10. Chapter Ten
Chapter ten
F ox turned off the light in the bathroom before he opened the door and stepped out. He didn’t want to wake Melody. He’d woken her an hour ago for a third round of the most amazing sex he’d ever had in his life. Now, she lay in his bed on her stomach, her head turned toward him, one arm stretched out to where he’d been beside her until he dragged his ass out of bed for work. Since she was on her stomach, the swell of her breast rounded at her ribcage. The honey-sweet taste of her seemed to bloom on his tongue even now. The sheet barely covered her heart-shaped ass and gorgeous legs. He could still feel how they wrapped around him.
“Is that her?” Awe filled Max’s voice.
Fox’s head snapped to the doorway and Max, standing there staring into the dark room at his…Melody.
“Get the fuck out!” He whisper-barked the order, then turned back to make sure they hadn’t woken a naked Melody.
Max’s shit-eating grin infuriated Fox. “Who could take their eyes off that sexy scene?”
Wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his hips, he shoved Max out of the room and closed the door behind him. “Hands and eyes off.”
Max just laughed it away.
Fox raked his fingers through his damp hair. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to get you up to speed on the call we have this morning with CrossTec. I didn’t know she was here.” Max kept his voice down, but his eyes went to the closed door. The fucker was probably imagining Melody lying naked between the sheets in his bed.
“When did you even get here?” Fox thought Max was still back at the company headquarters in Boston.
“Late last night. I was tired, so I crashed and thought we’d meet up this morning. Is Dean up?”
As if Dean had heard his name, he came walking in the front door.
Fox regretted giving them both a key. Of course he had their keys, too. And they’d always had an open-door policy for each other.
What if she’d walked out here naked to get a glass of water or something and they walked in?
He’d have to warn her, because he didn’t want Dean and Max to think he chose her over them. She already understood his brothers were important to him.
Dean’s gaze narrowed on him. “You’re not dressed.”
“I got a late start.”
Max grinned. “Because of the naked woman in your bed.”
“Yes,” he snapped. “Because of her.” And I’d like to still be in that bed with her.
“Melody’s here?” Dean eyed the closed door. “Damn. Nice. Congrats, man. You got her back. Like for real, you two are together now.”
“What have I missed?” Max asked.
“Our boy here finally made his move on his dream girl.” Dean and Max shared an approving look. “Oh, I forgot to tell you last night. Your girl warned me about those two locals. Brian and Josh. I did some digging. Brian has a record. Mostly possession and a couple minor intent to sell. Dude knows his business and how not to get caught is all that tells me. Josh is nearly squeaky clean. He’s got a parking ticket he hasn’t paid, a speeding ticket, and one assault incident where he was hit first, but the guy who hit him claimed Josh was assaulting a woman in the parking lot. He wasn’t charged because the woman said she was drunk, he hit on her, things got handsy in the parking lot, she changed her mind and pushed him away, but he didn’t stop before the other guy came to her rescue.”
“That is fucked up,” Fox said, raking his hand through his still-damp hair.
Dean nodded. “Yeah. So he’s not our kind of people.”
They’d seen a lot of shit happen growing up in foster care and they steered clear of people who liked to hurt others and take what wasn’t offered. They’d all been victims of it themselves in some way, shape, or form.
“I don’t think Melody liked them at all, though she put up with them. I noticed the waitresses working the back of the bar kept an eye on Brian.” Fox had kept his eye on Melody most of the night, though she handled herself well with the drunk and flirty customers. For the most part, no one took advantage of her. They’d probably learned a lesson a time or two trying.
She didn’t take any shit.
She stood up for herself and those who worked for her.
He liked that about her.
Fox was tired of standing around practically naked with his buddies. “They’re off our radar. We’ve got other business to handle. I’ll meet you guys downstairs in ten.”
“Is it everything you hoped it would be?” Max asked, because Fox only confided his most personal feelings with them.
“No.” Before he could say more, a soft gasp sounded behind him.
They all turned toward her, standing in the open bedroom door, her in one of his T-shirts. She looked adorably rumpled and awesome in his shirt as it draped over her curves and hit her mid-thigh.
But he did not like the devastated look on her face. “It’s a billion times better than what I hoped it would be.”
She leaned her shoulder against the doorframe, stared at him, and a huge smile lit up her whole face. “Is that right?”
“The dreams I had of you don’t even come fucking close to the outstanding reality that is you.”
