Eyes shut tight she felt arms around her. The thump of her heartbeat was all she could register at first after a minute or two.
"Mel, are you alright?" He asked worriedly.
Opening her eyes she saw Linc underneath her. His grip on her was so tight she thought he might squeeze the life out of her.
They were both lying on the sidewalk. Walter and his men rushed forward to clear the crowd that was already forming recording the scene.
"Sire we need to get you inside," Walter said helping him up.
Heading straight to his office Linc gave specific instructions to Walter, "Get the pictures and lawyer."

As soon as he closed his office door, Mel crumbled down to the floor trembling as shock set in.
"Mel talk to me," he said pulling her into his arms as he leaned against the wall. "Are you hurt," he asked as he checked her all over seeing the bruise on her leg from their fall.
"Ken!"
"Yes sir," his assistant answered as he opened the door.
"Find me a first aid kit."
"Right away sire."

Standing up with Mel still in his arms he walked over to his desk and made her sit on it as he pulled his chair facing her.
Taking her shaking hands in his he steadied her.
"Mel I need you to relax, everything is okay," he said getting no response.
Ken brought the kit and left immediately after Linc told him to cancel all his appointments but to keep the lawyer from leaving.
"Please love say something before I call a doctor. You are worrying me," he said gently.
She looked up at him and said, "Why would you put your life in danger?"

"Why? Because you are my life, Mel," he said each word slowly and clearly before he claimed her lips in a slow knee-shaking kiss that had tears running down her cheeks.
"I need to go," she said getting off the desk as Walter walked in.

"Sire we got all the photos and videos from the incident. The lawyer informed us that Mr Watson sent him," Walter stated as Mel walked out.
"Bring him in here," he said deciding to give Mel some space and vent his anger elsewhere.
"Mr Anderson. You know I am a very busy man, I believe my men told you this," Linc said to the nervous-looking lawyer.
"Yes sir, I was just doing what I was paid to do."
"Well it seems there is going to be a change of employment," Linc said dismissing them. "Walter make sure Mel doesn't leave."

Linc stayed late at work dreading the confrontation he would be greeted with at home. He replayed their argument over and over again in his head specifically when Mel had said something he had wanted to hear from her lips. She loved him and all along he thought she was leaving him. His driver was calling him and it took a while for him to register that they were already home and his door had been opened for some time now as cold air hit his face. Taking a deep breath he walked towards his house. It was frighteningly quiet as he walked in.

The first thing he noticed was a small travel bag standing alone in the foyer.
He heard noise from the kitchen, he walked in he found Mel dressed in one of his shirts, sleeves rolled up as she tried to get a glass from the top cupboard making the shirt ride up to reveal her sexy underwear.

"Mel," he whispered startling her.
"Oh good you are back. We need to talk."
"Are you leaving me?"
Silence followed after his question as she took a pitcher of cold water from the refrigerator placing it on the counter to look up at him for a second before looking back at her glass.
"I cannot go through the same motions of living with someone I completely trust when they do not reciprocate that trust," she stated pouring water into the glass.

"Mel listen..."
"I am not finished," she snapped making him stop. "How could you think so lowly of me, you of all people should know me better than myself, you know what I have been through," she said lifting the glass to her lips and sipping the water her hands trembling with anger. All of a sudden she burst into laughter letting the tears run down easily wiping them away as she took a deep breath to calm herself down. Running a hand through her hair she turned to place the pitcher of water back as well as placing the glass in the dishwasher. All these actions Linc watched, worried she would break down at any moment.

"Divorce," she scoffed with a small laugh. "You should have left that car to run me down, death would have been an easy escape from this fiasco I call my life."
"Melinda stop!" His voice boomed above hers making her look at him in surprise. "Don't ever speak about your life in that manner. Ever again," he said slowly walking towards her. "Yes I deserve to be punished for my ignorance, but what do you think your death would archive? Do you know how Zach and I will be affected, how we will be devastated? I was an idiot to not believe you. When you told me you loved me you made my heart dance with joy because I too am in love with you Melinda. Never have I uttered those words to anyone."

