Chapter 13
CHAPTER 13
C harlie let her head sink onto her down pillow, trying to catch her breath. What the hell was that? Amazing, astounding, awesome. A million other A words she couldn’t think of right now. In fact, their little bedroom tango ran the gambit from A to Z. All the words, all the things! And now as she laid there in the aftermath…panic set in.
“I’m just going to go…ya know.”
Tugging the comforter from the bed, she wrapped it around herself—an odd sense of shyness overtaking her even though the man had seen everything…up close and very, very personal. Making a hasty retreat to the bathroom, she shut the door. She took care of business, her brain going a hundred miles an hour. Sex had never been like that before. So consuming, so overwhelming, so…right.
What did it mean?
“Nothing,” she told her reflection in the mirror above the sink. “It just means Luc Woolf is amazing at sex and we have chemistry. End. Of. Story.”
That had to be it because she refused to let it be any more. She didn’t have time or desire in her life for more. Men were nothing but a disappointment. She didn’t need them. And they don’t need you.
Fine. All the better. She didn’t need Luc, or any man for that matter. Growing up in a house full of Alpha males, she hadn’t been needed much for anything and the men she gravitated to never needed her for much more than a good time in the sack. So what? She didn’t need to be needed. She wasn’t a pathetic love starved puppy.
At the thought of puppies her mind wandered to Puddles. He’d needed her and she’d failed him. Failed to save him from an unscrupulous puppy farm that probably sold him to some rich snobs who dressed him in those stupid dog sweaters they thought were cute. Puddles hated clothing of any kind.
She pulled the blanket tighter around her, a sharp pain radiating from her chest. What the hell was going on? Her eyes stung and in horror she realized she was on the verge of tears.
It’s nothing. Just an overdose of hormones thanks to the amazeballs orgasm I just had.
Yeah, that had to be it.
Turning on the taps, she splashed some cool water on her face, taking a deep breath. It had been a while since she’d been intimate with anyone so of course her emotions would go a little wonky after. No big deal.
Satisfied with her explanation, she turned back to the bathroom door, gripping the handle, prepared to face Luc as a satisfied woman with no regrets. When she stepped back into the room she saw him, fully dressed, glasses on, sitting on the edge of his bed, tugging his shoes on.
“You’re leaving?”
Dammit! Had that sounded as whiny and needy to his ears as hers?
He glanced up. “Yeah,” he shrugged, lips turning down in a semi-frown. “I didn’t think it would be a good idea to stay the night in case someone…”
He trailed off, but she got it. Someone might see his car or notice him driving away from her house in the morning. In the middle of the night most people in Kismet were in their own homes, fast asleep. If he left now, they could keep this a secret. Wasn’t that what they agreed on? What she wanted?
Yes.
So why was there a sudden cold dread sinking her stomach? Logically she knew this was best, for them both. But those darn hormones, the ones all hopped up on orgasm juice, didn’t get the memo. They wanted cuddles and softly spoken promises.
Stupid hormones.
She’d feed them some chocolate after Luc left. Surefire way to shut up annoying emotions that thought they knew what was best. Hot sex with no strings was awesome.
“Right.”
He stood, taking a few hesitant steps toward her. “I wish I could stay.”
Crap. His sensitive, sweet side was not helping. Pushing down all the weird, mushy feelings she wasn’t used to—and certainly didn’t appreciate—she pasted on a seductive grin. Closing the distance between them, she wrapped her arms around his neck, allowing the blanket to fall. His head tilted down, gaze roaming over her naked body. The heat in his eyes burned, like a physical caress.
“Well, since you can’t stay, maybe you could come back again. Say, tomorrow night?”
Rising on her toes, she nibbled at his neck, reveling in the rich, salty taste of his skin. A deep groan rumbled from his chest. He tugged her closer, fisting a hand in her hair and gently pulling her head back so he could devour her lips.
When they came up for air, he stared down at her intensely. “I have the late shift tomorrow. I get off at midnight.”
“Come by after and I’ll get you off by twelve thirty.”
He chuckled, dipping his head for a soft, brief kiss. “Goodnight, Charlie.”
“Goodnight, Luc.”
He stepped away, pulling the blanket from the floor, and placing it around her before turning and heading out the bedroom door. She followed, wrapped in the warm, thick fabric still smelling of sex, and Luc.
“Lock the door behind me.”
“It’s Kismet.”
“Lock the door,” he insisted.
Rolling her eyes, she nodded. His fingers brushed her cheek, a gentle caress that sent shivers over her sensitized body.
“Tomorrow,” he promised.
“Tomorrow,” she agreed.
And then he was gone. Out the door into the darkness of night, the shadows swallowing him up. Concealing everything they’d done from the outside world. She closed the door, locking it as instructed—something she did every night anyway. But she found it fun to tease Luc.
Making her way back to her bedroom, she laid down. But sleep didn’t come easy. You’d think it would after the considerable amount of energy she’d just spent. Too bad her mind ran at warp speed, poring over all the possibilities for his hasty retreat. Sure, logically she knew he left so no one would find out about them. Something they agreed on.
So why did she feel like a dirty secret? Like once again she wasn’t good enough for someone to stick around?
“Ugh, get over yourself, Charlie!” She flipped over, punching her pillow until it fluffed nicely under her head. “You just had great sex with a hot guy, and you don’t even have to do any stupid girlfriend stuff like acknowledge when his favorite sports team wins or go to his dumb sister’s cat’s birthday party. Win win, me. Take the victory.”
Shaking off the weird vibes trying to kill her euphoria, she closed her eyes and replayed every moment of tonight. By the time she got to the end, she’d slipped into dreamland with a smile on her face.