Chapter 83

"You were gone for two years, Mel." Lowering his head so his mouth was by the shell of her ear, Rean spoke softly. To people who didn't know any better, they probably looked like lovers or something. "Neither Crow nor Ash spoke much to me during that time, they blamed me for what happened in Jurai." Crow and Ash, however, had become better friends though he imagined that was on the out again. "That's a long time for someone to think about everything and realize what they actually feel." And he knew, from reconnecting with Crow, and their discussions, that Crow's feelings were not the sibling type.

Her eyes widened at Rean's words and he pulled back to nod at her, the realization dawning on her. Had Crow spoken to Rean about his feelings for her? What if he rejected her again? A third time…Melyssa didn't know if she could handle it.

"So in other words, you're telling me to take my own advice?" He chuckled with another nod, continuing to dance with her and Melyssa didn't know if she had the courage to do it.

There was always that fear of rejection and her love for Crow had spiked exponentially ever since the spell was broken. She had been with Ash at the time, which was why she didn't go straight to Crow. And then Crow came to her rescue the night she had broken things off with Ash…in a rather violent way and he had whisked her away to his cabin, his safehouse, because of McBurn.

"If you're not ready, you're not ready, so only do it when you're sure."

"Okay."

"For the record, Crow hasn't said one way or another the way he's felt about you." Rean informed her, not wanting to give Melyssa any false impressions or false hope, just in case he was wrong. He knew, deep down, that he wasn't, but… there was always that one percent. "But the way he does talk about you… it's not a brotherly feeling. I, out of all people, would know." Since he was in that spot himself.

He and Crow were a lot more alike than they had probably noticed. Maybe that's why he had kept giving Crow chance after chance, even after he had turned his back on them multiple times. In the end, it seemed to have paid off, but he also knew if push came to shove, Crow would put himself first and survive.

Yeah, because DEAD didn't do jack. Crow didn't mind being a hero, but he drew a line at being a martyr.

That right there, hearing those words, told Melyssa all she needed to know. She would not be talking to Crow about how she felt and would stuff her feelings down as far as she could. Risking that one percent chance he really didn't feel the same way about her as she did him – it wasn't worth losing their friendship over.

"I understand, Rean. Thank you. And thank you for the dancing." They danced a little longer before both decided to take a break and Rean went off to make a call on his ARCUS II. More than likely, it was to Alisa and Melyssa smiled, hoping it all worked out for them. I have to let him go. I can't keep pining for someone who doesn't want me as anything more than a friend. I have to move on from you, Crow. Without realizing it, she had downed another glass of champagne and was on her fourth or fifth, she had lost count and was feeling pretty tipsy.

At least the strawberries tasted good going down.

Rean hoped she understood that the one percent chance against her, and the ninety-nine percent for her, was worth the risk. That was a gamble he would take and, in fact, he WAS going to take it. He'd rather know outright than live life alone and in fear, because he couldn't make a move based on a one percent chance of rejection. Nothing worth having came easy – wasn't that how the saying went?

By the time Ash took over for Crow, Melyssa was… "Wow." She was giggling at something someone was saying and swaying. He came up behind her, slipping his arm around her waist to steady her, and smiled when she looked up at him. "Having fun, Lyssa?" He asked quietly, trying not to chuckle when she nodded her head exuberantly.

"I'm having a BLAST!"

She had been dancing and took another break to talk to one of the many bachelors of Crossbell City. He was cute, with black hair and brown eyes, but definitely not her type. There was no harm in a little flirting and she was feeling very flirtatious at the moment.

