Page 13 of Breeze and Melodie

Two Months Later

“Welcome back!” everyone cheered when I entered the salon.

The salon was decorated with balloons, and my station was covered with flowers and cards. It had been two months since Sean attacked me. My nose healed much faster than my ribs, but I finally felt like myself again.

Breeze and Raine were two of the most overbearing people I’d ever encountered. Not even my parents or sister were as bad as those two. However, I appreciated their care and concern and honestly believed it helped my healing process.

The rest of our crew pitched in by sending home-cooked meals each week, hiring a cleaning company so I wouldn’t have to lift a finger, and hanging out with me so I wouldn’t die from boredom. I would definitely miss the food, but I decided to keep the cleaning service.

“Thank you! Y’all are the best,” I said as we exchanged hugs, and they gave me a bouquet of flowers.

“We missed you around here, Mel,” Mari said.

“I would’ve come back two weeks ago if Breeze and Raine weren’t so damn strict. As much as I appreciate them, they are slightly over-the-top.”

“I can hear you,” Raine said. “And I’m telling my brother.”

“Girl, I’m not worried about you or him.”

“Him who?” I heard Breeze’s voice behind me.

“Huh?”

“You heard me.” I turned around just in time for him to wrap me in his arms and press his lips against mine.

Even though I was 90 percent healed, Breeze continued to be extra gentle with me.

We didn’t have sex for the first three weeks of my recovery.

When he finally decided to stop holding out, we made sweet, slow love.

It was beautiful, but I was ready to be fucked from the front, back, top, bottom, and side.

“If you must know, I told Mari and Yvonne how over-the-top you and Raine have been. Y’all low-key had me on lockdown like a prisoner.”

Breeze shook his head. “She’s exaggerating, but it was for her own good.”

“Whatever. I’m just glad to be back.”

“How are you feeling?”

“I feel good.”

“How many clients do you have today? I don’t want you to overdo it.”

“Three, but after my last client, I planned to?—”

“Nah, Raine and the other ladies will cover you for whatever you’re about to say.”

“Breeze, you’re being ridiculous.”

“Call me what you want. You’re not back full-time yet. I want you to take things slow.”

“The doctor said?—”

“I don’t give a fuck about what that doctor said. I’m your man, and I got the final say.”

“Okay, Breeze. Let her know what’s up,” Mari commented.

I peered around Breeze, narrowing my eyes at Mari before saying, “If you’re not on my side, your comments are not welcome, sis.”

“I’m with you when you’re right, . . . but you’re wrong this time, sis,” she said before her, Yvonne, and Raine laughed at my expense.

“The only reason I let you drive separately was so you could leave after your last client,” Breeze reminded me.

“Okay, I’ll leave.”

“I know you will. Gimme a kiss.”

I put my arms on his shoulders, caressing the back of his neck, and we became lost in each other for a few moments.

“Y’all are too damn cute, but we got customers coming in,” Yvonne commented.

We separated, but Breeze pecked me a few more times before he was ready to leave.

“Come see me before you go home.”

“Okay.”

I didn’t imagine Breeze would be a clingy man.

In the past few months, he showed me sides of himself that I never would’ve guessed existed.

Aside from wanting to be inside my skin, he was thoughtful, compassionate, and extremely sensitive to my needs.

It sometimes felt as if he knew what I needed before I did.

Although I pretended to be annoyed by his overprotective nature, I loved it and hoped never to experience life without it again.

I admired Breeze from afar for several years and couldn’t shake my attraction toward him.

Now that he was finally mine, he surpassed all my expectations, and I looked forward to our future together.

My three clients were back-to-back, and the morning flew by. I would never tell Breeze or Raine, but I was tired and a bit sore. Since I’d become a licensed hairstylist, I’d never taken two months off. It might take a while for me to get back into the swing of things.

“Hey.” I greeted all the men in the barbershop as I headed toward Breeze’s station.

“Give me five minutes. Let me walk her to her car,” he told the man in his chair.

He put the clippers down, grabbed my hand, and led me toward the door.

