Chapter 7
I must be out of my goddamn mind.
Here I am, barely able to keep my shit together around Charlie, which by the way, is a new development I’m not too fond of. And now, not only did I agree to share a hotel room with her, we’re going to be sharing a bed.
Note to self: Google blue balls preventatives as soon as I’m alone. Because there’s no way I’m going to be able to keep that situation under control unless I figure something out.
Charlie steps into the elevator and I follow just behind her, hitting the button designated for our floor.
As soon as the elevator doors close, her scent envelops me like a warm hug.
I can’t quite pinpoint what it is, it’s not something I’m familiar with, but at the same time it’s exactly how I imagined she’d smell.
Something faintly sweet, maybe citrusy, with a hint of vanilla.
It fills the space between us, clinging to the tension that’s already there.
Every inhale, it sinks deeper and deeper inside of me and suddenly I’m all too aware of how close we’re standing together.
In just a few minutes we’ll be sharing a bed and I have to figure out a way to pretend that I don’t feel what I’m feeling. Desire. Want. Need.
I lace my fingers tightly together in front of me and focus on the glowing numbers next to the elevator doors, attempting to breathe in only through my mouth to escape her intoxicating scent. Except, I fail at that. I fail miserably.
As the elevator slows to a stop, relief and disappointment sit heavy on my chest. It’s sharp and aching. Part of me could’ve stayed locked in this space forever, drinking her in. And yet the rest of me was afraid the ride would never end.
The doors slide open, breaking the spell. Charlie exits first and the space immediately feels colder in her absence. I follow her out, carrying the ghost of her scent with me down the hallway. Each step is a reminder that the ride is over but we’ve barely even started.
Charlie looks over her shoulder at me. “Do you want me to grab my bag? Who knew this was the world’s longest hallway?”
I’m grateful for the distraction and her attempt to ease the tension, but all I can focus on is how much closer we are to that damn bed.
“I got it. We’re almost there.”
She gives me a smile and faces forward again. I stay half a step behind her, close enough to catch hints of that warm scent of hers and more than close enough to know how bad of an idea this is.
Charlie stops at the door and I stop breathing.
I was afraid I was the only one feeling this. Whatever the fuck this is. I’m internally freaking out and yet Charlie has shown no signs of awkwardness or tension.
That is until she starts fumbling with her key card. She mutters a curse word under her breath and I can’t contain the bark of laughter that escapes me.
“Shut it, Lucas.” She glares at me and attempts to open the door again.
I’m standing behind her, too close if we’re being honest, but my body demands to be near her. I should take a step back. I should be adamant about sleeping on the floor.
One fucking bed. It’s all I can think about as she finally makes entrance into our hotel room.
“Holy shit. That was like breaking into Fort Knox.”
I’m pretty sure it was identical to the hotel room doors we have in the states but I keep that thought to myself.
I haul our bags into the room and nearly knock Charlie over when she abruptly stops in front of me.
I’m about to ask her what’s wrong when I realize what she’s staring at.
Either Sweden has a different definition for “king-size bed” or the guys were wrong. Because the bed sitting in front of us is most definitely a queen.
Now normally this wouldn’t be such a big deal. If I was sleeping alone.
But considering I’m six-three and Charlie is five-eleven, and we’re world-class athletes with a decent amount of muscle, it might as well be a twin bed.
Setting our bags down, I move around Charlie and lean against the small desk that lines the wall opposite our bed.
“Well, it’s better than the Village.”
It’s the only thing I can think of to say. Because it’s true. It’s smaller than we were anticipating but it’s still nearly four-times the size of the beds the Olympics provided us with.
Charlie huffs out a laugh. “Really setting the bar low there, Luke.”
Her eyes are still focused on the bed, panic clear in her eyes. Pushing myself off the desk, I grip her chin gently with my thumb and forefinger and turn her face so she’s looking at me.
“Hey, it’s okay.”
She forces a swallow and my eyes are transfixed on the way her throat bobs as she does. Finally, she nods but I can tell she’s still not convinced.
“There is plenty of room here. I’ll take the floor like I originally planned. Or I can sleep in the guys’ room on the floor. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”
I drop my hand from her face and my fingers immediately itch to be touching her again.
Charlie shakes her head at me. “No. That’s stupid. We’re adults and I’ve known you basically my entire life. I trust you. I’m not uncomfortable. I was just…shocked is all.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, still not convinced she’s okay with this situation.
Honestly, I’m not sure I’m even okay with this situation. If I could barely handle standing next to her in the elevator, how the hell am I supposed to keep my shit together when she’s inches away from me in bed?
I’m an Olympic fucking athlete. I am just as mentally prepared as I am physically for the Games. If I can handle the pressure of being on the world’s largest stage, I can handle a week of sharing a bed with Charlie.
“I’m sure.” Her voice interrupts my internal pep talk and I nod once.
Charlie moves to the side of the bed next to her and I can’t help my outburst.
“That’s my side.” It’s sharp and firm, totally not how I intended it to come out, so I try to reel it back in.
