Destiny Revealed (There's Always Tomorrow Book 2) (6 page)

Vance groans, his head is pounding. He drank way too much last night. His stomach feels nasty. He wonders if he throws up if he'd feel better. Vance moves to go do just that when his leg brushes against another. Vance freezes. Who the fuck is in his bed with him? Vance then realizes that he’s naked, which is not completely unusual since that's how he usually sleeps, but if someone else is in his bed, it can't be good. Vance lifts his head from his pillow and opens his eyes. A mass of dark brown hair covers the face of the woman lying next to him. Vance’s stomach rolls. Did he cheat on Melina? She’s in New York. Panic sets in. Oh, shit!

Vance looks the woman over. She is curled up on her side, facing him. She’s in a white tank top and black panties. He doesn't remember anything past his eighth beer, except egging Dayne on to put the elephant thong on; that alone tells him how drunk he was. Vance props himself up on his elbows and hesitantly reaches out, gently brushing a chunk of hair away from the woman's face.

Vance sags with relief when he sees that it’s Melina. Oh, thank god! He would have never forgiven himself if he brought another woman in his bed. Vance smiles at how pretty and peaceful she looks when she’s sleeping. He definitely missed her while she was away. He didn't expect to miss her as much as he did. It’s like he was missing a part of himself - no different from when he woke from the coma - which totally freaks him out.

Vance strokes her hair, brushing more of it out of her face. Melina stirs right before her eyes flutter open. She rubs her eyes as she rolls onto her back then turns her head to look at him, a soft smile playing across her lush lips.

“Morning,” she murmurs sweetly.

“Hi,” Vance says with a small smile.

“How are you feeling?” Melina asks with a knowing smile.

“Like shit. When did you get here?” Vance asks, rubbing his face.

Melina is biting back a smile when he looks back at her. “You don't remember anything?” she asks.

Vance narrows his eyes at her. “Not much. Definitely not you coming over. I damn near had a heart attack when I woke up with you next to me. Your hair was covering your face and I didn't know who you were at first. Freaked me the hell out.”

Melina gives him a sympathetic look.

“Did something happen that I should remember?” Vance asks suspiciously.

“Yeah, I thought it would have been memorable because you really seemed to enjoy it, but I guess not.” Melina shrugs and gives him a coy smile.

Vance frowns. What the hell does she mean by that?

“What do you remember?” Melina asks, turns to face him, and props her head up with her hand.

“Everything up until Dayne put on that elephant thong and twerked around in the living room.” Vance grimaces.  They are a bunch of asses when they’re drunk.

Melina laughs. “Yeah, he answered the door dressed in that thing.”

Vance groans and drops his face into his hands. “Sorry you had to see that.”

“And he thrusted his hips at me and said ‘you know you love it,’” Melina adds.

Vance feels his ears burn up. “Please tell me that pain in the ass didn’t put his hands on you.”

“No, of course not.” Melina smiles then lays a sweet kiss on his shoulder.

He lifts his face and looks at her. “Thank god. I think I’m too hungover to kick his ass right now.”

Melina giggles at him. “You don't remember what happened after we came up here?” she asks, a coy smile back on her beautiful face.

Vance shakes his head and frowns.

“Let’s just say that I took your shorts off while on my knees,” she purrs, her eyes turning heated.

Vance's breath catches. “No,” he breathes when he realizes what she’s saying.

Melina gives him another one of her sympathetic looks and nods.

“You gave me head and I don't remember it? What the fuck!” Vance cries and drops his face into the pillow and screams.

Melina is laughing next to him.

Think asshole, think! You've got to remember the first time your new girlfriend sucked your dick, he chides himself.

“This is horrible! How can I not remember that?” Vance groans.

“You were really, really drunk,” Melina says, her eyes comically wide.

Vance chuckles and shakes his head. “Obviously.”

Vance looks Melina over. She looks great in his king sized bed, especially in her tank top and panties. Vance reaches over and runs his hand up and down her silky thigh. He scoots his naked self closer so that he’s almost against her. He takes her by the back of her knee and drapes her leg over his hip then continues to stroke her thigh. How can she feel exactly the same as she did in his dream? How is that even possible?  Vance leans in to give her a kiss, but instead of getting her mouth, her fingers press against his lips.

“You need to brush your teeth and take a shower. Stale beer is not really a huge turn on for me,” Melina says with an apologetic grimace.

Vance backs up. “Sorry, I forgot,” he says, clapping a hand over his mouth.

He rolls out of bed and heads for the bathroom. “Don't go anywhere,” he calls over his shoulder before shutting himself in the bathroom.

Vance braces himself with one hand on the vanity while he uses the other to brush his teeth. He tries desperately to remember Melina on her knees in front of him. Oh god, just thinking about it is getting him all hot and bothered. He urgently needs a repeat performance of the previous night’s events. Vance groans softly and closes his eyes.

He still can't believe that Melina saw him like that last night. After being away from her for a few days, the first time she gets to see him, he’s drunk as a skunk.  Not exactly the way he wants to start a new relationship. He really hopes that he didn’t act like a complete asshole. Considering that she didn’t run for the hills, he must’ve been a tolerable drunk. Vance spits and rinses off his toothbrush before hopping into the shower.

This is just another reason why he doesn't see this relationship working out. Vance turns his face up and lets the warm water beat down on him. If he had been caught on camera like that, for Christ's sake, he would have definitely been fired. Vance’s doubts surrounding the relationship are creeping back in and are completely overwhelming him. Does he really think that it can’t work? Are his memories enough to surpass the grim reality? Is he so selfish that he can suppress these feelings and have sex with her anyway? He feels like he just got shot in the gut - no pun intended - killing his good mood instantly.

