She’d sold her fucking piano.
“Why didn’t you tell me, doll?”
She finished her wine. We’d gone through the whole bottle and hadn’t put in a movie yet.
“It wasn’t relevant at the time,” she said drily, and I frowned. “I never expected to see you again, Kyle.” She looked away, blushing. So damn cute.
I opened my mouth to say something when Arthur appeared at the door with a fresh bottle of wine. He inclined his head and set it on the desk, then disappeared as suddenly as he’d arrived.
How the hell did he do that?
I got up and strode across the room, snatching up the bottle. “I wish I’d known,” I said, turning to Charlotte. “I’d have found you a nicer place.” The way she described the shit-box she was living in was enough to make my blood boil.
“Kyle.” She took her glasses off and rubbed her forehead. “I don’t need your money.”
“Apparently, you do,” I said, throwing myself onto the couch. The wine was about the same colour as my mood. “Why don’t you move in here?”
She stared at me. “You’re joking.”
I shook my head and set the bottle down hard on the side table. “I have more space than I know what to do with.” I lifted my glass. “And you wouldn’t have to drive so far to get me up in the mornings.” I grinned wickedly.
She laughed and tossed her braid over her shoulder. “Yes, because sleeping with my boss is right at the top of my bucket list.”
“Yeah, sleeping wasn’t really what I had in mind, either,” I said, taking a long drink. She laughed, then hiccuped. I rubbed my chin thoughtfully. “Look, there’s a spare room on this floor. You could always take that.”
She shook her head and smiled into her glass. “Thank you, but no. I’m sure that would be an extremely bad idea.” I frowned again, and she held up a hand. “Kyle, whatever we might someday have, you’re still my boss, at least for another two weeks.” She wagged a finger at me, and I grabbed it and pulled her a little closer. Wine splashed out of her glass onto her shirt, and I winced.
“Shit. Sorry, doll.” I looked around for something to wipe it up with, but she just laughed and put the glass on the coffee table.
“I’ll get a towel from Arthur,” she said, standing up a little unsteadily.
“Surprised he isn’t already here with one,” I muttered. Seriously, that guy must be psychic. I was honestly a little shocked that he wasn’t standing at the door with a damp cloth in hand and a dry smile on his face.
Alone in the room, I heard a buzzing sound. Charlotte’s phone crashed onto the floor, and I picked it up. Someone named Adam was calling her. When the call went to voice mail, I checked the screen. Sixteen missed calls from the same number? Who the fuck was this guy?
“Who’s Adam?” I said when she walked back into the room. She looked startled, and I held up her phone. “You had a call while you were gone. Don’t worry, I didn’t answer.” Though I would have liked to. And then told the guy to fuck off. Charlotte was mine.
Wasn’t she?
She sighed and took the phone from me. “He’s nobody,” she said, tossing it on the desk. She nearly missed. The wine was kicking her ass pretty hard.
I pulled her down onto the couch and gripped her shoulders. She winced, and I eased off. I hadn’t realised I was so upset.
Jealous, man. Not upset. Don’t bullshit yourself.
“Charlie.” I took her chin in my hand as gently as I could. “Come on. Who is he?” That ache in my chest was back. Why hadn’t I already told her I needed her? That she couldn’t belong to anyone else?
Because I was a fucking coward, that’s why.
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Adam Brock,” she said. There was ice in her voice. I raised my eyebrows. “We used to date. And then he started sleeping with half the country behind my back.” She grabbed her wineglass and emptied it, then held it out. I poured, trying to remember where I’d heard the guy’s name.
Wait. Wasn’t he the front man for Kings of Denial? That explained this afternoon’s impromptu jam session.
“Seriously?” I said, staring at her. “You dated that hack?”
She blinked, then erupted into giggles. “Thank you,” she said, wiping tears from her eyes. She giggled again. “I haven’t felt that good about the whole thing since I left him.”
