Thanks to the hospital’s liberal visiting policy, as long as Bruno and Melissa stayed out of the way of the staff, they were welcome to stay with Gio as long as they liked, except of course while he was being examined, which was the case at the moment. Her father had opted to sit outside of Gio’s room and wait, but Melissa had taken the opportunity to grab a cup of coffee from the perpetual pot on the sideboard of the family room.
She had just finished her last sip of the strong brew and was fighting off the lightheadedness that comes with too much caffeine and too little sleep when her father pushed through the double doors.
“Dad?” Melissa rose somewhat unsteadily to her feet.
“I just spoke to the doctor. He’s responding to the antibiotics, honey. Your papa is going to be fine.” Bruno’s eyes shone bright with relief. “They’ve taken him off the respirator, he’s groggy but awake. He’s asking for you.”
Melissa hurried across the hall to the ICU unit and her papa’s room.
“Papa Gio?” Melissa leaned in and whispered to him, “I’m here.”
“Ahh…of course you are. Your father…I told him not to call you…” Gio’s voice was frail. “You have enough without bothering about an old papa.”
“Uh-huh.” Melissa smiled indulgently at her grandfather and kissed him on the forehead. “I see you are feeling better now. Tell me Papa, tell me what I should do, now that I do not have to bother about my grandfather any longer.”
“Ah that is easy, bambina. You should worry less, smile more and fall in love,” Gio said, then he reached over and patted his granddaughter’s hand before he fell into a deep restorative sleep.
***
Melissa knew that once her grandfather was moved out of the ICU, the parade of well-wishers would begin. With the danger behind them, her father insisted that she should go home to Jett. Amidst assurances that Bruno would keep her closely updated on Gio’s condition, Melissa agreed. She longed for the comfort of her own bed, a steaming bubble bath and a full night of dreamless sleep. If she could get out on the next flight she would still have a couple of days to rest up and recoup before Jett was due home. She wanted to be one hundred percent for her little guy’s return.
After stopping by her father’s house to shower, change and grab a bite to eat, Melissa booked herself on the next flight. She was able to fly right into the airport closest to Havengate this time, which made for a much easier trip. On the way home Melissa thought about how Crow had charged in to help her and save the day. The fact that he had been able to put their argument and issues aside and be there for her when she needed him most?
That was no small thing.
And it wasn’t the first time that he had done that for her either. Not the first time he had given her strength, and courage and someone to lean on.
And that was no small thing either.
You should worry less, smile more…
And fall in love.
Could it really be that simple?
And suddenly, finally there it was.
Melissa was in love.
Irrevocably, completely and frighteningly totally crazy in love with Crow Mathison.
And after that conversation on the beach she was sure now that he loved her back.
What was she going to do with that?
What was she going to do with that?
She really had absolutely no idea but she knew it was not a question that she could answer all on her own. When Melissa felt the thump of the plane landing on the runway she was filled with the kind of certainty that she had not felt in a long time.
It was the same feeling of surety that had made her decide to pack up all their worldly belongings and hit the road south with Jett. She supposed it was time to finish the journey that she had started then. So despite the lateness of the hour and before she lost her nerve, she got into a cab and with resolve headed home to Havengate and to Crow.
***
Melissa stumbled twice in the dark, moonless, night as she made her way up the gravel driveway. Something howled in the distance as lightening split the sky. She jumped when the flash of light was followed by a loud clap of thunder. The wind picked up and an owl hooted in the distance.
Melissa lifted her hand and rapped lightly against the hard oak door.
Crow opened the door before Melissa finished knocking.
His half naked body cast a welcome shadow in the threshold of the door, but he didn’t return her tentative smile and when Melissa made a move towards him, Crow took a deliberate step back and crossed his arms in front of his chest.
He moved away from her?
“Crow …I…” Melissa looked helplessly at him then. Her heart was beating wildly and she felt weak at the knees. Maybe she was too late…maybe this was a bad idea…maybe he had time to think and he decided he didn’t want her anymore.
He had changed his mind.
Maybe he had changed his mind.
She swallowed the lump in her throat. “My grandfather is okay. Everything is okay now. I came home…I wanted to come home to…” When his face remained closed and expressionless, Melissa sighed deeply and she stretched out her hands, low and palms up in a motion of surrender.
Then she waited.
Finally, and after what seemed like forever, he spoke to her.
“Melissa, you’ve gotta know that if you take on step closer to me then I am going to take that as a sign that you are damn sure this is where you want to be. That with me is where you want to be. If you do that, then no matter what comes after it, I’m not letting you go.” He unlocked his arms from across his chest and stood before her not moving.
Melissa let out a small sigh of relief and took one big step toward Crow. Before her foot hit the floor, he snaked his arm around her waist and lifted her inside. The palm of his hand cupped the back of her head and Crow pulled Melissa’s hair free. His mouth burned down on hers and his tongue began to explore her mouth.
“Crow, we do need to talk...” Melissa managed to breathe out.
Crow’s big, rough hands slid over her thin blouse, up her sides and cupped her breasts. His thumbs teased her nipples through the cotton and lace until they were hard peaks. He nuzzled her neck and murmured “You in this with me, Babe?”
