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“Eric, I saw what I saw!”

“Okay, okay,” he said. His voice was soothing, but not placating. “I believe you.”

“You do?”

“Yes,” he said, sliding his arms around her. She responded by melting into him. Very slowly, he began stroking her hair. “After all the creepy shit we saw at dinner tonight?” he chuckled. “Believing you isn’t that big a stretch, really.”

Melody sighed contentedly against his chest. Being held in his arms — especially after what she’d just been through — felt overwhelmingly awesome. Like sinking into a hot tub after a long day of skiing with no clothes on.

It was right then she realized she was just about naked.

“I.. Uh…”

“Don’t have much to sleep in?” Eric laughed.

“No,” she grinned.

“That’s okay,” he said. “Me neither.”

She looked down at him. Eric wore a pair of boxers, and nothing else. His shoulders and arms were well-defined, corded with muscle just beneath the smoothness of his skin. His wide chest tapered down to his flat stomach; two rows of chiseled abs that were cut deeply enough to form a ‘V’ at the bottom. It was a ‘V’ that Melody had always loved. One that usually pointed downward toward… other things.

“C’mon,” Eric said reassuringly. “Let’s get into bed.”

With the window thrown wide the room was cool, almost chilly even. But beneath the sheets…

Beneath the sheets Melody was deliciously warm and safe.

Eric was curled up against her, spooning into her protectively since laying down. With his big arms folded around her and his strong thighs pressed up against the backs of hers? She felt protected. Tucked away from whatever crazy bullshit lie in the mansion’s halls and beyond.

She’d calmed down considerably but was still wide awake — the effect of so much instant adrenaline. And there was a bulge behind her now, too. Something hard pressing into her back, from between Eric’s legs…

He protected me.

Melody moved her hands so that they rested on his. He squeezed her into him, wrapping two sinewy forearms around her tummy.

Saved me from the dogs. From the things in the hallway…

The bulge in her back became something more. She could feel the fullness of him now, pressing hard against her ass. Her tiny panties did nothing to stop it. Melody had a choice to make, a definitive decision.

She decided to let her body make it as she ground back against him.

He’s beautiful. Beyond beautiful.

Eric’s hands unclasped, his fingers crawling downward to explore her lower belly. She sighed out loud as his mouth went to her neck. He planted a series of soft kisses there, with lips that were full and wonderful.

This isn’t a good idea, though.

His stubble tickled her neck. She giggled.

Not at all…

The voice of reason was harsh and unrelenting. Melody did her level best to ignore it. It grew louder before she finally pushed it away, sometime around the time Eric’s tongue traced the curve of her ear, and his hand slid downward, cupping itself over her pussy…

Screw it.

She twisted into him so that they were face to face, and he wasn’t afraid to lock eyes with her. There was meaning there now. A shared understanding. Melody’s hand went to his cheek, and he reached up to hold it there.

“Thanks for being my hero,” she smiled.