I grinned broadly. “Happy to help.” That wild giggle was making my dick throb. “What happened?”
Her laughter faded, and she shrugged. “Exactly what it sounds like. We were together for two years.” She set her glass on the table and looked away, her expression dark. “Two years too long, in my case. He was more interested in the girls backstage than he was in me.” The bitterness in her voice was almost as sharp as the wine.
I growled softly. “Then he’s a fucking lunatic.” A few strands of hair had come loose from her braid, and I brushed them off her face. “You’re amazing. Why would anyone give you up?”
Just come out and say it, you chickenshit. Tell her you need her.
She smiled sadly. “Newer model, I guess,” she said, and shrugged again. “It’s what rock stars do, isn’t it?”
“Not all of us.” I finished my drink.
She picked up her wine and smiled. “Not all of you, no,” she said. She watched me over the rim of her glass. “My sister thinks I should start dating an accountant.”
I snorted, jealousy surging in my chest again. “Like they’re any better.” I grabbed the bottle and held it up to her. She shook her head.
“I think I’m going to have trouble staying awake as it is,” she said, and laughed again. It was a little giddy.
“Have you eaten anything tonight?” I said, staring at her. She giggled and shook her head, hugging the wineglass to her chest. I rolled my eyes. “Well, fuck. No wonder you’re smashed.” Between the two of us, we’d put away nearly a bottle and a half. At least I’d had something to eat when I got home. “Let me get you something.” I started to get up, but she put her hand on my arm, and I felt a shock arcing through my veins.
“No,” she whispered. “Don’t go. I don’t mind, really.”
I hesitated, then sat back on the couch and held out my arm. “C’mere,” I said, and she snuggled against me, her full body warm and soft against mine. I kissed the top of her head and took the glass from her hand. She made a faint noise of protest.
“Don’t fight me on this, Charlie,” I said softly. She buried her face in my chest and slipped an arm over my stomach. I stroked her hair, and my heart started pounding. She must have felt it, because she tilted her head up and looked into my eyes. I swallowed thickly. “What?”
Her cheeks were a little flushed, but I wasn’t sure if it was from the wine or the fact that we were so close. “I really like you, Kyle,” she murmured, and I had to bite back a groan. “A lot. I’m sorry I said I wished we hadn’t met.” She shook her head. “I didn’t mean it.”
I cupped her face in my hand and brushed my thumb against her mouth. “I know,” I said. I leaned down and kissed her tenderly. Her lips were soft under mine. When I lifted my head, her eyes were still closed, and she was smiling gently. “Charlie. You’re drunk, doll.” I kissed her forehead. “You’re not driving home like this.”
She snuggled close and I swear she purred against my chest. I thought might actually need to revise my opinion of cats. We sat there for a long time, her body pressed against me, my cheek resting on her soft hair. I’d never felt so comfortable in silence as I did with her.
I hadn’t been kidding, though. I wasn’t going to let her drive home like this. I looked at the clock above the bookshelf. It wasn’t especially late, but she needed to sleep this one off.
“Come on, doll,” I said, pulling her off the couch. She sighed softly, and I picked her up in my arms. “I’m putting you to bed. It’s been a long day.”
“No...” It was the weakest protest I’d ever heard from anyone. Ever. I laughed and carried her to the spare room, kicking the door open. “I’m not sleepy,” she said, and proceeded to yawn.
I grinned. “Liar,” I said, setting her on the edge of the bed. “Do you want a blanket?”
She shook her head and threw her arms around my neck. “Don’t go,” she whispered, and it took every fucking ounce of strength I had not to pull her against me and kiss her perfect lips.
“Charlie, you’ve had a lot to drink.” I pulled her arms away, and she pouted at me. I couldn’t keep from laughing. “Okay, look.” I knelt beside the bed and looked up at her. “I’ll cuddle you for a bit. Will that make you happy?” It was certainly making my dick happy.
