That morning when Melanie got off, she was yawning consistently. She had to shake herself long enough to wake up so she could ride her bike home. It was the first time she'd ridden her bike and she glanced all around her as she approached the stand where she had left it. It was quiet and no one was around. She unlocked it, and she was on her way. Dex hadn't shown her a short cut yet, and she sorely wished he had. It looked like rain.
It was a quiet morning, overcast and dreary looking.
She hadn't gone a block and she got that feeling again. This time it was more pronounced, as though maybe whoever it was, followed her. No longer were they looking, they were following. She sped up. She glanced over her shoulder at the street. No one was on the street right now. It was still very early.
She stopped for a minute and looked all about her. She needed to find out who it was, then maybe why they kept bugging her. If they were going to hurt her, wouldn't they have done something by now. Locking her in the bathroom had done nothing but shake her up a bit, and scare her, because now she knew someone was after her. But who and why?
She didn't see anyone.
Then why was she getting these vibes?
She kept pedaling, faster now. Maybe she had let her imagination run away with her. After all, she'd seen no one. And yet, the incident in her own bathroom told her it wasn't her imagination. Someone had been on the other side of the bathroom door. She knew that. She'd seen the clothes.
Someone was walking across the street, in the same direction, she noted out of the corner of her eyes. But it was a woman in a sweat suit with the hoodie pulled over her head. Melanie tried to relax. She reasoned the hoodie was to keep the light sprinkles of rain off her. She wasn't walking fast, but in a steady pace. Maybe she was scared too! Melanie thought with a sigh.
A car whizzed by, splashing a bit of rain on her feet.
When she reached her apartment complex, she glanced around. The woman had turned off on another street obviously and no one else seemed to follow.
Maybe she was just becoming a bit paranoid. But then the bathroom kept proving her wrong. She couldn't forget or explain that. And someone was on the other side of the bathroom door. She'd seen their clothing. She'd seen them turn the knob.
Parking her bike on the rack where bicycles were locked up she took the elevator up after looking around her.
Just as she unlocked her door, she heard a voice, "Wanna come over for some coffee?" Dex asked as he leaned negligently against his door frame and stared at her.
She knew it was Dex, just from the sound of his mellow voice. He had an enticing voice.
She whirled around and smiled, "Hi stranger." She walked up to him.
"Missed you." He said in a whisper.
"Me too!" she said.
"Come on, tell me all about the job and how you like it." He encouraged as he invited her in and went to pour them both a cup of coffee.
She went to the leather couch and stretched as he handed her a cup. She took a swig and handed it to him to put on the coffee table.
"Tired?" he asked.
"A little. Coffee sure is nice though." She smiled.
He pulled her against him and they cuddled. Why she felt so at peace in his arms she didn't know. But it was there, surrounding her like a cozy blanket. No other man had made her feel so safe.
He kissed her temple and put his arm around her. "Okay, tell me all about it." He whispered.
"Well, you were right, I’m working with Julia, and I really like her. I don't get to do much at first, but stock the supply room, make name tags and clean instruments. But I've met everyone and really like it."
She laid her head against his shoulder.
"I knew you and Julia would get along well." He smiled. "She's terrific."
The way he said that shocked Melanie for some reason. She made a mental note of it.
"So, is everything else going alright?" He asked when she got quiet.
"Everything else?"
"No more bathroom incidents?"
"No," she said, not wanting to mention the chilling feeling she got this morning. It could have been her imagination.
"Good. I worried about you taking the bike, I saw it was gone from the stand." He told her.
"My car wouldn't start." She explained.
"Want me to look at it for you?" He asked.
"Well, you can't work on it in the parking space, but maybe you could tell me what you think it is."
"Sure, I will a little later. I'm off today. What say we cuddle up and watch a couple of movies together. You can even take a nap if you want. I just like the fact that you are home, here, and safe."
But she was already asleep on his shoulder and he could hear the soft purr of her snoring. He smiled and kissed her temple, helping her stretch out beside him on the couch. He cuddled her in his arms and closed his eyes too.
