Rising, Freestyle

Chapter Eleven

Red-Point: Lead climb from bottom to top without falling after rehearsing the moves.

Melanie wrinkled her nose in disgust. The only thing that made her read to the end was morbid curiosity. Kind of like slowing to check out a car accident. “This article isn’t any better than the others.”

“But at least it’s not about you.” Kane plucked the magazine from her fingers and tossed it in the trash.

“I feel damn sorry for the poor sod it is about.” Derrick passed the popcorn bowl over, and Melanie mindlessly added butter and salt.

The second of Rave’s two September issues was out, without the article featuring her, and Melanie was both confused and relieved. Just as Kane feared, each new magazine release had proven the stories to be sensationalized garbage. Even knowing she wasn’t yet the focus of negative attention didn’t make Melanie’s anxiety disappear. While she trusted Nathan, he had been clear the actual article was out of his control. She’d almost resigned herself to being center stage in a nasty exposé.

Still, there was something else wrong she couldn’t put her finger on. She helped carry the snacks into the living room, distracted from her gloomy thoughts by the sight of her brother with his best friend Jack, their pregnant partner snuggled between them. Now that it was official the three of them were together on a permanent basis, Melanie got a huge kick out of teasing Kane.

Dara didn’t seem to mind the banter—in fact, she aided and abetted every chance she got.

“You need anything, Dara?” Melanie plopped the popcorn bowl on the coffee table, moving aside beer bottles to make room.

Dara glanced on either side of her before turning back and raising a brow. “I have two guys at my beck and call. Trust me, if I want anything, they’ve got it covered.”

Jack chucked a piece of popcorn at her. “Kane’s on slave duty this week, woman.”

Of course his instant capitulation two minutes later when she asked him for a glass of water proved her point, and Dara winked at Melanie from where she was curled up, nestled between her men.

Melanie crawled onto the love seat next to Derrick, and they all dove back into their movie.

By the time the DVD finished, Melanie had realized what was bugging her. She slipped back into the kitchen and was digging through the garbage when Dara wandered into the kitchen, Derrick on her heels.

“It’s not Nathan.” Melanie flipped the magazine open and scrambled through the pages.

“It’s not Nathan what?” Dara asked.

“The pictures. Look, Derrick, those aren’t his shots. That doesn’t look at all like his work.” A huge sigh of relief hit, even though now she was more confused than ever.

Dara made a disgusted sound. “Throw the magazine out again, Mel. There’s nothing in that trash you need to see.”

“But Nathan isn’t listed in the credits anymore. Not for any of the shots. I wonder why?”

“When is the article on you supposed to be published?”

Melanie thought for a moment. “He said it would be fourth quarter, since he was taking the shots in August. But none of these pictures are his, and I know while he’d been assigned to get all the illustrations for that series of articles, he usually has other credits as well.”

Dara leaned back on the kitchen counter, the front of her shirt hanging loose. “Maybe he switched jobs? Have you managed to get hold of him at all?”

“Just a couple emails. He said he was fine, things were okay. It was like talking to a total stranger. At least we know he’s still alive, but that’s about it.”

“Then there’s not much you can do but wait.” A huge yawn escaped Dara. “I’m sorry, but I’m ready for bed.”

A couple hearty laughs sounded as Jack and Kane joined them, carrying in the dirty dishes. Kane wiggled his brows at her. “No objections on my part with that suggestion.”

Dara smacked him on the chest. “Behave. You two are the reason I’m totally exhausted at nine o’clock. Building a baby is hard work.”

“So’s starting one.” Jack ducked under her swing then scooped her up in his arms, ignoring her protests. “Thanks for the evening’s entertainment, guys. We’ll see you in a few?”

Derrick leaned Melanie back against his chest, resting his chin on her shoulder. She savoured the warmth of his body as her brother and the others took their leave. When she really considered it, the article was an annoyance on the edge of all the good things she now had in her life. And Dara was right—there was nothing she could do anyway but wait.

“I’d better be getting home as well.” She twisted in Derrick’s arms to give him a good-night kiss.

He brushed their lips together and refused to let her escape. “Stay.”

It wouldn’t be the first time she’d slept over. In the month since Nathan had vanished, they’d spent more and more time together. She still hadn’t gotten up the courage to actually confess her feelings in words, although they both seemed to have come to the conclusion they liked each other. A lot. Melanie opened her mouth to answer, and he kissed her again, stalling her response. She smiled against his lips, stroking her fingers over his broad shoulders. She loved being in his arms.

Derrick whispered against her cheek. “Stay with me forever.”

