Chapter forty-seven Melody
Chapter forty-seven
Melody
My flowers sit in a vase on the counter, soaking in some water as I feel a petal between my fingers. They’re beautiful, pale blue hydrangeas with bundles of blooms, but they aren’t my favorite. I’ve always been a rose girl. It’s the thought that counts, and Dylan is trying.
He sweeps by, a glob of dough in his hands, and his sweater covered in flour as he holds up the mass. “I need your help, baby.”
He’s made this dish with me tons of times, yet he still can’t get the homemade noodles right.
I smile softly, taking the dough from him before using a rolling pin to flatten it.
I run it through the pasta machine as Dylan preps the ingredients for the sauce, dicing onions and humming to himself as we work quietly around each other.
Dad had to take Mom to her Queens store to make sure everything was locked down for the storm. They left us alone with Kaden, who’s outside on the terrace, shoveling and salting everything with a cigarette hanging loosely from his lips as if it’s the only way to keep himself busy.
Good. The further he is from me, the better.
“Hey, Melody,” Dylan calls thoughtfully from behind me.
“Mhm?” I hum as the machine produces long trips of floured dough.
“Are you and Kaden blood related?”
The question makes me stop, my whole frame tightening unpleasantly. My blood rushes as I clear my throat. “No, we’re step-siblings. My mom married his dad.”
“So,” he drawls, making me frown. “You aren’t actually related at all? Besides by marriage?”
I turn to face him, my eyes narrowing. “Yes. Why?”
Dylan shrugs as he continues to dice vegetables. “I was just curious.”
“Is there a reason behind your curiosity?” I ask, placing a hand on my side.
He releases a strained laugh, his jaw tightening. “Well, the guy obviously has a thing for you. He’s fucking territorial. He looks at me like he’s waiting for me to screw up.”
My head rears as I blink at him. He’s so close to the truth that it hurts. “You don’t get to talk about me like this.”
“I’m not talking about you like anything,” he fires back. “I’m talking about him.”
I cross my arms, my glare cutting into my fiancé. “No, you’re talking about me like I’m some prize to be won.”
“And am I winning, Melody?” He whirls on me, his face hard. “I’m only telling you what I see from my perspective.”
His words hit hard, piercing me deeply. My face falls a fraction, softening. “Of course you’re winning. This isn’t some game, Dylan. This is our future.”
He shakes his head, returning to the cutting board. “All I’m saying is that I don’t trust it…”
I feel as if he just slapped me across the face. It stings, the pain biting into me as my chest aches. “Do you not trust me?” I ask quietly.
“No,” he sighs, closing his eyes. “I don’t trust him. I don’t want you alone with him again, okay?”
“Okay…” My voice dips as my face begins to sting with unshed tears. I try to shake myself out of it by making dinner, but it’s no use. Everything Dylan said is weaponized, jabbing back at me with every fresh thought.
I can’t even argue with him on the topic.
Kaden has already made multiple moves on me, and granted, I didn’t know it was him last night, but that doesn’t make this situation any better.
It’s such a mess, and I can’t think of a solution to this problem besides making sure Kaden and I aren’t alone again.
And locking my bedroom door at night.
Would that even keep him out? He’s been up to nefarious things over the last six years. I highly doubt a locked door will stop him from getting to me…
This is all so fucked.
The glass doors slide open, and Kaden stalks inside, snow covering him as he shakes it off and runs a hand through his hair. His eyes connect with mine as if naturally drawn to me, and I avert my gaze.
“What’s gotten into you two?” He asks casually, strolling over to the island before he leans against it to watch me. “Pasta? You know the way to my heart.”
I glare at him, silently begging for him to shut up as Dylan goes tense behind me. Kaden only smirks in cruelty, his eyes creasing.
“You know how much I love your cooking,” my brother pushes. “We shared muffins this morning. It was adorable.”
Dylan slaps the knife down on the cutting board angrily before tossing his mixture into the pot.
“Stop,“ I whisper.
His smirk stretches. “I can still taste them on my tongue.”
The color drains from my face as Dylan whips around. “Don’t you have something better to do? We’re busy.”
“Good thing I wasn’t talking to you then,” Kaden shrugs. His eyes slide back to me, slow and deliberate. “I was talking to my favorite girl.”
My neck flames with unbidden heat, curling around me as I avoid his gaze. The edges of my vision swirl as the sounds become too much. “Stop.”
“You’re pathetic, you know that?” Dylan bites.
“And you’re expendable,“ Kaden tilts his head. “Isn’t that right, Melody?”
