Chapter 20 Trying To Keep Everything Together
•Duke's POV•

Never, in my entire life, have I heard such a heart stopping, gut wrenching cry of pain come from another human being like the sound coming form Mel as she breaks down in my arms and starts to cry. Big fat tears continuously rolling down her cheeks, snot dripping from her nose, and hiccups coming between each sob. All three things men are terrified of when a woman starts crying, but here I am enduring it all.

I have no idea what to say, or do in this situation to make her feel better. I let my instincts take over, and pull her body as close to mine as possible. Tightening her trembling body inside my secure loving embrace. Holding her face against my chest as the tears soak through my shirt.

I push everything to the back of my mind for the moment, and try to focus all of my attention on the Goddess falling apart in front of me. Minute after minute it becomes more difficult for me to block out the murderous rage building inside of me toward Dean for causing this. I have my suspicions on why he left, but until I know for sure; I don't want to tell Mel.
After awhile Mel's cries start to slow, and I sigh in relief thinking it's almost over. Only in the next second her tears start back again even harder than before. Ripping my bleeding heart from my chest for a second time. Without disturbing her I gently pick her body up into my arms, and move back toward the couch sitting us down. I lay her legs across my lap, and continue to run my hand up and down her back. Giving her all the comfort I can right now.

Long minutes later the devastating wails start to calm for good. I wait a few minutes once the last hiccup came from her lips just to be sure it's finally over. Then I look at my watch and smile softly. I look down, and cradle her delicate face in the palm of my hands. I place a soft, sweet, loving kiss to her moist lips for just a moment. Before letting go, but still keep our lips almost touching. As I look into her glassy blue orbs.

"Happy New Year's My Love."

Mel graces me with a genuinely happy radiant smile hearing those five simple words. I watch as her eyelids start to flutter before she can even answer me, and then finally close. I lay her head back against my chest on the only relatively clean part of my shirt. Then relax back against the couch and get comfortable while she falls into a deeper sleep in my arms. Unfortunately, I'm so relaxed my mind begins to dwell on the shit storm clouding my thoughts.

The main thing I can't seem to wrap my head around is, what in the actual fuck would possess Dean to just give all the time and energy he and I put into making Mel accept the three of us being together up, and just walk out on this relationship? I know he saw the collar and shackles locked around Mel's body when she walked in to the party tonight. He knew as well as I did what that meant!

Our Goddess was proudly saying yes to us, and telling the world who she belongs to now. It is our names branded into the bands. No one else's.
Short of the asshole getting kidnapped, god forbid a real emergency, or abducted by aliens Dean doesn't have a good enough excuse for this mess. Unless he heard Mel say she didn't love him, and he left then. But, I don't think that's it either, because if he heard that it would only make him work even harder to change her mind.

So, what the fuck else could it be? Bigfoot? Santa Claus? The Cadbury Bunny mistook him for a chocolate egg and ate him whole?

I snort at that last one making Mel jump in my arms. I move my hand quickly to the top of her head, and begin running my fingers through her hair. Helping her to settle back into a deep peaceful sleep. After a few more minutes I'm satisfied she isn't waking back up, and look at my watch again.
It's a few minutes after one o'clock in the morning on the first day of the New Year. I can safely say this is definitely NOT how I imagined this night would go. Dean and I balls deep inside our sinfully curvy, wanton body. Sending Mel spiraling over that cliff into pure ecstasy. Maybe, but never like this!

With a deep sigh I wrap my arms behind her back and knees. Then pick her up bridal style, so I can stand up from the couch. I walk across the loft to my room, and gently place Mel's sleeping body on top of my bed. I carefully move the covers over her body to tuck her in. Before placing a chaste kiss on her forehead, and whisper "I Love You" against her skin.
I softly caress her cheek with my knuckles before standing back up, and tip-toeing my way out of my room. Back in the living room, I walk to the couch, and sit back in the same spot. I pull my cell phone out of my front pants pocket, and just look at the black screen. I send a silent prayer up to whomever might be listening that there is something from Dean on here I might have missed. But, of course, when I power up the screen there's nothing. Not even a single Happy New Year's text for me.

