melody, look at me.” She turned wary eyes his way and he said, “He doesn’t mean anything.”
“So she doesn’t know, then,” Justin said, so freaking high on weed he probably didn’t even know the trouble he was stirring up. Then again, maybe he did, and maybe before the night was over he’d end up with Ryeland’s fist in his face.
Melody’s face paled, and it reminded him that she’d been hurt before and didn’t trust easily. “What don’t I know?”
“Our boy here is practically married. His old man has a pretty little thing all lined up for him. The right girl for Daddy’s little protégé.” He winked. “And you can bet your ass what his daddy wants his daddy gets.”
“You’re high, Justin, and have no idea what you’re talking about, so fuck off and get out of here.”
Justin laughed and stood up. “Yeah, maybe you’re right. Let’s go,” he said to Nikko. “But Suzette’s been looking for you. If we run into her again should we tell her you’re here?”
Without taking his eyes off Melody, he said. “I don’t care what you tell her.”
“I guess you can tell her yourself where you’ve been, since you’ll be seeing her on the court tomorrow,” Justin said, and Ryeland shot him a quick glance, catching the wry smirk on his face.
“Oh yeah,” Nikko added. “You two are playing doubles this year, right?”
“Only because my father arranged for us to be in the end of the summer tournament together,” Ryeland explained through gritted teeth.
Justin bumped fists with Nikko. “Like I said, what Daddy wants Daddy gets.”
“I only agreed because it was for charity.” He looked at Melody, desperate to explain. “And to get him off my back for a bit.”
Justin backed up. “Hey, whatever, pal. Not my business.”
When the two walked away, Ryeland fisted his hands under the table and resisted the urge to go punch his former friend in the throat.
“Ryeland,” Melody said, stuffing her laptop into her bag, the tension in her shoulders like a hard slap to the face. “We should go.”
“Melody,” he began, grabbing her hand to stop her. “I’m with you. Only you. You have to believe that. Justin is an asshole and a troublemaker. You of all people know that.”
She went quiet for a moment, then nodded. “I know he is, but…” She exhaled slowly, sounding unconvinced about everything else. “Maybe we shouldn’t be doing this, Ryeland.” She waved her hand back and forth between them. “Maybe this is all…wrong.”
Ryeland stood and pulled her up. Her body crashed against his and he dropped his mouth to hers. Despite the audience, and lacking any sort of discretion, he kissed her long, hard, and deep, holding her so tightly, so fiercely, there was no way she could even think he cared about anyone else.
When he finally pulled back, he said, “Did that feel wrong?”
She sucked in a breath. “No,” she whispered.
“Because it’s not,” he said, and caught the smirk Justin aimed his way before he exited the café. “Let’s forget about what Justin said, and if you want me to quit the tournament, I will.”
“No,” she said quickly. “It’s a great charity.”
“I would have told you about it, but I just didn’t want to talk about Suzette when I was with you.” Those expressive eyes blinked up at him. “You’re the one I want, Melody,” he said, kicking himself for not mentioning it. Hearing it from Justin wasn’t going to help him prove he was trustworthy. “The only one.”
Melody looked around, and shrugged into herself when she noticed all eyes on them. “Let’s get out of here,” she said.
He grabbed her backpack and tossed it over his shoulder, and during the drive back to her place she remained relatively quiet. Music and laugher spilled onto the road as they passed the Cave and when he finally pulled into a parking space outside her lodge, she turned to him, a frown on her forehead.
“Ryeland,” she began, and everything inside him tightened.
“Yeah?”
She looked at her hands folded in her lap, then her lashes fluttered as she glanced back at him. “Want to come in for a minute?”
Worried about what it was she had on her mind, and hoping like hell what Justin had said wasn’t getting to her and giving her second thoughts about the two of them, he followed her inside. She remained quiet as she opened the door to her room. As he stepped in behind her, she turned back to him and the worry in her eyes had him wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her to him. Christ, her body felt so good next to his, so right, all he wanted to do was kiss away her reserve and put an end to her fears. He was not going to hurt her. He’d never hurt her.
“What’s up?” he asked.
“I want to show you something.”
Relief moved through him. He exhaled slowly and wanting to lighten the mood he said, “Oh yeah, well I want to—”
She broke from the circle of his arms, and his words died an abrupt death as she inched away. She held her hand out and he gave her a confused look.
“My backpack,” she said.
He slipped it off his shoulder and handed it to her. She reached inside, grabbed her laptop, and powered it up. A second later she put it on her desk and gestured toward her chair. He sat, and when he realized what she was doing, his heart squeezed.
She sat on the bed behind him, her glance flickering to the screen. “I think the opening is good,” she said. “If you want to read it, you can.”
“Are you serious?” he asked, so goddamn ecstatic that she was trusting him enough to give him a glimpse into her private life. It meant so much to him, especially after the stunt Justin had pulled tonight. That asshole could have ruined everything.
“Yeah,” she answered quietly as he sat here a moment longer, marveling at the curious shift in her.
He turned to the computer and started reading, all the while listening to her clothes rustle as she fidgeted restlessly on the mattress behind him. He scrolled through the manuscript and couldn’t help but smile. Melody’s quick humor was all over the page. She stepped up to him, and her hand went to his shoulder.
