Chapter 276

“No, not quite. Just gathering some thoughts, not wool,” he said with a smile. “What’s up, little man?”
Adir gave him a suspicious once-over, clearly not convinced he was fully back on Earth, but then straightened and announced with authority, “Well, today you have to help me with bath and bed. Come on. Move it, move it.”
Adam sighed, the sound coming out more resigned than annoyed. He knew very well that Adir didn’t really need help with either. The kid was fiercely independent—capable of brushing, bathing, and dressing for bed with minimal supervision. But Adam also knew exactly what this was: a well-planned diversion.
This was Melanie’s tactic.
She wasn’t going to talk to him. Not yet. Instead, she was assigning him to “duty” through Adir, sending a message loud and clear. That she was not going to talk to him. Adam turned his head slightly, catching a glimpse of her as she picked up a few empty bowls from the table. Just as his eyes met her profile, she turned away.
He let out another quiet breath and rose to his feet. “Alright, boss,” he said, ruffling Adir’s hair as he followed him out. “Lead the way. The food can wait.”
It was only after Adam left the room that Melanie bowed her head and let out a shuddering breath, her eyes moist.
She knew she was being foolish, ’burying her head’ in the sand again, as Adam had once teased her about. But the truth was, she didn’t know what to do. Or even how to begin reacting. Her thoughts were a tangled mess of logic and emotion, pride and hurt, and somewhere beneath all of that, a dull ache that refused to go away.
She hadn’t planned to ignore him this long. She hadn’t planned anything, really. But once the silence had started, it had grown into something heavier. Like if she heard even a word, she might shatter whatever fragile balance she was managing to hold onto.
Still, as she stood by the sink, wiping down a plate that didn’t really need wiping, she found herself inching toward a decision. Maybe she would talk to him. She knew what she’d seen. It probably had a perfectly fine explanation. But her heart was hurting. Added to that, he had not even hesitated to defend Miss Melody… And that somehow hurt more.
But before she could move, strong arms wrapped tightly around her waist from behind and lifted her clean off the floor. She gasped and would have squealed but before she could get a sound out, her mouth was sealed in a kiss that left no room for denial or breath.
For a brief moment, her body stiffened in shock, hands pressed against his chest. But then she felt the familiar weight of his hold, the unspoken desperation in the way he clung to her and her resistance faltered.
Between the kiss, Adam placed her on the kitchen island and stepped close to her, still unwilling to break the kiss until he felt her responsing, touching her tongue to his softly.
The kiss ended just as abruptly as it had begun. He pulled back by a few inches but didn’t let go, instead looking into her eyes,” Melon. You have to listen to me okay?”
Melanie looked away. She knew she has to listen. She needed to. But that didn’t mean she wanted to.
She pushed at his shoulders, ” Move.”
He did not budge. “No.”
“Adam, please move aside, or else.”
“Or else nothing. I gave you enough time to cool down and think rationally.Now you have to listen to me.”
“I don’t have to listen to anything, Adam Collins. Now, get out of my wayyyyy.”
Before she could say more, her lips were once again taken in a deep kiss, that had her losing her breath. Her hands came up automatically, pushing at his chest, but he didn’t budge. Instead, he stepped in closer, one hand cupping the side of her face, the other braced on the counter beside her, beside her hips.
The kiss was deliberate this time, slower than the last, leaving her with no room to speak, no air for protest. She resisted for a moment…just a second…but her fingers curled against the fabric of his shirt before she could stop them.
When he finally pulled back, just far enough to speak, he asked in a low voice, “Are you willing to listen now?”
She didn’t answer. Just shook her head, giving him a stubborn stare.
Adam didn’t hesitate. He kissed her again.
This time she turned her face away halfway through, but he angled in, catching her mouth before she could stop him. His hand slid to the back of her neck, holding her still, demanding that she comply/
Again, when the kiss broke, his voice was rougher, more urgent. “Melon. Are you going to listen?”
She drew in a shallow breath. “No,” she muttered, barely audible.
“Then I’m not stopping.”
And he kissed her again.
This one was deeper. There was no hesitation, no pause. His lips moved against hers with purpose, claiming her mouth in a way that left her breathless. She braced both hands on his chest, but didn’t push. Her legs had curled slightly around him at some point. She hadn’t even realised.
When he broke the kiss, he didn’t move away. Their foreheads rested together, their breaths tangled.
“I will keep kissing you,” he said, voice quiet, but unwavering. “Until you listen to me. Believe in me.”
Her breath hitched—either from anger or something else, he couldn’t tell. Her hands gripped the fabric of his shirt, but still, she didn’t push. And that, he knew amounted for something.
There was a pause.
A long, loaded pause.
He pulled back just enough to meet her eyes.
“Will you listen?” he asked again, quieter this time, as if daring her to say no once more.
Melanie looked into his eyes.
And said nothing, prepared to look away but he caught her chin, and was about to lean in to kiss her again, when he heard her say,” I know this picture is probably a misunderstanding.”