Her grin widened. “Such a filthy mouth on a guy built like a god.”
Now he grinned. She’d surprised him. And just looking at her made him hard. Which was why he kept his back to his friends. “I’ll meet you both downstairs.”
“We have a meeting in less than half an hour,” Max reminded him.
“I’ll be there. But first…” He walked toward Melody, who couldn’t possibly miss his intention with the way he’d tented the towel at his waist.
The only thing that signaled his buddies had left was the closing of his front door.
Melody looked up at him as he stopped in front of her. “You didn’t introduce me to your friend.”
“I’m not doing introductions when you’re naked.”
She looked down at the shirt she’d put on. “I hope you don’t mind my borrowing this.”
“You can have anything of mine you want. And it’s better than him seeing you naked again.”
Her eyebrow shot up. “Again?”
He scrunched his lips. “Full disclosure. They both have keys to this place. We come and go from each other’s apartments all the time. So don’t be surprised if you’re here and they just walk in.”
“Um. Okay.”
“And as much as I love you naked, maybe keep that in our bedroom. Just so I don’t have to beat the shit out of my brothers.”
“Wouldn’t it be my fault for walking around naked if they saw me?”
“Don’t care. You can do whatever you want. They don’t get to see it. You’re all mine.”
She went up on tiptoe and brushed a kiss against his lips. “That’s sweet. But I only got up because I thought something was wrong when I heard all the voices.”
He took her by the hips and walked her backward toward the bed. “Everything is fine. Max just wanted to go over some stuff before our call.”
“Shouldn’t you get dressed for work then?”
“After.”
“After what?” She gave him a teasing grin.
“I promised you a fourth time. I was going to let you sleep and make it up to you later, but…”
“I don’t want to make you late.” The back of her legs hit the bed. She sat and scooted back, then lay down, tempting him with those legs and the barely there hint of her sex as the shirt rode up.
He pulled the towel off and dropped it on the floor. “I’m still learning all the things you like. All the things that make you fucking moan and gasp and get me so fucking hot I think I’ll explode.”
“That mouth.”
“Where do you want it?”
“We don’t seem to have a lot of time.”
“I’ll make time for you.” He’d do anything for her.
She bent her knees and spread her thighs wide as she pulled off the T-shirt and tossed it. “Then I want you to make me come with that dirty mouth, then fuck me hard and fast so you can make your meeting.”
“You’re so fucking perfect.” He practically dove onto the bed, hooking his arms around her thighs as he licked her pretty pink flesh, circling her clit with his tongue. She was already turned on and wet, but he wanted her writhing on the bed. So he lapped at her and thrust his tongue into her. She rocked her hips to his rhythm and moaned. She was getting there, but he wanted her wild, so he slipped one finger into her and sucked on her clit as he thrust his finger in and out of her. He could feel her body tighten with tension and slid another finger inside her, stretching her delicate walls.
“Fox. Oh god. Yes. Keep doing that.”
He lapped at her clit with the tip of his tongue then pressed on it, his tongue flat and soft against her.
She exploded, her sweet release like honey in his mouth.
He left her long enough to grab a condom from the drawer and roll it on. She stared up at him, her legs splayed apart, her chest rising and falling with her fast breaths. She looked incredible.
He took her by the hips, rolled her over, then pulled her up on her knees.
She raised herself up on her hands and glanced back at him over her shoulder. “Start slow, so I can find a good position. You’re much taller than me. Then you can let go.”
He loved that she gave him some direction. He never wanted to hurt her. And she was right. Their height difference mattered in this case. So he spread his knees a bit wider on the bed so he was lower and in line with her hips. He nudged the head of his cock against her wet folds, slowly sinking in to the hilt. “You good?”
She rocked back into him, sighed, and said, “Oh, yes.”
He pulled out slowly and slammed back in. With his hands on her hips, he controlled how far she could move.
“I said let go.”
He gave her what they both wanted, but he built the tempo, getting into it as she moved with him, making sure she was feeling every inch of him with pleasure. It washed over him with each pounding thrust. His lower back tingled and his balls drew up; his release was imminent but… “I want you with me. Touch yourself.” He needed to keep his grip on her.
She lowered her chest and head to the bed.
He loved the view and the new angle.
Her hand and arm disappeared beneath her and he felt the brush of her fingertip touching herself and him as he drove into her.
She moaned.
