To Catch a Falling Star (11 page)

“There is nothing wrong with you giving me a ride. Besides, when would I have another opportunity to talk to you, huh?” He turns the key and the car sputters to life.

“Listen, what happened in my room is never happening again. So there is no need for an apology.”

“I wasn’t going to apologize,” he snaps.

What an arrogant prick. “Then there is nothing for us to talk about.” I’m pretty sure I’m pouting. Seriously, when did I turn into a nervous teen?

“C’mon, you liked the kiss as much as I did. Why can’t it happen again?”

Did he just say that he wants to kiss me again? God, his voice is sexy and so masculine. I feel my face turn hot and red. I turn to face the window so he can’t see my reaction to his blunt comment. I think I must be deprived. Why else would I be reacting this way?

“You caught me by surprise, that’s all,” I say, hoping he doesn’t hear my heart thumping in my chest or see the sparks fly from my nerve endings.

“Bullshit. You felt the connection as much as I did. Please don’t deny it.”

For a brief moment, I sense the insecurity of his words. But he quickly regains his confidence.

“I want you, Mel. Against my better judgment, I want you. I often get what I want.” His voice is a low, sensual roar. He sounds calm. His words are as smooth and fluid as honey. For the first time since I met him, I see the reason he has earned the reputation of man whore. He sounds arrogant and conceited, but sexy as hell. I swallow hard. His words ring with the finality of a sentencing.

I turn to face him. His face is impassive, but his eyes remind me of molten steel. My insides clench. I know I’m in deep trouble because what I want right now is for him to be good to his word.

“Well, you are in for a treat, Tarry. It’s not happening. I’m not dropping my panties for you. I’m not one of your supermodel girlfriends or one of your groupies.”

“No, you are not. And that, Mel, is what makes me want you so much more,” he says with amusement in his voice.

I can see that arguing with him is pointless. I cross my arms over my chest and stare out the window.

After what seems like several minutes of silence, we finally reach the barn and he pulls over.

“Want to come in for a cup of coffee?” he asks with a smile. My lame ass melts under the rumble of his voice. God, how can someone have such a sexy voice? The pitch of his voice has a direct connection to my groin area.

“Good-bye, Tarry,” I snap, irritated with my idiotic response to his seductive tone.

He steps out of the car and I slide over to the driver’s seat. He holds open the door and stares at me. “I enjoyed that kiss, Mel. A lot. I can’t wait for the next one.”

Before I can answer, he shuts the door and disappears into the barn. Damn. Stepping on the gas, I decide to start recalculating my operation of avoidance.

ARE THEY LIKE a spring morning or honeydew? I lounge in bed, trying to decide what Mel’s lips taste like.

I tuck my arms under my head and stare at the cracks of the old ceiling. Goddamnit, I want that woman the way I’ve never wanted anything or anyone else in my entire life.

Mel is pure and refreshing. When she looks at me with slivers of fire sparkling in her eyes, I want to lose myself in her.

I’m pretty sure I have a foolish grin splattered across my face, just like the preacher. One thing I know for damn sure. I’m hard as fuck and my lips tingle with a desperate need for more of hers. Strangely, while she has been helping me kick my drug habit, she’s more like a drug than anything I’ve used before. But she’s the type of drug that, instead of sending me into oblivion, sends me on a high of spinning emotions. I’m afraid there is no recovery for it.

I sit up and grab my guitar and Moleskine notebook. I idly scratch my chest as a new melody floods my mind and the words flow. My old conception of life collapses with a new and fascinating universe where Mel is the focal point. Though it’s foreign and surreal, it makes me hear notes I’ve never heard before.

After hours of composing, I pull the covers over my tired body and continue thinking about Mel. The faint smell of her chamomile shampoo lingers on me. I close my eyes, reminiscing about our kiss.

With her beautiful face in my thoughts, I drift to a sleep filled with new, beautiful dreams.

“GOOD MORNING,” I say while opening the unlocked kitchen door to Portia’s house. She is already up. Dominick is an early bird.

“Good morning to you.” She flashes me a smile.

“Is Will in?” I ask and grab a slice of bacon.

“Yeah, he is showering.” From the stove, she raises an eyebrow. “What got you up so early?”

“I went to bed early last night. And, for the life of me, I had a really good night of sleep.”

“Grab some coffee.” She points to the coffee maker.

“Thanks.” I pour the Colombian coffee in a large mug and sit on the barstool.

Portia focuses on flipping pancakes. She switches her weight from one foot to the other. I can sense that she wants to ask me something, probably about Mel. I had hoped she wouldn’t ask. Shit, what am I supposed to say?

“Do you think Will’s offer to lend me his old Jeep still stands?” I ask.

“Of course, but why have you changed your mind?” she asks with suspicion.

“I’m starting to train with Lucas tonight. If I’m staying here for a while, I figure I shouldn’t be bothering you or Will for a ride everywhere I need to go.”

“You know it’s not a bother. But, I’m glad you want to have the car and be independent to go places. It’s unhealthy to stay cooped up with a toddler and a pregnant woman all day long.” She smirks.

