Chapter 101 Home
Gavin’s POV
The penthouse was dark when I walked in.
It was silent except for the city noise coming in through the windows. I stood in the hallway for a moment, letting the door close softly behind me.
My hands still smelled like Volkov’s office. I needed to wash it off.But first, I needed to see her.
My feet carried me to her room without thinking. The door was cracked open, a bad habit of hers, with warm light spilling out into the hallway.
Melissa was asleep.
She lay curled on her side, with one hand tucked under her cheek, dark hair spread across the pillow. The blanket had slipped down to her waist. She wore one of my t-shirts, she was so small it swallowed her entire frame.
I crossed the room quietly, and sat on the edge of the bed. The mattress dipped under my weight.
But she didn’t wake up.
I leaned down, burying my face in her neck. Her skin was warm. She smelled like rose and a scent only she had.I inhaled deeply.
“I’ll soon clear the path for us to be together,” I whispered against her skin. “Just wait a little bit more. And it will be safe.”
Her hand came up, threading her fingers through my hair. Before moving down to rub the nape of my neck.My eyes closed enjoying the feel of her on my skin.
“You worked so hard, didn’t you?”
I nodded against her neck.
“Are you tired?”
I nodded again.
Her fingers stilled. Then she shifted, rising up slowly. Both hands came to my face, cupping my cheeks. She looked at me.
Her eyes were soft with sleep but they looked clear.
“Come,” she said.
“Where are we going?”
“To the kitchen.”
I let her pull me to my feet. Her hand was small in mine as she led me through the dark hallway.
The kitchen lights were on.
The table was covered in dishes. Small plates, bowls, containers. All filled with food of different colors and textures. Some were still steaming.
My eyes widened.Heat crept up my neck, into my ears.
“For me?”
“Yes, Gavin. For you.” She pulled out a chair. “Now eat.”
“Let me bathe first.” I could still smell Volkov on my skin. “I touched something really dirty.”
She nodded.
“Bathe with me,” I said.
“No.” Her lips curved into a small smile. “You won’t be fast enough and the food will get cold.”
I stared at her for a moment. Then turned and practically ran to the bathroom.
The shower was scalding. I scrubbed my hands twice, then my whole body. I washed my hair. Letting the water burn away everything from tonight until all that was left was the clean smell of soap.
I dried off quickly. Pulled on sweatpants and a t-shirt. My hair was still damp when I walked back into the kitchen.
Melissa sat at the table, with her chin propped on her hand, watching the doorway.She smiled when she saw me.
“Better?”
“Better.”
I sat down. Then I looked at all the food again.
“You made all this?”
“I couldn’t sleep.” She pushed a plate toward me. “So I cooked.”
“Melissa, there’s enough here to feed ten people.”
“Then you better start eating.”
I picked up my fork.
The first bite was heaven. It was some kind of pasta with cream sauce. I took another bite. Then another.
Melissa watched me with those soft eyes.
“You cook really well,” I said between bites.
I reached for another dish. It was roasted chicken and beef.I stuffed it into my mouth.
Melissa laughed.
“Slow down. The food isn’t going anywhere.”
I couldn’t slow down.
Each dish was better than the last. I ate until my jaw hurt from chewing.Melissa just sat there, smiling. Sometimes she’d push a different plate toward me. Sometimes she’d refill my water glass.
“Come here,” I said, pushing my chair back.
“You’re not done eating.”
“Come here anyway.”
She stood and then walked around the table.I pulled her into my lap. She came willingly, curling against my chest like a cat.
“Thank you,” I said into her hair.
“For the food?”
“You don’t have to thank me,” she whispered.
We sat there for a while. Her breathing evened out against my chest. I thought she might have fallen asleep.
“Where were you tonight?”
“Working.”
She was quiet for a moment. Then her hand came up, resting over my heart.
“I trust you,” she said simply. “Whatever you had to do tonight, I trust that it was necessary.”
I buried my face in her hair and just held her. “I love you,” I said.
“I love you too, my Gavin.”
“You should finish eating,” she said softly.
“It’s cold now.”
“I’ll heat it up.”
She started to get up but I held her tighter.
“Later. Just stay here.”
“Okay.”
She settled back against my chest. Her fingers traced absent patterns on my arm. Her presence drove away all the noise in my head, she made me calm and relaxed.
This was what I was fighting for.Not power, not even revenge. I didn’t care about any of that. I didn’t want anything until she came into my life.
She watched me finish three more plates before she finally stood up.
“Come on,” she said, holding out her hand to me. “You need sleep.”
“Okay.”
I let her lead me back through the dark hallway. Back to her room.
“Lie down,” she said softly.She climbed in beside me. Curled against my side.
“Turn over,” she whispered.
“Why?”
“Just do it.”
I turned onto my stomach, burying my face in her pillow that smelled like roses.Her hands came to my back. It was small and warm through my t-shirt.
She started rubbing slow circles at my back. Then longer strokes up and down my spine.
“Relax,” she murmured.
I didn’t realize how tense I’d been until her hands worked the knots from my shoulders. Down my back.
“That feels good,” I said into the pillow.
“Good.”
Her fingers dug into a particularly tight spot between my shoulder blades. I groaned.
“Sorry,” she said.
“Don’t stop.”
She didn’t. She just kept rubbing. Kept working the tension from my body with those small, determined hands.
I felt myself sinking into the mattress. Into sleep.
“Melissa,” I mumbled.
“Shh. Sleep. I’m right here.” Her hand moved to the back of my neck. “I’m not going anywhere.”
I believed her.
My breathing slowed. The last thing I felt was her pressing a kiss to my shoulder.
Then I fell.into a deep and dreamless sleep.For the first time in weeks, I slept without nightmares.