I shake off the depressing thought, and hit the third speed dial on my phone calling Dean. It doesn't even ring once, instead his voicemail begins instantly. I leave the ass a message, and hang up. Then call straight back.
After my fifth failed attempt to get Dean to answer the phone I rapidly fire off a text message to him. Begging him to answer the phone, or at least call me back. Then I try calling again followed by another text. I keep going until the sixteen call when the computer voice says his mailbox is full, so I start sending two text messages after every call.

I call and text Dean well over a hundred times without a single answer to anything. I send him one final message, and watch as it sends. I wait several minutes for something to happen, but nothing. I throw my phone across the room hitting the wall, and hear the screen shatter from here.

I slam my head against the back of the couch groaning loudly, and scrub my hands across my face. Truly amazed at how stupid I can be at times I let my anger and frustrations get the better of me! Case in point, killing my only form of contacting Dean without a spare cell lying around, or any way to get one, because of the holiday, until Monday. Two days away!

I let my arms flop back onto the couch beside my thighs, and notice it's three in the morning. Without my phone, and out of options for tonight, I decide to call it a night. Walking across the living room I grab my broken phone off of the floor as I head into my bedroom. Removing my clothes along the way, and gently laying down beside Mel. Curling my body around her back, and falling asleep almost instantly.

My brain has a hard time cutting off, and letting me stay asleep though. My problems following me into my subconscious. I toss and turn the rest of the morning. My body completely unable to manage laying still for very long so I can rest. Until I can't fight myself any longer, and decide to just get up.

The first thing I do is reach across the bed blindly for Mel, but all I grab is air and sheets. I roll over facing her side of the bed, and peek my eyes open just a fraction. Finding the bed completely empty, and the spot Mel was laying cold to the touch. I glance at the clock on the bedside table amazed to see its only six o'clock. This first Saturday of the New Year.

I give my body a quick stretch before getting out of bed. I walk over to my dresser, and take out a comfortable pair of sweatpants from the bottom drawer. Then slide them up my legs to rest on my hips. Before walking into the main part of the loft looking for My Love.

I come to a stop just on the other side of my open bedroom doorway to look around, but I don't see Mel anywhere. Other than a lamp that's turned on, on the table beside the couch nothing looks like its been touched or moved in here. I make my way across the room to Dean's closed door, and open it just a bit checking inside.

With the morning sun shining inside his room I can see the devastation even better now. It still looks like the same F5 tornado came through like last night. Nothing has been touched in here either, and definitely no Mel. I close the door then look around the main room of the loft one more time. Until something catches my eyes outside on the balcony making me stop.

Mel looks like an otherworldly creature sitting in a lounge chair on the terrace. She has her knees pulled tightly against her chest, and her arms tightly wrapped around them to hold them in place. Her hair is free, and wildly blowing around her face from the wind. She has her face pointed toward the heavens with her eyes closed. Her wind chapped cheeks and nose the cutest shade of red.

The calm, peaceful look on her face is beautiful, and I don't want to disturb it. I make sure to stay where she can't see me as I walk across the room to the doorway leading to the balcony. Except as soon as I start to open the sliding glass door her eyes come open with a snap.

I leave the door open, and come to a stop beside her chair. I give her a warm smile as I caress her smooth skin on her face with my fingers. Mel tries to return my smile, but I see the pain and heartache she's trying to hide in her puffy, blood-shot eyes.

"Good morning My Love. How are you this morning?"

Mel shrugs her shoulders, and looks at my nose instead of my eyes as she talks. "Fine."

The dark circles under her eyes, that weren't there yesterday, proves thats a lie. In a second I have her face between my hands punishing her mouth with a fiery, passionate kiss because of that small white lie. Leaving her panting for breaths minutes later once I let her go, but I keep my lips within an inch of hers. As I look deeply into her eyes.

"My Love, don't forget, I refuse to let you lie to me. Now or ever. I know this situation is hard for you right now. Hell it isn't exactly what I would call ideal either. But, let me take care of you, and I promise I will do everything in my power to make you feel better."

