Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
MALIK
T he soft patter of rain against the cabin windows creates a cocoon around us, frost patterns still visible at the edges of the glass even as morning sun breaks through.
The contrast—frozen delicacy meeting autumn rain—seals Melody and me in our own private world.
She sleeps peacefully beside me, her curls spread across my pillow, one hand resting on my chest. I've been awake for an hour, just watching her breathe, wondering how the hell I got here and why it feels so right.
Intentionally oblivious to the chaos around us, I memorize the curve of her cheek, the fullness of her lips, the way her eyelashes fan against her skin.
My phone buzzes on the nightstand. I carefully extract myself from Melody's grip, grabbing the device before it can wake her. Jake's daily security update shows no movement from our PI friend, who remains checked in at the motel but hasn't been spotted around town since yesterday.
I slip out of bed and pull on a pair of sweatpants, padding silently to the kitchen to start coffee.
The domesticity of the moment strikes me as I measure grounds into the filter.
How long has it been since I shared my morning routine with anyone?
Since Sage's mother left eighteen years ago, I've kept people at a careful distance.
Even my scenes at Club Crimson maintain clear boundaries of physical release without emotional entanglement.
Yet here I am, making coffee for the beautiful young woman in my bed, feeling more content than I have in years.
The coffee maker gurgles to life as I pull ingredients from the refrigerator. If I'm making breakfast, I might as well do it properly. Eggs, bacon, the fresh bread Sage brought by last week, a few vegetables for an omelet.
"Is this what you look like every morning, or am I just lucky?"
I turn to find Melody leaning against the doorframe, wearing nothing but my discarded t-shirt from yesterday. Her hair is tousled, her eyes still heavy with sleep, and she's the most beautiful person I've ever seen.
"Depends on your definition of lucky," I reply, setting down the knife I've been using to chop peppers. "Coffee's almost ready."
She crosses the kitchen and slides her arms around my waist, pressing her cheek against my bare back. "I'm definitely lucky."
Something tightens in my chest at the simple affection in her touch. I turn in her embrace, tilting her chin up to kiss her softly. "Good morning."
"Mmm, good morning indeed." She smiles against my lips. "Though I'm a little sore in places I didn't know could be sore."
"Regrets?" I ask, studying her face.
"Not one." She reaches past me to grab a mug from the cabinet. "Though I might need a few more lessons to perfect my technique."
I swat her ass playfully as she moves to the coffee maker. "Insatiable."
"You created this monster," she points out, pouring herself a cup. She adds cream and two sugars, stirring slowly. "Need help with breakfast?"
"You can toast the bread." I return to chopping vegetables, enjoying the simple pleasure of working beside her in the kitchen.
Melody hums softly as she moves around me, some pop song I don't recognize.
"What's on the agenda today?" she asks, leaning against the counter while the bread toasts. "More security escort to Club Crimson?"
"Actually, Jake reports our friend the PI is lying low. I thought we might stay here today." I slide the chopped vegetables into a bowl. "Unless you're eager to get back to town to see Sage?"
Her smile is answer enough. "A whole day just the two of us? Yes, please."
I crack eggs into a bowl, whisking them. “Apple cider?” I offer, nodding toward the fridge. “Made it fresh yesterday. Some claim it’s better than coffee on a cold morning like this. Unless you’re like me and take both?"
"You make your own cider?” She looks charmed by this detail. “Is there anything you don't do?”
“Plenty,” I assure her. “But fall in the mountains means apple cider. It's non-negotiable."
"I’ll take both then. But I’ll start with my coffee and grab the cider after." Smiling, she comes to stand beside me, watching my hands work. "I'd like to know more about you. The real you, not just the sexy dominant mountain man persona."
"What do you want to know?" I pour the eggs into the heated pan, adding the vegetables.
"Everything," she says simply. "But let's start with how you ended up in Crimson Hollow."
I focus on folding the omelet while I consider my answer. "Military career ended. Needed somewhere quiet to raise Sage after her mother left. Found this town by accident during a cross-country drive. Something about the mountains spoke to me."
"Man of few words, aren't you?" She bumps her hip against mine. "When did Sage's mom leave?"
"When Sage was eight." I flip the bacon sizzling in another pan. "Decided family life wasn't for her. Then signed away her parental rights and disappeared to Europe with her yoga instructor."
