Chapter 4: Tying Straps

Words : 1128 Updated : Sep 18th, 2025

"Is my wife in there with you?" The pounding on the door got louder, like the next hit might bust it open. It made my heart pound. Panic surged. Billy was burly and not too bright. If he found his wife showing up at my place in the middle of the night dressed like that, things would get ugly. My reputation would be shot, and I might end up in a hospital bed. Melissa looked even more rattled than I was. Her knees gave out, and she fell right into my arms. "Gideon, please, I'm begging you. You have to keep Billy out." "Melissa, get up." I hauled her to her feet and yanked open the closet door. "Don't panic. It's empty. Hide in there." She scrambled inside. I glanced over the mess, cleaned it up, took a deep breath, and went to open the door. I told myself to keep my cool. The door swung open, and Billy barged in, mean as a cornered bull. "Gideon, you punk! Are you with my wife?" "Billy, I just woke up. How would I know where she goes?" I said, blocking the way to the bedroom. Billy didn't waste words. He shoved past me toward the room. The closet was in plain view. I hadn't expected him to barge into the bedroom. My heart hammered in my chest. The moment he stepped in, his eyes locked on the closet. He stomped over, grabbed the handle, and started to pull. I lunged, grabbed his wrist, and kept my expression hard. "It's full of expensive medicine. If you damage anything, can you pay for it?" "You think you can scare me?" he roared, yanking again. "They're toxic. Just a touch could kill you. Don't say I didn't warn you. You may not care if you live, but I do." I let go and backed away, acting like I was about to leave him to it. Outwardly, I stayed calm. My hands at my sides clenched until my knuckles ached. I had to take the risk. Billy froze for a few seconds, eyes narrowing. In the end, he didn't open it. He spat a curse or two and stomped out. I let out the breath I'd been holding. Thank heavens he hadn't found his wife hiding in my room. I opened the closet. Melissa's legs buckled, and she collapsed into my arms. The soft weight of her sent my head spinning. I tried to steady myself. "Melissa, go home. I won't tell anyone about tonight." "Gideon, thank you so much." She blushed and looked down. She was clutching two loose straps. In her panic earlier, the straps of her nightgown had come undone. If she let go, the nightgown would slip and bare everything. She couldn't retie it. An awkward silence hung between us. Melissa had no choice but to ask. She looked up at me, eyes wet and shimmering with a tenderness that made heat flare in my chest. For a second, I wanted to pounce on her. "Could you... tie these for me?" Her voice was shy. Only then did I notice how far the nightgown had already slipped. One pale shoulder lay bare, half-exposed in the dim light. Just like I'd imagined. Soft as a cloud. Melissa stiffened, her blush deepening, and she eased away from my hand. A jolt shot through me. I snapped back to my senses. "Melissa, I'm sorry. I was just about to tie the straps. It's so dark I can hardly see." "I was too sensitive," she whispered, her voice soft and apologetic, a flush blooming on her cheeks. I bent closer. When I looked down, I saw the smooth sweep of her neck, and her scent hit me—warm and heady, needling at my self-control. Wicked thoughts kept rising. That was the scent of a grown woman. I picked up the straps. My hand shook, and they slipped. The flimsy cloth drifted to the floor. The body I had imagined a thousand times in my dreams stood bare before my eyes. Melissa jerked back with a sharp cry and covered herself in a rush. "I lost my grip," I blurted, dropping into a crouch to snatch up the nightgown. I accidentally looked up. One glance, and my pulse sprinted. Heat roared through me. God, what man could keep his cool at a sight like that? Melissa snatched the nightgown and wore it. While she moved, soft white skin flashed in and out of my vision. She finished dressing, said nothing, and bolted out. "Melissa..." I called after her, sick with regret at my own impulsiveness. I knew I'd have her sooner or later. Why was I in such a hurry?

Chapter 4: Tying Straps

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