Locked Out of Love

by Mary K. Norris

  It’d been two days since she’d seen him.

  I’m only anxious to see him because that’s what Juliet wants me to do.

  She wished that was all it was, but deep down she knew it was more, and that terrified her. She craved it. Her body tingled with it. She felt like a high school teenager again, hoping to catch sight of her crush somewhere on campus.

  Was Joel at the community center? Was he even looking for her anymore?

  What if he’s not here?

  How was she supposed to get close to him if she couldn’t find him?

  She snuck into her yoga class a half hour late after doing a quick scan of the lobby and side hallways. She remained in the back and easily transitioned into the appropriate positions, her eyes scanning through the open doors for any sign of dark mahogany hair and midnight eyes. But there was no sign of him.

  When class was over, she hung her head and exited with everyone else. Two steps out the door she paused. The pressure in her chest eased. She looked up.

  Across the hall in a dark jacket and Green Lantern tee, Joel watched her.

  Melanie’s stomach clenched, her heart tripping over itself.

  Someone jostled her from behind and she stumbled to the side. She instantly lost track of Joel and when she looked back, he was gone.

  Had she imagined him?

  No. She could have sworn he was right there.

  “Looking for someone?” A voice spoke up from her far right.

  Melanie whirled. Usually the sight of a man so close to her made her back up cautiously, but this was different. She didn’t want to back away. She wanted the exact opposite, and that in itself was a cause for alarm. Could it be possible Joel had more than one power? Was he making her feel this insatiable attraction to him?

  The idea kept her focused.

  She had an assignment to do. Juliet wanted her to get close to him, get tutoring for her powers. Melanie was not to get emotionally involved. She needed to keep her distance.

  “I’m glad to see you’re okay,” Joel said when the last members of her yoga class were out of hearing range. “I was worried last week when you ran off.”

  Worried.

  The word threw her for a loop and she tried to force down the emotions.

  “Did anything … happen?” His eyes flashed dangerously, as if promising pain to anyone who’d dare lay a hand on her.

  “Nothing happened. I was just spooked. Usually when I see a guy from work outside of work … ” She shrugged. It wasn’t a complete lie.

  “Do you know who suit guy is?”

  Melanie forced herself to keep eye contact. “I don’t.” That was a lie.

  “Have you seen him since?”

  She shook her head and felt a little better that she was able to be completely honest. She hadn’t seen Mr. Richardson since last Friday. In fact, Juliet’s whole organization had been keeping their distance, and it made her nervous. Of course, Juliet said Melanie could call her if she ever felt the need.

  Joel’s posture relaxed. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

  “So.” He broke the silence that fell over them. “How was yoga?”

  Melanie blinked. Surely someone this nervous and awkward couldn’t have done something awful. A smile tugged at her lips. “Do you want to sit down somewhere?” It was time to get to know Joel a little better.

  • • •

  Joel blinked at Melanie from across the small table they’d found in the community center. “Wait a second, I’m confused.” Joel held up his hand. “Did you just suggest we hang out?”

  Melanie’s shrug was all nonchalance. “Yeah.”

  You’ve been out of the game for a while, Kegler.

  Still, it couldn’t be this easy. He’d been expecting hesitation, resistance—something! It was almost anti-climactic. Almost. The burning need inside him didn’t give a damn who asked who out, as long as it meant he’d get to spend more time with her. The past two days without seeing her had been torture. He was still no closer to finding out who those new suited men were. Cali had volunteered to contact Jente, a man in Vander’s employment who had helped her out once, to see if he would divulge any information. Felix had been completely against the plan, but it was all they had to go on. They couldn’t leave this potential new threat alone to grow stronger.

  He wheeled in his stray thoughts. He could plan heroics later. Right now he needed to figure out the puzzle in front of him.

