As they stepped outside, Howie opened his cell phone and called his driver to bring the limo to the front. “Where are we going?” she asked, her tone far from pleasant. “Somewhere we can talk.” Howie said calmly. “Well I don’t want to leave Nick here, I promised him I would be here in case he needed me. I…” “Nick is going to be fine. AJ is still there and I’m sure if he needs anything he can find him. Nick’s a big boy now, he can take care of himself.” Howie smiled at her, hoping to receive the same back, but saw her staring down into the ocean far below. The limo pulled up and Howie opened the door for her. Melissa sat down near close to the window. Howie closed the door and limo drove off , heading for Howie’s home. Melissa stared out the window, nervous, angry and scared of what was going to happen. She knew she loved him, but the hurt was still too strong. ‘Who does she think she is being all pissy… she’s the one that left me… I’m trying to be nice, and what do I get? She is sitting there, staring out the window, God she looks so beautiful. Those soft curls falling around her face, that black dress , those beautiful eyes. I do love her but I need to know why. That’s it…’ Howie thought to himself. He closed the space between them, sliding closer to her. She shifted in her seat, but still kept her eyes fixed on the night sky. “Did that night mean anything to you?” Melissa was shocked by his question. She turned to face him, staring deeply into his dark beautiful eyes. “Well it obviously meant more to me than it did to you.” She couldn’t believe her courage in her words. She was saying exactly what she had wanted to for months. “What?” he asked. “I love it how you get me in this car, tell me we need to talk and now you’re playing stupid.” Howie tried to speak, but she cut him off. “I know that you are a big superstar and make millions of dollars and probably have millions of girls flocking after you. You probably have had many meaningless one-night stands with people who only care about you being a Backstreet boy. Well I’m sorry to tell you ‘Howie D’ that I didn’t sleep with you because you’re rich or famous, but because you are you, someone I care about a lot and who I thought cared a lot about me.” She was still staring at Howie, but her eyes were now filled with tears. She turned back to the window, unable to face him, face the hurt. “You’re the one who left…you’re the one who walked out of my life without a word to let me know how to reach you again.” He said. She turned to face him once again, not believing what she was hearing. “You think I thought it was just a one-night stand? Then why can’t I get you out of my mind? Why, even after you left me with nothing I can’t have a relationship with anyone without thinking about you? And why the hell do you think you can just come back into my life and fuck one of my best friends?” Melissa was silent for a moment, seeing the anger and hurt in Howie’s eyes. “I left it on the bed.” She said quietly. “My name…my phone number… where I was moving to, everything. On the bed. You never called, never wrote, never…” Tears now overwhelmed her, sobs escaping from her throat. “And.. when I got here and saw you with… her …at the club, I just couldn’t …take it…when I slept with Nick it wasn’t him…it was …you…” “The bed?” Howie asked. “My maid, she took the sheets… the note…” They both looked up at each other, staring into each other’s eyes understanding what had happened. Howie brushed the side of her face with his hand, caressing her soft skin, wiping away her tears with his thumb. Melissa slid closer to him on the seat, still not able to believe that months of hurt hand only been a mistake. “I’m so sorry…” she said, trying to make sense of what had just happened. He placed a finger on her soft lips. “Shh, it’s not your fault. Maybe things were meant to be this way…I know now that I want to be with you…no one else.” He closed the space between them, pressing his lips against hers, caressing her neck with his hand. Melissa nearly gasped at the sweet sensation of his lips against hers once again. She slid her hand down his muscular arm, his tight black shirt clinging to him as she felt his tongue sliding across her lower lip. They both melted into each other, Howie’s tongue creeping past Melissa’s lips, searching her mouth. Her tongue massaged his as their kiss brought their two longing hearts together. Suddenly the limo came to a halt and a voice was heard over the intercom. “ We are here Mr. Dorough.” Howie unwillingly broke the kiss whispering, “ Follow me.” He held onto her hand tightly, interlocking their fingers as he led her up the stairs to his condo. As they entered, Howie led her through the foyer to the main room, stopping in front of the fireplace. They sat down on the small couch in perfect view of the ocean reflecting the light of the moon. Howie stroked Melissa’s hand with his own, staring into her eyes he said, “I’ve missed you. So much. That night, it changed…everything.” Her heart warmed with the love they had finally found. “No matter how hard I tried Howie, I couldn’t get you out of my mind. And I want you to know that what happened with Nick, I never meant to hurt you. I was so frustrated…and he..” Howie interrupted her, “It’s ok, I understand. The girl who you saw me with at the club…I was trying to get you out of my head, move on, trying to convince myself that it was just a one-night stand, which didn’t work.” “I still can’t believe what happened. So just to make sure you know, I am teaching here in Orlando and…” Melissa reached into her purse and wrote down on a piece of paper her phone number, address, and email address and placed it under a statue that was on the table. “Just in case.” She said, turning once again to face Howie. As she turned her head she was met with a sweet kiss. It was quickly deepened, both of them needing more and more of each other. Their hands searching each other’s bodies, their passion intensifying, Howie insisted on stopping for a few moments. “Wait…” he said, straining not to control himself. “I want it to be perfect. I’ll be right back.” He said before heading into his bedroom. Melissa’s heart beat fast as she waited for Howie. Thoughts of their time together before flooded her memory. She removed her heels and stared out the window into the ocean as she waited for him.
Howie lit the numerous candles in his room, closed slightly the curtain on the large window overlooking the ocean and pulled back the sheets on his bed. He placed a small bowl of chocolate syrup next to the fireplace, and two large purple silk pillows. His heart was beating fast, anticipating what was going to happen. He took a drink of ice water that sat by his bed to calm down. He remembered his telephone conversation with Nick, when he realized that he had to face the fact that he was in love with her. As he removed his pants and shirt, revealing his black silk boxers and muscular chest he wondered if he should tell her exactly how he felt for her. He didn’t want to scare her by how strong he felt, but he hoped that she was feeling the same way. He looked around the room, the candlelight beautifully accenting his large king size off white bed. The fireplace shining through the room made the setting even more romantic. He walked to the door, calling her name. She rose to her feet and entered the room, the glowing light flickering against the walls, lighting Howie’s perfect body leaning against the bed. ‘Damn she is so beautiful’ Howie thought to himself as Melissa entered the room, her black dress clinging tightly to her body as she slowly walked over to where he was standing. He slipped his arms around her waist, resting on her hips as she leaned into him, pressed closely to his body. “I want you Howie.” Melissa said as she ran her hands down his chest. |
