12.
Rhys
Still convinced I’d hallucinated the last twenty minutes with Charli, I almost let her leave the room. I came to my senses just in the time to grab her hand and pull her back.
Aidan had gone off in search of Derek and Milly. She turned to me, those gorgeous hazel eyes expectant and a little self-conscious. I remembered her right after she’d blurted her idea for us to have sex, to lose our virginity to each other so it was no longer hanging over us. There’d been a vulnerability in her voice like she’d wanted to snatch back the words as soon as she’d uttered them. An affection had spread through me. I’d wanted to tell her she didn’t ever need to feel there was anything she couldn’t ask me. I was so gone for her at that stage I’d grant her anything she asked for. But I couldn’t grant her this, at least not on the terms she suggested.
A few strands had fallen free of her hair tie, and I brushed them aside, savouring the feel of her silky skin. “The answer is no, by the way.”
She blinked, her eyelids fluttering as she realised what I was referring to.
“Ah, well, okay,” she swallowed thickly. The thread of disappointment in her voice made something tighten in my chest. “That’s fine. Sorry. It was a stupid idea.”
She tried to pull her hand away but I held firm. “It wasn’t a stupid idea. I’m just not going to make some meaningless agreement to have sex with you, Charli. I want you but only if you want me, too. Not because it’s something to get out of the way, but because we’re both so consumed with wanting that we can’t resist getting lost in each other.” I stared at her, and a hazy look came over her eyes. It was almost impossible to resist kissing her again when she looked at me like that. Pulling back a little, I cleared my throat. “Besides, the lads might rib me about being a virgin, but I don’t care. I’ll have sex on my terms, not on anyone else’s.”
Charli blinked like my words had put her in a trance. To be honest, I hadn’t known I had those sorts of words in me, but she had a way of bringing them out.
“Wow, um, okay.” Her chest rose and fell, and she looked a little overcome. Her eyes came to mine, her lashes fluttering, colour high in her cheeks. “In spite of what Derek and Aidan seem to believe, I’m typically not very good at being forward with guys I like. So, just to be clear, I do want you, Rhys.”
Seriously, this had to be a dream. She was too perfect, too gorgeous and sexy, and so fucking lovely. My home life was a mess, and I was still worried about Mam and how Dad was going to react to being served divorce papers. Not well, I expected. Being with Charli felt like an escape from all that, one that almost seemed too good to be true. But it wasn’t. It was real. I knew from the sounds she made when I kissed her that it was real. From the way her skin grew flushed and her breathing quickened. How her hand had slid down my body, seeking to touch.
I stepped towards her and kept stepping until I’d backed her into the wall. She gasped when my hands went to her neck, softly caressing before I brought my mouth to hers. I kissed her with confidence, my tongue sliding along hers while my thumbs caressed her throat. She turned pliant beneath me, her arms going around my waist and pulling me to her. I was rock hard, her full breasts pushing into me from beneath the hoodie, my hoodie , and I wanted nothing more than to tear it off and kiss them, run my lips and teeth and tongue over what I knew would be the most perfect tits.
“I like you in this,” I rumbled between kisses as I plucked at the soft material.
She sighed like the statement affected her and continued kissing me, practically melting into me.
Earlier in the pool, it had been torture to feel her moulded to my back as she clung to me. I also had a hard time keeping my eyes to myself, which was how she caught me staring.
“You’re so sexy,” I murmured when I came up for air again. “Tell me what feels good.”
“You. This . Just keep kissing me,” she replied, breathing heavily. I happily acquiesced then groaned when her delicate fingers wrapped around mine. She guided them down then up under the hoodie before encouraging me to cup her full breast. Lacy fabric scraped at my palm, and I could feel her beaded nipple beneath. It was a miracle I hadn’t come already just from kissing her. I loved how she smelled, like coconut, honey, and almonds. I loved how she tasted, how her skin felt.
I wanted to stay in that moment and never return to normal life.
