Whisper Through The Pain (A Novella) (6 page)

Again he caressed her swollen clitoris, inserting one finger—then two—and finally three. The pleasure built at lightning speed and Melissa felt her climax explode into fragments of raw heat, clawing her insides. She moaned, knowing she was near the edge. His kiss swallowed her scream before it could escape.

He moved away. The night stand drawer opened and a condom wrapper tore. Lazily, she opened her eyes just enough to see the animalistic carnality of his face. She grew more wet and swollen. Her insides clenched in undeniable hunger. He thrust inside her in one mind-blowing stroke, filling her like no other man could. She could barely catch her breath. He took her as if he was laying claim. It was primitive. Melissa was his—Jake was hers. At this moment no shadows stood between them.

Breathing hard, he looked down at her, his eyes dark with desire. “You okay?”

She answered with a tilt of her pelvis, taking him deeper into her womb.

He pumped at a slow pace, teasing her, and then with hard powerful strokes, claiming her. With each plunge he took her higher and higher.

“Look at me Melissa,” he muttered. “Tell me you want me.”

His demand, his strong thrusts and all the love she was experiencing were too much. Her body clenched him.

“Tell me,” he groaned.

She rotated her hips. “I want you…I want you.”

“Say my name.”

“Ah, Jake…Jake.”

He plunged deeper and swelled.

She gasped at the fullness.

A deep spasm of pleasure released her into an atmosphere of ecstasy.

He continued with deep strokes through her orgasm, hitting her G-spot with inflexible pressure. Finally, he stiffened and swore, shuddering into a powerful climax with her name on his lips.

“Melissa…”

Feeling his heartbeat pound against hers, she didn’t want to let him go. Something had changed at that moment.

She met his gaze as he rolled to lie beside her. He threw an arm across his eyes, breathing deep and fast. She turned toward him and continued to watch him in silence. He leaned over and rubbed his mouth against hers then arranged her in his arms. The loving gesture took her by surprise.

“Jake,—” she started, but didn’t know what to say.

“Go to sleep, Melissa.”

“But—”

He kissed her again, silencing anything that would’ve come out of her mouth.

“Rest.”

He tucked her firmly across his chest, pulled a sheet over them, and relaxed his eyes. She lay listening to him breathe and felt the strong beat of his heart pulsating against her cheek. 

Physically, their lovemaking had been unbelievable, but there’d been something deeper tonight. Did she imagine it? Could she dare hope things would be different now?  Finally, she drifted into a dreamless sleep.

Chapter Eight

Slowly Melissa opened her eyes to the bright light coming through the open drapes. She squinted, grabbed the pillows to cover her head, and groaned. Then it hit her…Jake. She shot straight up in bed, the sheet falling from around her naked body.

Jake’s side of the bed was empty. She placed her hand where he’d lain. It was cool to the touch. Evidently, he’d been gone a long time. The hands on the clock read well past seven a.m., which meant he’d already left the house. She sighed and fell back among the tousled bed coverings.

Lying there for a moment, her mind ran over the events of last night.  Jake had been angry and it didn’t help matters when her temper spiked to match his. They were supposed to talk but ended up making love all through the night. She tossed back the covers, and headed to the bathroom. Having sex, no matter how great, didn’t solve their problems. It was about time he knew that. There was no trust, at least on his part, when it came to her. But as usual, he was too pig-headed to listen to reason. No more. She would make him listen even if she had to lock him in his office.

Stepping out of the shower, she heard the phone ring in the bedroom. She hurried to answer it, hoping it was Jake.

“Hello,” she said breathlessly, holding the towel in place.

“Melissa?”

Disappointed, she sighed. “Hi, Brent.”

“You don’t sound like yourself.”

“I’m fine. Why are you calling? I thought we said everything we needed to say last night.”

“I’m on my way to the airport now.” He paused for a moment. “I wanted to say good-bye.” He paused for another moment. “Again, I want to say how sorry I am about everything.”

“Brent, you’re not a person who repeats himself. What is the real reason for this call?”

“Just wanted to make sure you’re okay?”

Impatiently, she retorted, “You can do better than that.”

She waited for him to get to the point. Silence came through the line.

“Sorensen has a reputation in business for not being forgiving. He’s a hard man. I’m positive he’s not a man who takes kindly to his wife coming home past midnight.”

“He would never hurt me, Brent. Yeah, he can be conservative and unbending in some aspects, but he doesn’t let his anger rule him.”

“So, he was angry?” he said slowly as if he knew what had happened between her and Jake.

“My husband is off limits.” She took a deep breath. “Look, I have to go.”

She was glad they had come to an amicable place. They didn’t belong in each other’s future.

“Brent, thanks for calling. Have a safe flight.”

She severed the connection without giving him another thought.

###

“Where in the hell is he?” she murmured, as his private phone line continued to ring in his office.

She had walked to Jake’s office three times within the last hour and also called him. He still wasn’t there. Where could he be, she pondered again as she hung up the phone.

She didn’t want to ask his assistant. For one thing, the man would’ve given her an inquisitive stare. He and Jake’s personalities matched—cranky, curt, and brooding. That’s probably why they got along so well.

Her assistant, Joan walked through the door. “Melissa, since Jake is in New York, could you sign these documents? I need to Express them overnight to the client.” She handed the papers to Melissa.

Shock caused her to stiffen. “Jake’s in New York?”

Joan frowned. “Yes. You didn’t know?”

Melissa rubbed at the tension in her temples. “Ah, I must’ve forgotten,” she lied. “I have so much on my mind and too many deadlines.”

“You two live in the same house, don’t you?” Joan joked.

“We are so busy, we barely see each other.’

At least that was the truth.

“Is there anything I can do to lighten the load?  I could stay a couple hours after work this week.”

