Destiny Disrupted (There's Always Tomorrow Book 1) (5 page)

Melina runs one hand lightly up and down his arm, which is resting on her stomach. Her other hand is stroking the back of his head and neck as she rests her cheek on the top of his head. Vance sighs heavily and lets some of the tension in his body go. It feels so good to be in a woman’s arms. Well, more like Melina's arms. And good lord does she smell good. How did she manage to do that from a sponge bath?  Every time her scent enters his nose, he relaxes a little more.

“You smell good,” Vance mutters, fighting the sleep that is trying to suck him under.

“Thank you, now be quiet and go to sleep,” Melina says softly and kisses the top of his head.

“You're much softer than my buddy, Ryder,” he mumbles, already half-asleep.

Melina chuckles. “Thanks…I think.”

“Melina?”

“Yes, Vance?” she mutters into his hair.

“Don't let me sleep too long, okay?” he whispers, but doesn't hear her answer because he is practically passed out.

Vance opens his eyes and looks around. Where the hell is he? It looks like the living room of the victim's house from the case he is working on. But that’s impossible, isn't it? He shakes his head, feeling a little foggy, like he's been drugged or something. Then he hears crying, little girls crying to be specific. Vance tries to get up to go look but he’s unable to move his arms and legs. Fuck, fuck, fuck, what the FUCK is going on? He opens his mouth to scream for help, but nothing comes out. No, this can't be happening; this can't be real!

Footsteps bring his head around to the right where the doorway to the kitchen is. The crying gets louder. Suddenly, a man’s silhouette appears in the doorway, but Vance can’t make out his face. In each hand, the mysterious man is holding a little girl by her hair, and Vance starts to panic. Oh god, please, no. The man violently throws both girls forward so that they fall to the floor a few feet away from Vance. The girls push themselves up to their knees and brush their hair out of their faces. NOOOO!!!

Vance tries to scream and fight free of whatever is holding him down when he realizes that the young girls on their knees are his nieces, both in their princess nightgowns that he bought them. With tears streaming down their faces, they look up at him with pleading eyes. He becomes frantic, straining to get free to save them. The evil man just stands there, laughing at the scene in front of him.

“Try all you want, Vance, you won't be able to save them,” a deep voice growls from the kitchen doorway.

The monster moves forward toward Hailey and Olivia, and Vance tries to scream, straining so hard that he can swear his muscles are going to tear away from his bones. Even as the man steps into the light, Vance can't see his face. However, a flash of metal catches Vance's eye. The man maniacally lifts a machete into the air. Vance looks back at his nieces and pleads for forgiveness with his eyes for not being able to save them.

It happens so fast that it takes Vance a second to register what he sees. The beast brings the machete across each girl’s neck in one long swipe, eyes wide and mouths open in shock. Their bodies start to fall forward and their heads tumble off their shoulders. The scream that tears up Vance's throat is one that he's never heard come out of him before. His arms and legs come free and he hits the floor face first.

“VANCE!” A female voice that he recognizes calls out from above him.

Vance opens his eyes to find out that he is face down on a white linoleum floor. He then hears a door open and a couple of footsteps rush in.

“Is everything okay in here?” asks a male voice.

“I don't know. He must have had a nightmare or something. He was struggling in his sleep, then he screamed and fell off the bed,” Vance hears the familiar voice say.

Vance pulls his knees up, but stays bent over with his forearms on the floor and his forehead resting in his hands. The male who entered the room walks over to him and puts a hand on his back.

“Hey, man, did you get hurt when you fell?” he asks gently.

“No, I'm okay,” Vance chokes out as he tries to get his emotions in check.

“Do you need help getting up?”

“No.”

