"Welcome sire," a servant said as Linc entered the villa with her sleeping in his arms.
"Thank you, Wes. You may take your leave now. I will call you if your services are required," he stated walking up the stairs. "
Leaving her to rest some more, he made a few calls ensuring that they had utter privacy from any paparazzi or locals as well as finding out the whereabouts of Chris.

He made sure to avoid Mel at all costs as he found it hard to control his feelings around her now that they were completely alone. She was pure temptation and he knew he had fallen for her, and fallen hard he had.

Later on in the evening he found Mel preparing dinner and rolled up his sleeves to help her out.
"You know how to cook right?" She asked with a smirk as he retrieved a knife.
"You know what why don't you sit down and watch a master at work," he ordered her.
"This I have to see," she said sitting on the counter.

"Why is there less security than usual?" She asked.
"We don't need much, I can take care of us. If you have observed which you most likely have, the security is always around you more. I don't need them except for diversions when leaving certain venues, mostly the office or business meetings.
"Oh, okay. Wait how can you protect us?"
"Well let's just say two years in the military has its benefits," he said dicing the onions like an expert.
She had to commend him, he was pretty good with a knife.

She looked stunned as she looked at her plate.
"I'm impressed Mr Shields," she murmured as he handed her some cutlery.
"I'm glad I can still impress you. It seems my cooking lessons with mother were not in vain," he said feeding her.
"Remind me to thank her," she said after swallowing her food.
"Hmmmm it just gets better and better with each spoonful," she said. "Why do you even have a chef?" She asked looking up at him to find him staring at her.

"Do I have something on my mouth?" She said reaching for her mouth.
"No," he smiled looking down at his plate as he twirled the spaghetti onto his fork. "Eat up love," he murmured.
Smiling she continued to eat her food.

"I'll do the dishes since you cooked," she said.
He found her dancing with headphones on and she loaded more dishes into the dishwasher. Wrapping his arms around her he pulled her towards him kissing her neck and turning her around her.
"You shouldn't do that with a man in the house," he murmured.
"Who said it's a crime to dance," she said in a husky voice wrapping her hands around his neck. "Besides I'm not worried we are friends after all," she said with a smile.

At the mention of this Linc's smile fell as he loosened his hold on her. She noticed his change in demure.
"Linc can I ask you something?"
"Yes love," he said avoiding her eyes.
"Why did we get married?"
"Well if you think of it. What better reason to come to Hawaii of all places than be on our honeymoon," he said as she ran a finger down his jaw.
"Hmmm, are you sure that's the only reason?" She murmured trailing a finger down his chest and slowly undoing his shirt.

"Mel, what are you doing?" He asked in a deep voice.
"How long did you think you could fool me Linc?" She said running her fingers over his now bare chest down to his abdominal muscles.
"Fool you. How do you mean?" He said in a shaky voice.
"Fool me into thinking we are only friends when in fact you are in love with me," she said grazing her fingers around his neck as he closed his eyes trying to control himself. "Tell me I am lying," she whispered.

"Mel I....he said gruffly letting her go.
"You what Linc?" She asked as he stepped away leaving her standing alone in the kitchen.

-----

A few hours ago at the wedding reception

Mel's POV

Rebecca pulled me to a private room which I gathered was Charles's office.
"Mel thank you for making my son happy, I have never seen him this content since we adopted him. I want to ask you something though, do you love my son?"
"Rebecca I don't know what to say. Linc is a very good friend, I mean he is reliable, caring, gentle and patient with my son. He is a better father to him than his biological father. He can be irritating and controlling but lovable at the same time."
"Yes I know all that but do you love him, because I know for sure he is in love with you."
"What?"
"He loves you, why do you think he would marry you all of a sudden, he is afraid of losing you again."
"Wait what do you mean again?"
"When we adopted him, the first months were pretty rough on him. He always had nightmares that something bad happened to you. When we came back to the orphanage to look for you, we heard you had been adopted. They refused to give us your foster parents' address. It took some time to break the walls he had built around him, but when you showed up, it seemed you tore down those walls in an instant."

"Why are you telling me this Rebecca?"
"Because I know my son, and he told me what was going on between you two. I just don't want to see either of you getting hurt."
"You don't have to worry about anyone getting hurt. I love Lincoln with all my heart, it's just confusing when I wonder if my feelings are one-sided."
"They are not my dear, and if I know that boy well he will not admit it. So you will have to take some action before it's too late," she said hugging her and then dashing out of the room.

------------

Finishing up with the dishes she went to take a shower and changed into a pair of shorts and a tank top. The weather was very warm. She went in search of Lincoln only to find him in his office.
"Hey," she said slowly walking towards him.

Linc's POV

When she stepped into my office I knew I was in trouble. Those little shorts of hers showed off way too much leg and I just couldn't keep my eyes off her. Her top left nothing to one's imagination as her cleavage called out to me.
"Hi," I whispered not trusting my voice.

"Can we talk," she said sitting on the desk in front of me leaning forward a bit as my gaze wandered to her chest.
"Sure," I gulped leaning back as her scent invaded my space.
"Are you afraid Lincoln?"
"What! Afraid of what?" I asked surprised.

"Are you afraid of me, of us?" She said getting off the table and moving towards me.
Strangling my lap she whispered, "Are you afraid of this," she said before crushing her lips against mine taking me by surprise.

Oh my, am I in trouble tonight? I thought to myself as I kissed her back hungrily thrusting my tongue into her mouth as our tongues danced, loving her minty taste. This kiss was different from the ones we had previously shared.

"Mel please," I said in a gruff voice as she started to grind her body against mine.
"Say the words I want to hear Linc. Tell me how you truly feel," she said biting my earlobe.
"I...I...I can't."
Getting off my lap she started walking away from me.
"Wait where are you going?" I asked her.
"Out. Don't speak to me until you tell me the real reason you brought us here a week earlier than planned. I trusted you to get married out of the blue. Now all I want is this one thing, just the truth. You and I both know we didn't need to get married to come here, you could have used work as an excuse, not a honeymoon," she said angrily making me flinch in my seat.
I had never seen this side of Mel before and trust me the air was no longer conducive to breathe in.

------------

Mel left the house telling Walter to not follow her or he would regret it. The poor man stayed back terrified of the temper the little lady before him possessed. A walk on the beach helped cool her down. Sitting down she watched the waves crash against the shore, a cool breeze slowly blowing her anger away as she closed her eyes listening to her surroundings.

A while later she felt a pair of strong arms embrace her from behind as Linc pulled her towards his chest in between his legs, making her lean into his hard chest.
"I would give anything if you were two people, so I could call up the one who is my friend and tell her about the one I like so much," he whispered.

"I...like you too Lincoln."