Salaiz, Jennifer - Melissa's Mates [Blissful Bets 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Read online

  “Mel, that didn’t come out right. I’m sorry. You know I love you, but Channing doesn’t know you. I just think both of your personalities don’t mesh well together.”

  “We’re talking about a night, Stephen, not forever.”

  “I don’t know about that,” he mumbled.

  “What did you say?” She’d heard him perfectly well, but she still couldn’t believe what he’d said. Not waiting, she grabbed Channing’s hand. “Let’s go.”

  “Mel, wait. Just please, think about this. Don’t look at him, and look at me. What does your mind, your heart, tell you to do?”

  Stephen grabbed her face and made her stare into his. For seconds she stared into his eyes, searching her own mind for the truth. “I don’t know what you mean, but I know I feel compelled to go. I want to. Now let me, and tell Ev congrats. I wasn’t the nicest person earlier. Tell her I’ll call tomorrow.”

  He nodded and dropped his hands. “Be careful. Call me if you need anything. Anything! I’ll come get you or whatever needs to be done.”

  Channing pulled her closer to the car, and she climbed in as he opened the door. Settling back on the seat, she tried to process exactly what just happened. She felt more lost than ever. Before she and her soon-to-be lover parted ways, she was going to figure out a way to get him to tell her everything. To do that, she wanted to be on familiar ground. No hotel rooms for this one. For the first time, she’d bring a bet home.

  Chapter 5

  Nervousness filled Melissa as they pulled into her drive. Leaving her truck probably hadn’t been very smart, but she’d called Julie, and it just so happened that Julie left her keys on the counter to her car and her friend had a spare at her house. She could drive the Mercedes to Corpus, pick up her truck, and lock Julie’s keys in her car. It worked out perfectly.

  “Second thoughts?”

  Looking into Channing’s face in the darkness, she shook her head no. Melissa opened the door and proceeded up the steps. When he paused, she turned around to see him staring out toward the sand dunes.

  “Is something wrong?”

  “No.” He moved forward but kept his gaze in the general direction of the beach.

  Unlocking the door, Melissa walked in and dropped her stuff on the coffee table. Heat enveloped her from behind so fast the surprise made her suck in air. Wasn’t he just at the door? She hadn’t even heard it shut.

  “Your smell has been driving me wild since I met you.” Pressure gripped her hips as he pulled her ass deeper into his form. The hardness pressing against her through the thin fabric of the dress caused her legs to tremble.

  An arm wrapped around her chest, wedging between her breasts as his hand cupped her chin. The smoothness of his face nestled into her neck and sent currents all throughout her body. Melissa moaned, moving closer against him.

  “I want to taste every inch of your body. I’m betting you taste even better than you smell.”

  Suddenly lifted, Melissa clutched to his arm. He walked straight to her bedroom without so much as a pause. When she was placed stomach-down on the cool comforter, he didn’t give her time to roll over. The weight of his body covered hers.

  Fabric ripped, causing cool air to brush against the exposed skin of her back. Shocked, her head turned to the side, trying to catch a glimpse of him. The top of his head was all she could see. Lips began placing nearly nonexistent kisses along her spine. More fabric ripped the further down he trailed. Heat scorched every inch of her body, igniting a path of fire wherever he touched. A cry escaped her as he lightly sucked her skin into his mouth.

  Channing growled under his breath, flipping her on her back. He tore his clothes off faster than anyone she’d seen undress in their life. Excitement caused her to pull what remained of hers off, too. They reached for each other at the same moment.

  Melissa swept her tongue against his and moaned loudly. He tasted like nothing she’d ever savored before. Sensations exploded, working their way down her body. Weaving her fingers though his hair, she pulled him further into her. No matter what she did, it didn’t feel like enough.

  “Slow down, mon amour. Let me take my time tasting you.”

  “Oh God, was that French?” Melissa moaned, feeling his mouth trail down her neck.

  “Oui.”

