Dean got to his feet and reached down to help her up. He stowed his camera around and then pulled her into his arms. Looking into her eyes, he asked, “What would you wish for?”
Melissa stared into his warm blue gaze and felt like he was trying to see into her soul! Normally, she’d have been reluctant to tell something so personal aloud. Because her wish was so personal, she normally would have kept it hidden away, burying the hurt and events that had caused her so much grief! But not with him. When he pulled her into his arms, she suddenly had a desire to tell him everything.
“For a family.” Melissa felt the tears fill her eyes and tried to stem them by sniffing several times. “A family full of love”
Dean could see the hurt in her eyes and quickly pulled her closer to his chest, “You’re safe with me. Do you want to tell me about it?”
She nodded, sobbing openly now as she gave up being strong for the moment and gave herself permission to let her emotions out. She buried her head into his shoulder and cried in his arms.
After a long while, the sobbing slowly faded away and she found her voice. “I’m not sure my parents ever loved me. I’m not sure they even loved each other. They were always fighting and screaming at each other. And I never could do anything right. I wanted so desperately to have them love me. But they never gave me so much as a word of praise.
It grew worse when my father started drinking. He started to hit me when he was drunk. It could be for anything. I was too noisy. I came home too late. The food was too cold. It didn’t really have to be anything. Whenever he became enraged, he beat me up. I learned to tell his moods pretty quickly and would do my best to disappear without a noise when he was in a rage.”
Dean clenched his fist next to his side. He wanted to hit her father in his face! How could he beat up his defenseless daughter!
Melissa noticed the tension in his shoulders and looked up at him. She could see the rage in his face. The clenched jaws. His inability to relax. She slightly brushed his clenched fist with her finger. “That was a long time ago.”
Dean looked at her, brushed her tender face with his hand, “I promise that I won’t let anyone harm you or Happy ever again.”
Melissa was moved by his words. If only the story ended there. Taking a deep breath, she said, “Please I’m not finished yet. I have to tell you everything, because you need to know it all. I want to be honest with you. And tell you what I’ve never told anyone else so far. Not even Annie and Hugh.”
“My angel. I don’t want you to cry again. But if it helps, tell me, I’m listening.”
She nodded and continued, “I started spending more and more time away from home when school was out. I was so hungry for acceptance and trying to find love that I thought attraction and lust was the same as love. I met a boy who was year ahead of me in school named Ric. He paid me a lot of attention in the beginning and made me feel loved. I’d never felt that way before.”
The memories were painful. But she knew she had to come clear. To wipe the slate clean. To have a future with Dean, based on trust and honesty.
“Now I understand he wasn’t looking for love. He was too young. Just like me. He had a crush on me and wanted sex. Like most teenagers do.”
Dean rocked her in his arms to comfort her and it felt so good. Safe. Loved.
“I used him as an escape from my parents and pinned all of my hopes on him. We were both enamored teenagers, and he wasn’t looking at forever.” She paused for a moment.
The pain of the past was overwhelming. It ran through her body and stopped right in her heart. It’s been a long time since she’d permitted herself to think about her “life before”. And the first time, she’d ever voiced the happenings.
“He pushed me to have sex with him. I didn’t want to at first, but I was afraid to lose him. He was the only person who’d ever said something nice to me. I finally gave in to his persuasion and he convinced me we didn’t need to use protection. He told me he’d be careful. This is how I ended up pregnant. It was a shock. I was scared to death.”
She now sobbed uncontrollably and needed a few minutes before she could continue her story. The whole time, Dean held her in his arms, giving her as much strength and support as he could. His worried face and the loving look in his eyes gave her the strength to continue.
“When I told him, he abandoned me, leaving me not only to deal with the pregnancy, but also to tell my parents the news. My father went ballistic. I thought he’d kill me. The way he beat me up that day made me question whether the baby was still alive.“
Chapter 10
Dean felt horrible and the sound of her tears was tearing him apart. Kissing her eyes, he whispered to her, “Melissa, angel, please…you don’t have to tell me. It hurts you so much.”
Melissa snuggled into his arms and murmured, “I have to, I need you to know. I need to tell someone and get it over with.
Finally my father calmed down and allowed me to stay in their house, if I wouldn’t bother them. My parents didn’t help with doctor’s appointments, child care, or emotional support. On the contrary, they reminded me, every day - more than once, how grateful I should be to them. That I was worthless and had brought shame on them, that I was a slut, sleeping around, that I was a burden, stupid, irresponsible and many more things I don’t want to remember.
Dean clenched his fists. How could anyone be so cruel, let alone a parent? He’d made his share of stupid decisions as a teenager, and while his parents never approved, they always supported him to right the wrong.
Her tears were like a knife to his soul. He held her closer and wished he could magically make her pain disappear. With every word he loved her even more, for the courage to tell him her tragic past. To trust him.
“They urged me many many times to get an abortion. At one point my father even offered to pay for the procedure. But I couldn’t. I loved my baby; almost from the moment I’d found out I was pregnant. There was no way I could even consider an abortion.”
