Rubbing his head dry, Oak stopped short at seeing Melody passed out. He sighed and knew she was still scared. Having seen it on her face before his shower, he had thought to give her plenty of time before he returned to the bedroom to relax. 
                Her healing face was peaceful in sleep framed by her red hair as it spread across her pillow. She had said he made her feel safe yet she was still affected by what had happened to her. His father had once said, sometimes the broken pieces caused by one hand needed to be picked up and helped back together by another.
                   His thoughts drifted to his mother, wishing she were here to give him advice when it came to situations like this. No one else knew beside his dad and brother, that their mom had fled their abusive,  biological father while still pregnant with Oak. She had seen how he had treated her first son and she had known for the future and safety of her children she had to leave. 
                   Pregnant with a three year old in tow, she had crossed paths with a biker at a truck stop. He had noticed how terrified and out of place she looked, offering to put her up for a night at his mother's house. She had made it from Florida to Colorado when this had happened, not realizing the love of her life was the biker's best friend and President of their club.
The rest was history and he still thought of his step-father as his real father as that was all he had known. His biological father was only a sperm donor and he had cherished his mother all the more for leaving him when she had. Thinking of his mother, it made him realize Melody had not once spoken of her own mother and wondered why that was.
      He checked his phone for messages before sitting on the opposite side of the bed. There were so many mysteries surrounding Melody and he wanted to find out what they all were.  Not sure what was happening between them, Oak knew it was probably wrong of him to have kissed her earlier. She had looked so happy and carefree, a devilish gleam in her eyes when she had licked him, he had been unable to resist.
        Lying down beside her now, he felt his emotions fighting a battle that he had no clue to the outcome. To him, she was already more than someone to causally fuck and that scared him the most.

                                                                        ————————————————-
           Melody woke up slowly, her mind fuzzy as she realized she had been sleeping on something very warm. Raising her cheek slightly, she stiffened at feeling an arm tighten around her before dread set in. Fighting the instinct to scream and run, she kept her breathing slow as she fought to focus her mind.
                Opening her eyes, she took in the rise and fall of a chest that her cheek was using as a pillow. An arm was wrapped around her back with a hand settled firmly on her ass and a leg wedged between her own. Quickly assessing that she still had her clothes on, Melody raised her eyes and instantly her body deflated in relief.
                      Oak laid there with his eyes closed and sleep still evident with his deep breathing. She remembered last night, but she must have fallen asleep before he had come back from his shower. Pink tinged her cheeks as she looked down at her right arm draped dangerously low on his waist as the sheet covering them was not lying flat across his lower body.
              Her other arm was tucked between their bodies and her tee shirt was now sitting above her underwear. Wanting to move but afraid to wake him up, Melody blew out a soft breath and without realizing it, began to draw small circles across Oak's lower stomach. Her eyes closed as she felt her body relax against him as she enjoyed the feeling.
                    Bryce had never been one to cuddle, always more cold and standoffish in his emotions. Melody had thought it would get better but once things turned for the worst, it hadn't mattered at that point. Her experience with men was limited and that experience she had included none of the good things about love. She had her mother to thank for that. Melody cringed at the thought before squeaking in surprise as her hand was stopped from making another circle.
                     "You keep doing that and I'll have to apologize for my behavior after." Oaks deep voice rumbled below her cheek as her eyes flew up to meet his. Her cheeks flamed bright red as she felt his hand move from  her ass to pull her shirt down over her bottom and legs.
"Sorry, I didn't even know I was doing that." Melody was battling with herself as she fought between fleeing to the bathroom and staying right where she was comfortably draped over his body.
        He chuckled and stared down at her, his arm remaining around her and his hand now curved on her hip. His other hand had moved on top of the sheet and while Melody hadn't looked back down she could bet he was trying to hide his growing erection.
      "Are you hungry? I could make breakfast." Melody offered as she found herself starting to feel awkward and wanting a reason to escape.
       "I'm hungry but I don't think we have the same thing in mind." Oak joked as Melody felt herself getting hot at his words. Why did things have to be so screwed up right now, Melody grumbled to herself. If he only knew what she was thinking he'd realize they did have the same thing in mind.
       Pushing herself up, she pulled her hand back from his waist as her hair fell around her shoulders. All of sudden, she found herself on her back and pressed into the mattress, his lower body holding her legs and hips immobile. 
      It was like a noose instantly had tightened around her neck as she opened her mouth and nothing came out. Her heart was trying to beat right out of her chest as she fought off the feeling of helplessness.
           She had no strength as her panicked eyes met his playful quickly turned confused ones.
      "Mel-" Oak started to say.
     "No." She choked out as visions of Greg holding her down blended with old memories of a past life she longed to forget.
     Immediately, she felt pressure removed from her body and an arm pulling her up to sit on the side of the bed. A hand rubbed her back, up and down with warmth and she found herself hyperventilating with her head between her knees.
      She closed her eyes and quickly began her breathing exercises, focusing on the slow rush of air in and out. Little by little, her breathing slowed, the nausea disappeared and that feeling of helplessness turned into shame. Shame that she still let that night control her, shame that she was this broken person. And shame because she felt so weak and pathetic that she couldn't enjoy a simple romp in the bedroom. Did she truly think Oak would do something she didn't want him to?
