He pressed his lips together, shaking his head. "I'm not saying one more word."
I giggled, which I didn't think I could do after the day I had, after everything that was weighing on me, but he had a way of making me feel lighthearted even when everything was closing in on me.
"Oh my God, you did. I can't believe this." I pressed my palms on his shoulders and planted my lips on his in a deep kiss. I felt him smile before we paused to breathe. Then he kissed me back, and it was even harder than before. He grabbed my ass, pushing me against him. Oh, I could do this all night long. When I felt him grow hard, I pressed my pelvis even more into him.
“Did you eat dinner? We have risotto left,” I murmured.
“I ate a burger on the way here. I’m good, just tired.”
"This day feels like it's been a week, to be honest."
"I know. It's like that for me too. Ever since you told me, I'd been trying to find a way to get back."
"Yeah, Isabelle told me." I kissed his cheek all the way up to his ear. "Thank you for being here."
"I always want to be here for you, Mel." He took my hand, making me look at him, touching my lower lip. "I love you. I’ve never felt about anyone the way I feel about you."
I blinked quickly, digging my hands in his shoulders. "You love me," I whispered.
"You know I do. You've made me fall in love with you. And I know this isn't what we've talked about, but you're the best thing that has ever happened to me."
I was a bit emotional tonight from everything that happened, so I buried my nose in his neck, inhaling deeply.
"Babe, aren't you going to say anything back?" he said after a while, which was when I realized I didn't reply at all.
"I'm so sorry. I had an entire conversation in my head," I said.
"Does that conversation include 'I love you too'?" His tone was playful, and he was smiling, but there was uncertainty in his eyes.
I tilted my head so our noses were almost touching.
"I love you," I said. "I've loved you for a while. I just wasn't sure if it was a good idea, because, well, you know. We started without any strings."
He pulled me into a hard kiss, exploring my mouth, touching my ass. He widened his legs so I had enough space between them. His erection pressed against my clit, sending little aftershocks through my body.
"I want all the strings, Melanie. I want everything with you."
"How long are you going to be here?" I asked. “When's your plane back?"
He shook his head. "I’ll talk to Ian tomorrow and ask him to fly to D.C in my stead.”
I jerked my head back. "What do you mean? You said the project is very important."
"It is, but Ian can take over."
"But you always said this is your project."
"My brother and I work closely together on everything. While each of us has his set of responsibilities, that doesn't mean we can’t replace one another when it's necessary."
"Are you sure?"
“I don’t want to leave you to deal with this alone, Mel.” He cupped both my cheeks in his hands, pressing his thumbs at the corner of my mouth. “I want to be here for you and your dad while you deal with the police and that moron and whatever you need to do at your dad’s house.”
I sighed, feeling my eyes get a bit misty. Clasping his wrists with my hands, I kissed the right corner of his mouth and then the left one before pulling back a few inches so I could look at him.
“I can’t get used to this. You’re in a league of your own, you know?” I murmured. “And now, I think you are in for some pampering too after driving for so long. You deserve a reward.”
“I’ll never say no to a reward.” He wiggled his eyebrows, walking me backward in the direction of the couch.
Laughing, I leaned in, raining kisses on his neck. “I thought you’d say that.”
Chapter Twenty-four
Dylan
The next morning, I asked Ian to meet me at the office at seven o’clock. To my astonishment, he was already inside—with two cups from Starbucks and sandwiches—when I arrived.
“Are you a mind reader?” I asked, biting into a sandwich right away. “I didn’t have time to eat at all.”
He grinned, sipping from his coffee, leaning against a wall. “I thought so, considering it’s seven in the fucking morning.”
“I want to ask you for a favor,” I said.
“Need me to go to D.C in your place?”
“Yes, how did you know?”
“Intuition.” His grin widened. “And your reactions yesterday. I’ll go.”
I jerked my head back. “You don’t even need convincing? I’m suspicious now.”
Ian’s expression turned serious. “You never ask me for anything. I’m not a dick. I won’t say no.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.” We’d always been close and looked after each other, but I had to admit, this degree of loyalty took me by surprise.
“No problem. I’ll book the first available flight. I draw the line at driving. I have my standards.”
“Of course you do.”
“But you have to take over my New York agenda.”
“I’ll be on top of that and the submission. We still have to perfect that and win that damn competition.”
“Amen to that, brother.” Ian tapped his fingers on the cup, watching me intently. “You sure you can be on top of both? Considering everything?”
“I will be. I have to.”
He didn’t reply, just took a long swig of coffee. He was tiptoeing around me, which wasn’t his style.
“Ian, what aren’t you saying?”
“That we can always pull back from the submission and apply next year.”
“Hell no.”
He held up one hand in defense. “It was only a suggestion. We’re in the home stretch for the deadline. It would suck to mess it up.”
“We won’t. I won’t.” Since I was the project manager, I had an overview of every single detail. Pulling out of the competition and reapplying was out of the question. Besides, everyone knew you had one shot only. Repeat submissions weren’t taken as seriously.
“Okay. Don’t get all defensive.” Taking out his phone, he started tapping the screen. “Flight booked. I’m leaving at lunch. It gives me time to wrap up a few things. By the way, Mom heard about your return.”
I waited for him to explain, but when he didn’t, I prompted him. “And?”
“I bet she and Dad are already thinking about names for grandkids. Just thought you should know.”
I burst out laughing before downing the last bite of the sandwich. “Who told them, you or Isabelle?”
“Isabelle. She called them while the police officer spoke to Mel and her dad. What are we going to do about that Elliot guy?” My brother’s jaw was ticking.
The corners of my mouth twitched. “We?”
“Fuck yes. He can’t just pull this shit.”
“For now, let’s see what the police say,” I replied.