CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
MEL
Monday morning, bright and early at 8am, Mel met Isaac and Taylor at 3CG Records in downtown Tulsa.
Zac was running late. Apparently there had been a domestic mishap at home involving a child, projectile vomiting, and a white carpet. Mel thanked her lucky stars that she did not have children.
The studio was located in the heart of downtown Tulsa, flanked by other businesses, not a free-standing building. This was, of course, not Mel's first time here but it was her first formal tour and her first official first day with the company. She couldn't wrap her head around the fact that she was considered an authority figure right along with the guys and she didn't intend to act as such. This was the guys' baby, it was their lives and their livelihoods. All she had simply done was provide some random financial backing.
They started in the general business office. This office appeared to be more brighter lit than the rest of the studio. There were four small desks, adequately spaced out, one for each of the employees that worked
there. The girls sat at their desks, two on the phone, one clicking around on her computer, the fourth rifling through some paperwork.
"They wear many hats here," Tay told her. "Each of these ladies have been with us for several years and they're rock stars. You couldn't ask for a better staff."
Once he was able to get all of their undivided attention, Tay introduced Mel to each of them. "Mel is now part owner of the company. Give her access to anything she wants to see, all records, transactions--anything.
Cool?"
The ladies smiled and nodded and waved bye at Mel as Ike and Tay continued to give her the tour of the facility. Another, darker, warehouse type room was filled with boxes, merchandise, and what looked like...an art classroom? "How many different hats do you people wear?" Mel asked, amazed at all the art supplies and half-finished canvases.
Ike laughed. "Zac likes to paint. A lot. These are all paintings that he paints for fans, or for events, or even for merch designs. The personal touches help keep us connected with the fans."
Mel nodded. "Very nice idea..."
Following down a hallway and several doors, they finally came to the heart and soul of the building, tucked deep deep in the back--the recording studio. Outside the glass, along with sound equipment were instruments as far as the eye could see. It was obvious they were deeply involved in the writing process at the moment and planned to hole away back there again that day.
The facility was amazing. Thinking about the outside of the building, she looked around and looked at Ike and Tay. There's an awful lot of room here for this small a building..."
"We knocked down the walls on either side," Ike said. The two businesses on either side were non-existent so we bought the entire building. There's only one entrance at the front so that's probably why you're confused."
"We're having an office built for you," Tay told her.
"Really? Is it necessary?"
Tay smiled. "Yeah, come look."
The three of them walked back up to the business office and went back in, waving at the girls working as they rounded the corner and through another door in the room. They opened the door to reveal a small office that appeared as if it were almost through being constructed. A desk and a chair sat there but there was no other furniture besides that. "We decided to leave it like a blank canvas so you could do what you wanted with it. Make it your own." Tay smiled at her, his blue eyes sparkling.
"Tay wanted you right on top of us in the studio," Ike murmured in her ear. "Zac and I had to convince him to be a little more logical about it."
"Well this is perfect," Mel said aloud. "I'm right up here where I need to be in the middle of everything and I get to hang out with these lovely ladies all day while you guys do your thing. I'm gonna like it here."
Mel spent the rest of her day doing duties that were typical to the first day on a job. She got to know the girls in the office, she worked on transferring all of the necessary programs onto her computer and got herself set
up with email and various accounts. Then she pored over paperwork. Financial transactions, accounts, merchandise and music sales, production rates and schedules, employee records and payroll, projects and collaborations, band schedules, and every other record and report she could get her hands on to familiarize herself with the company as quickly as possible.
By the time the day was ending, she was seeing double. As the girls in the office packed up to leave, Mel had planned to leave with them. "Let's just run and say bye to the guys and we can lock up and go," Mel said.
One of the girls looked at her, wide-eyed. "Um, nobody messes with them when they're back there..."
Mel looked at her, and the other three girls, puzzled. "Are they assholes or something? Have they been rude to you before?"
They all looked at each other. "Uh, no..." another one said. "We just...don't go back there. We don't want to be rude. They always say don't let anyone back there so we assume it means us, too."
"Um, okay," Mel said, not wishing to pry any further. "You guys go ahead and I'll see you in the morning."
Before they left, another girl asked, "So...are you our boss now?"
"Um...on paper, maybe...but you girls have been rocking this out like champs for so long that I don't really think it's necessary so just think of me as just HERE."
With a smile, the girls went on their ways.
Mel's expression changed to a determined one and as soon as she locked the girls out, she marched straight back to the studio. From half way down the hall she could hear random guitar riffs and the plinking of a piano and she burst in the door without knocking.
Zac sat behind a small drum set, Tay behind a keyboard, and Ike in a desk chair with an acoustic. All three of them stopped what they were doing and looked up at her, bewildered. "I am a respectful person. And from
now on I will knock because I know you guys are very busy and in the zone and stuff. But I thought you should you know, I think your employees are afraid of you."
Zac twirled a drumstick in his hand and scoffed at her. "What? No they're not."
"Where did that come from?" Tay asked, appearing concerned.
"Well, we were just leaving and I suggested we come say bye and they looked like deer in headlights. They wouldn't dare come back here. Do you have THAT strained of a relationship with your employees?"
Zac started, "Well, I mean, when we're working--"
"They're working, too," Mel cut him off. "If it weren't for them, would you be able to hole up back here with your music?"
The three of them looked at each other.
"Look," Mel continued. "I'm not trying to pry or interfere, and I honestly don't know why they feel the way they do or where it came from. But I think it would be wise to have a little bit of a better relationship with
them. You need to put together some kind of appreciation day or something for them, soon. They need to know you care about them."
"They know we appreciate them," Ike said.
"Then why aren't they back here with me right now, saying their goodnights? I'm not going to help you figure out what to do for them, but do something. Throw them a party, take them to dinner. SOMETHING. But figure it out. I'm not working in an office full of women who are intimidated by their bosses. It's not cool."
With that, Mel turned on her heel and left the building.
___________________________________________
A few days later, Mel was in her newly finished office, taking a moment from looking over merchandise orders to book her trip to Cabo the next week. Drew had been coming to work with her for the past few days and, at
the moment, was sorting through merchandise in the store room. She had just finished finalizing her travel plans when there was a light knock on her office door. "It's open," she said.
Taylor poked his head in and stepped in the door, closing it behind him. "Hey, what's up? So what do you think now that it's all finished?" he asked, referring to her office.
She shrugged. "It's an office. I really do appreciate it, though. But you didn't have to."
He smiled. "I know. But I wanted you to feel like you had your own space here."
Mel looked around. "I can't wait to start working on it in here. Not sure what I'm gonna do with it yet."
Tay sat in a chair across from her desk. "So what are you working on?"
"Oh, I'm finalizing a trip to Cabo next week. I need to check out the property and work on getting it sold."
