PHOENIX

19| I NEEDED TO SEE YOU

Jackson had resolved to keep his distance from Melissa, but his curiosity and the unresolved feelings gnawing at him proved too strong to ignore. When he saw her leave the hotel that morning and head toward the mall, he found himself slipping back into his old habits, following her discreetly through the busy streets.

As he trailed her into her favourite boutique, he couldn’t help but notice how effortlessly she commanded attention. She moved with a grace that made it hard for him to reconcile her current persona with the woman who had once been the source of his deepest betrayal. Each step she took seemed to draw everyone’s eyes, including his own.

Inside the boutique, Jackson tried to blend in, pretending to browse through racks of expensive clothes. His eyes never strayed far from Melissa, who was picking out dresses with practised ease. When she caught sight of him, a flicker of recognition and something else—a challenge, perhaps—passed through her eyes.

Without warning, she came to him, grabbed his hand and led him towards the changing rooms. The suddenness of her action left him with little choice but to follow, his heart pounding in his chest. Once inside, she pushed him against the wall and kissed him fiercely, her hands tangling in his hair.

Jackson’s mind screamed at him to stop, to remember why he had been avoiding her, but his body betrayed him. He kissed her back with equal intensity, his hands roaming over her back, pulling her closer. The small, confined space of the changing room seemed to amplify every touch, every breath they shared.

Their kisses grew more urgent, more desperate. Jackson’s hands moved to the hem of her dress, lifting it slightly as Melissa’s fingers worked on the buttons of his shirt. Just as he was about to lose himself completely in the moment, a sharp knock on the door jolted them apart.

“Is everything alright in there?” the saleswoman’s voice called out, a mixture of concern and suspicion.

Melissa quickly stepped back, smoothing her dress and giving Jackson a look that was part frustration, part amusement. “Yes, everything’s fine,” she called back, her voice steady.

Jackson buttoned his shirt with trembling fingers, his mind racing. What had just happened? Why had he let himself get so carried away?

As they exited the changing room, Melissa turned to him, her expression unreadable. “This isn’t over, Zach,” she whispered before walking back towards the sales racks, leaving Jackson standing there, trying to regain his composure.

He watched her for a moment longer, then decided it was best to leave. His head was spinning, and he needed to clear it. The encounter had left him more confused than ever, and realising that he was still deeply affected by her was unsettling.

Back in his car, Jackson took a deep breath and tried to make sense of what had just happened. Melissa’s actions were baffling. She had dragged him into the changing room, initiated a kiss, and almost took things further. Yet, she had also been the one to warn him to stay away.

As he drove back to his apartment, Jackson couldn’t help but feel like a moth drawn to a flame. Despite his best efforts to stay away, he kept getting pulled back into Melissa’s orbit. He needed to figure out what she was really up to and why she was so determined to keep him close while pushing him away at the same time.

When he got to the apartment, the memory of their kiss kept replaying in his mind. He knew he couldn’t afford to let his guard down around her again. He needed to stay focused on his plan, to ensure that his family remained safe. But even as he resolved to be more cautious, he couldn’t shake the lingering feeling of Melissa’s lips on his, the way her body had felt pressed against his.

As he sat down, his phone vibrated in his front pocket. He looked at the text message from Melissa asking him to come to his hotel.

He stared at the text on his phone, the simple message from Melissa pulling him into an emotional whirlwind. Every rational part of his mind told him to ignore it, to stay away, but his resolve crumbled under the weight of his conflicted feelings and curiosity. He knew he was playing with fire, but he couldn’t help himself. The memory of their encounter in the changing rooms was still fresh, his body still responding to the mere thought of her.

Unable to resist, he found himself walking down the hallway of her hotel, his heart pounding in his chest. He reached her door and hesitated for a moment, his hand poised to knock. Before he could change his mind, the door swung open, revealing Melissa standing there, her expression unreadable.

"Come in," she said softly, stepping aside to let him enter.

Jackson walked into the room, feeling a strange mix of anticipation and dread. The door closed behind him with a soft click, sealing him into this moment with her. Melissa crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes never leaving his.

"Why did you call me here?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

Melissa looked at him for a long moment before answering. "I needed to see you. I couldn’t stop thinking about what happened earlier."

Her admission struck a chord in him. He knew he should walk away, but instead, he found himself moving closer to her. "I couldn’t stop thinking about it either," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.

She reached out and took his hand, pulling him down beside her. "Zach... I don’t know what’s happening between us, but I can’t seem to stay away from you."

Hearing her call him by his alias sent a jolt through him. "Melissa, you know we shouldn’t be doing this," he said, but even as he spoke, he knew he was already lost.

"Maybe we shouldn’t," she agreed, her voice trembling slightly. "But right now, I don’t care."