"I see you were let off your leash, Armbrust." She giggled, leaning against him, and enjoyed the feeling of his arm around her waist. Melyssa didn't realize it, but she was snuggling against him as he guided her around slowly. "Whoa, I think I need some air." She was suddenly feeling lightheaded and felt him guide her out toward the veranda, the same place she had her talk with Ash earlier. As soon as the cool night air blew over her, Melyssa moaned softly and shut her eyes, relishing it. "Mmm, that feels so nice…"

Well that sucked, she had been batting flirty eyes at every guy and then he showed up and she was potentially going to puke. He stood away from her, watching as Melyssa leaned over the same balcony railing she had been on earlier when she had shared that kiss with Ash. Ash, who was now with Machias and had said there wasn't anything going on. Ash, who was now offering sage advice, and Crow had figured eventually, he'd tell Ash to shove it because obviously, Ash needed to use his own advice given how spectacularly his relationship with Melyssa had crashed and burned.

"You going to make it, Lyssa? Or is time to take you home and tuck you in with a glass of water?" He teased, wondering how many glasses of that champagne she had to get her toasted.

She wasn't going to vomit, not feeling nauseous at all, and smiled while leaning against the railing, just taking in the cool night breeze. "I'm fine, Crow. Just got a little lightheaded in there and heated from the dancing, probably." Melyssa was just buzzed, not full-on drunk, and could remember her own name still, so that was a plus. "I had such a great time tonight. I really needed this after everything that's happened. I talked to Ash and we're going to slowly start building our friendship back up. We never should've gotten together in the first place and he said those words, not me, just so you know. And then I talked to Rean and danced with him and he was a perfect gentleman, as always." While she spoke, she slowly twirled and laughed, leaning back against the railing again. "I wonder how far up we are right now…"

"Don't try to find out." Crow advised dryly, wondering if she honestly thought she and Ash would ever be able to rebuild their friendship.

Considering how balls up that had gone, he thought they would be lucky if they could eventually call themselves casual acquaintances at best. That had been a train wreck from beginning to end from the sounds of it. She had gotten screwed, no pun intended, royally when it came to first love and lover.

"I have no problem in staying out here." He dropped down into a lounge chair, reclining back, and watched her, lacing his hands behind his head. "Twirl again."

She flashed a huge smile at him and did it again, coming closer to him without realizing it.

"Again."

Melyssa obeyed his command, doing it again with her arms rose in the air and didn't stop until…she was forced to. She stumbled, losing her footing, and planted right on top of Crow in that lounge chair, both grunting at the contact. Her teal eyes were full of mirth and sparkled with happiness, her laughter filling the air.

"Oops! I guess I twirled a little too much, huh?" The dress prevented her from straddling him, so she was literally laying on top of him, sprawled, her hands resting on his broad shoulders and his hands were on her sides from catching her when she stumbled on top of him.

Seeing her twirling about reminded him of when they were kids. "Remember that dress your mother made you wear for the summer festival? Lots of petticoats and a big skirt? You hated it… until you realized you could twirl in it and it would flare out." He had enjoyed watching it then too, though, now his enjoyment was stemming from things besides the 'neat' factor. "Maybe you should act your age, Miss Lyssa." He teased, rolling his eyes when she scoffed and settled his arms around her lower back, feeling the full weight of her body sinking into his. "You smell like strawberries."

Roses bloomed in her cheeks at what he said and she actually leaned her head down to sniff him, closing her eyes. Crow always had this distinctive smell about him that made her weak in the knees and her heart race. She couldn't quite put her finger on the scent all this time, but now she could.

"Leather." Melyssa scooted up a little further to settle more into him and their noses were practically touching. "I couldn't think of what you smell like. It's always the same, but I could never figure out what it was and it drove me crazy. Now I know what it is and it's leather. You smell like leather, Crow." It was intoxicating and she could feel her heart beating a little faster in her chest being in this position with him, teal locked on crimson red.

"Leather?" He echoed, wrinkling his nose. Leather smelled terrible when it was being made into something anyway, and fresh leather had a horrible scent. Broken in leather, on the other hand, which he was hoping what she was thinking, was in a class of its own. "Mmm, from the way you said it, I'm going to guess you like it." He smirked wickedly. "But it's your BREATH that smells like strawberries." He was guessing from the champagne and Crow purposefully angled his head so he could smell her face, brushing his nose down to her neck before reclining again. "The rest of you smells warm and spicy."