That sweet sound made him want to come right then, but he held out, sensing she was close as her inner muscles tightened around his cock. And then her panting turned into a series of moans as her release hit, triggering his. He pulled her hips tight to his and held her there as his release surged through him. He’d never felt anything this intense.
She lifted up. He released her hips, and she fell forward onto the mattress with a bounce just before she rolled over and stared up at him. He fell beside her and kissed the side of her breast because it was right there.
She gasped, then let out a pleasure-filled hum. “That was…”
“Amazing. Again.”
She rolled toward him so they were lying face-to-face. “That was a really great way to start the day.”
He glanced at the clock on the nightstand and winced. “I’m sorry we woke you up so early. You can stay as long as you like and get some more sleep.”
“I should probably go home, since you’re going to work.”
“You can stay. I like you here.”
“Is that what you say to all the women you bring home?” she teased.
But there was a serious question in there. And he had no trouble answering it. “I don’t bring women home.”
She raised a brow.
“I mean, don’t get me wrong. I’ve dated. Like I told you before, I’m not great at talking to people. It takes me a while to get comfortable.”
“So you went to their place because you weren’t comfortable with them in your space?”
“Yes. And…”
“What?”
“You fit here. You fit me. You’re sweet and kind and independent and feisty and you have such a huge heart. No one ever compared to you. No one is in your league. I didn’t want them in my bed. I didn’t let them into my heart. Because I was always coming back to you.”
She placed her hand on his cheek and kissed him softly. “What took you so long?”
“I was afraid that what we had back then wouldn’t be what we had now. I didn’t want those memories tainted if the reality of us now didn’t live up to my memories of you.”
“You thought that maybe I changed so much that I wouldn’t love you like I loved you then.”
He knew she was talking about the kind of love you had for a dear friend. He wanted more. But he’d take that for now. “Yes. After I said that I hated you, I thought you’d hate me back and forget all about me.”
“That is just not possible. I will never forget you, no matter what happens next between us.”
He kissed her, then looked into her beautiful blue eyes. “I hoped we’d have this and so much more, but I never let myself really believe it would come true.”
“I’m here, Fox. I’m not going anywhere. You make me happy. In case the many orgasms didn’t convince you.” She grinned. “But we have more than just great sex. All those weeks we chatted online…I haven’t felt that close to someone since…well, you.”
His phone buzzed with an incoming call on the nightstand. “Crap. I’m late.” He reached for the phone the second he jumped out of bed, then frowned at the caller ID. “Tanya. Is everything okay?”
“No. This place is falling apart around me.”
“What’s wrong?”
“The pipe under the kitchen sink cracked. There’s water everywhere. And my ride to the doctor fell through.”
Fox raked his hand over his head. “Okay. I’ll, um, be there soon.”
“Thank you. You’re such a good son.”
He rolled his eyes and hung up.
Melody was on the other side of the bed, pulling on her jeans over her sexy panties. She already had her bra on and pulled her shirt over her head. “Do you know where I left my bag?”
“It’s on the kitchen island.”
“Okay. What does Tanya need?”
“A plumber and a ride,” he called from the bathroom as he ditched the condom and cleaned up.
She tucked in the shirt and finger combed her hair in the mirror from behind him. “Okay. You better get dressed or you’ll miss your meeting.”
He turned and stared at her. “I can’t go to the meeting now. I’ll have to reschedule.”
“You go do your thing. I’ve got Tanya covered.”
He stared at her, still not believing what was happening. “What?”
“Dean and Max are waiting for you. Hurry up.”
“Melody, you don’t have to…”
“I know. I volunteered. I’m up. I’ve got a few hours before I need to be at work.”
“I’m sure you have other things to do today before work.”
She planted her hands on her hips. “Fox. Say thank you.”
He sighed. “Thank you.”
“Awesome. Now get dressed before I drool all over the place.” She grinned and ran her hand over his chest before turning and walking out of the room.
He chuckled, then rushed into the walk-in closet and pulled on a pair of jeans and a lightweight sweater. He grabbed his socks and a pair of shoes, sat on the bed, and put them on, wondering if Melody had left before he actually said goodbye to her.
“Hurry up,” she shouted.
He found her in the kitchen. She turned with two travel mugs in hand. “Do you want anything in yours?”
“No. Black is good. What do you put in yours?”
“Milk, but you’re out, so I’ll just go stripped down and dirty like we did earlier.”