I was barely aware what was happening when she took my other hand and guided it between her legs. Fuck. She only wore thin leggings, and the urge to slip beneath them and feel if she was wet was overwhelming. I’d never touched a girl this intimately, and I wasn’t entirely sure what might feel good to her, so I rubbed my thumb back and forth the same way I’d been rubbing her throat. She seemed to enjoy it. A sharp hitch of breath, followed by a quiet whimper, her tongue battling with mine as she tugged me closer. I moved my finger experimentally, loving every time she made a sound of encouragement.
I wanted to make her come. I’d watched a fair amount of porn, so I wasn’t completely clueless, though I did sense porn wasn’t entirely accurate or in line with how real sex went. The idea to lower to my knees, tug her leggings down, and put my mouth on her entered my head. I almost did it when suddenly there was the sound of the front door opening downstairs.
“We’re home!” Derek’s mam called out.
Charli and I broke apart. Once again, both of us were breathless.
I began to move away when she caught my hand. “Let’s go to my room. No one will come in there.”
My look was apologetic, devastated. I didn’t like getting her this worked up and then leaving her hanging. “I can’t. Derek will look for me.”
She blew out a breath, seeming frustrated. Something hot and possessive simmered within me. I liked that I could make her that way, turn her on so much she was willing to invite me back to her room. I liked even more that she seemed to want me just as badly as I wanted her. Whatever strange twist of fate had brought this girl into my life, I couldn’t say. All I knew was I already felt a lot of things for her. Things it probably wasn’t smart to feel, given she’d be leaving to go home in a few weeks.
She looked disappointed again, and I couldn’t help being satisfied by that. “Okay, well, are you working tomorrow? We could go somewhere. Maybe grab food and see a movie?”
“I am working, but I’m free the next day.”
She smiled. “Great, so we’ll hang out then. Just the two of us. What do you say?”
I stroked her cheek. “I say yes, that sounds perfect.” Pressing my lips to hers once more, I found it difficult not to start making out all over again. I was a bit addicted to the way she squirmed against me when we kissed.
“I better go to bed,” she said with a teasing grin before she drew close to whisper in my ear, “You’ve exhausted me, Rhys Doyle.”
Her whispered words had shivers skittering across the back of my neck. I liked it when she said my full name. She must’ve heard it from Nuala or one of the others. When she turned to leave I pulled her back, unable to resist one last kiss before I quietly murmured, “’Night, Charli.”
A small tremble went through her, her eyes flashing in a way that told me she liked it when I spoke to her like that. When she left, her scent and taste lingered. I doubted I’d be able to get her out of my head all night. The way her lips felt haunted me.
“Where have you been?” Derek asked when I stepped into his room. Seemingly, Theo and Aidan had gone home once Derek’s parents arrived back.
“I was with Charli,” I answered honestly before considering that maybe I should’ve lied. Derek’s gaze narrowed as he assessed me.
“So, that’s happening, then, is it?”
I sat down on the fold out bed I’d been sleeping in the past few nights and blew out a breath. “Would you be pissed if it was?”
“I just don’t want you getting all swept up in her. Trust me, it isn’t fun having feelings for someone you can’t be with.”
I glanced at him, curious. “Are you talking about Milly?”
Derek’s expression clouded before he nodded. “I asked her to go out with me, and she said no.”
“Really?” I frowned. “But she seemed so into you tonight.”
“She is into me, I think, but she won’t be my girlfriend. She said she won’t be anyone’s girlfriend because she has to get into Trinity next year, and she can’t allow anything to distract her from that. She wants to be a doctor, so she needs a crazy high amount of points to get into the course, plus a bunch of extracurricular stuff. So, dating anyone is off the cards for her.” He paused and let out a groan. “She is, however, prepared to be my friend. Fuck, I think that might be worse.”
“That’s shite, man. I’m sorry.”
He waved me away. “Don’t worry about it. And I’m happy for you and Charli, really. Just don’t go falling in love with her or anything. She’ll be going home in August.”
“I won’t fall in love with her.” Even as I said it, there was a faint twist in my stomach because I was a little bit besotted already. “Besides, I have my own plans for the end of summer.”
“Oh yeah? Dad mentioned something about you possibly going full-time at the hotel,” Derek replied.
