Fifty-Four

It was a shock to hear his confession, because it was a confession, a painful one. Melina could feel the ache in each biting word he spoke, and she didn’t know if he was aware of how vulnerable he depicted himself right now. She didn’t think so, because he’d never allow himself to show weakness in front of her. What it wasn’t, but to him it would be. Her entire being screamed at her to go to him and wipe that lost expression from his face, but she held herself in place, because it wouldn’t be a wise move.

“You’re so wrong, on so many levels, Henry. You say that I changed, but you still see me as that shy, naïve girl from six years ago, and I’m not.” Melina held her hand in the air, stopping him from talking. “Listen to me. I know some of these misunderstandings are mine to blame, but when you showed up threatening to take my baby away from me, you scared me to the point of I forgot who I was and everything I became, suddenly I was the old, helpless Melina again, and with it came all the feelings, and anguish of a past I tried so hard to get over.

“But I came into my senses and started paying attention. The caring way you took care of me while in captivity, all the time you kept an eye on me in the background, you went to my graduation, even though I didn’t know. You were loving and gentle with me that night, although I was selling myself like a piece of meat for you. You remember little things about me, things I told you in those two months we chatted.

“Then you got sick, and you were delirious. You spoke how badly you missed your brother, you called for Claire, and told me a hundred times you never meant to hurt me. You talked to me that morning, and after that all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place, but you pushed me away, Henry.” Melina needed a few minutes to collect herself, she was opening her heart, and it wasn’t as easy as she had imagined, but she couldn’t back out now.

“Maybe because you made yourself clear. There was accusation in your eyes, and regret went through your mind, but I don’t know how to let you go. I don’t know how to take you out of my system.” He gritted out as if it was a curse to bear. “There are things you don’t know, and I’d rather live with your hate, then see pity and gratitude stamped on your face.”

“I don’t want you to let me go, besides you’ll never see pity for you on my face. Concern and sorrow, yes, but you can’t confuse them with pity. Gratitude, sorry to break the news to you, but I’m already grateful to you, for all the time you were there for me and I didn’t even realise it, so whatever confession is bugging you, it will only add to the pile, but I’ll make your life easier. I won’t push you to tell me anything anymore. You’ll do it, only if you feel comfortable with it. Deal?”

Melina didn’t take her eyes from him, studying the turmoil ravishing his face. The rainbow of emotions flashing in those pools of honey was agonizing for someone watching across the room. Fury, pain, sorrow, realisation, every bit of emotion one could name was there, and Henry didn’t stand up and left because he was injured and had no place to go. Otherwise, he was far gone, and her control was hanging by a thin thread. It wouldn’t take long for Melina to give in and go to him. She needed to wipe the torment from his soul.

“I don’t get it. Ella must have told you something for your change of heart. And I didn’t want that. You were supposed to come to your senses by yourself! It all means shit to me.”

There was no point in happiness if Melina felt a slight affection for him because the truth came to her by a third person. That meant nothing to him. It was the same as cheating, and he wouldn’t accept it. But he couldn’t let her go. There’s a fine line between love and hate, and he’d gladly accept her hatred towards him, he’d make her hate him. If he thought about it, at least her hate would be genuine, almost as love. They were great in bed, so lots of hate sex, and just to think about it, made his heart flip. Okay, he wasn’t making sense anymore, and it was worrisome.

Melina’s eyes darkened, and when she stood up, a chill ran down his spine. She left the haven of the armchair and walked straight to him without flinching. He angered her again, and his Kitty Kat meant business. A curse came under his breath as soon as she flung her leg over and straddled him. He was only in his boxers under the covers. His cock twitched to life, feeling her sweet little ass on top of him. And if it wasn’t for the fresh injury on his shoulder, Melina would be at his mercy.

