Chapter 19 Happy New Years! He's gone! •Mel's POV•

Once Duke finished telling me his story I stayed in his lap wrapped in his warm embrace for a while. Completely lost in my own thoughts, and absorbed all the love and acceptance Duke gave me. Only moving enough to turn my body slightly toward his sharing a long drawn out kiss full of unspoken promises.

I notice Duke checking his watch and then the door several times while we were sitting. Each time he looks the frown on his pulling his plump pink lips down at the corners got deeper. Until after about twenty minutes of waiting Duke sighs running his fingers through his hair. Making the locks even more disheveled on top of his head. Then moves me about a foot away from his chest so he can look into my eyes as he speaks.

"As much as I'd rather stay here in this room with you for the rest of the night, we can't. Dean was supposed to meet us here a while ago. Either he's still downstairs still looking for both of us, or something is keeping him away. Whichever it might be, I think we should go find hiim, and tell him the good news." Duke says trying to sound like he doesn't have a care in the world.

A dreadful feeling of unease takes root in the pit of my stomach. Making me frown for a moment before I managed to hide my worry behind a blinding smile. "Ok Master."

Duke just chuckles as he helps me up from his lap to stand in front of him. I take a few steps back, so Duke has enough room to get up as well. Then he reaches down grabbing my hand interlocking our fingers together, and leads me out of the bedroom.

When we step into the hallway sporadically lined with guest Duke pulls me into his side. He releases my hand to slide his fingers across the back of my shoulder, and holding the back of my neck, and the collar, in his firm grip. I wrap my arm around his hip, and slide my hand into the back pocket grabbing his firm ass.

Duke leads me down the hallway toward the top of the stairs. Checking every person we pass hard. The softy of a brute knew how intimidating he can look at times, and now he's obviously using it to his full advantage to get us to the landing quicker.

We come to a stop against the banister looking down toward the main floor of the Brownstone. Dukes face is devoid of every single emotion, except for the unease shining from his eyes. After a few more minutes Duke blows out a frustrated breath before facing me.

"C'mon Love lets go find the Jackass. He should be around here somewhere. I think you should at least make him pay for this, and give me your first kiss of the New Year. It's only fair, don't you think?" He asks wiggling his eye-brow suggestively at me making me laugh.

"Oh sure, that makes perfect sense! How do I know this wasn't your plan all along? Cause some type of distraction, or didn't tell meet us back in the room and not somewhere else," I ask trying, but failing miserably to stifle my laughter.

Duke's smirk turns into a smoldering look full of burning hunger, and licks his lips before saying anything. "I don't care which one of us gets that kiss baby. All I can think about is hearing you scream my name afterwards."

His lips crashes down on mine devouring my mouth, and leaves his mark behind. In a matter of seconds he leaves me gasping for air as he releases me to stand back up to his full height, and gives me a cocky smile. Before grabbing my hand in his much larger one again, and begins to lead me down the crowded stairs onto the second floor.

Once we make it to a clear spot in the center of the outer banister Duke lets go of my hand, and places a chaste kiss to my already swollen lips. Then breaks the kiss off just as fast looking deep into my eyes as he caresses my cheek.

"Will you stay here while I go look for Dean? It will be a lot quicker for me to cheek along the hallway and rooms for him. I'll be back in no more than fifteen minutes. I want you to keep your eyes sharp while I'm gone, so you will be able to spot him. And, if you do happen to find him just make sure he stays here with you. If you and I don't find him then we will go up to the next floor together, and start all over again.

I feel a little cheeky despite all moment, and I hate seeing the worry lines marking Duke's beautiful face. I give him a saucy wink, and drop my voice down several octaves to a more sultry, seductive, breathy sound. "Whatever your heart desires is my greatest pleasure to give you."

Duke closes his eyes tight, and groans loudly. His eyes snap open with a start, and his primal, animalistic focus is completely on me as he just smiles shaking his head at me. "HellCat couldn't be anymore perfect a name for you My Love. Behave while I'm gone, please." With that he walked into the hallway full of bodies, and getting lost amongst them quickly.

As soon as Duke left my sight I turned my attention back down to the rest of the party goers. There are so many people here at this party stuffed inside Drakes Brownstone like a can of sardines, and I'd bet my last dollar Drake doesn't even know a quarter of the people here. I'd give anything for every single one of them to just magically disappear this exact second, so I could find him!