  “Oh, fuck. Tell me something, anything.” No one had ever spoken another language to her intimately before. Especially, when she was this hot and ready. The way the words flowed smoothly from his tongue sounded so right, so perfect.

  “Du moment que je vous ai vu, je savais que tu serais a moi.”

  “Oh my God, what did you say?”

  “I said, from the moment I saw you, I knew you would be mine.”

  Channing sucked her nipple into his mouth, and she screamed out against the pleasure. On numerous occasions men had done this, and never once had her body responded so powerfully. She wasn’t sure what to think of it. Everything felt so new. It was if her body had been reborn again, just for him. How long had it been since she felt like this? This was past just needing to be filled with him inside of her. She craved him, couldn’t think without him touching her.

  Fingers trailed her slit, rubbing the wetness into her smooth folds. Melissa arched, waiting for him to make an entrance, but he didn’t. Instead, he brought his fingertips to her clit with a touch that barely even registered. She felt heat blaze through her at the small circles he made.

  “Melissa, you know you are mine, right?”

  “You mean for tonight. I get it.”

  “No, not for tonight.” Channing’s body lifted, and the missing weight made her cry out.

  “You want to stay tomorrow, too? I guess that would be okay.” She reached back for him, but he caught her hand and pulled her to her knees. Hands grasped her face, and she immediately looked into his eyes.

  “I want you forever, mon amour. Come with me. Be mine. I smell it in your skin, taste it on my tongue. You belong to me.”

  “Belong to you?” Melissa shook her head hard and looked away from his eyes. “Wait, what do you mean? Leave with you? I can’t leave. This is where I live, where I belong.”

  “The mere fact that you can break yourself from my gaze tells me I’m right. You’re the one. Don’t fight it, Melissa. Just come with me.”

  “The one what? Channing, I’m not sure what you’re talking about, but I just met you today. If you seriously think what I think you are referring to, maybe I should have listened to Stephen. When you said you wanted me I thought, well, like now, you wanted me. If you’re talking about happily ever after or something like that, then you’re looking at the wrong person. I’m not the Vegas type.”

  “Okay, let’s start over. My words are getting confused, I think. No more talking. Just feel.”

  Uneasily, Melissa looked back into his eyes. “Why wouldn’t I be able to break myself away from your gaze?”

  “No more talking. I will explain afterward.”

  Thoughts rushed through her head. Something told her she was about to discover this big secret she knew everyone was keeping from her. Of course, she shouldn’t get her hopes up. It was quite possible she was losing her mind. She wouldn’t doubt that it was hereditary.

  “You promise?”

  At his nod, she felt relief flow through her. Leaning closer, she brought her lips to his. Pressure from his hands gripped around the back of her thighs, pulling her from her knees. She clung tightly to his neck as he completely held her off the bed. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she felt him ease from his knees to sit down. Resting her legs against the mattress, she paused, feeling the tip of his hard cock rub her entrance.

  “Wait.” Melissa jumped off and pulled open her bedside table drawer. Pulling out a condom, she tossed it to him. He looked at it a few seconds, and then looked up at her.

  “You want me to wear this?”

  Melissa tried not to let herself look puzzled, but she knew she was failing miserably. “Yes, don’t you wear protection?”

>   “Well, I haven’t actually had sex in a long time. I…”

  Shocked, she crawled up to him and took the package from his hand. She wasn’t sure if he was telling the truth or not, but she could play along just in case he wanted her to think that. Opening the wrapper, she kept eye contact with him as she wrapped her hand around his width. At the shock, the need to look down almost overpowered everything. He was big. Not just big, but huge compared to what she was used to.

  A ragged breath escaped him as she slowly managed to roll the condom down his length. Once again, she was lifted. Wrapping herself around him, their moans filled the room as he eased his thickness into her wet pussy.

  Melissa could feel herself stretch to take him in. Tightening her arms, she clutched around his neck. The tingling in her nipples increased while she moved her way down his chest. “Channing.” She looked into his eyes, forgetting what she wanted to say. All she wanted to do was kiss him. For once, she pushed the thoughts away and lost herself in his taste.