I don't give her time to think about her answer. Instead I scoop her up into my arms bridal style, and carry her back inside. Closing the balcony door behind me then taking her to the jacuzzi tub in my en-suite. Gently placing Mel down on the side of the porcelain tub, so I can start the water.

While the tub is filling up I grab a couple of small bottles off the built-in shelf on the other side of the massive free standing, white monstrosity dominating most of my bathroom, and pour a few drops of each into the steaming water. Each scent is one of my favorites, and a secret guilty pleasure of my own. Once I'm finished I sat the bottles back in there places, and turn the water off.

Since Mel was already asleep when I finally put her to bed neither one of us thought to take her dress off from the party, and that was all she had on while sitting outside in the cold. Mel just looks at me while I unzip her dress letting it pool around her waist revealing nothing underneath. I just smile as I wrap Mel's arms around my neck then lightly grip her around the hips above her dress.

As I pick her body up into my arms her dress slides down her legs, off her feet, and onto the floor in a puddle of silk. Slowly, and carefully I lower Mel into the steaming water letting her body adjust to the rising temperature. Until I'm kneeling down beside the tub, and finally let her go completely. I give her a smile as I move backwards away from her. Mel relaxes even more into the bath. With her head bent back at an angle, and giving me a blank look in return.

"Sit here, and relax My Love. I'll go fix us some breakfast, and after I finish feeding both of us, I'll give you a bath. How does that sound?"

"Fine." Mel says in that same monotone, detached voice as she closes her eyes dismissing me.

Something about the tone of her voice, or the one word reply she is giving me sets alarm bells off inside my head. I just let the strange reaction go for the moment, and turn around leaving Mel in the bathroom alone. I walk back into the kitchen, and fix both of us some fruit, dark chocolate and oats cereal bites, and chocolate milk. All three are Mel's favorite foods.

When I have everything ready I place the bowls and glasses on top of a tray, and carry it back into the bathroom with me. As I walk inside Mel still has her eyes closed, so I move across the tile floor as silently as possible. To place the tray on top of a sliding rack across the tub, and moving it closer toward her still figure. I take a seat along the outside edge facing Mel.

Mel has her eyes open by the time I focus back on her. I give her a gentle smile, and pick up a piece of banana from one of the bowls. Then place it against her closed lips. Waiting for her to part her lips, so I can place the fruit on the tip of her tongue.

I love the erotic feel of her kiss swollen lips wrapping around my fingers as she sucks the piece of food into her mouth. My morning wood finds the sight mesmerizing too. The poor soldier hasn't been this hard and swollen so early in the morning in a very long time!

I'm only thinking with that head as well, as I place the last bite of breakfast in her mouth. Before sliding my finger tips down the column of her neck, across the top of her breast, around the dusty pink areola, and finishing with pinching her nipple between my hard grip. While my other hand is under the water traveling up the inside of her thigh on the way to her welcoming cunt. Except, before I can reach my destination Mel grabs a hold of both of my wrist stopping me.
I look back up at her face in total surprise. Mel is biting on her bottom lip nervously, shifting her eyes in every direction but mine, and her cheeks begin to turn a brilliant shade of deep red.

"I'm sorry." The usual feisty HellCat whispers before clearing her throat, and trying again

"I'm sorry, but can we just finish what we're doing here without doing any of that? I really just want to go get back in bed, and try to get a little more sleep. I feel exhausted after sitting in the hot bath for so long, and all the food."

Those alarm bells from early start going off again, but even louder this time. I try not to let any of this show on my face. As I slide off the slide of the tub to kneel on the floor, and give Mel my best reassuring smile.

"Of course My Love. If that's what you want, then absolutely. Now lay back so I can wash your hair."

"Thank you." Mel whispers again with a small grateful smile on her face as she lays down in the water.

"No Sweetheart. Thank you for trusting me enough to take care of you." I tell her. As I hold the back of her head from going under completely, and end with a saucy wink.

I remove my hand, and Mel relaxes her body under the water. Getting back to the task at hand I begin washing her hair first. Paying extra attention to the job as I massage the shampoo into her scalp. Then rinse it out, and after that is her body.