“That’s a possibility, but only if I don’t get accepted into the French Foreign Legion.”
At this, he sat up straight. “The French Foreign what? ”
“It’s an elite corps of the French army that allows foreign citizens to join,” I began when Derek cut me off.
“I know what it is, dickhead, but why is this the first I’m hearing of you joining? I thought we were going to work for my dad. I got accepted into that business course so I can help run the hotels when I’m older, and I wanted you with me. We’d both be working there together.”
“Well, that still might happen. I need to get into much better shape for them to accept me into the legion, which isn’t likely by the end of summer. I was wondering if I could start exercising with you. I know you run most days and use the gym at the hotel, so I thought—”
“You do realise how fucking dangerous it will be, right? You’ll have to fight in actual wars. You could die, Rhys.”
“I could die anytime.”
“Right, but this will up your chances significantly. Why are you doing it? I don’t understand.”
I swallowed thickly, a pain in my chest because I wasn’t too keen on explaining my reasons. But Derek just kept looking at me like I’d told him I had a terminal illness, and he was my best friend. I felt I owed him an explanation. “I want to be strong,” I told him, my voice even. “I want to be the kind of man who can take care of the people he loves. The kind of man violent bastards won’t mess with. And I’ll never become that man if I stay here.”
There was a flicker of pity in his eyes like he understood things about me I hadn’t ever told him, things about my dad. Derek blew out a breath, his gaze meeting mine. “What about the Irish army? Or the navy, even? There’s also the Army Rangers. They’re supposed to be some hard motherfuckers.”
“I know about the Rangers. I’ve looked into them, but I kind of want to be away from Ireland for a while. I need to get away.”
“Get away from your old man, you mean?” Derek said perceptively.
I exhaled, feeling weighed down just from the mention of my dad. “He and Mam are getting a divorce. Once that’s final and I have Mam squared away safely, I’m going. That might take longer than a couple months, but I can delay my plans until everything’s settled.”
“Bloody hell, I can tell by that determined face you mean it.”
“So, can I train with you?”
Derek looked me up and down. “Sure, but you’re really not that out of shape, Rhys. You could lose a stone or two, but you might shift that having sex with my cousin all summer, which is clearly what you’re both intending.”
I stared at him. “We’re not—”
“Oh, don’t even bother. Charli is into you, big time. It’s obvious to everyone. Besides, Aidan told us he found the two of you almost doing it during hide and seek.”
“That lying prick. We weren’t doing it .”
Derek smirked. “I said almost, didn’t I?”
I picked up a pillow and launched it at his head. Derek chuckled as he ducked out of the way. “If you’re serious about running with me, set your alarm for six tomorrow morning.”
I didn’t complain because I knew it was necessary. Besides, I was used to early starts working at the hotel. I’d have just enough time to run with Derek in the morning then grab a quick shower before I had to clock in for my shift.
As I lay on the futon that night, Charli wasn’t far from my mind. Derek said it was obvious she was into me, and I’d noticed the signs, too, but it was still a fucking shock. Since she’d arrived, I felt like I was the one whose eyes always followed her when she entered a room, the one who’d happily spend as much time in her company as she was willing to accept. Elation rose in my chest to think the attraction wasn’t merely on my end. And the way she’d felt in my arms tonight, how she’d reacted to me. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get over it.
The following day, my shift at work felt even more tiring than usual thanks to my first ever run with Derek. Muscles ached that I didn’t even know existed. And I missed Charli, missed her congenial banter as we cleaned countertops, stocked shelves, and washed endless dishes. I wished she was on shift with me, but she worked fewer hours than I did.
I just wanted to go home and sleep when I finally clocked out for the day, but that wasn’t to be. When I stepped out of the staff exit to the hotel, I found my dad lurking outside, waiting for me. He slunk from the shadows, smoking a cigarette as he approached. It was late evening, and there wasn’t anyone else around. My stomach turned at the sight of him. His clothes were rumpled, and he looked like he hadn’t showered in over a week.
“Rhys,” he practically growled, his eyes narrowing on me.
I didn’t even have the energy to be angry at him showing up at the hotel again. I was almost bored at his predictability.