A shiver raced up her spine. What? “Derrick?”

He held her chin delicately in his strong fingers. “I love you. I want this to be your home. With me.”

Melanie’s heart pounded, a flush of heat racing over her entire body. “You love me?”

He laughed, and the lightness of the sound broke into sparkling pieces and bounced off the walls of the room to fill her ears with joy and her heart with hope. “Damn it, Mel, you missed your cue. It’s like climbing. You ask ‘On belay?’ and I respond ‘Belay on.’ So when I say ‘I love you’, you’re supposed to say it back. I know it’s taken me a damn long time to get up my courage to ask you. I was holding out, trying to figure out the exact right moment, but unless I’ve been totally misreading you for the last—”

She dragged their mouths together and kissed him senseless until there was no possible way he could be uncertain of her response.

October

“Derrick, come look.”

Melanie carried in the package she’d found on the front porch when she got back from her run. The parcel was well wrapped, and she brought it into the living room, excitement rushing her as she spotted the return address.

“What’s up?” He wandered down the stairs, wearing nothing but his jeans and total distraction hit. Reaching with one hand, she touched his chest and let him draw her in for a long, slow kiss that made her toes curl.

She was the luckiest woman in the world. Melanie released him, sighing with sadness as he pulled on his shirt and covered up all that wide expanse of firm male chest. She couldn’t get enough of him. Even having moved in together didn’t give her enough time to fully appreciate not only his body, but his presence.

How he made her feel inside and out.

The leaves on the trees had completely changed colour in the past week, and they were well on their way into fall. Outdoor climbing was over for the season, but she’d been working hard in the gym whenever Derrick was scarce, getting ready to share her surprise with him.

She shook the box. “This was on the top of the steps. Look who it’s from.”

Derrick swore lightly. “Nathan. Bugger it. Go on, open it up. Let’s see what he sent us.”

He tugged her toward the couch, and they sat, sunshine falling over their shoulders as she worked the edges of the paper open.

The wrapping fell away to reveal a fabric-covered hardcover rectangle. Melanie grabbed the handwritten note taped to the front and leaned against Derrick to read it with him.

Hey, Monkey.

You’ve probably been wondering what the hell is up with the article, etc. When I got back and went digging I found a few things I didn’t like. Kane wasn’t far off in his accusations, and Ravedid have an agenda. It wasn’t mine, so I didn’t deliver the pictures I took. That kind of put me in breach of contract, making it simpler to quit, and that’s about all I have to say about that.

She’d have felt guiltier if they hadn’t already discussed the likelihood. “Oh my God, he did quit.”

Derrick squeezed her shoulders for a moment. “It was always a possibility. He’s a big boy. Trust him, he knew what he was doing.”

Melanie nodded, but she still felt remorse for having been a part of Nathan losing a prime position.

My private project, on the other hand, rocks. As promised, final decision is up to you. I’ve made a mockup—done in private, so no one but me has seen it. No one will see it unless you and Derrick give me the go-ahead.

If you approve, I’ll work toward publication. If not, this book is for you to enjoy, my gift to you both in celebration of your courage.

I’m shooting freelance now and doing okay. I’ll drop in when I’m in the neighbourhood. You’re special people. Thanks for sharing your lives with me.

Derrick picked up the book and laid it across his knees, opening the front cover to reveal a full-page black-and-white photograph of Melanie. Shadow-draped, her naked body was silhouetted against a pale background. The strongest point of illumination highlighted her face and her eyes. Her attention was riveted on something before her, and the camera angle made it appear she looked directly at the viewer, demanding they see her absolute determination.

The title in plain font, black on white—Rising, Freestyle.

The dedication—To Melanie, who ascended from darkness into the light never losing the beauty in her soul.

Page after page of the most gorgeous and sensual pictures followed, tastefully done, but all downright erotic. Close-ups defining the detail of her neck, the curve of her buttock, the contrast of Derrick’s heavy thigh muscle against Melanie’s leaner limb. A loop of rope draped over her breast, the faintest shadow of the climbing wall with a marked route disappearing skyward in the background.

Derrick turned to each new offering with deliberate care. Reverence. Not only pictures, but simple one-line text accompanied the occasional shot, echoing the words Melanie had shared over the weekend away. Each one revealed a moment of pain, her struggles.

The need for time to bring healing.

The necessity of devoted friends.

The rediscovery of love—for herself and for another.

“This is incredible.” Melanie ran a finger over a close-up image of Derrick kissing her back. Firelight glowed, the hints of reds and yellows creating a mystic world. His darkness was somehow made deeper, her body ethereal and angelic in comparison.