“I’m surprised you didn’t try to skip to the good parts.” Her warm breath fell over his neck, and when she leaned over him and the sweet smell of her hair reached his nostrils, desire slammed into his gut, carrying the impact of a sucker punch.
“Good parts?” he asked, his heart racing, his body urging him to turn and take her right there. Jesus, he wanted to touch her, taste her, to show her how good they could be together.
She whacked his arm playfully. “You know what I mean.”
He looked over his shoulder and when he saw a pink flush on her cheek he realized what she was talking about. “I do now.” He hit page down about five times looking for the sex scenes before Melody stopped him.
“Don’t,” she said, laughing. “That will embarrass me.”
He spun his chair around and put one arm around her waist, resting his hand on the small of her back. “You don’t ever have to be embarrassed with me.” He sucked in a breath when her eyes dropped to his mouth. Her sweet pink tongue darted out to swipe her bottom lip and he rubbed his temples with his thumb and forefinger, fighting for a measure of control.
“Do you have any idea what you’re doing to me?” he bit out, his voice rougher than it was only seconds ago.
“I think so,” she said, her tone so soft, so seductive, he considered the possibility that the glimpse into her life just might be her invitation for more.
Excitement surged through him. “I want you, Melody.”
She lowered her lashes and when she opened them again he saw the raw hunger. “I want you too,” she whispered.
He pushed to his feet and grabbed her, moving her back until her legs hit the bed. “I don’t want to go too fast, but Christ I need to taste you. It’s all I can think about.” When she didn’t answer, he tugged on his hair, his heart hammering. “I promise to go slow and will stop anytime you tell me to.”
She eased away and that’s when he thought he had his answer. He rolled his tongue around a suddenly dry mouth and was just about to kick his own ass for pushing too soon, but then she dropped onto her mattress, pulling him with her. He growled and followed her down, bracing his hands on either side of her head.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” she whispered, but barely managed to get that one word out before his mouth crashed down on hers.
He kissed her hard, deep, and she shuddered beneath him as he sank into her warm, wet heat. She kissed him back, her tongue tangling, stroking, driving him wild with need. He slipped an arm under her and then shifted her to the middle of the mattress. Once he had her where he wanted her, he crawled over her body. His mouth found hers again and she immediately opened for him, welcoming him back. He settled on top of her and pushed one knee between her legs to widen them. His blood pulsed hot as she writhed beneath him, her hands racing over his back and tugging at his shirt.
His cock thickened and pressed against her leg as he slid down her body, his lips trailing over her neck and lower, until his mouth hovered over her breasts. “You smell so good,” he murmured, brushing his lips over her nipples as they poked against her cotton shirt.
“Rye,” she murmured, her voice reverberating through his blood as his cock ached to be inside her.
Desperate to touch her, kiss every inch of her, he slipped a hand under her shirt and met her glance as he slid it upward, trailing his fingers over her warm stomach as he sought her breasts.
Melody raced her hands through his hair, and when he lifted her shirt enough to expose her bra, she made a whimpering sound.
“Sit up,” he growled, and when she did he tore her shirt off and removed her bra. Her breasts spilled free, her nipples so pink and hard he damn near lost his shit then and there. She swallowed, and the sound filled the room as she dropped down onto her pillow. Ryeland went back on his heels, eager to just look at her.
“You are so beautiful,” he murmured. Jesus her breasts were so full, so perfect. But it wasn’t just her body he liked. It was her.
“Rye…” She reached for him and he fell over her again, his mouth wrapping around one pert nipple as his hand closed over the other breast, stroking, massaging, kneading her flesh. Her nipple swelled even more inside his mouth, and he clamped down gently, grazing her with his teeth.
“Oh, my God,” she cried out, her hands clutching his shoulders and urging him on.
He sucked deep and swirled his tongue around her hard peak to ease the sting of his bite. She moaned louder and cupped her breasts, offering him more. He sucked in a sharp breath and tried not to tumble over the edge.
Fire burned through his blood as he indulged in the sweet taste of her, sliding his hands and mouth over her skin. Christ he wanted her, wanted to tear his pants off and fuck her long and hard, but he wasn’t that greedy adolescent who took without thinking. Not anymore, and definitely not with her. Tonight was about Melody and he wasn’t going to forget that, no matter how much blood had left his brain to settle deep between his legs.
He licked her other nipple, making a slow, leisurely pass, then blew on the wetness his tongue left behind. Goose bumps formed on her skin, and she visually quivered, which made him the happiest goddamn guy alive.
“Oh, God, Rye,” she cried out.
He shifted his body and reached for the button on her shorts, dying to bury his face in the heat between her legs. “I need you naked, baby,” he said, sweat collecting on his brow. “I need to taste you so bad.”
With her chest rising and falling rapidly, she lifted her hips, letting him unzip her shorts and pull them off. Her lace panties quickly followed, and he tossed them away, taking a long moment to gaze at her nakedness.
