Chapter 29: Twenty-Nine

The minute he said that, Melina shied away, walking back to the stove. He noticed her trembling hands while she moved the pot to the counter, in quick and short movements, almost letting it fall inside the sink. His heart plunged in his chest at her dismissal. Melina dismissed him, and it hurt, angered him.

Was it so hard for her to give him a chance? She looked at him differently from a week ago. It showed affection and concern for him in those chocolaty eyes. Henry didn’t comprehend why or what had changed, but it had. If she didn’t care enough about him, why would she make all those videos? It wasn’t for Eve; he was sure of that. So why be so stubborn about it?

He looked towards Eve. She was sound asleep with the cats. Henry went over to her and got her in his arms. Eve fluttered her eyes open, all glassy with sleep, and mumbled something. “Sleep, muffin. Daddy is here.” He kissed her forehead and took her to his room, closing the door. He needed some time alone with Melina to sort things out. Coming back, she was the same way he left her.

“Melina.” Her name came out as a command. That wasn’t his intention, but he got fed up with their unresolved situation. Melina’s resistance to him and distrust were maddening. She had to come to terms. He was as much a victim just like her. It was from a different perspective, he didn’t have a choice about what went on. “Melina, I’m not repeating myself…” he hissed at her when she didn’t face him.

“No, we don’t. We have nothing to talk about.” He was right behind her when she turned to him, colliding on his chest and getting her by surprise. She had to muffle a scream. He was stealthier than a cat. How could he be so quiet?

“Yes, we do. You’re not running away, kitty cat.” Her eyes were glinting with tears when she stared at him. “Why don’t you let me explain everything to you? Why is it so hard for you to give me this chance? There are so many things involved, hard decisions I had to make, and none of them the right ones,” he growled at her, upset with her stubbornness.

Melina averted her gaze. “Please, Henry, let go of me.” She swallowed hard a few times and licked her parted lips, calling his attention to her mouth, right there, inches away. Her eyes darkened, the pupils almost taking the entire irises.

“I will never let go of you.” Hank laced her by the waist, tightening his grip on her, while his right hand slid up her body in a possessive caress, memorizing all the curves, cupping her creamy breast, fitting perfectly in his palm. He brushed his thumb over her tank top, feeling her little bud harden against his skin. She gasped, and he smirked as kept going up, reaching for her throat, massaging the column of her neck. His thumb smoothed over her delicate, full lips. They were so glued to each other, he could feel her heart drum against his chest.

“Please…” She trailed off in a whisper.

Henry bunched up her hair in his hand and tilted her head back, making her stare at him. He didn’t hurt her, but used enough force to prevent her from averting her gaze from him. She shut her eyes. “Look at me, Melina!” When she opened them, they were beaming with lust for him. “I will never let you go. You’re tied to me forever and nothing will come between us. I swear, nothing. Do you understand that, Melina?” He felt a shiver crawl all over her skin.

“No! Never…” She closed her eyes, but her voice failed when he showered her face with feather light kisses, trailing down her jaw, his scruffy beard grazing the soft skin of her neck, his warm breath, bathing her neck, sending her into a vortex of emotions, making her body ablaze for him.

“Your body doesn’t agree with you.” He grunted in her ear, lowering his left hand to her butt and pushing her to him, kneading her thigh and raising it to his hips, pressing himself even more into her. “I’m tired of chasing after you, I’m tired of being the nice guy and waiting for you, Melina,” he said, giving little bites on her throat and swirling his tongue on her warm skin, as electricity coursed through her body and jumped to him. He closed his lips right at the curve of her neck and sucked there, hard. He knew it would leave a mark, but that was the purpose of it.

“Henry, please.” She gasped and brought one of her arms around him, gripping at his back muscles while the other fisted his hair, bringing his mouth to her thirsty one.

She moaned in ecstasy when his lips captured hers, and the perfume of his cologne hit her nostrils. Gosh, he smelled good! She felt so protected in his arms, but also so vulnerable. She let him trace the seam of her lips, and when his tongue dove in exploring, claiming hers, she deepened the kiss and felt all his desperation for her, the raw possessiveness in which his hands touched her body. She lost herself in him and all the scorching feelings he awakened in her.

The kiss turned fiery and air became scarce around them, but they didn’t care as a firestorm engulfed them in that kitchen. Melina went from red to crimson, feeling his hard bulge against her stomach, arousing her even more. He loved when she flushed like an innocent girl; she was beautiful.

“You can’t deny this, Melina. You’ve always been mine. Only mine!” he said as he let go of her mouth, both panting hard, staring at each other. He noticed a shift in her when tears streamed down her face.

“You have no right to do this to me, Henry.” A sob escaped her lips, and she looked away from him.

“Why are you so afraid of the truth that you don’t want to hear it? You were in love with me. You fell for me in those two months we spent talking to each other, Melina!” He raked his fingers through his hair, his patience slipping away as he gave his back to her.

“I didn’t fall for you. I fell for the teenage boy I thought I was talking to. Not you!” She glared at him when he faced her again.

“You fell for me, because he was me. Everything we talked, everything he told you about himself, it was me talking about myself. I didn’t lie to you about anything. I told you how I hated my life, how unhappy I was, and how much I wanted to change. It was all me, Melina!”

“You hurt me, and you broke my heart! I don’t want to listen anymore!” She tried to move and get away from him, but he seized her again, bringing her back to him.

“I know I did! If you didn’t love me, what’s the purpose of all those videos?” She stared at him, confused. “I know about them, the ones you have been making since Evangeline’s birth. If you painted me as a monster and don’t want to give me the chance to make things right, why the videos?” He didn’t let go of her eyes, fiercely staring at them as if at any minute he could reach for her soul.

More tears came into her eyes. Melina didn’t know the answer to that. Only the urge to do them. It was her excuse in the beginning, telling herself Eve deserved to understand she never meant to take her father from her. Life was complicated, and she did what she thought fit for the moment. But now she wasn’t sure anymore.

Since she didn’t answer him, he continued, “If I’m such a monster, I have no option as to behave like one.” His voice came out strangled, between hurt and fury, and pain shone in his eyes.

“You’re feeling better,” she said, finding her voice. “There’s no need for me to stay over. Let me go, Henry. Now.” She wiped her tears with anger and struggled in his arms, trying to free herself. “Let me get Eve, and we’re leaving.”

“You're going nowhere, Melina. Someone is threatening you with those videos and must be the same asshole who framed me to you.”

“You did that yourself!” she spat at him, shoving at his chest.

“No, I didn’t. And if I think about it, I’m not even guilty about your kidnapping! How could I be guilty of protecting you?” He grabbed her wrists and puzzlement crossed her face at his angry words.