Page 42 of A Family Affair: The Ring
A psychologist might have questioned his choice of words as a subliminal desire for a deeper association with Melanie, a.k.a.a relationship.Will tossed the notion aside, attributing his words to a literal meaning.Tonight was about connection and reconnection, enjoying the now and each other, not looking at tomorrow or next month.Just now.Finally.
They didn’t talk much on the drive home other than to comment on the difficult visibility and the high water on the roads.When he pulled into the driveway, Melanie unbuckled her seatbelt, turned to him, her voice soft, hesitant.“Maybe you should come in until the rain lets up a bit.”
He ignored his racing heart, kept his voice even as he turned off the car.“Sure.Visibility is rough, and it could be much better an hour from now.”Hopefully, everything will be much better an hour from now.
A faint smile, a soft “Okay then, let’s head inside.”
“Wait for me.”That damn phrase shot out of his mouth again as he raced to her side of the car, opened the door and clasped her hand.They ran to the front door where Melanie fitted the key into the lock and seconds later, they stood in her grandmother’s tiny foyer, dripping wet.Melanie kicked off her boots, untied her coat and was about to slip out of it when Will caught her hands, brought them to his lips.“You’re cold.”He kissed her knuckles, didn’t miss the quick intake of breath or the way her lips parted.She wants this…she wants me…He shrugged out of his jacket, tossed it on the coat rack in the corner, slipped off his shoes.“Let’s warm you up.”Will led her to the couch, waiting until she sat and then eased onto it beside her, close enough to touch.“Would you like the afghan?”
A shake of her head, a husky “That’s not what I want.”
Her gaze slid to his lips, roamed his body from his chest to his thighs, inched back up to settle on his lips.Will sucked in a breath, forced himself to calm down.Harry Blacksworth had been onto something with his ridiculous comment about anticipation.The bottle of wine, the extra desserts, the time that could not pass fast enough had all led up to this moment.Will touched her cheek, traced a finger along her jaw.“Melanie…I…”
“Will.”She leaned toward him, placed her hands on his shoulders.“Oh, Will.”Her mouth covered his, possessive, desperate, all-consuming.
Her tiny moans snuffed out logic and common sense, made him think of nothing but need and white-hot pleasure.It had been so long since he’d felt alive… So long since he’d wanted anyone like this.It had always been Melanie.He returned the kiss with all the need and desire he’d kept buried deep inside for so long.A kiss would never be enough, not with her.Will remembered the silkiness of her hair, the softness of her skin, the taste of her lips.They’d been perfect together—in and out of bed—and pretending that weren’t true was useless and foolish.
And unnecessary.
Melanie planted tiny kisses along his jaw and neck, unbuttoned his shirt and eased it open.“I love the feel of your skin.”
“Tell me more,” he whispered as he ran his tongue along the flesh poking from the V-neck of her sweater.Those moans and sighs undid him… He loved her touch...loved the way she said his name as she clung to him...loved...her.He pushed that last piece away, concentrated on the sensations pulsing through him.He wanted her and after all this time, they were finally—
“Will?”Her hands stilled on his belt buckle.“I need to say this before I can’t think straight.”
He trailed kisses along her collarbone.“You don’t need to say anything.Just feel.”Another kiss and then he slid a hand under her sweater, toyed with the thin bra strap.“All I want to know is if we’re going to stay on the couch, or would you prefer your bedroom?Or—” he reached behind her, unclasped the bra.“Are we going to save the bedroom for next time?”In another ten seconds he’d ease her onto the couch and make the decision for her.And then—
She caught his hand, her voice firm.“Will.Look at me.”
Focus.He blinked, lifted his head.“What’s wrong?I thought you...You don’t want this?”Those hazel eyes turned bright, the lips he wanted to taste again trembled.
“Of course, I do, but...we’re not kids anymore.”
His gaze slid to her lips, remembered what she could do with them.“No, we certainly aren’t.”
“We can’t pretend this won’t change everything.”
“Agreed.”If he’d been paying more attention to her words and less to her voice and the shape of her lips, he’d have understood what she meant.Instead, desire took over and massaged her words so what he heard was that there would be no more need to pretend the physical attraction didn’t still exist, and there’d definitely be no reasonnotto act on it—whenever, wherever.That’swhat he heard as a rush of desire shot through him, sending a visual of countless nights, afternoons,andmornings filled with pleasure…so much pleasure.
“Does this mean you’ll trust me again?Open your heart and give us another chance?”
Those hazel eyes grew brighter, and her voice shifted with hope.He blinked, blinked again, tried to separate desire from logic.Failed.What was she really asking?Did they have a future together?Could they go on as though the past tragedy hadn’t happened?
“Say something.”She touched his jaw like she used to when he’d gone silent.
You can talk to me and share, she used to say.I love you and I will never leave you.I love you.But shehadleft.Why would this time be any different?Will pulled away, dragged a hand through his hair.If you let her in, she will destroy you and this time you won’t recover.“What are you asking?”
She stared at him for so long he didn’t think she’d answer and when she did, he could barely hear her.“I’m asking for another chance.”
“Another chance?”Her words shot through him, singed his soul, and dragged out all the memories of what had happened when he’d given his heart to her.Not again.Never again.“I’m sorry.I can’t do that.”
“Then what are we doing?”She pulled away, accusation and hurt smothering her words.
“We’re enjoying each other.”He clasped her hand, gentled his voice.“Like we used to, but this time we’re older, a lot wiser, and not bogged down by anyone’s expectations.”
She untangled her hand from his.“Does that include expectations from each other?”
Where was she going with that question?Will considered her words, tried to analyze what they meant but he couldn’t because he’d never quite been able to figure out this woman’s thought processes.His inability to do so had entranced as well as frustrated him.Right now, frustration had taken over.Why couldn’t she understand what he was trying to tell her?“Look, why can’t we just enjoy being together?I’m tired of denying the sizzle between us every time we’re in the same room.”He offered up the smile that used to make her crazy, in a very good way, and reached out to trace a flower design on the arm of her sweater.“I think you are, too.”Oh, she didn’t like that comment and the pinched lips and harsh breathing said she had a few thoughts for him and they did not include sizzle unless she were breathing fire at him.