Melissa signed the contracts and handed them to her. “No. You don’t have to. I’m fine.”

“Okay.” Her assistant turned to leave.

“Joan.” Melissa stopped her. “Ah…uh…Could you tell me which hotel Jake is staying?”

Her friend and employee looked at her.

A riot of emotions were churning inside Melissa, one of them being embarrassment.

“He’s staying at the Waldorf.” She paused for a moment. “I could get more information from his assistant.”  She waited.

Melissa slowly nodded. “Thank you. I would appreciate that.”

###

“I should call Jake and let him know I’m coming,” Melissa said to Sheila, as she folded lingerie in the suitcase. It had been a week since she last saw Jake. She admitted to herself that she missed him a great deal.

“No, you’re not. Surprise is the best medicine for my cousin. It would do him good. His life is too orderly. The axle he sits on needs to be tilted a little.” She laughed.

Sheila grabbed a handful of grapes from the bowl she’d brought into the bedroom. She munched loudly. Melissa grinned. Her pregnant friend thought it was her right to eat anything she wanted. It was good she had a high metabolism. 

“Has Jake called?”

“He left a message,” Melissa said.  She didn’t want to say it was a note left on the nightstand by their bed. The note had said he would be in meetings and unavailable, but nothing about the meetings being in New York. It bothered her he didn’t at least phone when he’d arrived at his hotel. Something was wrong. She just didn’t know what was going on in Jake’s head right now.

“A message? Is that all?” Sheila inquired.

She ignored the questions.

“Jake wants to open an office in New York.”

Sheila frowned. “I thought it was only in the planning stage.”

“He moved up the negotiations.”

“I didn’t know that. But that shouldn’t have stopped him from calling.”

She agreed but didn’t voice it.

Melissa offered, cautiously. “Maybe there was a snag in the negotiations. I don’t want to go and get in the way.”

“You won’t get in the way. He could probably use your negotiating skills.”

“I don’t know. Maybe—”

“What’s wrong? You act as if you don’t want to go.”

“That’s not it.”

“Then what is?”

She snapped the suitcase shut and put it by the bedroom door.

“This thing with Brent caused a serious bump in our relationship.” She paused a moment. “Jake left for New York without telling me.”

“What?”

She refused to tell Sheila that they’d made love and she foolishly thought everything was fine between them. 

“Jake’s a proud man with a huge ego. He’s always been that way. But, he’ll come around. He loves you.”

Melissa’s mouth dropped open. “What did you say?”

Sheila laughed. “Come on. You know Jake loves you.” She squinted. “Don’t you?”

“We care about each other. We even respect each other. But love...”

“Are you serious?” Her friend’s expression was almost comical. “I don’t care what reasons he gave you for proposing. It was love. Pure and simple.”

“Your pregnancy is making you delusional.”

Sheila was Jake’s cousin, but Melissa was his wife. She knew her husband, or thought she did until he left her. He was complicated, deeply complex, a hunter. Driven. Nothing stood in his way. He’d married her for his own reasons and she did the same. He felt it was time to settle down with a woman who complemented him in bed. One that could hold an intelligent conversation whether it be personal or business. But who also had people and social skills. She had those qualities. Jake didn’t. He was impatient and didn’t see the need for idle chit-chat or conversation. He wanted children, which surprised her, but made her happy. She wanted a large family—one day.

Jake was tough. There was nothing soft and fuzzy about him. She understood and accepted love wasn’t in his DNA.

“You call me delusional?” Sheila covered her pregnant belly. “Watch your tongue. You shouldn’t talk like that in front of your godchild. You’re going to give her a complex.”

“A girl?”

“Don’t change the subject.”

“You’re solely mistaken about Jake.” Melissa hoped this would end any nonsense about Jake loving her.

“For years I’ve observed Jake watching you when he didn’t think anyone was looking. He wanted you from the beginning. Way before the two of you started dating. He was like a lion waiting for the right time to approach his prey. I confronted him about his feelings.”

Wide-eyed, Melissa asked. “You did what?”

Sheila shrugged. “He never denied them. He just listened in that cold, brooding way of his. Shrewd eyes, a tight jaw and pinched lips.” Sheila laughed. “Jake hates it when I read him.”

“I can understand why. He’s a very private person. But, I still believe you are way off base. Jake Sorenson isn’t in love with me. He’s never given any indication our relationship was more than what we decided it would be.”

“Both of you are too stubborn. Stop beating around the bush and tell Jake you love him.”

“I—”

“You do love him, don’t you, Melissa?”

She paused. She did love him but it was a complicated love filled with problems. But she admitted to herself it didn’t change her feelings about him.

Silence in the room hung between them.

“It’s not as simple as black or white.”

“I didn’t say it was. Do you love him?” she asked again. This time with urgency.

“Yes, but—”

Sheila clapped her hands like a giddy child. “I knew it! I’m glad you stopped hiding behind what your ex-husband did to you.”

“Brent and I had a long talk. We’re in a good place. It still doesn’t mean Jake and I will end up being this happily ever after couple. I don’t believe in fairytales any longer. ”

“The love between you and Jake is real.”

“Sheila…”

“And lots of
real hot
sex. Sex is the glue that can solve a mountain of problems. Well, at least some of the times.”

“Only you would think that. You are a sex addict. You need therapy.” She shook her head.

“True to the sex addiction and no to therapy.”

“You’re a bona fide crazy woman.”

“Thank you.” Sheila hugged her. Then she picked up the scarf she’d thrown across the chair near the bed and wrapped it around her shoulders. “Are you ready?  You don’t want to miss your flight.”

Melissa absently grabbed a light-weight jacket.  Jake in love with her? She laughed softly to herself. Impossible.

“You’ll need something heavier for New York. It’s October, you know.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Melissa laughed. “Come on let’s go.