After I finish I stand up then reach my hands out for Mel to grab a hold of, so I can pull her up from the bottom of the tub. Once she's standing I reach back down letting the water out. Then I take a towel off the rack hanging on the wall beside the tub, and use it to dry the droplets from her skin. Before wrapping the towel around her body, and lifting her out of the tub.

I place Mel down on her feet in front of me in the middle of the bathroom. Then undo the towel one last time, so I can use it to soak as much of the water from her hair as possible. Once I'm finished I let the soaked towel squish against the floor as it falls. Along with my dripping sweats.

In the blink of an eye I have Mel bridal style in my arms walking out of the bathroom, and back into my bedroom. Turning the lights off, and closing the door behind me. I carry us back to my king size bed laying Mel down first under the covers. Then I climb underneath also snuggling my body closely against hers, and both of us are out like a light within seconds.

My brain is finally able to shutdown, somewhat, this time. Meaning I actually get to join her this time, and get a few hours of much needed sleep. When I wake up again a few hours later Mel is still asleep.

I'm not going to wake the sleeping beauty up again, so I slowly and silently get out of my bed for a second and final time. As I make my way across my room I'm constantly swinging my head around to look at Mel. making damn sure she doesn't wake up, or move. Finally I make it to my dresser pulling out a pair of basketball shorts from my bottom drawer, and sliding them on. Before walking out into the living room, and closing my bedroom door almost all the way closed.

I need to keep myself and my mind busy while Mel is still asleep. So, I walk into the kitchen area to the exterior wall, and open on of the hidden doors in this loft in the corner. I make sure the door stays open as I walk down the inner hallway to the personal gym at the other end. For the next two hours I make myself scarce by sweating up a storm, and losing myself to the burn of my muscles. Finally coming back out after I take a quick shower in the small bathroom inside, and change into another old pair of basketball shorts.

The loft is still unusually quiet as I walk back into the main living area. To peek through the inch opening gap in my door to check on Mel. Who's still on her side, balled up under the covers, snoring softly right where I left her. At least the deep worry lines that were on her forehead this morning are gone now. I let myself perv on her beauty for a few more seconds before I silently start backing away from the doorway, and go back down the hidden hallway. This time opening the door on the right side of the hall leading to my office.

The room isn't very big, and it's mostly filled by the giant cherry oak desk in the middle. I make my way around the desk to the leather office chair behind it, and sit down. I glance at the clock sitting on the corner of my desk making sure I've given it long enough. Before picking up the landline phone on top of my desk, and placing it against my ear. Calling Drake to see if he's heard anything yet, or has any news.

I dial the number from memory, one of the only ones I know actually, and wait for it to start ringing. I relax back into the high-back seat nervously wrapping the cord around my fingers. Finally after only two rings I hear a click come from the other end of the line.

"Hello?" Is his questioning greeting.

"It's me, Duke." I say on a sigh.

"Well good afternoon to you too. I thought I would have heard something from you last night after you two made it to your loft, but I was wrong. Once Abbie and I got everyone out of the house about one thirty I tried to call you multiple times, but it kept going straight to voicemail. Just like Dean's." Drake says, and also makes me remember what I did to my phone.

"FUCK!" I groan out closing my eyes. "Yeah, I got a little mad last night after calling and texting Dean well over a hundred times, with no answer mind you, and threw my phone into a wall shattering the screen."

"So, Dean wasn't there when you and Mel got there?" Drake ask the obvious, but genuinely perplexed.

"Nope! Almost all of his clothes and things are gone as well." I tell his exasperated.

"What the fuck? That doesn't sound like Dean at all. Not now that Mel was finally putty in both of your hands!" Usually I would agree with Drake, but if I'm right about Dean hearing what Mel said then that makes this situation unique.

"That's not even the worst part." I pinch the bridge of my nose to relieve some of the stress I'm feeling before continuing. "You should have heard the gut wrenching sobs coming from Mel for almost two hours last night. I've never heard something come from another person that sounded so heartbreaking."

"How is she doing today?" Drake ask genuinely interested.

