Page 49 of The Spare

Her lips move against mine, whisper soft, our kiss hesitant and slightly unsure.

Heat blooms inside of me so hot that I have no doubt she feels it too. My entirebeinglights up at the feel of her lips.

I pull back, catching her eye, seeing her desire mirroring mine.

My heart pounds even harder, and I flick my tongue out to lick her bottom lip before covering her mouth with mine, slanting my mouth against hers and deepening our kiss. Melody moans, her lipsparting to allow my tongue to sweep along hers. My skin tingles as she shivers against me, her nipples distending and pressing into my chest, sharpening my desire to a ruthless edge.

My fingers tremble against her. Almost four fuckingyearsI've waited for this moment.

Groaning, I tighten my fingers, tilt her head to the side and lick even deeper. God, she tastes amazing. We kiss for what feels like forever, our bodies pressed tightly together, rocking against one another as we explore each other's mouths greedily. My hands sink into her hair and hers grip my neck as we strain together. Trying to get closer.

It isn't until my hand slides from her hair to cup her left breast, and she lets out a needy whimper that I come back down to earth. Cognizant we've been alone for an unusual length of time, I pull away and wait patiently until her eyes open. She blinks almost sleepily, like she's in a daze.

I place my forehead against hers, exhaling a deep breath, squeezing her plump flesh in my hand, and feathering my thumb against her distended nipple.

"You taste like heaven, but God knows you're built for sin," I say roughly.

"It's about fucking time," she whispers, looking up at me with complete trust. "What took you so long, Mase? I thought you didn't… didn'twant me like that."

I fill with shame. The admission that she wanted me as much as I wanted her all this time throws a dark cloud over our first kiss.

"I'm sorry." Bringing my hand from her breast, I stroke my knuckles down her cheek and implore with my eyes for her to forgive me. "I'm so sorry. I wanted you more than anything. However, you can thank my brother for why I haven't made you mine yet."

She gasps, and much like when Hendrix walks in a room and sucks all the fun out, all the arousal she was just feeling disappears in a nanosecond. The heat between us becomes non-existent.

At least from her end, and I know I just fucked up.

Big time.

Her eyes scrunch together, and her head recoils slightly."What do you mean?"she says shakily, her eyes flickering between mine.

"Hendrix forced me to not take you when I wanted you," I say. "It's because of him I haven't had you sooner. And I've wanted you a long,longtime, Melody. Since the moment I met you."

And just like that, I watch all the passion drain from her face as a new understanding drapes her features.

Fuck.

Chapter fifteen

An Understanding

"Get away from me,"I snap, pushing hard at Mason's chest.

My eyes well up with angry tears, and I step to the side and walk deeper into the room, putting some much needed space between him and me, and get myself away from being trapped against the door. I wrap my arms around my torso, trying to take in what he's just told me.

"Mel,"Mason says, hurt sounding as rejection drapes his features.

He'd neverquite mastered covering up his emotions like his brother. No, Mason wears his heart on his sleeve. He stands there, sliding his hands in his pockets and regarding me with a serious, albeit sober look.

"No,"I turn to face him, folding my arms and shaking my head when he goes to take a slow step towards me. "You don't get to fucking sound hurt.I'mthe one who gets to sound hurt!" I half yell, taking a step back when he doesn't stop advancing towards me. I hold up a hand, palm facing him. "You and your brother hadno right-"

"I know," he grits out harshly. "Mel, Ifucking know!But he-"

“-making fucking decisions for me,"I yell, finishing my sentence. I narrow my eyes and take another step back. "That's why you've been waiting so long?" My lips tighten as my eyes narrow at him. "Because ofthem?All they've been doing for the both of us is fucking making decisions about everything!Everything!"

Mason shoves a hand through his hair and throws me an exasperated look. "Melody, you know more than anyone that I understand what you're saying because foryearsI felt stifled by my brother and father." He takes a step towards me and narrows his eyes. "But you have to see that he thought it was for your own good-"

"For my own good?" I interrupt, recoiling my head and narrowing my eyes. "For my own good, Mason? I couldn't even fucking go to the college I wanted, and you're trying to tell me that it was for my own good? I can't walk around like a free person, always being followed. I couldn't date for the last three years, because everyone I talk togoes fucking missing-"