You'll Think of Me (9 page)

Melanie moaned as he smoothed the flimsy track short down her legs, dragging her panties along for the ride and baring her body. “Tell me how much you want it, baby.” He spoke against her neck, making her shiver and collapse back onto her bottom on the edge of the seat. “Ride my cock and take all of me.”

She drew his lips to hers. Within seconds, she held his rock hard penis. Melanie stroked him until a bead of pearly moisture glistened on the tip. “I don’t want sunshine and softness. I want this.” She swiped her fingers over her lips, teasing him. “I want you.”

Forget sweet and tender. She wanted hot and hard, then he’d give her what she craved. Cade surged forward and filled her to the hilt. She groaned and dug her nails into his forearms. She felt as tight and wet as the first time they’d made love. He brushed a kiss over her mouth, savouring the way she cradled him within her body. With every thrust, he came home. Melanie was his home.

Melanie rocked forward, grinding on him. “Harder, Cade. I want to feel every inch of you within me.
Fuck me.”

Cade grasped her hips and pumped into her body, driving away the demons and demonstrating his love for her. Pinpricks of light exploded behind his eyes. The natural musk of her arousal swirled around. His mind spun, yet he felt grounded. Her taste lingered on his tongue, reminding him of the all the good times they shared. Today was the day for new beginnings as well. “Baby, turn over. I want to go deeper. I want you to feel me in your soul.”

Her eyes darkened to the colour of aged brandy. “Yes. Touch me everywhere.”

She turned in his arms and leaned against the truck seat. Her shorts pooled around her ankles and her pale bottom wiggled as an invitation. He slapped her ass and raked his nails over her supple flesh. A high-pitched moan of pleasure escaped her lips, encouraging him to continue. He smacked her rump again, then rubbed his hand over the red mark.

“My bad girl likes a reprimand?” With each surge into her tight channel, emotions chipped at the ice surrounding his heart. Between thrusts, he dipped his index finger into the liquid heat of her pussy and teased the pink rosette of her anus with her natural lube.

She whimpered and thrust into him. “Oh, God! Cade. It feels so good. Yes.” Grinding down on his fingers, she clawed his hip with her other hand. She panted, pumping her hips against his. “I can’t breathe, but I don’t want you to stop.”

Cade suckled her neck, leaving another mark. His heart surged within his chest. She reacted to his every touch, his every caress—like she’d been made for him. “Come with me, Melly. Go over the ragged edge into oblivion with me. You’re mine.”

Her inner walls milked him of his seed. Tears pricked his eyes. He could get lost in the beauty of her arousal. The flush of her cheeks and her kiss-swollen lips. The way she gave him a second chance despite their rocky history.

When he grabbed her hips harder, Melanie shuddered and writhed. Cade relaxed his grip, fearful his overenthusiastic lovemaking might hurt her. “You’re mine.”

“Oh, my God.” She screamed and came apart in his arms.

The warmth of her love washed over him and curled around them like a chenille blanket. She made his tattered heart feel light again and his damned knees weak. His blood pressure spiked and his heartbeat pounded in his ears. Cade followed her a few dizzying seconds later. “Fuck, yes!”

As Melanie slumped against the knobby cloth seat, she gasped for breath. “I love you, Cade.”

He froze. She loved him. Holy fuck. Sure, he loved her, but was it enough? Rhett’s words played in his mind.
Scars don’t matter when someone loves you. Give Melanie her credit and level with her.
Although he wanted to, he kept his desires quiet. Love didn’t matter if he couldn’t deal on his own.

To hell with the demons.

Chapter Ten

Melanie spent the next night with Cade, curled around him in an attempt to regain normalcy in her life. Tracker chose to snuggle down in the box of tissues tucked into the bookcase headboard of Cade’s bed. So the cat preferred unconventional sleeping arrangements. Who was she to complain?

When Cade had left that morning, she’d pulled the covers over her head and blotted out the world. The sound of rustling plastic in the hallway tore her from sleep. She jerked awake and sat up, raking her fingers through her tangled hair.

As she yanked the covers up to her chin, she glanced around the navy walls and sparsely furnished room. Nothing. Even the cat lay still. But then she heard the thump of footsteps down the hallway.

An oval mirror above the dresser caught her reflection. Her hair hung in wild curls, drawing attention to the pallor of her face. Melanie ran her fingers through her tresses and sighed. She wasn’t going to win any beauty pageants in her present condition. At least she was still alive.