And in spite of her scars, stunning.

Derrick pressed his lips to her temple. “Because you are, and always have been, beautiful.”

By the time they finished the book, tears threatened to fall as she appreciated Nathan’s sublime skill with photography. Understood what a gift he’d given to her, not only when he was there, but now through his art.

She looked up to see Derrick ignoring the photo book and instead staring at her.

“Are you okay?”

Oh God. There was only one possible answer to that question. “I have never in my life been better. Derrick, if I said I wanted Nathan to go ahead and get this published, what would you think?”

He considered for a moment, his expression somber. “I don’t know, there’s a shot of my bare butt in there, you know.”

She’d noticed. “That’s my favourite. Think I’ll ask Nathan if I can have a blowup for our bedroom.”

Derrick grinned. “If I can ask for an extra of the shot of your boobs.”

Melanie hit him before carefully placing the album aside and crawling up to straddle his lap. “Serious.”

“I am serious.”

She tugged his chin up and slowly lowered her head until their lips brushed. Familiar, yet magical. His kiss ignited flames inside and warmed her soul.

A solid knock on the front door was the only thing that stopped their caresses from carrying on to the next logical progression.

Melanie abandoned his lips with reluctance. “Save my seat.”

“Permanently.”

Images from the incredible offering Nathan had produced still flooded her mind. Somehow they would track him down and let him know their decision. Tell him to stop in and visit them soon.

Melanie swung open the door and stared into a familiar pair of blue eyes above a cocky smile.

A happy squeal escaped as she threw herself into Nathan’s arms. Melanie clung to his neck with one arm, squeezing his neck tight as she laughed and cried and pounded on his shoulder with her free hand.

“It’s you. It’s you.”

Nathan laughed and squeezed the air from her lungs with his hug. “It’s me. Can I come in?”

He managed to place her feet back on the floor only a second before being caught in a hug by Derrick. Melanie couldn’t stop her heart from racing. Nathan was back.

He’d left without saying a word.

She thumped him on the shoulder again for good measure. “You ass. What the hell were you thinking, running out on us?”

Nathan followed Derrick into the living room. “I was thinking you needed to move on, and so did I.”

He had a point, but Melanie was still pissed. “You could have said something before you disappeared.”

“And what’s with the magical appearance right now?” Derrick asked. He pointed at the photo album on the coffee table. “Were you in the delivery truck with the packages?”

“Sort of.” Nathan gave a sheepish smile. “I dropped off the book and I’ve been parked on the street up the road waiting until one of you picked it up. Felt like a complete ass every time one of your neighbours walked by and eyed me like I was a crook casing the joint.”

Melanie checked him over. He looked good. Trim and strong, still as dashing as ever.

But he didn’t make her body ache like he’d done before.

She glanced at Derrick. He smiled and held her hand, all warm and intimate in his. Both of them at ease. This was their home now, and Nathan was simply a good friend come to visit.

A deep sense of peace rolled over her. “Come on—I’ll make us coffee.”

Melanie led them into the kitchen and got the water going as conversation spilled around them. She had so many questions she wanted to ask, but in the end, it seemed most of them came down to one thing.

Were they all happy?

Nathan sipped from his cup before pointing between them. “So, what’s up with you guys? One house, I hear.”

Derrick beamed. “Melanie’s moved in. I sacrificed my closet space to her shoe collection.”

Yeah, right. “Damn, I forgot I was supposed to start leaving stockings on the shower rod.”

They exchanged contented smiles before Melanie tore her gaze away and returned to Nathan. “And you? The note said you quit Rave.”

He nodded. “There was a little more involved than that, but it’s okay. You don’t have to worry about them including you in the series either—that was part of the deal with me leaving.”

An icy cool wall of relief hit. “You’re serious? How did you pull that off?”

He shrugged nonchalantly. “Part of my negotiations. I can’t talk about the details, but I don’t want you to fuss, okay?”

“Do you miss working for Rave?” She didn’t want to have ruined his career.

Nathan snorted. “Not at all. The freelance I’m doing pays just as well, and now that I’ve bought a camper, I’m mobile and can work anywhere. Amazing how being able to travel freely makes it easier to get some assignments.”

“Sounds as if you’re even more footloose and fancy-free than usual,” Derrick teased. “Going to take advantage of better weather in the south and get away from the coming snow?”

Derrick continued to quiz Nathan on his plans, and Melanie simply soaked it in.

With her lover’s arm around her, Melanie was anchored in the warmth of her surroundings. She enjoyed the chatter as Nathan filled in the missing gaps from the past months, and his optimistic hopes for the future. Knowing that Nathan was going to be okay, finding a place in Derrick’s heart—her happiness was almost complete now.