         "I'm sorry", she croaked as the tears continued to trail down her cheeks. Feelings of frustration, bitterness, and humiliation coursed through her.
      Gentle hands cupped her face as she focused her eyes on Oak's bright blue ones.
      "Don't be, if anything I am sorry for scaring you. I wasn't thinking", his voices trailed off and Melody missed what he whispered under his breath. She blinked the last of her tears away and took a deep breath. Enough feeling sad and sorry for herself, there were more important things to be done today.
       "I'm fine, really. Let me make some breakfast and then we can head over." Melody smiled at the uncertainty on his face but he allowed her to move on and nodded his head.
         "Go ahead and dress, I'll meet you in the kitchen." Oak offered before grabbing clothes and leaving her alone in the bedroom.
        Melody took another deep breath and pulled on clean clothes.  Trading one problem for the next, she focused on the situation with Greg. She wanted to tear him apart and torture him for what he had done to her. For what he had forever imprinted into her memory, never to be forgotten. The horror and violation she felt still resided deep inside her.
           Stepping into the kitchen, she saw the bathroom door open but no sign of Oak. She used the bathroom before whipping up a quick breakfast of eggs, bacon and toast. Just as she was setting the full plates on the island, Oak walked in from the porch with a smile.
             "Smells great, thank you." Oak stated as he sat down and joined her.
              "Your welcome." She felt better and hoped that he wouldn't bring up what happened earlier. She was still mortified and knew she was in no way ready to start anything with Oak. Never having been one for casual flings made it difficult to approach that with Oak. She knew he would never want more than that with someone like her. Swallowing, she focused on her plate. They ate in comfortable silence before he cleared the plates away.
                        "Go ahead and get some air while I do the dishes. It's beautiful outside." Oak pushed her towards the porch door, not fighting him and left him to clean up.
He was right, as she stepped off the porch and took in the clear blue skies overlooking the valley. She thought back to the waterfall and wanted to ask Oak about it, hoping to return with Coal.
             "Amazing isn't it?" Oak walked up a few minutes later to stand next to her.
               "It is. I found a waterfall on my walk about a mile down there yesterday where I took a nap. Do you know it?" Melody stated as she pointed towards the mountains.
"Oh yeah, you found Hallows Falls. My dad would take me and my brother down there when we were kids. Still a favorite spot of mine." Melody had turned and watched his face, seeing his look of happiness as he spoke.
      "I'd love to visit it again with Coal." Melody commented as they stood facing the view.
      "You can come over anytime with him, there are plenty of trails to check out. Come on, let's head over to my brother's. He said he might know where Greg is."
     Making their way over, Melody held tight to Oak as they cruised down the mountain and over to the clubhouse.
      Feeling self-conscious, Melody slid off the back of the Road King and looked around at the men working. Clangs from tools rang out as motors were tweaked and voices boomed throughout the bays as they called out back and forth. Bark! Bark! Bark! Coal came bounding around the corner with Wyatt hot on his heels. Excitedly, she crouched down and held her arms out as Coal slammed into her chest and began licking her face.
     "Hey boy, I missed you too," She giggled as she pressed her face into his neck and breathed in his scent. He always made her feel instantly better and today was no exception. Despite all her worries and uncertainty, Coal made them melt away and always filled her with hope and love. She stood back up to face Wyatt as Coal sat and leaned into her leg.
        "He's been good but you could tell he missed you. How are ya?" Wyatt asked as he shoved his hands in his pockets.
     "I'm better now that I have my Coal and all you to thank for helping me." Melody smiled.
      "Good, good. They, uh located that detective so Ash and Mason went to check it out and should be back soon." Wyatt rubbed the back of his neck as he looked away from her.
     Melody looked down and felt her face flush with discomfort, wondering how much Wyatt knew about her situation. From his face and how he was being awkward around her had her assuming he knew as much as the brothers did.
      A large, warm hand pressed against her lower back as Oak spoke up. "I talked to them this morning, they think they discovered where he has been staying. If they can take him, they will, otherwise they'll be back here to make a new plan." Melody felt comforted knowing this could all be over in a few hours or at the very least they would have some answers. Dying to get back to her own house and back to the normal routine she had expected for this week was top on her list. So, was not being completely dependent on the men here to fight her battles.
      "Could we pop over to my place and at least grab my bike while we wait? Figured I'd get it inspected and make sure she is good for the season." Melody was already nervous and didn't want to be there waiting when and if the guys showed up with Greg. As much as she wanted to see him dead, the thought of seeing him terrified her more.
          "Sure. You mind if Wyatt brings you? I gotta run into town before they get back." Oak replied as he stared at his phone. Melody took in his furrowed brow as he typed a quick message on his phone. She wondered what had upset him but it wasn't her right to know as she nodded and agreed to Wyatt taking her.
             "Alrighty, let's go then." Wyatt seemed to perk up at bringing her over and hoped it made things less awkward between them. She hated being the big pink elephant in the room and hoped to put him at ease about it.
              Melody bent down to kiss Coal, "I'll be right back boy, you be good."
      "He'll be fine, I'll take him in the truck to town". Oak stated as he ruffled Coal's head who happily looked up at him, his tongue lolling out.
     Melody smiled before hopping on the back of Wyatt's FXR before bursting out laughing when he throttled it sideways out of the driveway. Yep, things would be alright she thought as they flew down the road towards her house.