Read Melissa's Mates Online

Authors: Jennifer Salaiz

Tags: #Menage a Trois (m/f/m), #Menage Amour

Melissa's Mates (4 page)

BOOK: Melissa's Mates
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Gray eyes looked amused as Nat looked down at her and smiled. “I see someone started without me. Damn, I’m going to have fun catching up with her. This is Cindy. She works with me at the bank. I think she’ll be perfect for our little game.”

“Bets is definitely the way to go if you’re looking for fun and not wanting to get tied down. Although, with the way things have been going, I’m not so sure about that anymore.” Melissa whispered the last part to herself.

Evelyn had actually come up with this game last year when they were waiting for spring break to arrive. Boredom didn’t last as they all found the game of betting on men a challenge they couldn’t resist. With one point of a friend’s finger, if the challenged woman approved, she set her sights on her target and tried to see if she could get him to leave with her. Melissa loved the distraction for a while. Now it seemed like bad luck had glued itself to her side.

“So, any takers for tonight? I saw a really hot cowboy for you, Melissa.”

“Where?” She craned her neck to see where Natalie pointed. The moment she saw him she shook her head no. “Too skinny. I like my men—”

“Hello, ladies.”

Melissa’s mouth twisted at the man dressed in a pair of khakis and a blue and white polo shirt. Light blue eyes pierced hers, and she could feel her heart race. “What are you doing here?” The words slipped out, and she cursed. Now why did she react like that? This guy wasn’t bad. And she was thankful the “run” feeling was gone. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that like it sounded. Here, sit. I’ll make it up to you. Julie, scoot your ass over.”

Channing smiled and took a seat. Melissa had no idea what she was doing, but she really hated the way every time she opened her mouth the wrong thing came out. “So Channing, was it?”

“Yes, and you’re Melissa.”

“Yes.” She laughed. “Well, what brings you out here? It wasn’t that my friend mentioned it earlier, was it?”

“That’s exactly what it was, actually.”

A laugh broke from her throat. “Well, at least you’re honest. Can I buy you a drink? I feel a little bad about earlier. My day has been off. I was extremely rude to you, and for that, I’m sorry.”

“How about I buy you a drink?”

“I’m not drinking tonight. I have to drive back to the island at some point.”

“Well, I’m not drinking either. Would you like a water or something?”

Melissa studied his light blue eyes. What was it about their depths that drew her in? He quickly looked away and broke their contact.

“No, no water. So, do you live on the island, or are you vacationing? Taking the suit from earlier, I don’t think you’re a tourist.”

A smile flashed white teeth. Something about them made Melissa pause. She wasn’t sure what it was. Her brain felt like it blanked, leaving her feeling confused.

“No, I’m not a tourist, but I don’t live on the island, either. I was visiting some new friends.”

“Really? Maybe I know them. I’ve lived on the island forever.”

“Well, do you know a guy named Brandon De La Cruz?”

“Brandon! Yes, he’s one of my best friend’s boyfriends. Ev and I go way back.”

“Small world.” He grinned and looked toward Julie who was dancing in the seat. His laugh made Melissa’s body spasm. Jolted by the feeling, her fingers clamped to the table. Warmth caressed her neck, bringing her eyes down heavily.

“Are you all right?” He whispered in her ear, causing her stomach to tighten even more.

All Melissa could do was nod. She forced her eyes open. What in the hell was happening to her? She wasn’t lying about today definitely feeling off. She’d said it earlier, but she couldn’t stress the point to herself, enough. Something wasn’t right. It started with the news about babies, then meeting Channing, then the guy at the beach, and now Channing again. What a day.

Natalie stood and smiled down at her. She pointed her finger at Channing, the classic sign she was making him Melissa’s target. “You need to dance. Why don’t the two of you go and have fun? I’m taking Julie and Cindy over to these really hot guys across the bar.”

As the girls left, her heart beat even faster. She looked at Channing, seeing flashes of them together. The thought of having sex with this man was somehow different.
He
was somehow different than any other man she’d been with before. The music brought her out of the fantasies. Remembering Natalie’s words, she tried to keep the images of the two of them so close together out of her mind.

“Would you? Like to dance, that is?”

“Sorry, I’m a horrible dancer.” Melissa looked away quickly, but turned back to him.

“I bet you’re not so bad. Come to me.”

The words, with the combination of looking into the endless depths of his eyes, drew her closer to him. Leaning forward, she stood as he did. A large hand gripped the side of her waist, and she couldn’t look away. She felt hypnotized, in awe of his overall aura, not to mention how attractive he was.

Before she realized what she was doing, her body was pressed tightly to his as he moved her against him erotically. Every nerve ending she possessed felt consumed. Her body pulsed and vibrated against the hardness of his thighs and chest. He felt perfect. The two of them together blew her away.

“See, I knew you were a very good dancer.”

“Maybe because I’m not thinking. I don’t know, I can’t…think.”

“Don’t think. Feel.”

Feel. Just hearing him say that, she could have sworn she almost had an orgasm. Clutching her fingers in his polo shirt, she pulled him closer. The smell emanating from him intoxicated her. Leaning closer, she breathed in heavily, suddenly feeling lost in the crowded bar.

“Channing?”

“Yes, Melissa?”

