Chapter 22
Nova
Really—I’m not here to have sex with him.
That’s what I keep telling myself.
I just couldn’t stay home tonight. Not as my parents continue their vigorous and enthusiastic reunion. It started to sound like National Geographic was filming a special about the great water buffalo herds of New Zealand inside my mother’s bedroom. Guttural cries, animalistic groans, the thundering bang of the headboard slapping the wall. I had to get out of there.
And since Sophia is still bunking on Reese’s couch, the only friend who could take me in for the night was Charlie. So, it was logical for me to come here. Right?
Yes, that’s a totally logical argument. I think I’ll stick with it.
My gaze leaps to the doorway when Charlie saunters back into the room. At the sight of him, my mouth dries out. He’s wearing nothing but his dark cotton boxers. Every bulging muscle in his chest, every hollow ridge of his torso, every sinewy inch of his forearms is on display. And even with the best of intentions, a girl can’t help but gawp as he swaggers into the dark room.
He flicks on the fireplace and takes a seat next to me. “Water?” He tilts a plastic bottle my way as the cushions of the couch shift under his weight.
Like a dehydrated voyager stranded in the Sahara, I grab the bottle from him and suck down half of its contents in one go. “Thanks.”
He grins at me, holding my gaze like he knows exactly how hard I’m fighting the urge to leap into his arms and explore every inch of his flesh with my tongue.
“So, how was your day, Butterfly?” He angles his body toward me, throwing an arm over the back of the couch.
The overwhelming heat of his nearly-naked form swallows me up and I take another gulp from my water bottle. “You mean aside from bearing witness to my parents’ mutual sexual reawakening?”
He chuckles. “That’s what you get for still living at home at your age.”
“What can I say? The Millenial clichés are true.” I laugh through my nose. “In my defense, my mom works 20 hours a day. And before yesterday, the only time my father stepped foot on that property in the past five years was to yell at her for egging his car that time he showed up in town with some woman he met on a cruise.” Charlie’s still laughing. The sound is sort of intoxicating, making my skin feel tight and edgy in this shadowy room. “You know my financial situation. It’s not like I’d be able to afford anything decent anyway. At least not without a roommate. And I don’t do roommates.”
“Have you done any gigs lately?”
I don’t know why, but every time he asks about my gigs, it makes me feel like I have wings. He truly believes that it’s only a matter of time until something good happens for me, career wise.
“Actually, I got a phone call out of the blue the other day. This indie production company. They were asking about my Love Bugs comics. Said they liked what I had on my blog. They wanted me to send in some more sketches and story ideas.” I shrug a shoulder. “That’s why I asked you to bring my sketchpad to the restaurant that day.”
He tilts his head, catching my eyes. “Nova, that’s awesome. Why aren’t you more excited?”
“They haven’t even called back,” I chuff.
“They’ll call.” There’s not an iota of doubt in his voice.
I wave a hand dismissively. “I don’t want to get my hopes up. In case it doesn’t work out.”
Dropping back against the cushion behind him, he lifts a brow and speaks with conviction. “Well, they’re idiots if they don’t see how amazing you are. They’re going to see how amazing you are. They have to.” His voice is so genuine, so encouraging.
My chest warms up. I’ve come to depend on his confidence in me. I'm a tough girl with skin thicker than leather. A lot of that is thanks to Charlie. He was my rock when I was more fragile than porcelain. I hate to admit it to myself but I need this guy in my corner.
I hold up a hand and twist my pointer around my middle finger.
He smiles. “Yeah, fingers crossed.”
We fall into a silence that buzzes with electric current. I find my gaze rolling over his body again. Remembering how, 24 hours ago, I was pinned down under that broad chest, anchored by those large hands, blissfully impaled by the rod of steel swelling against the cotton of his boxers. Warmth starts at my toes and skirrs up my thighs, building in intensity at my core.
My panties are wet and now I’m self-conscious because I think he can tell. His eyes are on me, moving languorously from my lips to my neck to my breasts, settling there. No doubt in my mind what he’s thinking.
Suddenly, I’m very aware of my surroundings. The soft light of the fireplace, casting shadows in the corners of the room. The cozy throw blanket tossed over the arm of the couch.
I glance at Charlie. I’m onto you, fucker. If you think we’re hooking up tonight, you’re so fucking wrong.
My breath stutters and my voice comes out all low and husky although I don’t mean it to. “Stop groping me with your eyes.”