“How do you feel?” he asked when we got outside.

“Making women feel beautiful is my passion. I missed coming to work.”

“I’m sure you did, baby, but that doesn’t answer my question. I want to know how your body and mind feel. Are you sore or mentally drained?”

“I’m fine and can’t wait to teach a few classes tomorrow.”

We’d arrived at my driver’s side door, and I leaned against it while Breeze stood in front of me. He looked at me as if he didn’t believe me but didn’t press me anymore. Instead, he gently put his hand around my neck and pulled me closer to him.

“I don’t believe you, but I’ll give you a pass today.”

He kissed my lips softly, then slowly slipped his tongue between my lips. He used his free hand to squeeze my ass. When he finally pulled away, he left me breathless.

“You play too much. Now my panties are wet.”

He smirked with his hand still around my neck. “I’ll take care of that pussy when I get home.

I inadvertently rolled my eyes because I didn’t want him to take care of my pussy. I wanted him to beat that bitch the fuck up.

“Did you just roll your eyes?” I nodded. “You know I’m a man of my word. Do you doubt me?”

“No, but . . .”

“But what?”

“Can you be less gentle?”

The corners of his mouth curled into a sexy smile. “Oh, you think you ready for some rough shit?”

“I know I am. All I need is for my man to cooperate.”

His hand left my neck, and he used it to grip my other ass cheek as he pressed his body against mine. I felt his erection on my stomach, which caused me to smile.

“Now you got my dick hard. Be ready when I get home, and I don’t wanna hear, ‘it’s too much,’ ‘slow down,’ ‘I can’t take it.’”

“Don’t worry. You won’t. I can’t?—”

“Are you Melodie?” A woman’s voice interrupted me.

Breeze released me before turning around, standing beside me, and putting his arm over my shoulders.

“Who’s asking?” Breeze responded for me.

“I’m umm, I’m Arielle.”

I smiled uncomfortably, my lips tightly closed, waiting for her to give us more information, but she remained quiet.

“Should I know you?” I finally asked.

“Oh, umm. I thought you were aware of me. Sean and I were dating. He said you broke up with him when you found out about us.”

“Is that what he told you?” She nodded. “Well, he lied to you. I had no idea you existed. Is there anything else?”

“Yes. Umm, have you seen him?”

“Why would I see him? He’s no longer my man. As you can see, I’ve moved on.”

“It’s just, . . . it’s been about two months since I last saw him. I’ve gone to his apartment and the new gym he was transferred to. No one has seen him.”

I didn’t know Sean had been transferred to another gym, but since he was no longer my man, it wasn’t something I should’ve known.

“Well, unfortunately for you, I haven’t seen him either. He probably has another girlfriend and ghosted you. Sorry I can’t be more help.”

Breeze and I stepped away from my car so he could open the door.

“Wait. Do you have any contact information for his family?”

“Honestly, I don’t. Sean didn’t talk much about his family, except to say they were estranged. Have you talked to his friends?”

“I never met any of his friends.”

I frowned. “Are you sure you were his girlfriend?”

“Yes. We’d just found out I was pregnant, and I need his help.”

Wow! I certainly dodged a bullet with Sean. I couldn’t believe he’d abandon this woman and their baby.

“Congratulations, but I’ve told you all I know. Hopefully, he shows up soon.”

“Do you have any contact info for any of his friends?”

“No. I honestly only remember a friend named Dak. I don’t know his last name or have any contact info. Good luck.”

I hadn’t seen or heard from Sean since he attacked me. In the back of my mind, I thought Breeze might have killed him, but I hadn’t come right out and asked him. I didn’t care enough to inquire.

Breeze helped me into my car, then leaned inside to kiss me.

“I love you,” he whispered with his lips against mine.

“I love you too.”

“Text me when you get home.”

I nodded before closing the door, starting my engine, and driving away. I looked in my rearview mirror and noticed he didn’t move to go inside until I turned onto the street, which didn’t surprise me. However, I was surprised when Arielle began to follow him toward the barbershop.