Being Hers (Irresistibly Bound 1)

“Oh, so she’s checking up on you?”

“It’s not like that,” Mel said weakly.

“Uh huh. It would save you a lot of trouble if you would just admit that you have feelings for her.”

Was Jess right? These days, whenever Mel found herself thinking about Vanessa, it wasn’t all the kinky things they did together that played in her mind. It was the little things. The parts of Vanessa that made her, well, her. The faint curve of her lips when she was content. The way Vanessa would sweep Mel’s hair out of her face. The way Mel’s name rolled off Vanessa’s tongue.

The way that despite Mel’s best efforts, Vanessa had broken through all her defenses.

Mel sighed. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She didn’t want to get that close to anyone. The last person she’d given her heart to had used her, and manipulated her, then had tossed her aside like she was nothing. But Vanessa was different, wasn’t she?

“Just look at the damn message, Mel,” Jess said. “I don’t mind.”

“Thanks, Jess.” Mel grabbed her phone and read Vanessa’s message.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. Vanessa just wants to know if I’m free next week Saturday.”

“And?” Jess asked.

“Well, usually she just tells me to meet her somewhere or says she’s going to come pick me up. She never actually asks. And not this far in advance.”

“Do you think it means something?”

“I don’t know.” Mel sent back a message saying that she was free.

The reply came almost immediately. Good. I’ll have Elena send some things over for the occasion.

Mel frowned. What’s the occasion?

You’ll find out when the time comes. V.

Mel put down her phone. Vanessa was up to her usual games.

“Wow,” Jess said. “You’ve really got it bad.”

Mel stood out in front of her apartment building, her hands on her knees, breathing hard. She hadn’t been for a run in weeks. Between school, work, and Vanessa, she barely had the time. And she hadn’t felt the compulsion to run in a while. As she caught her breath, she noticed a black Mercedes Benz parked out the front of her building.

Mel bounded up to her apartment, ignoring her body’s protests. Was Vanessa back from her trip? When she reached the top of the stairs, she saw, not Vanessa, but Elena standing at her door. Her disappointment was replaced by excitement when she saw what was in the woman’s arms. Elena held several boxes, shopping bags, and an opaque garment bag.

“Hello, Melanie,” Elena said.

“Hi, Elena,” Mel said between breaths. “How long have you been standing there?”

“Not long.” Elena stepped aside as Mel unlocked her door. “These are for you. From Ms. Harper.”

Was that a smile? It was hard to tell with Elena. “Thanks.” Mel took the boxes from Elena and placed them on the table inside, then returned for the bags.

“I will be picking you up on Saturday at 8:00 p.m.,” Elena said.

“Okay. Thanks.” Why didn’t Vanessa just tell Mel herself?

Elena lingered at the door. “There’s something else. Here.” She reached into her pocket and produced a business card. She handed it to Mel. “If you ever find yourself in trouble or in need of anything, give me a call. I will find a way to help you. I’m more than Ms. Harper’s driver. I’m also something like her personal assistant. So I’m very resourceful.”

Mel stared at the card. It had Elena’s name and number on it. “Did Vanessa ask you to give this to me?”

“No. But part of my job includes anticipating Ms. Harper’s needs. This is me doing that.”