  As much as Joel would like to think that Melanie returned the sexual attraction between them and wanted to explore it, it wasn’t true. Felix had been right—if she’d worn a fake nametag when she’d worked at that bar, she didn’t want to be found. She admitted as much when he’d first tracked her down. So then why the hell was she seeking his company?

  Did she finally come to terms with the fact that she had powers? Did she want him to teach her?

  The idea of being her mentor made him sit up a little straighter. He could teach; he was a great teacher—teaching led to camaraderie, a way to get to know her without having this big cloud of expectation looming over his head.

  He eyed her hand resting on the table and itched to reach out and take hold of it. He’d always been self-conscious of his hands around Sydney. She used to wince at his scars, as if she could feel the pain of how he’d acquired them. But with Melanie he got no such vibe. In fact, twice already he’d found her staring at his scars in fascination, as if she wondered what they’d feel like under her fingertips. The image of her soft skin tracing over his hands heated his blood and stiffened his cock.

  He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. “I still don’t understand. You said before that you don’t like men looking for you outside work, so why the sudden interest in spending time with me? What changed?”

  Melanie’s hand went for the leather bracelet around her wrist, but she seemed to catch herself. “Well, you mentioned something about teaching me … ?”

  Joel’s chest puffed up. He grinned. “Of course. We can start tonight if you want.” He tapped his finger on the table. “Though we’d need to find somewhere private to do it.”

  “What about with the rest of your guild?”

  Any and all images of potential romantic one-on-one time with Melanie were snuffed out. He’d never get a moment alone with her that way.

  “I think it’d be best if we left that till later. They can be a little … much. But I promise to introduce you to them eventually.”

  Something flashed across her face, but with her head bent away from him, he couldn’t make out what it was.

  “We can always rent out a room here,” he offered. It wasn’t what he had in mind, but he’d do what he had to, to keep her comfortable.

  She shook her head and glanced at the clock mounted on the wall. “I can’t tonight. I have to start my shift at my new job in”—her eyes widened—“fifteen minutes!” She cursed under her breath.

  Joel jumped to his feet before she could flee from him again. Keeping Melanie in one place was turning out to be harder than beating Diablo 3 on the highest level of Torment.

  “Hang on there.” He reached for her and nearly groaned aloud when his fingers rested against her bare forearm.

  Heat surged between them. Desire flared white-hot and Joel clamped his jaw shut against the sudden onslaught.

  Melanie stared up into his face, her eyes burning with unconcealed emotion. “What is this?” she whispered. He knew she meant the connection between them. “Do you have more than one power?”

  She thought he was making her feel this way?

  Joel repressed a grin. “I have only the one power, and you’ve seen it.”

  “Then why … ?” She stared down at where his hand touched her skin. She licked her lips.

  Joel’s gaze followed the movement of her tongue and he couldn’t help but remember when she’d been about to kiss him. How her smell had intoxicated him, her nearness firing every nerve ending in his body.

  He wanted to
know what she tasted like, what her body would feel like flush against his.

  You’re my destined soul mate. The answer to her question rested on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed it down. He didn’t dare break the intimate moment with something he didn’t even know for fact. He couldn’t risk it. He wanted to feel Melanie. Craved to taste her.

  He found himself leaning into her, or perhaps she was leaning into him. They shared the same breath and it was invigorating. He wanted to grab her and kiss her, but he also wanted to drag it out. He enjoyed watching the way her eyes tracked his lips, the way her pupils dilated when he drew closer still.

  He could feel the brush of her lips on his. Hers were oh so soft, and that was when his control snapped. He pressed his lips firmly to hers, waiting—expecting her to pull back, but she didn’t. She pushed into him, a full-body tilt as if she’d lost her balance and didn’t care if she fell. But Joel would never let her fall. He caught her around the waist and her hands grasped his biceps, hanging on for dear life as she molded her mouth to his. Hungry. Greedy.

  Joel groaned with the heat and pleasure of it. His tongue dipped into her mouth, and she took him in as much as possible, sucking him long and hard. His cock throbbed with need.