Melissa hesitated slightly then sank against him. “Yes.”
Crow heard that hesitation.
“You sure?” He stopped his hands and his eyes sought hers. “Because if you are not one hundred percent…”
“I’m sure.” She interrupted him quickly and pressed a finger against his lips. “A thousand per- cent, a million percent, a damn trillion percent. I’m in.”
“About fucking time.” he murmured before kissing her again.
Without warning he suddenly wrenched his mouth from hers and pulled her fast to his bedroom. Crow let go of the tight, possessive hold that he had on Melissa just long enough to push her on the bed and strip himself of his own clothing. Then Crow was back on the bed and his hands were all over her. Melissa gasped as he grabbed her blouse and roughly tugged at it, tearing the fabric apart and scattering the buttons all over the floor. He reached behind her and suddenly her breasts bounced free as ripped lace followed the path of the scattered buttons to the floor. Crow reached down and with one hand lifted Melissa’s hips off the bed and with the other yanked her jeans down in one swift move. Those too sailed through air frantically and landed somewhere on the floor. When he had her down to her panties he came to a dead stop.
Heaving he stood up off the bed and looked down at her.
“Don’t move.” His voice was deep with emotion. “Don’t fucking move, Melissa. Not a muscle.”
Then he simply looked at her lying in his bed with something like wonder in his eyes.
And Melissa stayed still and looked right back at him and knew her eyes reflected that same wonder.
Because clothed Crow was one really unbelievably hot looking guy.
But naked…he was…beautiful.
He was bron
zed. And big. And scarred. And covered in muscles and black ink.
And he was hers.
“This is the end of it you know.” He whispered to her as his green eyes melted into hers.
“The end of what?” Her voice trembled.
She felt the weight of him on the mattress as he laid down next to her, pulled her close to him and whispered into her ear. “Life as we knew it.”
He held her close for a long minute letting that truth settle down gently between them.
Then Crow began his slow delicious assault on Melissa’s willing body.
With gentle hands he teased the soft silk panties down Melissa’s thighs one inch at a time, stopping to press kisses along the smooth skin of her inner thighs. His fingers left light trails along her heated skin until she moaned and writhed under his touch.
When the panties had joined the rest of the clothes on the floor, Crow straddled Melissa. He braced his elbows on either side of her head and looked down at her flushed face. Melissa tilted her head back and closed her eyes in a moment of complete surrender when she felt his hips settle against hers and rock with slow, persistent, pressure. She parted her legs wide and then wrapped them around his hips and pulled him closer. When Crow abruptly moved off of her and shifted Melissa to his side, she left out a soft pleading sound of frustration. She instinctively grabbed his hand to bring it between her thighs.
Crow murmured soft reassuring words to her as his fingers began to stroke the soft skin of her stomach before it moved slowly down to the moist intimate folds.
“Is this where it aches, baby?”
Melissa gasped against his neck, as the rough pad of his thumb found her swollen, sensitive nub and began to tease slow lazy circles against it. The silky skin of her legs pressed against his corded forearms when she felt his long, strong fingers slide deep inside of her. Over and over again his fingers slid over the wet lips. Gliding and pulling and stroking and bringing Melissa to the edge and back again until she pleaded with him for release. Suddenly, wonderfully he shifted again and moved on top of her.
The with one quick motion Crow swept Melissa’s legs wide apart, thrust himself hard and deep inside of her and began to make love to her completely, powerfully and possessively.
And time stood still.
Melissa felt herself stretch and flood to adjust to the fullness in her body. She grabbed onto his thick shoulders when she felt his rough hands on her hips begin to move her.
He murmured softly against her hair as he plunged deep and hard and fast inside of her Then deeper and harder and faster and deeper and harder… until...
“ Crow!” She couldn’t stop from crying out his name as orgasm after orgasm washed over her and she felt the throbbing hot stream of release surge through Crow’s body.
Crow stayed buried deep in her for a long moment and when he eased himself out of her, Melissa felt empty. She automatically reached for him and snuggled her body against his.
“I’m never gonna let you go.” His voice broke slightly over the words.
“You better not.” Melissa’s voice broke too.
He pulled her even closer and nuzzled her neck. Contentment washed over her like a warm blanket.
Then Crow darted up straight in the bed like someone had shot him.
“Crow? What’s wrong?” Startled, Melissa sat up too.
“Jesus. Jett? Aren’t we suppose to be there to pick him up this morning?” Crow reached to check the time on his phone.
Melissa looked confused for a minute. “Oh, no. That’s not until tomorrow. Remember?”
Crow rubbed his hand over his face and leaned back hard against the headboard. “This father shit is gonna kill me,” he muttered to himself.
Melissa pulled the sheet around her and leaned back too. She couldn’t help release a small smile as Crow draped his arm around her. “Do you think I would just leave my son waiting at the community center while we…while we..?
“No, Babe. Of course not. But I am willing to bet that when you started walking your pretty ass over here you weren’t thinking that I’d be buried deep in you for hours either.” He grinned ruefully.
“Don’t be so sure.” She grinned back.