One corner of his mouth twists up. So maddeningly sexy. “Would you prefer that I groped you with my hands?” He moves an inch closer.
“Charlie…” I warn.
“Or with my mouth?” His voice drops an octave.
“Don’t…”
“With my tongue?”
“Please…” As he closes the space between us, my defenses wither faster than organic spinach at a farmer’s market in the summer sun. He knows it.
He smiles like I’m the most amusing thing he’s ever seen. His eyes settle on my lips again. “Kiss me,” he begs softly, as if my kiss has the power to save his life. “Kiss me, Nova.”
His fingers trailing up my throat, his breath fanning the side of my face—that’s what does me in.
I lean toward him as he’s leaning toward me and a thousand stars explode in the night sky when our lips touch.
Tongues thrashing. Teeth knocking. Lips crushing each other.
With his hands on my shoulders and his torso crushing mine, he pushes me back on the couch. One hand finds my breast and gives it a good squeeze as he climbs on top of me. Pleasure fires through my nerves as he kneads the sensitive flesh. I’m getting so wet.
His mouth moves down my body, from my lips to my chin and down my torso, over my shirt. With impatient hands, he pushes up the fabric and tastes me there. And then my jeans are gone, thrown into the corner of the room and my shirt is pulled from my body. He works his way back up until his lips are on mine again.
But kissing his mouth isn’t enough. There are other parts of him that I want to taste. Urgently.
Pushing beneath his waistband, my hand travels between his thighs. A low hum vibrates his chest when my fingers clench and slide down his length. I feel it pulse in my hand. My thoughts go all hazy again. “Let me taste you, Charlie.”
A growl rips free from his chest. “You want to taste me?”
“I want your cock in my mouth. I want to taste you. Please.”
I’m a proud woman. A feminist, even. So, it’s a surreal event, hearing myself beg for a man to shove his cock into my face, to fuck my mouth. But it’s so beautiful. So big, with throbbing veins and a glistening head. I just can’t help but want it sliding against my tongue, forcing against the back of my throat.
Lying back on the couch, I reach for his hips and pull him until he’s hovering over my face. My lips fall open and I groan as he eases the spongy tip into my mouth.
His head falls back as my lips seal around him, enclosing him in wetness and heat. The motion of his hips is restrained, controlled. I can almost see his skin tightening as he struggles with his willpower.
When I swirl my tongue along his length, his knees waver and he reaches blindly for the back of the couch. “Shit, Nova…Fuck!”
His moans goad me on, sparking my sense of adventure, stoking my curiosity. My palms glide over his strong, muscular ass before venturing between his thighs to massage his tight sack.
And now, I’ve unleashed a monster. He’s thrusting into my mouth as he leans forward, clutching the arm of the sofa. My eyes burn as he pounds into me, fucking my mouth. I’m so turned on right now, so obscenely aroused. And when he growls, losing his self-restraint, exploding into my mouth, I’m shocked to find my body tightening from the sensations rushing up my limbs. As my mouth fills with his cum, pleasure arrows to my core, detonating an unexpected orgasm inside of me that radiates along my bones.
Charlie drops backward, landing at the other end of the couch. He pulls me into his arms and holds me there as his breathing relaxes. When I look up at him, it’s pure awe on his face. “Did you just…?” His eyes are wild.
I grin, feeling unreasonably proud of myself. “Uh-huh.”
He drags a hand over his head and blows out a breath. “Whoa…”
Whoa…is right.
I’ve never orgasmed like that before. I didn’t even know that it was possible to get so turned on from having a cock rammed down your throat. My mind is absolutely, positively blown.
His eyes glitter at me, adoration and shock and lust mixing in his dark irises. “Seriously, Nova—you’re the hottest chick I’ve ever met.”
My pulse throbs in my bones. “You say that to all the girls.” I keep my voice light and playful to mask how deeply I’m hoping that his words are actually true.
His forehead pleats, frustration perching on his brow. “I told you, girl. I don’t lie to you.”
I hate the bubble that settles in my throat. I hate that I don’t have a snappy retort or some clever remark to throw back at him. Instead, his compliment seeps through my skin and into my bones, becoming a part of me. With a hand hooked behind his head, I pull him closer and kiss him, kiss him, kiss him.
Charlie slides out from underneath me and stands. He reaches out a hand to me. “Come here, pretty thing. Come get this cock.”
When I lace my fingers through his, he pulls me up and hoists me into his arms. I yelp and laugh, giddy as he carries me up the stairs.