  When they finally pulled apart, they were both breathing heavily. Melanie’s face was flushed, her eyes glazed, her focus on Joel’s mouth like she wanted another sample. It slayed him. He wanted to pull her into him again and never let go, but he had to be the bigger man here. And he hated every second of it.

  “We have to leave now if you want to make it to your job on time.” He voice came out lower than he intended. He cleared his throat. “I can drive you, if you want.”

  Melanie blinked as if surfacing from a dream. “Hmm?”

  He mentally groaned. Slayed him!

  He traced his fingers down her forearm, marveling at the goose bumps he raised before letting his hand drop away completely.

  Fuck, he wanted her.

  “I offered to give you a ride to your new job.” He motioned to the clock where they’d already wasted six minutes.

  Melanie snapped to attention. “Shit.” She slung her bag over her shoulder.

  Joel waved to get her attention. “I can take you,” he repeated.

  Melanie hesitated. After a moment’s contemplation, she nodded once. “Thank you.”

  It took all of Joel’s self-control not to lead her out with his hand on the small of her back. He was hyperaware of her every move, and once she was safely tucked into his truck, he took his time walking around to the driver’s side. He needed a breather, not to mention he needed to readjust his pants, but the small respite he granted himself was pointless when he opened the car door. The smell of white chocolate and strawberries hit him like a punch to the gut.

  He started the truck and instantly blasted the air conditioning.

  “What are you doing?” Melanie held her bag to her chest, but not before Joel caught sight of her hardened nipples.

  He tore his eyes away and instantly cranked the dial to heat. “Sorry. Where do you work?”

  She gave him directions and he turned on his stereo as he pulled out of the community center. Ten seconds into his CD, Melanie reached over and switched it to radio.

  “Hey,” he protested. “I was listening to that.”

  Melanie stared at him incredulously. “It was a commercial.”

  “It was not a commercial, it was Daft Punk.”

  “They were talking. I thought it was a commercial.”

  “That’s how Giorgio by Moroder starts. What the hell is this?” Joel cringed as country music blared from his speakers.

  “It’s Sugarland.”

  “Is that like an expansion set for Candyland?”

  She shot him a look.

  Joel groaned and let his head fall back when they came to a red light. This was all the proof he needed. What he felt for Melanie had to be only attraction. Fate would never pair him with a Mirror Mate who liked country music. Sydney had at least liked hip-hop. Joel didn’t know if he could take Honky Tonk Badonka whatever.

  It turned out he only had to endure it for seven minutes.

  “Thank you for driving me,” Melanie said when he pulled up in front of the frozen yogurt shop. She was out the door before he even finished putting his truck in park.

  “Hey,” he called before she shut the door. “When can I see you again?”

  Color rushed to her cheeks. “Tomorrow?”

  “Community center, five o’ clock?”

  She nodded and hurried off through the front doors of the yogurt shop.

  Joel exhaled and peeled his white-knuckled hands from the steering wheel. It was the only way he could think to stop from reaching over and touching her throughout the car ride.

  “This is going to be torture,” he said to himself. To be in Melanie’s presence without being able to run his hands over her body …

  He swallowed thickly.

  He could still feel her lips on his, taste her flavor there. Her scent still lingered in the cabin of his truck and he drove the rest of the way home with the windows down.

  He was so screwed.

  Chapter 8

  The next day Melanie was busy in the back room of the yogurt shop, tidying up so she could finish her shift, when Daphne strolled in.

  “Hey, Fern. Some guy who came in wanted me to give this to you.” Daphne held out a neatly folded piece of paper.

  Melanie stared down at it. Her heart started to pick up speed. Was it from Joel? Her lips tingled just thinking about him.

  There was no name on the paper, and Melanie frowned. Joel wouldn’t have left the note blank, which meant it wasn’t from him.