After several minutes of looking, one of my favorite songs comes blasting through the speakers making me smile. The infectious beat of the song travels along my body taking it over while it plays. My hips start moving side to side on their own, and it isn't long before I'm dancing by myself without a care of who sees.

"Thinkin you could LLLiivveee without me, LLLiiiVVVahh!!!" I scream as hands wrap around my waist, then pulls me backward into a firm chest.

"Hmm I know I can't live without you, and I don't plan to ever. But, I might not have a choice if those drunk pricks behind you don't stop salivating over MY ass!" Duke growls in my ear then nuzzling his nose in the bend of my neck.

I laugh at him as I spin around in his arms, and wrap my hand his neck looking him in the eyes. "Let them look! It's only two men in this entire world who get to take me home tonight, and so far none of them are Dean."

"Damn straight we are! Home is exactly where we plan to take you My Love, once we find Dean. C'mon."

Duke grabs ahold of my hand again as he begins to pull me behind him down the last flight of stairs. He doesn't leave me, or let go of my hand this time as he searches this floor a total of three times. His steps start to speed up the longer we walk, and the frown on his face gets deeper.

On our fourth trip through the kitchen area we run into Drake and Abbie walking back from the hallway. The pair gives us a surprise smile, and Duke makes a bee-line straight for them. The closer we get to the Drake notices the look on Dukes face making his smile change into a look of worry.

"What's wrong?" Drake asks Duke before we even come to a stop.

"Have either of you seen Dean?" Duke pulls me into his side as he's talking, and I wrap my arm around his waist in reassurance.

Drake looks at Abbie silently questioning her, but she just shakes her head no. Both men seem to get even more worried at this. Drake grabs his phone from the front pocket of his pants firing off a text.

"How long has it been since either of you saw him?" Drake asks us without looking up from his phone.

Duke looks at his watch then whistles in disbelief. "Shit almost an hour and a half ago! We split up to look for Mel down here, and were supposed to meet back upstairs on the third floor in twenty minutes. Weather either of us found her or not. I got lucky, and found her in about ten minutes. We've been up there waiting on him ever since."

Before Duke finishes Drake has his phone against his ear calling someone. He tries to call them back a few times before just giving the phone a strange look. Then sliding it back into his pocket. "Everytime I try to call Dean's phone it goes straight to voicemail."

"Huh?" Duke ask bemused.

"I know." Drake says saying so much more than those two words.

"Well now that there are four of us, why don't we split up, and check the entire house again? Dean has to be here somewhere. Y'all must be passing each other, or something!" Abbie suggest giving me a small hopeful smile.

I desperately want to believe that, but something deep inside of me know Abbie is wrong. That gut feeling is never wrong.

"Good idea Angel. You and Mel stay together, and go back upstairs to check those two floors. Duke and I will stay down here, and look around. No matter what we meet back up here in thirty minutes." Drake orders taking charge of the situation.

Abbie blows Drake a kiss before taking my hand, and pushing her way through the people toward the stairs. Thankfully the people milling around saw us coming, and must feel our urgency, because they instinctively clear a path for us.

When we reach the second floor I make sure I don't miss checking a single person here. Even swinging some of them around to face me unexpectedly just to make extra sure none of them are Dean. While Abbie looks through each of the rooms along the hall weather they are occupied, or not.

It takes us no more than five minutes to search the entire floor with no luck, so we go back up the stairs to the third floor. Since there aren't that many people up here Abbie stops me once we reach the landing, and turns me to face her. Her body actually vibrating in excitement.

"So, did you tell them what I told you to? Don't leave me hanging in this anticipation any longer Bitch! I'm dying to know what happened, and I'm not about to wait until after the New Year to find out!"

I let out a loud sigh before answering her. "No, not both of them, but I did tell Duke."

Abbie squeals. "So, what did he say? Did he tell you the same thing I did about Dean being in-love with you already?"

"Pretty much." I whisper looking down, and not at Abbie as I admit she might have been right.

"I knew it! See, didn't I tell you? I'm so freaking jealous of you right now! I wish I could get two Greek Gods all to myself as a New Years gift!" Abbie says pouting.

