Reclaimed - Chapter 1

A romance on the go

Join me on this creative journey as we explore Melanie's path to rediscovering herself and finding the passion she deserves! Always looking forward to hearing your thoughts as well.

Reclaimed - Chapter 1

“She trembled in his arms. His embrace tightened, a reassurance the danger was over. Pressing his chin on her head, he whispered, “Dee, I will never allow you to feel fear again” Her shaking slowly came to a stop. Bodies laid scattered on the ground. Men who, moments ago, were there to take her life were there to take her life, now lifeless in pools of crimson. He killed them, each and every one.”

Melanie’s pulse quickened at the lines she’d read. As she turned the page, her phone beeped, an unwelcome distraction that had broken the rhythm.

The text read On my way home. She’d lost sense of time as she devoured each page of her book. The dinner that should be ready to put on the table, was nothing more than a pile of fresh ingredients in the fridge. She tossed the book in the drawer and made her way to the kitchen, searching for a solution, a Hail Mary found in the frozen chili she’d made a month or so. She’d say she had a headache. Marcus would be annoyed she didn’t make dinner because she was lost in a book. He'd have every reason to be for it too, he always cooks when she works and it’s only fair she did the same.

They didn’t talk much as they ate. He was tired, working late hours at the firm to meet the deadline, to make their prized client happy. He didn’t have to say it, his face was a dead giveaway and she didn’t want to ask. It wasn’t that she didn’t care, it was that she’d grown used to it. She mentioned she’d had a headache, nonchalantly, a lie she felt compelled to tell.

He'd fallen asleep first. It didn't take him long, not with the day he had, the same one waiting for him the next morning. It was a moment she waited for, the second she heard his breathing steady. It was a sign to put away her phone. To stop the endless scrolling through updates from friends, ads from companies, and luscious memes of tattooed shadow daddies with their dragons. She loved those. Quietly she opened the drawer and took out the book, flipping it open to the page marked with the bookmark. She glanced at Marcus, making sure she didn’t disturb him with the noise. Clipping on her reading light she was ready, ready to continue the toe-curling adventure.

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“One Vanilla Latte and one Iced Matcha Latte with Oat Milk & Cinnamon, please,” Melanie placed her order at the small local cafe she and Flora she and Flora had been meeting every Monday. Flora was always late, just late enough to arrive when the drinks were already at the table. Melanie didn’t mind, it was a small price to pay for the company. Flora was one of Melanie's rare friends who enjoyed these books just as much as she did.

“Have you started The Last Fae yet?” Flora asked, as she settled at the table, dropping her large purse on the empty chair.

“Oh my god, yes. I’m devouring it,” Melanie’s face lit up as she said those words.

Flora took a sip of her Iced Matcha Latte before she asked, “how far in are you?”

“Finished chapter twenty-three yesterday—”

“It’s hot, right?” Flora’s eyes lit up, “How he said he’d burn the world for her. I didn’t even mind that they did it right there, bodies and all.”

Melanie nodded, remembering every detail, how her body flushed, when they first kissed and how her heart raced when they didn’t stop at just that.

“And let me tell you,” Flora continued, “when Jayce came home, I’d almost rip his clothes off.” She leaned closer to Melanie, looking around carefully so no one else would hear, “and I had him do that thing, you know when Clarisius lifts Dee, and has her begging to never stop.”

She leaned back, her voice returning to normal, “He went to pre-order the second book for me right after.” A smug smile painted her face, “what these books do to us, right?”

“Right?” Melanie confirmed with a forced smile. She didn’t want to tell Flora her life wasn’t a romance. The smut she read and enjoyed gave her all the feels but nothing changed in her life. Not in the same way Flora’s had. Had it even, Melanie asked herself? Maybe Flora's relationship had always been like that, and it was just something she didn’t notice before.