The guy sighs but backs off. Vance takes a few deep breaths before pushing up to sit back on his heels. He brushes the tears off his face and looks around. He is in a hospital room; the guy trying to help him is a nurse, and there is another female nurse standing by the door looking concerned. Vance turns his gaze to the bed he just fell out of. Melina is gripping the edge of the bed, worry twisting her face as she looks down toward him. He curses under his breath and rubs his face with his hands. She must have motioned for the nurses to leave because they slowly backed out and shut the door behind them.

“God, Melina, I'm sorry...” Vance rasps, his throat tight from all of the emotion he’s feeling.

He hears Melina's good foot hit the floor, making his eyes fly open. She plops down to her butt in front of him, with no regard for her IV pole. Her bandaged leg is sticking out to the side.

“Melina, what are you doing? You're gonna hurt your leg.” Vance sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. Fuck, he has a migraine now.

Vance then feels her delicate little hands cup his face, completely ignoring his comment about her leg. He drops his hand and opens his eyes to look at her. She looks so upset and worried.

“Are you sure you're okay?” she whispers.

“Yeah, I'm fine,” he says softly. He runs his hands up and down her arms, trying to comfort her.

Melina searches his eyes. “I don't think you are,” she says grimly as if she knows what his nightmare was about. “The scream that came out of your mouth was heart wrenching, Vance. It was so raw and pain-filled, what’s going on?”

Vance closes his eyes. “I wouldn't tell you even if I could. Not because I don't trust you, but because I don't want you haunted by it,” he says.

“So this is all because of the case you're working on?” she asks.

Vance nods.

Melina strokes his face with her thumbs. “If you can't talk to me, then can you at least talk to a therapist or something? I mean that was one hell of a nightmare.”

“I'll be fine; it was just something that happened today that triggered this. I'll be okay,” Vance murmurs and looks at her.

She gives him a doubtful look but keeps her mouth shut. Smart girl. Vance gets to his feet then carefully picks up a protesting Melina and gently puts her back into bed. Then he goes into the bathroom and shuts the door. He takes a piss before heading to the sink where he washes up then splashes some cold water in his face. He mistakenly looks up into the mirror; damn, he looks like shit, like he has aged ten years or something. His eyes have dark circles under them and are bloodshot, but that’s probably from the strain of throwing up earlier. He needs a shave, too. There is no way that Melina is going to want to see him again after this. He should have never come here today; he should have just called like she said. Fuck him, fucking idiot. He shakes his head in disbelief at his stupidity then dries his hands and face off with a paper towel.

Vance comes out of the bathroom but keeps his distance from the bed, going over to the window and looking out at the busy city. He hears the bed move and then the scrape of the metal IV stand heading his way. He turns around just as Melina attempts her first shot at putting pressure on her bad leg. She winces in pain and it pisses him the hell off.

“Will you stop getting out of bed!” he shouts and reaches for her.

“The doctors told me to walk around as much as I could, circulation and all that shit,” she says dismissively as she slaps at his hands.

“I don't want you reinjuring yourself,” Vance counters and scoops her up with ease.

“Oh for god's sake, put me down,” Melina demands as he carries her over to the bed.

“Nope.” He smirks.

Vance places Melina tenderly on the bed. He looks up to find her watching his face. “What?” he asks quietly, searching her green eyes.

Her hand comes up to stroke his cheek. “I’m just worried about you.”

Vance gives her a small smile. “I’ll be fine,” he whispers then turns his face into her palm and kisses it.

They stare at each other for a few extra seconds before Vance straightens up. He rakes a hand through his hair. Melina is so beautiful and he is so tempted to kiss her, but he knows that he won't be able to stop once he starts.

He glances at the clock for the first time since waking up. Holy shit, it’s 11:00 pm. He slept for at least six hours. “Shit, why’d you let me sleep so long?” he asks, turning back to Melina.

“You needed it.” She shrugs.

Vance rubs his face. “I better get going,” he mumbles.

“Why don't you just stay?” she suggests softly.

Vance snorts and shakes his head. “And have another nightmare in front of you? Yeah, I don't think so.”

