30. Chapter Thirty
Chapter thirty
F ox’s eyes crossed and the screen in front of him went blurry. He’d been working on some intricate coding, trying to get the system setup just right for a new client while he’d been waiting for Melody to come home.
He missed her.
He’d never felt this way about anyone.
Other women came and went without really leaving a mark on him. She was in his head and heart, as indelible as a tattoo.
She wasn’t a memory that would fade. She was the past he couldn’t forget and the future he wanted.
Her love was the warmth in his heart and the breath in his lungs.
He checked the clock. Just past midnight. She’d be home soon.
Anticipation rode him hard.
He scrubbed his hands over his face and dug two fingers into his scratchy eyes, then rose and turned off all the lights as he headed from his office to the bedroom. He’d take a quick shower while he waited for her.
He turned on the water, dropped his clothes in a pile on the floor, and stepped into the wide stall. The steamy spray hit his sore shoulders and tight neck. He stood there for a good five minutes, letting the heat and pelting spray relax him. After a quick soap and rinse, he stepped out, toweled off, turned off the lights, and crawled into bed, noting that Melody was running late tonight.
No worries. He’d just rest a little after a long day. She’d wake him with a sweet kiss. He’d tumble her to her back, kiss her senseless, then have his wicked way with her, his cock buried deep in her heat. The two of them connected. One. He’d love on her for as long as she wanted. He’d let her set the pace. If she wanted it quick and dirty, or slow and sweet, didn’t matter to him as long as he had her in his arms.
He didn’t know how much time had passed when he felt the bed dip and the sheet covering him slide down his skin. The soft cotton brushed over his cock in a delicious tease as sleep faded and he became more aware of his surroundings. His cock thickened with anticipation, especially when Melody planted soft kisses over his chest, making him moan. Anticipation built.
“Fuck, baby, don’t stop.”
Her soft hair brushed his skin, heightening the pleasure as she planted another open-mouthed kiss on his pec. He didn’t want to move. He just wanted to feel.
And it only got better as she pressed one kiss, two, three down his happy trail, her mouth so achingly close to his cock. He wanted her lips around his shaft, her tongue licking up and down his length.
“Fuck, you drive me crazy.” He wanted her mouth on him. Her hands, too. But instead she teased him with kisses up his stomach and sternum as she headed for his mouth, he hoped.
He got a whiff of her hair. The scent subtle and clean, not the usual raspberries he’d become used to in her hair and skin and lingering in the bathroom after her shower.
He paused for a second. Something felt off.
The bed shifted as she straddled him, her warm skin sliding against his as her thighs bracketed his hips. And just as she settled over him, her soft, wet folds sliding against his hard length, he smoothed his hands up her thighs and froze for half a heartbeat, then bucked whoever the fuck was on him off.
His heart jackhammered in his chest as he tried to catch a breath past his shock, fury, and yes, fear.
A startled shriek sounded seconds before he tapped on the bedside lamp and turned to face the fucking intruder.
“Fox! Seriously, it’s just me.”
He stared at Amy’s flushed cheeks as she stood next to the bed naked and brushed her hair out of her face.
This could not be happening.
He spotted her clothes at the end of the bed, grabbed them, and tossed them straight at her, hitting her in the chest. “Get dressed. Get out. Hurry up.” He bent his legs, not even a little self-conscious about being naked, planted his elbows on his knees, held his head, and rocked back and forth, trying to think through the rage and not look at the naked woman he wanted to physically remove from his apartment. Now.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Amy press her hands and one knee on the bed like she was about to crawl back to him.
Before he could say or do anything—
“What the fuck!” Melody stood in the open door, her face a mask of pain and fury. A tear slipped down her cheek one second before she fisted her hands at her side and repeated, “What the fuck!”
He leaped from the bed and took three steps toward her before he stopped in his tracks at her death glare. “Melody.” Her name came out as a plea and apology all at the same time even though… “It’s not what it looks like.”
Her gaze bounced from him to Amy, who kept smirking while she pulled on her panties, and back again.
“Please,” he begged. “Listen to me.”
“This is a fucking nightmare, right?”
“More like a dream come true.” Amy licked her lips, her gaze raking over him in one lascivious glance down his body.
“You fucking bitch!” Melody launched toward Amy.
He wrapped his arms around her middle and pulled her back.
Amy chuckled, standing there in her panties and now her bra.
His front door flew open and Dean’s eyes went wide when he spotted Fox holding on to his wildcat. “Let her go,” Dean ordered, coming toward them.
Fox released Melody to show Dean he wasn’t trying to hurt her. Then he herded her out into the living room area toward Dean and away from Amy. “Baby, please listen to me.”
