Chapter 21
Melody
“ K iss me, woman.” That's what he told me to do, and I followed his instructions. I had no idea what was going on, nor the time when I stirred in my sleep.
Everything was a blur, like waking up from a dream and trying to recall all the details because you didn’t know how to react to the reality of everything that did happen.
The sun peeked through the blinds, illuminating the soft, warm light spreading through the room. His side of the bed was cool to the touch as my fingers traced where he used to be.
I knew that he said he would be back, but mentally I was always preparing for the worst. I attempted to find my phone because I wanted to hear Sadie’s voice. I needed someone else to tell me that I wasn’t crazy for letting go and entertaining the idea that there could be a “me and Hound” relationship.
Just weeks ago, I was a “traveling” songwriter that attempted to make her mark in the world of music, hoping for more artists to take a chance on my music. From there to where I woke up in a blissful state reminiscing the way Hound Dog made me writhe under his touch, the way he showed just how much he craved me, and most importantly that he showed his truth of his past and true intentions.
It was enough to make a hangover feel like a quick head rush.
I called Sadie, waiting for her to pick up.
“Hello?” a groggy voice answered.
“Good morning to you as well.” I giggled.
I fucking giggled.
“You must have the wrong number because I don’t know who replaced Melody Rae with whoever this is,” Sadie joked.
I twisted the necklaces, gnawing on my bottom lip. I put her on speaker, finding a scrap of clothing to cover my well-loved naked body.
“We’re calling her Melody 2.0,” I teased as well. I found one of Hound’s black shirts and I rummaged through his drawers to find a pair of gray sweat pants.
Of course they were too big, but knowing that these belonged to him filled me with a certain warmth and comfort.
“Please tell me that this giggly version of you means that you finally rode on that biker’s dick.” Her brash comment made me blush.
“You take the fun out of things sometimes, you know that right?” I grabbed the phone, taking myself to the kitchen to find some food, only to see that he fully stocked the kitchen. For the man that said he was rarely here, that was making a statement.
“And yet you love me all the same. Tell me…”
“Tell you what?”
“Tell me all the little naughty details.” I could practically hear the smirk in her voice.
I knew that there was much to still know and understand, but I told her about him breaking down the barriers that she knew were built up. I went on about how he showed what I could become and that he wanted to be there to help me. I didn’t tell her about his true identity, that was for me and he trusted me enough to not say anything. When I got to the part about last night’s bedroom adventure all she could say was, “It’s about damn time.”
“It’s crazy right? Tell me, Sadie. Because honestly I am a mess internally trying to stuff all the flight responses back inside.” I started baking simple blueberry muffins, waiting for her answer, her opinion, a voice of reasoning if you will.
“Sugarbean, I think that this was the best thing for you. Sure, being a biker like him might not be the most sound choice, but obviously the man has shown that he’s not going anywhere. And you, the fact that you’re smiling from ear to ear and I imagine baking muffins,” she said as I dropped the spoon in the bowl.
Guess I was predictable.
“There’s nothing crazy about love.” she finished.
I shook my head at the thought of love, I still hardly knew the man. “It’s not love, Sadie.”
She sighed. “Ah, but it’s growing to be.”
I listened to her continue on about her next gigs and the chances she was getting, and I was so happy for her. She told me that there were a couple producers that she was chatting up and wanted me to tag along. “Come on. Share some songs with them and I know they’ll fall head over heels for you.”
I got lost in thought as I put the muffins in the oven, turning my back toward the counter, folding my arms. I knew I needed to get back out there, needed the money to continue on this life, prove to dear old dad that he was wrong, prove to the world they were wrong.
“I’ll think about it. I need a few more days to isolate myself and create some,” I answered her.
She huffed. “Maybe I’m just trying to get you to come down from that tower of yours and see me. You know I miss you.”
“You just miss me because I actually fed you.”
She chuckled before hanging up, “That too.”
What if we broke through the walls,
Into a sinners’ lust.
Clear out the haze clouding me,
Telling me that it won’t work.
What if we sang and we dance
Under the moon
Then sleep under the stars
Only to see the morning colors.
I didn’t know what possessed me. I saw the tune weave the notes around me. I heard the fiddle in the background, making it feel like fireflies are dancing in the night sky. I felt the stupid, lovesick smile across my face.
My heart was still racing along with the thoughts that constantly flowed from my mind.
For the moment, I was happy.
While the tune in my head kept playing, a set of hands caressed across my waist pulling me into body heat. A body whose head nuzzled the crook of my neck, inhaling my scent, his beard scratching my skin. I reached behind, returning the caress. A shiver of vibration shook my body from him.
“Good morning,” I whispered, not wanting to startle him.
This was the softer side that he hid from the world, from the club. I’d gladly take any side of him as long as he didn’t leave me.
