T H I R T Y - O N E
I can’t believe I’m about to be the one to say it, but Perry needs to get laid.
She has a tote of my scrubs in her hands as we step off the elevator. Her eyes sunken into her skin from the lack of sleep she got last night. She stayed up until four in the morning trying to finish this silly blanket she had started, wanting to break a record of how fast she could complete one. I would think her fingers feel like they’re about to fall off at this point.
“Kai has been bugging Charlie about this club that’s not too far from here,” I tell her, opening the door to Charlie’s apartment. “Why don’t we go tonight?”
“You’re joking,” Perry snorts. “You’re suggesting we go out? You? Banks Matsumara? Was your brain replaced with a tiny alien?”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes.
“Wasn’t it you not too long ago on my case about going out?”
“That’s completely different,” Perry argues, setting the tote down beside the wall. “You hadn’t spoken to a man without a wound in over a year. Hadn’t spoken to one really at all,” she adds that last bit under her breath before shooting me a wink.
“Your own guy isn’t going to scale from this building, watch you through the windows and suddenly be all hot and bothered. ”
Perry purses her lips. “He could, but I would likely end up on an episode of Dateline. You have to admit though, that would be real sexy.”
“Now who’s delusional?”
“You really want to put another man at risk for human sacrifice?”
“What you do with your men is your business,” I say. “This time I’d like to stay in my own body though.”
Perry’s dim eyes sport a twinkle. “Is that so? Finally listening after all these years?”
I shrug, bending over to set my own tote on top of hers.
“I’ve realized I don’t need to be every guy’s dream girl, I just want to be Charlie’s and he likes me just as I am.”
“I hope you came to that conclusion on your own rather than letting a man dictate your worth, but in this case, I’ll allow it since the goal was reached regardless.”
“He might have aided a bit.” I grin.
“Fine,” she huffs. “If I agree to go, will you agree to go shopping for a new outfit?”
“What’s wrong with what I have?”
“Nothing,” she mutters. “For a middle-aged librarian.”
I toss a shirt at her as she attempts to dodge the projectile while giggling her little head off.
I let her talk me into some ridiculous pieces just to please her but as I stared at the thin and barely there fabric of the shirt I just pulled from the shopping bag, I gulp.
“What do you think will look better with that halter top,” Perry calls from the edge of my tub, where she is currently shaving her legs. “Hair up or down? ”
“Umm,” I screech. “Up?” I feel like I am questioning myself more than giving an answer.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing!” I quickly utter, throwing the top on my bed and scurrying over to my dresser to find another option.
“Banks,” Perry drawls, noting my awkwardness in tone.
“Nothing,” I say again.
I pull a v-neck tee from my dresser, light green in color. It’s soft and loose, only willing to cling to my breasts rather than my stomach.
I am about to tug it over my head when I am caught red-handed.
“Don’t even think about it.”
I turn and see Perry standing in her baby pink shorts with her arms crossed.
“What was the point of spending the money if you aren’t going to wear it?” She lifts her brow.
“Wishful thinking?”
Perry lets out a long sigh. “What are you so worried about?”
“Seeing rolls?”
She rolls her eyes and snatches the burgundy top off my bed before ripping the tag off it.
“Just try it on,” she demands, advancing toward me. She shoves the fabric in my hands, ripping the green away, and starts rifling through my bras.
I stare at the thin top, held out in front of me when I feel a pinch at my rib cage.
“Ouch!” I snip.
“Not a roll in sight,” Perry mutters, pinching my skin once more .
“Perry!” I jump away from her.
“See?” Her eyes widen. “That wouldn’t even hurt that bad if you had rolls. Now put this on with that.”
My gaze lands on the lace demi cup bra that is the bane of my existence. “No, I always feel like I am spilling out of the cups.”
“That’s called cleavage, Banks.”
Perry wasn’t going to let up.
Not until I tried it on.
So I give, undoing my cotton t-shirt bra, poorly timed might I add seeing as my front door opens the moment my nipples are exposed.
A body slips in, slamming the door shut, causing more disruption than needed.
“Heard of knocking?” Perry quips. “You just nearly showed the whole building your girlfriend’s tits.”
Charlie gives Perry a look, somewhere between territorial and a smirk.
Perry goes back into the bathroom as I cover myself, giving Charlie enough time to cross the apartment.
