Blood Stained Collar BOOK 2 of The Collar Series #Wattys2017 ( BDSM )

CHAPTER 47

Reece sat on the floor with his back against his front door, listening to Melanie's footsteps as she walked downstairs. He heard her stop once and held his breath thinking she had changed her mind and was coming back, but she hesitated only for a moment before continuing. He banged the back of his head against the door and only stopped when the pain developed into a blinding headache. He crumpled to the floor and placed his cheek against the cold floor tiles. He couldn't tell how long he had been lying there, trying hard not to think or feel. Struggling to his feet he went to the kitchen in search of something cold to drink and downed and ice-cold coke. Somehow, he had to find a way to face each day working in the same hospital with her, knowing she would never share his bed again. She'd never love him and never look at him the way she looked at Cirrus. He wished he could turn off his feelings for her as easily as switching off a light.

After a long cool shower and far too many headache pills Reece reversed his car out of the garage and drove towards the city.

***

Melanie stared at her reflection in the mirror and instead of seeing a woman in love she saw a woman who looked years older than she was. The dark shadows under her eyes and puffy red eyelids told a story of a woman who felt like shit, after breaking the heart of a man who had given his heart to her, supported her and been her rock over the last few months. She hated herself for hurting him. She'd never wanted to and would never blame him if he hated her now, and refused to talk to her ever again. But she could not lie to herself. Seeing Cirrus again awakened all the beautiful memories and rekindled the love she had buried for him. She loved him, she needed to be a part of his life and needed to feel loved by him again. Yes, his love was possessive and demanding, but in all honesty, she was happiest in those moments when his love possessed every part of her mind, body and soul. If only she had realized this before ...

***

When Cirrus opened his eyes that morning he felt light hearted and at peace with the world. Melanie still loved him, which of course would mean she never really stopped loving him and he did not care about her time with Reece. It was in the past and not important now. Just knowing she would be in his life again gave him hope that this time when he asked her to marry him she would say yes, without hesitation. While imagining how he would feel when Melanie accepted his proposal and wore his ring, there was a knock on his door and a nurse came in carrying his breakfast.

Although hospital food was never rated as five-star meals he was in such a good mood he ate every morsel. He needed to eat and gain is strength back so he could cope with therapy sessions and be up on is feet again when he asked Melanie to marry him. If she wanted to stay here in Australia then this is where he would stay to and make a new life with the woman he loved more than life itself. The only thing that rattled him now was the fact that he was stuck in hospital for the next few weeks and would not be able to romance her in the way he wanted to, the gentle way he now knew she needed to be loved. Could his words, his touch, his kisses be enough to let her know how serious he was about changing his ways for her and leaving behind his BDSM life-style?

Cirrus was very concerned when he didn't see Melanie all day and when he heard a knock on his door long after evening visiting hours, he immediately thought it was her.

"Oh, it's you!" His angry frown spoke volumes.

"Yes. Sorry to dissapoint you, if you were expecting Mel, she's working the late shift and will need to go straight home afterwards and get some sleep before her next shift."

Cirrus was annoyed by his smug expression but before he could ask the question, Reece continued.

"I do still know her routine, we were living together, in case you didn't know and not as flat mates either."