“Why are you here, Dad?”
“Your mother wants a divorce,” he stated, and I could tell by the stiff way he took a drag from the cigarette he was fuming. He’d come to take it out on me. I glanced behind me, considering going back inside the hotel until he left because he had that nasty look in his eyes. The one he always got right before he attacked.
“You spoke to her?” I asked, feeling anxious and sick. Had he cornered her somewhere? Followed her until he could get her alone?
“No, she’s using her sister as a go-between,” he replied sourly, and I was filled with instant relief. “I went to your aunt’s house, but that bitch Claire wouldn’t let me in. She thinks she can stop me from speaking to my own bloody wife?! She told me your mother’s been talking to a lawyer about a divorce and that I should expect a letter soon. Is this your doing? Have you been pouring poison in her ear, son?”
“Mam divorcing you is her choice, and it’s nobody’s fault but yours,” I said, pausing and unable to help it when I continued, “As far as I’m concerned, it’s the best decision she’s ever made.”
The words had barely left my mouth when his fist connected with my jaw. My vision blurred before I pushed him off me. He launched himself at me again, getting a few more digs in, mostly to my stomach. I could’ve fought back, but I didn’t. And not because I was frozen by fear. This time, unlike every other time he’d hit me, there was a reason for my lack of retaliation. I let him beat on me until he was winded, stumbling back to catch his breath so he could come at me again.
My face and gut hurt, and I tasted blood from my split lip as I stared at my piece of shit father then pointed up at the cameras. Dad’s gaze rose, and his expression turned murderous when he realised he’d just beaten me to a pulp, and it was all recorded.
“You’re going to sign those divorce papers when they arrive, and you’ll agree to all of Mam’s terms. If you don’t, I’ll go to the Guards with the video of what you just did.” Dad had a record. He’d been arrested for drunk and disorderly behaviour numerous times over the years. He’d also just barely escaped prison time for GBH after a bust up he’d had with another patron at his favourite pub once. If I reported him and handed over video evidence, he was sure to do time. By the look in his eyes, he knew it, too.
I’d never seen him lost for words. He always had some vicious remark to spew, but not then. He turned and slunk away, and although I’d just been beaten black and blue, I felt triumphant. Finally, I had the power to keep him away from us for good.
I heaved myself from where I’d been slumped against the hotel wall and just about managed to get to Mam’s car. Lowering into the driver’s seat was a struggle, but I worked through the pain. By the time I reached Derek’s house, I considered just sleeping in the car because I didn’t want anyone to see me. My injuries weren’t serious, nothing I’d need to see a doctor for, but I looked worse than I felt. The bruises and split lip would heal. Besides, the pain was worth it to finally be rid of my father.
If I never saw him again it would be too soon.
A few cars were missing from the driveway, so I expected most everyone was out. That gave me the opportunity to sneak into the shower room down in the basement next to the pool and clean myself up before being seen. I didn’t want Jo or Padraig making a fuss, and I certainly didn’t want Charli to see me.
I found my way there easily enough and turned on one of the showers before I started to undress. I’d just gotten my shirt off and began working on my belt buckle when a sharp gasp sounded from behind me. I stilled, recognising who the gasp belonged to. Turning around, I found Charli standing in the doorway. She wore her swimsuit and a swimming cap, a large towel around her shoulders as she stared at me in horror.
“Rhys,” she breathed, my name catching in her throat as her eyes travelled over me.
Seconds later, she was in front of me, the towel she’d been clutching forgotten and fallen to the floor as her fingers went to my face. I winced when she gently touched my cheekbone then my jaw, her eyes etched in sadness as she studied my split lip. I wanted to tell her to go away so I could wallow alone, but I was also too addicted to the caring way she searched me, checking for where I was hurt.
I expected her to ask questions, demand I tell her who did this to me, but she didn’t. Instead, she stepped back, her expression full of compassion. I was so close to breaking, and her quiet presence was a balm to my chaotic emotions. “I’ll go find a first-aid kit and grab you a change of clothes.”
With that, she left, and I finished undressing before stepping under the hot spray, wincing when the water lashed at my hurting face.