Dax moved around Charlie and came toward me, looking right into my face for the first time since he’d come over here. His movements were slow and he didn’t rush, but the intention in his gaze told me exactly what he was going to do.
Everyone stilled and watched us.
I was frozen to the spot, my heart pounding so damn hard.
He moved into me effortlessly, one hand sliding into my hair with a sexy tug, his other arm curving around my waist and pulling me hard against his chest. His lips dropped onto mine with a gentle landing, our mouths coming together like two pieces of a puzzle.
I forgot about Evan.
I forgot what I was doing.
One of my arms circled his neck, while the other rested on his arm, my fingers digging into his bicep through his sleeve. My mouth parted automatically to let him have me, to let that exquisite kiss light my entire body on fire and make my writhe.
It was such a good kiss, just like it used to be, with all the passion and desire that used to make my toes curl.
His fingers moved deeper into my hair, and the kiss became more intense, his lips taking charge of my mouth, sucking my bottom lip before giving me a flawlessly executed swipe of his tongue.
I brought him closer and let our mouths move together perfectly, the loud music suddenly quiet, the conversations nonexistent. It was just the two of us, a man and a woman caught in the deepest embrace.
I forgot my ex-husband entirely.
His arms hugged me hard, one hand moving to my ass like old times. If this was all show, he deserved an Academy Award. But I knew it was real, that he wanted to kiss me, wanted any excuse to have me.
And I wanted him to take as much as he wanted.
Once his lips were on mine, there was no reservation. It felt right, like this was the man who should have been my husband, not the jackass who had already moved on to wife number two. The kiss had gone on long enough, but we didn’t pull away. It continued like no one was there at all…except us.
Dax didn’t say a word to anyone there. He ended the kiss and took me by the hand, guiding me out of the bar. He led the way, his height and size parting a path through the crowd so we could make it outside.
I didn’t resist and didn’t ask any questions. Not only did I forget about Evan, but I forgot about my friends too, didn’t even think to look at their reactions to what just happened.
He took me outside and guided me to the curb where a blacked-out car sat. He got me in the back seat then joined me on the other side.
The driver pulled away, and he seemed to know where to go without instruction.
I turned to Dax, seeing the way the lights from the city moved over his face as he stared out the window.
He didn’t look at me.
I looked forward again, my heart still racing. He was either driving me to my place or his, but I didn’t know which one. I didn’t dare ask, because he seemed angry based on the energy that radiated from his exterior.
The driver eventually pulled up to my building.
How did the driver know where to go?
Dax got out but didn’t take my hand this time. We made the entire walk in silence.
When we got to the apartment door, I unlocked it, never so nervous in my life. I’d been to many places, done a lot of dangerous things, but this was terrifying. I walked inside, my heels tapping against the hardwood floor. I dropped my clutch on the entryway table then turned to him.
He stared me down, his height not towering over me because I was in a ridiculous pair of heels. His mouth was nearly level with mine, his eyes too. All he had to do was drop his chin a little bit and he could burn me with his dark gaze.
I stayed quiet…speechless.
His arms remained by his sides, and he continued to stare, his eyes shifting back and forth slightly. “We are together.” His voice was crisp, a sharp sound in a silent room. “Just you. Just me. No friendship. I’m your man. You’re my woman. Period. Do you understand me?”
I didn’t respond to orders well, but his authority rendered me silent.
“I asked you a question, sweetheart.” The affectionate nickname didn’t dim his aggression.
“Okay…”
He stared at me for a while, as if he was surprised by my agreement, as if he expected it to be harder than that. “We can do this however you want to. We can go as slow as you want. The details don’t make a difference to me. But no more bullshit about us being friends, about not being ready to be with me. Because I’m not ready to be with you either, but I want to be with you, regardless. That’s what a relationship is, working through the difficulties—together.”
All I could do was breathe. It was rare for anyone to shut me up, but he could make me quiet with his kiss and his words.
He stared at me for another minute before he turned to leave.
I grabbed him by the forearm and yanked him back, my body moving into his, and we thudded as we collided together. My fingers moved into his hair, and I kissed him, pulling him close, my hand gliding across his chest.
He kissed me back with the same passion, his anger making the kiss harsh and sexy. His large hands squeezed me, his fingers dug into my hair, his mouth ate mine with heavy breaths. Then he abruptly released me and walked off, leaving the door wide open without looking back.
Thirteen
Carson
I woke up the next morning to the smell of coffee since Charlie already had the drip going. In my sweatpants and a baggy shirt without a bra, I yawned as I walked past the living room to the kitchen.
Charlie was at the table, and he stared at me the second I walked inside.
I grabbed a mug and filled it with coffee, the aroma hitting me in the face with the steam. I took a sip then moved to the dining table, where my laptop remained since I’d left it there the night before.
Charlie continued his stare.
I drank my coffee and rubbed the sleep from my eyes.
He glanced at the hallway, like he expected someone else to join me. “Is Dax here?”
“No.”
“Then what happened last night?”
“He dropped me off and went home.” I yawned again.
He gave me a quizzical expression. “You better start elaborating. You guys had a make-out session worthy of the Notebook before it segues into a dirty porno.”
“Yeah…it was pretty great, wasn’t it?”
His eyes narrowed. “What does that mean? Are you back together or what?”
I shrugged.
“Okay, stop it.”
“What? Am I annoying you?”
“A bit,” he said sarcastically.
“He dropped me off and left. That’s it.”
“Come on, there’s more than that.”
“Well…he said we’re together, and that’s the end of the story.”
He grinned. “Good.”
“That was pretty much it.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t sleep together.”
“He seemed pretty angry, so…”
“He didn’t look it when he kissed you.” He grabbed his mug and took a drink. “And by the way, Evan saw…and stared.”
“Yeah?” Honestly, I didn’t really care.
“Dude, he stared hard.”
“Dude?”
“I’m just happy that we got back at him. I can’t believe he’s already remarried.”