Protecting Melody (11 page)

Still smiling, thinking her outburst was adorable, Tex told her, “It means whatever you want it to mean, Mel. We have a long drive ahead of us. We have to figure out who’s stalking you. You need to get your life figured out. But I hope somewhere in there we can make time to get to know each other even better in real life instead of only on the computer. Somewhere along the line I hope you can decide if you
want
me to be yours.”
 

“Okay, Tex.” Melody knew she’d say anything to get away and have a second to think about what he’d just told her.
 

Seeing the confusion on her face and having pity on her, Tex told her, “Okay, Mel. Go on, get ready to go. I’ll shower after you.”
 

“Do you need help with—”
 

As usual, Tex cut her off and said with only a hint of sarcasm, “I’ve got it. I’ve been doing it on my own for a while now.”
 

“But I’m here. I can help you. I
want
to help you.”
 

“Not today. Last night was hard enough for me. Let me get used to it.”
 

Melody shook her head. “All right, but if you’re going to be mine, you have to let me help you sooner or later.”
 

“Deal.”
 

“Seriously you have to . . . wait . . . what?”
 

“I’m going to kiss you before I let you up to shower.”
 

Melody’s brain stuttered to a halt. He changed topics so quickly she was having a hard time keeping up, but a kiss? She’d been dreaming about him kissing her,
really
kissing her, since she’d met him standing in her hotel room. Hell, before that. She’d never admit, even under torture, that she’d gone to sleep more than once dreaming of the wonderful man she’d been chatting with online.
 

“Did you hear me, Mel?”
 

“Uh huh.”
 

Tex grinned. “Fuck, you’re cute when you’re befuddled.” Then he leaned down and took her mouth with his own. He supposed he should’ve kept it light and sweet, but he didn’t feel light and sweet. He felt raw and exposed, and the chemistry they’d been dancing around for the last day exploded when his lips touched hers.
 

Melody slanted her head to improve the angle of their kiss. Her hands came up to grasp at his sides. Tex drove his tongue into Melody’s mouth and stroked. He licked over her lips then plunged back inside. He mimicked what it might be like when they made love, because he knew they’d eventually end up doing more than just sleeping when they shared a bed.
 

Tex almost lost it when Melody captured his tongue and sucked on it, closing her lips around it and caressing it with her own tongue in the process. He lifted his head and stared down at Melody.
 

“Fuck, woman.”
 

Melody smiled up at him and licked her lips. She flattened her hands at his waist and ran them up and down slowly. “That was . . . yeah . . . uh . . . wow.”
 

Tex’s mouth quirked into a grin. “Yeah. Wow. Thank you for looking out for me.”
 

“You’re welcome.”
 

Rolling over and sitting up, Tex said, “Now, go shower. I’ll take Baby out while you get ready.”
 

Melody laughed. She’d forgotten all about her dog, who was still curled into a ball at the foot of the bed, watching them. “Okay, Tex. Whatever you say.” She got up off the bed, snooter kissed Baby, and walked into the bathroom, managing not to look back at the sexy-as-hell man sitting on the bed.
 

“Wanna play a game?” Melody asked Tex. It was the day after they’d left California and she was bored. The first day was exciting, just because it was different. When she’d fled Pennsylvania, she’d rented a car with cash she’d pulled out of her bank account and driven across the country, but somehow this was different. She wasn’t as scared and since Tex had done most of the driving so far, she could watch the ever-changing countryside as it went by.
 

They’d stopped somewhere in eastern New Mexico the first night of their trip. Melody thought it would be awkward when they stopped, but Tex made it easier than she thought it could be.
 

He asked her to stay in the car while he checked in. He’d told her that while it might be a bit awkward to stay in the same room, he didn’t want to leave her alone, even if she was just next door. Melody agreed without reservation, after all, they’d spent the night before in each other’s arms and they weren’t strangers. Besides that, she felt safe with Tex. She didn’t want to be in a room by herself. She wanted to be with Tex.
 