“Darling. I’m so sorry you had to endure all of this.“
“One day, when Happy was about three months old, she was having an especially whiney day. My dad was trying to sleep after having worked night shift that week, and she woke him up. He was more than furious. I was so afraid he was going to hurt her. He grabbed my arm and dragged me towards the front door. Then he kicked us out of the house. Just like that.”
Melissa shuddered and Dean slowly stroked her back. He’d heard those things happened, but he’d never actually know someone who came from an abusive family. He vowed to himself – once more – to protect that woman from now one. Forever. Always.
“He wouldn’t even allow me to get back and pack our things. I barely managed to grab my purse and a jacket as he physically pushed me and Happy out the front door and closed it in our faces.
It was only a few days before Christmas. My worst and best Christmas ever.”
Dean raised an eyebrow. “How that?”
“After wandering in the cold for a few days, I stumbled across an abandoned barn. When it had started to snow moments later, I broke in. It was so cold. Happy hadn’t eaten much and I could tell by her cry that she was weakening. I was so afraid, but by the time we were in that barn, I was done. I’d lost any and all hope and the only thing I wished for was a painless death for Happy and myself. I hugged my sweet baby close to my chest, wondering why the fates would allow me to save her from my father’s terrible temper, only to allow us to freeze to death days later.
So we were lying there, hungry, freezing, and waiting for the inevitable to happen, when suddenly I heard steps and the door opened.
When two friendly strangers, a man and a woman, entered the barn, I was scared but also didn’t trust my eyes. I wasn’t sure if I was already dead or maybe dreaming. Maybe they were angels who’d been sent to get me? They took us with them and saved us. It was the night before Christmas and we had truly received a miracle that special night!”
Dean brushed
with his fingers over her hair. The woman in his arms had endured so much angst and pain. She’ll never suffer that way again! I’m going to protect her with all my might! He felt so much love for her and he knew it was forever.
“That’s how I came to live with Grandma Annie and Grandpa Hugh.”
As Melissa finished her story, he was so moved. She’s had so many horrible experiences in her past. No wonder she had mentioned trust the night I kissed her! Dean hugged her close and vowed to help her learn to trust again. I’ll help her learn to trust me!
He smelled the sweet scent of her hair and felt the soft texture of it against his cheek. He loved her auburn hair that shimmered golden in the sunlight.
“I promise I’ll never hurt you,” he whispered in her ear.
Melissa looked up at him with her deep brown eyes and he felt his heart trip in his chest. I’m sure I love her! Even after knowing her just a few days! And he was determined to protect her from everything.
“We should leave, It’s already past seven. Are you hungry?”
Melissa laughed, “Yes. Starving.”
He grinned down at her, “What if we go to my house? I can fix a fast breakfast for us?”
She snuggled up at him, “Sounds great. And maybe a shower to get rid of the mud?”
Dean almost gasped at her innocent words. Melissa! Taking a shower in his bathroom? It was almost more than he could bear. Just the thought of Melissa naked in his shower made him hard, and he went right back to wanting her intensely.
Chapter 11
They quickly gathered their stuff and hurried back along the path and towards his house. He showed her the bathroom and equipped her with towels. While Dean made breakfast, Melissa took a shower. He found himself humming along to a popular tune while making eggs, bacon, and a fresh pot of coffee.
The delicious smell of strong coffee reached Melissa in the shower. She was amazed at how comfortable she was. Taking a shower in his house. She had expected to be afraid or at least worried. But she was absolutely confident and knew she was safe with him. Nothing would ever happen to her in his presence. And he’d never push her for something she didn’t want. He’d been so sweet and comforting down at the lake. Dean! I love him! That fact hit her with a strength, that she had to steady herself against the shower walls. Finally she could relax her guard and admit that she wanted him. A lot!
When she ran the washcloth over her body, she closed her eyes and imagined it was Dean touching her. How would it feel when he touched her naked breasts? Her nipples hardened by the mere thought of him. She wished Dean was touching her! Making her his!
The promise in his eyes down by the lake, and that night after dinner had been intense. Sweet, but strong. For as long as she could remember, she’d had a deep longing to be loved. Would that quest finally find its end? Had she found that one person who loved her more than anything?
Melissa quickly finished her shower and wrapped herself in the big and soft towel he’d given her. Where was the hairdryer? She couldn’t find it. Maybe he didn’t have one? She argued with herself whether she should go and ask him, or dress first, when he called out, “Breakfast is ready.”
On an impulse, she stepped out of the bathroom, covered only in the big towel wrapped around her body. Dean turned when he heard the bathroom door open and gasped. She watched as his eyes darkened with desire for her. In a sudden urge to be near him, she threw all her doubts and worries away and walked towards him.
“Please, stay where you are. You are so beautiful.” He looked at her for a few minutes, taking her in from head to toe, every inch of her. Melissa liked the way his gaze made her feel. Hot. Sexy. Loved.
She didn’t feel awkward or even ashamed, she just felt loved and in this moment she knew, that he was the man she wanted to spend her life with. Forever. Always.