“Sorry. That came out harsher than I meant. It’s just that when I share a bed with the guys, I usually take that side.
” I try to come up with an excuse that doesn’t make me seem like some weirdo attached to one side of the bed.
“I have a bad shoulder so sleeping on my right side is easiest, especially when I’m not alone. ”
I don’t dare tell her that the reason I need to sleep on that side of the bed is because it’s the closest to the door.
It’s obnoxious but if some lunatic broke in here, I’d like to be between them and Charlie if only to give her an extra line of defense.
My god, I’m a simp for this woman.
Charlie eyes me curiously. “Uhh, okay. I’ll take the other side then I guess.”
She moves around me awkwardly, her shoulder brushing mine as she does. One little touch and I’m ready to throw her on the bed and have my way with her.
Keeping my urges in check is going to be harder than I thought.
We both start putting our clothes away. Another thing this room has that the Village didn’t is an actual closet and full size dresser to store our stuff in. Oh, and a private bathroom. Although the idea of sharing with Charlie isn’t half as bad as sharing with random athletes.
I’m hanging up my team’s curling uniform in the closest when Charlie finally breaks the awkward silence.
“Do you mind if I hop in the shower real quick? I never get as clean as I want while showering at the rink.”
And now I’m picturing her naked. Mother fucker.
“Go for it.”
I keep my eyes trained ahead because if I look at her, I’m afraid she’ll be able to see the sexual frustration written all over my face.
As soon as the bathroom door clicks closed and I hear the water start running, I throw my head back and release a frustrated breath.
“Get your shit together.” I chastise myself out loud, hoping that if I both say it aloud and hear it, maybe it’ll stick.
“I can handle sharing a bed with a beautiful woman. I can keep my hands to myself.”
I walk to my side of the bed to unpack my carry-on bag full of sleep essentials while repeating the words out loud. Just as I’m setting my kindle on the nightstand, I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket.
Pulling it out, I see that it’s a message from Wyatt in the team group chat.
Wyatt
Yo, skip. Are you sure you don’t want to trade places? Jimmy brought a sleep apnea machine with him. Send help.
His text is followed by a picture of Jimmy sleeping soundly on his back with a huge mask covering his nose and mouth, a long tube connected to something on the side of his bed.
“Holy shit.” I shake my head and laugh to myself.
Quickly, before Charlie finishes up and catches me in the act, I take a picture of the queen bed we’re about to sleep in together and send it to the group. I fire off a follow up text before they can chime in.
You assholes told me we’d have a king bed.
Brendan
Oh shit.
Wyatt
PLEASE TRADE SPOTS WITH ME! Cuddling with Char will be good for me. I swear it’s for Olympic preparations only.
I grind my teeth together as I type out my next text.
Go fuck yourself, Wy. I don’t trust you at all.
Brendan
Sorry man, skip is right. There’s no way you’d keep your hands to yourself.
Wyatt
I’m highly offended by this conversation but am going to ignore it and point something out. You think Luke can keep his hands to himself? Did you miss the way his tongue was hanging out of his mouth when he first saw Charlie today? Fifty bucks says they screw before the end of the week.
Brendan
I’ll take that bet. $100 says Lucas is a perfect gentleman.
Can you two please stop making bets on if I sleep with Connor’s little sister?
I bring up Connor hoping it will clear the Charlie-induced haze I find myself in. Her body wash scent wafts through the air from the bathroom as hints of vanilla hit my nose again.
God, she smells so fucking good.
Wyatt
You’re no fun, skip.
The water in the bathroom turns off which means Charlie will be out here soon. Not wanting to be texting these idiots when she emerges, I shoot off one last text.
No time for fun. We’re at the fucking Olympics. I suggest you start focusing too.
Three dots pop up indicating that one of them is typing again but I slide down on my screen and push the button for Do Not Disturb before throwing my phone on the bed.
My phone lands just as the door of the bathroom opens.
Convinced I can finally keep my shit together, I turn my head to see Charlie. The moment my eyes land on her fresh face and damp hair, all bets are off.
She is easily the most stunning woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. Not a stitch of makeup, her cheeks tinged pink from the heat of her shower, and Charlie still looks more radiant than I’ve ever seen her.
When my eyes finally move from her face to the rest of her body, the air is sucked from my lungs.
Charlie is wearing a silk pajama set and it is impossible to tear my gaze away from her.
I shouldn’t be looking. I know that much even as my eyes betray me.
She makes her way to the bed and it’s the worst kind of temptation.
The silk clings and slips in the most tortuous ways, gliding over her pristine skin as she walks.
Nothing about it is meant to be seductive, and that’s what makes it unbearable.
My body reacts before my brain can, my dick standing at attention.
I catalog the reasons I can’t reach over and pull her to me like she's mine. She’s my best friend’s little sister. It’s too complicated. She’s too off limits. And yet my desire ignores every single one of them.
Wanting her doesn’t feel reckless or wrong. No. It feels inevitable.
And that’s what scares me the most.