"I enjoy the smell of you. I always have. It's comforting and soothing." And makes me want to kiss you and beg you to make me yours. Wow, she was SO glad she didn't say that out loud and that wicked smirk of his made her heart skip a beat.

The warmth flooded right down to her nethers and she could already feel her panties dampening. This wasn't good. This was a bad position to be in because those feelings for him were rising to the surface quickly.

"The champagne I was drinking had strawberries in it." Oh, Goddess, just his nose feels amazing on my skin and I long for his lips on mine again. "Spicy how, exactly?"

"Mmm, I'm not sure how to describe it… like ground cinnamon… and cloves."

It was an incense, or spice, for baking depending on who asked, and there really weren't words for it, she smelled delicious. Maybe it was a pheromone thing, like body odor for humor, certain people were attracted to others based on what they perceived said others smelled like. After a moment, he moved his hands to her hips, feeling the heat from her body beneath the material of her red dress, and began rubbing in slow, circular motions.

"You ready to get back in there?" He asked, bringing his face out of her neck.

"No." Melyssa breathed, her entire body lit on fire from feeling his hot breath puffing against her throat.

It did NOT help his lips had brushed against the corner of her mouth while pulling his face out of her neck and that sent a shiver straight down her spine. Her brain was slightly fuzzy from being tipsy, but there was no way she was hallucinating what he just did either. Was Rean right? Did Crow's feelings go beyond thinking of her as a sister, as family?

Goddess, forgive me for what I'm about to do. The smell of him was all around her, permeating the air and Melyssa was searching his eyes, looking for ANY indication he did not want her. All she saw were red liquid pools and they were sucking her in, on the verge of drowning her. "Crow…" Then, Melyssa did the one thing, the ONLY thing, she had longed and dreamed of doing for over two years and softly pressed her lips to his, kissing the man she truly did love.

The last time they kissed, he had asked her if they could do it, and afterward, he had a lot of regrets the moment their lips touched. There was none of that this time. Crow didn't feel sickened because she was his 'sibling', he didn't feel grossed out. What he did feel was a slow-rising erection as he softly returned the kiss, not moving to deepen it or grope her. He just enjoyed it for what it was, a slow, leisurely kiss that was starting a slow, leisurely burn.

A slow burn, indeed.

Too bad her body wasn't slowly burning, it was already ignited and the flames were licking away at every part of her body. His lips felt wonderful against hers and Melyssa was waiting for him to push her away, to tell her this was wrong and she was his sister, his family. In the back of her mind, she was expecting it, and instead, he was returning the kiss she gave him. A soft moan escaped her, a shiver rushing through her and her nails were slightly digging into his shoulders.

This felt right.

Melyssa knew why because she loved him and it wasn't a love manifested from a Dark Ages spell. It was true, raw love, something she had felt since she was a kid. Crow was the reason she was here today. He was the reason she took up the way of the sword and trained, went to Thors, all of it. And when he was dead, part of her was as well because living without him had about killed her. Somehow, she had managed to go on and when she discovered he was alive and well, her love for him grew tenfold, even after he rejected her.

Melyssa decided to convey all of that into this kiss since it very well be the one and only opportunity she had. All the feelings she'd stuffed down all these years for him came rising to the surface as she deepened the kiss, conveying to him everything she felt. Love, pain, anguish, happiness, passion, desire, need, want, lust, uncertainty…it all came pouring out, and even when she needed oxygen to breathe, she did not break the kiss.

She wanted it to last forever…no, for eternity.

Ash had definitely noticed how much Melyssa had had to drink and he felt like giving her a warning when he saw her eyeball Crow. He couldn't, obviously, he was busy with Machias and trying not to be bored as the mayor sat at a table, discussing some current events with some rich people. Best of luck. He thought, hoping it worked out for them.