Chapter 7

“Christ, woman,” Charlie groaned, and Kiley winked from between his legs.

She ran her hands down his length again and tore open another condom. He’d treated her, so she returned the favor. He’d assured her he’d been tested a month ago and was safe, so she had no fear of giving him a nice blow job to pay him back for him going down on her.

Though to be fair, there was nothing she could do to pay him back for saving her life—more than once. He’d pulled her from the ledge on the balcony, but when she asked him to stay, to help her forget Ned, he did. He could’ve taken advantage of her in all sorts of ways, but he pleasured her first and let her have control.

She rolled the condom down his cock, and his muscles bulged in his thighs at her touch. He reached out for her, but she had other ideas. Ned had never liked experimenting or letting her be in control. With Charlie, she could take her pleasure how she wanted while still making him lose control and yell his release with her. She turned herself around so her back was to him and guided him into her sheath, ready and waiting for him to fill her again.

She wasn’t sure how he would like this position, but the moment he seated fully within her, his groan and his hands grabbing her ass were enough to tell her he liked it more than a lot. Kiley lost herself in the sensations of his shaft filling her as she rode him, the way his hands massaged her flesh and his groans mixed with her ragged breathing turning into moans of pleasure as the heat built inside her. Her hand slithered down and rubbed her clit fast and furiously for that extra boost.

“Are you…are you touching yourself?” he grunted, and she froze. “No, don’t stop. Please don’t stop.”

She giggled and flashed him a wink over shoulder. “You like that, huh?”

“You have no idea.”

She reached up and held her breast with her other hand, and he pounded harder and faster into her until they both shouted and shook with the force of the orgasm. Carefully, she lifted herself away from his body and sank to the bed. She was dizzy with the pleasure rushing over her body. His hand rested on her calf, tracing lazy circles, and she smiled, strangely content with this night.

She’d been ready to kill herself tonight and this man had saved her life. She sat up and tried to hide the guilt on her face, but it was like Charlie knew what she was thinking. He caught her arms gently but firmly.

“Wait, where are you going?”

“I’m sorry, this has been a crazy night, and I…I can’t believe I’m doing this to you.”

“Kiley, wait.” He turned her around and drew her into the warmth of his thighs. “You were in a bad spot this whole week, and three nights ago…three nights ago I nearly lost you.”

“But you don’t know me. We’re going to wake up tomorrow morning and this—what we’ve been doing—you’ll realize I’ve been using you.”

“Do you see me complaining? I told you to, remember?”

“This isn’t weird to you?” she asked, cringing.

He smiled and his dimples appeared. “Honestly? Before you came into my life, my days were spent living for that hospital. I had no other worries and no other concerns for what the next day might bring, but with you…something’s changed. I like this change,” he assured her louder when she tried to turn. “I’m here for you, however you need me. I’m simply happy you’re letting me be here for you.”

His hands held hers and he kissed her knuckles. “When I saw you on that ledge…I thought I wouldn’t get to you in time. That I would watch you fall and spend the rest of my days wondering what I could’ve done differently.”

“I didn’t want to hurt you, but there was so much pain and guilt. I wasn’t even sure I could go over. I just found myself out there.” She hung her head, ashamed of what she’d put this poor man through. He cared for her, actually cared. She wasn’t used to that, but being with Charlie was far from uncomfortable. She felt safe with him, and him making all those promises of not letting anything happen to her no longer felt hopeless.

Staring into his brown eyes now, she knew without a doubt he would keep his word. “I would’ve been lost without you,” she told him sincerely. “I might still be.”

“Then don’t leave me, not yet,” he replied, kissing her lips. “Stay with me, Kiley, at least for a while longer. Whatever’s going on with us, it seems to be good for you, and if you ever want to stop, we’ll stop. But you have an open invitation to stay here with me.”

“I don’t deserve you.”

“Nope, don’t do that,” he said roughly. “You deserve to be happy. Any time you forget that, I’ll be sure to remind you.” He stood and took her hand, leading her to his bathroom. “Now, I think we could both use a bath.”

Laughing, she glanced at the clock on his nightstand and said, “It’s nearly four in the morning.”

“And? We’re adults. We can take a bath whenever we damn well please.”

Kiley didn’t argue with that and contented herself with kissing him thoroughly as the tub filled with hot water and bubbles, surrounding them with steam. Whatever darkness had clung to her yesterday, Charlie had chased it away and all that was left were the broken bits of the Kiley she used to know.

The thought of Ned finding her still terrified her, but she was no longer alone. Charlie knew the truth. He would stand by her side. At some point, she would have to leave the city behind and possibly him as well, but not today. She let herself be swept up in the notion that this relationship between them could work.

***

Kiley stretched in the bed and frowned when she opened her eyes. This was not the guest room. The events of last night unfolded in her mind as she rolled over, naked, and smiled at the soreness in her body. Having sex with Ned had always been one-sided and she rarely enjoyed herself. Sex with Charlie was beyond amazing.

When she sat up, shoving her hair from her face, she blanched when saw what time it was. “Charlie!” She’d slept all day. It was already going on six in the evening.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, rushing into his bedroom.

“Did you see what time it is? Why didn’t you wake me up?” she complained.

He cocked a hip and leaned in his doorway, smiling his charmer smile. “You needed sleep. I figured you’d be worn out after the excitement of the past few days.” His lips twitched and the smile felt more forced than before.

