Chapter 41: Forty-One
Henry woke up that morning, knowing he needed some time alone to put his thoughts right again. His obsession with Melina was getting out of control and after that night, it got worse. He’d never convey that his shy, innocent kitty kat would turn out to be a tigress in his arms, her inhibitions nowhere to be found, giving herself so willingly to him.
The soft, even breathing close to his ear, told him she was fast asleep. Melina was all tangled up in him, holding him tight to her that he would have trouble sneaking out of bed. Trying his best not to wake her up, he went to the bathroom and once back in the bedroom, Henry stared at the sleeping beauty in his bed. His heart swelled with a love he never imagined feeling or wanting for himself. He starved for her attention, her touch, for a meager crumb of her love for him, but when she shot him that angry look with accusation shining in those chocolaty eyes, and her sharp words, something broke inside him. Maybe the hope of one day she loved him back.
He didn’t want her giving him a chance because he told about his past, or proved he was innocent in all the shit that fell on them these past years. His worst fear was Melina giving him a chance out of gratitude. That would be his ending. She thought him a monster, going to lengths of running away and hiding herself from him. He’d prefer her fear and anger than gratitude to him. Henry wanted Melina to see him as a good man. She needed to come to that conclusion by herself, not because he told her so, and when the truth came out, it was only to reassure what she already knew in her heart. They always had chemistry, and he knew how and when to pull her triggers. But Melina lusting for him wasn’t enough. He wanted her love.
Life wasn’t fair to him. It has always been harsh, and he lost so much already. He didn’t dare to look back, because on the days he did, his dark side surfaced, and he was better off. He didn’t trust himself closer to anyone. His phone vibrated when he was halfway through the door. Darryl messaged him. They gathered at the inn, where he had set up a room for them to work, and as it appeared, they had a lead. It couldn’t come at a better time. Looking once more to Melina in his bed, he left. A few hours later Josh sent him a message, that his kitty kat and kitten were leaving the house, and Melina put up a fight with Josh for following her around.
What’s wrong with that woman? Did she forget what just happened and what he told her days earlier? If she wanted to defy his orders, he hoped she was up to deal with him. Unfortunately, they were in the middle of business and he couldn’t leave. Maybe it was for the better, because he wanted to strangle her, so he messaged Josh, telling him to take two more of the guys with him just to annoy her. He’d deal with Melina later. They had traced all the phone numbers sending Melina messages, and one of them had been purchased by Franco’s business a long time ago, leading back to the old warehouse. The place didn’t even exist anymore. Ella had set on fire two years ago.
***
“You have a lot to explain for yourself!” The growl that followed his words sent chills up to Melina’s spine. Henry grabbed her by the elbow, taking them out of the house and walking to his place. Melina preferred not to say a word and just wait, since she had no clue what she had done this time. Once in his kitchen, he trapped her between him and the wall. “What did I tell you, kitty cat?” It was a low hiss.
“I don’t know. Lately, you don’t tell me much.” Melina raised her chin in defiance. She wasn’t about to let him intimidate her. He was beyond pissed, she could tell, but the only thing he would do was to kick and scream like a spoiled child and maybe kiss her rough and possessive, to teach her a lesson, and she was far from denying that.
“Melina, you don’t know with whom you’re playing with…” He saw a glint of mockery in those chocolaty eyes, staring back at him. Who was this woman in front of him? She wasn’t his shy, naïve kitten anymore. What has changed? “I told you, you’re not supposed to leave the house without my knowledge or my guys!”
“Oh! So, maybe you should rephrase your question to me. What did I order, command, dictate to you, kitty kat?” If she was doing the right thing, Melina didn’t know, but the sudden thrill she got when his pupils darkened told her she was going into the right path. His hand flew to her throat, squeezing the air out of her, and she gasped.
“Don’t you dare to defy me on this. It’s for your own protection,” he whispered to her, his warm breath bathing her neck, spreading heat throughout her body. “You’re not supposed to get into an argument with Josh or any other of the guys. They are following my orders, and they will answer only to me.”
“I’m tired of your orders.” Her breathing was coming in ragged gasps as a tingling sensation caressed her skin. It would be this way each time he put his hands on her, mostly now that she came to terms with her past and wanted to give a chance at their future. It was as the chains holding her in place broke, and she was free.
“If you want to put yourself at risk, it’s your choice, but I didn’t think you’d be a careless mother and put my daughter…” He didn’t have the time to finish his thought, a loud crack sound filled the kitchen, and his right cheek burned. Gosh, the kitty kat stretched her claws. Since he dragged her to his house, she was challenging him, and she wasn’t afraid to deal with him. Melina had an impish glow in those eyes he’d never seen before, and it was giving him a hard-on.
“How dare you put my motherly skills in check all the time? This was only a warning. Do it again, and I’ll slap the soul out of you, Henry.”
She struggled against him, trying to free herself, and the only thing she got was him pressing her more into the wall and tightened his hold on her throat. He was hard against her stomach. Heat engulfed her and by the strength of it, she had to be crimson red. This was no time to get shy again. She shut her eyes, pushing the feeling away and thinking fast. She loved to be in that position. It was erotic having him all over her, holding her trapped. Maybe she was mental or something, she didn’t have these kinds of kinks. Well, she couldn’t say for sure. She was never interested in anyone, only him since day one.
“Don’t poke the bear if you’re not ready to handle it, Melina.” He ground on her and shuddered with pleasure. His hand slid from her throat, but not before a last light squeeze, and settled over her breast, cupping the soft mound above her flowery peasant dress. Melina gasped and opened her eyes. And the change in them was astounding. The timid girl was gone, and the fiery woman stared at him.
“I believe you’re the one who doesn’t know how to handle me. You don’t know what I went through for my little girl, for you to doubt how I raise MY CHILD!” She gritted out.
“If I don’t know about it’s because you took the right from me!” Henry bunched her hair in his hand, pulling her head back, his mouth a mere inch from hers, his thumb making soft circles on her breast, playing with her above the fabric, taunting her. “Now, about the first part of your speech, was that a challenge?” Melina’s eyes darkened and her lips parted. She was so beautiful, and something has changed. He wanted to know what she was up to.
“Why? Are you going to take it?”
Melina grinned, having a thrill, riling him up, teasing him. But once he stared at her with confusion and a troubled semblance, the fun disappeared. There was something holding him back. Henry was hiding facts from her. Despite they having started a conversation to get rid of their secrets, there was something else he would not confess to her. Melina raised her hand, and he gripped her wrist, and cold washed over her body, not having his hand on her.
“What torments you, Henry? I doubt all this hassle is about me giving a hard time to Josh. What’s going on? I hated waking up alone, and you ghosted me out the entire day. Why?” They were so close her words were only a whisper. “Let go of my hand, please.” When he did, she fisted his hair and pulled him to her.