Melissa sighed as she rolled away from Eric. She settled back against his body, his hand caressing her bare back. They had just returned from Spencer's wedding and settled for a nice evening of takeout and watching a movie. She had fallen asleep half way through the movie and Eric carried her to their bed, stripping her down to her underwear.
-"Everything alright, love?" Eric didn't bother to open his eyes, knowing she was still awake. Melissa traced a pattern on his chest her hand stopping on one of his nipples. She looked at his sleepy face and smiled.
-"Everything's fine. I just couldn't sleep anymore. I'm actually thinking of taking a shower." Eric nodded his head slightly and released her. She got off the bed and walked into the bathroom. She let the water relax her body before she made her way back to Eric. Once she got back she felt Eric's hands and body snuggle into hers, spooning her. She fell asleep with her head settled on his arm.
Two weeks passed by quickly after the wedding and Melissa insisted that Eric invite over the Phantoms old ladies for lunch. She felt it was high time she got to know them better and not just by hearing about them. Eric talked to his boys and the next Saturday morning found both him and Melissa getting ready for a small gathering.
Caleb and Hanna were the first to arrive. Hanna felt a little unsure how to act around Melissa given that they never really got along before she started dating Caleb. And from what Caleb told her during Spencer's wedding Melissa meant the whole world to Eric.
-"Hey love, how are ya doing?" Caleb smiled as Melissa opened her door. He gave her a small hug kissing her cheek, while Melissa laughed at him. She quickly turned to look at Hanna while pushing Caleb's body inside the house.
-"Caleb, Eric is out back grilling the food. Why don't you go help him? Hey, Hanna, come inside. What do you want to drink? We have beer, wine, whiskey and vodka." Melissa moved towards the lounge, looking outside the yard where Caleb and Eric were talking and laughing together. Hanna followed her quietly inside.
-"A beer would be fine. How is Eric doing?" Hanna looked at the man she had come to respect over the past few months. Despite everything that happened with Noel, Eric had been nothing but a protective big brother to her. Guilt flooded her as she remembered what had happened with Noel.
-"He's moving on. I don't know what happened between you and Noel, but I am relieved you didn't join Bunny." Melissa gave Hanna her beer, watching her take a small sip and look back at her. "What?"
-"Nothing. I just don't... I don't know how to act around you. You always had this stick up your ass and honestly I never would have imagined you and Eric dating. But I have to say he definitely seems more relaxed with you around. But I still feel like someone is pulling a prank on me whenever I see the two of you together."
-"I know the feeling. When I realized you were the one dating Caleb that's exactly how I felt." Melissa stopped when she heard the doorbell ring. Walking to the door she opened it, grinning. Hanna followed her smiling as well. "How's my favorite English man doing?"
Melissa hugged Wren as Miranda and Sidney made their way inside the house talking to each other while Alex parked the car. She quickly turned her head to greet the other two ladies. "So you must be Sidney and you must be Miranda and baby Kingston. Come on in."
-"Says the spider to the prey." Alex walked over and hugged her. He then hugged Hanna as well. "I'm grounded so no drinks for me today. So I'll do the manly man thing and take Wren out of your hair while we go help Caleb and Eric with the grill." He kissed Sidney while Wren placed a small kiss on top of Miranda's forehead and then the pair left, leaving the women to themselves.
-"So you're Eric's girl? It's a pleasure to finally get to know the woman that made him settle down." Sidney looked at Hanna's hand holding her beer. "I'll have what she's having." Miranda just stared at Melissa not really saying anything. "And to put a face to the name. I swear, for months all I ever heard from the boys was Phoenix this and Phoenix that." Sidney continued talking as she took a seat on the barstool.
-"Yeah it's good to finally put a face to the woman that tore Eric apart." Miranda finally spoke, making everyone watch her in silence. Melissa waited for her to continue. "You destroyed him when you left for London."
-"I take it Bunny told you about me?" Melissa watched Miranda quietly as the young woman nodded her head. "Okay, so let's get clear on something. I wouldn't have left to take that internship in London if my dummy outside didn't force me to do so. I spent years trying to move on but ended up here by his side. I don't expect you to like it or to like me but I won't have any of you judging me, am I clear? The next person who says something about my relationship with Eric will regret it dearly."
-"Legs? What's going on? Everything alright?" Eric and Wren showed up in the doorway looking at the two women. Hanna and Sidney watched them, unsure what to say. Miranda's face softened on the spot, however.
-"I was out of line, Eric. I definitely can see you have a great girl here. She's just like Bunny said." Hanna let out a sigh of relief while Sidney grinned at them. Eric looked at Melissa, his eyebrow raised while Wren narrowed his eyes at Miranda.
-"Women talk. Why are you here?" Melissa shrugged her shoulders at them. She smiled at Miranda, getting a small smile in return before she turned her head to look at the two men. Wren cleared his throat while Eric pressed his lips together.