God, this woman. She kept on surprising him.
“I’ll return the mug later. Okay?” She shooed him toward the door.
He went because she was following him. “No problem.” She could keep the damn thing for all he cared. “Will you come back tonight after your shift?” He opened the front door for her.
“Do you want me to?” she asked, walking out and heading to the elevator.
He set the alarm, locked up, then rushed to push the elevator button for her. “Yes.” He wanted her to spend every night with him.
She looked up at him. “It’ll be late again.”
“I don’t care what time it is.” He brushed his hand down her long, tousled hair.
“You will when I keep disturbing your sleep and keeping you up.”
He pulled her into his arms. “Please do.”
“You say that now, but it’s been a problem in the past and I don’t want it to be one for us.”
“It won’t be. I often get lost in work late into the night. And if I sleep through the night, you can be sure I’ll make it up to you in the morning.”
She leaned into him and smiled. “I look forward to it.”
They stepped onto the elevator. She hit the button for the first floor.
He kissed her, long and deep. He lost himself in her.
“Hey, I told the client we’ll be ten minutes late, but if we don’t hurry, we’ll be later than that,” Max grumbled.
Fox kept kissing Melody because that seemed infinitely more important than whatever Max was saying.
“Come on, man. I get you. She’s your real-life fantasy, but we have to go.” Max’s exasperation finally penetrated.
Fox broke the kiss and stared down at Melody’s cheeks, which were blush-kissed thanks to Max’s comment. “See you tonight.”
She patted his chest. “Yes.”
He took her hand and walked through the lobby with her. Outside, he pulled out his wallet. “Let me give you my credit card, so you can call the plumber for Tanya.”
She held up her hand. “No worries. I’ve got this.”
“I’m not letting you pay for her plumber.”
She shook her head. “I’m actually a decent plumber. I fix the sinks and bathroom fixtures all the time at the bar.”
“Seriously?” Dean asked.
“One of my many hidden talents, boys.” She went up on tiptoe and kissed Fox quick. “Have a nice day, dear.” With that, she walked toward the parking lot, her hips swaying, his heart somehow tethered to hers.
“I’ll call you later.”
She raised her hand and waved at him, but didn’t turn around.
“You are so gone for her.” Max slapped his hand on Fox’s shoulder. “Can we focus on work now that the hot brunette with the killer walk is gone?”
Fox turned and faced Max eye to eye. “Don’t look at her that way.”
“Dude. I get it. She’s yours.”
“Damn straight. And this time I’m not letting anything or anyone mess it up.”
“Good,” Dean said. “So I guess that means you’ll be telling her everything .”
He hesitated, even though he shouldn’t, because it was her. “Eventually.”
Max, ever cautious, especially when it came to money, nodded his agreement. “You should wait.”
Fox waffled. “I know everything I need to know about her to trust her.”
Dean stared him down. “And yet, you’re keeping something huge from her.”
He thought about why he hadn’t said anything yet. “She doesn’t need to know it to be with me.”
Dean shook his head. “You’re scared she’ll be more interested in—”
“She’s not like that. She cares about me. So much that she’s headed over to deal with Tanya’s drama so I can go to work.”
“Did you tell her you were making a multimillion-dollar deal?” Max asked.
Fox sighed. “Does that even matter?”
Dean started walking and they followed. The center was only a few blocks away. “It might matter to her that you’d rather take her to bed than be on time for a deal worth that much.”
“It’s not like we’ll lose the deal. This call is just a formality for them to accept the terms and hire us to do a job that no other firm can do as well as we do it.”
“You mean you . You’re delivering this project,” Max pointed out. “This one is all you. And maybe she would like to know what a fucking genius boyfriend she has.”
He rolled his eyes. “You guys just don’t get it. Maybe that will impress her, but what she really cares about is me. I asked her to come back tonight. Instead of agreeing right away, she was concerned about me getting enough sleep.”
“Guess she doesn’t know that’s the one thing you don’t do well,” Dean pointed out.
They reached the New Adult Education Center and entered the building using Dean’s key card.
“Can’t you guys just be happy for me?”
Max nodded. “I am happy for you.”
“Me, too,” Dean added. “I just don’t think you should hide parts of yourself from her. It’s like lying. And it will come back to bite you in the ass.”
Fox never dismissed a warning from his friends. But he wanted to get to know Melody better, and for her to get to know him, without her being influenced by his success and what that meant in his life.