As Tracker stood, stretched, then curled back up in his tissue box, Melanie’s heartbeat slowed. No need to freak. She was home.

Safe.

She breathed in the scent of Cade’s deodorant and favourite cologne lingering in the room.
I’ll protect you.
Her heart beat faster as his words penetrated her mind. The feel of his hands still tingled on her body, the taste of his kiss remained on her tongue and the warmth of his desire shrouded her mind. And to think she walked away?

Someone knocked at the wooden door. “Mels, are you in there?”

Rhett.
Go figure.

She looked down at her clothing….or rather, the lack of it. She wore only a lacy white camisole and matching boy shorts. Thank God she’d shut the door after her last run to the bathroom. She scooted off the bed. “Just a minute!” Not seeing anything to cover up with, she opened the door a crack. “Give me a sec to find a robe.”

As she shut the door, Rhett chuckled from the hallway. “He doesn’t have a robe. Hell, I’m shocked he has pyjamas. Let me in. It’s not like I’ve never seen you naked.”

“Walking in on me and Cade doesn’t count!” She scampered to the bureau and grabbed one of Cade’s soft flannel shirts. After she buttoned the garment to cover her body, she twisted the doorknob. “Come in, Rhett.”

With a wide grin curling his lips, Rhett edged the door open. “You look… Well, you look like hell, but you also look good.”

“Don’t flatter me.” She furrowed her brows. “You don’t mean it.”

He wrapped her up in a bear hug. “I wasn’t trying to insult you or offer hollow praise. You know I’m only smooth with the lines when I’m trying to bed a woman. When I have to explain my feelings, I fall flat.” He finger-combed her hair. “I was scared. When Cade called to tell me you were in the hospital, I cried like a fucking child.”

“Why did you cry?”

Rhett turned and scrubbed his hand over his face.
Did he blot away tears?
She doubted it.

He cleared his throat and turned back to her. “You’re my friend and I don’t want to see you harmed, ‘cause life wouldn’t be the same.”

As she blinked back the moisture in her eyes, her chin quivered. “Rhett…”

Shrugging, he moved away, edging towards the door. “Cade’s a good man and one hell of a soldier. No matter what the hussy says, you’ve got him wrapped around your little finger Mels.”

“No one has him.” She threaded her arms around her waist.

Rhett shook his head. “Bullshit, but don’t think I won’t stop hitting on you. That’s my job, second only to fixing jet engines.”

Shoving her unease aside, she snorted. “Really? I figured womanising was the top spot.”

With his index finger, he tapped her nose. “I love all women, it’s true. But there’s nothing like holding a wrench and knowing that when you finish, the very same jet will go out and defend the freedom of everyone you love. It’s heady and exactly why Cade loved his job. It’s why I’m still out there.”

Melanie laughed and a door downstairs thumped closed. Rhett dipped his head. “I gotta get outta here before Cade thinks I’m trying to get you into bed.” He kissed her on the cheek. “Love ya, Mels.” He disappeared down the hall to the guest room.

She twisted the brass doorknob until the door clicked shut. Tracker poked his head out of the box and sniffed. Melanie crawled onto the bed and flopped down. Hugging Cade’s pillow, she breathed in his calming scent. Desire and love skated through her system. As soon as Cade returned, she needed some definite cuddle time, including lots of moaning and touching and bonding.

He was her hero even if he couldn’t love her in return.

She closed her eyes, imaging his hands roaming her body. A rush started in her toes and settled low in her belly. Smoothing her hand between her thighs, she eased her palm beneath the elastic of the panties. With a whimper, she caressed her hardened clit. What if Cade walked in right now? She bit down on her bottom lip. Let him watch. Hell, let him join in.

A low moan bubbled in her throat. Did he know he still caused this kind of reaction, even through her imagination? Spearing into her pussy with her middle finger, she fantasised it was his fingers probing, delving into her.

Shudders surged through her system. She grasped the sheet for support. If only he was there.

“Thinking about me?”

Licking her lips, Melanie opened her eyes. Thinking about him, wanting him, needing him—all of the above. Yeah. Cade stood in—well, rather took up—the doorway. Her blood pressure spiked. “Come here.” Her voice sounded husky, even to her own ears. “Help me finish.”