  * * * *

  Channing couldn’t describe the emotions that kept sweeping through him. For so long, he thought he’d never find the right woman. From the moment his vision captured Melissa walking toward him with her eyes closed, a smile on her face, he knew, knew more than anything he’d ever experienced in all of his years. She was meant for him.

  He couldn’t explain it and didn’t even feel the need to. Nothing would keep them apart—not Ayden, not anyone. He didn’t live here, anyway. He traveled more than anything else, but with him being in the Alpha’s territory and Melissa being somehow connected to the pack, he needed permission. Now that was going to complicate things. His reputation wasn’t the best. But if all else failed, he hated to think what things would come to.

  Tightness enveloped his cock as he buried himself deep inside of her. The feeling was so different than what he could remember. It could have been the condom, but he wasn’t sure. He’d never worn one before. It had been over five years since he’d last been with a woman. Even then, he’d never thought to wear one. There really wasn’t a point. He knew when women were infected, plus, it wasn’t like he could catch anything, anyway.

  A groan came from his mouth as she started to rotate her hips up and down his length. Channing bit his lip, praying for the strength to let him please her before he expired. “Melissa, slow.”

  She looked up and immediately connected back with his lips. Her taste stole his sanity, made it impossible for him to think straight. Drinking her in, he hardly noticed that he’d somehow managed to get her on her back. He pulled back, looking at her wide eyes.

  “Did I hurt you?”

  “No, but how did you move so fast? I think you broke the frame of my bed.”

  Searching through his memory, he couldn’t recall how they’d gotten there. He really should have fed before letting things get this far. He knew, more than anything, he would not be able to stop himself from tasting her completely before they were finished. Fire burned his throat just smelling her essence.

  “I’ll buy you a new one. I’m sorry.”

  “No, don’t worry about the bed.” She wrapped her legs around his waist, pushing him into her deeper. Wetness coated the protection. He looked down, annoyed with it. He wanted to feel her on his skin, not something separating them.

  Small hands pulled at him, and he lowered, forgetting about everything. Their mouths connected, and he could feel himself begin to thrust faster. Sweet moans poured into his ears, and he pushed harder. He wanted for her to never forget what he could bring her.

  Tightness clutched around him, and Channing lost it. He could feel his fangs lower. The scent of her skin called to him, begged him to pierce the flesh they lingered on. Burying his face in her neck, heat raced through his eyes. He tried fighting it, but he knew he couldn’t battle the bloodlust he felt for the woman he knew was meant for him.

  A cry accompanied by nails digging into his back were barely heard or felt as her flavor exploded over him. Flashes of her life, everything she ever had experienced, poured over him, and he went through them, desperate to know who this beautiful woman was. The need to understand her likes, dislikes, passions, hobbies, drove him into a frenzy of impatience. Memories blinded him. He could still feel his thrusts, still feel her clutched around him greedily as she tried to cope with the multiple orgasms associated with his bite.

  Her last few days filtered through him, and just when he thought he was almost done, he slowed a memory down. He stared at the man who had pulled her out of the water, watched as they yelled at each other. When time stilled and he felt her pull to the wolf, he wanted to yell out angrily. Cum shooting from his cock jerked him from his own thoughts, and he pulled back from her neck.

  Melissa’s wide-eyed gaze looked up at him. Tears ran down her face, but she remained quiet. “Oh God, did I hurt you? I’m so sorry.” Channing tried to comfort her, but she pushed him off.

  “You fucking bit me hard!” Multiple expressions passed her face while she lightly shook her head. “But that wasn’t just a sexual bite, was it?”

  Her whole body was shaking as she slowly edged off the bed. Fuck. How had he forgotten to lock her memories? He’d been so consumed by seeing the beginnings of a bonding the thought didn’t even cross his mind. He really didn’t want her to remember this. Shit, he didn’t even make the marks disappear.

