Chapter 19: Nineteen

Distress was her name at that moment. Embarrassment mixed with helplessness and resentment. Melina pivoted on her heels, marching toward his house. She packed lightly, just the essentials, and left hidden close to his back door. She wasn’t far when he seized her by the arm, turning her to face him. Her hair flew around, falling like a curtain to her face..

“What do you want? Haven’t you done enough already? I left a note in her room for you. There, I explained everything you need to know. Better you go to her, it’s bath time.” A grunt, closer to a low growl, came out of her mouth when she stared at him from behind her strands. “If your goal was to hurt me, congratulations. You did, and where it hurt most.” Her voice faltered. “I’ll be around, Henry, and if I see a drop of strain in my little girl’s face. You’ll know what a mother is capable of.” She wanted to kill him. Her eyes watered and she got irritated enough already to show even more weakness. She would not give him the pleasure of having her cry in front of him.

Eve was such a loving soul, Melina knew she had already welcomed him into her life, and she did because of all the silly stories she created to her since day one. Why didn’t he understand he would put so much stress on Evangeline just to get back at her? Melina never left him out of the little one’s life. He was there one way or another, and when he realised that, he was in for a surprise. Henry had the right to be furious with her. She understands that, but he had no right to bring Eve into their quarrel.

“She’ll be fine, Melina.” His heart stuttered seeing her suffering, but he wasn’t about to fall for that. “I want to know what’s the deal with that phony Greek god of yours.” His right hand traveled up her arm in a soft caress, and the other took the curly strands away from her face. He never let go of her eyes, and breathing became a laborious task. His hands were soft and did wonders on her skin. The gesture made her shiver under his scrutiny. He kept going and stopped by her neck, massaging it and applying a light pressure. “I don’t want that boyfriend of yours in my house when I’m not around… or never.” His face was a mask of yearning and loathing.

Melina didn’t let him intimidate her. He was being cruel. Henry wanted to see her suffer. Now he would taste a bit of his own medicine. She raised her chin and drawled, “I don’t need to bring him here. His house has plenty of rooms…” She licked her lips, giving him a wicked smile, and he tightened his hold on her throat.

“Be careful, kitty cat, you’ll be the one getting a scratch,” he hissed in her ears, and brought her closer by the waist, their eyes glowing at each other under the starry night.

“Dream on, Henry! You’ll pay for this…” Melina put her hands against his chest to push him away, anger mixed with desire surging in her body.

“Both of you are mine, and I won’t tolerate any man between us, Melina. So tell him to get lost, or I’m gonna do it myself.”

“Don’t you dare threaten me or him! He was by my side when you were not!” She pushed at him, but he didn’t budge. He was used to holding people by force, she reminded herself.

“I wasn’t there because you took that right from me. You decided our lives yourself. You were the one who ran away, who chose the coward’s way out!” His grip tightened on her. She felt the erratic beat of his heart against her own when he nibbled at her lobe, and he whispered out his hurtful words.

“What did you want me to do? You are a bloody mobster!” She screamed, losing her cool and slapping the soul out of him.

Henry gripped her wrists, bringing them to her back and holding them there with one of his hands. The other slid from her waist slowly to her breasts, feeling all her curves on his palm. Lord, she was soft. His fingers playing, taunting, teasing her nipples into hard pebbles under her blouse. Melina’s eyes darkened as an unchecked moan left her lips. He didn’t hold himself anymore.

The temptation was too much for a sinner like him. He took her mouth, hot, fervent, pushing her up to him in a dark embrace. Henry groaned against her lips when he tasted her, and her orange blossom perfume hit his brain. She was addictive; he longed for her.

The night they had been together wasn’t close to enough, not even a lifetime with her would be enough to take her out of his system.

Melina lost herself in his arms. She didn’t know what was wrong with her, but she couldn’t deny the response of her body to him. It was beyond her wildest dreams. Something in her called to him, since the day they exchanged their first words through the chat. Then, the disappointment to discover her Charming never existed, it crushed her. However, once the shock eased, she realized it didn’t bother her about the fact he was a mobster. She missed him, and waited for him to reach out for her again, because even when in captivity, they felt drawn to each other.

She felt goodness in him, but the blow came with her parents’ death. Melina didn’t know if he was the one pulling the trigger, but she couldn’t forgive him for that, as she would betray their memory.

Henry let go of her hands and groped her ass, bringing her closer to him, pressing her lower stomach against his hard-on. It sent fire licking all over her skin and gathering mercilessly in her core, making her womb clench, waiting for him to fill the emptiness in her soul. She didn’t dare to admit it, but she wanted him. One hand encircled his neck, bringing him closer to her. The other slid down his back, feeling all his muscles on her fingertips while her mouth savored his kisses, raw with passion. She got so needy and hot in his arms she thought she would catch on fire on the spot. She wanted him with all her being. Out of the blue, Henry let go of her with a smug and victorious smile dancing on his lips. The cold and lonely feelings punched her in the chest as she looked at him, flustered and dishevelled.

“You’ll be mine, Melina, it’s just a matter of time. You may like that phony, but I’m the one who’ll make you scream.” He strode inside Giagiá’s home without glancing back, leaving behind a dumbfounded Melina.

Angry tears brimmed in her eyes as she marched to his house, grabbed her things, and went straight to her designated cell. Because that’s how it felt like; a house arrest. She could go to work, but in the evenings she should spend time there. Locked up! Because there was no way in this world she would walk around the house with him waltzing in there. She got so distressed; she didn’t pay that much attention to the room. It was a nice white place, with colorful curtains and a quilt on the bed. A wardrobe to the left wall and a small table with a chair close to the window, looking at the sea.

Throwing her duffel bag on the floor by the bed, she sighed heavily, feeling her entire body tremble under the force of her emotions. She crawled under the cover, pulling above her head. It hurt so much. These coming days would be hell. And as much as she tried to prepare herself, it was impossible. Henry was imprinted in her soul, and she already missed Eve. Melina knew she’d only breathe again when Eve was back in her arms. Till then, suffocation was in place. She cried herself to sleep, and she didn’t know how long it had passed until she heard a knock at the door.

“Melina! Open the door.” The soft voice didn’t cover the menacing tone. She put the pillow over her head, getting more comfortable in her little cocoon. “Melina!” She didn’t care if he would put the door down, she just wanted to sleep.