There was only one more thing she wanted to accomplish, and it was time.

Somehow they ended up back at the gym, Chinese takeout boxes scattered again.

“Why do I feel like we’ve entered a time warp?” Derrick stroked her hair as Melanie leaned against his chest. He hoped she wasn’t going to suggest another round of sex in front of Nathan. He wasn’t willing to share her ever again, not even that way.

She giggled. “Sorry, no wild sexcapades this time.”

“Well, damn,” Nathan complained. “I had this new rope trick I wanted to show you.”

She stuck out her tongue and he instantly clicked a picture. “Will you stop that?” she demanded.

“Monkey.”

“Jackass.” Melanie scrambled to her feet. “I want to climb. Derrick, belay me?”

That wasn’t what he expected. “Right now?”

She was already scrambling into her harness. “Now.”

Derrick exchanged a confused shrug with Nathan, but went to grab his belt. Nathan gathered the remains of their dinner and cleared the floor, stepping out of the way to allow Melanie access to the wall.

She grabbed him by the arm on her return journey, hauling him close and hugging him fiercely. Nathan was stiff at first before returning the salute.

They were both grinning like fools when he stepped away.

Derrick was in the middle of checking the straps on her harness when Melanie caught him unaware. The gentle touch of her lips to his cheek was accompanied by her fingers tangling in his hair. She tugged until their lips connected, then continued the light blessing of their mouths together.

It would be easy to do this all night long.

When she pressed her hands to his chest, it was to both push them apart and to keep them together, her fingers clutching the front of his shirt. “I love you.”

A rush of happiness hit like a rockslide, making his knees weak. “I love you too.”

“On belay?”

Oh man. Would he ever get used to her high-energy mood swings? Derrick adjusted the rope, taking up the slack and pulling his head back into the game. “Belay on.”

Melanie grabbed the wall, stepping up to lift both feet clear of the floor. “Climbing?”

He’d support her as high as she wanted to go. “Climb on.”

One move followed another. Deliberate. Cautious, yet not. She tested her grip before releasing each previous hold, but she didn’t take the simplest route up the wall. She reached and stretched, using her muscular legs and flexible core to attempt challenging holds.

Nathan stepped behind him and spoke quietly as if afraid to disturb her. “What’s she doing?”

Derrick shrugged but kept his eyes locked on her rising body. “Proving something to us? Something to herself?”

“She doesn’t have to prove anything to me.”

Melanie didn’t even hesitate as she passed the fifteen-foot marker, progressing one hold at a time. Pride swelled inside Derrick at her fearlessness. “I couldn’t agree more.”

Halfway up the wall she paused. “Take.”

“Got. Fabulous work.” The poise she showed highlighted how far she’d come in the past five months.

“Oh, I’m not done.”

Derrick waited, watching her peer down at him from her perch. “What’s up, sweetheart?”

She flashed a grin on them both. “Give me slack. I’m climbing the rest freestyle.”

Shit. “Melanie…”

“Do it. I’m good. Really I am.”

He paused. Assessing. Looking into her bright eyes, her confident face. It took a lot for him to release his own fears. “As you wish.”

She blew him a kiss before facing the wall resolutely. “Climbing.”

Derrick forced himself to obey her request—mostly. She wouldn’t get hurt. Worst-case scenario, if she did slip off a hold, the rope he still controlled would halt her before she’d fallen far. He wasn’t strong enough to let her completely free, so he cheated, just a little. Gave her a loose rope, but took up the extra slack to make sure the most she could fall was less than five feet.

It wasn’t a case of not trusting her skills, but loving her enough to care even when she didn’t ask him to.

“She’s beautiful when she’s climbing.” There was a note of awe in Nathan’s voice.

“She’s beautiful all the time,” Derrick corrected.

And when Melanie reached the top of the wall and sounded the bicycle horn mounted on the ceiling, Derrick fought back tears.

“Take.” Sheer delight tinged her voice as she called out.

Derrick tightened up the extra rope to secure her in position. “Got.” For now. Forever.

Far above them, a loud shout echoed off the walls as Melanie cried out her victory, both hands raised over her head. She spun in a lazy circle as he lowered her to the ground and into his arms.

“I did it.” The words brushed past his cheek as she whispered in his ear. “I really did it.”

Derrick squeezed her close in spite of the ropes and harnesses tangled between them. She’d more than accomplished her goal. She’d risen above her fears, and he was going to enjoy every moment of watching her face the future.

Together, they could rise above any challenges that came their way.