He looked stunned at her for a minute until he saw the dancing light in her eyes that he loved. Then Crow released Melissa from under his arm and moved her away from him so he could see her more fully, but didn’t let go of her hand.
“Just in case I happened to leave any room for fucking doubt, I got to tell you that I am totally crazy in love with you, Melissa.”
“I love you too, Crow.” Melissa smiled and met his eyes. Then she snuggled closer to him before she added with a small hesitation. “Not sure you counted on a package deal, though.”
“Seriously? Best part of the whole gig is that the little warrior comes with.” Crow grinned. “And maybe we’ll add a couple more just like him if you’re down with that.”
“Really?” Melissa pulled back and said teasingly, “Thought this father stuff was going to kill you?”
“Just might.” Crow laughed then. “At least Jett’s older and I don’t have to deal with diapers and shit…not sure how I’d handle that.”
“Well, you just might get a chance to find out sooner than you think.”
Crow gave her a puzzled look that drew a full-on smile and deep blush from Melissa. “We didn’t …you didn’t…”
Crow rubbed his hand through his hair and gave her a sly, amused look. “No. I didn’t. This time in I wanted to feel you. I wanted you to feel me. If something comes of that, I’m good. Figured you would be too. I don’t do shit by accident, baby.”
“You’re that sure?” Melissa asked warmed by the thought.
“I am.” Crow held her eyes. “But you and Jesse? That’s done, Melissa. It’s over. The grief, the guilt, the past. It’s done. I need to know that it’s over between you.”
“He’s gone, Crow. How can it not be over?” Melissa frowned.
Crow reached and held her hand in his. His thumb made slow circles against her skin. Her paused for a moment as if searching for the right words. “There’s a million ways to grieve, Melissa, some are healthy and some aren’t. You might have started out with the healthy kind, but you sure as hell wound up knee-deep in the twisted kind. I got an idea of how you got there, but I need to hear from you that it’s done, because you thinking any other way is gonna kill any chance we have of making this work.”
Melissa sighed.
“You’re right. I know you’re right and I want to tell you. I do…”
“But?” Crow stiffened slightly.
Melissa gave him a shy reassuring smile, “But I’m wonderfully sore in all the right places, slightly sweaty and very naked in your bed. Do you think we could have this talk after a shower and a cup of coffee?”
Melissa saw the tension ease from Crow’s body. His eyes softened. When he leaned in and kissed her she returned the kiss with an enthusiasm she absolutely felt.
“Yeah. I think that’d be okay,” he whispered to her.
Then he got out of bed and pulled her into the shower with him.
Chapter 40
Melissa and Crow sat close to each other in the deep cushioned chairs out by the pond. Crow had started a small fire and they each had a fresh cup of hot coffee in their hands.
Melissa spoke first. “I’m not sure where to begin.”
Crow waited, but as the silence stretched out, he saw the misery grow deeper and deeper in Melissa’s face.
“Tell me about the ring,” he offered.
Melissa clutched at the phantom chain on her neck and her face twisted in pain. Then she began to talk and her voice calmed. “One morning while Jesse was away, I was fluffing out some blankets and the ring just sort of flew off my finger. I was in such a panicked state at the thought of losing it that it took me forever to find it. Finally I saw it, stuck in the floor boards in the corner by my bed. When I picked it up and held it in my hand, I was surprised to see how b
attered the ring looked. The shine had worn off the gold and it had these tiny scratches and dents in it that I had not noticed before. The ring seemed almost unrecognizable from the pretty, sparkling, delicate thing that Jesse had given me. And seeing it like that made me think that ring looked like what our marriage had become… dull, lifeless, and damaged.”
Melissa looked at Crow then. “We had been happy once. Really happy. But being over there…the things Jesse had seen, the things he had done… it changed him. And being without him had changed me too. I guess I wasn’t the stars-in-my-eyes, adoring teenage girl that Jesse had fallen in love with any more. Suddenly I realized that Jett and I had become our own little family. And the longer Jesse stayed away, I guess the easier it became to live without him. Does that make sense?”
Crow held her eyes and nodded slightly.
“It’s important to me that you know that despite the distance that had grown between Jesse and me, I loved him.” Melissa dropped her voice to a whisper.
“I know that,” Crow said in reassurance.
Melissa gave him a small nod and released a long sigh.
“The worse it got, the more determined I was to make it work. So I brought the ring to the jeweler’s. I had it buffed and shined and repaired. I wanted to have it ready for when Jesse came home. I was so excited. I guess I thought that fixing the ring would maybe fix the marriage.”
Melissa wrapped her hands tight around the mug.
“The day the ring was ready to be picked up was the same day that Jesse was due to come home. He surprised me by coming in early and I didn’t have time to pick up the ring. Strange thing was he didn’t even notice that I wasn’t wearing it. Jesse was preoccupied more than usual and he was more distant than I had ever seen him before. I knew something was wrong, I just didn’t know what. But I didn’t have to wait long to find out. Jesse wasn’t even home a full two days before he told me he had signed up for another tour. Devastated doesn’t even begin to cover how I felt.”
Taming Crow (Hells Saints Motorcycle Club) Page 24