Page 34 of Melissa's Mates (Blissful Bets)

“I need time to get this all straight in my head. How do I get a hold of you?”

Channing looked deeply into her eyes. “I’m going to make you memorize my number. Will you allow me to do that?”

“Yes.” The light blue eyes sucked her in, and she allowed it. The number he gave her soaked into her memory like a sponge. She could hear herself repeating it over and over in her mind.

“Got it. I’ll call you if I need anything. Please don’t forget to tell Connor I’m sorry.”

“I won’t. Here, let me walk you to the door.”

He easily lifted her down. Melissa wasn’t sure why, but she wasn’t very comfortable coming back to Julie’s home. Maybe it was because her men wouldn’t be here, but she wasn’t sure. They walked up the stairs, and she retrieved her key from her jeans pocket.

Channing’s lips eased into hers. Tightly, his arms pulled her body into his. The breath left her lungs at the taste of him. She clung to him like her life depended on it. She didn’t want to let go. Just the thought that he was leaving her made the pain return.

“God, would you both like a room? My neighbors do not need a free show.”

Melissa reluctantly pulled her lips back. Gripping to the back of Channing’s shirt, she tried to catch her breath. His forehead rested against hers. “You don’t want this. I can feel it. Come back. We’ll leave right now, and you and Connor can get everything out of the way. Then we can move forward. Don’t think, Melissa. Just come with me.”

“Nope, she’s staying here. She needs time. Why is it impossible for men to understand that rushing isn’t going to solve all the problems?”

“She’s right. I need time.” Melissa nearly had to pry her fingers from his shirt. Turning to face Julie, her heart dropped at seeing her friend with a drink in her hand. She turned back to Channing. “I’ll call you if I need anything. I’m sorry. Don’t forget to tell Connor.”

Her body leaned toward his, but she made herself step back into the apartment. Julie went and sat down in front of the television, continuing to drink her beer. Looking back at Channing, she kissed her finger and pressed it against his lips. He smiled and turned toward the steps. Shutting the door as fast as she could, she could feel herself sliding down the cold metal of the door. The room was spinning. The further away she knew he got, the more the agony swelled in her chest.

“Whoa, what in the hell is wrong?” Julie rushed to her side while Melissa pushed her palms to the floor to stop the movement. “Mel, talk to me. You’re really pale right now. You don’t look good at all. Should I call him back?”

“No, I’ll be fine. Give me a few minutes.” Even though she said the words, she didn’t mean them. Yes, she wanted him back.

Pushing herself to her feet, Melissa made it the couch. Distance, that’s what she needed until she figured out what she wanted. She couldn’t continue to go through this each time one of them left her side.

“Beer?”

“No. I’m not even going to ask what you’re doing drinking already.”

“Good, and I won’t ask why you’re wearing a man’s shirt or why you have a hickey on your neck.”

Melissa’s hand slapped to cover where she knew she’d been bit. Channing. Damn it! She got up and raced the restroom. As long as it looked like a bruise and not a puncture wound, she would be okay. Stopping in front of the mirror, she cried out. It wasn’t a bite – there was no sign of one of those—it was a damn hickey! That shit was not going to fly in the future.

Julie laughed behind her. “I see you’re dating a vampire. Nice. I used to date one myself. Makeup does not cover those things.”

“Vampire?” Melissa felt as though the floor dropped from beneath her.

“Yeah, that’s what I call the guys who think they need to suck all over your neck and mark you so other men won’t take notice. Freaking vampires are everywhere.”

Chapter 13

Melissa groaned as red and blue lights flashed behind her. She’d barely made it into Corpus, and she was already getting a ticket. What the hell! She wasn’t going but three miles over the speed limit. All she wanted was to bring her truck back to Julie’s so she could have a vehicle.

She’d managed to keep her and Julie in a bubble for the last two weeks. Convincing her friend to call off Bets for two weekends in a row wasn’t hard but getting her to slow down on the drinking was another story entirely.

As the officer approached, she groaned. She knew who he was. Melissa had only seen him a few times, but no one could forget Ayden. His good looks could make any girl drop to their knees and beg him to do things that would make even the wildest girl blush.

Rolling down her truck window, she raised one of her eyebrows at him. “Ayden, what can I do for you?”

“I need my man back. Until he can think straight, he’s useless in his position. I would hate to have to replace him. He’s the best. Can you please tell me why you’re doing this? I understand you need time to think, but can’t you do that closer to him? Hell, you haven’t even called him or Channing. They’re a mess without you.”

Melissa took a ragged breath. “I’m not going back because you need Connor to do his job. I’m still not convinced that things will work out between the three of us.”

“Well, you’re sure as hell not going to find out by staying away from them.”