I blow out a breath of frustration before answering him. "Not good, but true to her HellCat name, she is trying hard not to show it. When I got up this morning she was sitting on the terrace alone, almost naked, in the freezing cold. She let me feed her breakfast before I bathed her, but stopped me when I tried to make it more R-rated. She's been asleep ever since, and that was hours ago!"

Drake hums in deep thought for several minutes on the other end of the phone before finally speaking. "Yeah, something definitely sounds wrong with Mel. Why don't you just worry about taking care of her for the rest of the weekend, and leave finding Dean up to me? I'll call you as soon as I have any new information. How does that sound?"

"Thanks Brother, that sounds perfect. Just remember to call me on this number when you do find him. I won't be able to go in and get a new phone until Monday." I tell him gratefully. Parts of the heavy burden weighing my shoulders down falling away.

"Anytime Bro. I'll call you as soon as I know anything." Drake says before a click comes from his end of the phone indicating he's hung up.

I force myself not to slam the plastic receiver back into its cradle as I hang up. I lean my upper body across my desk resting my forehead against the glossy mahogany finished furniture, and close my eyes thinking. Drake's right this isn't like Dean to just up and vanish without a word to either of us saying where he's going. Maybe something serious is going on, or wrong.

I might still give Dean shit about just leaving me without so much as a goodbye wave when he left for Florida six years ago, but that's not the complete story either. I use that excuse to get sympathy for myself. As well as it being my own little private way of busting Dean's balls some.

The truth is I was out of the country on an assignment for three months when the opportunity finally came up for Drake to expand the company into Florida. The three of us had been talking about the possibility for months before everything finally fell into place. I already knew Dean was the person Drake was sending down there to run the separate division before he actually left.

It's just the day Dean left to move down to Florida I was still under my contract for another five weeks. To make matters even worse there was absolutely no way for them to contact me right then, or me them. Which Dean knew of course, so he waited until the day I arrived back in New York to call me and tell me the good news.

I shake off the memories with a smile on my face. Then get up from my seat, and walk back into the kitchen area. Making sure to close the hidden door as I pass through. I still don't hear any movement around the loft, or from Mel in my bedroom. So, instead of checking on her this time, I make a detour to the fridge to find something to cook for supper.

An hour later the homemade chicken alfredo is ready, and already served up on two plates sitting on top of the kitchen table. As I'm pour us both a glass of red wine Mel walks out of my bedroom, looking wild and disheveled, to finally join me. I look at her in pure amazement as she walks toward me. I meet her halfway, and pull her body into my embrace for a long hug.

When I finish I pull my upper body back slightly, and look down into her still half asleep eyes. I chuckle as I place a chaste kiss on her forehead. Then slide my hand down the length of hers until my hand reaches hers, and I intwine our fingers together. I escort her across the room to the table that's intimately set for two. Neither of us speaking the entire time I help her into her seat, and take mine.

The silence between us continues while we eat. Instead we let our eyes do the talking for us right now. I'm silently begging Mel to trust me, and believe that everything will work out how it's suppose to in the end. I won't give up, or stop fighting until I find Dean and bring him back to where he belongs.

Even though it's still relatively early by the time we both finish eating. Mel leaves her empty plate on the table, and gets up walking straight over to the couch. Turning on the TV, and playing a movie from one of the apps. I make quick work of cleaning up our dinner before going over to the couch myself to join Mel.

I walk around to the front of the couch, and come to a stop standing directly above her. Mel just looks up at me with a questioning look that I answer with a cocky smirk of my own. Then bend down picking her up so fast, and laying down on the couch where she just was. Before laying her delicate body on top of mine, and watching the movie.

Mel and I lay there without moving while we watch two movies back to back. The only sound in the entire loft coming from the TV. Until the credits begin to roll across the screen, and I hear the cutest sounding snore coming from Mel. I look down at the sleeping beauty laying across me, and an idea starts to take form inside my mind. The wheels in my head turning so fast I burn out quickly, and pass out before I even finish.