“Damn, that is a nice view.” Amy stood in his bedroom doorway, her hair all tousled, her blouse now on, though mostly open, showing off a red lace bra, her feet bare, jeans zipped but not buttoned.
Melody caught sight of her and rushed Amy again.
Fox hooked his arm around her middle and pulled her back, just as Melody swung her fist and missed Amy’s smug face by half an inch, her hair flying out from the breeze. He pulled Melody back several feet.
Dean got between them and Amy, his head swinging back and forth as he took in the scene. “Dude. Fox, put some clothes on.”
He wasn’t doing anything until he explained to Melody exactly what happened.
“What the fuck is going on here?” Dean asked.
Melody shoved Fox away, then stood with her hands fisted at her sides. “You want to know why you had to let me in tonight? Because they were too busy fucking in his bed to hear me at the door.”
“That is not what happened,” Fox snarled, hurt she’d even think he’d touch another woman and hurt her that way.
Probably exactly what Amy intended.
Amy’s leering gaze swept up him. “Do you blame me? Look at what he’s packing.”
Dean glared at Amy. “Bullshit. Fox would never cheat on any woman, but most especially you .” He pinned Melody in his gaze. “You know that. Let him explain.”
Melody turned to him, her gaze a tempest of emotions. “Put some damn clothes on, and then you can explain to me why that bitch was in our bed. Naked.”
Fox felt like his heart was being ripped out of his chest watching yet another tear slide down her cheek. “I didn’t do anything wrong. I swear it.” He took two steps toward the bedroom and came up short when Amy stood there, grinning at him. “Get out of my fucking way,” he snarled.
“Don’t be like that. You know you loved it. You were so hard and desperate for me. Remember? ‘Baby, don’t stop. You drive me crazy,’” she mimicked him.
He took a menacing step closer to her. “You are going to regret fucking with me.”
“Only that we don’t get to do even more with each other.”
“Move!” he raged at her.
The second she was out of his way, he rushed to the dresser, pulled out a pair of sweats and dragged them on. In the short time since he’d left the living space, Dean had taken up position by the front door, Melody stood with her hip against the back of the couch, and Amy sat at the breakfast bar looking smug.
He walked to Melody, his hands up to cup her gorgeous face.
She stepped back and put up a hand. “Don’t touch me.”
His hands fell to his sides and his stomach clenched, gutted by not being able to touch her. “I thought she was you.”
Wrong thing to say.
Melody’s eyes filled with renewed rage. “Really? Because we look so alike.”
He tried again. “I fell asleep waiting for you. The second I felt the sheet sliding off me, I thought you were home and waking me up just like most nights when we haven’t seen each other most of the day and we’re desperate for each other.”
“You sure did want it,” Amy chimed in.
He pointed at her. “Shut your fucking mouth.” He turned back to Melody. “She didn’t say anything. I didn’t open my eyes. I just wanted to feel you slide into bed and against me. She didn’t touch me with her hands. She kissed my chest and stomach. I thought it was you.” His heart clenched. This was so fucking awful. He felt violated and used. “When she came back up and I smelled her hair, I thought it was strange that you smelled different. I thought you’d changed your shampoo or something and dismissed it. Then she straddled my lap and rocked against me.” He ran his fingers over the top of his head, pulling his hair in anger. “When I reached out to touch you for the first time…the second my hands slid against her thighs, I knew it wasn’t you.” He held her gaze. “I dumped her off me and turned on the light. The second I saw her, I told her to get dressed and get the fuck out.”
“You told her to hurry up. You didn’t want me to find her with you,” Melody accused, like she didn’t believe his story.
“Oops. Secret’s out.” Amy grinned like the Cheshire cat.
He ignored her and kept his gaze on the only woman who mattered. “Yes, I wanted her fucking out before you got here and saw that despicable shit. Not because I did something wrong but because it’s just one more way she disrespects you, our relationship, and me.”
He took a tentative step toward her. “Please. I know you’re furious and hurt right now. But…just take a breath. Look at me. I would never do this to you, not after all I did to get you back. I love you. More than anything. You know that. I didn’t want this. She somehow got in here and snuck into our bed. She knew that you’d be back late and planned this whole fucking thing. The second I knew it wasn’t you, I put a stop to it. And I feel dirty as fuck after having her trick me and touch me like that.”
“It’s called sexual assault,” Dean interjected.
He and Melody both glanced over at Dean, then pinned Amy with a look as she gasped.
“Oh come on,” she groused. “That isn’t even remotely true.”
“Did he give consent?” Dean asked. “Because that shit goes both ways.”