I bark of a sarcastic laugh. "Ha! It doesn't look like I will be either if we can't find Dean."

"Good point!" Abbie laughs then turns around, and begins walking down the hallway.

I wish I felt as carefree and happy as Abbie right now, but my mood is only growing sour the longer we look for Dean. I'm right on her heels as she starts to move. My eyes scanning around desperately as Abbie checks the unlocked rooms. When we make it back to the landing I can see the same worry I'm feeling poorly hidden in her gaze behind a small sympathetic grin, and shrugs her shoulders.

"Maybe the guys have found him by now?"

"Ok." My voice is monotone as i walk past Abbie down the stairs back to the kitchen. Alarm bells continue to go off in my gut knowing they haven't. The feeling so intense my body goes into self preservation mode by itself. Shielding my cracking heart behind a concrete wall desperate to avoid the pain it could feel coming.

As soon as we walk into the kitchen we spot the guys exactly where we left them. The matching grim expressions on their faces said it all. Abbie and I come to a stop directly in front of them. Then Abbie opens her mouth saving me from asking the obvious, but necessary question.

"Y'all didn't find him?"

If I wasn't looking at Duke the entire time Abbie was talking I wouldn't have seen the quick murderous look he shared between Drake. Only in the next second when Drake looked at me it was completely gone.

"He's not here. I went to check the security feeds while everyone was searching. I watched him leave the house, and get in his truck about forty five minutes ago."

"What? Why? Where did Dean go?" Abbie fired back fuming with anger.

"Back to his loft I would guess Angel." Drake shrugs.

Duke and I are stuck in a silent, questioning standoff as they argue.His emerald gaze screaming at me to just trust him. Until he steps toward me holding out his hand.

"If we take the Subway we might beat Dean back to the loft. Wanna see if I'm right?"

I can't bring myself to answer him for a few more minutes, and just continue to stare at him silently. A smile starts to blossom across my face slowly. Finally I give in, because I do trust Duke with my whole heart, and slide my hand inside his.

I turn to face Abbie who's positively radiating from excitement. "Happy New Year's guys, but you heard the man. It's time for us to go!"

Duke doesn't wait to hear their reply. Dragging me behind him across the room to grab our coats from inside the closet under the stairs, and helping me slide it on. Then he takes my hand again leading me across the crowded floor, and out the front door.

The entrance to the Subway is two blocks from Drake's Brownstone, so Duke and I take off at a sprint. My heels clicking against the sidewalk killing my feet. We make it onto the platform right as the train comes to a stop. We step inside the full carriage quickly, and Duke cages me inside his arms against his chest.

The train pulls up to our stop almost exactly twenty minutes laters. Duke and I rush onto the platform zig-zagging our way through the people going to celebrate as we go up the stairs, and onto the street. Thankfully the subway entrance is only a block away from their lofts, so Duke and I start to sprint.

My poor feet are screaming with each step I take. I try to hide my limp as I walk up the stairs of their building, but Duke still catches it. Once we step inside the lobby of the old warehouse he bends down hooking his arm behind my knees, and throws me over his shoulder. Giving my ass a quick slap making me laugh before starting up the stairs.

I have a serious bout of head rush by the time Duke places me back on my feet outside of the front door to their loft. Black spots dance across my vision, and my body is swaying side to side. Duke kept ahold of my forearms until I'm steady on my feet. He lets me go taking a step back, and gives me a megawatt smile.

That smile sends my heart racing and butterflies taking flight inside my stomach. The unexpected happiness helps me stop worrying some, and actually start to hope. Except when Duke tries to open the door without using his key assuming it's unlocked if Dean is here, that hope shatters.

Duke is as shocked by this turn of events as I am. Its written all over his face as he takes his key from inside his pants pocket, sliding it inside the lock, opening the door, and swings it wide open revealing total darkness inside. Without a doubt I know Dean Masters isn't here.

I let my head fall forward my chin touching my chest, and let my hair cascade down around my face. I don't want Duke to see me when I burst into tears any second now. Duke places his hand on the center of my lower back giving me a small push through the doorway, and across the room to the couch. Turning on the lights, and shutting the front door behind us.

