It was over an hour before Melanie’s nerves calmed enough for her to drift off but it was a restless sleep and when the day dawned she groaned, still tired and groggy. And what made it worse, she would now have to face Sloane.
Even though it was only seven, she dragged herself out of bed and headed for the shower. There was no use putting off the inevitable. It would be so much easier to hide out in bed all morning but she wouldn’t do it. Today, she would meet her monster head on.
To Melanie’s surprise, when she went out into the living room Sloane was already there. She paused in her tracks, momentarily unsure of what to do, what to say.
He spoke first. “Couldn’t sleep?”
Cautiously, she stared back at him, but when she could detect no anger she gave him a rueful smile. “I’m afraid not.”
He slid his hands into the pockets of his khaki slacks and grunted. “Me neither.” Then his gray eyes grew thoughtful as he stared back at her. “We need to talk,” he said, his voice quiet. “Let’s walk down to the beach.”
Melanie nodded. She owed him that much.
The air was fresh and cool as they walked along the pathway, and the moisture from the grass dampened her sandaled feet. She drew in a deep breath, seeking strength for what was to come, and was rewarded with the fragrance of the flowers as they lifted their dewy heads to greet the morning sunshine.
It was calming, this rich tropical scenery that surrounded them, so Melanie did not object when Sloane took her hand and led her to the bamboo bench that looked out onto the shimmering blue water of the Caribbean Sea.
For a while they sat in silence, both of them just staring out at the ocean, watching the gentle waves rolling in to the sparkling white sand, listening to the early birds singing in the nearby trees.
“Do you want out, Melanie? Do you want to annul the marriage?”
Startled by his questions, Melanie tore her gaze away from the scenery and stared at Sloane. “I…no…I don’t.”
And she meant it. She looked directly into those intense gray eyes and she did not flinch because she knew that she wanted to be here with him. She wanted to give this her all. And, regardless of her fears, she wanted to get to know him in every sense of the word.
His brows fell as he looked at her intently. “Are you sure? Last night you said the only reason you were in my bed was because I insisted. I don’t want to force you to do anything you don’t want to do.”
“I…” How could she deny it? Essentially, that was what she’d said, and it must have been a huge blow to his ego. Sloane was a man who was used to women offering themselves to him and here, he’d gone and married one who pretty much told him she didn’t want him.
“You need to be sure,” Sloane continued, his eyes never leaving her face, “because if you decide to stay I will make love to you. And often.”
That sent a ripple up her spine and that ripple, she was sure, had nothing to do with fear. She dropped her eyes, suddenly wary about what he might see there. Because, deep down, she wanted him.
And how could she explain that, when she’d rejected him the night before? She couldn’t even explain it to herself.
“I’m sure,” she whispered, as she stared down at her tightly clasped hands. “I want to stay.”
At first Sloane didn’t answer. He continued to stare at her in silence. She could feel his eyes burning into her as she kept her head bowed. Finally, he turned away and sighed. “So where do we go from here?” The frustration was clear in his voice.
It was only then that she lifted her face to him. He did not turn to her but continued to stare out at the ocean, giving her the chance to get a good look at his face, so still and drawn, the morning shadow around his chin telling her that he hadn’t bothered to shave.
She swallowed. “Sloane, I want another chance. I can do it.”
He looked at her then, his eyes skeptical, his lips tight. It was obvious he didn’t believe her.
“Let me prove it to you,” she said, her voice a lot firmer than she really felt. “Tonight.”
His face did not soften but his eyes did not leave hers. He nodded. “Tonight.”
That was all he said but Melanie knew he would expect her to be true to her word.
Inwardly, she was quaking. She just hoped she would have the courage to deliver.
***
That evening Melanie drank three glasses of wine, which was a record for her, but she needed it.
She and Sloane had stayed at the villa, choosing to dine on the patio and enjoy a meal prepared by their private staff, rather than head over to the restaurant. The food was great – spicy pumpkin soup to start, then curried goat with rice, fried plantains and boiled yam followed by sweet potato pudding for dessert. Melanie loved the local cuisine and she knew she’d miss it when it was time to leave the island.
But tonight food was not the item that was top of mind. She’d made a promise to Sloane and to herself and, whatever it took, she was determined to keep that promise.
And so, as the evening shadows turned to night and the moon rose higher in the inky-blue of the sky, Melanie drew her courage to her and reached out and took Sloane’s hand. They’d been outdoors for hours, eating then relaxing with the sound of the gentle waves rolling in to the shore. She could delay no longer. She had to show Sloane that she was woman enough to keep her word.
She drew him inside and into the living room where she directed him to the sofa and, just like he’d done the night before, she switched on the CD player and let music fill the room. The soulful voice of Sade undulated in soft, raspy waves and as the sounds of ‘Sweetest Taboo’ flowed through Melanie walked back to the sofa, sat down beside her husband and cupped his face in her hands.
She glimpsed his momentary look of surprise just before she closed her eyes, leaned forward and placed her lips on his. It was a bold move on her part, but it was something she had to do.
At first he did not respond, his mouth so firm and tight under hers but then, just as she would have pulled back, his lips softened and his arms went up to draw her to him.
Immediately, she sank into him, relief washing through her. Maybe he still wanted her and that gave her hope. And courage. Because she knew, without a doubt, that she wanted him.