Chapter Eleven
Alex
Our family absolutely blew me away.
I knew they loved Charlie and me, but what I didn’t realize was how the depth of their love had no boundaries.
Mom had gone above and beyond for our wedding and Adrianna...
The sister who used to put me in head locks and give me noogies—until I hit puberty and reached six-foot-four in height—had been ordained just so she could marry us.
She had no clue how much that meant to us.
When I left for work the next morning, Charlie was still sleeping. I slipped out of bed and got ready then kissed him before I left. Sleepy-eyed he managed a lowly murmured I love you, before dozing back off.
I had a meeting scheduled with the travel agent bright and early and I didn’t want to be late.
She’d gathered the information I’d requested for the surprise honeymoon she was helping me put together.
I knew he would have loved Tuscany, but it was far too cold this time of year and right now, the desire to be somewhere warm was a must which led to the all-inclusive plan she put together for Bali.
After booking our ten-day excursion, I started working on what I was actually paid to be there for and lost track of time. Charlie’s text chime I’d set for him snapped me out of it.
Charlie: Hey babe, are you coming home soon?
Me: Shit, sorry. Lost track of time. Logging off now.
Charlie: Be careful, love you.
The scene I walked into at home made everything worthwhile.
The music was blaring, Charlie was dancing around the kitchen, making dinner and wearing nothing but an apron.
It was the sexiest fucking thing I’d ever witnessed.
I slipped into place behind him, wrapped my arms around his waist and pressed my bulge against that sexy, naked ass.
“You’re finally home, I’ve waited so long.” Ah, the damsel in distress tonight.
“I am. Is all of this,” I pressed harder, “for me?”
Fucking hell. I wanted to bury myself so deep inside that hot, twerking ass of his. We’d both been so busy as of late that by the time we got to bed we fell right to sleep. Mutual orgasms hadn’t happened for a while. Already on edge, if he didn’t stop wiggling against me I’d blow my load too soon.
The more he danced, the closer I got. I unzipped my pants, pulled my cock out and slid it between his legs.
“Oh God,” he panted.
“Hmm, nice and slick. Someone pre-gamed.” I sunk my teeth into his shoulder and he shivered. One hand on his waist, the other slid beneath his apron and around his cock. My thumb smeared the delicious bead he’d expelled around the tip, extracting the most delightful sigh from his beautiful lips.
“Do you want this?” I grunted, sliding back and forth.
“Fuck. Yes,” he moaned.
“Brace yourself.” A quick fuck to take the edge off our blue balls was the perfect appetizer.
I loved how vocal Charlie was. Every sound he made fueled the flame, drove me to make these moments the best I could for him.
I never wanted to give him any reason to get bored with me.
Nothing was more fulfilling than watching Charlie’s face when he came.
Knowing I was the reason for those salacious moans, those words, those filthy requests from my angel made me feel like I’d earned my place in bed beside him.
“Fucking tease,” he complained. “You’re killing me.”
“But in the best way possible.” Fuck, I was ready to come just from listening to him whine.
“Keep your hands braced because this won’t be gentle.”
He white knuckled the edge of the counter as I pushed in to the hilt in a single thrust. He’d prepped himself well and I’d reward my good boy for it with an epic orgasm.
“Fuck!” he grunted when the force of my thrust pinned him against the cabinets.
I pulled him tight against me and away from the cabinets. Once I got a good rhythm going, I shifted seeking that special.
“Yes. Right there.”
Spot.
Charlie braced his arms on the countertop, pushing back and giving me the perfect angle to repeatedly hit it. A couple fast draws across it at an agonizingly slow pace and he’d had enough. “Fuck me like you mean it!”
I sped up. The sounds of our heavy breathing and skin against skin echoed through the kitchen. Jesus, that was enough for me. “Fuck, Charlie, I’m coming.”
“Right… fucking… there…”
Had Charlie not been wearing the apron, our cabinets would have needed a deep scrubbing. I reached for the dish towel to wipe us down. After we were both cleaned up, Charlie spun around and claimed my lips.
“Welcome home.”
“And a fine welcome it was,” I stole another kiss. “Sorry I interrupted the assembly of your culinary masterpiece and the sexy dancing.” I tossed the towel toward the laundry room.
“Don’t ever apologize for that. Take out is only an app away if we need it.”