The need to pull his mouth to hers was crippling. It hit her hard and fast. What was it about this guy? “Would you like to leave with me?”

He jerked back so suddenly, he bumped into a couple standing behind them. As he apologized, she watched him look around nervously and come back toward her. A look of anger passed his face, but quickly vanished.

“Melissa, I’m not a bet. I know all about your little game. I didn’t miss the sign, either.”

Stunned, she watched as he stalked off. Oh, she was going to kill Ev or Brandon! How could they have told? Damn it. She really wanted to leave with him, and it had nothing to do with the fact that he was the one that got pointed out to her.

Rushing forward, she quickly caught up with him as he approached the front doors. “Channing, wait!” Pulling his arm, he turned to her. “I wasn’t asking you to leave with me because of that. I know what you saw, but weren’t we talking and getting along fine before that?”

He looked deeply into her eyes, pulling her back into some weird, spellbinding state. “Yes. But would you have asked me if it weren’t for that?”

“Absolutely.” The answer left her mouth before she even knew she’d opened it.

He laughed. “I believe you. But, I really should be going. I must…eat dinner.”

“Oh, I would think you would have grabbed a bite before coming. That would have been smarter.” She quickly clamped her mouth closed. What he did was none of her business. Now not only did she make it sound like he was stupid, she’d probably scared him away permanently.

Geez, way to go Melissa.

Once again, he laughed. “You’re right. I should have grabbed a bite, before coming.” Something about what she’d said seemed to make him laugh harder. Confused, her hand came to rest on her hip. She didn’t necessarily like getting laughed at, especially when she didn’t know what could possibly be so funny.

“How would you like to go to lunch tomorrow?”

“Lunch? Why are you asking me out tomorrow? Why not to go catch that bite to eat you were wanting? I can go with you. Julie’s going to ride home with Natalie since they both live here in Corpus.”

He looked around uncomfortably. “Not tonight, okay? Why don’t you give me your number, and I’ll call you in the morning.”

Desperation clutched to her conscious. Why was she scared for him to leave? It was so unlike her. Regardless, the rejection was enough to snap her out of the weird spell. “Wow, that hurt. Nice. If you wanted to blow me off you should have just said no thanks.”

Melissa shook her head and walked back toward the table. Great, the one guy who could make her melt with his eyes and he totally rejected her. She wanted to laugh. Served her right for having such high hopes. Snatching her purse, she spun around to leave, when she collided with his hard chest. Damn, if she wasn’t making it a habit of literally running into him.

“I wasn’t blowing you off. I really want to see you.”

“Right. Listen, I’m not going to tell Brandon or Ev that you’re not interested, okay? Have a nice night.”

She walked past him, ready to just go home. Fingers wrapped around her waist, and she couldn’t help the way her body responded to his touch. A moan almost left her lips as she bit the softness of her bottom one to keep them closed.

“I couldn’t care less what you tell your friends.” The length of his hand traveled up passed her ribs as he pulled her back against him. Tightness erupted over her body at feeling his thick cock pressed right above her ass. “You see, I’m not one to care what other people think. Out of courtesy, I was trying to spare you from who I am. But seriously, why should I? I don’t plan to let you go. Come, let us go.”

Melissa only paused for a moment. His words were confusing but a complete turn-on to her. She let him wrap his arm around her shoulders as she followed him out of the main doors. They approached the same Mercedes she saw earlier. Channing was definitely not someone she would usually leave with. Imagine that—her leaving without a cowboy. She couldn’t believe it.

“Channing, nope, pick someone else. You can’t have her.”

Melissa spun around to make contact with Stephen’s tall frame. “Hey, what the hell? I thought you weren’t going to be here tonight? Where’s Ev? She didn’t come, did she?”

“No, she’s at home, but she sent me to watch over you girls again. Good thing I came, too. Mel, go back inside. You’re not leaving with him.”

Taking a step closer to Channing, she raised one of her eyebrows at her friend’s boyfriend. Stephen being a cop had its benefits, but it didn’t tonight. “I don’t think you understand. I want to leave with him. It’s okay, really.”

“No, it’s not. I’m telling you I don’t care what you want. You’re not going to.”

“I think the woman has made herself clear. She wants to leave with me.”

“Don’t make me call Ayden.”

 
Melissa could feel her eyes widen at his words. She knew who Ayden was, but not that well. They’d only met a time or two through passing and only because Ev and Ayden’s’ wife were friends. “What is Ayden going to do?” When neither of them said anything, she raised her voice. “Damn it, what the hell is going on?”

“Go inside, Mel. Don’t make me tell you again.”

She knew they were hiding something, and she wanted to know what the fuck it was. “I’m not going until you tell me exactly why I can’t leave with Channing. And I want to know where Ayden fits into this.”

“Listen to Stephen, go inside.” The man standing beside her was so quiet, she almost didn’t hear him. Snapping her gaze to Channing, she looked at him, hurt. She wanted to lash out she was so angry. What was it? What could the secret be? She knew she couldn’t be imagining this. Too many things kept clicking together the wrong way. Why would Ayden care what Channing was doing? Why would the two of them being together even concern Stephen’s good friend?

Planting her feet apart, she crossed her arms. “I don’t plan on taking a step until one of you either tells me what this is about, or Channing and I leave.”

BOOK: Melissa's Mates
12.69Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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