"Cool," he said. "Is Drew going with you?"
"Nah. I think I've decided to just go alone. You know, just get in and get out. It would be quicker that way."
"I hate that you have to go alone."
Mel laughed lightly. "Well I can't take you."
Tay glanced down at his hands as he fiddled with a button on his jacket. "I know."
"It would just be easier," she continued. "Just get it out of the way so I can get back."
"I hate when you're gone," he said suddenly.
Mel let out another laugh, this time in disbelief. "I've been gone for ten years. You'd think you'd be used to it by now."
"Well it's different now. I don't like being away from you now that we're--you know?"
She sighed and took off the glasses she'd been wearing. "Tay, you know where this conversation is gonna go."
"I know,"
"So I know I don't need to say what's coming next."
"No. You don't."
"Okay then."
"You wanna go to dinner tonight?" he asked.
"Uh..." Mel wasn't sure what to answer. Where could they possibly go to dinner without being seen? And more importantly, did she really care if they were seen at all? And what about Natalie? "What about--"
"Natalie's not even home tonight. She's having a girls' night with Kate. I would just end up having dinner alone. You would be having dinner alone..."
"How do you know I'm gonna be alone?" Mel challenged him.
"Come on. Kate and Natalie are having girls' night. You think Zac is gonna take that time to twiddle his thumbs? Chances are, he and Drew have already made plans to be at your house after we get out of here
tonight."
He made a good argument. And how could she resist those eyes and that smile? "Fine, okay. We'll go to dinner."
A boyish grin spread across Tay's face. "Awesome. I'll pick you up here as soon we're done," he joked.
Mel smiled at him deviously. "Don't keep me waiting." As Tay headed for the door, Mel had a sudden thought. "Tay, wait." She handed him a sheet of paper.
"What's this?"
"It's crap, really. Throw it in the shred bin on your way out. You spend an awful lot of time in here behind closed doors and I'm afraid the girls might be getting suspicious. We don't need rumors flying around here."
"Oh. Right, okay. See you later."
When Tay had left her office, Mel shook her head to herself and clicked the button to finalize her Cabo trip.
_________________________________________________
The next morning, Mel was reeling from her dinner with Taylor the previous night. They had a great time, laughing and cutting up with great food and drink. It felt like old times again. She and Tay may have had the
underlying romantic feelings for one another, but they truly were great friends.
It was late in the day, close to time for closing up the office, when Mel and Drew were in the back of the studio, hanging out with the guys. Mel had noticed that Drew couldn't seem to keep her head out of her phone which was odd, seeing as Zac was sitting right in front of her, no sign of his phone at all. She knew they weren't secretly texting each other again, as they tended to do.
One of the girls from the office walked in and had gotten Mel's attention. Mel had been working on this and was proud of her for coming back there. She still had no idea why the girls were so freaked out and she figured she'd never find out. But she was proud that they were finally coming around and treating this building like it was their own, like they WORKED in it. Mel firmly believed that if you were going to work in a place for 40 hours per week, you better be able to treat it like home.
"Uh, Mel?" she said with a confused tone and a puzzled expression on her face. "There's someone here to see you."
This got Drew's attention and Mel noticed her head fly up to listen.
"For me? Are you sure?" Mel asked. "I haven't scheduled any meetings..."
One by one, Isaac, Taylor, and Zac all tuned in to what she was saying. Mel was kind of surprised--the girl was beginning to blush!
"Yeah," she nodded. "He's here for you, all right. EXTEMELY hot guy...says his name is Jason..." She smiled curiously and cocked her head to the side. "I didn't know you had a boyfriend!"
Mel just knew that she was going to have to scrape her jaw off the floor from the shock. "Uh, Jason? Like super tall, long hair, Hawaiian Jason?"
The girl, Jeanette, grinned and nodded excitedly. "Yep, that's him!"
Still not believing what she was hearing, Mel continued to interrogate. "Jason is HERE. In THIS building..."
Even more excitedly, Jeanette smiled and nodded.
Mel and Drew looked at each other and Mel stood. "Well, then. Um, if everyone will excuse me. It seems that I have company..."
As shocked as Mel was to learn that he was here, it was all she could do not to race to the front of the studio, as she didn't want Tay to see her excitement. And why couldn't or shouldn't she be? Tay had a wife and
Jason was her friend--albeit he was her extremely hot and sexy friend, but a close friend, nonetheless. So what if they may have enjoyed benefits in the past? She hadn't seen him since. And it wasn't as if she were in a committed relationship with Tay or anything. Sure they had feelings for each other but she could still do what she wanted. As long as he still slept with his wife, she could sleep with whoever she wanted, too.
As soon as she knew she was out of sight and out of earshot, she broke into an excited run. Nimbly, she ran around boxes and even jumped a couple of them, making her way to the very front of the building and right up into Jason's waiting arms.
He laughed and picked her up with ease, hugging her tight. She took the moment to breathe in the fresh scent of his hair and the subtle, but intoxicating, scent of the aftershave he was wearing. "Well hello to you,
too," he breathed quietly in her ear. His deep, rich voice was never done justice over the phone.
He put her down and she looked at him. He was ever just as gorgeous as he was before, if not more. His caramel skin had darkened even more since his being back home in Hawaii and his hair had grown at least another inch. He stood before her in simple jeans and a t-shirt, just like last time. Only this time his shirt was gray instead of white. And he was enormous. It wasn't as if he wasn't already massive before. But the
training he'd been going through for this movie with Drew was extremely apparent. Mel thought he had at least doubled in size. The thought excited her immensely.
"Jason, how did you find me here?"
"You up and vanished on me, do you have any idea what I had to go through to find you?"
Mel looked at him, eyes wide in shock. She had no idea what to say.
Jason started laughing. "Actually it took next to nothing. Drew told me."
"Uh, Drew?"
"Yeah. I'm actually in Tulsa for the weekend doing some stunt work over at the dunes and I contacted Drew to see if she wanted to run lines while I was in town before we ended up at the table read cold turkey. Actors don't get many opportunities to cheat like that. Anyway, imagine my surprise when she said you had moved back here. I haven't heard from you in ages."
"I know, I'm sorry. I have so much to fill you in on, it's unbelievable. I've been a crappy friend."
"No you haven't. Hell, I've eaten and slept weight training so it's not like I've had much contact with the outside world myself."
Mel bit her lip and looked him over. "So I've noticed."
Jason's eyes sparkled at her flirtatiously. "You wanna discuss it over dinner?"
'Wow,' Mel thought to herself. Two dinner dates in one week. This had to be a record. "Um, sure. Of course. I, uh, have some things I need to finish up here first--"
"Oh, it's cool. I actually passed an awesome tattoo parlor on the way up the street, so I think I'm gonna go get a little ink done. You wanna just meet me there when you're done?"