Dropping the shopping bags, he surged forward, stopping only to shut the door. “Hell yes.”

She sat on the ragged edge of bliss. Yanking the panties to the side, she opened to him. “Fuck me, Cade. I can’t wait.”

Withdrawing his cock from his pants and a condom from the nightstand, he knelt over her. As she sheathed him, his fingers brushed her swollen nether lips. Both actions sent tremors from her core to her heart.

He chuckled. “So wet, so pretty.”

She grabbed the back of his head, capturing his lips. They could talk later; right now, she needed to feel him surrounding her, sheltering her from all the evil memories. He may not love her, but he cared.

In one swift thrust, he entered her. Resting his forehead on hers, he pistoned in and out of her. Even as he moved, a light—one she’d never seen before—brightened his eyes. Emotions she thought long buried welled to the surface. Each push, each surge brought her closer to not only falling into bliss, but falling into the knowledge that she’d never given up loving him.

On the cusp of her orgasm, he slowed. “Try something new for me?”

Although he asked a question, it sounded more like a command. How could she show she trusted him? Her core quivered. Something new sounded heavenly. “Yes.”

He nodded. “Turn over and show me your saucy little ass.”

She turned, per his instructions, and lifted her bottom high and proud, as if to tease him. He wanted to blaze new territory. So did she. A high-pitched whimper slipped past her lips. He’d toyed with her anus each time they had sex, but to initiate the tender region? Her desire kicked up another notch. He grabbed a small bottle from the nightstand.

A low groan erupted deep within his chest as he pumped his cock into her pussy. “Relax, honey. I’m right here with you.” He withdrew from her pussy. His nails scraped over her ass as he ripped the crotch of her panties away from her body. Tossing the useless cotton onto the floor, he grabbed the lube and squirted the slick liquid onto his fingers. Reaching around her waist with his free hand, he plucked the tight bundle of nerves on her clit. “Push out.”

Releasing the breath she didn’t remember holding, she winced as his cock entered the tight opening. She shuddered at his girth, but didn’t protest. Inch by inch, the pain melted into pleasure she never knew existed.

Cade nuzzled the nape of her neck. “Fucking beautiful.”

Throwing her head back, she dug her nails into the sheets and screamed. The orgasm tore the breath from her chest. All rational thought left her head. She gasped. She belonged in the heat of the moment with the only man she’d ever loved. He growled and gave one final push. “Yes!” Cade fell forward, resting on his palms as the climax subsided, then he withdrew.

Rolling over in his embrace, she cradled his sweat-slickened body. His breath fanned over her bare shoulder. “Melly, baby.”

She forced her fuzzy brain to clear. Even then, she didn’t want to forget the feeling of being in his arms. His voice cut through her mental yearnings.

“So you
were
thinking about me?’

Through uneven breaths, she murmured, “I was.”

Pressing a kiss to her neck, he nuzzled her cheek. “I think I’d rather have been here with you. Traffic’s a pisser.”

She snuggled closer to him. “So where did you go?”

“Shopping,” came his drowsy reply. He sat up and scrubbed a hand over his face. “Just a moment, and don’t move. I’ll get a washcloth to clean you up.”

Shoving his cock back into his pants, he stood. His gaze raked over her body in a slow appraisal that turned her insides to goo. She shivered. Yes, her heart belonged to him.

After shuffling around in the hallway for a moment, Cade returned and produced a warm cloth. “Let me take care of you.” As the soft terry material smoothed between her legs, she shivered. Despite his badass façade, a softie lingered underneath.

“Thank you,” she murmured and settled back in the cocoon of the blankets.

With a grin, he took the washcloth back to the bathroom. He came back with an armload of bags. “Now that you aren’t diverting me with sex, I wanted to tell you I stopped at Hillman’s to get your prescriptions. Good thing Gloria still works there. She vouched for you and me when old man Haas threw the privacy practices at me.”

She cocked a brow. Gloria York—a former fling of Cade’s and a marathon runner with gravity-defying double D’s. Melanie didn’t want to think of the times he might have spent with the raven-haired pharmacist. Jealousy was a bitch.

“She was glad to see me, but she cared more that you were okay. It seems she wasn’t keen on dating me when she knew you lived in my house.” He pointed to her and winked. “Good thing because she wasn’t cool with sharing either.”