Page 57 of The Hitch
Dante
Emotionally exhausted, I lie next to Melody in our bed. She trails her fingers up and down my arms, paying special attention to my biceps, tracing the outlines of my tattoos. Goosebumps break out across my flesh as she lightens her touch. Her fingernails are magical. She doesn't seem to want to discuss the dinner, and I'm very thankful for that.
My mother is complicated. My thoughts and feelings about her are complicated. Of course, I love her. But she always knows just what to say to get under my skin. And the way she treatedMelody as an afterthoughtreallyirks me. I didn't miss a single sideways glance or barbed comment. And the way she prickled up like a porcupine when I mentionedMark….
Of course, she's lonely. Her husband died. But I don't trust that man, sleeping with a woman more than twice his age—a very wealthy woman at that. His background is clean, of course. I wouldn't allow him near her if that were not the case. Nor would the Goetic Consortium—she may not be the wife of the current Dantalion, but she holdsmanysecrets from the last several decades.
I just don't like it. I don't trust it. Maybe he'll prove me wrong.
Melody trails her fingertips over my collarbone and down my chest, lower, lower, nearly to the waist of my underwear, before I gently remove her hand. She looks over at me, confused.
"Not tonight, love." I smile softly. "I just don't think I have it in me."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean… I'm sorry." She chews on her bottom lip, rolling it between her teeth. She really is adorable like that.
"No need to be sorry. Could you do me a favor, though?" I take a deep breath and gaze directly into her beautiful, rich brown eyes.
"Yeah, of course. What can I do?"
"Could you… hold me?" I close my eyes and internally curse. Of course, Iwanther to hold me, but it sounds so pathetic when I say it out loud. It's not becoming of a man of my station. It's not what wedo.
But she rolls over, coming closer, and cups the back of my head. "Oh, honey. You don't even need to ask."
I turn over onto my side, and I feel her warm body envelope me, spooning me. Relaxation overcomes me, and I let out a contented sigh, snuggling into her gentle hold. She throws herleg over mine and pulls me in even closer. We lay together, breathing as one, and I feel the stress seep from my body.
This is wonderful. She's wonderful. She didn't ridicule me—she didn't scoff or look at me with any kind of disgust. Melody allows me to be me, every facet of me, and she accepts me. I was so worried that the way my mother treated her would reflect onme—and we really do need to discuss that, but for now I just want her arms around me.
The scent of lavender and vanilla floats through the air. My eyelids are so heavy, and it feels so good to justbe.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
My alarm clock jolts us both out of a deep sleep, deeper than I think I've slept in months. Grumbling curses under my breath, I slap the offending clock, and the noise blessedly stops. Rolling over to greet Melody, her sleepy gaze melts everything in me all over again.
"Good morning, love," I whisper.
"Good morning, babe," she replies.
Babe. Honey. She's only given me two pet names, but I'm feral for more. I want her to call me everything under the sun, as long as it's spoken with affection. Unfortunately, it's only Thursday, and I can't stay wrapped in her arms until the heat death of the universe. No, I have to get up.
She whines as I carefully extricate myself from her grasp. "Nooo! Stay?"
"I can't, love. Duty calls," I say with much less conviction than I'd like. My wife grumbles and rolls her eyes, pulling the covers up tighter around her.
"Fine. I'll just be here, all alone, all day. Without any delightful husband to shower with affection." She peeks out from the top of the blankets.
"That's a strong negotiation tactic. Are you sure you don't want to work with me?" I ask as I quickly dress myself.
"I never said I didn't.You, on the other hand, seem perfectly content to leave me locked up here all day." She sniffs. "Is the house arrest lifted, by the way? Since we went to your mom's house?"
Facing away from her, I scowl. I don't want to keep her locked up like a prisoner—not anymore—but I don't like the idea of her roaming around the city where anyone could catch her. Ella mentioned having wings everywhere, and Idespisethe idea of those wings swooping down to carry Melody away.
"On one condition," I turned to look her in the eyes. "You may leave the house, but youmusthave Helena with you. And youmustcarry your handgun."
"Can do!" Melody gives me a sleepy thumbs-up. "Have a good day at work, babe."
There it is again.Babe. It fills me with an unfamiliar feeling of warmth and… inner peace. It's lovely. It'slove.I don't have time to reflect on it, though, as my phone immediately shatters the quiet morning air with the harsh siren of Roman's ringtone.
"Hello?"