  Her gut sank. What if it was from Mr. Richardson, delivering a note from Juliet? She didn’t know if she was cut out for this covert ops kind of stuff. On her first night, she’d already kissed the man she was supposed to be gathering intel on. What kind of special agent was she if she couldn’t even keep her emotions in control?

  A moment of weakness, that’s all it was.

  She took the paper. “Thanks. Hey, Daphne?” Melanie called to her.

  Daphne turned and cocked a hip as she waited by the door.

  “What did this guy look like?”

  Daphne’s head tilted to the side as she recalled. She held up her arm well above her head. “He was this tall with long, dark hair, really intense eyes, and oh yeah, he had a scar.” She touched her chin. “Right here.”

  Melanie’s blood turned to ice.

  Daphne dropped her arm. “Are you okay? You look like you’re about to hurl. Do I need to get a bucket or something?”

  Melanie reached out to steady herself. “I’m fine.” She forced a smile.

  Daphne didn’t look convinced, but after a few seconds she shrugged and went back to help what few customers they had.

  Melanie quickly scanned the room, half expecting to find a camera watching her. She huddled into a corner and unfolded the note.

  You insist that it is I who follow you. But then why do you appear to me when I least expect you? Fate wants us to be together and as you know, I’m not one to go against Fate. I’ll see you soon. I promise.

  There was no name, but there didn’t need to be. She knew exactly who left this note for her.

  Alexander.

  Phantom fingers tightened around her wrists and forearms, and she could all but feel the bruises that had long since faded. She could still smell the scent of Alexander’s breath when he used to pull her close and threaten her. Onions and weed.

  Melanie’s limbs started to shake, and she crumpled the paper in her hand and threw it for all she was worth.

  See you soon.

  The words haunted her. She knew he’d search her out. She’d been naïve to think that the restraining order would keep him away. Okay, it had. For three weeks. It was the longest period of time she’d ever gone without seeing him. She’d actually believed that he’d forgotten about her, that maybe, j
ust maybe he’d moved on and she wouldn’t have to look over her shoulder. She should have known better.

  She curled her fingers into her palms to stop the trembling in her hands. She forced herself to finish her chores and clocked out.

  • • •

  “Is everything all right?”

  Joel’s brow was wrinkled in concern. He was wearing another graphic tee, this one with “bow ties are cool” plastered across the front. She could feel his eyes assessing every last inch of her as they sat across from each other in a classroom at the community center, reading the stress in her shoulders and neck.

  She almost couldn’t stand it. She rubbed at her temples. She was supposed to be gathering information for Juliet, learning about her annoying abilities, but all her thoughts could do was circle around Alexander and how his stupid-ass note was going to ruin her mission and she’d let Nathan down.

  Joel, Nathan, Alexander. Three men in her life. Three men too many.

  She pushed harder against her temples and closed her eyes. “I’m fine,” she lied to Joel.

  Warm fingers encompassed her wrists. Melanie’s eyes snapped open. Joel watched her carefully, gently tugging her hands away from her face. A few seconds later he released his hold and reached for her. Melanie had no idea what to expect, but when his strong fingers pressed against the sides of her head she nearly moaned. He rotated his fingers in a circular motion and she felt her eyes sliding shut.

  “Tell me what’s wrong,” Joel’s voice slid over her like silk.

  His massage was lulling her into a daze, and she opened her mouth without thought. “It’s—” She stopped as her mind caught up to what she was about to say. “It’s nothing.”

  Joel’s fingers froze.

  Melanie bemoaned the loss of his massage. She didn’t want him to stop. She hated how he was the only thing that eased the pressure in her chest. The only thing that eased the tension in her body, made her feel safe, secure, and every other girly tendency she shouldn’t be feeling in his presence.

  “Why don’t you confide in me?” he asked in a hushed voice.

  There really wasn’t any need to whisper, but Melanie found herself doing it too, as if she couldn’t draw in enough breath to speak louder. “I don’t even know you.”