Tex had gotten a room with two queen beds, not wanting to push Mel into anything she wasn’t ready for, but when push came to shove, Melody had asked if she could sleep in the same bed as him. He’d agreed and after she’d once again massaged his leg and stump, they’d settled into each other arms.
 

Just as she’d been drifting off to sleep, Tex said in a low voice, “I hate traveling.” Melody was instantly awake.
 

“Why?”
 

“Because without my prosthetic, I’m vulnerable. If something happens in the middle of the night, I can’t jump up and deal with it like I used to be able to. Whether it’s a knock on the door, someone trying to break in, a fire, or whatever. I’m stuck in bed until I can get my leg on. I hate it.”
 

Melody wasn’t sure what to say. She hadn’t thought about it, but now that he put the images in her head, they wouldn’t leave. “You’re the least vulnerable man I’ve ever met.” She put every ounce of conviction into her voice as she could.
 

“You don’t have to—”
 

Melody interrupted him. “I’m not.” She felt movement under her cheek and lifted her head to see he was laughing.
 

“You don’t even know what I was going to say.”
 

“Don’t care. Whatever it was, was going to be crap. You could probably break someone in half if they broke in here. You could hop to the door and down the hall and outrun any fire that dared to try to burn you. If someone knocked, you could have your leg strapped on before they got any words out. In fact . . .” Melody pushed herself up even more and peered down at Tex in the dark room. “I bet you’ve practiced getting your leg on as fast as you can . . . haven’t you?”
 

When he grinned sheepishly up at her, Melody smiled back and brought her hands up to tickle his sides. “How long? What’s your fastest time?”
 

She let out a girly shriek when he flipped her over and trapped her hands in one of his above her head.
 

“There I was, getting all touchy feely with you and you had to go and ruin it.” His words were said with a smile and a twinkle in his eye, but Melody still immediately felt bad.
 

“Seriously, Tex, I’m sorry you feel that way, but if I had my pick between all your friends and you, as to who would be with me in this hotel room right now, I’d still pick you.
You
make me feel safe. Two legs, one arm, no legs, no arms. I’d still pick you.”
 

Without a word, Tex leaned down and kissed Melody deeply and with all the emotion he couldn’t figure out how to put into words. Her trust meant the world to him. Since his surgery, he’d always felt somehow less than his other SEAL friends. Two sentences was all it took to bring back his self-esteem.
 

Not letting the kiss morph into anything more, it still seemed too soon, Tex turned again until they’d resumed their earlier positions. Throughout everything, Baby hadn’t moved, she just slept, snoring softly, at the end of the bed in a super-ball.
 

When they’d settled down, and just as Melody was slipping back into sleep, she heard Tex whisper, “Twenty three seconds.”
 

Melody merely smiled, turned her head and kissed his chest, and laid her cheek back down without a word. She’d known in her gut he’d practiced putting his prosthetic on.
 

Now it was four hours into another long driving day and Melody was bored.
 

“What kind of game did you have in mind?” Tex asked, briefly looking over at Melody.
 

“Well, it’s not a game per se, but more of an information sharing thing. I’ll tell you something interesting about me, and then you do the same.”
 

Expecting an argument, Melody was surprised when Tex agreed immediately. “Sure. You go first.”
 

Melody looked down at Baby who was sleeping between them in the truck. She’d been an excellent traveling companion. Melody had never traveled for as many hours on the road as this with her before, but it didn’t really surprise her. Baby had always been reticent and quiet and eager to please. Melody supposed that had to do with whatever she went through before she ended up in the shelter. Melody ran her hand down her dog’s head and back. Baby didn’t move, but groaned in her sleep. Melody smiled.
 

“Growing up, I was a cat person. My parents had cats and I always knew when I grew up I was going to have a household full of cats too.”
 

“What happened?”
 