Vance is just torturing himself. He likes her, a lot, and he knows that he will be broken without her. It's probably best that he doesn't remember her going down on him last night. Vance quickly washes up then shuts the water off. He dries off, wraps the towel around his waist, and then heads back out into the bedroom where Melina is waiting patiently on the bed.

Vance freezes when he realizes that she is naked. She is on her belly, facing him, resting on her elbows. Her long dark hair is tumbling over her shoulders, her forearms frame her perfectly rounded breasts, and her softly curved ass is on display. Vance is hard in two seconds, the towel jutting out in front of him. Melina's eyes rake down his body, stopping at the towel. She licks her lips and looks ready to eat him alive.

Vance's heart pounds. He's never seen a more beautiful woman than Melina. She is the epitome of sexy. Melina pushes up onto her hands and knees and crawls to the end of the bed. Vance's mouth goes dry at the sight before him. Her mouth curls into a sultry smile as she crooks her finger at him, beaconing him forward. Vance hesitates, his earlier thoughts invading his head. Does he do this and risk losing his heart to her? Melina notices his hesitation and sits back on her heels.

“What's the matter Vance?” She sighs.

“You can do so much better than me,” Vance says flatly. “Last night proves that.”

“Are you kidding me?” Melina practically shouts in exasperation. “I liked you a lot more last night than I do right now.”  At Vance's questioning look, she continues, “You were so relaxed and uninhibited last night; you kissed me with reckless abandon. There was no worry.  You didn't care about anything, only that you were with me. God Vance, what do I have to do to make you understand that there is no one else for me. I want
you
.”  She’s breathing heavy from her admission.

Vance closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose.

“I'm here, on your bed, naked, practically throwing myself at you, and you're still not sure?” Melina sighs, her hurt clear.

Vance looks up when he hears the bed move. Melina is crawling off and starting to put her clothes back on.

Fuck!

“Melina...” Vance starts, but Melina cuts him off with a shake of her head.

“I don't know what else I can say to make you understand,” Melina murmurs, walking over to his dresser and picking up her bag. “This isn't working because you're not letting it, no other reason,” she says sadly then walks over to him. She gives him a tender kiss on the lips then starts for the door. “Call me if you’re ever ready,” she whispers before walking out into the hall.

Holy shit, she just dumped me!

Vance stands there stupefied for a moment before getting his ass in gear and going after her, in his towel. He sprints down the hall and just reaches the top of the stairs when she walks out the door. Vance bolts down the stairs two at a time and flies out the door, now clutching the loosening knot of his towel. He races down the porch steps to where she is unlocking her car door.

Melina starts to pull the door open when he slams it shut. She jumps and spins around. Vance is breathing hard, trying to catch his breath enough to talk. Melina just stares up at him with tears in her eyes. Goddamn her with the tears!

“Melina...please, don't do this,” Vance says softly, pleading with his eyes.

“I don't know what else to do Vance.”

Vance sighs and leans his forehead against hers, closing his eyes. “I just feel like such an undeserving ass after last night.”

“See! This is what I'm talking about,” Melina snaps, pushing him back with a hand to his chest. “Stop worrying so much and get out of your head!”

Vance frowns hard.

Melina makes an aggravated noise at him and pushes him back even further. She then lets out an angry growl as she flings open her car door and gets in. The bang of the door slamming closed makes Vance flinch. Melina starts the car and quickly backs out of the driveway before he can make any other move to stop her. Once out of the driveway, she knocks it into gear and takes off down the street.

What the fuck did he just do? Is he letting his memories of their old whatever it was - life in his dream world - dictate what their real relationship is going to be here…in reality?

Vance stands there, absolutely shocked, clutching his towel to keep it around his hips. The ache in his chest starts immediately. Vance presses the heel of his palm against his sternum. They've only been together for real for literally four days, but it hurts terribly watching her drive away. In his head, they’ve been together forever.  In his head, he’s already madly in love with Melina. Motherfucking cocksucker!

Vance drags his hand down his face as he turns and walks back toward the house. He walks through the front door to find Mike and Ryder standing at the bottom of the stairs in their underwear. Both frowning.

“Dude, don't tell me you broke up with her,” Mike groans.

“She broke up with me,” Vance murmurs quietly and starts up the stairs.

“What? Why?” Ryder asks, as they both follow him up.

“Because I'm a fucking insecure asshole,” Vance grunts.

“Vance! You idiot!” Mike exclaims in frustration.

“Yeah, well…” Vance sighs as he hits the landing and starts down the hall toward his room.

“You're gonna try and get her back, right?” Ryder asks.

Vance shrugs. “It’s probably better off this way.”

“Oh my god, are you serious? You're gonna just let her go? She's perfect for you!” Mike yells, getting angry.

Vance stops just outside of his bedroom door, leans his forearm on the doorframe, and then rests his forehead against it and closes his eyes. “If you only knew how perfect, man. Now, let’s drop it, huh?”

“No! Shut up, nut up, and go get your woman,” Mike growls.

Vance ignores him, goes into his room, and slams the door in Mike's face, locking it to make sure that he stays out.

“Vance!” Mike shouts and bangs on the door. “Vance, come on, don't be stupid. Melina has real feelings for you. When did you start acting like a goddamn pussy for fuck’s sake?”

“When I started dating Melina!” Vance shouts back then drops down on the edge of his bed. “Now just leave me the fuck alone,” Vance says resignedly.

Vance hears Ryder tell Mike to let it go for now and they walk away. Vance scrubs his face with his hands then falls back onto the bed. He doesn't know what to do. Mike’s right; he is acting like a fucking pussy. But nobody understands why.  That’s probably because he still hasn’t told anyone about his dream, their relationship, or his love for her.

None of them have ever mentioned that day in the hospital when he asked for her. Could they have forgotten already? Maybe they’ve all blocked out that whole horrific time.