Chapter 12 #2
Grinning, she scooted back, getting out of bed. She clapped her hands, looking around the room. "Since we established we've got more than one night, we could go out on the balcony for a bit and catch the afterglow."
I pushed myself up on an elbow, feeling as conflicted as she was earlier. I wanted her in bed all night—at my mercy. But I also wanted to see what the fuss was with the sunset. I wanted to know everything that brought her joy, to understand it. More than that, I wanted to join in on it.
I wanted to share with her more than pillow talk, which went against everything I thought I knew about myself.
I got out of bed too.
"Okay," I said. "But you're not wearing that underwear." I pointed to the pile of panties and bra. "It will drive me crazy knowing you’re wearing it."
She cocked a brow. "Oh really? And why do you think I'm going to listen to you?"
I went closer to her, cupping her ass and pulling her straight against me. "How about I promise some more orgasms later?"
She narrowed her eyes, tapping her temple. "Bribing me with orgasms, I see. Okay, you win. I'm not going to wear that underwear." I let her go, and she winked. "I'm not going to wear underwear at all."
Fucking hell! She knew how to play me, and I liked that she kept me on my toes.
She put on a loose black dress while I looked for my clothes. After dressing quickly, I followed her to the kitchen. The cheesecake was already on a plate with two teaspoons. I finished pouring wine in the two glasses, and we went outside together.
She had one cozy lounger and a small coffee table on which I deposited the glasses. I immediately lay down, pointing to my lap.
“Since you only have one of these, I think a great solution is we both lie on it.”
“I like this arrangement, Mr. Gallagher.” She climbed on top of me, shimmying. I groaned, watching her carefully set the plate on the coffee table.
Straightening up, she froze.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
She stood up, looking down from the balcony. I followed her gaze to a guy standing in front of it.
“Going to ignore me now too?” he asked.
I glanced back at her, taking in her body language. Her fists were clenched, her eyes narrowed and furious. I instantly felt protective of her, wanting to remove whatever was bothering her. Case in point: the idiot in front of the building.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I told you I need to talk to you.”
She blew out a breath, clenching her fists even tighter. Turning to me, she whispered, “I’m going downstairs to deal with him.”
“I’m coming with you.”
Her eyes widened. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, nodding. “Okay. Thanks.”
I put a hand at the small of her back as we went inside, heading to the front door.
“Who is he?” I asked.
“My shitty ex. He messaged me earlier this afternoon, but I blocked him, and now I can’t believe he’s fucking here .”
I clasped her arm, turning her slightly toward me before cupping her face with both hands. “I can go downstairs and deal with him alone.”
“You’d do that?”
“He’s bothering you. I want to make him stop.”
She bit her lower lip, shaking her head. “No, I’m coming down too. He said he wants to talk to me, so I don’t think he’ll give up.”
“Mel—”
“Let’s go,” she said, opening the front door.
I followed her downstairs, and once we were outside, I took stock of the idiot, who jerked his head back.
“Who’s this?” he inquired.
“None of your business,” Mel answered.
“Not like I care. My business is with you.”
“Watch your tone,” I said.
He tilted his head, sizing me up as if weighing if he could take me on. He couldn’t, but I’d like to see him try.
He looked at Mel lazily. “I’m going to need all the presents I gave you back.”
“What?”
“The necklace and the dress, and that fucking bag. The business is bleeding money again, and I need every cent.”
What the hell?
She stared at him. “Gladly. But I don’t want to see your face ever again.”
Turning on her heels, she headed back upstairs. He made to follow her, but I stepped in front of him.
“You’re not going anywhere,” I said.
“Screw you.” He attempted to push me away, but I grabbed both his arms, overpowering him instantly. He jumped back, his eyes wide.
“You ever show up near her, and we’re going to have a problem,” I said calmly, even though all I wanted to do was punch him. I clenched my fists in my pockets.
“Here is all the stuff,” Mel shouted. It took me a few seconds to realize she was on the balcony. She dropped a bag over the railing. It hit the concrete with a thump.
The jackass swore as he picked it up.
“You’re a—” he was saying, but I interrupted him.
“Shut up or you’ll regret it,” I said.
He narrowed his eyes, looking from me up to the balcony.
“Whatever,” he mumbled before turning around and walking away quickly.
I watched him until he disappeared around the corner before hurrying to Mel, taking the stairs two at a time.
The door was ajar. I went inside and closed it, heading to the balcony.
Mel was sitting on the lounger, red in the face.
I was so angry I could barely breathe, but I needed to calm down. This wasn’t what she needed.
“Mel, are you okay?” I asked, sitting next to her.
She fiddled with her thumbs, shaking her head. “I don’t know. Every time I think he can’t upset me anymore, he proves me wrong.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
She shrugged. “Not much to say. I had a small nest egg. After graduating high school, I started working full-time as a waitress while I completed my degree. When I quit my job as a receptionist, I took up waitressing again while also working as a fitness instructor. Anyway, most of the money went to making Dad’s house wheelchair friendly and getting him the treatment he needed, but the rest…
Elliot asked me to invest it in his business. ”
“Fuck.” I had a hunch I knew where this was going.
“Yeah… so, when he screwed up and was about to lose the business, he wanted even more money, but I didn’t have any more, and he started saying shit like I’m spending too much on Dad.”
“Damn. I should have punched him. Does this happen often?”
“No, I haven’t seen him at all since we broke up, and that was more than a year ago. He did text me a couple weeks ago, but I ignored it then. Douchebag.”
I kissed her forehead, rubbing her back. “I told him we’re going to have a problem if he shows up here again.”
She pulled back, looking up at me. “You did? Wow. I’m sorry this relaxing evening turned into a shit show.”
I cupped her face, touching her lower lip. “Hey, the evening isn’t over yet. Where were we?”
“You tricked me into straddling you.”
“That’s right.”
I immediately lay back down, and she climbed on me like before.
She was smiling again, and her body language was more relaxed.
I wanted to do everything in my power to make her forget about that moron.
I couldn’t believe he had the guts to show up here.
She was feeling raw—that much was evident—and I wanted to make it better, or at least take her mind off it.
Placing my hands on her waist, I shifted her lower, aligning our hips.
She laughed, bracing her hands on my chest.
“This is even better than sitting out here listening to steamy audiobooks,” she said.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“It was.”
“By the way, I still can’t believe you were listening to that.”
She grinned, wiggling her eyebrows. “Am I outrageous enough for you, Mr. Gallagher?”
I kissed the side of her neck, enjoying the sound of her gasp mixed with laughter. “Hell yes. Now, let’s see if I can turn this evening around.”
“We have cheesecake and wine, so I’d say things are looking up.”
“Cheesecake and wine. So I’m not even a factor?”
She shimmied on top of me. “You still have to prove yourself.”
“It’ll be my pleasure.”