Chapter 11: Eleven

*Then...*

It was Melina’s graduation day. The packed auditorium, the presentation of awards, classmates tossing their caps, and the somber look on her face indicated she felt like the last person on Earth. She was about to cry when her friend Gabriella grabbed her by the hand, taking her to a group waiting for them. She was a vet now. Her dream came true, and she would start a new life.

It was late at night, and she was in a bar with Gabriella and a few classmates, celebrating their achieved diploma. They were in their fifth or sixth round of tequila shots. She wasn’t at ease in the beginning, but after a while she loosened up and started laughing, enjoying herself and her friend’s company. Hank sat close to them by the bar counter and observed his kitty cat.

“Mel, I guess you got an admirer.” He heard her classmate.

“Why would you assume that, Louanne?”

“Look to your left, by the counter, and he’s gorgeous.” The girl shot Melina a dirty expression. “He hasn't taken his eyes from you since we got here.” Louanne wiggled her brows, extracting laughter from Melina. The girl was from Georgia, and next week they would go on separate paths. Yes, he had made a full sweep of her life and people around.

Melina turned to him as he greeted her with a slight nod. She blushed, but didn’t shift away from him. Finally, she noticed him. She smiled, and all the butterflies set flight in his stomach. She was flirting with him, but he knew it was the tequila talking. Melina wasn’t that bold, but it excited him to see this hidden side of her.

They called her for another round, and she didn’t take her eyes from him. An intense feeling rested in his groin as she winked at him and gulped the brown liquid down. Gosh, that was the sexiest thing he saw. Electricity sizzled in his veins, making his cock jerk in his pants. If Melina kept that up he’d be in trouble, but he couldn’t help enjoying it, it was the first time he got a response from her.

It wasn’t in his plans to get associated with the mafia, it just happened and it left no room for weaknesses or it could lead to someone’s death or even his own. He saw and did many things, mostly terrible that no one should ever go through, and he wasn’t proud of it. But the prospect of getting out of that life came from the two months he spent talking to her, impersonating the teenager who led her into captivity.

He also found comfort in her, and believe it or not, everything he told to Melina was true about his life. After the kidnapping, the wish to get out only increased, and he talked to his best friend, Matt. They planned a way out, but once in this underworld, sometimes the only way out was death itself, and a lot happened after that. Some things he would regret for the rest of his life, but he had only two arms, unable to embrace the entire world. He was only one man.

She moved, calling his attention back to her, and when she fell back in her seat, he knew she was dead-ass drunk. He just didn’t understand the reason behind her acting so out of character. She tried again and wobbled as if the entire room spun.

“Better I go to the bathroom first… Everything is going round and round…” Melina said out loud to Gabriella, who was as much wasted as her, and giggled, circling with her index finger in the air. Holding herself to the walls as she dragged her drunk ass to the lady’s room.

The southern girl smirked at him when she saw him following Melina. “Lucky girl. Cheers to that!” Louanne and Gabriella clicked their glasses. The moment she strode inside, he positioned himself by the door like a security guard, and he looked like one. His stern and cruel face would scare off anyone trying to get in. Two girls left the room, and after that everything quieted down. Then, a loud crash came from inside, followed by a hard laughter. He would give her some time. If she didn’t come out in the next five minutes, he’d have no alternative but to get in.

He peeked at the door, and Melina was in front of the sink. She opened the tap, washed her mouth and face, and looked at herself in the mirror. She was a delicious, sexy, silly chaos. His eyes tracked her to the end of the counter, to a box with a few toiletries. She found some mouthwash and took a sip, swishing and spitting off. Then she turned to the exit, and he went back to his post.

His powerful arms swung her aside as she muffled a scream, then giggled. “You shouldn’t drink this much.” He wanted to sound rigid, to reprimand her, but his voice came out raspy and full of desire. He pushed her to the wall, his chiseled body molded to her soft one. Gosh, he waited so much for this. How many sleepless nights thinking about her in his arms.

“And who do you think…” Her words died on her lips the minute she met his eyes. He felt the moment she froze, then became pliant against him. “Lord, I love your eyes.” She whispered. “They’re like pools of warm honey.” She licked her lips and stared at his mouth. Her fingers slid amongst the short strands of his beard, and he closed his eyes, reveling in the light caress. “So soft.” She sighed, and he snapped his eyes open and glued to her face, shining at her.

“Melina…” It was a strangled whisper. Puzzlement crossed her face, but she didn’t have the chance to dwell on it. His mouth shut her up in a smoldering kiss. Her hands flew to his neck, and he drew her closer, deepening the kiss. Gosh, how many times he dreamt about having her all tangled up in him, his mouth all over her. It had been a fucking nightmare to watch her from afar all this years.

What would it be for her reaction when she realised who he was? Would she give him a chance to explain himself? To tell her he meant nothing of those things and did his best to protect her? So many questions ran through his mind, and it was maddening not knowing the answers to them.

Her lips were so soft, playful, sucking at his bottom one, nipping and biting. They forgot about everyone around them, and focused on themselves, on the emotions they were provoking at each other. She smelled good, too good for her own sake. The orange blossom and plums of her perfume floated around him, making him drunker than her. Melina opened fully to him, his tongue probing, exploring her mouth, looking for hers, entangling in a sweet dance as he pushed her up closer to him, and when she wrapped her legs around his hips, his cock jumped to life only to find the barrier of his damn jeans.

“God, you taste sweet!” He moaned on her lips. “I waited for so long to have a taste of you.”

“It must be the tequila mixed with mouthwash.” She laughed in his ears, cradling him to her, scraping her teeth on his neck. He’s body got heavier with need as he chuckled to her remark, joying her in laughter. She got funny when wasted.

“As much as I want you, you are too drunk.” He said between kisses. “Come, let’s sober you up.” She stiffened in his arms and stared at him, her eyes tearful.

“No! I don’t want to sober up.” Her words were sluggish. “I graduated today, you know.” She planted soft kisses on his lips, and he was so hard beneath her. “I don’t want to be alone, not tonight though.” She punched at his shoulder, and her head lolled to the side. “I know you want me… I feel you… and I want you too.”

“Melina, if you keep this up, I won’t be able to handle myself.” He caressed her face, putting her wild strands away, and kissed her raw, hungry of her taste. “I want you, but not like this. Only God knows the strain you’re putting on my self-control.”

“Ok, fine. I’ll find somebody else!” Melina let go of him, putting her feet back to the floor and pushing him away. She marched back to her table, huffing and puffing as tears flowed down her face.

He dashed behind her and gripped at her arm, bringing her to smash in his hard chest. “Not on my watch, you don’t! You had enough, Melina.” He had a firm grip, and the way he said it didn’t leave her margins to rebuke at him. “Get your things. I’m taking you home.” He demanded possessively and in a harsh tone, noticing her chocolatey eyes widened. She had gone too far already, too way drunk to even get home by herself.

“I don’t have a home, I have no one!” She rested her head on his shoulder. “I don’t wanna be alone tonight.” Her sorrow was so clear in her eyes, he lost whatever control he was hanging by. Hank swapped her from the floor to his arms and walked out of the bar without giving a second thought.