He was standing there, forgetting about the breakfast he’d made for them, just looking at her in awe and she enjoyed every moment. There was no pushing. No demands. Nothing, just pure love and desire. Every emotion she saw in his eyes was echoed in her own.
Her nipples hardened just from the thought of him touching her and suddenly the soft towel felt hard and scratchy on her sensitive skin. She took one more step towards him and whispered, “Touch me. Please.”
She could see his reaction to her words by the bulge in his jeans. Dean crossed the short distance between them and kissed her; at first lightly, but then stronger and more passionately. Possessively. Her mouth was his and she loved it.
Melissa wanted him so much; it was as if she’d waited just for him - her entire life. She was so absorbed by the emotions he evoked in her, she didn’t even notice that her protective towel had slid down her body and she was now absolutely naked.
But Dean noticed and ended the kiss to hold her at arms’ length and observe her. He raked her with his eyes from the top of her head to her feet; drinking in the beauty of her body. She was perfect. Absolutely perfect. Her ample breasts – not too big, but firm and round like apples. Her slim waist and the perfectly rounded hips. Hips that seemed to shout at him ‘touch me, caress me, take me into your hands’.
“You’re perfect. The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” he whispered.
Melissa felt herself blush at his comment. Cute? That she could handle and believe. But beautiful? Nobody had ever called her beautiful. And Perfect? She was far from perfect. She’d always been self-conscious about her body. Her breasts were too big, her hips too wide, and her butt to flabby. But Dean thinks I’m perfect.
“You’re even more beautiful when your cheeks blush,” he added.
Melissa blushed even more. Would he think she was indecent? Standing naked in front of him.
He seemed to be able to read her mind and picked up the towel from the floor. “Do you want to cover yourself?”
She shook her head, “Nobody ever told me I was beautiful.”
“You are. You are the most beautiful woman in the world.”
“Make love to me,” she softly requested.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Dean didn’t need another invitation. He proceeded to caress her. Slowly stroking her face and her neck. Nibbling her earlobes and lowering his mouth until his lips were lightly kissing her breasts. Her nipples had already become taut peaks and she felt how wet she was. Her whole body prickled with desire and her last thought was that she hadn’t known sex could be so wonderful. Then the thoughts stopped because she was overwhelmed by the intensity of her emotions.
Breakfast went forgotten as Dean lifted her up into his arms and carried her to the bedroom. He set her down on the bed and softly spread her out on the big, flat surface. The satin sheets against her back felt soft and cool. A wonderful coolness that eased the heat she was sensing over most of her body.
Dean seemed determined to show her how much he loved her and to make their first time the best she’d ever experienced. He slowly nibbled and licked his way across her body. He paused for a while, paying homage to her breasts, before moving down across her stomach.
Each of his licks and bites sent shock waves through her body. How could she feel so much? She was about to explode and longed for him to possess her, but he wouldn’t be hurried. “Dean, please!”
“Angel, you have to wait. I’ll make this an experience for you you’ll never forget.”
She sighed, expressing both lust and exasperation. She wanted the relief she knew he could give her so much, but he’d make her wait. A lustful wait.
When he finally touched her most intimate flesh with a soft and tender kiss she gasped, “Dean!” Nobody had ever touched her down there with his mouth. The two men she’d been with had both been quick to enter her and finish their business. She hadn’t known that a simple kiss could bring so much pleasure and she wanted to shout out.
But this first delirious kiss didn’t prepare her for what was to come. When Dean stuck his tongue into her and started to lick and nibble on her most sensitive spot,
she arched her back as the electric shocks shot through her body. Unable to control her reaction, she shouted out his name, “Dean!”
He stopped for a short moment to look up at her with the most loving eyes. He reached up and cupped her breasts with his hands and squeezed both nipples tightly – another shock wave flashed through her body. She whimpered and held her breath. This was more than she could bear. Way more. When would this all-inclusive feeling that caused goose bumps to break out all over her skin finally give in to the big wave of an orgasm?
“Dean, I can’t…”
“Shh. I want you to come for me, Angel.”
She relaxed back to the satin sheets of the bed and gave in to whatever he wanted. He squeezed her nipples tightly again and then went back down to her most intimate spot. Giving little licks and kisses on her inner thighs and slowly circling into her clit. She wished he’d make her come quickly and at the same time she wished this would last forever. Such ecstatic and sweet sensations. Just when she thought she couldn’t bear one more touch from him, her body contracted and she started to orgasm, shouting his name. Again. And again.
The waves of pleasure rolled over her body, each one stronger than the one before. When she finally stopped contracting and shivering, she fell back exhausted into the sheets and Dean gave her one last soft kiss between her legs and then came up to look into her eyes. He kissed her and she could taste herself on his lips.
“I love you!”
Melissa was taken aback. He’d just given her the best orgasm in her life - something she hadn’t even believed existed until a few moments ago. He hadn’t even taken off his clothes and the first thing he said was “I love you!” Her first boyfriend had always taken more care of himself and if she reached the peak or not was her business.
I Love You Twice (Falling For Him Contemporary Romance Series Book 7) Page 5