Down, boy. This is definitely not the time.
She beamed, and nodded her head so hard, I thought she might break her neck.
“Scoot over then, doll.” I gave her a little nudge, and she fell back on the bed, giggling hysterically. Fuck, she was hilarious when she was drunk. “Settle down, you little lush,” I teased, and she laughed and swatted at me as I rolled her over onto her side and curled up on the bed behind her. I slid my arm under the pillow, and she snuggled back against me. My cock started to ache, and I did my best to ignore it.
“Thank you, Kyle,” she whispered. I wrapped my arm over her stomach, holding her close. “I really like you,” she said again.
I kissed the back of her head. The ache in my chest was stronger than ever.
“I really like you too, Charlie,” I answered.
Chickenshit.
I hadn’t planned on sleeping, and when I finally opened my eyes and blinked, I wasn’t entirely sure where I was. Then I smelled cranberries and wine, and remembered.
I buried my nose in Charlotte’s hair and inhaled deeply. She smelled fucking amazing. She shifted a little against me, and my dick woke up again.
Yeah, I really had to do something about that.
I slipped my arm out from under her neck, and she stirred. I froze, waiting. She didn’t move. I carefully rolled off the bed and stood up, watching her. She was smiling in her sleep. I hoped she was having good dreams. I wasn’t stupid; from the way she’d talked about Wendy’s state of mind, and the mention of Adam cheating on her, I had a pretty good idea of what she’d been through.
Charlotte deserved good dreams for a change. She deserved good everything.
Just seeing her there, in my house, made me feel like this was home. When my folks had died, Wendy and I had grown closer, but she already had her own life. Sure, it was one I hated. But I’d been the one left all alone. It took a long time for me to realise that Priscilla and Arthur had basically become my substitute parents. But they were no substitute for having someone who wanted me. Needed me.
Someone who might be able to love me.
In my bedroom, I stripped off my jeans and t-shirt. My cock was trying to punch its way through my boxer briefs, and I pulled them down and tossed them on top of my clothes. I threw myself onto the bed and folded my arms behind my head. For the first time, I actually felt a little embarrassed to jack off while Charlotte was in the house. I’d spent almost a whole fucking week with my dick in my hand while she stood at the foot of the bed trying to ignore it. Now, with her sleeping in the next room, I could barely bring myself to think about getting off to the thought of her.
Only barely. I mean, I’m not made of stone.
I wrapped a hand around my cock and closed my eyes, stroking myself. Imagining her there with me, her mouth on mine. Being inside her soft, velvet warmth. My fingers tightened as I replayed our first meeting, drawing out the memory. The kiss at her piano. The feel of her hand around my dick. My balls were aching, and I fisted myself faster, harder, remembering the tightness of her beautiful, wet –
There was a dip in the mattress, and my eyes flew open. Charlotte was kneeling between my legs, her hair loose, her blue eyes searching mine. I stared at her, neither of us saying anything. With a small smile, she lowered her mouth to my throbbing cock, sucking me between her lips. I moaned and threw my head back.
This was a fucking dream, right? It had to be. I must have still been lying in the spare room, curled up to her, the smell of cranberries in the air.
Except I wasn’t. And her mouth felt fucking incredible.
I slid a hand into her hair as she sucked on me, her tongue swirling around my shaft and rubbing against the head of my dick. I groaned as she hollowed her cheeks, squeezing me tightly in her mouth. Holy fuck, the woman knew how to give head; I could barely catch my breath.
“Charlie,” I gasped. She lifted her eyes to me and lowered her mouth, taking me into her throat. God almighty, did the woman have no fucking gag reflex? I stared at her again, my eyes wide as she fucked me with her mouth. I could feel everything; every nerve in my cock was alive. I could feel the warmth of her tongue. The softness of her cheeks. The ripple in her throat as she swallowed around me. I groaned again and lifted my hips, wrapping her hair around my fists and thrusting into her hot, wet mouth.
