Chapter 5

Mel could hear Maks’ bellowed laughter coming out of his bedroom even before he did as she rolled her eyes at him.

“Come on, Mel. What is there to talk about?” Maks said as his laughter calmed down and he made his way down the stairs.

“There is a lot to talk about. We have to get our stories straight so that you don’t go and blow my cover,” Mel answered, leaning against the railing post.

“Is that the real reason you want to talk about it?” Maks asked, a sly grin on his face as he stood in front of her.

“Obviously. What other reason would there be?” Mel asked, confused.

“Well, maybe you just wanted me to remind you exactly what happened between us,” he said seductively as he moved close to her, placing a hand on either side of her waist, pinning her between him and then railing.

“No, my memory is fine, thank you,” she answered, crossing her arms across her chest.

“If you ever forget give me a call…” he trailed off as he placed a kiss against her cheek and ran a hand across her tightly dress-clad bottom before sauntering off into the living room.

“Smart ass,” she whispered, smiling as he turned around and shot her a wink before sitting down on the couch. Following his path she joined him, sitting on the opposite end. Mel kicked her heels off and then rubbed a foot up her opposite leg before tucking her exquisitely manicured feet under herself.

“Tease,” Maks said with a laugh as she smiled at him.

“Have to save that for our first date,” she answered, repeating his earlier statement in an almost mock.

“I’m holding you to that,” he replied, shifting his position so that his back leaned against the armrest and his legs sprawled down the length, resting beside her body. “So, you are going to tell Phoenix about us?”

“Not voluntarily. She wants to know and I don’t know what to tell her,” Mel answered.

“What did you tell her so far?”

“Not much,” Mel said with a shrug as Maks’ eyebrow cocked upwards, knowing she wasn’t telling the truth. “Okay. I told her you used to have a crush on me. That was all,” she said, slightly embarrassed.

“I had a crush on YOU? Is that how we are playing it,” Maks said with a laugh as Mel nodded innocently. “Last time I checked you were the one who was on top 99% of the time yet I’m the one who had the crush?”

Mel slapped his leg playfully as she shot him a look. “Shut up. My…preferences have nothing to do with this.”

“Oh trust me they are my preferences too and I’m not against incorporating them into this discussion one bit,” Maks quipped back at her, rubbing his leg up on hers.

“Funny,” Mel said, “But we are getting off track.”

“Why don’t you just tell her the truth? We had an affair. End of story.”

“She won’t let me get away with just that.”

“Okay. Say that we we’re good friends who drank a bit too much and ended up in bed together. Alcohol plus sex equals bad,” Maks said smiling.

“Wow, you must be such a great father,” Mel laughed as Maks nodded, laughing along with her. “Seriously, though. What are you gonna tell Pascha?”

“Don’t worry about him, he already knows,” Maks replied nonchalantly as a panic spread over Mel.

“You told HIM!!!” Mel yelped and Maks laughed.

“It was awhile ago, before he even met Phoenix so calm down,” Maks said.

“Before?” Mel said, the fact that he talked about her giving her butterflies.

“Yeah, before. It was after the divorce. We had a boys night and we were just talking about his mother and my other relationships and of course you came up.” Maks finished.

“Oh,” Mel managed to get out, trying her best to hold back the big smile that was threatening to cross her face. She untucked her feet and pushed them down the couch, opposite his body as she sat in the same position as him.

“I get rewarded if I’m a good boy, do I?” Maks asked, taking one of her feet into his lap, beginning to massage it.

“Mmhmm,” Mel replied, enjoying what he was doing to her. “Anyways, back to business. What if Phoenix asks me about the L word?”

“The L word?” Maks asked, confused.

“If we were in love,” Mel explained.

“I don’t know. Were we?” Maks answered honestly, looking at her.

“I don’t know,” she said, looking back at him as a silence overtook the room.

“Well. That conversation got a lot accomplished,” Maks said breaking it as Mel laughed.

“I’m not surprised,” she said as she switched feet in his lap.

“So, are we still on for Friday?” Maks asked, his hands working wonders on her foot.

“Yeah. What did you have in mind?” Mel answered, closing her eyes and relaxing her head against the couch.

“I thought I could cook you dinner and then we could watch a movie.”

“In a theatre?” Mel asked making Maks smile.

“No, Melanie. Here, in my house,” he told her, as she cracked up with laughter.

“Of course,” she said between laughs.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Maks said, still smiling.

“Watching a movie at a house is basically code for making out,” Mel answered as Maks plastered a mock surprised look on his face.

“I am shocked and appalled.”

“So your intentions weren’t to make out with me?” Mel asked coyly.

“Of course not,” Maks answered as innocently as he could as Mel’s eyebrows rose. “Okay, maybe. I thought we could make out a little, maybe get to second base if I’m lucky.” Mel grabbed the pillow that was behind her and tossed it at Maks, smacking him lightly in the face as the both broke out in laughter.

“Pig,” Mel said as she dodged the pillow being thrown back at her. “Do I at least get to pick the movie?”

“Sure. We won’t be watching much of it anyways so you can choose whatever you want,” Maks answered as his hands moved from her foot up to her leg, massaging it seductively.

“Whatever you say Mr. All Talk No Action,” Mel quipped playfully, not noticing the cocky grin on Maks’ face before it was too late. With almost lightening speed he was on top of her, pinning her against the couch. Her free leg involuntarily arched upwards, wrapping itself around him as he growled into her ear.

“What was that you said?” he asked, as his teeth scraped her sensitive neck and his hips grinded against hers.

“I forget,” she managed to squeak out as he sucked on her neck; lips, tongue, and teeth working to drive her insane.

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Mel crept into her house as quiet as she possibly could, slipping off her heels and running to her bedroom. She was almost there when Phoenix came out of her room, hands on her hips.

“And where have you been avoiding me all day?” she asked.

“I wasn’t avoiding you sweetheart,” Mel said nervously hoping it would work but knowing that it wouldn’t

“Sure,” Phoenix said, and then suddenly widened her eyes and cocked her head, “Mom, what’s on your neck?” she asked, noticing the purple mark.

“Nothing” Mel said, her hand tracing up her neck and hiding the spot.

“Mom…” Phoenix pressed on.

“It’s nothing. See you at dinner,” Mel said as she made a mad dash for her door, luckily getting inside and locking it, making a beeline for her cosmetics drawer.

“Leaving marks and it wasn’t even our first date,” Mel said to herself as she looked for the strongest cover up she had, both for her hickie and her daughter.