1102 P.M.
CHARLOTTE
“Come here,” she said, giving him her sexiest grin. She kissed him hard on the mouth, smelling his expensive aftershave and feeling the smoothness of his freshly shaved skin. “Let’s get naked. I’ve been waiting so long, I can’t take it anymore.”
She tugged at the belt of her bathrobe, letting it fall to her sides, revealing her nude body. Ted’s eyes grew wide and he gave her an appreciative grin. Raising his hands, he slid the white plush robe off her shoulders and watched as it fell to the floor.
Charlotte reached for the hem of his shirt, pulling it up and over his head, then dropped to her knees and unzipped his jeans.
She smiled up at him while she pulled his jeans and boxer briefs down below his knees.
He stepped out of his remaining clothes, already hard, which felt like a relief to her after last night with Oliver.
Running her hands up his thighs, she wrapped them both around his cock, then set to work showing him how thrilled she was about what he said earlier about their future.
Ted let out a loud moan, but after a few seconds, he stopped her, placing his hands on hers and pulling her up to her feet.
He gripped her ass and pressed himself to her, kissing her hard as they stood together in the middle of the room.
Lifting her up, he walked them over to the bed while she wrapped her long legs around his waist, loving how powerful he was.
Dropping her onto the bed, he ran his hands up and down the length of her, taking his time as he devoured her with his eyes.
He adored her. There was no question about it in Charlotte’s mind.
It wasn’t like this between him and Antonia.
He had said as much, but that’s not how she knew.
She knew because there was no way he could look at his wife with this same expression.
This was how you stared at someone you truly loved. And she could feel it. He loved her.
Leaning over her, he planted kisses from her thighs all the way up to her breasts, taking his time with each of her nipples, until they were pert expressions of her desire. Tonight was different for her. Everything had shifted. She wanted him—all of him—not just for now. But for good.
He worked his way down her stomach with his mouth, spreading her legs wider to give him access.
Her mind flashed to the first time she knew she wanted him.
They had been in his office. It was early evening and she had been trying her best not to cry all day.
Her ex, Ian, had come by her apartment the night before when she was at Pilates class and taken all his things.
She knew it was coming, but when he got home the place looked surprisingly bare.
No men’s sneakers eating up three quarters of the small front closet.
No guitars sitting in the corner by the couch looking cool.
No Xbox controllers scattered on her coffee table.
She had hated those stupid controllers, but as soon as they were missing, it felt like a violation of the proper world order.
Up until that evening, Charlotte thought maybe Ian would come back and they’d work it out. She had hoped he would change his mind.
But he wasn’t going to. He was already gone.
Ted had asked what was wrong, and she shook her head. “Nothing.”
“Come on, Char. Don’t think you can fool me. I do this for a living.”
“Oh, just…things became very final last night.”
Taking a few steps toward her, Ted rubbed her upper arms, then pulled her in for a hug. “Come here, kiddo. Let it go.”
And she did. She sobbed into his light blue Oxford shirt, soaking it with tears and leaving mascara on the expensive fabric while he rubbed her back and told her it was okay to cry.
“You’re going to feel strong again. Sooner than you think, and one day, he’ll be a distant memory, and you’ll be grateful he’s gone because you’ll find a better man. One who sees you.”
She pulled back and looked up at his handsome face. “I don’t think so. Maybe I’m just not meant for that.”
Ted lifted one hand to her cheek. “Of course you are. You’re so beautiful, Char. You have no idea.”
She swallowed hard, wanting him so badly in that moment. Needing to be cared for. Needing to forget. “Do you see me, Ted?”
Nodding, he glanced at her mouth and she knew that if she just lifted herself up an inch, he would kiss her.
And that would set off a chain reaction.
One perfect kiss followed by a frenzy of clothing being discarded and their bodies moving together on the cognac leather couch of his office.
Such a manly office for such a manly man.
But he pulled back, letting her go and running his hands through his salt and pepper hair with a loud sigh.