Thankfully I wake up Sunday morning with the dawn, and get started on my plan. I remove myself carefully from around Mel's sleeping body, and get up from our makeshift bed. I gently cradle her in my arms as I carry her across the room into my bedroom.
Then place the sleeping beauty in the middle of my bed, and cover her up with the blankets. Before silently turning back around walking back into the living room.

I have a whole list of things I want to do today before it's time for me to drop Mel off at her apartment this afternoon. The first thing on the list is waking her up to breakfast in bed. It takes me less than ten minutes to fix her favorite breakfast foods again. Once I finish I place everything on the same tray as yesterday, and carry it into my bedroom.

Carefully I place the tray down on the mattress beside Mel. Then in true fairytale fashion I lean over, and place a kiss to her lips waking her up. After a few seconds Mel moans loudly before returning the kiss with just as much umph as me. Only letting her go once we're both desperate for air.

"Good morning My Love. Are you ready for breakfast? We need to hurry thought, so I take you to a surprise I have waiting before I have to take you home this afternoon." I ask her gasping in a breath between each of my words, until my breathing is back under control.

A megawatt smile radiating happiness takes over Mel's face then. That's the first real smile on her face in the last thirty-six hours, and I'll be damned if she loses it for the rest of the day! That smile is my light.

"I love surprises! Will you tell me?"
Mel's voice is still husky from sleep.

"Nope. You'll just have to wait, and see." I tell her with a wink.

Mel and I continue to talk about trivial things while we eat. Both of us staying far away from any subject that might bring up Dean's name. I even have her holding her stomach as she laughs out loud several times.

After we finish eating, I leave Mel in my room to get dressed for the day. While I take everything back into the kitchen, and clean up. Before getting dressed myself in my room as Mel is still in the closed en-suite. Both of us are ready to leave the loft about thirty minutes later, so we walk out the front door. Then down the four flights of stairs to the parking garage, and load up into my SUV.

As soon as I start the truck Mel reaches over turning on the radio, and cranks the volume up. She gives me one hell of a private show as I drive us across the busy New York streets. Moving her body seductively in her seat to the beat of each song that comes on, and belts the lyrics out to everyone.

I maneuver the SUV to the other side of the city, and the second surprise of the day. I pull into a hardly used, desolate parking lot about an hour later. Then get out of the driver side, and quickly make my way around the front of the vehicle to Mels side.
Opening her door just in time, helping her down from her seat, and closing the door behind her. Before stepping up behind her, and covering her eyes with the palm of my hands so she can't see where we're going.

"Duke?" Mel ask skeptically.

"I've got you Love. I just don't want you to see where we are going until we get there. Ready?" I whisper directly into her ear.

Mel shivers then reaches up wrapping her hands around my wrist for support. "Lead the way, Master."

I guide Mel into the opening of an overgrown, rarely used path into Central Park. Very few people know about this entrance, and that's exactly why I carefully chose it. It's hardly anyone else walking around here, or any noise going on around us to give her a clue to where we are, or going. Which I couldn't have planned any perfectly.

About five minutes later I pull Mel to a stop just on the outer edge of the surprise. You can only see the sign indicating our destination through the sparse winter branches of the trees in front of us. My own excitement level is through the roof right now, and I hope with everything I am she likes it.

"Ok. I'm going to drop my hands in just a second, and I want you to look straight in front of you. Don't move your head Love." I tell her trying to mask my own excitement making my voice come out low and gruff.

Mel give me a nod, and I drop my hands. It takes her a few seconds to actually see it. But when she does, she gasp loudly, and covers her mouth with her hand. Then spins around to face me. Her whole body vibrating in childish glee.

"You brought me to Central Park to go Ice Skating?" Mel ask between her fingers.

My cheeks begin to hurt from smiling so hard. "Do you like it?"

Mel jumps up into my arms, wraps her legs around my waist in a vice like grip, and starts attacking my face with kisses. "I..kiss..Love..kiss..It..kiss. My parents and Aunt Sara use to bring us kids here every year, but stopped once we were all grown. I haven't been back in ages."

"Good! You can be my teacher then. I've never been ice skating before." I say, and her mouth drops open in shock.

