Songbird (A Sinclair Story #1) (10 page)

Chapter 7

“So what happens after a
game?” Melodee asked the boys.

They
were standing near the back locker rooms, where the players would emerge, and
they weren’t alone. Women lined the area, primping themselves and squealing. Melodee
hoped they weren’t going to strip off what little clothes they had on, when the
basketball players actually appeared.

“After
the game we have the after party,” Luke said, as he eyed off some of the
scantily clad girls.

“Do
these women realize it’s freezing outside?” Melodee was astonished by this
behavior.

“God,
I hope not,” Luke laughed.

Charles
snorted. “Luke likes them stacked and stupid. The rest of us learned long ago
that they were more trouble than they’re worth.”

“What
can I say, I’m a slow learner.” Luke wandered off, firmly focused on a leggy
brunette with breasts spilling out of her top. She seemed more than welcoming
of his attention.

The
noise around them increased as the double doors banged open and the first of
the players emerged. Without pause, the groupies descended. Nathan was the
fourth man through, and he was swamped by people from all sides. Melodee drank
in the sight of him, his hair wet and slicked back, his gorgeous features
searching the crowds.

“Great
game, Slam Dunk.”

“Nate,
will we see you at the after party?” female voices chorused.

Melodee
had to shake her head. No wonder it was so common for sports stars to cheat on
their partners. Women literally threw themselves at them.

Lucky
for him, Nathan ignored them all, determination on his features as he scanned
the masses. Melodee stepped forward. It was as if he was a magnet pulling her
into his force field. His eyes locked on hers and the smile that curved his
lips and the rapid beating of her heart, told her everything. Tonight Nathan
Sinclair belonged to her. He’d told her that she had to admit that what they
had was worth pursuing, and while she still wasn’t sure about the long-term
viability, there was no denying she wanted him. There was something between
them.

He
must have read some of the emotion on her features, because his eyes turned
dark and stormy as he moved toward her. People shifted out of his way, no one
game to stop him in his current mood.

“Hey,”
he said, as he reached their side. Jewel waved her hands at him and with a
smile he scooped up the little girl. “Hey, baby, how did you like the game? Did
you have fun?” He tickled her cheek.

“She
fell asleep,” Melodee said.

Nathan
laughed. “Can’t blame her, it wasn’t the most exciting game.”

“It
was actually pretty g– ”

Melodee
was cut off by a female voice. “Nathan Sinclair, it’s been a long time.”

They
all spun to find Leanna standing a few feet from them. Her red hair was pulled
back now and she was dressed in jeans, boots and a low cut sweater. Her eyes
were dark brown and they were locked on Nathan.

“I
know you’re not fu– ” Nathan glanced at Melodee before cutting off the curse.
“You’re not supposed to be anywhere near me. You can kiss your cheerleading
career goodbye.”

Nathan handed Jewel to
Melodee and edged in front of them. He didn’t want this psycho bitch anywhere
near them. What the hell was she doing showing up like this again? She’d been
plaguing him since freshman year. They’d gone on one date and it had taken him
all of twenty minutes to realize she was insane. Completely fucking insane.
He’d dropped her home and bailed as fast as he could. That type of behavior was
nothing new for him, but usually he got sex first. But even without any action,
Leanna was obsessed. She started following him everywhere, calling and texting
constantly, even after he changed numbers. It all ended when he found her naked
in his bed in his college dorm. Leanna was the reason he now lived off campus
in a high security building. His parents insisted on bringing in the police and
Nathan had allowed it because he hoped the chick would get some help. This was
the first time he’d seen her in at least a year.

Luke
wandered back to stand next to him, presenting a united front against her.

“You
look good, Nate,” Leanna said. “I’ve missed you.”

“Still
crazy as fuck,” Charles drawled. “And in violation of a restraining order.
Leave now before you get hauled off again.”

Leanna
suddenly shifted her stare to Melodee. And for the first time the true insanity
shone through. She took a step forward. “Who’s the whore?”

 
Nathan wasn’t surprised that Melodee didn’t
move her stance at all or show any emotions. She was actually pretty scary
right now, her eyes flat and hard, and he knew that she was focusing on her
opponent. Standard training for a fighter.

“Holy
shit, chick fight,” some guy shouted from behind them. It broke the tension,
although Melodee still didn’t remove her eyes from Leanna. Eventually the
redhead sniffed uneasily and turned away to leave.

“See
you soon, Nate,” she called over her shoulder.

“If
you come near me or my family, which includes Melodee and Jewel, I will make
sure you end up in prison this time.” Nathan’s body was rigid, anger riding off
him in waves.

“Get
Detective Jack Morrins on the phone,” he said to Charles as soon as Leanna
disappeared. “Time to get him back on the case.”

Their group was quiet as
they made their way across campus. Charles had made the call and they would
meet up with the detective tomorrow, but clearly Leanna was still on their
minds. Halfway along sorority lane, Charles and Luke left them to attend one of
the numerous celebratory parties. When they disappeared into the crowds Melodee
turned to Nathan.

“You
can go if you want?” she said. “I’ll just catch the bus back to your place with
Jewel.”

Nathan
was still furious, he couldn’t believe Leanna had gotten so close to Melodee
and Jewel. He was against all violence toward women, but Leanna tempted his
restraint.

“You
must be kidding,” he snarled, even though none of this was Melodee’s fault. “No
girls of mine will be taking the bus.”

Melodee
didn’t say anything, her beautiful blue eyes focused on the snow covered
ground. In silence they made their way to Nathan’s Range Rover. He loaded Jewel
into her seat and opened the door to let Melodee in. He calmed once the
darkness and scent of leather surrounded them. He pulled away from the college
and headed toward home.

The car was smooth and
silent as it cut a path through the snow-lined streets.

