I manage to get her into the house after a fight with the keyhole. Heading straight to the spare bedroom, I carefully lay her down and drape a blanket over her. And then lock up.
When I return to her, she’s in the same position I left her in. I sit in the chair opposite and watch her—just in case she gets sick, I tell myself when my eyes, heavy from the day, catch up with my body. I lean my head back, closing my eyes. I don’t think up until now I believed in fate but bumping into her tonight has changed my tune. And I’m hit with a sense of relief. She’s here with me. But most importantly, she’s safe.
Chapter 10
Charlie
I cringe at the sound of the tyres as they crunch across the gravel drive with exaggerated force. I come to a stop inside the garage and turn off the ignition. What is usually a calming hum of the engine cooling down is now deafening. I open my mouth, ready to speak, but the clang of the seat belt retracting harshly in her haste to unfasten it stops me. The loud thump of the closing door behind her leaves me momentarily stunned.
My palms connect with the steering wheel. The horn echoes in the silence; I startle, my heart racing and lean back into the headrest, squeezing my eyes closed.
Shit, I’m such a fucking idiot.
The lights are off when I head inside, the moon casting a glow over the kitchen. Enough for me to see her shoulders move up and down with the weight of what just happened.
There’s an uncomfortable thickening of my throat. “I don’t know what to say, Soph. I’m sorry I fucked up.” But I’ve liked you for a while now.
She turns and slowly walks towards me; the air around us pulsates with emotion. My heart rate picks up with her every step. I’m half expecting a slap to the face—God knows I’d probably deserve it.
“Charlie, you haven’t.” She shakes her head. “I didn’t realise I wanted you to kiss me until you did… and I still do,” she says on a heavy breath.
Did I hear her right, or am I hearing what I want to hear?
I shake my head, the pulse in my temples thumping. “So, you’re not—” My words are cut off as she bridges the space between us, going up on her tiptoes, her hand warm and soft, gripping the back of my neck, pulling me down to her mouth.
Her body is flush, pressed against me, touching everywhere and yet, not anywhere near enough. A guttural moan rises from my throat. She responds in kind, rocking into me. I reach for her arse and lift her onto the counter. I take my time as I trail my tongue down her neck and trace back up to her ear, nipping on her earlobe. A mewling sound from her lips has me fired up. She rewards me by wrapping her legs around me. I drag her body into my hardening length. I’ve never wanted to get lost in someone as much as I want to get lost in her right now. I want to explore every curve, every crevice with my eyes, with my tongue, with my mouth.
“Not here,” she says breathlessly.
She’s right, of course. I’d die of mortification if Ana or Evie walked in on us, but every level of my self-control is wavering. I need her on a bed so that I can take my sweet time with her. My lips meet hers again for a frenzied kiss and my palms cup her backside, pulling her tight against me. She kisses, sucks, nips and licks my neck, ear, lips as I navigate the stairs, having to pause, the bulge in my trousers borderline painful.
“If you’re not careful, I’ll fuck you right here,” I croak out.
Her nervous giggle has me even more aroused. I groan, approaching my door.
I pull back and examine her. “Is this what you want, Sophie? Because I do. But it’s not lost on me that you’ve had a few drinks. So, if you want to change your mind, all you have to do is say.”
I hold my breath and wait for her answer.
“I know what I’m doing and what I want. And right now, I want you.”
Inside the door, I set her on her feet, close it shut behind us, and flick on the light switch, but she walks over to the lamp and clicks it on. I slide my hand back to the switch and turn off the big light.
Edging closer, I eye the length of her body. I take her in, unabashedly like I’ve wanted to do for so long. She appraises me, a tender smile on her face.
She’s naturally beautiful, and yet she hasn’t a fucking clue.
She wraps her arm around her stomach, but I don’t want her to hide from me. “Sophie, you mesmerise me.”
I caress her cheek, my thumb sliding over her plump bottom lip. She takes my hand in hers. A shiver rolls over me as she pulls me with her towards the bed.
She slips off her shoes and scoots onto the mattress. Her dress rides up her thigh, and I glimpse a flash of her underwear. I bite down on my knuckle with a moan.
I kick off my trainers and tug at my socks, then strip off my t-shirt. Her eyes roam my torso, teeth digging into her bottom lip. I watch her eyes when I unzip my jeans and push them down my legs. My arousal is straining to escape the confines of my skin-tight boxers.
She rests back on her elbows as I knee on the bed. My fingers start at her ankles and play their way up to her waist. And then in a swift movement, I slide her down and underneath me. The sweet sound of air escapes her lips.
I don’t know what she’s doing to me; whatever I feel for her is alien to me. I want to commit everything we’re about to do to memory as I explore her inch by inch.
I move my mouth close to her ear because I can’t bear to see her face when I ask, “Are you sure about this?”
“Yes,” she breathes back.
That three-letter word is my undoing.
My lips find hers before I get to work on every exposed piece of bare skin. She fidgets and sits up enough for me to pull the dress up and over her head. I trace the fabric of her bra—her chest rising and falling fast—before pulling her breasts free and taking turns to suck and squeeze her nipples, her body arching into me.
I trail kisses down her stomach until I come to a stop at a thin trim of lace. Then I slide my tongue just underneath. She arches into me again. I breathe onto the soft fabric and suck over the material. But I want it gone.
She reaches down to pull my face back up and shakes her head once, her teeth digging into her lower lip.
“Trust me,” I say.
I lower my head, and her fingers slide into my hair as she shudders with a tiny wriggle.
I slip off her knickers and toss them on the floor. Cupping the back of her knees, I move them, so her feet are flat on the bed and push her legs further apart. Dipping my head, I swipe my tongue over her soft, wet folds. A low moan escapes her, urging me to continue. I take my time to devour her in a way I never thought possible. A wild rhythm keeps me focused on pleasuring her as her knees clamp my head, her fingers tightening in my hair.
She’s on the edge.
I slow it all down to a sweet, torturous caress, and then slip in two fingers, hooking them inside her. My thumb rolls over her clit, tongue licking her folds. Her whole body rocks into me.
I feel the exact moment of her release when she propels off the ledge; her inner walls pulsate and clamp around my fingers. But I don’t stop. I continue with the intensity as her moans turn into curses—my little vixen. She arches her back, pushing herself into my fingers, my mouth sucking hard over her sensitive flesh.
Her breathing’s heavy, but her legs relax as she releases my head from between her knees, her body moulding into the mattress. I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face. I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, feeling pretty damn pleased with myself. Then I blow on her skin, as my lips travel back up to her face, then latch onto her neck, sucking hard.