-"Caleb says that the food will be ready in a matter of minutes. How about you ladies come outside and join us?" Eric moved from the door frame, making room for the girls to pass. Miranda leaned into Wren's side as they went outside the house to the patio while Melissa walked slowly by Eric's side. "So what was that all about?"
-"Clearing up some loose ends." Melissa walked over to where Caleb was standing talking to Alex while Eric raised an eyebrow, looking at her. Hanna looked back and forth between the two and shook her head at him.
-"I still don't believe this shit. How the hell does one of the best attorneys in the state end up dating a biker?" Hanna muttered under her breath while Eric grinned at her.
-"Melissa was the attorney that handled Jake's case. She also owns the house across the street. Suffice to say it involved a lot of ruined dates and decent amounts of sex for us to start dating." Hanna felt her jaw drop to the floor looking at him. Eric then laughed at her. "Don't tell me you still get shocked when sex is a conversation topic."
-"You'd think that after all these months spent living with Caleb that I got cured of that habit, but I have yet to do so. It's just that she's... She's my best friend's sister, the woman who never did anything wrong, the perfect poster child and yet she's dating you."
Sidney and Miranda took a seat near them, listening to the discussion. "I was actually wondering how it is that you and Phoenix knew each other, Hanna. I guess now I know the answer to that." Sidney nodded her head slightly, nursing her beer. They all turned their heads when they heard Melissa and Caleb laugh at something Alex was telling them. Wren then came over his hand, rubbing Miranda's back with soothing gestures.
Once the food was ready they all took a seat at the table and Melissa grinned at Hanna wickedly. "Okay Hanna, I am just dying to know, how is it that you and Caleb started dating?" Caleb choked on his drink while Hanna patted his back. Miranda leaned on her chair, watching them amusedly while Sidney grinned.
-"I want to know as well. I feel like I missed some of it." Eric took Melissa's hand and placed it on his thigh. She started slowly tracing patterns on it, rubbing him through his pair of jeans. "I mean Caleb told me he found a person to take over the garage wages and next thing I know he brought you over to the club house."
Hanna looked at Caleb, but he just shrugged his shoulders at her. "We hooked up in a bar about a couple of weeks before I started working for you guys. I left him in the morning and went to my workplace. Caleb found out where I was working and showed up out of the blue a few days later, asking me to work for him. And the rest is pretty much history."
-"That it is." Melissa narrowed her eyes at Caleb who raised his hands in a small gesture of self-defense.
-"For what it's worth, I didn't stalk her. I noticed her driving in her car the following morning and since I wasn't ready to let her go, I decided to make her stay. I don't approve of stalking or hitting on women. None of us does." Caleb felt the need to explain this as he remembered all too well the sort of troubles that Melissa had gone through over the past few years.
-"Good to know. So Caleb, I take it you took over the grill for Eric when you got here?" Melissa used the opportunity to change the subject. She noticed Caleb and Eric exchange a look before Caleb nodded his head in agreement to her inquiry. "You do realize that if I die of poisoning today I'm suing you, right?"
-"I would pay hard bucks to see that." Caleb made a face at her and they all started laughing. After everyone finished their meal, Melissa loaded the plates into the dishwasher while the girls relaxed on the back porch. The men had started playing a small football match that kept them busy.
Once she finished with the dishes she turned around and noticed Hanna standing in the doorway, looking outside the house. "Everything alright, Hanna? How are you holding up?"
-"I still have nightmares about Noel and what happened to him. How is Eric holding up?" Melissa raised an eyebrow at her as she detected a distinct note of sadness and guilt inside Hanna's voice.
-"He is holding up. Look Hanna, as I told you earlier, I don't know what happened with Noel. What I do know is that the world you and I grew up in is completely different than the one the Phantoms live in. Right now, I can only tell you something Bunny told me when I started to date Eric. "You love the man, you learn to love the club." I don't know what happens between those closed doors, because I don't want to know. But I can tell you this. Caleb cares a great deal about you and that means all of them will step in to protect you."
-"You sound so sure about it."
-"Oh, believe me. Eric had his boys babysit me for months because I was in danger even though we weren't together anymore. That's what they do. They protect their own and in their own way, both of our men try to make this world a better place. Whatever it is that happened with Noel, you are allowed to take your time to heal and to feel sad about it, but don't let it consume you, Hanna. Don't let Noel win on the long run."
-"I think I'm dreaming. You of all people are giving me advice about being an old lady. The world is coming to an end." Melissa laughed as she handed Hanna another beer while they walked outside the house and rejoined the others.
Happy birthday to me!
As promised the first chapter of the velvet sequel is up/ I will give you a heads up about this story. I plan on it being around 10 chapters long. Not sure if I;ll manage to add sexy times in it but I can guarantee that the drama is still there. You will see me explore the world of the phantoms and I can guarantee at least 2-3 surprises none of you will see coming for now all I'm going to say is look out for Hells Angels and Riders. And if you want to give me a b-day present a review will be much appreciated.
Nico