She brushed her fingers against my balls, and I moaned at her touch. And then she started humming softly, and I nearly went through the fucking roof. Every vibration, every stroke was bring me closer, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop it. Not even if I’d wanted to.
“Oh, fuck, Charlie.” I drove myself into her throat, and she relaxed, letting me set whatever pace I wanted. But this wouldn’t last much longer. “Charlie, I’m –” I groaned as my cock throbbed and jerked in her mouth. “Oh, fuck,” I whispered as I came like a fucking freight train. She swallowed around me, and I groaned again, feeling another wave leave me, feeling her drinking me down. I could hardly breathe. All I could do was let her take me like this, leaving me helpless and drained.
If I hadn’t been lying down, I’d have fallen over. My legs were shaky, and the pounding in my chest made me wonder if she’d given me a fucking heart attack. I lifted her head away from my cock, and she looked up and me and smiled mischievously.
“You taste good,” she whispered, and I laughed weakly, drawing my fingers out of her hair and pressing my palms to my forehead. I dragged my hands down over my face and laughed again.
“Holy fucking Christ, Charlie.” She crawled up onto the bed beside me, and it was only then that I realised that she was naked. I stared at her again; at her full breasts, the deep curve of her waist, the swell of her wide hips, and the softness of her stomach.
She was fucking beautiful. The ache I’d been feeling for days slammed into me again, even harder than before.
“What the fuck just happened?” I breathed.
She giggled softly. “I hope I don’t have to explain it to you, Kyle,” she murmured. “You were there for it, after all.”
Oh, I’d been there. Every fucking inch of me had been there.
I shook my head, still staring at her. There was a playful look in her eyes. “Was it all right?” she asked, the corners of her mouth lifting in a teasing smile.
“All right?” I echoed. “It was fucking phenomenal.” I swept my gaze over her body again, and my cock twitched. I rolled onto my side and pushed her back onto the bed, and she giggled again. “You’re amazing, did you know that?”
She tilted her head from side to side, that smile growing a little wider. “You may have mentioned it in passing,” she said, and giggled once more.
My dick throbbed against her leg, and I grinned and brushed my hand over her curves. Finally. I’d waited too fucking long for this. I lifted myself over her, parting her legs with my knee and lowering my mouth to one of her breasts. They were gorgeous, soft and creamy, and as I drew my tongue over her hardened nipple, she moaned and arched her back.
She made the most incredible sounds as I licked and sucked at her breasts, first one, then the other. Her fingers slid through my hair as I flicked my tongue against each stiff peak in turn. Her breath was coming a little faster, and her hips lifted slightly. I caressed her waist, her hip, her stomach, sliding my hand over her skin, through the soft patch of hair on her mound, and then down, lower, finding her wetness with my fingers.
She gasped and threw her head back as I stroked up the length of her pussy, her clit throbbing under my fingertips. “Oh, god, Kyle,” she whispered, and I caught her words with my lips, kissing her deeply. She wrapped her arms around my neck, her tongue tangling with mine. I wanted to be inside her more than I could say. But I also wanted to know how she tasted, wanted to feel her against my mouth as she came.
I kissed my way down her beautiful, full body, stopping briefly at her breasts to tease her nipples with my tongue before continuing over her stomach. Her hands were in my hair again as I reached her wet heat, and when I pressed my mouth to her, she moaned my name. My cock was aching, demanding the feel of her, but I ignored it as best I could. I wanted to give her as much as she’d given me.
I wanted to give her whole fucking world.
She tasted like honey and berries, the sweetest thing I’d ever eaten. I explored her soft pussy with my tongue, taking my time, memorising every dip and fold of her body. Her moans and whimpers were all the music I’d ever need to hear again. When I flicked my tongue firmly over her clit, she gasped and lifted her hips again. I sucked at the tiny nub, pressing against it with my teeth, and all I could hear was my name on her lips as she whispered it between sighs of pleasure.