Amy’s mouth hung open. “It’s not the same.”
Fox went with Dean’s very real and true assessment of the situation. “I thought my girlfriend had come home and was putting the moves on me. Not you. Why would I think it was anyone but her?”
He wanted to wipe the smile off her face.
“Because you want me.”
Fox and Dean rolled their eyes at her absurd response.
Melody glared daggers at her.
Dean stepped closer to Amy. “How did you even get in here?” He turned to Fox. “You didn’t leave the door open. I had to let Melody in.”
“Why?” Fox looked to Melody for the answer.
“Because my key card and keys to your place weren’t in my bag.” She pinned Amy in her gaze. “But I bet I know who stole them during class today. So convenient that you were the one to hand me my purse before I left.”
Amy paled at the accusation.
“My cousin’s a cop,” Melody blurted out. “Maybe I should call him, so you can file charges,” she suggested to Fox.
Amy stood, her hands up. “Wait a second. Look, this is getting out of hand. It was just…”
“Desperate,” Melody supplied. “Wrong,” she added with venom.
“How about illegal?” Fox folded his arms over his chest, seriously contemplating filing charges. “You stole from Melody, broke into my place, and sexually assaulted me. Not to mention the pain and suffering you’ve caused me and Melody.”
Amy’s eyes filled with panic. “It was stupid. I thought you would see that I’m your better match.”
Fox fisted his hands at his side. “You thought stealing, breaking the law, tricking me, and hurting someone I love would make me choose you over Melody, who is honest, kind, smart, helpful, affectionate, unabashedly sexy, outgoing, and just fucking amazing? She didn’t have to trick me into being with her. I want her desperately because of who she is and how open and honest and loving she is to me. All you are is fired and pathetic.”
Amy gasped. “You can’t fire me. I have a contract.”
“Then you should have read it. I can fire you without cause. But sexual assault works, too. And I wouldn’t use me as a reference either. Now get out.” The last he practically snarled at her with his hands fisted at his sides, because he couldn’t stand the sight of her a second longer.
Amy headed for the door and came up short when Dean didn’t move out of her way. “What?”
Dean held out his hand. “Melody’s key card and keys.”
She pulled them out of her back pocket and slapped them into Dean’s hand.
Dean took a step toward her. “You have twelve hours to vacate your apartment.”
Amy glared. “That’s hardly enough time.”
“I could have you packed in ten minutes. I’m giving you time to get some sleep, book a flight, pack, and never come near any of us again.”
Amy gave one last fleeting glance at Fox.
He only had eyes for the woman standing three feet away from him, her arms wrapped around her middle. Everything about her posture and vibe said Do Not Touch and it killed him.
Amy opened the door to leave.
Dean handed off the keys and key card to Melody, who opened her bag and dropped them in, right before she swore. “Damnit, I left my phone in my car.”
“I’ll get it,” Dean offered.
She shook her head. “I’ll do it. I could use a moment and some air.” She glanced at him.
“Are we okay?” he asked, because it didn’t feel like it.
She let out a long breath. “Yes.” She closed the distance and, without touching him with her hands or body, brushed a soft kiss against his lips. “I need a minute.”
“Take as many as you need. I need a scalding hot shower to get her off me anyway. And to maybe burn our bed.”
Melody winced. “I’m sorry that happened to you. No one deserves to be treated like their feelings don’t matter.”
“What you’re feeling right now matters a hell of a lot to me.”
“It just shook me. The thought of you hurting me that way. The thought of losing you.” Her eyes glassed over. “It cracked my heart wide open.”
He wanted to wrap her in his arms, but he gave her the space she needed. “Never going to happen, sweetheart. I’d rather tear out my own heart with my bare hands than ever see you hurt.” He laid his soul bare to her.
She had to believe him.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Leave your phone. Stay with me.”
“I have some notes on it for my class tomorrow. I want to go over them while we have breakfast.”
He liked the sound of that. It meant she planned to stay the night.
She walked out the door, leaving him with Dean.
Fox didn’t waste any time. “I want that bitch out of here as soon as possible.”
“Done.”
"And why isn't the elevator fixed, so only we can access this floor?"
Dean winced. "The guy is coming tomorrow."
"Too fucking late." He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. “I want all the video footage of Amy stealing from Melody’s purse in the classroom and breaking into my place.”
“Are you going to press charges?”
He wasn’t sure. “I want evidence and leverage. Hire someone to keep a fucking eye on her. I want to know she’s gone and staying gone.” Because he didn’t think getting rid of her would be that easy. He made that clear to Dean. “If she’s willing to do this, what else is she capable of?”