"Yes," she said, not giving it a second thought. "I will absolutely be there."
Jason winked at her and walked out the door.
In a daze, Mel turned around and found Jeanette and the three other girls huddled together in the doorway, watching eagerly. Mel smiled at them. "What's going on here?"
"That is the hottest man I have ever seen walk this earth," another girl named Lisa said. "How come you never mention him?"
"Uh, because this is the first time I've seen him in a long time," Mel laughed.
"Wow, I don't think I could handle a long distance relationship like that," said Carol, the third girl.
Mel found herself blushing. "Well it's not a relationship--"
"You guys are completely adorable together," Jeanette said.
"Not near as adorable as her and Taylor," Bethany, the fourth girl, said. Mel and the three others were silent and they looked at her. Mel wasn't sure how to take that statement but she made a mental note to watch
herself around Bethany. She hadn't had any problems out of any of the girls and she wasn't about to have one now.
___________________________________________
I sit here by myself
Just staring into space
I thought I knew you well
Well who can ever say
It seems I've spent so long
I can't define my right from wrong
One More for the night and
One More for the pain and
One More long goodbye and
One shot to the brain and
One More takes the knife and
One More takes the train
Who do I name today?
I dream of better days
Was long gone by the way
Is there a better place
Well who can ever say
It seems I've spent so long
I can't define my right from wrong
One More for the night and
One more for the pain and
One More long goodbye and
One shot to the brain and
One More take the knife and
One more takes the train
Who do I name today?
Who do I blame today?
Nothing's over till it's over
And if it's over I don't want to hear it
Look into my eyes I told her
Holding on to what is gone won't heal it
Who do I blame today?
DREW
Taylor was absolutely heart-broken. Drew could see it all over his face and she could hear it in his sudden silence. She felt horrible, as she was the one ultimately responsible for Jason's presence. But when he contacted her about being in town and running lines, she couldn't resist having him surprise Mel. She felt bad for Tay, but at the same time he had someone to go home to at night. What did Mel have? An empty bed and a mind full of what-if's and maybe-when's. It was stupid.
Drew, Zac, and Isaac were silent. The three of them looked at each other, neither one really knowing what to say. It was apparent that, at this moment, their workday was over. "Uh, look, guys--I'm just gonna call it a day, okay?" Tay said, finally. "I'm--I'm tired and...I'm not feeling very productive and we're not really getting much done anyway, so. I'll just see you tomorrow, okay?"
Nobody argued. Not even Ike who, normally, would have told him to suck it up and work through it. Nobody objected to Tay's needing to get away. It was just as shocking to them to have watched Tay blossom and
change only to be seemingly set back again.
Drew's heart shattered for him but she knew something like this was going to happen eventually. They all had to know it. It was inevitable.
Tay chose to leave out the back door instead of going near the front which told Drew that he didn't want to risk having to witness Mel and Jason together at the front. Drew immediately followed him out to the small parking area at the back of the building.
"Tay, it's my fault," she said. "He's in town doing some work at the dunes and he wanted to run lines with me for our movie. I suggested to him that it would be fun to surprise Mel. I'm sorry."
Tay turned around, glancing at the ground as he spoke. "It's not--don't worry about it. She--she can do whatever she wants."
"Tay--"
"Seriously. I mean it. I mean, what position am I really in to tell her she can't? I have absolutely no hand to play here right now."
"You know what? Get your head out of your ass. You're holding the goddamn full house. Whenever the fuck you decide you want to throw it out on the table is up to you."
Tay cocked his head to the side and narrowed his eyes at her. "Drew, why are you getting so emotional over this?"
"Because I'm leaving in two weeks to be in another country for four months. At least you and Mel HAVE a chance! The truth with Zac and I is, I have nothing. Fucking nothing! He and I are going nowhere and I'm sitting here letting it happen like a dumbass because far be it for me to be able to resist his fucking ass. Okay? So excuse me if it pisses me off to hear you complain about what the fuck Mel is doing and who she's doing it with, but not willing to do a goddamn thing about it! Either you love her or you don't but she doesn't have time for you to fuck around anymore."
At that, Tay got in his car and screeched out of the parking lot.
Tears sprang to Drew's eyes. What had she just said? She didn't realize she felt any of that stuff about Zac and she certainly hadn't planned on even bringing him up. Where had all that come from? Did she possibly
have more issues to deal with than she thought she did or was it the leaving for Ireland that was overwhelming her? She wasn't sure but she knew she needed to figure it out soon.
____________________________________________________
MEL
Mel walked into the tattoo parlor and slowly looked through the art books that littered the glass counter. She didn't know much about tattoos but she could tell by looking through these books that Jason wasn't kidding.
These were amazing. And these things could be tattooed on people's bodies? Even the intricate ones?
She was met at the counter by a bald, tattooed and pierced man. "What can I interest you in today?" he asked her flirtatiously.
"Uh, nothing for me. I'm actually meeting a friend if he's still back there."
"Big guy, long hair?"
Mel smiled. "Yeah, how'd you know?"
The man winked at her. "He's our only customer right now."
Mel felt foolish as she followed the man to a smaller room where Jason sat in a chair, the artist hard at work in concentration on his tattoo. Jason grinned at her as if he felt nothing when she walked in the room. "So what
do you think?"
She stood behind the man and looked at what he was working on on Jason's upper arm. "You think it's a good idea to get all tattooed up right before this movie?"
"Oh that's what's great about it. I can have as much ink as I want because of this character. It's great."
"He could be here awhile longer," the other man said. "You sure you don't want to look into one for yourself while you wait?"
Mel looked from Jason's tattoo artist, to Jason, then to the artist speaking to her. "Can I sit next to Jason?" The artist smiled.
"Mel, are you getting one?" Jason asked.
She bit her lip and nodded. "Yeah, I think so."
Jason smiled, his eyes glittering. "That's so awesome."
The second artist got a chair ready for her and she sat down, hesitantly. "So what do you want and where do you want it?"
"Uh, I want two..."
Jason laughed, incredulously. "For your first tattoo? Two?"
"Yeah, why not?" She extended her arms to the artist, her palms facing up. "I want one on each arm, right below my elbows. On my left arm I want a treble clef. On my right arm I want a smaller version of the tattoo he has under his left arm." She signaled to Jason's arm.
"What?" Jason said. "You can't get a tattoo of my mana."
"I can get whatever I want. You changed my life, Jason. The tattoo will remind me of that. Honestly."
Jason's expression softened and he nodded. "Okay."
The artist traced the designs onto her arms to get her approval before beginning with the needle. "Um, real quick," she stopped him at the treble clef. "I want you to add a little something." She took his pen and
made two small marks inside the larger loop of the clef, just above where the curly tip ended. "There."
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Yep. Have at it."
And for the next hour, she and Jason sat side by side, making their last-minute ideas very permanent.