“I got busy, didn’t think it was fair to have a pet when I was busy all the time. Then I saw Baby’s picture in an online ad the shelter had run and they’d said she would be euthanized the next day if she didn’t get adopted. Something about her face tugged at my heartstrings and I went right down to the shelter.”
 

“She was lucky.”
 

“No,” Melody countered, “I’m the lucky one. Baby is the best dog I could’ve asked for. It killed me to leave her behind when I left Pennsylvania, but I knew it’d be even worse if my stalker got a hold of her and killed her. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”
 

After a comfortable silence, Melody prodded Tex, “Your turn.”
 

“I almost didn’t message you that first night.”
 

“Really? Why did you change your mind?”
 

“Well, there was someone calling herself Busty Betty who I messaged first. She didn’t answer.”
 

“So I was your second choice?” Melody looked over at Tex and saw he was trying to hide a grin. She smacked him in the arm. “You jerk. You’re lying aren’t you?”
 

Tex lost his battle with hiding his smile and laughed out loud. “Yeah, I was honest about almost not messaging you, but something told me it’d be worth my while.”
 

“And was it?”
 

“Hell yeah. Best fucking decision I’ve made in my entire life.” Tex glanced over at Mel so she’d know he was completely serious.
 

“I’m glad you did.”
 

“Me too. Okay, your turn again.”
 

“My second toe is longer than my big toe.”
 

Tex laughed out loud. He hadn’t realized how little he laughed until Mel came into his life. “I’ll have to check that out for myself.” He thought for a moment, then continued the game. “I can’t stand bananas.”
 

“Bananas?”
 

“Yeah, weird huh? I don’t know if it’s the consistency of the fruit or something. I just can’t choke it down.”
 

“What about banana flavored candy?” Mel asked curiously.
 

“Nope.”
 

“That’s weird.”
 

“Hey!”
 

Melody chuckled. “Sorry, but it is.” She continued on with the game. “My secret obsession is watching COPS.”
 

“Please tell me you’re kidding.”
 

Giggling, Melody admitted, “Nope. Love it. People can be such idiots, and I especially love it when the police officers laugh at the criminals.”
 

“I have an admission,” Tex told her.
 

“Yeah?”
 

“I’ve never seen an episode of COPS.”
 

“Oh my God! We are so finding one tonight when we get to the hotel.”
 

Tex looked over at Mel and smiled. She was really funny. He knew he enjoyed talking to her online, but he had no idea she’d be just as quirky in person.
 

The rest of the day’s drive passed quickly. They went back and forth in sharing more information about themselves and their lives. She’d laughed harder over the last four hours than she had in the last year.
 

They’d stopped a few times to eat and to let Baby stretch her legs and by the time they pulled up to the hotel that night, Melody felt as if she’d known Tex her entire life. It was dark when they parked in front of the hotel and Melody was exhausted. It was amazing how tiring it could be to sit in a car all day. She noticed Tex rubbing his thigh.
 

“You want me to go in and get the room?” Melody didn’t want to make Tex feel bad, but she wanted to offer.
 

“No. I’d prefer to take care of it myself. To make sure you’re safe here in the truck as I go in and rent us a room, but my leg is killing me and it fucking pisses me off that it’d probably be better if you went in and took care of it for us. I don’t think we’re in any danger here, as no one has been following us and we’re in the middle of nowhere, but I still hate it. You don’t mind?”
 

Ignoring his frustration, Melody calmly told him, “I wouldn’t have asked if I did.” Melody was surprised Tex actually relented, especially knowing how important it was to him to take care of her and to be in charge.
 

Tex leaned over and pulled out his wallet and handed her two one hundred dollar bills without a word.
 

Knowing better than to argue, but planning on paying him back one way or another, Melody took the money. “I’ll be right back.” Rubbing Baby on her head, she told her, “Be good, girl. I’ll be right back.” Baby licked her hand then immediately turned and put her head on Tex’s leg. Melody smiled, shook her head, and closed the truck door.