“Don’t cover them on my account,” he hums.
Dressed in a signature flannel with his hair pulled back and a pair of jeans that hug his thighs so well, I am tempted to beg him to take me upstairs.
“Hi.”
“Hi,” I sigh.
“I like this,” he says, running a finger along the top of the lace cup. “I never seen it before.”
“That’s because it’s not very comfortable.”
“Then why are you wearing it? ”
I don’t answer, slipping my arms into the thin fabric and pulling it over my head.
The fabric sheers as I tug it over my body, hugging every inch of me. It stops slivers above my jeans and the wide neck requires me to push my bra straps to the edges of my shoulders.
I feel like my tits are at my chin and by Charlie’s reaction, they might as well have been.
“I look ridiculous.”
“You look hot.”
I glare at him.
“Real fucking hot, baby.”
He touches my waist, tugging me to him.
I grip his arm as I peer up at his light eyes.
“I’m tempted to make you change because I don’t want anyone else seeing so much of what’s mine,” he almost growls in a quiet voice.
“I’ll change.”
“No.” He nudges the tip of my nose with his. “You look so sexy, Banks. As much as I like keeping what’s mine mine . It’s even hotter watching all the fools drool over how hot my woman is.”
I’m not sure why that made my core grow hot.
Maybe it’s the implication that he wants to show me off. That he’s proud to be with me.
“Okay.”
Charlie gives me a kiss before I go to join Perry in the bathroom to finish getting ready.
“And to think I was going to use Kai as my beard, but I won’t even need to worry about it when all the guys are going to be making goo-goo eyes at you,” Perry smirks, lining her lips with a nude lip liner.
“Stop it.” I sweep a few more coats of mascara over my eyelashes. “Use Kai as a beard? What was your plan? Stay glued between Kai and me all night?” I turn and bat my lashes at her. “As if the entire male population won't notice you anyway?”
She flashes her pearly whites.
“Are you two about done in here?” Charlie's head hangs as he glances in, having knocked on the half-perched door.
“Oh fuck,” Perry snorts, seeing him first. She knocks her head back in a giggle fit as he opens the door all the way.
I peer up in the mirror and notice what caused the giggles.
“Should I be offended?” He wiggles a brow at me as I turn around wrapping my arms around his waist.
“No,” I purse my lips. “The green goo is hot, Barnes. Real hot,” I coo.
Charlie's face is covered in my face mask that he must have grabbed from my nightstand, which I happened to leave out last night when Perry and I used it ourselves. He must have decided to work on his skincare while waiting on us.
“I thought so.” He shrugs, rubbing my back.
“Ew,” Perry protests. “Let me out of here before you start making out again.”
I giggle as Charlie thrusts me against the wall, waving her by. “Get out, quick!”
Perry pretends to choke as she scurries out of the bathroom, followed by Charlie's laughter .
“Okay, green panda,” I say. “Wash your face and we'll go.”
“Give me a kiss first,” he demands.
“Do not ruin my makeup,” I threaten.
He smirks. “I told you, you look real hot, Banks,” he hums me before lowering his mouth to the edge of my jawline, careful to not get the mask on me. “But you're so fucking beautiful naked,” he whispers and the hair on the back of my neck strands up. “Under me... On top of me...”
“Charlie,” I hiss.
“Riding my face,” he adds, and I can't stop myself. I shut my eyes and remember two nights before when I had done just that.
“I’m already tempted to ditch tonight altogether,” I pant. “But Perry needs this.”
He grumbles and gives my ass a light pat. “Fine.”
He reaches around me turning on the water while I pick up my makeup bag and leave the bathroom to find Perry tugging on a bootie that makes her long legs look like a Victoria’s Secret angel.
“Are the boots too much?”
“No,” I assure her. “Not at all.”
Perry tightens her high pony with a shrug.
We collect our purses when Charlie reemerges, sans green goo.
“What the fuck,” Perry gawks. “His skin looks like glass.”
I roll my eyes. “I know. It’s not fair.”
Charlie wears a shit grin as he touches the small of my back.
“Unbelievable,” Perry huffs as we leave the apartment .
Charlie slings an arm across the tops of my shoulders, lowering his lips to my ear as we step outside.
“I’m going to rip that shirt off you the moment we get home.”
I stare up at him and I swear the look he gives me should be illegal.