Chapter 47: Forty-Seven

“What am I doing, Kitty Kat? You have a guardianship petition in your hands and a document saying I’m the guardian of your parents’ estate. It’s all there. What else do you need as proof I was acting behind your back?” Henry’s eyes fixed on her, trying to catch the slight shift in her posture. He wanted to see hate and anger for him in Melina’s eyes, but it wasn’t happening.

“I’d slap the life out of you if you weren’t holding my wrists, Henry!” She glared at him, struggling to free herself. “Why are you pushing me away? What’s wrong with you?”

She stared at him, astonished. Whatever he was hiding from her was worthy of her rage against him. But if he thought she’d fall for that, he was in for a surprise. Henry may not be aware that his face spoke volumes, but she was. She could see the torment in him. In these almost two months, they were together on a daily basis. She had a lot of time, sleepless nights, and Yiayia’s words hammered in her brain, coaxing her to think about everything that happened between them since day one. Melina didn’t pay attention to a lot of details concerning their lives because she was young. Fear and rage against the sad turn her life took clouded her judgement.

When he talked to her as Charming, his words were genuine, and later she met Henry on that fateful day in captivity. Five days where he talked to her, and watched over her like a hawk. He went to her graduation. She didn’t know that until a few weeks ago. Why would he do that if he didn’t care? Only to steal from her years later? Crazy! He was such a gentleman the first night they spent together, taking care of her, loving and always attentive to the smallest details about her. No, she wouldn’t buy this crap!

“Why? Don’t you believe me?” He gritted out, eyes fixed on hers. She was beautiful, and he didn’t know what had changed in her. Melina was too accepting of him. She wasn’t putting on a fight anymore, and it drove him insane.

“NO!” It was a quick and matter of fact answer. Not leaving doubts behind. “I don’t know what you want to accomplish with all this, but it’s not gonna happen, Henry.”

“Didn’t pass it through your mind, not even for a second I had betrayed you when that phony god came to you with all these papers, Melina?” He needed to know the truth. See on her semblance if she’d lie to him, but his strength was waning down with Melina struggling underneath him, grinding herself on his body. It was heaven and hell altogether.

“No, it didn’t. And I told Xan to do nothing until I talked to you.” She quieted down and raised her head to his ear. “Let go of me, babe.” Melina breathed the hazelnut and evergreen of his cologne while whispering to him. And it was addicting. She loved the scent. It suited him perfectly. His eyes darkened at her words. “Please Henry, don’t do this. You’re only hurting yourself. You may not be aware, but there’s hurt written all over your face. I know now, you’d never take Eve from me. It doesn’t matter what you say.”

“Would you marry me knowing I hold all your inheritance? Despite being the guardian, I can’t touch it, only if you marry me?” Jeez, he was being an asshole to her, but it was stronger than him, he had to push her to the limit to understand why the change.

“If it is to prove to you, I trust you. Yes, I would.” It amazed him how quick and assured the words left her mouth. It was his undo.

The strength he held by a thread disappeared and he slammed his mouth on hers, losing his hold on her wrists and his Kitty Kat didn’t waste the chance to break free and circled his neck, bringing him closer to her. His lips desperate to taste her, to assuage his thirst for her. All these days without touching Melina were hell, and he couldn’t endure anymore. His seductive, silky tongue invaded her mouth relentlessly, in a mindless hunger tangling with hers. Melina wrapped her legs around his waist, and lightning crashed on him, spreading fire throughout his veins. It felt right, the way it should be. They were fated to each other, but…

“I don’t want your trust, Melina,” he said on her lips, trying to find his breath. “We have chemistry, that’s a fact, but I also don’t want only the desire I see in your eyes. I want your love. I’ll take your offer for now.” With a push, he let go of her and stood up, a bit dizzy with longing and lust fogging his mind.

“What offer?” She stared at him, confused and all flushed from head to toe. He knew all the sinful places that beautiful shade of pink would cover in her sinful, creamy body.

“We’ll get married this weekend.” He was blunt.

“Henry!” Melina’s eyes were wide as saucers, flashing fire at him. “Are you nuts? What’s wrong with you?” He gathered all the documents of Eve’s case and put inside the big envelope, not answering and angering her even more. “Say something! I won’t marry you like this.” She swung out of bed to stop him when he marched to the door.

“Know one thing, Melina. A thousand times I prefer to live with your hate for me, but never with your gratitude.” It came out of his lips in a hiss, and he didn’t meet her eyes.

“Why in hell would I be grateful to you?” she spat without giving a thought. His eyes snapped at her, a turmoil of emotions she didn’t dare to analyse them at that moment. Remorse hit her as soon as the words escaped her lips. “Henry, if you cross that door, I’ll make sure you regret your decision.” He gave her a hard stare, and with the envelope in hands, he crossed the threshold.

Henry left her there, hanging in the middle of the room! If Melina got flushed with lust, anger took its place. She wanted to punch him until sense poured into his stubborn head! Sleep was the last thing on her mind. She needed to busy herself. Looking around the mess, she started putting her belongings back into place. She didn’t get what gratitude would have to do with their quarrel. She remembered nothing she owed him. Since they met, he treated her well, and took care of her from afar, but it wasn’t the problem here.

He tricked her into marrying him. Why didn’t he ask like any normal guy? Because he wasn’t a normal guy. He had all this soft side with them, but she’d bet he was a ruthless bastard in his line of work. Probably he was used to just taking what he wanted, no questions asked. She had so many questions about him. Melina wanted to know details about his life, what happened to him since they met for the first time, even before that. Life was a little box full of tricks and surprises, and he didn’t see the good side of it. All this mystery around him was maddening.

Once she was done tidying her room, she peeked at the clock. It was almost four in the morning. The bed seemed to have nails in it. Tossing and turning and her mind didn’t stop for a second. She knew what she had to do, but it would have to wait until morning. It’d be a shame to wake someone up at this hour. But Melina was so worked up, she wanted to scream. Time was making fun of her, passing in slow motion and laughing its tail off.

***

The kitchen smelled of fresh coffee and baked bread. Yiayia was already busy with her chores when Melina showed up, showered, and with a smile plastered on her face. She didn’t want to worry her grandmother, much less her pieces of advice. She just hoped to trick the old lady enough to grab her coffee and go back to her room.

“Morning child. Up so early?” Elissa looked at her with suspicion.

“Yes, I didn’t sleep well. I believe it was something I ate yesterday. I just need some coffee to wake up, and I’m going to take advantage of Eve still sleeping to study for the next hour.” She kissed Yiayia at the temple, and with coffee in hands, she left before the old lady made a lot of inquiries.

Grabbing her cell phone, she looked for the contact she stole from Henry and pressed. Melina walked back and forth in her room while it rang quite a few times. She stopped in her place once the call connected.

“Hello? Who’s speaking?” A melodious voice, still husky with sleep, greeted her.

“Are you Ella? Ella Sanders?”