His to Claim #5: Breaking Storm by Opal Carew

From Part 4:
    Storm’s stomach tightened. He didn’t like that Diego had noticed how sexy Melanie was. Though the man would have to be made of stone not to notice.
    “Are you trying to tell me something, Diego?”
    They arrived at his door. Diego fished in his pocket and pulled out his keycard, but had trouble fitting it into the slot, so Storm took it and opened the door, then handed him back the card.
    Diego stumbled inside, then kicked off his shoes.
    “I guess I am. ‘Cause I feel guilty, you being my best friend and all.”
    “What are you feeling guilty about?”
    “Well, for one, I kissed her.”
    Fuck, Diego kissed Melanie. And he’d been worried about Travis.
    “Then, there was the night she showed us her tattoo …”
    Storm knew she’d only shown them a picture of it in her sketchbook. Or so she’d said. From the look in Diego’s eyes right now, he was beginning to wonder what had really happened that night.
    “Did you kiss her then?”
    Diego shook his head. “No. I didn’t.” He gazed up at Storm. “But Travis did. And, man, they were both into it. It’s a good thing you called right then, because I think clothes were about to fly.”
    Storm’s gut clenched.
    Heedless of his friend’s rising anger, Diego gazed into space with glazed eyes, his lips turned up in a crooked grin. “You know, her tattoo really is beautiful. She’s very talented.”
    “That’s true,” Storm said, his teeth clenched. “Now tell me what happened in her room.”
    Diego’s gaze shifted to Storm. “Aw, fuck, you’re mad now.” He leaned forward in the chair. “Look, man, she really missed you. Don’t get mad at her.”
    “Right now, it’s not
her
I’m mad at.”
    Diego nodded. “Okay, if it’ll make you feel better …” He pointed at his face. “Slug me. I shouldn’t have touched her. She’s
your
woman.”
    “I’m not going to hit you. Now tell me what happened with Travis and Melanie that night.”
    Diego shook his head. “I don’t think I better.”
    Storm leaned forward. “It’s too late now. You already let the cat out of the bag.”
    Diego’s lips compressed in a frown. “I didn’t mean to cause trouble.” He sighed deeply. “Look, Travis figured that with you forbidding her to come on this trip and all, that maybe you guys weren’t meant to be together. That she was just going to get her heart broken. You know, like with Jessica.”
    Anger and pain flashed through Storm. “Fuck.”
    “Man, the thing is, she didn’t go for it. There was another night … before that … that I kissed her at the door, then Travis did, too. Travis turned on his macho thing and it was clear it excited her. If she was going to do something, I think she would have done it then.”
    Storm seethed at this admission.
    Diego clasped his hands between his knees and stared at Storm, looking more coherent than he had a few moments before. “But she didn’t. Man, she’s into
you.
”
    “Yet you and Travis went into her room and tried to seduce her.”
    “You do know Travis is still angry at you for hurting his sister, right? You guys have never talked about that, but it’s so obvious to everyone else. And sure, Melanie kissed Travis back, but she was lonely … missing you … and probably confused. She might even have been tempted. I mean, we both know Travis can charm the pants off most women … so you can’t really blame her.”
    Diego stared at Storm. “But she really missed you.” He grabbed Storm’s shoulder and squeezed. “I’m glad you’re back. You two are a great couple and I think you should do everything you can to make it work.” His dark brown eyes grew intense. “She deserves it.”
    ***
    Storm quietly opened the door to Melanie’s room and slipped inside. The lights were out, except for the one in the bathroom, which allowed him to see enough so he didn’t stumble over the furniture.
    He went into the bathroom and stripped down to his boxers, then brushed his teeth and headed