“You
don’t have to be afraid for us.” Melodee felt some strange urge to reassure
him. She wasn't upset by his anger earlier, she understood where it came from.

“I
can't stand the thought that you might get hurt because of me.” His hands were
tense on the steering wheel.

“You
can't own this,” Melodee said, “this is all on psycho-cheer-crazy back there.”
For the first time she made the move to touch him, reaching out to grab his
hand. “If my parents taught me anything, it’s that you’re not responsible for
what someone else does. You can only control your own actions.”

“Where
did you come from, Melodee Lee?” He threaded his fingers through hers. “All I
can think about is you. I still taste you on my lips, and I want to know you,
everything about how you turned into this sexy, smart, fighter chick.”

She
didn’t hesitate, her voice husky. “You told me to admit what we have is worth
pursuing. Would you settle for a little less? I want you. Take me home, Nathan
Sinclair, and tonight you can own my body, but I can’t promise I’ll share more
than that with you. I vowed that no one would ever own my soul.” She twisted in
her seat to see him better. “Can you accept that?”

He
examined her for a long moment. “I accept it for now,” he finally said. She
thought she heard him mutter something more about ‘baby steps’, but she could
have been wrong.

The
drove into the underground car park of Nathan’s building, the doors closing
behind them. The sexual tension was ever present between them, but in the meantime
the evening was filled with Jewel: playing, bath, food and bed. The little girl
was such a delight. But Melodee couldn’t shake the unease in the pit of her
stomach. What was CPS going to find out on her family?

After
dinner, when they had placed Jewel in her cot, Nathan and Melodee stood over
her, watching as she drifted off to sounds of the musical mobile over her head.

“How
old do you think she is?” Nathan asked.
 

Melodee
didn’t take her eyes from Jewel. The little girl was watching her closely,
using her as a focal point while her eyes were doing the big blinks before
sleep claimed her.

“I
think around six months. She can sit and roll and seems to be ready for solid
food. I might have to make her some puree soon.”

Nathan
shifted closer to her and Melodee could feel his heat run along her body.
Within minutes Jewel’s big blinks had ceased and she was asleep. Melodee turned
on all the baby monitors and together they left the room.

Melodee
attempted to determine his feelings on having a baby thrust into his world.
“I’ll bet this isn’t your usual after-game celebration.”

Reaching
out, he captured her face in his large hand. “I’m twenty-three years old, I was
over the party scene a long time ago.” He pressed his lips to hers. “There’s no
place I’d rather be.”

He
pulled back and moved into the brightly lit kitchen. “Would you like a glass of
wine?”

Melodee
smiled. “Are you trying to get me drunk?” She took a step closer. “I assure
you, there’s no need. I want you.”

He
was across the space and Melodee was in his arms before she could blink. As he
surrounded her she wondered if all the air had been sucked from the room,
because she was suddenly struggling to breathe. He lifted her easily; she
wrapped her legs around his waist. He moved them across the room until he had
pressed her against the living room wall.

“Last
chance to change your mind,” he whispered, his eyes holding hers with his
intensity. Melodee answered by thrusting her hands into his blond hair and
wrenching his head down to hers.

He
captured her lips.

He
kissed the same way he did everything else, with a skill that just about
knocked her on her ass. He started light, grazing her lips with his, his tongue
just tracing the seam of her mouth. Small little moans were already falling
from her lips. She couldn’t remember being this turned on in her entire life
and he still had not moved past her mouth. He held her weight like it was
nothing, and she threw her head back as he started to trail kisses from the
side of her lips, down her cheek and along her jawline.

“Nathan...”
Melodee’s voice was breathier than she would have liked, but there wasn’t much
she could do to change that. “You’re killing me.”

She
felt him grin against the side of her neck. “You’ve been killing me from the
moment I dashed through the snow to find a pair of sapphire eyes glaring at
me.” He reached her neckline, and without hesitation tore her shirt from her
body, buttons flying across the room.

“I’ll
get you a new one,” he said, his lips moving along the edge of her bra cups,
her breasts heaving with each of her ragged breaths.

“I.
Don’t. Give. A. Shit. About. My. Shirt,” she gasped out in short bursts.

Then
her bra was gone and Nathan’s mouth captured her right nipple, his hand
surrounding her other breast. Melodee moaned. When had she gotten so damn
sensitive? It felt as if he was about to bring her to orgasm already.

“Bed.
Now,” she ordered.

He
laughed as he pulled back slightly. “You’re a bossy little thing.” He turned
and all but ran down the hall to his bedroom. “And I fuc … freaking love it.”

They
started to kiss again, and by the time he hit the edge of his bed, Melodee had
already stripped off his shirt and was attempting to get the button on his
jeans undone.

It
was his turn to groan. “Are you deliberately torturing me?”

She
laughed because she was taking an unnecessary amount of time.

He
laid her back onto what felt like million thread-count sheets, his large body
crowding over her but not dominating. A few minutes later and their clothes had
disappeared. Melodee took her time tracing her fingers over his body. She
finally got to admire the tattoos.

“This
is amazing.” She pressed her lips to a dragon spectra. Every picture bled into
the next; it was seamless.

“A
friend of mine did it. He’s a crazy talented artist, and even with his skills
this job was impressive,” Nathan said.

Melodee
continued her exploration. He definitely had the muscle tone of an elite
athlete, not bulky, but defined muscles and an eight pack of abs that she
couldn’t resist running her tongue over. Despite her lack of relationships,
Melodee was no stranger to sex. For a time in her life she had searched for
comfort in all the wrong places, but that was a long time ago. She had promised
herself that the next time she was with a man, it would be because he meant
more to her than one night of forgetting. And Nathan was the only man to ever
bring her this.