______________________________________________
That night at dinner, Mel laughed. "We look like we've been in a fight, all bandaged up like this." She was referring to the two bandages covering the fresh tattoos on her arms and Jason's bandage covering the fresh
tattoo on his upper arm.
"I can't believe you got a matching tattoo like mine," he said.
"Does that upset you?"
"No, not at all. I mean I was a little shocked at first because mine's pretty unique, but--it's kinda flattering, actually. And the guy did a great job on it." He flashed his signature gorgeous smile at her.
"Well I meant what I said," she said. "No matter what happens or where we end up in life, I want to always be able to remember."
"Are you that easily forgetful?" he teased.
"Don't make me start a food fight in the middle of this restaurant," she teased back.
They both laughed and they went back to their food.
"So you're working for Taylor now," Jason said, finally. Mel wasn't sure if she was surprised that he brought it up or not. He didn't seem like the type that gave a shit who she was associating with. She always saw their friendship as completely personal.
"Um, no, actually. I work for me. I've invested in the company and now I'm a very small part owner."
"Mm," he nodded, swallowing the bite he was chewing. "So answer me this. Why would you leave New York City for...I mean, why?"
"Well this is my home. Much like Hawaii is your home. Tulsa may not be as grand as Hawaii or New York, but it's still home. And as for the company? Well, I just happened to have the means to help a few friends out, that's really all it chalks up to. I told you about my inheritance. I HAVEN'T had the opportunity to tell you the rest."
He wiped his mouth, dropped his napkin and rested his elbows on the table. "I have all night."
Mel smiled. "Well...it got a little crazy..." She told Jason every sordid detail, from John coming back to selling the properties. "And, um, I changed my name."
Jason smiled. "You did?"
Mel nodded. "Yep. I'm a Banks again."
"Well you were never NOT a Banks. But I'm proud of you. Really, I am."
Mel found herself blushing and she wasn't really sure why. "So tell me what's been going on with you."
"Nothing much, honestly. Nothing worth writing home about. I've been in intense weight training for this movie. I'm not even supposed to be eating what I'm eating right now. It's fucking insanely strict."
"So they allow you to come play at the dunes for the weekend instead of train?"
Jason smiled, amused. "It's hardly playing, my dear. I was doing some stunt work for a short film. So it's work. But yeah, they allow me out of my cage now and then."
Mel giggled at the joke.
"Anyway, as long as I behave and keep up some of my training, I can go away for a weekend here and there. And I'm really glad I got to see you before I went off to Ireland."
Suddenly, being here with Jason in the flesh and hearing him laugh and seeing him smile began to bring back the feelings she felt the first time she met him. What was it about him that could turn her on so damn
quickly? It was as if sex just radiated off of him. Before she realized what she was saying, Mel said, "Where are you staying tonight?"
Jason raised his eyebrows seductively. "Where do you want me to stay?"
Mel had never left a restaurant so quickly in her life.
________________________________________________
Back at her place, Mel was trying desperately to give Jason the grand tour, as it was quite difficult to walk around the house with him. Every object and every place she looked at turned into something to have sex on, in, or around. She could barely contain her excitement.
She led him out onto the patio, the one place she was finding solace lately. She knew that if any place in her house would sober her up, it would be here. On the patio is where she sat and cleared her head. She enjoyed her wine, read her books, and wound down for the night. This would be a good place for she and Jason to innocently just hang out and talk.
Swiftly, Jason swung her around, pulled her tight to him, and kissed her aggressively. Completely unable to save herself, she returned the kiss, remembering how she missed the way he kissed her the first time they met.
They broke their kiss just long enough for Mel to breathlessly whisper, "We really gotta stop meeting like this."
Jason smiled seductively and his rich voice caressed her ear as it used to. "Do you really want me to stop?"
At that moment it was as if the animal came out in her, full force. Savagely, she pulled at his shirt, helping him pull it over his head as if she couldn't get his clothes off fast enough. She realized then how desperate
she was to see him, to see every inch of him and she wasn't disappointed. The tall, Hawaiian sex god was beautiful before and she didn't realize he could get any more beautiful than that but it was, indeed, possible. Due to his being home in Hawaii and his recent training, his caramel color was ever deeper and the bumpy hills of pecs and abs she remembered from before were even more pronounced. She couldn't help herself but to touch him. He was like a drug, like a habit she couldn't kick. A habit she wasn't sure she wanted to kick.
He graciously let her explore him before he began helping her remove her own clothing. She hoped she would be able to find her glasses and her clothes in the dark. Out of the blue, he picked her up and took her to one
of the sturdier patio tables, kicking one of the chairs out of the way. She almost giggled at how far one kick actually carried the chair. She then quickly thanked the man upstairs for giving her a clear head the day she
picked out this furniture.
Sitting her on the edge of the table, Jason aggressively wrapped her legs around his waist and wasted no time entering her. It was obvious to Mel at this point that Jason wanted her as much as she wanted him and nobody had time for the foreplay that they both knew he enjoyed.
Bracing herself with her arms behind her on the table, she felt completely exposed and she had never been more turned on. As Jason worked his magic, one arm locked on one of her legs, his other hand explored the rest of her body. Their moans carried through the night but she didn't care. She didn't know until now that loud noises echoed quite well off the ceiling and the walls of the patio. She doubted the neighbors could hear, even still, and if they did she knew they wouldn't say anything to her. Nobody could even see in her backyard if they tried.
As he sped up, she knew it was almost over for him. Quickly, he leaned close to her, resting his elbow on the table and letting her lay back, his hand gripping a fistful of the hair from the back of her head. "You got this, baby?" he growled into her ear.
For Mel, that was all she wrote. As if it were a reflex, her legs locked tightly around him and he aggressively took her neck in his mouth as she released, her back arching as she finished. Still gripping her hair, his
mouth found it's way back to her ear. "You are such a good girl," this time with more breath in his growl as she knew he was losing control as well.
Surprising herself, she found herself whispering back to him, "It's easy to be when you feel this good in me."
Mel smiled a domineering smile when it was obvious her statement sent his ego soaring. Gripping her tighter, he groaned louder in her ear, going faster and deeper in her. Even though she had just climaxed, the sudden burst of energy turned her on all over again and she could feel herself wanting to come a second time. She had never met a man who made her orgasm as often as Jason could. It was the craziest, yet most thrilling thing she had ever experienced.
When they had both finished, Mel found herself collapsing on her back on the table, breathless and laughing. "Oh my god," she laughed. "You...you will be the death of me yet."
Jason laughed with her. "I just--I can't help myself around you, I guess. I see you, I take you, and here we are."
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a thought crossed Mel's mind that she couldn't believe she as thinking. She sat up off the table and said to Jason, "Come with me to Cabo."
