Chapter 12
brAD
When Pete shows up drunk, I know it’s going to be bad. He hates Charlie. I try to take care of it. I know that’s the last thing Charlie wants, but why not avoid trouble if we can?
Turns out, my instincts about Pete were right, but Charlie handles it, firing him on the spot.
It’s not until after Charlie’s speech telling us to go home that I realize it isn’t over. Pete barrels through the crowd and gets in Charlie’s face.
Every nerve in my body screams at me to take this man down. Save Charlie. Holding back takes every ounce of willpower I have. Charlie’s got this.
Until his hands are on Charlie. Fuck this. Fear and anger fuel me as I push through the other volunteers. Charlie gasps, and my head jerks up to see him doubled over. I take off, not caring who I knock down. I have to get to Charlie. Fury races through me, and I can barely see straight.
Charlie gasps for breath, and Pete laughs. “What now, bitch?”
I finally break free, determined to tear this asshole limb from limb, but I stop in my tracks.
Charlie rushes the guy and knocks him to the ground. Pete gets a few hits in, but Charlie doesn’t let go. Should we step in? Do something? I catch Gary’s eye, but he just shrugs.
And then it happens. Charlie grabs Pete’s leg and knocks him to the ground. Before Pete can react, Charlie wraps his arm around Pete’s neck, grabs his right elbow, and twists, pinning him to the floor.
“Holy shit,” Gary mutters. “Did he pin him with a Cross Face Cradle?”
I grin. “He did.”
Charlie’s breathing hard. He looks up and blows his hair out of his face. “Can I get some help here?”
Gary and I rush forward and grab Pete so Charlie can stand. Sirens get louder, and I realize someone called the police.
After the police arrest Pete and stick him in the back of the patrol car, they take statements. Gary gives them a list of volunteers working today.
The EMTs arrive, and Charlie groans. “I’m fine.” But he lets them assess him. They recommend that Charlie go to the ER for X-rays. “I’m fine,” Charlie says again.
I don’t leave Charlie’s side. Gary doesn’t remark on it. Whether he thinks I’m sticking around because I’m a friend of the family or he suspects something, I don’t know. Or care.
The place clears out until we’re the only ones left, except for Gary, and he’s on the phone.
“I’m going to take you to the hospital, Charlie.”
He shakes his head, but he can’t hide the pain in his eyes. “I’m fine. Just sore.”
“Still, I’d feel better if—”
“Chas?” Gary stops in front of Charlie and holds out his phone. “Raja.”
Before Charlie can take the phone, their voice comes from the speaker. “Go to the hospital, Chas. It’s not a request.”
We’re stuck in the hospital for hours while they assess Charlie and run tests. He grumbles the entire time.
“I’m fine. This is a waste of time.” Charlie just returned from another set of X-rays, checking from a different angle.
He’s sitting on the side of the bed. The nurse tried to get him to lie back, but he told her he wasn’t staying that long.
She shook her head and left us alone. “God, I hate hospitals.”
“You always have.” It’s understandable after what happened to him. I sit next to him and take his hand. “I wasn’t sure how much of that you remembered.”
He shrugs, and I can’t help it. I wrap my arm around him, being careful not to hurt him. He leans his head against mine. “I remember pieces of it. Not sure how much of that is real memories and how much I’ve been told.”
“Harper still blames herself.”
He jerks around and then winces. “Ow.” He braces his ribs with a pillow and takes a deep breath. When he’s settled, he continues, “It was all my fault.”
I stare at him. “You were five, Charlie. And it was no one’s fault.”
Another shrug, and his voice is different when he says, “Thank you for saving me today.”
Is this a trick? “Me? You had him pinned to the ground, and it was fucking glorious. I didn’t do anything.”
“You did.” His gaze meets mine, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “You taught me that move.”
It’s late when we get back to Charlie’s apartment. Nothing broken. Just bruised ribs. But he lets me take care of him. I feed him. Draw a bath and put his hair up. I wash him with teasing touches and sweet kisses. And dry him off with more of the same.