He inhaled one more time before replying, “Morning, songbird.” I turned my head to see him, searching for his eyes. I leaned as far as I could to find his lips, surrendering to a soft kiss. When he deepened the kiss, I twisted around to face him. His hand gripped the back of my neck, pushing me forward to meet every taste of his tongue.
He broke it first, “Why is it, when I see you in the kitchen, all I want to do is splay you across the table and have my way with you?”
I gave him a cheeky grin, “I mean, there’s no saying we couldn’t.” I reached back for another kiss, attempting to wrap my arms around his neck, claiming him in any way I could.
He growled within our kiss and I was ready to melt. But the brief smell of blueberry filled my senses. I pulled away from him, running to grab the oven mit to recover the muffins.
“Where did you go this morning?” I asked as I opened the oven door, the blast of heat soothing my soul.
Out of the corner of my eye, Hound fiddled with something, and a deep sigh escaped his sinful mouth. “Something I had to take care of.”
No details. I wondered if it was more that he couldn’t tell me or was afraid to tell me.
I set the tray down only to turn back and see a smile on Hound’s face. It only sent a rush of heat on my cheeks.
“What are you smiling about?”
“Seeing my beautiful woman in my kitchen, with my shirt on, making herself at home,” he said, smiling.
He walked toward me only to pop a muffin in his mouth. “They taste delicious, but I already tasted heaven last night.”
Yep, that will do it.
Was it hot because of the oven still on or just me?
Nope, it was me.
I was at a loss for words. A man like that wanted to be around me. Fate must have been playing a hand in it.
I reached out to touch him, trailing my fingers along his cut, toward his somewhat exposed chest, mad that the shirt he was wearing was covering up a masterpiece. I could see him more in person, wanting to take my time to familiarize every curve of his muscles.
“Someone’s a bit ravenous this morning,” His deep chuckle startled me.
I withdrew my fingers quickly, slightly embarrassed that I got lost in thought and greed. But he took back my hand only to shove it under his shirt to his warm chest.
Fucking hell.
“You can touch all you want, honey,” he invited me to keep exploring. Before I could wonder what he was doing he took his cut and shirt off in a flash. My eyes turned wide at the bare flesh.
I didn’t realize the man had a little bit of chest hair that matched his dark hair. The rough cut muscles beckoned to be stared at.
“Oh my. You’re very different in the daytime.”
He laughed. “What did you think I was?”
“Not this. Not an Adonis even in the morning. I’m having serious thoughts here.” I blew out a breath that puffed out my cheeks.
“Oh yeah, like what?” He mimicked my touches but inched along my bare thighs.
“That I was fucked by a man that could snap me in half and then go chop some wood after.” The ridiculous things that came out of my mouth were truthfully cringe worthy.
“Mm, well I could say the same thing.” He continued with his mind numbing capable fingers.
“That I fucked a woman that could stop a man in his tracks and melt. Only if anyone looked at you, they wouldn’t have eyes anymore.”
His fingers traveled up my leg, only to find that there was no other barrier other than the shirt. “Why, little songbird, did you walk out here, make me muffins, and not have any panties on?”
I gulped, “Well, I couldn’t find them.”
I stared back at his eyes, and caught the cocky grin on his face as he licked his lips, “That’s because they’re in my truck.”
“You fucking took my panties? When you left?” I could have gotten mad.
“You could have gotten another pair from the guest bedroom,” he retorted.
I tried to argue but the fucker had a point. “Why?”
He growled as one of his fingers slipped past my lips, and straight inside of me. “So I would be able to do that. Have myself in this warm, wet pussy that I knew would be waiting for me.”
I whimpered as he slowly dragged in and out of my seeping wet heat. The man wasn’t satiated last night, and apparently neither was I.
“I thought I’d get another lesson that would turn into another night like last night,” I quickly said, trying to enjoy the pleasure I was getting.
“If you’re with me, you better get used to it. I don’t think this hunger will ever go away,” Hound said before diving for another hungry kiss.
This was one of those kisses that you saw in a movie where the man and woman reunite and they felt like they were never going to see each other again before that. It was as if there was no one else in the world.
He backed me into the corner of the counter. I knew I wasn’t going anywhere. Hound had slipped his finger out of me, only to cup my ass with his hands and scoop me onto the counter. I felt better because the poor man didn’t have to bend down so far to compensate for my lack of height.
He pulled back from what our unbroken kiss was. “Wearing my fucking shirt, seeing that smile on you, makes you fucking irresistible.”
“Keep talking like that and see where it will get you,” I teased him, placing a quick kiss on his lips.
“I already got you where I wanted you.” He smiled like a damn softie.
“Oh yeah? And where’s that?”
“Here with me.”
Fucking hell. Aria, I hope you ain’t watching from the heavens.
“Hound Dog. If you could kindly let me off this counter so I can show you my appreciation for your sweet words, I’d gladly appreciate it.”
And with that, the man turned into a mute.
Well, only until I drove the man to roar later as I swallowed.