Melody #2
She chuckles, looking down at our hands before her face settles into something tender.
“Love isn’t linear. At least it isn’t in my book.
It’s ever-changing and flowing with the tides.
” Her thumb brushes over my knuckle. “All I know is that if I had my second chance at a happily ever after, then so should you, baby. I’m not telling you to fall into his arms, but I’m also not telling you that you shouldn’t give him another chance at redemption. People change.”
I nod as I curl my fingers around hers. “That first time was really messy…”
“I know,” she whispers. “But sometimes, we have to have faith that our hearts are in the right place. Kaden adores you. I’ve been able to see it since you were kids.”
My lips wobble as I let my emotions flow. “I’m so scared…”
She lifts her hand to my face, cupping my cheek. “But you’ll spend every day regretting it if you don’t try.”
She’s right. No matter how angry I am with him, I’ll regret it more if I don’t test the waters first. It’s always been at the back of my mind how differently our lives could have been if he had chosen me the first time.
Somehow, I feel like this is that very dream come to life, and we’re getting our second chance.
It isn’t clean or cordial. It’s messy and dramatic, but it’s ours.
“I love you, Mom,” I say with a small smile.
“I love you too, Jellybean,” she says, kissing my cheek before rising. “Let me go get your father before he blows through a whole pack.”
As I watch her walk away, she stops Kaden before patting his cheek affectionately. He whispers something low to her, making her laugh before she excuses herself outside.
Well, it’ll be nice not having to pretend I’m interested in my ex-in-laws’ long-winded stories about sports and their desk jobs. That part is nice…
Ivan mingles with the crowd, catching my attention as he steps out onto the balcony and pulls a cigar out of his pocket.
I may not know the inner workings of his crime family, but I’m not dumb.
I rise from the table, sweeping across the floor as people congratulate me.
I give kind smiles, waving to my friends before I join the Pahkan on the balcony.
He’s resting his elbows on the iron, thick smoke billowing from his mouth as I settle beside him.
“Give it to me straight,” I command lightheartedly.
He sighs, hanging his head as he presses a thumb to the bridge of his nose. “You’re initiated into the family, which means you can never leave. Just like Kaden.”
“I know.”
His head turns. “You do?”
I nudge him. “I’m not stupid. I know this was his plan all along.”
Ivan shakes his head. “For what it’s worth, I tried to stop him.”
My brows lift. “And you thought you could get through to him?”
He chuckles. “I guess I was dreaming too big there.” He puffs on his cigar before blowing out smoke. “Kaden isn’t a good person. He’s hot-headed and stubborn, but with you, I think he’s the best version of himself that he’s capable of.”
“Really?” I muse, feeling lighter as the evening flows.
“Yeah…” Ivan trails. “He’s his own kind of twisted, but when he’s with you, he actually seems normal. It’s surreal to know he’s smiling and he actually means it.”
My heart twinges, warmth spreading as those old feelings circle. I really am hopeless, because I know I’m going to give him a fair chance. After tormenting him, of course.
Ivan pulls back, slapping the railing. “I hate to admit this, especially with you in biting range of me, but I’m rooting for both of you.”
I tilt my head affectionately. “Yeah, I think I am too…”
“I would say blink if Kaden’s holding you at gunpoint but…” He winces. “Too soon?”
I roll my eyes. “A little.”
Saint breezes out onto the balcony, rubbing his hands together like the mastermind he is. “Melody, we need you in here for this.”
My brow quirks. “For what?”
He smirks devilishly. “You’ll see.”
I follow him inside to see a chair stationed in the center of the room. Most of Ivan’s men are standing around, forming a crowd as my friends sit at their tables. Kaden looms over the chair, his hands tucked into his pockets as he waits for me.
“What is this?” I ask as I near him.
He motions for me to sit, and I obey, glancing around at everyone. Kaden drops to a knee in front of me, and I gasp. Dad chooses this very moment to come back inside before he stops, takes one look at us, holds up his hands, and turns right back around.
“Eyes on me, pretty girl,” Kaden murmurs as my gaze snaps to him. His other knee falls until he’s kneeling before me like he’s bowing to a ruler. His hands shift my dress aside, revealing my leg with my garter belt as his fingers caress gently across my skin.
There’s a fire in his eyes as he moves downward. The scruff of his jaw scrapes against me, causing my stomach to flutter as I become entirely consumed by him. His calloused hands slide down my bare leg with delicate, chaste touches, igniting heat in his wake.
I suck in as he draws closer to me, his cheek rubbing against my knee as his fingers trail up my thigh.
Before he can dip further, I lift my leg, pressing the toe of my heel into his chest and pushing him back slightly.
He looks like a scorned angel, his hair curling across his temples and pure hunger in his eyes as I deny his sinful lips from touching me.
I tilt my head as raw power flows through my veins. “You haven’t been a very good boy.”
The corner of his lips twitches before his thick fingers curl around the strap fastened at my ankle. “Forgive me, Mrs. Wilder?”
I press my toe harder into his chest, my eyes becoming low-lidded and predatorial. “Forgiveness is earned, Mr. Wilder.”
His palms run over my feet, sliding up tantalizingly. “I’m an earner, Mrs. Wilder. I’ll beg on my knees if I have to.”
My eyes narrow. “You’re on your knees now.”
Something sparks between us, a low ember that burns brighter with every passing second. Kaden runs his cheek up my calf, his gaze holding mine as my foot falls away and I allow him to get closer to me.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers ruggedly against my skin as he feathers light kisses up to my knee. “Fuck, I’m so sorry, Melody.”
My lower stomach clenches at his deep tone, sending my pulse hammering as his mouth gets closer to the inside of my thigh.
I feel unbearably hot under his touch, squirming as my hands grip the edges of my chair tightly.
Kaden’s shoulder rests behind my knee, lifting me into a suggestive position as a few men whistle and clap.
My husband is covering me completely with his body, making sure no one sees anything they shouldn’t, as he parts my legs and nips at the soft flesh of my thigh.
“I’m so fucking sorry,” Kaden growls against my skin. His hands slow at the edge of my thigh, fingers brushing the delicate strap of my garter. The air between us thickens. His jaw tightens as he looks up at me with something much more than hunger in his eyes. “Melody,“ he rumbles in a prayer.
The room around us fades into a blur of shapes and hushed voices. The whistles die down when Kaden straightens, his body shielding mine completely, possessive and protective all at once. His fingers trace the lace almost worshipfully.
“You don’t get to rush this,” I whisper thickly. “You’re earning it, remember?”
A slow, crooked smile curves his mouth. “Then let me earn it.”
He takes the garter between his teeth, pulling it away from my leg as he works it down to my ankle. The whole way, he never breaks eye contact.
Hot.
My body is on fire…
I’m caught up in his hypnotic trance, our connection fizzling between us like a live wire as he finally grabs the garter, balls it into his fist, and shoves it into the pocket of his suit jacket. There are a few groans from the crowd, but Kaden ignores them.
“You’re supposed to throw it—”
He cuts me off sharply with an edge in his tone. “No one gets anything that once touched you, Melody. Only me.”
I swallow, nodding as he rises and holds a hand out to me. I take it, easing off my chair as applause ripples through the room.
“Dance with me, beautiful.” My husband whispers as he kisses behind my ear.
I know I’m a sucker, because I’m already falling. I only hope he’s there to catch me this time.