________________________________________________________
MEL
Monday morning, bright and early at 8am, Mel met Isaac and Taylor at 3CG Records in downtown Tulsa.
Zac was running late. Apparently there had been a domestic mishap at home involving a child, projectile vomiting, and a white carpet. Mel thanked her lucky stars that she did not have children.
The studio was located in the heart of downtown Tulsa, flanked by other businesses, not a free-standing building. This was, of course, not Mel's first time here but it was her first formal tour and her first official first day with the company. She couldn't wrap her head around the fact that she was considered an authority figure right along with the guys and she didn't intend to act as such. This was the guys' baby, it was their lives and their livelihoods. All she had simply done was provide some random financial backing.
They started in the general business office. This office appeared to be more brighter lit than the rest of the studio. There were four small desks, adequately spaced out, one for each of the employees that worked
there. The girls sat at their desks, two on the phone, one clicking around on her computer, the fourth rifling through some paperwork.
"They wear many hats here," Tay told her. "Each of these ladies have been with us for several years and they're rock stars. You couldn't ask for a better staff."
Once he was able to get all of their undivided attention, Tay introduced Mel to each of them. "Mel is now part owner of the company. Give her access to anything she wants to see, all records, transactions--anything.
Cool?"
The ladies smiled and nodded and waved bye at Mel as Ike and Tay continued to give her the tour of the facility. Another, darker, warehouse type room was filled with boxes, merchandise, and what looked like...an art classroom? "How many different hats do you people wear?" Mel asked, amazed at all the art supplies and half-finished canvases.
Ike laughed. "Zac likes to paint. A lot. These are all paintings that he paints for fans, or for events, or even for merch designs. The personal touches help keep us connected with the fans."
Mel nodded. "Very nice idea..."
Following down a hallway and several doors, they finally came to the heart and soul of the building, tucked deep deep in the back--the recording studio. Outside the glass, along with sound equipment were instruments as far as the eye could see. It was obvious they were deeply involved in the writing process at the moment and planned to hole away back there again that day.
The facility was amazing. Thinking about the outside of the building, she looked around and looked at Ike and Tay. There's an awful lot of room here for this small a building..."
"We knocked down the walls on either side," Ike said. The two businesses on either side were non-existent so we bought the entire building. There's only one entrance at the front so that's probably why you're confused."
"We're having an office built for you," Tay told her.
"Really? Is it necessary?"
Tay smiled. "Yeah, come look."
The three of them walked back up to the business office and went back in, waving at the girls working as they rounded the corner and through another door in the room. They opened the door to reveal a small office that appeared as if it were almost through being constructed. A desk and a chair sat there but there was no other furniture besides that. "We decided to leave it like a blank canvas so you could do what you wanted with it. Make it your own." Tay smiled at her, his blue eyes sparkling.
"Tay wanted you right on top of us in the studio," Ike murmured in her ear. "Zac and I had to convince him to be a little more logical about it."
"Well this is perfect," Mel said aloud. "I'm right up here where I need to be in the middle of everything and I get to hang out with these lovely ladies all day while you guys do your thing. I'm gonna like it here."
Mel spent the rest of her day doing duties that were typical to the first day on a job. She got to know the girls in the office, she worked on transferring all of the necessary programs onto her computer and got herself set
up with email and various accounts. Then she pored over paperwork. Financial transactions, accounts, merchandise and music sales, production rates and schedules, employee records and payroll, projects and collaborations, band schedules, and every other record and report she could get her hands on to familiarize herself with the company as quickly as possible.
By the time the day was ending, she was seeing double. As the girls in the office packed up to leave, Mel had planned to leave with them. "Let's just run and say bye to the guys and we can lock up and go," Mel said.
One of the girls looked at her, wide-eyed. "Um, nobody messes with them when they're back there..."
Mel looked at her, and the other three girls, puzzled. "Are they assholes or something? Have they been rude to you before?"
They all looked at each other. "Uh, no..." another one said. "We just...don't go back there. We don't want to be rude. They always say don't let anyone back there so we assume it means us, too."
"Um, okay," Mel said, not wishing to pry any further. "You guys go ahead and I'll see you in the morning."
Before they left, another girl asked, "So...are you our boss now?"
"Um...on paper, maybe...but you girls have been rocking this out like champs for so long that I don't really think it's necessary so just think of me as just HERE."
With a smile, the girls went on their ways.
Mel's expression changed to a determined one and as soon as she locked the girls out, she marched straight back to the studio. From half way down the hall she could hear random guitar riffs and the plinking of a piano and she burst in the door without knocking.
Zac sat behind a small drum set, Tay behind a keyboard, and Ike in a desk chair with an acoustic. All three of them stopped what they were doing and looked up at her, bewildered. "I am a respectful person. And from
now on I will knock because I know you guys are very busy and in the zone and stuff. But I thought you should you know, I think your employees are afraid of you."
Zac twirled a drumstick in his hand and scoffed at her. "What? No they're not."
"Where did that come from?" Tay asked, appearing concerned.
"Well, we were just leaving and I suggested we come say bye and they looked like deer in headlights. They wouldn't dare come back here. Do you have THAT strained of a relationship with your employees?"
Zac started, "Well, I mean, when we're working--"
"They're working, too," Mel cut him off. "If it weren't for them, would you be able to hole up back here with your music?"
The three of them looked at each other.
"Look," Mel continued. "I'm not trying to pry or interfere, and I honestly don't know why they feel the way they do or where it came from. But I think it would be wise to have a little bit of a better relationship with
them. You need to put together some kind of appreciation day or something for them, soon. They need to know you care about them."
"They know we appreciate them," Ike said.
"Then why aren't they back here with me right now, saying their goodnights? I'm not going to help you figure out what to do for them, but do something. Throw them a party, take them to dinner. SOMETHING. But figure it out. I'm not working in an office full of women who are intimidated by their bosses. It's not cool."
With that, Mel turned on her heel and left the building.
___________________________________________
A few days later, Mel was in her newly finished office, taking a moment from looking over merchandise orders to book her trip to Cabo the next week. Drew had been coming to work with her for the past few days and, at
the moment, was sorting through merchandise in the store room. She had just finished finalizing her travel plans when there was a light knock on her office door. "It's open," she said.
Taylor poked his head in and stepped in the door, closing it behind him. "Hey, what's up? So what do you think now that it's all finished?" he asked, referring to her office.
She shrugged. "It's an office. I really do appreciate it, though. But you didn't have to."
He smiled. "I know. But I wanted you to feel like you had your own space here."
Mel looked around. "I can't wait to start working on it in here. Not sure what I'm gonna do with it yet."
Tay sat in a chair across from her desk. "So what are you working on?"
"Oh, I'm finalizing a trip to Cabo next week. I need to check out the property and work on getting it sold."