I melt into the cushion along the end of the couch as soon as I get close enough to it. My body is cold and numb all over like an ice cube, and my brain has officially checked out for the rest of the night. No longer able to handle the overload of feelings and questions running on repeat. Trying to find any sensible reason to why Dean left.

I'm so lost in my own little pitiful world I dont notice Duke leaving me here to go off and search the rest of the loft for Dean, or when he came back into the room. My brain clues back in once he sits down beside me, and picks me up by the hips sitting me in his lap. Tucking my body tightly against his chest, but holds my face cradled in the palm of his hand. Giving me a sad smile full of devastating heartbreak.

"I'm sorry My Love, but Dean's not here. I guess we just missed him." Trying, and failing to make it sound like its not such a big deal Dean isn't here now.

"Did you find a note, or anything Dean might have left behind telling us what's going on?" I ask hopefully.

"Not exactly." Duke says while avoiding to look me in the eyes.

That simple tell of deceit blows all over me in a severely wrong way pissing me off like the Hulk. My sudden anger isn't really Duke's fault, but unfortunately he's the only person here in front of me. I jump up out of his lap, and start marching across the loft to Deans 4room screaming back at Duke as I go.

"What the fuck is wrong with you, and the rest of the entire male species! A woman knows the first thing you do is write the ones you love a note, or look for said note first while searching for someone! Fuck it! I'll just do..Umph!" Duke stops me mid rant. Coming up behind me grabbing my forearm, and twisting my body around to face his.

Duke lays his forehead against mine showing me the truthfulness of his words in his gaze. "That's not what I meant My Love. I mean I just didn't look because I didn't need to." His words sound so defeated, but in my blinding rage I don't care.

"Well then, how do you know Dean didn't leave a note behind for me then? Hmm, Oh Mister Smart One." I sound just like a preteen drama queen. I even have my hands on my hips, and my foot is rapidly tapping away to the raging anger inside me.

Duke looks all over the room except for at me for several moments. Then he lets out a deep sigh before giving me his attention. Instantly making me wish I would have just kept my mouth closed, and not pushed for an answer.

"Because most of Deans clothes and other things are gone."

"What?" I need to hear that one more time, because my brain refuses to even process what Duke just said.

Duke bends down lightly kiss my lips before letting go, and moving back a few inches from my face."I'm so sorry Mel. I don't know why Dean left, or what happened to drive him away. Tonight of all nights especially! That man has been acting like a dope fiend desperate for a hit of you these last two weeks. His bag isn't in his closet anymore, and almost all of his clothes and other things are gone. His room looks like a tornado came through it, so I figure he didn't have time to leave any type of note behind. Dean did the same thing to me when he left over five years ago to Florida." He whispers as he caresses my face softly.

It takes a while for my brain to process everything Duke says, but once it does I feel a crippling pain begin to radiate from my heart. Silent tears start rolling down my face, and in no time I'm full on ugly crying, snot dripping from my nose and mouth crying, into Dukes chest.

Duke just holds me in his comforting arms as I ruin the front of his designer shirt. I just can't believe Dean is gone. I spent so much time worrying about something like this happening later on I never actually thought it would happen so soon. Let alone imagine how much it would actually hurt.

If this pain isn't undeniable proof that I actually am in-love with Dean already, then I don't want the real thing! I just can't believe it took him leaving for me to realize it. Only now I might not get to tell him.

That thought makes my crying take on a renewed strength as Duke moves us to sit back down on the couch. After about ten minutes I start to calm down slowly, until I finally manage to stop the water works. My gaze is stuck unmoving looking at absolutely nothing over Dukes shoulder while he rubs his hand up and down my back in soothing comfort.

I feel my eyelids begin to sag in exhaustion, and I can't stop a huge yawn from taking over my face. When I stop yawning Duke pulls back slightly to remove his shirt, and cleans my face off. Before throwing the ruined shirt haphazardly over the couch, and giving me another slow, lingering kiss. Duke lets me go moments later with the biggest smile on his face.

"Happy New Years My Love." Is the last thing I hear Duke say before I surrender myself over to the darkness completely, and take me away from this heart breaking pain.  

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  Soooo. Let me know what y'all think!

Until then stay kinky my loves!!

Callie

Text Copyright  ©Callie Sumner ™ 2019