Chapter Twenty-Two
Reaper
I wake up to Charlotte still sleeping in my arms, and the feelings that come over me are unlike anything I’ve experienced.
This. This, right here, I want it. I so desperately want it. I want her and it scares the fuck out of me.
I don’t know what the fuck we’re doing anymore or what this is between us. Lines are blurring, and fuck, I don’t want to see clearly with her.
I slowly and carefully move my arms from around her and climb out of bed. I go down the hall to a room where I started keeping some of my clothes and dress into some workout shorts and a black tank top and head down to my gym.
After some quick cardio and weight lifting, I cook up some scrambled eggs, enough for me and Charlotte. I make sure to put extra cheese on hers and hot sauce how she likes it and fill a small dish with her favorite— raspberries and whipped cream.
I pour some milk for myself and orange juice for her, then I put everything on a tray and bring it upstairs.
Walking into the bedroom, I find Charlotte already awake, sitting up in bed, scrolling through her phone.
“Morning,” I say.
“Good morning. What's this?”
“I was already making myself eggs, thought you might be hungry too.”
“Well, that’s thoughtful, thank you.”
I place the tray on the bed and sit with her to eat. When we’re both done, I move the tray over to my bedside table.
Whack.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I scowl.
“Haven’t you ever had a pillow fight?”
I have, with Cece, but I don't tell her that. There are some memories more painful than others. Nowadays, it’s mainly the happy ones that seem to affect me more.
“Come on, Reaper.”
Whack.
“I could literally swat you across the room with one strike.”
She laughs, still on her knees holding the pillow, looking adorable and sexy. “You’d have to actually catch me for that.”
Whack.
This damn woman. What is she doing?
“You're asking for it,” I warn.
“Yes. Literally. Is the big bad Reaper afraid to lose in a pillow fight?”
“This is ridiculous. We’re adults and—”
Whack.
That's it. I scramble, grab a pillow and take a swing at her. She squeals, dodging just in time and hopping off the bed .
“Is that all you got?”
A deep rumble in my throat is my only answer before I’m launching myself into action again. Holding the pillow tightly in my hand as I run after her.
She screams and laughs as she tries to run out into the hall, nearly falling from sliding on the wood floors in her fluffy blue socks.
“You're cheating!” I yell after her.
“Never said we couldn't leave the room!”
She runs downstairs and reaches the kitchen island, separating us. I feign left, right, then charge her from the left. Another scream leaves her as I swing the pillow at her. She ducks, missing my attempt again, and takes off upstairs to the bedroom.
When I enter the room, I roughly close the door behind me.
She’s not leaving here again.
She has a wide stance and determination in her eyes with flushed cheeks and wild hair, looking like a feisty little savage ready for battle. But her face also holds a cocky grin. I can't let her win. I’ll never hear the end of this.
I toss the pillow to the side, as if I’m giving up. Her eyes follow it in confusion and disappointment before she notices I'm coming at her once again. She moves to run, but I swing my arm out, catching her around the waist, spinning her and throwing ourselves onto the oversized mattress. I hover above her as I pin her below me.
Her laughs die down to heavy breaths as we stare at each other. Something unspoken passes between us before her face turns serious, studying as an electric charge fills the room. I feel a pull toward her, one I can't seem to control or resist.
I move closer to her.
And then even closer.
She stays completely still as if she’s afraid to move and disturb this moment.
My lips hover just above hers, and I feel her warm breath on my skin. It smells like raspberries and whipped cream, and I have the urge to consume her whole. Her eyes scan mine erratically. The deepness of them pull me further in, tempting me, luring me to drown in their depths.
Fuck.
Letting go, I succumb to the trance and my lips gently press against hers.
Goddamn, they're so soft.
For a moment, she doesn't move. Doesn’t react. And then she’s kissing me back. Her supple lips syncing with mine in sweet harmony.
Fucking hell.
I'd be lying if I said I never imagined kissing her. Feeling her lips against mine. But this… this is unlike anything I could have dreamed of. It's more, so much more. I want to keep going. I want to lose myself in this moment, with her. Panic suddenly fills my chest.
We can't do this.
I can't do this.
With the pillow now loose from her grasp I grab a hold of it, regrettably pulling away from her sweet-tasting lips, and swat her across the face with the pillow.
“Ah! You cheater!” she yells.
I chuckle and collapse beside her.
“Maybe set the rules next time, little savage.”
She pushes against me in frustration. I don't budge, but her futile attempt makes me smile. This whole thing has made me smile, among other things. And once again, I'm not quite sure how I feel about that and what’s happening between us.
Silence once again begins to fill the room as we lie there. She’s exhausted from our little pillow battle. I’m exhausted from fighting this damn pull between us .
“I gotta do some work. I’ll see you later.” I leave and stand outside the door a moment longer. The temptation to go back in there and kiss her thoroughly until our lips fall numb is fucking painful, but I choose to walk away, frustrated.
Charlotte
He kissed me.
Reaper fucking kissed me.
For that all too quick moment, I thought he had been feeling the same way I have. I thought it was real, and my god, I wanted it to be real. His lips were pure ecstasy against mine, completely spellbinding and I wanted nothing more than to be swept away by him. But then he pulled away, revealing it was just a ploy and took with him a piece of me.
As I watch his shadow linger under the closed door, I wonder why he’s still standing there. A few more seconds pass, and his shadow disappears.