“Pay attention to what I’m going to say to you, stubborn jerk!” A small smile curved her lips, softening her semblance. “Ella told me your brother was killed because her father couldn’t kill you, but it didn’t stop him to torture you.” She put her hand on his lips, preventing him from saying anything. “You saw a lot of atrocities in your time with the mob with as much scars as everybody else involved with her father. She didn’t tell me more. Darryl filled me in about an easygoing, playful teen, who found himself involved with the bad guys, and didn’t have a choice in the matter.”

“Melina…” He tried to speak, but he was short of a hand, and she had a tight hold on him.

“Look at me, Charming.” She cupped his cheeks with both hands, not letting his eyes stray from her face. He tensed and his pupils dilated, listening to the word charming. “What do you see when I look at you?” Ending her question, he squeezed his eyes shut. “I want to see those pools of honey fixed on mine, Henry.” She ground herself on him, and when he snapped his eyes open, they were nothing like honey, but two onyx orbs, staring back at her.

“They shouldn’t have interfered…” He could barely talk. A jumble of feelings assaulted him without mercy.

His Kitty Kat had cornered him, and he didn’t see a way out. He knew what was there, he just couldn’t voice it, it was all over her face, but his struggles were to understand the reason behind the change. Did she come to that conclusion by herself like he always dreamt of? It wasn’t their place to interfere in his business with Melina. He didn’t care about their good intentions. They messed everything up.

“They care too much about you, to let you make an ass of yourself. What are you afraid of? You didn’t answer me.” A wide smile adorned her face, and a burning behind her eyes hinted she would finish this conversation as a sobbing mess. “I’ll tell you then. I’m sorry I made you believe you were a monster, you’re not. A monster doesn’t wear a bracelet with names of his loved ones, so they are close to him. A monster doesn’t miss his brother, nor save his best friends from their own ruthless father.” Henry’s body stiffened, and she was bracing herself to be thrown to the floor any given minute, but she continued.

“You took care of me from day one, and until today, attentive to the smallest details about me. You are a brilliant father to our little girl, and I’ve never seen my baby this thrilled since you came to our lives. A monster wouldn’t do that. Yes, you behaved like a jerk to me on so many occasions, but in each one of them you suffered for doing it. Are you a spoiled brat when you don’t have your way? Yes, but you’re my spoiled brat to deal with. You don’t have in you to hurt good people, Henry. One reason I didn’t believe, in those documents Xan brought to me. I believed you when you said you dropped the guardianship pursuit.”

“What about your parents’ fortune?” His voice was rough and throaty, and he didn’t know what to do with his racing heart, with the sudden heaviness trying to squash his chest. A beautiful woman trapped him there, and she was telling all those things he never conjured up himself. Now that she came into her senses, he was the one who didn’t know how to act or say. He looked at her dumbfounded, short of words.

“You grant my phony god friend so little credit… You gained my parents’ fortune by legal means. It has been under your possession for over three years, and you didn’t spend a dime. You made it grow and never thought to keep it to yourself. And Henry, if you have any doubts about my feelings for you, and you believe I don’t need you as much as you need me, let me ask you two more questions. Why do you think I recorded every moment of Evangeline’s life for you? Why would I put you in every fairy tale I read to her?”

Melina needed to breathe, and for some time during all this, Henry had put his hand on the curve of her waist, holding her tight to him. He didn’t notice how harshly he grasped at her as he gave away her words that had hit him hard.

“I’m going to ask you one last time, because I will not say it until you realise for yourself. What do you see on my face, Henry?” Tears glinted in her eyes, and made their way down her cheeks. The same happened to him. He didn’t dare to blink them away, his eyes fixed on hers.

“Love…” His voice faltered. He needed air, he wasn’t getting any, he couldn’t fill his lungs. Henry needed a moment to collect himself. “I see love, Melina.” The bright smile that illuminated her face reached his darkened soul, and for the first time since he met her, actual hope blossomed in his heart. The hope of a future with his Kitty Kat.

“I do love you, my Charming. I sure do!” Melina finally closed their distance.