"I know you are in love with me, your mother told me on our wedding day that's why I had to force you to admit your feelings in Hawaii. How foolish was I to think that your liking/loving me would result in you trusting me completely? I trust you more than I trust myself. Trust you so much to let my son be under your care. What more do I have to do to make you believe in me," she said looking him straight in the eye.
He lifted her up surprising her as she wrapped her legs around him by reflex. Claiming her lips he thrust his tongue into her mouth, tasting every inch of her as she tried to stifle a moan. Running his hands through her hair and down her back he left a hot trail making her hot and bothered by the things he was making her feel.

"That's is just a taste of what I feel for you," he murmured against her lips. "You have my complete trust, Mel," he whispered between kisses.
"I need all of you Linc, not just a taste," she whispered.
"Me,l what do you mean?" He said in a gruff voice.

"For a billionaire, I wonder how you made your money if you do not understand a simple statement," she stated before thrusting her tongue into his mouth.
"Mel we need to stop," he said pulling away from her.
"I want you right now, and I know you want me too," she whispered into his ear as his eyes widened at her blunt manner as she shifted in his arms.
"Mel," he said trying to control his emotions.
"Yes Linc," she whispered against his lips tilting his head back as she slowly started kissing his neck finding his weak spot.
"Mel," he said clearly in a daze.
"Hmmmm," she answered gently biting on his neck she heard him gasp in surprise before he pulled her towards his lips all resolve gone.

----------

"Linc, we need to get some work done," she mumbled against his lips.
Ken informed them that Mr Anderson was in the reception room via the intercom, interrupting their make-out session. After being informed to let him in, Linc called in Walter after they straightened each other out.

"What do you want to do love?" Linc asked Mel after hearing Mr Anderson's revelation.
"Walter do any of those videos you obtained have a clip of Linc and I fighting?"
"Yes, mam."
"Good," she said with a smirk looking at Linc.

"Send that clip to Chris, tell him we are indeed breaking up."
"No!" Linc growled standing up as he banged the table with his fist.
"Gentlemen please leave us for a minute. I shan't be long," she said with a sly smile.

Turning to Linc she pushed him back into his seat.
"Relax darling," she said moving to sit on his lap trying to calm him down. "He doesn't know we are still together, let's give him what he wants. All he will know is that we can't live separately because of the marriage contract you drew up. Whilst he thinks our relationship is in chaos, we will be in pure bliss."
"Have I ever told you how much I love that mind of yours baby," he said smiling at her realizing what she had planned out.
"Yes I know, and I hope that's not the only thing you like about me," she whispered into his ear.
"Cocky much," he said making her laugh before calling the men back in.

"Send that clip to Chris. Inform him his plan has worked, I don't care how you do it," he said as the lawyer turned to leave. "Also, Mr Anderson, cross me and you will find yourself in the same fate as your previous employer," he said with his deadly glare.
"Yes sir," the lawyer said running out of the office.
"Now where were we?" He murmured against her ear pulling her towards him.
"I was just leaving to get some work done," she said with a seductive smile. "You were about to start going over those files," she said pointing at a stack of papers on his desk.

------

"Has the lawyer informed you of any news on my ex? He must be in cloud nine thinking our marriage is in shambles," Mel stated as he watched her every move.
"Please be careful with that blade, it's very sharp," he said softly as he stood behind her resting his hands above hers.
"You know I can cook very well, and also cut up vegetables," she said with a smile as he kissed her shoulder. "Lincoln. What if someone walks in," she gasped.
"I don't care about them it's our house, and very much our kitchen," he said turning her around in his arms before crushing his lips onto hers. "Besides they know never to just walk in when we are alone, like this," he murmured looking into her eyes.
She let out a moan as he deepened the kiss further as she ran her hands through his hair pulling gently.

Someone clearing their voice interrupted them, as she shyly hid her face in his chest at being walked in on.
Looking up Lincoln found his family standing at the kitchen entrance.
Slowly turning Mel in his arms he kept a firm hold on her, so she wouldn't run away.

"You both know you have a kid in the house right?" Ethan smirked.
"Yes we know and that is why he is at his friends' house," Linc stated with an angry scowl at being interrupted.
A nudge from Mel made him wipe the scowl off his face before greeting his parents and sister politely.

Mel just smiled warmly at them having spoken with all of them earlier in the morning. Mel made a move to go towards his family only to be stopped by Linc.

"May I finish speaking with my wife, in private," he growled making everyone leave them without a word.
"You better cool down fast big boy," she said in a sultry voice winking at him as she left him.

"I see the honeymoon brought forth results," Rebecca said as Mel took her seat.