Chapter 2
1713 Words
Melia’s Point of View
“Easy there, Lia.”
Alex says, his voice warm. His arm tightens even more around my waist when I stumble, and I smile up at him.
“Thank you, these floors are so uneven.”
I mumble and he laughs.
“Whatever you say Lea. Where are your keys?”
He asks as we reach my door. I begin rummaging through my purse, muttering to myself as I try to find them. After a while, I pull them out with a triumphant smile.
“Found them!”
I say, showing him the keys before trying to unlock my door. But the key just won’t fit, and I frown, squinting at the lock.
“I think my lock shrunk.”
I mumble looking at him, and he laughs softly, holding out his hand towards me.
“Can I try?”
He asks. I arch a brow at him but nod my head as I hand him my keys.
“You can, but I’m telling you, these don’t fit anymore.”
“I’ll take my chances.”
He says as he takes them from me. He puts the key in, turns it and immediately unlocks the door.
“Stupid lock.”
I mumble with a frown, and he smiles at me, shaking his head.
“Come on. Let’s get you into bed.”
He says gently.
“No, I am not even…
I begin to argue, but my heel catches on the carpet and stumble again. Before I can fall he scoops me up effortlessly, cradling me against his chest.
“No arguing. You are going to bed and that is final.”
He says firmly, carrying me to my room. I rest my head against his shoulder, taking a deep breath.
“You smell so good.”
I say and he chuckles.
“You are tired and drunk, you don’t know what you are saying.”
He says. The warmth coming from him makes me relax, and suddenly my eyes feel droopy. I snuggle into his chest.
“Maybe I am feeling a little tired.”
I admit as he lays me down.
He doesn’t answer, he just takes off my shoes before tucking me in.
“I am going to go grab you some water and painkillers. Trust me, you will need them.”
He says before leaving my bedroom.
As he leaves, I let out a shaky breath, the ache begins to settle in again. I close my eyes, shaking my head, trying to keep the thought away.
I hear Alex coming back into the room, placing something down on my bedside table before his hand tugs a piece of my hair behind my ear.
“Good night, Lia.”
He murmurs softly, taking his hand away, and I immediately miss the warmth. I grab his hand, and open my eyes.
“Did you know? You are his best friend…”
I say, swallowing the lump in my throat.
He immediately shakes his head and sits down on the bed next to me.
“I didn’t know, not until today. I swear, Melia. He called me yesterday and told me I had to come back, and that he was getting married. I honestly thought you two finally decided to elope or something. If I had known about what was going to happen today, I would have told you.”
I nod my head, blinking away the tears.
“I just don’t understand… How could he do this to me?”
My voice breaks and I feel the tears slipping down my cheeks.
Alex reaches out, his hand cupping my cheek and he wipes my tears.
“I am so sorry this happened to you. You are beautiful and kind, and you deserve so much better than what happened to you today.”
He says quietly, and I hear the underlying anger in his voice. I study him quietly for a few seconds.
“Stay with me, tonight.”
I whisper, my voice barely audible, and I see him hesitate. My hand tightens around his.
“Please Alex.
I say, my voice cracking. He looks torn eyes, his jaw tight.
“Lia…”
“Please Alex… I don’t want to be alone.”
I say pleadingly and his gaze softens immediately as another tear slips down my cheek. He wipes the tray tear from my face, shaking his head.
“Hey, stop. No more crying over someone that never even deserved you. You deserve someone better than him, Melia. I have always thought so.”
“Someone like you?”
I ask, and I see him swallow hard before he speaks.
“Maybe.”
His words hang between us, and something in the air shifts immediately. The space between us suddenly feels charged. I can hear my heart pounding in my ears as I sit up slowly.
He clears his throat and looks away.
“Forget I said anything. I’m sorry I shouldn’t have.”
He starts to move back, but I quickly reach out to him, fisting the fabric of his shirt and pulling him closer to me.
His breath hitches as his eyes snap to mine. For a moment, neither one of us says anything. We just breathe, his face mere centimeters from mine, his breath mingling with mine, his eyes dark and unreadable.
“I should have seen it sooner… You are the better man.”
I whisper softly, and before he can say anything, I close the distance between us.
My lips crash into his, hard and desperate. Alex freezes, and I kiss him harder, hoping for a reaction. But still, he doesn’t kiss me back. Just as I am about to pull away, his fingers slip into my hair, he tips my head back, and he kisses me back just as desperately.
Excitement and desire rush through me when his tongue slips into my mouth.
I know this is probably a bad idea. Things are messy right now, but I just don’t care. I need this right now. I need to feel wanted.
Because for the first time since everything fell apart earlier, I don’t feel empty.
After a few minutes, he pulls away, resting his forehead against mine as we both breathe hard.
I try to kiss him again, but he shakes his head and I frown.
“What’s wrong?”
I ask, feeling a little rejected. He tugs a piece of hair behind my ear.
“You are drunk and sad, Melia… I can’t take advantage of you like this.”
He says, and I stare at him for a few seconds before I move, straddling him. His hands immediately wrap around my hips.
“You are not taking advantage of me.”
I say, grinding myself against him, and he gasps, his hand tightening around my hips.
“I want this, Alex. I need this.”
I say, pressing soft kisses down his jaw.
“Melia…”
He warns, but he makes no move to stop me. I place another kiss just below his ear before softly sucking on the soft skin there. He sucks in a breath and I continue to trail kisses down his neck, feeling the way he tenses under me, fighting against himself, his finger digging into my skin.
“I am not some fragile little girl. You don’t have to protect me right now.”
I whisper, my lips brushing the corner of his mouth.
“I know you’re not, but I also know that you are hurting right now. And I am not going to be your way of forgetting him.”
He says, his voice husky.
“This isn’t about him. This is about me, about us.”
I say, my eyes locking with his. His jaw clenches, and for a long moment, neither one of us moves. The air between us is thick with heat and need.
His hands are still on my hips, his fingers flexing like he’s fighting every instinct to either pull me closer or push me away. His breathing is uneven, his heart pounding so hard I can feel it through his chest.
“Melia…”
He warns again, but it comes out softer this time, like he is already losing the battle.
I press my lips to the base of his throat, feeling the steady pulse there. The warmth of his skin seeps into me, and for a second,
everything else fades away, the pain, the betrayal, the hollow ache. All that is left is him.
“Stop overthinking it.”
I whisper against his skin.
He lets out a sharp breath, his grip tightening at my waist, his thumbs slowly tracing circles against my skin through the fabric of my
clothes. The small touch sends a shiver racing down my spine.
“Lia, this isn’t fair to you. Or to me.”
He murmurs. His forehead drops against mine, our noses brushing against each other.
“Maybe, but it is the first thing that has felt real all day.”
I say, my fingers clutching the front of his shirt as I begin grinding against him again.
He closes his eyes like it physically hurts to keep them open, to keep resisting me. His jaw flexes, his breath mingling with mine.
“You are not making this easy.”
He says, his voice low and rough.
“I’m not supposed to. You make me feel… safe, Alex. Wanted.”
His eyes snap open, and the way he looks at me nearly undoes me.
“Melia.”
He says again, and this time, my name comes out like a plea.
I lean in, brushing my nose against his, feeling the warmth of his breath against my mouth. He doesn’t pull away, but he doesn’t close the distance either.
One of his hands comes up to cup the side of my face, his thumb grazing my cheek gently, and this time my breath hitches.
“I don’t want to be your mistake.”
He whispers and I shake my head.
“You won’t be.”
I whisper back.
He stares at me for a moment before his hand slides up into my hair, his fingers threading through the strands before his lips claim mine in a heated kiss.
- Writer