"Cool," he said. "Is Drew going with you?"
"Nah. I think I've decided to just go alone. You know, just get in and get out. It would be quicker that way."
"I hate that you have to go alone."
Mel laughed lightly. "Well I can't take you."
Tay glanced down at his hands as he fiddled with a button on his jacket. "I know."
"It would just be easier," she continued. "Just get it out of the way so I can get back."
"I hate when you're gone," he said suddenly.
Mel let out another laugh, this time in disbelief. "I've been gone for ten years. You'd think you'd be used to it by now."
"Well it's different now. I don't like being away from you now that we're--you know?"
She sighed and took off the glasses she'd been wearing. "Tay, you know where this conversation is gonna go."
"I know,"
"So I know I don't need to say what's coming next."
"No. You don't."
"Okay then."
"You wanna go to dinner tonight?" he asked.
"Uh..." Mel wasn't sure what to answer. Where could they possibly go to dinner without being seen? And more importantly, did she really care if they were seen at all? And what about Natalie? "What about--"
"Natalie's not even home tonight. She's having a girls' night with Kate. I would just end up having dinner alone. You would be having dinner alone..."
"How do you know I'm gonna be alone?" Mel challenged him.
"Come on. Kate and Natalie are having girls' night. You think Zac is gonna take that time to twiddle his thumbs? Chances are, he and Drew have already made plans to be at your house after we get out of here
tonight."
He made a good argument. And how could she resist those eyes and that smile? "Fine, okay. We'll go to dinner."
A boyish grin spread across Tay's face. "Awesome. I'll pick you up here as soon we're done," he joked.
Mel smiled at him deviously. "Don't keep me waiting." As Tay headed for the door, Mel had a sudden thought. "Tay, wait." She handed him a sheet of paper.
"What's this?"
"It's crap, really. Throw it in the shred bin on your way out. You spend an awful lot of time in here behind closed doors and I'm afraid the girls might be getting suspicious. We don't need rumors flying around here."
"Oh. Right, okay. See you later."
When Tay had left her office, Mel shook her head to herself and clicked the button to finalize her Cabo trip.
_________________________________________________
The next morning, Mel was reeling from her dinner with Taylor the previous night. They had a great time, laughing and cutting up with great food and drink. It felt like old times again. She and Tay may have had the
underlying romantic feelings for one another, but they truly were great friends.
It was late in the day, close to time for closing up the office, when Mel and Drew were in the back of the studio, hanging out with the guys. Mel had noticed that Drew couldn't seem to keep her head out of her phone which was odd, seeing as Zac was sitting right in front of her, no sign of his phone at all. She knew they weren't secretly texting each other again, as they tended to do.
One of the girls from the office walked in and had gotten Mel's attention. Mel had been working on this and was proud of her for coming back there. She still had no idea why the girls were so freaked out and she figured she'd never find out. But she was proud that they were finally coming around and treating this building like it was their own, like they WORKED in it. Mel firmly believed that if you were going to work in a place for 40 hours per week, you better be able to treat it like home.
"Uh, Mel?" she said with a confused tone and a puzzled expression on her face. "There's someone here to see you."
This got Drew's attention and Mel noticed her head fly up to listen.
"For me? Are you sure?" Mel asked. "I haven't scheduled any meetings..."
One by one, Isaac, Taylor, and Zac all tuned in to what she was saying. Mel was kind of surprised--the girl was beginning to blush!
"Yeah," she nodded. "He's here for you, all right. EXTEMELY hot guy...says his name is Jason..." She smiled curiously and cocked her head to the side. "I didn't know you had a boyfriend!"
Mel just knew that she was going to have to scrape her jaw off the floor from the shock. "Uh, Jason? Like super tall, long hair, Hawaiian Jason?"
The girl, Jeanette, grinned and nodded excitedly. "Yep, that's him!"
Still not believing what she was hearing, Mel continued to interrogate. "Jason is HERE. In THIS building..."
Even more excitedly, Jeanette smiled and nodded.
Mel and Drew looked at each other and Mel stood. "Well, then. Um, if everyone will excuse me. It seems that I have company..."
As shocked as Mel was to learn that he was here, it was all she could do not to race to the front of the studio, as she didn't want Tay to see her excitement. And why couldn't or shouldn't she be? Tay had a wife and
Jason was her friend--albeit he was her extremely hot and sexy friend, but a close friend, nonetheless. So what if they may have enjoyed benefits in the past? She hadn't seen him since. And it wasn't as if she were in a committed relationship with Tay or anything. Sure they had feelings for each other but she could still do what she wanted. As long as he still slept with his wife, she could sleep with whoever she wanted, too.
As soon as she knew she was out of sight and out of earshot, she broke into an excited run. Nimbly, she ran around boxes and even jumped a couple of them, making her way to the very front of the building and right up into Jason's waiting arms.
He laughed and picked her up with ease, hugging her tight. She took the moment to breathe in the fresh scent of his hair and the subtle, but intoxicating, scent of the aftershave he was wearing. "Well hello to you,
too," he breathed quietly in her ear. His deep, rich voice was never done justice over the phone.
He put her down and she looked at him. He was ever just as gorgeous as he was before, if not more. His caramel skin had darkened even more since his being back home in Hawaii and his hair had grown at least another inch. He stood before her in simple jeans and a t-shirt, just like last time. Only this time his shirt was gray instead of white. And he was enormous. It wasn't as if he wasn't already massive before. But the
training he'd been going through for this movie with Drew was extremely apparent. Mel thought he had at least doubled in size. The thought excited her immensely.
"Jason, how did you find me here?"
"You up and vanished on me, do you have any idea what I had to go through to find you?"
Mel looked at him, eyes wide in shock. She had no idea what to say.
Jason started laughing. "Actually it took next to nothing. Drew told me."
"Uh, Drew?"
"Yeah. I'm actually in Tulsa for the weekend doing some stunt work over at the dunes and I contacted Drew to see if she wanted to run lines while I was in town before we ended up at the table read cold turkey. Actors don't get many opportunities to cheat like that. Anyway, imagine my surprise when she said you had moved back here. I haven't heard from you in ages."
"I know, I'm sorry. I have so much to fill you in on, it's unbelievable. I've been a crappy friend."
"No you haven't. Hell, I've eaten and slept weight training so it's not like I've had much contact with the outside world myself."
Mel bit her lip and looked him over. "So I've noticed."
Jason's eyes sparkled at her flirtatiously. "You wanna discuss it over dinner?"
'Wow,' Mel thought to herself. Two dinner dates in one week. This had to be a record. "Um, sure. Of course. I, uh, have some things I need to finish up here first--"
"Oh, it's cool. I actually passed an awesome tattoo parlor on the way up the street, so I think I'm gonna go get a little ink done. You wanna just meet me there when you're done?"