Everything boils over, and I snap. This little pissing contest has made me reach my breaking point. “That’s enough. Both of you. Either find something to do that doesn’t involve speaking to me, or I’ll leave.”
Kaden shakes his head, chuckling to himself as he pads over to the living room and spreads out on the couch.
Dylan sighs, dropping the spoon in the pot as he steps behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. He kisses my cheek, whispering in my ear.
“I’m sorry, baby. Can I make this up to you tonight? ”
I know what that means. Ten minutes of him sweating profusely over me as I lie there and pretend I’m satisfied with not orgasming. No, maybe I can try to turn it around? We can do something new and exciting to spice things up a bit.
I reach my hand back, cupping his cheek. “Can we try something?”
His brow inches up. “Uh, yeah, sure. What do you have in mind?”
I turn into his embrace, wrapping my arms around his neck as I bite my lip and look up through my lashes. “Maybe a little bit of roleplay…”
His head tilts, contemplation flickering in his gaze. “Yeah? We can definitely give it a try. Set the scene for me.”
I nip at his bottom lip. “Hmm, you’re a robber breaking in through my balcony—”
“Whoa,” he chuckles uncomfortably. “That’s a little intense, don’t you think?”
I’m used to being shot down, but for some reason, this hurts more than it usually does.
He never wants to try my suggestions in the bedroom, and it’s getting old not having my needs met.
Even if he would just give it a go and tell me it wasn’t for him, it would still do wonders for me. But he can’t seem to understand that.
I don’t let my dejection show as I pat his chest dismissively. “Just come to my room after everyone goes to bed.”
He smirks. “That I can do.”
I sigh as he kisses my cheek before returning to the pot on the stove. As I’m gathering up my pasta, I can feel Kaden’s eyes on me from the living room. I glance up, and I see it.
Victory.
Dinner wasn’t a shit show like the previous night.
It was quiet but not uncomfortable, as everyone stuck to small talk and no one stepped on any toes.
Kaden was surprisingly docile, shoveling pasta into his mouth like he hadn’t eaten in weeks.
Even Dylan was on his best behavior, talking quietly to Dad about stocks and opening his new office in Texas.
Mom and I were still on edge, catching each other’s eye every time we peered around at the men as if waiting for a bomb to detonate.
As soon as the dishes are washed and everyone retires upstairs, I release the breath I’ve been holding all afternoon. I’ve barely shut my bedroom door before it pushes open, and Dylan backs me into the room.
“What are you doing?” I giggle quietly as he shuts us in.
He gets a seductive look on his face as he wraps his arms around my waist. “You wanted to try something new, so I’m meeting you halfway.”
“Oh?” I purr as I lift up on my toes and kiss him. His mouth is warm, and the taste of citrus he’s acquired over the years is practically gone.
Huh.
That’s odd.
“Mhmm,” he hums against me as he backs me towards the bed. My legs hit, and he falls over me, bracketing his hands on either side of my head as he looms over me. “I’m going to need you to be very quiet, Mrs. Callahan. Everyone is still awake.”
I bite my bottom lip, nodding as my suggestion slips out. “Maybe you can choke me to keep me quiet?”
He winces slightly, working the idea over in his head. “Okay, yeah, we can do that.”
He doesn’t sound too convincing, and he’s never choked me before, but this is a learning experience. If he’s willing to try, then so am I.
He drops to his knees, lifting my legs over his shoulders as he kisses along my bare thighs. My nightie rides up as I exhale deeply at his touch.
Fuck, it’s been so long since we last had sex.
With his work schedule, the time we have is stolen and minimal at best. It makes this all that much more intense as my hips lift off the bed and I press myself into his face.
He draws back, chuckling as his breath fans my panties. “You know I like to take my time with you. Just lie still and let me show how much I’ve missed you, baby.”
I don’t want to lie still. I want him to fucking devour me until I’m a shaking mess, but that isn’t Dylan, and I’m getting entirely too close to another territory that I shouldn’t be thinking about. Not during this moment.
I let my hips slide back down, relaxing my head as I sink into the bed and focus on his chaste touches. His fingers gently hook into my panties, pulling them down until I’m bare to him. He could just eat me through them…
No! Stop, Melody.
“You’re tense,” Dylan murmurs against my sex, his nose rubbing along my pussy. “Are you okay?”
It tickles as my face screws up. “Fine. Keep going.”
The first touch of his tongue is…strange. It’s slow and not at all hitting the right spot as he licks my labia. I frown, moving my hips to get him in the right spot before he uses a hand to push me down into the bed.
“Relax,” he purrs as if he’s proud of what he’s doing. “I’m just getting started.”
I’m about to come.
To my fucking senses.