I reached up with my hand and stroked her breast, rolling and pinching her stiff nipple between my fingers as I licked at her. I thrust my tongue into her, collecting her juices in my mouth, and she groaned softly. I found her clit again and circled it, then did to her what she’d done to me: I started humming against her beautiful, perfect cunt.
The effect on her was better than I could have hoped for.
Her hands tightened in my hair, and she arched her back again, pulling me against her body. “Oh god, Kyle... Yes!” I thrust my tongue into her, drinking her in, the taste and scent of her becoming my whole world as she rode her climax out against my mouth. I nuzzled her clit with my nose, and she cried out my name again, her juices flooding over my tongue. I could stay here forever, lost in the feel of her body and the taste of her pleasure.
She came down slowly, her breathing heavy and ragged, her legs trembling a little against my shoulders. I lifted my mouth from her and watched her catch her breath, her gorgeous breasts heaving with the effort.
“You taste good,” I murmured against her thigh, and she laughed as weakly as I had when she’d blasted my world apart. I smiled into her skin and kissed my way back up her body, leaving traces of her scent all over her silken curves.
Her voice quivered a little. “Is this where I ask what the fuck just happened?” she said, and I grinned down at her, covering her body with mine. My cock was pressed against her dripping pussy, and she moaned softly and bit her lip, spreading her legs for me and lifting her hips slightly. “Please, Kyle,” she whispered, her eyes clouded with desire and want.
I leaned down and kissed the curve of her neck, and she tilted her head back. “Please?” My dick throbbed angrily, wanting the feel of her, needing to be inside her. “What do you want, doll?” I ran my tongue along the smooth line of her throat, and she moaned softly. “Do you want me to fuck you, Charlie?” I whispered into her skin, and her moans grew louder.
That was good enough for me.
No need for luck this time; I was pretty sure I had condoms in the bedside table. I started to lift myself off her, but she pulled me back. “No,” she breathed. “Just take me. Now.”
I blinked down at her. “Charlotte, I really don’t want to get you pregnant.” I chuckled. “I mean, we’d definitely have some adorable babies, but –”
She giggled under me, and I grinned. The sound of her wild, untamed giggles sent me to another fucking world.
“I’m not going to get pregnant, Kyle,” she said, and smiled. “And I’ve never...” She trailed off and blushed deeply.
“What?”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re going make me say it?”
I stared. “You’re not a virgin.”
She tilted her head back and laughed. “No, I think you would have noticed that the first time we had sex,” she said, smirking up at me. I grinned back and shook my head. “I’ve just never been with a guy who... you know.” Her gaze slid away from me. “Didn’t use a condom.”
Never? My cock bucked against her, anxious to take the gift it was being offered. I was pretty eager, too, to be honest.
I leaned down and kissed her lightly. “Yeah, me neither,” I said, and smiled a little crookedly.
She gazed up at me with wide, innocent eyes. “You’ve never been with a guy who didn’t use a condom?”
I snorted softly. “You’re a brat,” I said, and she giggled again.
“Yes, but I’m your brat,” she replied, a playful sparkle in her eyes, and my heart nearly stopped beating.
Now, you idiot. Tell her now. What the fuck are you waiting for?
I swallowed nervously. “Charlie, I...”
I couldn’t. I wouldn’t ruin this. What if she didn’t feel the same way?
She draped her arms around my neck, her fingers in my hair, and pulled me down. “Please, Kyle,” she whispered against my lips. “Please, just... Just take me.”
I groaned and kissed her fiercely, trying with my mouth to show her how much I wanted her. How much I needed her.
She lifted her hips to me again, and I gave her – I gave us both – what we wanted. She felt like velvet around my cock, every inch of her squeezing me so tightly I thought I’d died and gone to some impossible Heaven, where there was nothing but the feel of her warmth around me and the sound of my name on her lips.