As he teetered on the edge of sanity, he shook his head, his hair falling into his eyes. “Melody…Jesus, Melody.” He brushed his hair back and tried to remember how to breathe.
“What?” she asked, her voice a hesitant whisper as she tried to cover herself with her hand, like she was suddenly uncomfortable under his hungry gaze.
“Don’t.” He pulled her hands away and pressed them into the mattress at her sides. “Don’t ever cover yourself. Not with me.”
“But…you’re staring,” she said quietly.
“That’s because you’re so beautiful and I can’t believe I’m here with you.”
“Rye, you don’t—”
“Yes, I do,” he said. “I’m not lying, Melody. I told you I’d never lie to you.”
Honest to God, she made him feel the way no other girl ever had, and he couldn’t believe that she was his, spread naked beneath him, opening herself up to him like this. His glance met hers again and his body burned hotter, loving the way she was gazing back with need, desire…trust. He cleared his throat, rattled by the things she made him feel. His gaze shifted to the apex between her legs, his brain so rattled it took effort to think.
He lightly stroked her thighs. “Open for me.”
She widened her legs, and when he saw how wet she was for him, the way her pussy glistened so invitingly, he groaned, his cock throbbing so hard against his jeans he was about to rip them open and finish himself off in two quick strokes. Yeah, he was that hot for her.
Clenching down hard on his jaw, he reached out and swirled his finger through her slick heat, circling the pad of his thumb around her clit, coming closer and closer, but never quite touching.
“Please, Rye,” she begged, her fingers biting into his shoulders as she shifted her hips, trying to force his hand to the spot that needed it most.
He grinned, wanting to tease her longer, to make her as crazed as she made him. Her hips came off the bed, but he pressed on her gently, forcing her back down. She was practically trembling from head to toe when he pulled his hand away.
She whimpered, but it turned in to a moan when he gripped her legs and spread them. The sweet tang of her arousal filled the air and as he drew it into his lungs, it fueled his need.
He settled between her legs and ran his tongue over her thighs, taking pleasure in the taste of her skin. He moved higher and when he reached her pussy, he widened her lips with his fingers and shot her a glance. She was up on her elbows, desire swimming in her eyes as she watched him.
“You want this, baby? You want my mouth on you?”
“Yes, please…” She cried out and fisted the sheets.
“Good.”
With single-minded determination, he lowered his head and gave a long swipe with his tongue before his mouth pressed hungrily against her clit. Her breathing hitched and a moan sounded as she fell back onto the bed. He slowly slipped one finger inside her. She was tight. So damn tight.
He stroked deeper, and as her pleasure resonated through him, he took full possession of her body. He greedily drew her clit into his mouth, and her body spasmed as he found the bundle of nerves inside. She rocked against him and moaned as he lapped at her clit and pumped a little quicker.
He could feel the tension building insider her, her pussy growing slicker with each stroke.
“Rye,” she cried out, her voice sounding tight. “Please…” she begged, but he wasn’t quite ready to take her over. He wanted to spend the rest of the night playing with her, tasting her, pleasuring her. Her hips rocked and as he indulged himself, he took her higher and higher, wanting this to be so good for her.
“I feel…” she said, and a moan replaced her words. “So good.”
He sucked harder, the soft blade of his tongue lashing against her clit as he inserted another finger.
“Oh, my God, that feels so good.” He pumped deeper, harder, and knew she was so damn close. “Don’t stop,” she cried out.
As tension escalated and her breathing grew more erratic, he applied more pressure to her clit. He stroked and rubbed, then shot her a glance, ready to take her where she needed to go.
“Ride my face, baby.”
She made a whimpering sound and lifted her hips, grinding her sweet pussy against his mouth. She rode his face furiously as he pumped into her, and in no time at all her body responded to the dual pressure.
“That’s it, Melody. Come for me.”
Her muscles tightened and contracted around his finger as he continued to lap at her clit. She cried out his name, her body shuddering and surrendering to the onslaught of pleasure. She released in his mouth and he changed tactics, licking gently to draw out every delicious pulse of pleasure, all the while ignoring the way his body was screaming at him to impale her, to drive into her hard and deep and take what he needed.
He drew a breath to center himself, and when she finally stopped spasming, he dusted a soft kiss over her pussy, soothing her sex until her breathing returned to normal. With her passion receding, he slid up her body and settled on top of her. He pushed her damp hair from her face, and the warm, satisfied way she looked at him nearly stopped his heart.
“Rye, that…that…”
“Should we add amazing to the list?” he asked, teasing as he came to her rescue.
She laughed. “Yeah.” Her gaze moved over his face. “What about you?” she asked, her lips going to his neck, her lashes fluttering against his skin.
He inched back, desperate to get his head on straight. “Not tonight, baby.”
She placed her palms on his cheeks, her hands still trembling from her orgasm. “Rye?” she asked, confusion written all over her face. “You don’t want me to touch you?”
“Yeah, baby, I do. You have no idea how much I want you to touch me, but tonight was for you, Melody. Just for you.”
She looked at him long and hard, then gave a slow shake of her head. “Who are you?” she asked.
“I’m the guy who wants to do right by you.” Even if it meant sporting a pair of blue balls.