Read Online Underworld Lover (A Guardian Angel Romance #2) by haron Hamilton - Free Book Online
Authors: haron Hamilton
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enormous breasts against his side. It was a disgusting display of how little she truly cared for the aging man. Melanie’s heart broke. The veiled accusation in Mr. Barstow’s words hurt her. Her eyes filled with tears as she pitied the grieving man.
So sorry, Felix.
She found some courage at last. “You know, Mr. Barstow, you can be very proud of Felix. He was so wonderful to me over the years. Really helped me in times of great distress, of darkness. He was a great friend. I’ll always miss him.”
Mr. Barstow leaned in to Melanie, jaws locked, his hands made into fists. “Did you know about it? Know what he was planning to do?”
Melanie was stunned without words.
“You should have told me, at least,” he said through clenched teeth. His eyes reflected all the confusion the pain had caused him.
Melanie knew instantly he was right and wished she’d kept her mouth shut. All she’d done was add to a father’s pain.
Peter came to the rescue, shouldering between Mr. Barstow and Melanie. He gave her a lazy smile and half grin, as he regarded Mr. Barstow over his shoulder. “How could she have known? Most male suicides don’t want to be rescued. Most women want to be found.”
Melanie stared up into Peter’s face and was suddenly grateful for the intervention. As he turned his head back in her direction, she noticed how he seemed to do more than look. He absorbed her essence.
Peter’s hands were on her waist as he slowly moved her away from the couple, keeping her back and one side touching his body, length to length. Melanie noticed where they connected; her body was already anticipating the next touch. He did have a sense of control over her, a command, as if he knew what she would put up with and where the unacceptable line was drawn. She had to admit, she liked being protected in this little gathering, where the odds were stacked against her at least four to one.
Mr. Barstow retreated to a corner, his new wife in tow.
“It wasn’t your fault, you know,” Peter said to the back of her head as she watched the couple distance themselves.
“What wasn’t?”
“Felix.”
“How do you know about him?” Melanie wasn’t sure his face revealed anything but passing interest, but it piqued her curiosity how a stranger knew.
“Your father.” He took a step closer than Melanie wanted, but she stayed her ground. Barely speaking, his chest rumbled as his words cast over her like an elixir. “He said you were in need of male companionship, that Felix had been your…confidante, and that he had killed himself.”
Melanie looked down at her feet. She didn’t want to show him her tears. She wasn’t sure if they were for Felix or for the fact that she felt very alone in her own family.
“Do you”—Peter took in a deep breath and exhaled over the top of her head—“need male companionship?” It was as if he was motioning with his forefinger, begging her to follow him down a dark garden path. The tingling on her skin from the touch of his breath was delightful and somewhat exciting, but she was confused as to whether or not it could be counted on to be long lasting.
“I’m not looking for anyone to fix me. Time heals.” She felt warmth coming from her face. The spontaneous heat traveled down her spine. Something physical was emanating from her face.
“Melanie.”
She heard a voice. She looked up to see Peter’s dark features illuminated. The light seemed to throw him a bit off guard. Did she have some power over him? Where was this light coming from? For an instant his smile disappeared, then was replaced with something more dangerous. Anger?
She remembered the other dark man she had met the day before yesterday—Josh. It was his voice she heard calling her name. The touch of his skin on hers had been pleasant. In Josh’s presence, she’d felt none of the repulsion and loathing she felt for Peter. She had smelled the roses, felt the cool petals brush against her skin. She’d felt his
So sorry, Felix.
She found some courage at last. “You know, Mr. Barstow, you can be very proud of Felix. He was so wonderful to me over the years. Really helped me in times of great distress, of darkness. He was a great friend. I’ll always miss him.”
Mr. Barstow leaned in to Melanie, jaws locked, his hands made into fists. “Did you know about it? Know what he was planning to do?”
Melanie was stunned without words.
“You should have told me, at least,” he said through clenched teeth. His eyes reflected all the confusion the pain had caused him.
Melanie knew instantly he was right and wished she’d kept her mouth shut. All she’d done was add to a father’s pain.
Peter came to the rescue, shouldering between Mr. Barstow and Melanie. He gave her a lazy smile and half grin, as he regarded Mr. Barstow over his shoulder. “How could she have known? Most male suicides don’t want to be rescued. Most women want to be found.”
Melanie stared up into Peter’s face and was suddenly grateful for the intervention. As he turned his head back in her direction, she noticed how he seemed to do more than look. He absorbed her essence.
Peter’s hands were on her waist as he slowly moved her away from the couple, keeping her back and one side touching his body, length to length. Melanie noticed where they connected; her body was already anticipating the next touch. He did have a sense of control over her, a command, as if he knew what she would put up with and where the unacceptable line was drawn. She had to admit, she liked being protected in this little gathering, where the odds were stacked against her at least four to one.
Mr. Barstow retreated to a corner, his new wife in tow.
“It wasn’t your fault, you know,” Peter said to the back of her head as she watched the couple distance themselves.
“What wasn’t?”
“Felix.”
“How do you know about him?” Melanie wasn’t sure his face revealed anything but passing interest, but it piqued her curiosity how a stranger knew.
“Your father.” He took a step closer than Melanie wanted, but she stayed her ground. Barely speaking, his chest rumbled as his words cast over her like an elixir. “He said you were in need of male companionship, that Felix had been your…confidante, and that he had killed himself.”
Melanie looked down at her feet. She didn’t want to show him her tears. She wasn’t sure if they were for Felix or for the fact that she felt very alone in her own family.
“Do you”—Peter took in a deep breath and exhaled over the top of her head—“need male companionship?” It was as if he was motioning with his forefinger, begging her to follow him down a dark garden path. The tingling on her skin from the touch of his breath was delightful and somewhat exciting, but she was confused as to whether or not it could be counted on to be long lasting.
“I’m not looking for anyone to fix me. Time heals.” She felt warmth coming from her face. The spontaneous heat traveled down her spine. Something physical was emanating from her face.
“Melanie.”
She heard a voice. She looked up to see Peter’s dark features illuminated. The light seemed to throw him a bit off guard. Did she have some power over him? Where was this light coming from? For an instant his smile disappeared, then was replaced with something more dangerous. Anger?
She remembered the other dark man she had met the day before yesterday—Josh. It was his voice she heard calling her name. The touch of his skin on hers had been pleasant. In Josh’s presence, she’d felt none of the repulsion and loathing she felt for Peter. She had smelled the roses, felt the cool petals brush against her skin. She’d felt his
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