"Yes," she said, not giving it a second thought. "I will absolutely be there."
Jason winked at her and walked out the door.
In a daze, Mel turned around and found Jeanette and the three other girls huddled together in the doorway, watching eagerly. Mel smiled at them. "What's going on here?"
"That is the hottest man I have ever seen walk this earth," another girl named Lisa said. "How come you never mention him?"
"Uh, because this is the first time I've seen him in a long time," Mel laughed.
"Wow, I don't think I could handle a long distance relationship like that," said Carol, the third girl.
Mel found herself blushing. "Well it's not a relationship--"
"You guys are completely adorable together," Jeanette said.
"Not near as adorable as her and Taylor," Bethany, the fourth girl, said. Mel and the three others were silent and they looked at her. Mel wasn't sure how to take that statement but she made a mental note to watch
herself around Bethany. She hadn't had any problems out of any of the girls and she wasn't about to have one now.
___________________________________________
I sit here by myself
Just staring into space
I thought I knew you well
Well who can ever say
It seems I've spent so long
I can't define my right from wrong
One More for the night and
One More for the pain and
One More long goodbye and
One shot to the brain and
One More takes the knife and
One More takes the train
Who do I name today?
I dream of better days
Was long gone by the way
Is there a better place
Well who can ever say
It seems I've spent so long
I can't define my right from wrong
One More for the night and
One more for the pain and
One More long goodbye and
One shot to the brain and
One More take the knife and
One more takes the train
Who do I name today?
Who do I blame today?
Nothing's over till it's over
And if it's over I don't want to hear it
Look into my eyes I told her
Holding on to what is gone won't heal it
Who do I blame today?
DREW
Taylor was absolutely heart-broken. Drew could see it all over his face and she could hear it in his sudden silence. She felt horrible, as she was the one ultimately responsible for Jason's presence. But when he contacted her about being in town and running lines, she couldn't resist having him surprise Mel. She felt bad for Tay, but at the same time he had someone to go home to at night. What did Mel have? An empty bed and a mind full of what-if's and maybe-when's. It was stupid.
Drew, Zac, and Isaac were silent. The three of them looked at each other, neither one really knowing what to say. It was apparent that, at this moment, their workday was over. "Uh, look, guys--I'm just gonna call it a day, okay?" Tay said, finally. "I'm--I'm tired and...I'm not feeling very productive and we're not really getting much done anyway, so. I'll just see you tomorrow, okay?"
Nobody argued. Not even Ike who, normally, would have told him to suck it up and work through it. Nobody objected to Tay's needing to get away. It was just as shocking to them to have watched Tay blossom and
change only to be seemingly set back again.
Drew's heart shattered for him but she knew something like this was going to happen eventually. They all had to know it. It was inevitable.
Tay chose to leave out the back door instead of going near the front which told Drew that he didn't want to risk having to witness Mel and Jason together at the front. Drew immediately followed him out to the small parking area at the back of the building.
"Tay, it's my fault," she said. "He's in town doing some work at the dunes and he wanted to run lines with me for our movie. I suggested to him that it would be fun to surprise Mel. I'm sorry."
Tay turned around, glancing at the ground as he spoke. "It's not--don't worry about it. She--she can do whatever she wants."
"Tay--"
"Seriously. I mean it. I mean, what position am I really in to tell her she can't? I have absolutely no hand to play here right now."
"You know what? Get your head out of your ass. You're holding the goddamn full house. Whenever the fuck you decide you want to throw it out on the table is up to you."
Tay cocked his head to the side and narrowed his eyes at her. "Drew, why are you getting so emotional over this?"
"Because I'm leaving in two weeks to be in another country for four months. At least you and Mel HAVE a chance! The truth with Zac and I is, I have nothing. Fucking nothing! He and I are going nowhere and I'm sitting here letting it happen like a dumbass because far be it for me to be able to resist his fucking ass. Okay? So excuse me if it pisses me off to hear you complain about what the fuck Mel is doing and who she's doing it with, but not willing to do a goddamn thing about it! Either you love her or you don't but she doesn't have time for you to fuck around anymore."
At that, Tay got in his car and screeched out of the parking lot.
Tears sprang to Drew's eyes. What had she just said? She didn't realize she felt any of that stuff about Zac and she certainly hadn't planned on even bringing him up. Where had all that come from? Did she possibly
have more issues to deal with than she thought she did or was it the leaving for Ireland that was overwhelming her? She wasn't sure but she knew she needed to figure it out soon.
____________________________________________________
MEL
Mel walked into the tattoo parlor and slowly looked through the art books that littered the glass counter. She didn't know much about tattoos but she could tell by looking through these books that Jason wasn't kidding.
These were amazing. And these things could be tattooed on people's bodies? Even the intricate ones?
She was met at the counter by a bald, tattooed and pierced man. "What can I interest you in today?" he asked her flirtatiously.
"Uh, nothing for me. I'm actually meeting a friend if he's still back there."
"Big guy, long hair?"
Mel smiled. "Yeah, how'd you know?"
The man winked at her. "He's our only customer right now."
Mel felt foolish as she followed the man to a smaller room where Jason sat in a chair, the artist hard at work in concentration on his tattoo. Jason grinned at her as if he felt nothing when she walked in the room. "So what
do you think?"
She stood behind the man and looked at what he was working on on Jason's upper arm. "You think it's a good idea to get all tattooed up right before this movie?"
"Oh that's what's great about it. I can have as much ink as I want because of this character. It's great."
"He could be here awhile longer," the other man said. "You sure you don't want to look into one for yourself while you wait?"
Mel looked from Jason's tattoo artist, to Jason, then to the artist speaking to her. "Can I sit next to Jason?" The artist smiled.
"Mel, are you getting one?" Jason asked.
She bit her lip and nodded. "Yeah, I think so."
Jason smiled, his eyes glittering. "That's so awesome."
The second artist got a chair ready for her and she sat down, hesitantly. "So what do you want and where do you want it?"
"Uh, I want two..."
Jason laughed, incredulously. "For your first tattoo? Two?"
"Yeah, why not?" She extended her arms to the artist, her palms facing up. "I want one on each arm, right below my elbows. On my left arm I want a treble clef. On my right arm I want a smaller version of the tattoo he has under his left arm." She signaled to Jason's arm.
"What?" Jason said. "You can't get a tattoo of my mana."
"I can get whatever I want. You changed my life, Jason. The tattoo will remind me of that. Honestly."
Jason's expression softened and he nodded. "Okay."
The artist traced the designs onto her arms to get her approval before beginning with the needle. "Um, real quick," she stopped him at the treble clef. "I want you to add a little something." She took his pen and
made two small marks inside the larger loop of the clef, just above where the curly tip ended. "There."
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Yep. Have at it."
And for the next hour, she and Jason sat side by side, making their last-minute ideas very permanent.