When she woke up, she was totally cuddled up to Dex, and he was asleep. It felt warm and cozy and she didn't move, but she did look at him though. She hadn't realized just how much she had missed him in the last three days. Being with him she could really relax. She always felt safe around Dex. Funny how one person could be so reassuring. Knowing she couldn't depend on him for that, she needed to distance herself from him some, but it was impossible and she realized that the minute she saw him this morning. She didn't want to be apart from him.
She sighed and cuddled closer. Her lips grazed his chin as she snuggled against him.
His eyes slowly opened and he stared at her, "Hi…" He smiled.
"Hi," she said shyly. Their eyes met and held each other for a long while.
She started to get up, but he pulled her back and into his arms and kissed her slowly, deliberately, passionately on the lips. "I've wanted to do that for three whole days." He murmured when they came up for air.
"I didn't think I'd miss you so much," she declared before thinking about it.
"Now that admission deserves another kiss," He whispered and pulled her unresisting body against his.
The kiss went on and on, as her lips melted against his. When he pulled away, he stared into her eyes, "I know I’m supposed to be backing off, but my God, it's been three whole days without you…" He whispered.
She pulled up in a sitting position and chuckled, but when she saw how serious he was, she leaned over and kissed him.
This kiss was powerful, as their tongues danced against each other to a mating call, slowly, tasting each other, swooning and melting all at the same time. But she pulled up quickly. Her breathing was erratic. "We're crazy, aren't we?" She glanced at him now.
His eyes danced, "Are we?"
"We haven't known each other very long and yet it seems like a lifetime, doesn't it," she protested.
"Time doesn't seem to matter much between us. I'm told when soulmates meet, it's instant. Evidently we've known each other long enough to know what we like." He murmured as his finger reached to touch her hair. "I know it's going too fast, but, I honestly can't seem to find the brakes. Can you?"
She turned her head to look at him, "No." She answered softly without looking at him. "And I've never admitted that to any man."
Seeing her confused expression, he nodded and sat up, "I'll behave."
"I really need to get some sleep." She told him. "I better go."
He nodded. "Okay, but…have supper with me tonight. Here."
"Here?" She glanced around and then at him.
"I'll be a good boy," He smiled. "I won't do anything but kiss you…unless…."
She snickered. "If you didn't kiss me, I’m not sure I'd stay."
He chuckled lightly, then realizing how serious she was, his eyes glazed over with what looked like pure admiration.
"That's my girl," He barely touched her chin.
"I guess I really am, aren't I?" She felt a boneless kind of feeling assail her.
"Finally," He said.
"Finally, what?" She asked.
"You admit we're dating now. That's a start."
"Are you just out for casual sex?" She asked turning all her attention on him. "Be honest. Because if you are, we need to end this now…I wanted to wait until I was married to have sex."
He touched her cheek, as his hand cupped her face. "No…I don't think I am…. although I'm certainly not opposed to making love with you."
"Me either!" she stared into his eyes "I mean…"
He smiled now, he stood up, put his hands on her cheeks, as his thumb stroked her. "I know what you mean, Mel. You’re a good girl. It's part of why I like you so much. I promise, tonight I'll be a gentleman."
Her eyes closed for a moment, absorbing the sweet caresses he gave her. "But I think I better tell you now…I think I might be falling in love with you…"
Her eyes popped open, "You can't be, it's too soon. You don't understand. It's frivolous of both of us to say such things so soon."
His eyes searched hers now, pulling something from her. Then he did the most miraculous thing, he kissed her so gently, so perfectly, her heart jerked in her chest. Wanting to throw all cautions to the wind, she almost threw her arms around him. But she knew if she did, she'd be lost and her virginity would be a thing of the past. She was that close to giving into him.
In a shallow breath, she whispered. "I'll see you for supper then."
He smiled, "Six too early?"
"No, that sounds fine. Right now, I need a bath and a bed."
"See you at six then…Hey, leave me your car keys and I'll have a look at your car in a bit." He shot her a quick smile.
She dug in her purse for her keys and threw them at him.
"Get some sleep…" he smiled sexily at her.
"Thanks…" She nodded and left. But as her glance sought him out, she swallowed hard, "but after all of this, I’m not sure I can."
"Sleep…. later, babe."
Knowing he was right, she nodded and left.