She leaned in, her lips finding his in a kiss that was both tender and desperate. Jackson’s resolve melted away completely as he kissed her back, his arms wrapping around her to pull her closer. All the pent-up emotions, the longing and the anger, poured out in that kiss, creating a storm of passion that neither of them could control.

As their kiss deepened, he felt her hands slide under his shirt, her fingers trailing over his skin. He broke the kiss just long enough to pull the shirt over his head, tossing it aside before capturing her lips again. Melissa’s hands roamed over his chest, exploring the contours of his muscles, and he could feel her shiver in response.

Clothes were shed quickly, almost frantically. Her dress slipped off her shoulders, pooling on the floor, revealing the soft curves of her body. Jackson took a moment to drink in the sight of her, his breath catching in his throat. She was as beautiful as he remembered, and the sight of her stirred something deep inside him.

Melissa reached for him, pulling him closer, and he responded by lowering her onto the bed. His hands moved over her, caressing her skin, feeling the warmth of her body beneath his fingertips. She arched into his touch, her breath hitching as his lips traced a path along her neck, down to her collarbone.

Her fingers tangled in his hair, guiding him lower as he kissed his way down her body. He took his time, savouring the taste of her skin, and the way she responded to every touch. When his lips closed around a taut n****e, she gasped, her back arching off the bed. He teased her with his tongue, drawing soft moans from her lips.

Jackson felt the heat building between them, the tension coiling tighter with every passing moment. He moved back up, capturing her lips in a searing kiss as his hand slid between her thighs, finding her wet and ready. She moaned into his mouth, her hips moving against his hand, seeking more.

He teased her gently, watching her reactions, noting every little gasp and sigh. He slipped a finger inside her, feeling her body clench around him. Her eyes fluttered shut, a soft moan escaping her lips as he began to move his finger in and out, adding another to stretch her more.

"Please don't stop," she cried out as she dug her fingers into his scalp. "Please don't stop. Please..."

He increased the pace, driving her higher. He felt her shatter beneath him, her body convulsing as she cried out his name, chanting it like a prayer. He continued to move his fingers inside her, drawing out her pleasure, watching as she rode the waves of her orgasm.

He moved back up, capturing her lips in a searing kiss as his hand slid between her thighs again. He wanted to feel her come apart in his arms once more before he joined with her. He brought her to the edge again, her body trembling with anticipation, and when she finally climaxed, the sound of her pleasure echoed in the room, sending a thrill through him.

He couldn’t wait any longer. He positioned himself at her entrance, his eyes locking with hers as he slowly pushed inside her. Melissa’s eyes fluttered shut, a soft gasp escaping her lips as he filled her completely. He paused for a moment, savouring the feeling of being connected to her again before he began to move.

Their bodies moved together in a familiar rhythm, each thrust deepening the connection between them. The room was filled with the sounds of their lovemaking, the soft gasps and moans, and the rustle of sheets. Jackson’s mind was a blur, his only focus on the woman beneath him.

Melissa clung to him, her nails digging into his back as she matched his movements, meeting each thrust with her own. He could feel the tension building inside her, the way her body tightened around him, drawing him closer to the edge.

"Zach," she whispered, her voice a breathless plea. "Please don’t stop."

He had no intention of stopping. He increased the pace, driving them both higher, until the pleasure became almost unbearable. He felt her shatter beneath him, her body convulsing as she cried out his name. The sight and sound of her climax pushed him over the edge, and he followed her into oblivion, his release mingling with hers.

In the heat of the moment, neither of them thought about protection. It was a familiar oversight for Jackson, a habit from their past that lingered. Melissa didn't remind him, didn't push him away. It was as if they were caught in a time warp, reliving a passion they once shared without the barriers of reality.

They lay entwined afterwards, their bodies slick with sweat, their breathing heavy. Jackson held her close, his mind a whirlwind of emotions. He looked at Melissa, her face softened in the aftermath of their lovemaking. She looked back at him, a small smile playing on her lips.

"I missed this, and I missed you," she whispered, her fingers tracing patterns on his chest.

Jackson swallowed hard, unsure of how to respond. He had so many questions, and so many unresolved feelings, but at that moment, he couldn’t find the words. Instead, he pulled her closer, holding her as if she might slip away. He also feared that she already knew who he was or maybe she had s*x with him because he reminded her of Jackson. Whatever it was, it was dangerous to question her about it so he just kept quiet.

Melissa sighed contentedly, resting her head on his shoulder. "Let’s not think about anything else right now," she murmured. "Let’s just be here, together."

Jackson nodded, though he knew that reality would come crashing back soon enough. For now, he allowed himself to savour the warmth of her body against his, the steady rhythm of her breathing. He knew that this moment of peace was fleeting, but he couldn’t bring himself to let go just yet.