And I really hope that we can put all of this behind us one day and become friends.”
Melony left before she said something she’d regret. She scraped her plate, set it in the sink, and vowed to go back for dessert after she cooled off.
While she couldn’t pretend to like Shannon all that much, she did truly wish they could become friends. They were closest in age at Sanctuary, and Melony had always wanted a sister. She guessed if she viewed it from another perspective, she could understand how Shannon might see her as a threat. If Shannon had liked Lorent before Melony had come to Sanctuary, she could understand how the girl might be a bit jealous.
Yet, if Shannon and Lorent had something serious, she didn’t understand why Shannon would feel jealous or threatened. If Melony ever fell in love, it would be with a man she trusted, and if she couldn’t trust her man to be around another attractive female, then he wasn’t the man for her.
Adultery was not acceptable to her. She would never cheat on someone she’d pledged her heart to, and she expected no less in return.
Still, how could Shannon be even a bit jealous of her? The girl had legs up to her neck, and was built like a supermodel. She shrugged as she walked over to the glass doors to look out the back. She couldn’t resist a peek outside and slipped through the door and out onto the deck, where the cold air instantly made her shiver. The storm was still in full swing, although at the moment the snow was falling slower. She wished she’d gotten her coat, but the beauty of the view was enough to make her brave the cold for a while longer. She could very easily envision living the rest of her life in this area.
Lost in thought, she didn’t hear the door open behind her, and jumped when a warm throw dropped around her shoulders. She gasped and spun to find Lorent standing behind her.
“Oh! You startled me.” She smiled, happy that her dark mood lightened considerably at the mere sight of him.
“I’m sorry.” He looked out over the deck at the thickly treed land as she had been doing moments before.
“It’s beautiful here.”
“Yes, it is.” His low voice warmed her nearly as much as the throw he’d brought her.
“Are you having a good time?” She watched him, not missing the way he flinched ever so slightly at the question.
But just as quickly, his discomfort disappeared, and he grinned. Holy heck, the man was sinfully gorgeous. His white, even teeth stood out in the soft glow of the lights strung along the railing, and his black hair was tousled to perfection as usual. He was seriously a breathtaking man, and she longed for him to kiss her again.
“I am. Are you?”
“Yes. Well, I am now.”
“Now?”
“I mean, I was before, but then not so much, but I am again.” She nibbled her lip as usual in awkward moments and then giggled. “I guess that didn’t make much sense.”
“Is something wrong?”
“No. Not really. I don’t want to think about it anymore actually.”
“If you want to talk about it, I’m here.” He shrugged.
“Thank you, but I think I’ll pass for now. I might take you up later on the offer, though.”
“Anytime.”
“I wanted to ask you something, actually two somethings.” She pulled the throw tighter around her.
“Okay.” He frowned, probably thinking she was going to ask him something personal.
“I was wondering if you had decided to let me cut your hair? I could even come to your place if you prefer.”
He stood still for several moments as if he was waging a silent war with himself before finally answering. “I could stand a trimming once a month.”
He pushed his fingers through his hair.
“I wasn’t implying that you needed a haircut. I like the tousled do you have, but everyone needs a trim here and there.”
“I usually trim my own, but as you can see, I’m not very good at it.
Fortunately, the bedhead look doesn’t require a straight cut anywhere.”
“It looks fine, Lorent. You do a good job, but I’d be happy to do it for you so you didn’t have to mess with it yourself.” Not to mention the thought of getting her fingers on and in his hair was extremely appealing.
He nodded. “You said you had somethings to ask me?”
“Oh yeah. I was wondering if I could take you up on your offer to show me how to cook a few dishes? Maybe I could even trade my hair services for cooking lessons?”
Chapter Thirteen
What the hell had he gotten himself into? He had been dying to talk to Melony all night, but had kept his distance, worried about his ability to keep his hands off her. He’d followed her to the deck after he’d seen the exchange between her and Shannon. Shannon was starting to get on his nerves. He thought he’d made it plain that he wasn’t interested in anything other than friendship with her, but he guessed he’d have to start being a bit more assertive where she was concerned. He didn’t doubt for a moment that Shannon had said something snarky to Melony, and probably about him no less.
Now he’d gone from keeping his distance and hands off her to agreeing to let her cut his hair and help her cook in two seconds flat. The thought of her running her fingers through his hair, over his scalp was enticing, to say the least. He could already imagine what it would be like when she washed his hair. Her hands would be like magic on him, would soothe him and make him burn at the same time.
He’d go to her place for the cuts and cooking because he wasn’t sure he could handle the scent of her in his cabin. The smell of her in his home would more than likely drive him crazy. He couldn’t deny the thought of her at his place thrilled him to no end. He wanted her there, wanted her to feel comfortable there, wanted her to feel comfortable with him, but he doubted the depth of his control to keep his hands off her if she was in his cabin.
Most of all he wanted her to want to be with him there, and he craved to have her in his bed. He couldn’t imagine what joy he’d feel waking up with her in his arms every morning, kissing her awake, making love to her slow and long or hard and fast, then showering and eating breakfast together at the start of each day. He’d even let that damn cat move in if it meant he could have Melony. Hell, he’d let her bring ten cats. In fact, he didn’t think there was much he wouldn’t let her do if she’d agree to be his, if she’d only love him.
It still didn’t change that he was selfish for wanting such things from her when he wasn’t sure he’d be able to love her in return. But damned if he could quit yearning for her, the one thing he should leave alone, the one person he should never risk hurting. She was beautiful inside and out, and he didn’t want to disappoint her.
And even knowing all of that, right at this very moment, all he wanted to do was hold her, kiss her again. What he wouldn’t give to see her eyes shining with love only for him. His skin tingled, and his wolf clawed at the surface, howled to be freed to take its mate, but he couldn’t allow that. She wasn’t for him. Hell, she’d probably be appalled if she knew all the things he wanted from her already. She said she wanted to take things slow, and what he had in mind was not slow.
“Lorent?”
“Yes. I’ll show you some dishes if you’d like, but you don’t have to do anything in return.”
He couldn’t refuse after offering to help her, now could he? What would he say? Sorry, I can’t help you now because I don’t know if I can keep from throwing you to the floor, taking you from behind, and claiming you as my mate. Yeah, that’d go over well. Not.
He was digging this hole deeper and deeper. The problem? He wasn’t for sure he wanted a way out any longer. He was losing the battle between the right thing, the thing he should do, and what he wanted to do. Wrong was quickly defeating him in the battle with right. Suddenly he had flashbacks from his days as a rogue. He’d chosen what was wrong every time whether by action or inaction. He’d been a failure. He was a grown man now, and he was going to do the decent thing, even if it killed him.