Seeing Charlie in danger did something to me. It changed everything. Life is too short. Things can be taken in an instant. If I lose Charlie…? The pain of thinking about that is unbearable.
I kiss his temple. The scar above his left brow. His adorable nose. And then his mouth. I keep it light. I’m afraid of doing anything more. I want to kiss him hard. Devour him. Claim him as mine.
But he’s hurt. And vulnerable. I want to stay with him, but I need to go.
“Goodnight, Charlie.” I kiss him again, and he grabs my shirt.
His eyes search mine. “Please don’t go. I— I need you.”
“You’re hurt.” I cup his face in my hands.
“I’m fine. And I’m not just saying that. My ribs are bruised, not broken. And you made sure I took the painkillers.”
Just ibuprofen. Is that enough? I can stay and hold him, but Charlie has other ideas.
“Brad, I want you to fuck me.”
Charlie spreads out on his bed, his hair loose around his head. His skin is pink—and red from bruises around his ribs. A few on his legs and arms. In the next day or so, they’ll be purple and a sickly green. I’m overwhelmed with emotion. This need to protect him. Take care of him.
But I can’t deny him. “If you’re in too much pain, we stop. Understand?”
“Yes. Anything.”
I kiss him slowly, savoring his taste. “You’re so beautiful.”
I trail kisses down his body, being careful not to hurt him. I kiss each bruise lightly and then continue down his body. He pants my name sweetly as I take his cock in my mouth and suck. His hands grip my hair, and when he seems close, I pop off.
“Brad, please.”
“We’re getting there, sweetheart.” I grab the lube and condoms from his nightstand. We’ve been preparing for this. I was always the holdout. I didn’t want to hurt him.
I sweep his hair off his face and kiss him again.
“Brad, you know I’ve done this before, right?” He’s sassy when he doesn’t get what he wants.
“I know.”
“And I’ve used toys.”
I pull back to see his face. “That, I didn’t know.”
He drops his gaze. “I wanted to be ready for you.”
“God, I—” I kiss him, so I’m not tempted to blurt out words I shouldn’t say. “That’s hot as fuck, Charlie. Do you think of me when you’re fucking yourself on your toys?”
“Yes.” And then he pulls his legs back, opening himself for me. I kiss the inside of his thigh and make my way down to his ass. Pulling his cheeks apart, I kiss his hole, and Charlie gasps.
Using my tongue, I tease the tight ring of muscles. Then I flatten my tongue and lick.
“Brad, please,” Charlie chants over and over.
Pouring lube on my fingers, I tease his hole with my tongue, and then I replace my mouth with my fingers. I push my finger past the tight muscle and into the heat of his body.
“Yes, please. More.”
“So impatient.” But there’s no resistance, and I add another finger. Twisting him open and reaching for that spot. He gasps, and I thrust in and out, watching Charlie’s face.
“More. I need you.”
I add another, and when he takes that finger just as easily, I pull them out.
“Brad.”
I kiss the whine from his lips. “Are you ready for me, sweetheart? Ready to take my big cock.”
“Oh god, yes.”
I kiss his chin. Rolling on the condom, I add lube. Charlie loves it when I talk dirty, so I keep it up as I line my dick up with his hole.” Ready to take me, sweetheart? All of me?”
He doesn’t answer, but his face is intense. I push in slowly and let him adjust. But fuck, he’s so tight around me. I take some deep breaths. When he gives me the signal to move, I slide in and out, slowly building until Charlie growls at me.
“I won’t break.”
I chuckle and slam into him, watching his face for signs of pain. All I see is need.
“Harder, Brad.”
And who am I to deny him? When he’s close, I stroke his dick until he’s desperate. And when he comes, I can’t hold back any longer.
Afterward, I kiss his sweaty brow and his sweet lips. I’m overwhelmed with my feelings for this man. I can’t deny it any longer. I’m in love with Charlie.