Melt (Steel Brothers Saga #4)(16)

“Melanie it is, then. I’d like to get to know you. Melanie.”

She gnawed on that lower lip again. Damn, she was sexy. Her lips were already red as currants, but when she nibbled on them like that, they turned a deeper burgundy. Melanie Carmichael had great lips.

“So why do you think you’re responsible for everything?” she asked.

Back to that, were we? Well, I could play this game. “I don’t really know. Why do you think you’re responsible for everything?”

There went the teeth on the lip again. “I don’t.”

Maybe she didn’t. Maybe I was misreading her. But I was pretty sure little miss therapist had her own baggage. And I was going to find out what it was.

“Let me answer your question. I don’t really know why I feel responsible. I am the oldest, and my father told me to protect my younger brothers. Marjorie too, when she came along. Although at that point, I had already failed miserably protecting my brother.”

“And you never got over that.”

“No, I didn’t. And there’s something you never got over as well, isn’t there?”

“I don’t want to talk about me.”

“All right. That’s fair. Tell me how I can help myself, then. Tell me how I can leave all this fucking guilt at the door and have a good life. Because that’s what I want, Melanie. I want a good life, a life of happiness and wonder. A life filled with love. How do I find that?”

Her green eyes misted over. Hell, I hadn’t meant to make her cry. It looked like the waterworks were coming. I wanted to go to her, force her out of the chair, and hold her, tell her everything was all right.

But I didn’t know if everything was all right.

I sure as hell didn’t know how to get away from my own guilt. How could I help her with hers? She was the therapist, not me. I stayed seated, willing my body to relax. This was her office. She hadn’t come to me like she had the last time. When she’d rushed toward me and launched herself at my heart, I hadn’t known what to do. So I’d done nothing, just held her, and then she pulled me down for that kiss—that amazing kiss.

I had never experienced a kiss like that. Never. Not even in my younger days.

“Melanie? Are you going to answer me?”

“I…”

“What?”

“I just can’t. I can’t tell you how to get over the guilt, Jonah, because I just don’t know how to do it for myself.”

“I don’t believe that for a minute. You’re the best of the best.”

“I specialize in childhood trauma. Not adult guilt.”

“Then why did you agree to see me?”

She shrugged, looking away. “Talon asked me to. He was worried about you after you were found nearly beaten to death. And I also didn’t realize…”

“What?”

“That we would…” She sighed.

“That we would be so attracted to each other?”

She nodded.

“Well, I’m about as attracted to you as I’ve ever been to anyone. You’re beautiful. I can see everything in those gorgeous green eyes of yours. You’ve felt things, experienced things. And physically, your damn near perfect. Your blond hair is like silk flowing over your shoulders, and your body—”

She looked away. “There’s nothing special about my body. Nothing special at all.”

“While I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing it—unclothed, that is—I think you’re probably wrong about that.”

“I’m not curvy enough. I’m too tall.”

“You don’t look too tall from where I’m standing.”

“Most men aren’t as tall as you.”

“My sister stands near six feet tall. I’m used to tall women. I like tall women.”

She said nothing, just chewed on her bottom lip.

“Listen, I’m attracted to you, and I know you’re attracted to me. Okay, so we both have issues. Maybe we both need some therapy. But can’t we get to know each other? It’s been a long time since I met a woman who I want to get to know, Melanie.”

“I’m not who you think I am.”

“I know you’re brilliant. I know how far you brought my brother in just a few months. And I know you’ve done that for others as well. So you’re feeling a little inadequate right now. Don’t we all feel like that from time to time? I’ve felt inadequate for the last twenty-five years of my life.”

“I have no business being in a relationship with you or anyone.”

Fine. “Who said anything about a relationship? Why don’t we just go to bed?”

She blushed from her forehead down to the tips of her fingers. My guess was she was pink all the way to her toes, though she was wearing pumps and I couldn’t see them.

“So I’ve embarrassed you?”

“I’m not used to men being so forward.”

“Hey, you started this. You kissed me the other day, remember?”

She blushed even rosier.

“Melanie, I’m not asking for your hand in marriage. I’m not even asking for anything beyond tomorrow. But why not? I fucking want you so much I can’t see straight. Let me take you to a hotel. Let me take you into my bed. I promise you that you won’t regret it.”