I kissed him then darted upstairs to change out of my work clothes. Laughing only to myself, I had a fleeting thought. Damn, if I get to come home to that every day I wonder what it would take to make this a permanent thing?
Charlie yelled up the stairs, “Dinner’s ready!” Guess we hadn’t ruined the meal.
As I came back downstairs, the wonderful aroma hit me. Guess I’d missed it the first time. “Is that one of my shirts?” He must’ve grabbed one from the laundry room and traded it out for the tainted apron.
“Yes it is. Looks better on me than you though,” he winked.
“No denying that. Dinner smells great, what are we having?”
“Crockpot roast, potatoes and carrots. Mom was kind enough to share some of her recipes with me.” He placed a heaping, steam-filled serving on a plate for me. “Yes,” he rolled his eyes. “There’s plenty left for you to have seconds.” Charlie knew me well.
“You and Mom are besties now?” While I was only teasing, I not so secretly loved this.
“She’s amazing. I’m so glad we’re getting to know each other better,” he said, taking his seat across from me.
“Charlie, I think this is fantastic. She loves you like one of her own. Hell, in a couple weeks you get to legally be her son-in-law.” Plus, it gives them both someone to get out of the house and do stuff with.
His eyes glistened, and I squeezed his hand. I knew how much he missed his own mother. “Eat your dinner. It’s too good to waste,” I winked, catching a glimpse of that sweet smile of his.
There was another subject to broach but one I had to tread lightly with.
My intention was not to make Charlie feel like a house husband but as his own person.
“Hey, Charlie, have you given any thought as to when you want to go back to work? Or were you interested in making this a permanent thing?” Between what I made and us having no house payment, we were more than comfortable and had built a strong savings over the years.
“I guess I hadn’t really put much thought into it.”
“Well, we’ve never discussed whether or not we wanted to add to our family.” Charlie and I would be wonderful parents, with so much love to share.
“Thanks, love. You know, when life was hectic for us, I hadn’t thought about having kids.
But now that I’m learning so much about myself and no longer going through life with tunnel vision, I can see it.
We’d be great dads, but why don’t we table that conversation for a couple of months.
We have a wedding to get through, remodeling and I still need to get a feel for whether or not I want to make this permanent. ”
“Sounds like a plan. But don’t mention it to anyone yet.
I know Mom and Dad have always wanted grandkids.
They would run with it, and we need to make sure it’s the right decision for us first.” I could see it now.
They would transform my old room at their house into a nursery before the adoption was even approved.
“Ha-ha. Yeah, you’re right. But like you said, Mom’s my new BFF, so keeping it a secret will be hard. I say we make sure all is in line once we’ve made the decision. That way, we don’t disappoint ourselves or anyone else if we can’t make it happen.”
“Agreed, though it sounds like you may have decided already.” Which thrilled me to no end, but Charlie was working on himself, and I’d not sidestep that by pushing my wants before his. He spoke with Mom’s therapist and had an upcoming session scheduled.
“Mmm, I’m gonna plead the fifth on that one.” But he was still smiling, so I knew the wheels were in motion.
When Charlie was done, he turned the music back on and danced around the kitchen while cleaning up. I joined him, helping load the dishwasher. As I tucked in the last dish, he held his hand out to me. “Dance with me, my love.”
I stared at him like he was growing a third eye. “I, um. I can’t dance, Charlie, you know that.”
“No time like the present to learn. Come on, Alex, no one is around to see.” He grabbed my hand and dragged me into the living room in front of the fireplace.
“Just follow my lead.” He placed my hands where he wanted them, one on his hip and the other on his shoulder and began to step.
I stared at our feet, trying to follow what he was doing.
“Eyes up here, love.” He pointed to his face. “Feel the music and let me guide you.”
I kept stepping on his toes without meaning to. “Sorry, I told you I can’t dance.” Lucky for me, or for his feet, the song came to an end.
“I think we need to practice more. The wedding is less than a month away,” he reminded me, turning off the music and grabbing the remote to turn the TV on.
“What does that have to do with dancing?”
“Duh, our first dance as husbands. At the reception?” He said that as though I should have known. “Mom has a videographer hired to record it and the reception.”
“Fuck.” I ran my fingers through my hair.
“Yup, so it’s time to learn.”
Suddenly it came to me. I knew what to get Charlie for a wedding gift – I’d take dance lessons and surprise him at the reception.