What the fuck had I done to deserve this?
She whispered my name again, and I thrust my hips against her, the feel of her skin against mine setting my blood on fire. She wrapped her legs around me and I sank into her over and over, driving her against the bed as she moaned and trembled beneath me. I caught her moans with my mouth, our tongues meeting and twisting together. I fucked her like it was the end of the world and I only had one night to show her how much she meant to me.
She was mine, and I’d never get enough of her.
I lowered my mouth to her neck and licked her soft skin as I moved inside her. “Come for me, Charlie,” I murmured. I needed to feel her beautiful, perfect cunt gripping me the way it had that first night. She tilted her head to the side, and I slid my tongue over her pulse. “Please. I need...” Fuck me; I couldn’t say it. “I want to feel you around me when I fill you.”
I don’t know what the fuck came over me. I’d never felt such an overpowering desire to leave my mark on a woman. But when her pussy tightened around me and she cried out in pleasure, I pressed my teeth against her throat, feeling her buck and writhe under me as she climaxed. As I marked her. As I made her mine, in every way I knew how. My hips dropped against her, my cock throbbing and jerking inside her as I came, flooding her heat with my own. Filling her with my need for her. Giving her everything I could.
Not everything, you chickenshit.
I buried my face in her hair and held her tightly as she sighed beneath me. Her hands slid over my shoulders, and I felt a slight sting. Somewhere in our wild lovemaking, she’d scratched me, but I hadn’t even noticed. I’d been too wrapped up in the feel of her. I lifted my head and smiled weakly.
“Well, that was...” I trailed off when I saw the tears on her cheeks. “Charlie?” I whispered. Panic gripped my heart. “Please tell me I didn’t hurt you.”
She shook her head and smiled, her eyes crinkling up at the corners. “No,” she murmured. “No, Kyle. I don’t think you could ever hurt me.”
I kissed her again, a raw, passionate kiss that left her breathless. “Tell me why you’re crying, Charlie,” I said against her lips. “Tell me what I did wrong, and I’ll move the world to make it right for you.”
She laughed softly and took my face in her hands. “Kyle, I...” I studied her beautiful face. “I’m not crying,” she said, smiling quietly, and I raised one eyebrow sceptically. “I just... I have a little something in my eyes.”
All I could see in her eyes was forever.
I dropped my gaze to her throat, to the angry red crescent I’d left on her pale skin. I winced.
“I’m sorry I bit you, doll,” I said, brushing my fingers against the mark.
Liar.
She blushed and touched a hand to her neck. “I’m...” Her blush deepened, her cheeks turning an even darker shade of pink. “I don’t mind,” she murmured, and that powerful ache came rushing back to my chest. She dragged her teeth over her bottom lip. “It felt pretty incredible, actually.” She gave a shy giggle, and I felt like a kid at Christmas who just got his favourite toy.
“It looks good on you,” I said softly, and kissed the mark.
My mark.
She was mine.
I rolled over, bringing her with me, and she settled against me, her head on my chest, her dark hair spilling over my shoulder. She sighed contentedly, her arms wrapped around me, and I kissed the top of her head. I held her tightly, not wanting to think about the moment when she’d have to leave.
“Stay with me,” I said, looking down at her. I felt her smile against my skin.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she said sleepily, and yawned.
“That’s not what I meant.”
She looked up at me curiously.
“Move in,” I said, for the second time that night. “There’s no reason not to.”
She smiled, a little sadly. “Kyle, I still technically work for you. Did you forget that part?” I grumbled, and she laughed softly. “Walter would have a fit.” Her laughter died. “And Natasha would make life hell for us both.”
I winced. She was right. The minute Natasha found out about this – whatever this was – we’d be royally fucked. I was such an idiot; hadn’t even considered it. I sighed heavily, not wanting to give up my fantasy of having Charlotte here with me forever.
But now I was caught between the Devil and her deep blue eyes.