"What? Nevermind, let's just go!" Mel holds her palm out in front of me to stop me from answering. Before grabbing my hand, and turning around to run toward the entrance to the rink.

Mel and I spend the next two hours on the ice trying to teach me how to skate, but really only managing to laugh at me each time I fall. Which happens an awful lot! Safe to say no matter how big and strong I actually am I'm just not meant to be in skates on the ice.

On our way back out of the park to my SUV I buy us both a large hot chocolate to warm us up. It takes us twice as long to walk back because of Mel's antics. Like the need to reenact all of my falls. Until we finally make it back to our seats, and I'm able to crank the heater up to full blast.

In mere seconds I leaving the secluded parking lot, and pulling onto the city streets. For the first time all weekend a comfortable silence engulfs us as I'm driving. Neither Mel nor I make a peep as time moves along, until I come to a stop beside the curb in front of her apartment about thirty minutes later.

I make quick work of jumping out of my side of the SUV, and rush around to open Mel's door for her. Offering her my hand to help her down, and then wrapping it around my forearm escorting her up the icy front steps. At the top Mel put her back against her front door, and turns around to face me. That same smile I would gladly kill for lighting up her face.

Mel leans forward giving me a kiss, but before she can stop or pull away, I grab the back of her neck with one hand. Then place my other hand around her hip. Completely taking the kiss over, and dominating every second of it. Leaving her body a quivering mess once I'm done, and our eyes locked together as we struggle to regain our breathing.

Until Mel calms down enough to speak first. "Thank you for today Duke. After everything that happened Friday night I didn't think I would be happy again for a long time, but you have proved me wrong after today."

"My one and only goal for the rest of my life is to make this relationship work between the three of us, and above all keep you happy. I'll fight until my dying breath to keep everything together between us. Just trust in me, and I'll do my damndest to make sure you get the world." I seal my promise with another smoldering kiss to her lips.

With only an ounce of oxygen left in my lungs I pry my lips away from Mel's. Then push her back slightly, and take a step down the stairs. My need to take her right here and now so great my vision is hazy from the lust consuming my body setting me on fire.

"We have to stop My Love. Otherwise the people walking around the streets of New York are about to get a free show. Go inside My Love. I'll call you tonight to check-in, and as soon as I find anything out about Dean."
I take another step backward down the stairs away from Mel, but her next words stop me in my tracks instantly. Making me smile like a certifiable lunatic as well.

"I Love You Duke Masters."

"Love You Too Baby girl. Now go inside before you freeze to death out here."

Mel just laughs, but goes inside her apartment. While I skip down the remaining stairs, and jump into the driver's seat of my SUV. Smiling and whistling along to the music as I drive the forty-five minutes across town to my loft. Parking in my usual spot in the underground garage, before making my way up to the fourth floor, and inside my front door.

Since I've been away from my only phone for most of the day I go straight to my office first. Noticing the blinking light on the base of the phone that indicates a new voicemail. I rush across the room to snatch up the phone, and repeatedly jam my finger on the button under the blinking light before I'm even sitting down.

"Dean arrived at his home in Florida around seven o'clock last night. The douche has disconnected all forms of communication that you can possibly use to reach him, and refuses to speak with anyone himself. Let me know about when you are going to get there. I have surveillance on the property that can let me know if he's still there, or not. See you when you get back."

You gotta appreciate the hell out of an ex-intelligence officer that still has connections, and Drake is one of the best!

With that information I pick the phone back up, and make only one phone call. I give Mel the good news, and tell her I will be back by the end of the week. Then rush into my room to my closet, and throw a few random items into my small duffel bag. Before rushing back out of the loft to my SUV downstairs. Tearing out of the underground garage and onto the streets in moments. Headed south like a bat out of hell toward Florida, and the man trying to fuck everything up!

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I'm sorry guys I know I'm late, but all you have to do is ask and y'all shall receive!
I know this is just another filler chapter, but the next chapter is going to be chopped full of drama!!!
I told y'all it wouldn't be long until we heard from Dean again, and it's next!! I promise y'all will know the rest of the story soon!!
Until then my amazing people!
Callie

Text Copyright  ©Callie Sumner ™ 2019