That was, provided I was capable of learning how to dance.
Feeling more at ease, I tuned into the program Charlie had chosen for us to watch, some HGTV renovation series.
The next day at work, I flagged down one of the women I worked with and asked her if she knew of any dance studios.
After quickly explaining my conundrum, she recommended one near work that her cousin Suzanne ran.
I spoke to Suzanne and she scheduled me right in, the only problem was I needed to let Charlie know I’d be late coming home.
Me: Hey babe, how’s your day?
Charlie: Ugh, so much to do and so little time to do it in. What’s up?
I smiled, picturing his face while he typed that.
Me: I’m gonna be home late tonight. Actually, I’ll be home late on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the next two weeks.
I held my breath, waiting for his reply.
Charlie: ???
Ugh, here goes…
Me: Do you trust me?
Charlie: You know I do.
Me: Then know this is me working on my wedding gift to you.
No one loves gifts better than Charlie.
Charlie: Okay ??
By the end of the day, my nerves were off the charts.
My palms were sweaty and the anxiety skyrocketed the closer I got to the dance studio.
That only worsened when I stepped inside and saw it looked more like a ballet studio.
Leotards were not happening. Six-foot-four-inch men built like running backs don’t look good in tights. At least, this one doesn’t.
“You look like a deer caught in the headlights,” a tiny woman said to me.
“Um, yeah. I’m a bit nervous and am way out of my element here.” I debated on calling the whole thing off. Maybe Charlie would appreciate jewelry more as a gift. Now that I can do.
“You must be Alex. I’m Suzanne.” She extended her hand.
“Yes. Hi. Thank you for taking me in on such short notice.” A group of kids whizzed past us, giggling. God, if I’m taught in front of kids who dance circles around me I’ll never recover from that humiliation.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to make you wear tights.” She covered her mouth to thwart her giggles, having somehow read my mind. “And you’ll be with other adults as well.”
“Am I that transparent?” I had to ask.
“It’s not the first time I’ve seen fear cross a groom-to-be’s face.
Come on, follow me.” Deeper into the studio we walked and entered a room with mirrored walls and wooden floors.
“Class,” she spoke to the other adults in the room, “this is Alex. He’ll be joining us for the next two weeks to get ready for his wedding reception. ”
I froze. Now I really felt like a fool. One by one, they introduced themselves and congratulated me. A couple of them, I learned, were here for the same reason I was, which helped calm me, though only somewhat.
An hour and half later, my tired ass pulled into our garage. I was greeted by an excited puppy dog version of Charlie. He jumped to his knees on the couch, bouncing and turned to look at me over the back of it.
“Sooo,” he said, biting his bottom lip.
“So what?” I asked, my giant goof was silly when it came to surprises. He loved them but wasn’t patient when he knew he was getting one.
“You know what. How did my surprise go? Is it done? Can I have it now?” He hopped up and down on his knees.
“Ha-ha. Down boy, you’re gonna break something and I told you already. You don’t get it until our reception.” I kissed the top of his head and sat down beside him. He jumped into my lap and knocked the wind out of me. “Oomph,” I groaned.
“I’m too excited to wait. You know patience isn’t a virtue I possess,” he said, bouncing on my lap.
“Charlie, my love, may I remind you you’re not a small child. You’re going to break your favorite toy jumping on me like that.”
“Are you calling me fat?” It’s amazing how fast he can go from sweet puppy to raging twink.
“Well, Mr. Virtue, you’re not fat and you know it, but you damn near crushed my nuts,” I swatted that sassy ass as it left my lap.
“Sorry, my bad. I’ll make it up to you later.” He winked. At times, that wink alone would stir me to life. However, today was not one of those times. Muscles hurt that I didn’t know I had. Years of football practice had nothing on dance lessons.
“As much as I love the sound of that, I’m beat. All I want to do is shower and fall asleep holding you,” I added the last part, hoping not to upset him.
“No problem, I totally understand. Go get changed and I’ll warm up your dinner.” He kissed my cheek and flitted off toward the kitchen.
The next two weeks went by in a painful blur, and I was thankful for that.
Dance lessons kicked my ass and getting home late wasn’t working for either of us.
Charlie was on edge waiting for our tuxes to come in, and I was more than ready to get to the wedding behind us.
All I wanted to do was whisk my new husband off to a much-needed, relaxing honeymoon.