At the time, she was overcome with both frustration and relief, and was left shocked at how two opposite emotions could be battling it out inside her. After that night, the tension between them grew by the day, until they finally gave in on a trip to New York.
And now, here they were, all these months later, and he had been right. She couldn’t care less that Ian was with someone else. He was a total stranger to her. A child who played Call of Duty. A poser whose guitar collection was built to impress, not be used.
She wiggled herself over his mouth, his tongue doing things Ian’s never did to her.
He loved her. And he wanted to make a life with her.
So why not let him? He could figure out the logistics.
She could wait. And Ted would make all her dreams come true.
Every last one of them. The thought of it had her coming undone, writhing and shaking as the yacht gently rocked in the waves.
When she was finished and he lifted himself off of her, she flipped herself over onto her stomach, how she knew he liked her best. “God, you’re perfect,” he said, his hands running over her ass.
A moment later, he made his way inside, pumping and pressing into her, kissing her neck and her back, moaning and breathing heavier and louder as he worked.
It didn’t take long for him to climax, and he called her name, like he always did.
And she knew that was a sign of a man who loved a woman.
He didn’t call her baby or call out “Oh God.” He said, “Oh, Charlotte.” He was a man in love.
Collapsing next to her on the bed, he pulled her close while they panted and sighed with delirium. “You are the sexiest woman I’ve ever met.”
She smiled at him, feeling loved. Her heart pounded in her chest at what she was about to say. It was something she swore to herself she wouldn’t. Something she wouldn’t allow herself to feel. He was married, after all. “I’m in love with you, Ted,” she whispered.
Closing her eyes, she kissed him quickly on the mouth, terrified of hearing his response in case he had changed his mind since that afternoon.
A swell of courage came with her next inhale, and she pulled back and went on.
“You’re everything I’ve ever needed. I want this.
I want you. And I know I don’t deserve you, and I know it would be complicated, but if there was a way for us to be together permanently, I would be the happiest woman in the world. ”
His eyes narrowed when she said the part about not deserving him, and he shook his head.
“I’m the one who doesn’t deserve you. You’re incredible, Char.
You’re every man’s dream—you’re gorgeous and smart and talented, but you’re also fun and understanding, and you’re so full of love. Everyone loves you.”
She cringed. “Your kids won’t.”
“Yes, they will. It’ll take time, but once they see how happy you make me, they’ll come around.
They know their mom and I are miserable.
She’ll be better off too. She really will be much happier without me,” he said, nuzzling Charlotte’s neck.
“She and I grew apart years ago, but we’ve been forced to stay together.
But now, I’ll be looking for the first opening, or, if there isn’t one to find, I’ll damn well make one. ”
She pressed her hand to his jaw, pulling him in for another lingering kiss. “I’ll wait, Ted. I can be patient because I know at the end, we’ll be together.”
“I love you so much, Charlotte. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.”
“Really?” she asked, her eyes filling with tears, even though there was a skeptical voice in the recesses of her mind calling bullshit.
“It’s true. What I had with Antonia has always been…a meeting of the minds, not one of two souls.” He gave her a lopsided grin, as if he was suddenly unsure of himself. “Does that sound corny? I don’t want to be corny.”
“Not at all,” she answered, even though it was most definitely very corny.
Laughing, he said, “No, that was corny. I know it. And your generation doesn’t do corny.”
“That’s why I loved it. My generation is…afraid of sharing how we really feel. I’m sick of it. I just want to be real with someone. I can do that with you.” She ran her fingertip along his strong jawline.
“Yes, you can. You can be yourself with me, and I will love every moment of it. I want to hear everything you have to say about every topic under the sun. I want to explore the world with you and watch your face light up when you see the Eiffel Tower for the first time and wrap my arms around you as we float down the canals of Venice.” He kissed her again.
“I want to spoil you and make you the happiest woman to have lived.”
She grinned at him, touching his cheek. “You already have.”
“Oh, sweetheart, you have no idea. I’m just getting started.”