“So you'd rather go through it alone?” Melina frowns.

“I'd rather not scare the shit out of you in the middle of the night,” he says, crossing his arms over his chest as he walks back over to the window.

“It's fine, really. Stay with me,” she says, holding her hand out to him.

Vance shakes his head. “No, I'm gonna go. I'll come back tomorrow if you want. I have a few days off, so I’ll have plenty of time to come see you.”

“Vance, it would make me feel better if you stay.”

Vance glances over at her to find her giving him puppy dog eyes with her bottom lip sticking out. His nieces had the same look on their cute little faces in the picture that his sister sent him. It is the face that he can't say no to. And even on a grown woman, it works on him. He feels a smile creep across his face and shakes his head.

“Damn it, woman. It’s too soon for you to be figuring out my weaknesses.” Vance chuckles softly.

Melina laughs, making Vance's heart race. He loves her laugh; it is so happy and joyful. He can't remember the last time that he truly laughed. All he has are chuckles here and there, but never full out let-yourself-go kind of laughs. He then realizes how unhappy he's been. It just hits him square in the face and it shocks him. How has he not realized it?

“Okay, what happened? Your whole demeanor just changed,” Melina says, breaking through his thoughts.

“Huh? Oh nothing,” Vance responds, shaking the thought from his head.

“Alright, well come lay with me then.” She smiles and pulls the covers back.

“Are you sure about this?” he asks and rubs the back of his neck as he starts toward the bed.

“Yes, it's fine, come on.” She sighs in agitation.

Vance climbs into the bed and settles down next to Melina, careful not to bother her leg. She snuggles up against his side, so he tucks his arm under her head and pulls her closer. She sighs and rests her head on his shoulder, her face tilting up toward his. Her eyes are closed and her lips slightly parted. Her hand is smoothing up his chest, over his shoulder, and back to his chest. Then she pokes his chest with her finger.

“You're really built aren't you?” she asks reverently.

“I take care of myself,” he replies nonchalantly.

Her hand roams over his chest again then starts down his abs. His eyes slide closed as she travels lower and lower. Shit, it's been too long. He’s already hard from the innocent touch. Melina gets to the waistband of his jeans and he feels her hand brush the very top of his thigh, then her bare hand makes contact with his bare stomach.

Vance hisses at the same time Melina makes a pleased noise low in her throat. Her hand slowly makes its way over each ripple of his abs to his chest, where her fingers brush over his nipple. Vance sucks in a sharp breath and looks down at her. She has a sexy little grin on her face as she watches his reactions to her touching him. The look in her eyes is that of a woman who finds something that she wants and is going to have it.

Her eyes lower to look at his lips and she licks her own. Oh, fuck it, he can’t stand it anymore. Vance shoves his fingers into her dark hair as his mouth crushes hers. He thinks he’s going to come in his jeans like a friggin’ teenage virgin. Her lips are so soft and silky. Melina's nails bite into his side and the pain that it causes feels so fucking good. He tightens his grip on her head and her mouth opens for him. Vance takes what she is offering and thrusts his tongue into her mouth. Goddamn, she tastes good.

Vance shifts onto his side to face her and deepens the kisses. He pulls her body up against his and slides his hand down her back to cup her perfectly rounded rump. Melina lifts her bandaged leg and slowly hooks it over his hip, forcing his thigh between her legs, which in turn presses his achingly hard erection against her lower belly. They both moan into each other's mouth.

His hips have a mind of their own, tilting forward and back, causing a delicious friction for his cock, which is ready to explode. Her hand travels slowly from his lower back and follows the waistband of his jeans toward the front. Her fingers brush the slick tip of his cock, which is poking out the top of his jeans, since he didn’t bother putting on any underwear. He grabs her wrist in a flash and tears his mouth away from hers.

“You touch me and I'm gonna lose it,” Vance pants against her lips.

“That’s the idea,” Melina breathes and nips at his bottom lip.