Page 31 of Worth the Ruin
I should tell her to leave. I think about Melody next door, knowing she can hear pretty much everything that happens in here…and wonder if she even cares. I think back to the look in her eyes when she was on top of me on the field earlier, the unmistakable desire, but also the longing, like she wanted me for far more than just something physical. Was it really there? Or am I just reading into shit because I want it to be there so fucking badly?
Well, it might make me an asshole, but I decide to do a little experiment. I pull Destiny forward and her body slams into mine.
“Oh!” she says, breathless, and giggles loudly. I nuzzle my face into her neck.
“Tell me how much you want me,” I command quietly. “Make itloud.”
She groans. “I want you so bad, baby. I’ve beenachingfor you.” I press her back into the wall with enough force to make a loud thud reverberate through the room. “Hmmm, yessss, Traeger,” Destiny moans again, digging her hands into my hair. I grab her wrists and pin them above her head. Not because it’s sexy but because I really don’t want her touching me. Even kissing her neck right now feels wrong. I want someone else in front of me. I want my lips on someone else’s skin. I want someone else’s moans ringing in my ears.
Come on, Melody. Come on…
I hear her stomping across her room and out into the hallway and I smile, relived that I won’t have to turn Destiny down outright tonight. I’m going to have to figure out this whole“Trager’s Girls” situation soon enough though. I have no desire to do anything with any of them at this point and so I need to tell them the arrangements are over. They won’t mind, I don’t think. I mean, we have fun and I know they like the imagined title, but really, everyone knows it was all just fun and escape.
A second later there’s a loud bang on the door. Destiny pouts as I step away and give her an apologetic look. I open the door and cross my arms over my chest. I smile at Melody and she narrows her eyes. I’m ninety percent sure she knows exactly what I’d just done, that I’d been trying my level best to make her jealous and make her storm over here like she’d just done. It only makes me smile wider. I have a feeling this might get very, very fun in a few minutes.
“Can I help you, Melody?” I ask innocently.
“I need to talk to you,” she snaps.
I hold her gaze for a second and then call over my shoulder, “Raincheck, Destiny. I need to speak with Melody.”
“Seriously?” Destiny says indignantly, but then presses her lips into a thin line. She knows it won’t do any good to argue or beg. I’m a little surprised when she glares daggers at Melody as she squeezes past me through the doorway though. When the door to the stairs slams shut behind her, I step back and throw my arm wide, inviting Melody to enter. She storms in, seeming to avoid touching me at all costs.
I close the door and follow her further into the room. She stops in the middle of the living room and whirls. I wait expectantly, silently begging her to finally say what she’s really thinking and feeling, to finally tell me what she wants. Or better yet, to fuckingshowme.Come on, tell me I’m not crazy, tell me you feel it too, show me that this is fucking real.
“I want to be moved to a new room.”
I keep my face smooth, barely smothering the smirk. Oh yes, she’s definitely pissed that I had Destiny here.
“Why’s that? Is the suite not to your liking?” I ask. I’m going to make her say it.
“The suite is fine, it’s the ridiculous low budget porno happening next door every night that’s the fucking problem,” she snaps. “I’m so over hearingyour girls,” she rolls her eyes so hard at the term that I’m surprised they don’t get stuck, “vying for Day Time Emmys, so clearly faking orgasms just to stroke your ego. It’s pathetic—and loud.”
“Think they’re faking, huh?” I ask, taking one stop closer to her. She takes a step back, but not in a way that makes it seems like she wants me to stay away, more like we’re starting a slow, dangerous dance. I can feel that sweet tension in the air, electricity practically sparking between us, my entire body lighting up like a live wire.
“Of course they are,” she spits. Another step forward, another step back. Her eyes dart to my lips and back up again. She wets her own. “If you can’t tell the difference, then you’ve got bigger problems than I thought.” She makes her voice extra breathy and over-the-top. “Oh God, Traeger, don’t stop, right there, you’re a sex God, you’re the best I’ve ever had,you’re sobig.” She curls her lip in obvious disgust and annoyance. Another step.
“You’ve got to be kidding me with that shit.” She jets her chin but her gaze drops downward again, moving from my lips to my throat, to my chest…lower…
Her back is nearly against the wall now, only one more step to make.
“And you wouldn’t fake it, then?” I ask in a low, silky voice. “To stroke my ego?”
She swallows hard and her eyes blaze.
“And reward you for something you didn’t earn?Never.” I take another step forward and she hits the wall. Our bodies are so close I can feel the heat radiating off of her. Mere inchesseparate us now and it’s suddenly too hot in the room, too combustible. One spark and we’re both going up in flames. I won’t be able to stop it. I won’twantto stop it. She reaches out and settles her hands on my hips, and I lean forward, bracing my hands on the wall on either side of her head, caging her in.
“Oh, I’d earn it, Melody,” I say in a low, rough voice, my mouth so close to hers that it’s torture to keep that tiny bit of separation. “I’d earn it—All. Fucking. Night.”
She gasps quietly and shifts one hand, curling her fingers into the waistband of my jeans, tugging me forward. I stifle a groan, even this small contact sending sparks of fire through my veins. I lean in and brush my nose against hers, barely keeping myself under control.
“Tell me yes, Melody,” I whisper, and I can feel a shudder roll through her body. “I need you to tell me yes.”
I pull back to look at her again, waiting, desperate. Her lips part and I know she’s going to say the word that will rock me to my core, the one word I want to hear so badly I could fucking scream.
But before she can say it, another knock pounds on the door. I grind my teeth in annoyance.
“Go away!” I bark.
