Chapter 24: Twenty-Four

Melina backpedalled with him all over her, coming to a stop when she felt the desk against her butt. Henry sat her on it, nestling himself between her parted legs. Her hands flung to circle his neck. She moaned against his lips, her fingers lacing on his hair, trying to bring him closer to her. Henry’s lips were rough on her soft ones, demanding and passionate, and while he was ravishing her mouth, he poured all the years of yearning trapped inside him. He wanted her to know she belonged to him only.

She didn’t know if she belonged to him, but he was the only one who made her lady’s part come alive and turn her blood into molten lava, even furious and aggressive, like now, punishing her for God knew what. Her mind was telling her to push him away, but her heart and body just wanted him to take her on top of her desk, hard and rough. She didn’t know where those thoughts were coming from and blushed.

The sudden beeping of his phone got them by surprise, and Melina had the strength to shove him away. Henry staggered back and stared at her, both panting. Shit! Whoever it was had the worst timing ever. They were messages being delivered to his phone. It could be important. Maybe Donovan, his lawyer, with some answers about her parents’ case.

“Get your paws off me, I’m not your property.” She jumped from the table, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand as if trying to get rid of his taste. “You don’t get to order me around or threaten me! Get out! I built a good life for myself here, and you’re turning everything into ashes, isn’t that enough already?”

“It’s not near enough, Melina! This is not over!”

“Get out, Eve waits for you.” Her voice was barely audible, and she turned her back to him, staring out of the window. She closed her eyes when she heard him slamming the door on his way out.

***

He was already outside with Eve when he remembered he didn’t tell her about his man, Darryl, serving as her bodyguard, that was the reason he went there in the first place, then he saw that phony Greek god, and just like a child, he lost his temper. After he saw those sickening messages sent to her, he had to make sure of her safety. Now he needed to focus on the creep stalking his family.

After that day in the clinic, he didn’t look for Melina anymore. He preferred to focus on his daughter and he’d worry about Melina after his time with Eve was up. But by the middle of the second week, Evangeline started asking all the time when mommy was coming home and got a bit feverish. Henry thought maybe the fever was linked to the fact he kept her away from Melina. But he wasn’t feeling himself as well. His entire body hurt, and he had a killer headache.

That night, Eve was too fussy. He lied down with her in bed and asked her to tell him about her mother’s fairy tale. He was dying to know about it, and it sounded like a good plan. It would take their minds off the cold they probably caught and make her sleepy.

“Mommy loved his eyes. She told me they were like mine, but her favorite part is when Charming takes the princess to the ball. Mommy said someone promised to teach her dancing like Cinderella, but she never got the chance.”

Eve put her little hands on his face, staring at him. He loved the feel of those tiny palms and chubby fingers on his face. He understood now all Melina’s words about her love for Eve. In her innocence, she told him he was in debt to her mother. He felt bad enough about everything already, and now he felt worse. He had to work on some plan.

“How about we surprise, mommy?” he asked her, then he whispered in her ear. “It will be our secret, little one.” He kissed her cheek.

“I’m happy you fought the monsters, daddy…” She hugged him and both fell asleep, all snuggled up.

Henry never thought that getting up from bed next morning would be a humongous task, since he spent the night at Giagiá’s and most of it awake, monitoring a crying Evangeline. He got his phone, and it was early morning. His eyes settled on the unread message he had received a few days earlier. He left Melina’s clinic, so angry he forgot about it. Henry checked on Eve once more and strode to his house, a little unsure of his steps.

He went looking for Melina, and she was nowhere in sight. Where was she this early in the day? Jealousy swamped him, mixed with rage. What if she was with that phony god? Sprawled in his bed, letting him touch her? Henry hoped not, or would be the first time he’d kill for his likings. He forbade her to bring him to his house, and her mocking words came to his mind.

“Darryl, where’s Melina?” He had a killer sore throat. Talking was a colossal task.

“You sound horrible, boss. Are you okay? She’s by the beach, and boss… She’s alone.” Darryl’s strong voice came through the speaker. “Want me to tell her to head back?”

“No. Don’t bother. I’ll send her a text. Thanks.”

So many years working with Darryl made the man know him as the back of his palm. He wasn’t about to admit all the wild thoughts that went on in his mind. Henry typed a message to Melina. He needed her back for Evangeline, and he’d deal with her later. Both of them were sick, but he hadn’t gotten just a cold like Eve by the way he felt wasted.

***

Melina sat on the beach, staring at the ocean. She couldn’t fall asleep, and it was about four in the morning when she left for a walk, stopping by the shore. The only problem with her lonely relaxing time, it was that she didn’t feel alone; she felt watched. Sometimes all the hair on her back would rise in protest, but she didn’t let the feeling intimidate her and found a bit of peace gazing at the calming sea.

The sun was up already when her phone beeped with a message. She saw Henry’s number, and her heart squeezed in her chest. Why would he reach for her so early, maybe something with Eve? All the peace she attained disappeared like magic.

“The deal is off. Eve got a cold, and I got called for a job. I’ll be away for a few days. Please, go back home.” It read.

The message was blunt, and Melina read it several times to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. Suddenly the air left her lungs and concern crept over her. So, Eve got sick, and he bailed on her. Nice parenting. She stood up and hurried back home, crashing into Xanthos.

“Hey, where are you going in such a hurry?” He grabbed her, steadying Melina in place.

“Ouch!” She stepped back, staggering a little. “Sorry! I have to go home. We’ll talk later, okay!”

“Did something happen? You don’t look good.” Xanthos narrowed his eyes at her. He knew there was something to do with that son of a bitch.

“Everything is fine. Henry sent me a message. The deal is off. So, I’m going back home, Xan!” And she dashed up the stairs all smiley in her floating blue dress. But he knew better. There was worry in her eyes.

On her way there, she sensed again someone following her. Melina’s heart went up to her throat. She was almost freaking out when she got to the terrace of her house, getting in like a hurricane, and there was no sign of Henry’s. Giagiá was coming out of Eve’s room when she saw her.

“Where’s Eve, Giagiá?” she asked, barging inside the room. “I got a message from Henry, telling me the deal was off.” Eve was asleep. Melina went to her bed and noticed her flushed cheeks.

“Calm down, Melina. I think Eve got a cold. I just checked on her. She is fine.”

Melina put her hand on Eve’s cheeks, and she still felt warm enough to worry about it. Great parenting skills! He got Eve sick and then called her back to deal with it. What kind of business was more important than his daughter? As soon as she saw him, she would give him a piece of her mind, but now Eve needed her, and happiness filled her to be back.

“Where is Henry? Great parenting skills.”

“He gave her some medicine for the fever and helped her to sleep. He told me he would send you a message and left. I think he’s home. Melina, don’t be so quick judging him. He wasn’t himself either, so if he called you back…”

“I’ll deal with him later. Now I just want to spend time with my baby.” She laid down on Eve’s bed, gathering the girl in her arms and smelling her hair. Gosh, she missed her. Giagiá left the room and Melina fell asleep after so many nights spent lost in her overworked mind, but woke up to a fussy and crying Evangeline. “Shh, muffin. Mommy is here now. Come, let’s take a bath, I’m sure you’ll feel better.”