Melody's hand comes to rest on my forearm. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. The best thing she ever did for Sage was leave cleanly instead of drifting in and out of her life." I plate the food, gesturing for Melody to sit at the small kitchen table. "Your turn. Tell me something about your family."
She settles into a chair, tucking one leg beneath her.
"Let’s see if I can do this like you. Only child.
Parents still together, living in Toronto.
Dad's an accountant, Mom teaches kindergarten.
They're good people, just... conventional.
They wanted me to marry a nice lawyer or doctor, have three kids and a house in the suburbs. "
"Instead, you became a teacher and ran off to a mountain town with a man twice your age." I sit across from her, sliding her plate closer. "I'm guessing they don't know about that last part yet."
She laughs, the sound warming something inside me. "God, no. That would give my mother heart palpitations." She takes a bite of the omelet, making an appreciative noise. "This is good. You cook like this often?"
"Most nights. Cooking relaxes me." I watch her eat, enjoying her obvious pleasure in the food. "What about Jason? How did he fit into your conventional upbringing?"
Her expression clouds slightly. "Jason Mills, golden boy. Corporate lawyer from a good family. My parents loved him. Perfect on paper." She pokes at her food. "Not so perfect behind closed doors."
I wait, giving her space to continue or not.
"It started small," she says finally. "Comments about my weight.
Demands about my clothes. Then it was my friends are too much, not wanting to see my family, not wanting me to keep my job.
" She takes a sip of coffee. "By the end, I barely recognized myself. When I finally tried to leave, he showed me how much control he really had. His family knows everyone in Toronto’s legal circles.
The restraining order I filed mysteriously disappeared from the system. "
My hand tightens around my fork. "If he shows up here, restraining orders will be the least of his worries."
She reaches across the table, her fingers brushing mine. "My hero."
"Not a hero," I correct. "Just a man who doesn't tolerate that kind of behavior."
"Speaking of behavior," she shifts topics, a playful glint returning to her eyes, "when did you discover your dominant tendencies?"
I nearly choke on my coffee. "That's quite the conversational pivot."
"I'm curious." She leans forward, resting her chin on her hand. "Were you always like this, or did you discover it later?"
I consider how to answer. "I've always been naturally dominant, but I didn't have a name for it until after the military.
Found Club Crimson when it was just starting up, realized there was a whole community of people like me.
Started learning, training, eventually became part of the security team, and occasionally a mentor for newcomers. "
"And Sage knows about all this?" She looks genuinely curious.
"She knows I work security at a private club. She knows it caters to alternative lifestyles. We don't discuss the details." I take our empty plates to the sink. "Some boundaries are healthy between parents and children."
"Fair enough." Melody brings her mug to join me at the sink. "What now? More questioning, or do you have other plans for our day off?"
I turn to face her, backing her gently against the counter. "I was thinking we could continue your education."
Her breath catches. "What did you have in mind, Professor Harris?"
Before I can answer, my phone buzzes with an incoming call. I check the screen and frown. "It's Sage."
Something like guilt flashes across Melody's face as I answer. "Hey, sweetheart. Everything okay?"
"Dad, hey." Sage sounds slightly rushed. "I've been trying to reach Melody, but her phone goes straight to voicemail. Is she with you?"
I glance at Melody, who mouths "dead battery" with an apologetic shrug. "She's here. Her phone died. What's up?"
"I'm actually on my way to the cabin now. Jake mentioned you guys were there today, and I have some news about Jason I think Melody should hear."
My body tenses. "What kind of news?"
"Nothing urgent, don't worry. But better discussed in person. I'll be there in about fifteen minutes. Is that okay?"
I look at Melody, who can obviously hear both sides of the conversation. She nods, though her expression has grown anxious.
"That's fine," I tell Sage. "We'll see you soon."
After hanging up, I pull Melody into my arms. "Whatever it is, we'll handle it together."
She nods against my chest. "I should probably put on actual clothes before Sage arrives."
"Probably wise," I agree, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Though I'm rather fond of this look."
She smacks my chest lightly before heading to the bedroom. I watch her go, appreciating the view until she disappears from sight. Then I allow my expression to harden. If Jason is making moves, I need to be prepared for all contingencies.