Page 2 of Twisted Prince
“Show me what?” I gently prod the dark-haired, russet-skinned Hawaiian beauty, demonstrating a rare case of bashful energy.
“Nothing,” Mel says, hugging the envelope to her chest, her chin tipping up defiantly.
Her oval face and delicate nose, which emphasize her prominent tear-shaped eyes, all come together to create a convincingly innocent look I don’t trust for a second. Narrowing my eyes, I watch her expression closely, assessing the hidden emotion that tells me she doesn’t want me to know whatever it is she was showing the girls.
“Oh, come on, Mel. Show him!” Tiffany insists, snatching the envelope from her grasp before Mel can stop her.
“Tif!” Mel objects, launching her upper body flat across the table to try and grab it back.
And though I know better than to look, I can’t stop my eyes from dropping to her perfect jean-clad ass bent over the hard surface for me like a gift from the gods. I give her gorgeous figure a moment of admiration before forcing my eyes back up to the commotion.
To distract myself from unwanted thoughts, I snag the envelope from Tiffany and dare to slip my fingers inside the opening. “Keeping secrets, Mel?” I ask, my voice dropping into a dangerous octave.
“Give it back!” Mel squeals, leaping up off her chair with such impressive dexterity that I barely have time to react.
Stepping back until my hips find the Formica counter, I hold the envelope high above my head to keep it out of reach.
A terrible decision, really.
In her desperation to reclaim it, Melody doesn’t hesitate to close the distance between us. Leaning into me, she stretches one arm to its full length as she rises onto her toes.
In a flash, I’m intensely aware of her firm, warm body pressed against mine, the way her breasts smoosh adamantly against my ribcage to create a hint of cleavage. The sweet vanilla scent of her perfume fills my nose. Her proximity overwhelms my senses, leaving my stomach in unexpected knots as my heart skips a beat.
“Gleb, please!” she begs, her tone somewhere between laughter and whining.
Though I’m insanely curious to know what she doesn’t want me to see, I can’t handle the feel of her body pressed against mine for much longer. My cock’s already starting to harden.
Mel’s hands tug fruitlessly against my raised arm, and I lower it to put space between us. She stumbles back, seemingly caught by surprise at my sudden readiness to return her envelope. I itch to reach out and steady her, but I’ve already pushed my luck far enough for one day. I shouldn’t be risking contact with Melody at all. Not when I find her so dangerously intoxicating.
“Thank you,” she says breathlessly, tucking a strand of thick black hair behind her ear.
She accepts the envelope when I hold it out to her.
“Ugh, you two are ridiculous,” Tiffany says, slumping in her chair as if put out by our behavior. “I’m going to get ready for work. Come on, Annie. You better get ready, too, if you want a ride.”
They stand together and head toward the hallway I just came from.
Hesitating in the doorway, Tiffany turns to look at Melody. “Just show him, Mel. You should be proud of yourself. It’s a major accomplishment.”
Her words have me burning with curiosity as she vanishes, leaving us alone in the kitchen.
Silence fills the space, followed by an awkwardness that stems from my inability to be alone with Mel without wanting to do dirty things to her. Fighting against the baser urge, I pull myself together.
When I turn my eyes back to Melody, I’m surprised to find a tentative look on her face. Trapping her full lower lip between her straight white teeth, she looks up at me through thick lashes with eyes so dark they’re almost black.
When it comes to Mel, I’ve learned to expect obstinate, outspoken, and bold. This newfound shyness unsettles me as much as it awakens a strangely protective instinct deep inside my chest.
2
MEL
That was probably the nicest, most supportive thing Tiffany has said to me since we met, and it means a lot.
Should I tell Gleb?
I am really excited about the modeling gig I just found out I landed, and Gleb will find out eventually. Better to just get it over with and hope he doesn’t try to stop me. Biting my lower lip, I hunt down my nerve as I look up into his seafoam green eyes.
God, it’s hard to focus when he looks at me like that. As he stalks toward me, my heart flutters with nervous anticipation. Only Gleb can move without making a single sound.