“I’m sorry,” she said as shame washed over her in a hot, white wave. “I’m so sorry.”

“Thank you for that, but I’d feel better if you swore to me you would never try that shit again.”

“I swear I will never try to…you know…” She couldn’t find the rest of the words and hung her head. Had she really tried to kill herself because of that bastard? “I won’t, I swear it.”

“Good, then how about dinner—or breakfast?” he suggested.

She slipped out of bed and he straightened, clearing his throat as she padded naked towards him. His gaze raked down her body, and she flushed from the heat in that gaze. But a flash of anger replaced his want when his gaze lowered. She’d nearly forgotten about the word carved into her leg. Almost.

“Does it hurt? We were a little rough,” he asked quietly.

“No, I feel better than I have in a long time.” She stood on her toes to kiss him, knowing no matter how much she thanked him, it would never be enough. “I’ll find some clothes and join you in the kitchen.”

She felt his eyes on her until she disappeared into the guest room to dress. Her mind raced from what happened last night. Him pulling her off the balcony and her telling him everything that had happened. She’d expected him to throw her out, but he’d done the opposite. He’d opened his heart and let her in. He let her take him and use him, and her heart fluttered. She told herself she was being over emotional because of what she’d been through, but another voice told her this was more. Being with Charlie felt…right.

They definitely had more to talk about, but speaking with him now about what happened to her didn’t scare her as it had before. She dressed and met him in the kitchen. He had his keys in hand and waited by the door.

“What are we doing?” she asked. “This isn’t some crazy intervention shit, right?”

“No, no, I want you to like me, remember?” he promised. “We’re getting you a new phone number, right now.”

She opened her mouth to argue but realized he was right. “Where is my phone?”

“Right here, and no, you can’t have it back,” he grated.

“Charlie?”

“I turned it off because it wouldn’t stop going off,” he muttered. “And I might have seen a few messages from that asshole. He won’t hurt you anymore.”

“Just because he can’t call me doesn’t mean he’ll never find me,” she warned.

“Maybe, but it’s a start. He’s torturing you and I’m putting a stop to it.” He fiddled with his keys and didn’t meet her gaze when he added, “We should swing by the police station.”

“No! No,” she repeated more quietly. “I’m sorry, but if I try to report him, he will come after me and he’ll take me and whoever I’m with down. I won’t…I won’t see you be hurt by him, not like all the others. Promise me you won’t bring the cops into this.”

He sighed. “Kiley, they need to know.”

“They know exactly who Ned is,” she snapped. “They know, but he’s got too many cops on his payroll to do anything about it. Trust me. When I know I’m safe and you’re safe, I’ll tell them everything I know. But right now…no, I’m not putting your life in any more danger than it already is.”

“Fine, fine, but if you won’t talk to the cops, will you consider speaking with Dr. Voras?”

“I won’t try and kill myself again,” she reiterated with a small frown. “What if I can’t trust her?”

He pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her head. “You can. She’s a friend.”

“Can I think about it?”

“Yes, but don’t think too long.”

She promised she wouldn’t and followed him out of the penthouse, not believing her luck at finding a man like Charlie in this city. A man who gave a shit. As they drove through the city on his bike, she flattened her body against his back, the thrill of going so fast igniting her blood, and she found herself laughing with abandon. They sped past the cell phone store, and she watched the buildings fade behind them as he drove them further out of the city. She didn’t even care where they were going. The further from the city, the safer and freer she felt. He reached the interstate, and they continued their drive, weaving seamlessly in and out of cars.

When her legs started to protest, she spotted a sign for Corpus Christi. They’d been driving for two hours, and she hadn’t even realized it.

Charlie slowed the bike as they pulled off and wound their way towards the coast. He finally parked the bike as the sun was setting over the Gulf and the waves crashed against the rocky shore.

“This seems like a long way to go for a new cell phone number,” she teased as she pulled off the helmet.

He shrugged. “Change of plans. What do you think?”

She breathed in the salty air and leaned on the railing along the pull off. “I think it’s perfect.” He tucked their helmets on the bike and joined her at the railing. When his arms closed around her body and his chest warmed her back, Kiley bit her lip, so confused by what she felt for this man she hardly knew. This couldn’t be real—what she felt for him—but the idea of moving away from the safety of his arms made her anxious.

As the sun set over the water, setting it ablaze, Kiley told herself to relax and enjoy the moment.

“If you’d gone through with it,” he said quietly, “you wouldn’t have been able to see this with me.”

“I would’ve missed out on a lot, though I wasn’t entirely sure I would go over,” she told him, resting her cheek against his arm.

“Either way, I’m here whenever you need to talk,” he said, kissing her temple. “No matter what time of day. And yes, I’ll be annoying and tell you this as many times as I feel the need every day until I know you really hear me.”

“Yeah, I figured that part out,” she teased. “But it’s appreciated.”

“Good.”

They didn’t have to speak as they stood together and the sun finished its path, vanishing below the waterline. As stars appeared overhead, they walked back to his bike and climbed on. She readied herself for the two-hour drive back, but with Charlie, it flew by in no time. Even in the beginning with Ned, her stomach never had butterflies nor had her heart fluttered with such passion to be with him. Every emotion was so much stronger with Charlie. She only hoped the feelings would last.

Unless she had to leave him behind. He might not hate her now, but if she walked out on him, she would break his heart along with her own.