  “No. When I said I needed to eat before—”

  “My blood?” A small hand reached to her neck as she continued to back away.

  “Don’t be scared, Melissa. Please. I’m not going to hurt you. Was it truly so bad?”

  Her face looked dazed as she stared toward the bare wall. “No, but that’s beside the point. Is this what everyone is hiding? Please tell me I’m dreaming. Vampires!” She got quiet as her eyes darted around in different directions. He knew she was deep in thought. “Is Ev a vampire? She’s pale.”

  “You’re friend Evelyn is not a vampire. Now, Brandon, he’s the vampire. Stephen is the werewolf. Evelyn just carries one of their children.”

  A shuttering breath came from her as she blindly reached her hands around. Channing eased from the bed and inched toward her. “Melissa, please do not fear me.”

  “Stay away from me!”

  A curse left his mouth as she grabbed a robe hanging from the door and bolted from the room. Quickly, he threw his clothes on and used his mind to feel where she was going. The stairs. He rushed toward the living room and out the front door. The pale skin of her legs flashed in the moonlight as she headed toward the sounds of the beach.

  Taking off at his vampire speed, Melissa was just approaching the sand when he pulled her down. “I told you I wouldn’t hurt you. What are you worried about?”

  She tried to scream, but the moment she looked into his eyes, he stopped her. He hated having to use his abilities. He put everything into it, knowing no matter what, it wouldn’t be enough. The screams might not come, but he wouldn’t be able to keep her quiet completely. The realization at what he was doing made his stomach sick.

  “Nothing is as it seems.” Her voice cracked as sobs took over. “I’ve always known, always felt that something more was out there. But this…I didn’t expect vampires and werewolves. Angels, maybe, but not this.”

  “Get off of her, Channing.”

  A low growl had his vision snapping up . He looked into the face of the man he knew had been outside of her house when they arrived. He was the same one that had made time stop for her now hours earlier.

  “How do you know my name? Who are you? Why are you watching her?”

  The man tensed, and Melissa wiggled under Channing’s body. He looked down at her, but then continued to stare up at the man. The stranger kneeled down and came face to face with him.

  “My name is no concern. Ayden sent me to watch over her when Tom was on the loose. Maybe I didn’t want to leave.”

  “Well, maybe you should.”

  The men stared at each other for countless minutes, nei
ther budging. A stinging raced across Channing’s cheek. Melissa lay under him, absolutely livid as she stared into his face. One moment she was scared, the next angry. He quickly grabbed her hand before it could strike again.

  “Why did you slap me?” He couldn’t keep the shocked tone from his voice.

  “I thought maybe your gaze was stuck. I was helping. Now get off of me. I have sand in places I don’t care to mention. The shower is calling me. Now off!”

  “Wow, Stephen wasn’t kidding about your temper. Remarkable.”

  Channing stood, gaining a new respect for the woman. Wasn’t she just scared out of her mind? Now she’d somehow turned that fear to anger. Good girl. They were going to get along together perfectly. But what was he going to do about the wolf? Fuck. He really didn’t want to think about what he feared was happening.

  Chapter 6

  Melissa turned on the shower, still numb from shock. Vampires and werewolves. No fucking way. This had to be some sort of horrible dream. Looking in the mirror, she saw the puncture wounds and wiped her last thought away. Nope, this was no nightmare. Damn it. What was she supposed to do now? Would they try to kill her for knowing? Just thinking of what happened between her and Channing, she couldn’t believe that.

  She jumped in the shower and quickly washed herself off. The need to get back out there and check on the two strangers in her living room made her move extra fast. Drying off and slipping on her white silk nightgown, Melissa walked into the living room and came face to face with the two men. They both sat stiffly at opposite ends of the couch, staring at her with weird expressions on their faces. Nervously, she walked to the chair and eased herself down.

  “So what happens to me now? One of you aren’t going to kill me for knowing what you both are, are you?”

  “No way! No one is going to touch you. I won’t let them,” the stranger said, breathing heavily.