Date = 8 NovemberPlace = San Francisco (Damion’s house)POV - MelaenaMy nose wriggles at the scent of garlic and melted cheese, and if I’m not mistaken, something caramelized in sugar. “Smells good.” My stomach purrs.He slouches over the counter, opens some tinfoil, and sinks his pearly-whites into a big piece of cheesy garlic bread. Moaning, he closes his eyes. “Mm, good.”My mouth waters.He polishes off the leftover piece, puts on some lemon-green mitts, and removes two glass dishes from the oven before placing them on the counter next to the bread and potato salad. I stare at the food. Chicken pie and sweet sugary carrots. Not what I was expecting. But better.“I thought your mom brought takeaways.” He laughs and I hate that I love the way it sounds.“Oh, honey, Haley Grimm doesn’t do takeaways.” Another reason why she would be the perfect mother-in-law. Too bad her son is so annoying.“I think I might just be in love with your mom.” I reach for a piece of bread, but he pulls it
Date = 9 NovemberPlace = San Francisco (Damion’s house)POV - MelaenaI wake up clinging to a pillow that smells like Damion and I take a deep breath, enjoying the familiar fragrance. What a great dream — I kissed Damion. Not that I haven’t dreamed it before, but this time is different — it felt more real. I softly touch my lips. So real.I roll onto my back with a big smile and open my eyes slowly, not wanting to let this dream end.“Good, you’re up.” I look lovingly at the guy sitting on the side of the bed. This really is an almost perfect dream.“I was getting tired of your snoring.” I jump up, pulling the covers with me. I look around frantically. This is not my room. And just like that, reality hits me and the asshole is back.“I don’t snore!” He laughs and then hands me a cup of coffee. My mind is looping trying to decode what’s real and what’s not.I eagerly take a sip of the hot beverage. If I ever needed a cup of coffee it would be right now. Hell, I think I need a whole pot
Date = 9 NovemberPlace = San Francisco (Damion’s house)POV - Damion“So, what are we making?” She jumps onto the counter and the scent of my soap comes to me, light and familiar, and I fucking love the idea of her covered in my scent — and I love it even more that she’s covered in my shirt.I purposely didn’t pack shirts, only pants, since my pants are too big.I move between her legs, putting my hands on either side of the counter, boxing her in. I bend forward so we are eye to eye. Hers are dark and buzzing and skeptical as she stares at me. Then, there is the slightly unsure posture, saying she is at least a little out of her element and knows it. If she only knew how over my head I’m feeling she would probably laugh.“So, it’s we now?” I tease, “And here I thought I am supposed to make the food so you can fall in love with me.”“I think it’s too late,” she murmurs as if to herself, and as if she said too much, she adjusts herself with a scowl. “Let me help. What are YOU making?”
Date = 9 NovemberPlace = San Francisco (Mel’s house)POV - MelaenaThe house is empty, and I fall onto the sofa and fling my legs over the backside. I take my phone from my pocket and message Kiara.Mel: Where are you bitch? I’m home.She answers almost immediately.Kiara: Date. C U soon. Mel: Bring burgers. Starving.I urgently need to talk to my best friend, about … what? Me and Damion? What we are? I’m not sure there even is a WE …Oh, I know WE crossed the line. I know WE kissed. WE even slept in the same bed. And WE are a secret. Oh, and WE are so confusing. But are WE together? Is this really real?I’ve realized that my feelings for him are real — whether it’s love or hate … or a combination of the two that’s still up for debate. There’s definitely a sizzling itch of desire. And I’ve seen a side of him I’ve never seen before.Knock. Knock.There’s someone at the door and as I didn’t lock it, I just yell for the person to enter.Anticipating one of my brothers, I glance over the
Date = 9 NovemberPlace = San Francisco (Mel’s house)POV - MelaenaCandles. Wine. And a very long, hot bath with lavender-flavored foam is just what the doctor ordered. I slide into the bubbles and close my eyes, wondering if Damion and Logan are already on the plane.Just then my ringtone breaks the invigorating silence and upon seeing the caller ID I feel my insides pull into a knot. How does he do that? Even over a distance.“Hello,” It’s not Harry or D … but a whole other type of danger. I answer the video call, trying to hold the phone so he can only see my face, not that it’s possible to see anything with all the bubbles.“Hi angel,” the hoarse worry in his voice rolls over me, before I even catch his dark gaze, filled with an emotion between possession, vulnerability, safeguard, guilt, and what I would like to believe, lust.“I should have never left,” his voice changes, and he swears, hitting the wall next to him with his fist. The loud thud jolts through me. Over the years, I
Date = 12 NovemberPlace = San Francisco (Groovzies)POV - MelaenaEnrique is pouting. Even over the phone, I know he’s pouting. Hard.“I asked Alejandro to take us. I’m sure he’s just as big and strong and badass as you, if not more.”My life is not normal. But I’ve heard normal is overrated — whatever normal is.But sometimes, even just once, I wish for tranquility where everyone in my life is pleasing and agreeable and I have this trouble-free uncomplicated existence where some or other annoying cockhead is not trying to dominate my being.After the incident with Harry, the guys are set on guarding me 24/7. And it’s enough to drive a patient saint up the walls. And I’m no saint. Also, it’s not good for my sensitive morale.That’s why Alejandro came to pick us up — a change of scenery so to speak — to take us to Haley. Her oh-so-handsome prodigal son, landed on US turf early this morning and is expected to arrive at her home for breakfast.“So you’re going to Haley’s again.” It’s mor
Date = 12 NovemberPlace = San Francisco (Inferno)POV - Melaena“So, what’s your problem?” Kiara is watching me with big eyes and a knowing expression on her pretty face.Not really knowing what to tell her, I look down from the VIP section through the ‘magic’ glass, as we call it — it separates the main clubbing area below with huge glass panes that can switch from normal to one-way glass or frosted, depending on what you want.Comfortable pine seating booths are situated alongside the glass wall, and we’re seated at one of them.Right now the glass is switched to normal, so that both sides can see through, and my gaze sweeps over the dancing mass below — anxious as if I’m sitting on needles and pins — to seek out the stage and the guys on it.There are five of them tonight. Damion (yes, he can sing too), and the regular quartet band my brothers bring into the club as a side act to attract the ladies. Enrique’s strategy — more pretty ladies attract more men who buy more drinks.Indee
Date = 12 NovemberPlace = San Francisco (Inferno)POV - DamionA bone-piercing scream flies through the club and my heart skips a beat, pulling my intestines into a tight knot. It came from the VIP section and somehow I know it was Mel.I hightail it for the stairs, prying myself from groping hands in the rabble, resisting the need to punch my way through, while I struggle to take small painful breaths.“Fucking MOVE!” I shout at a group clouding the bottom of the stairs, trying to enter the VIP section. They move. I reach the next floor and stop dead in my tracks.Mel is a dead weight in Alejandro’s arms, blood trickling from her throat. He runs to Enrique’s office, I follow, and he puts her down on the sofa.My demons slowly crawl from their shadows and dread freezes me to the spot as the panic starts to rise in my throat. I gag and swallow, putting my hand on my chest to try and crush the anguish where a demonic finger is tearing and ripping through my heart. I can’t lose her. I ca