Chapter 11 #2
“You’re supposed to carry me across the threshold. I’m only pointing out your oversight,” Charlie counters with a cheeky smile. “You’re welcome.”
I tighten my grip around her waist. “Was wondering how long it’d take before you started bossing me around.”
“Bossy? Me?” She bats her lashes. “I prefer delightfully assertive.”
“Royal pain in my ass is more like it,” I shoot back playfully.
She lightly swats my shoulder. “That’s Mrs. Pain in the Ass, thank you very much.”
“All right, Mrs. Halstead, let’s get you inside before we have to buy out the entire antihistamine section at the pharmacy.”
I step around the cat who’s battling my shoelaces. He trots right after us, refusing to be left behind. I make a mental note to bring him some food later.
I grunt softly as I shift Charlie higher in my arms, adjusting my grip on my duffel.
“Did you just grunt while carrying your pregnant wife?” She gasps. “How rude! That second slice of peach pie at the diner was essential for the baby’s development.”
I let out a dry chuckle. “You’re going to give me a run for my money, aren’t you?”
“Count on it,” she says proudly. “Just remember, you willingly married me of your own free will. So you only have yourself to blame for whatever comes next.”
I sidestep another pile of boxes outside the area by the store’s back entrance. “Technically, we got hitched because you proposed, and I couldn’t refuse the mother of my child.”
She gives my cheek a patronizing pat. “Cute story. Whatever helps you sleep at night, husband.”
Fuck. This woman can challenge me all she wants, but if she keeps calling me that, I’ll challenge her right back. I love how it sounds rolling off her tongue, even when it’s dripping with sarcasm.
I stop at the back door. “You got a key?”
Charlie shakes her head. “No need. It’s unlocked.”
I frown when the knob turns easily in my hand.
Goddammit.
It’s obvious she has no regard for her own safety. That’s going to change now that I’m here.
First thing on the list: floodlights for the alley.
As for the stray cat, I’ll have to come up with a solution that works for them both.
I suspect Charlie doesn’t dislike him nearly as much as she claims, considering she keeps feeding him and she mentioned having him relocated.
So I’ll hold off unless I’m sure that’s what she really wants.
Luckily, the cat is distracted by a crumpled receipt rolling around on the ground, giving me the chance to slip inside without him following. Once the door is bolted shut, I carefully set Charlie down.
The door opens into a small mudroom with a stackable washer and dryer. And a staircase on the left leads up to her apartment.
I start toward the stairs, but Charlie stops me. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
I blink. “What?”
“You’re covered in cat hair, remember? That little furball was all over you.”
“Right. Sorry.”
I drop my duffel and start undoing my belt. I’m halfway out of my pants when Charlie grabs my wrist.
“What are you doing?” she squeaks, eyes wide.
“Trying not to track cat hair upstairs,” I reply, kicking my pants off and tossing them in the washer. “Isn’t that what you wanted?” I’d rather not spend our first night as newlyweds in the ER.
“Uh, yeah… but I figured you’d wait for me to leave before stripping,” she stammers.
I pause with my thumbs on my shirt buttons. “It’s nothing you haven’t seen before.”
I pull off my tie and unbutton my dress shirt. It’s the only one I own, and Charlie’s the only person who could ever get me to wear it.
Charlie swallows, throat bobbing. “The cat didn’t even touch your shirt.”
“Not taking any chances,” I say, shrugging it off and adding it to the washer.
When I glance back, I catch Charlie staring at the hard outline of my cock straining against my boxers.
I fold my arms, puffing out my chest. “See something you like?”
A blush rises to her cheeks. “Of course not. You’re practically naked, so it’s hard not to notice.”
I close the distance between us. “He doesn’t have much control over being hard when you were just scaling me like your personal jungle gym.”
She puts a hand on my chest but doesn’t push me away. “Well, you’d better get him under control if you plan on sharing a bed. Unless you’ve decided to be a gentleman and sleep on the floor.”
“I don’t think so,” I reply, resting my hand over hers. “I’d rather be the man warming your bed.”
Charlie lifts her chin defiantly, even as her hand lingers on my chest. “Suit yourself, but fair warning—I’m getting a pregnancy pillow soon, so your side of the bed is about to get a lot smaller.”
I dip my head until our faces are inches apart. “No need. I’ll be your pillow. After all, you didn’t seem to mind being wrapped around me a few minutes ago.”
Her lips part, her breathing quick and shallow. “Unfortunately, chiseled abs don’t qualify as orthopedic support.”
“That’s a shame,” I say, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Hopefully, your subconscious gets the memo that I’m off-limits. You were awfully cuddly the night we spent together.”
She subtly arches into my touch. “That was a lapse in judgment, remember? It won’t happen again.”
I graze my knuckles along her cheek, my eyes locked on hers. “If you say so, sweetheart.”
I can only hope that one day Charlie realizes this is far more than just an arrangement for me. I want to be the man warming her bed each night, the one she turns to when she’s turned on and needs to take the edge off.