______________________________________________
That night at dinner, Mel laughed. "We look like we've been in a fight, all bandaged up like this." She was referring to the two bandages covering the fresh tattoos on her arms and Jason's bandage covering the fresh
tattoo on his upper arm.
"I can't believe you got a matching tattoo like mine," he said.
"Does that upset you?"
"No, not at all. I mean I was a little shocked at first because mine's pretty unique, but--it's kinda flattering, actually. And the guy did a great job on it." He flashed his signature gorgeous smile at her.
"Well I meant what I said," she said. "No matter what happens or where we end up in life, I want to always be able to remember."
"Are you that easily forgetful?" he teased.
"Don't make me start a food fight in the middle of this restaurant," she teased back.
They both laughed and they went back to their food.
"So you're working for Taylor now," Jason said, finally. Mel wasn't sure if she was surprised that he brought it up or not. He didn't seem like the type that gave a shit who she was associating with. She always saw their friendship as completely personal.
"Um, no, actually. I work for me. I've invested in the company and now I'm a very small part owner."
"Mm," he nodded, swallowing the bite he was chewing. "So answer me this. Why would you leave New York City for...I mean, why?"
"Well this is my home. Much like Hawaii is your home. Tulsa may not be as grand as Hawaii or New York, but it's still home. And as for the company? Well, I just happened to have the means to help a few friends out, that's really all it chalks up to. I told you about my inheritance. I HAVEN'T had the opportunity to tell you the rest."
He wiped his mouth, dropped his napkin and rested his elbows on the table. "I have all night."
Mel smiled. "Well...it got a little crazy..." She told Jason every sordid detail, from John coming back to selling the properties. "And, um, I changed my name."
Jason smiled. "You did?"
Mel nodded. "Yep. I'm a Banks again."
"Well you were never NOT a Banks. But I'm proud of you. Really, I am."
Mel found herself blushing and she wasn't really sure why. "So tell me what's been going on with you."
"Nothing much, honestly. Nothing worth writing home about. I've been in intense weight training for this movie. I'm not even supposed to be eating what I'm eating right now. It's fucking insanely strict."
"So they allow you to come play at the dunes for the weekend instead of train?"
Jason smiled, amused. "It's hardly playing, my dear. I was doing some stunt work for a short film. So it's work. But yeah, they allow me out of my cage now and then."
Mel giggled at the joke.
"Anyway, as long as I behave and keep up some of my training, I can go away for a weekend here and there. And I'm really glad I got to see you before I went off to Ireland."
Suddenly, being here with Jason in the flesh and hearing him laugh and seeing him smile began to bring back the feelings she felt the first time she met him. What was it about him that could turn her on so damn
quickly? It was as if sex just radiated off of him. Before she realized what she was saying, Mel said, "Where are you staying tonight?"
Jason raised his eyebrows seductively. "Where do you want me to stay?"
Mel had never left a restaurant so quickly in her life.
________________________________________________
Back at her place, Mel was trying desperately to give Jason the grand tour, as it was quite difficult to walk around the house with him. Every object and every place she looked at turned into something to have sex on, in, or around. She could barely contain her excitement.
She led him out onto the patio, the one place she was finding solace lately. She knew that if any place in her house would sober her up, it would be here. On the patio is where she sat and cleared her head. She enjoyed her wine, read her books, and wound down for the night. This would be a good place for she and Jason to innocently just hang out and talk.
Swiftly, Jason swung her around, pulled her tight to him, and kissed her aggressively. Completely unable to save herself, she returned the kiss, remembering how she missed the way he kissed her the first time they met.
They broke their kiss just long enough for Mel to breathlessly whisper, "We really gotta stop meeting like this."
Jason smiled seductively and his rich voice caressed her ear as it used to. "Do you really want me to stop?"
At that moment it was as if the animal came out in her, full force. Savagely, she pulled at his shirt, helping him pull it over his head as if she couldn't get his clothes off fast enough. She realized then how desperate
she was to see him, to see every inch of him and she wasn't disappointed. The tall, Hawaiian sex god was beautiful before and she didn't realize he could get any more beautiful than that but it was, indeed, possible. Due to his being home in Hawaii and his recent training, his caramel color was ever deeper and the bumpy hills of pecs and abs she remembered from before were even more pronounced. She couldn't help herself but to touch him. He was like a drug, like a habit she couldn't kick. A habit she wasn't sure she wanted to kick.
He graciously let her explore him before he began helping her remove her own clothing. She hoped she would be able to find her glasses and her clothes in the dark. Out of the blue, he picked her up and took her to one
of the sturdier patio tables, kicking one of the chairs out of the way. She almost giggled at how far one kick actually carried the chair. She then quickly thanked the man upstairs for giving her a clear head the day she
picked out this furniture.
Sitting her on the edge of the table, Jason aggressively wrapped her legs around his waist and wasted no time entering her. It was obvious to Mel at this point that Jason wanted her as much as she wanted him and nobody had time for the foreplay that they both knew he enjoyed.
Bracing herself with her arms behind her on the table, she felt completely exposed and she had never been more turned on. As Jason worked his magic, one arm locked on one of her legs, his other hand explored the rest of her body. Their moans carried through the night but she didn't care. She didn't know until now that loud noises echoed quite well off the ceiling and the walls of the patio. She doubted the neighbors could hear, even still, and if they did she knew they wouldn't say anything to her. Nobody could even see in her backyard if they tried.
As he sped up, she knew it was almost over for him. Quickly, he leaned close to her, resting his elbow on the table and letting her lay back, his hand gripping a fistful of the hair from the back of her head. "You got this, baby?" he growled into her ear.
For Mel, that was all she wrote. As if it were a reflex, her legs locked tightly around him and he aggressively took her neck in his mouth as she released, her back arching as she finished. Still gripping her hair, his
mouth found it's way back to her ear. "You are such a good girl," this time with more breath in his growl as she knew he was losing control as well.
Surprising herself, she found herself whispering back to him, "It's easy to be when you feel this good in me."
Mel smiled a domineering smile when it was obvious her statement sent his ego soaring. Gripping her tighter, he groaned louder in her ear, going faster and deeper in her. Even though she had just climaxed, the sudden burst of energy turned her on all over again and she could feel herself wanting to come a second time. She had never met a man who made her orgasm as often as Jason could. It was the craziest, yet most thrilling thing she had ever experienced.
When they had both finished, Mel found herself collapsing on her back on the table, breathless and laughing. "Oh my god," she laughed. "You...you will be the death of me yet."
Jason laughed with her. "I just--I can't help myself around you, I guess. I see you, I take you, and here we are."
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a thought crossed Mel's mind that she couldn't believe she as thinking. She sat up off the table and said to Jason, "Come with me to Cabo."
________________________________________________________