“C’mon, peaches. There is nothing unhealthy about spending time with two of my favorite people.” I drink from the strong brew. Damn, Portia even likes strong coffee, just like Will’s family.

“So, you’re going to train?”

“Yeah, even though last week’s class was a fiasco, it reminded me how good it feels to break a sweat.”

“Does Mel have anything to do with your new disposition?” she finally asks.

“Yeah, she does. Mel is a great motivator. You know that.”

“Just be careful, Tarry. I love you both equally, and I don’t want either one of you to get hurt.”

“There is nothing for you to worry about, Portia.”

“I noticed the way you two looked at each other last night, Tarry.”

“It was nothing, Portia.”

“Listen, Tarry, it is none of my business. But please, don’t hurt her or get hurt along the way, okay?”

“Good morning, Tarry,” Will says as he enters the kitchen. He slides his arms around Portia’s waist and snuggles her neck. “Hmm, baby, what smells so good?”

“Your favorite. My stomach is behaving, so I cooked a decent breakfast.” She grins adoringly at Will.

“You’re the best, ya know.” He kisses her lips. “Where is my little guy?”

“He went looking for you and must have gotten distracted along the way. Where is the key to the Jeep? Tarry has decided to borrow it.”

Will retrieves a key chain from a hook on the wall, removes a key, and tosses it to me.

“Here, man.”

“Thanks, Will.” I attach the key to my key chain.

A few times as we’re eating breakfast, I catch myself thinking of Mel.

After eating, I go back to the barn. I scroll my contact list searching for the doctor who is supposed to oversee me while I’m in Connecticut. Last night I forgot to take my medication. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel the awful symptoms that besiege me when I skip a dose. I want to be able to stop the damn medication. I guess my body is beginning to return to a normal state.

With renewed energy, I hang up the phone. Tomorrow I’ll go see the doctor. I hope he discontinues some of the drugs. If I’m to be drug free, I want to be off prescription meds as well.

MY PERSONAL TRAINING session with Lucas is at seven in the evening. But at a quarter of six, I pull the red Jeep in front of Groove’s. I overheard Mel say that she teaches a class at six and I’m desperate to see her.

I climb out of the car and stride inside the building. I see some women stretching. Without knocking, I open the office door.

The sight of Mel knocks the wind out of me. With her back toward the door, it appears as if she’s selecting the playlist for her class. She wears a long skirt. Jingling bells hang low on her hips and on her arms.

“Lucas, where is the new belly dancing CD, I brought in last week?” she asks without looking behind her.

I close the door and stand silently, examining her perfect figure. Yes, my dick gets hard, but that’s nothing new, Mel seems to make me hard just by breathing.

Noticing a lack of response, she swirls around and faces me. The jingling of bells is sexy as hell.

She gasps when she sees me. “Oh, it’s you! What are you doing here?”

I don’t answer. I’m drinking in the sight of her. She wears a small tank top, only covering the generous swell of her breasts. Her toned abdomen is exposed. On her hips, I see the rim of tattoos peeking from the top of the skirt. My body shudders with the anticipation of touching her hips and uncovering her tattoos.

I lean against the closed door and my lips turn into a cocky smile.

“And I thought that you wearing your police uniform was the sexiest thing I had ever seen.” I sound every bit as horny as I feel. A pretty shade of pink spreads from her chest to her face. I smile inwardly. She is a bit affected by me, though she won’t admit it.

“Don’t, um, don’t say things like that.” She turns away. Her fingers slightly tremble as she fiddles with the stereo. At her every move, the bells jingle. I examine her small waist and the generous curves of her hips. And, yeah, I crave her body. Her ass seems to fit perfectly in my hands.

With two long steps, I’m standing so close to her that I can inhale her scent. Her body emanates warmth that slowly envelops me and draws me near.

“You are a woman with many fascinating facets, Mel,” I whisper against her ear. She is so still. My dick hurts because it’s so close to her ass.

“I, um, I need to go…” She turns and sidesteps to escape me. I swiftly block her way.

“Why? Do I make you uncomfortable?” I reach for her hand, bring it to my mouth, and kiss the pads of her fingers. I bite her pinky softly. “You sound so damn sexy with these rattling bells.” I smile. My fingers twiddle with the tiny bells of the bracelet.

“You are such a cocky bastard. No, you don’t make me uncomfortable.” Her teeth scrape her lower lip. “I have a class to teach.” She inhales a deep breath, pulls her hand away, and squares her shoulders.

“Please, let me by.”

“How about the playlist? Can’t dance without music can you?” I smirk.

“Yeah,” she says and hits play.

“I guess I’ll watch you as I wait for Lucas. I’m a bit early,” I say playfully.

“Sure. Whatever,” she says, sounding frustrated. Oh, someone is being self-conscious.

I try to focus on something else other than the thought of those bells jingling as I make love to Mel. My dick presses hard against my gym shorts. Hell, it’s more and more difficult to be near her without touching her. Lately I’ve fantasized about her in her cop’s uniform. Tonight when I think of this outfit, jerking off will be a completely new level.