Chapter Fourteen #2
“I think we both know I did.” Charlie reached around him, running her hands over his shoulders. “Maybe we should move to the bedroom?” She pressed a kiss to his chest. “More space.”
“I like where this is going.” Julian sat up, reaching for her hand.
Charlie led him down the hall to the spare room she was using and plopped down on the bed, watching him with a cheeky smile as he shrugged out of his shirt and unbuttoned his jeans.
His pants hit the floor, and Julian leaned over, fishing his wallet out of his pocket to retrieve the condom he’d stashed there recently.
Charlie’s eye flickered over him appreciatively, amusement etched into her features. “Did you think you were going to get lucky when you came over tonight?”
He flashed her a grin. “I think it’s important to be prepared for all possibilities.” He stepped closer and smoothed a piece of hair away from her face. “Did you not think this would happen again?”
She kissed his stomach, and the muscle twitched beneath her lips. “I hoped it would happen again,” she admitted. “I’ve missed you.”
She shifted back on the bed, reaching for him. Julian didn’t need much convincing and climbed onto the bed as they wriggled out of the rest of their clothing. He let her pull him close, stroking his hands over her breasts, his touch gentle as he rolled her nipples between his fingers.
Charlie closed her eyes and hummed at the touch, then she tilted her head back and looked at him. “I hadn’t realized how much until we were together again.”
Julian’s heart lobbed into his throat. She’d asked him to stay tonight, but was he a fool for wanting more?
Stay with me in Elm Springs. You could be happy here.
We could try again. He stared into her eyes, into the glassy reflection he saw, searching desperately for the answer to a question he’d been asking his whole life.
Am I enough? Because for once in his damn life, he wanted someone to choose him.
“I’ve missed you,” she said again, her voice thick. “You make things feel a little less heavy. And I like that.”
To Julian, it sounded like a promise. Like she was invested in more than this choir. Like she wanted him for more than just tonight.
Charlie’s hands kneaded the muscles in his back, and he sank into her embrace.
He wanted to be held by her forever. He tipped his head and kissed her, slow and languid, stealing a moan from the back of her throat.
“I’ve missed you, too, you know. You walked back into my life and turned it upside down—in the best possible way.
I don’t know if I can go back.” He didn’t want to.
Charlie pulled his focus as she shifted beneath him, rolling her hips, grinding against his erection. Julian sucked in a deep breath through his nose to keep his thoughts from spinning out of control.
He kissed her again. Lips, cheek, jaw. Then spent some time nibbling at her throat.
“Stop teasing,” Charlie complained, shoving at his shoulder.
“I’m just being thorough.”
“I don’t see how it can be thorough when you’re skipping over one very important part.”
Julian lifted his head and laughed at the perturbed look on her face.
She reached over and snatched the condom he’d left on the bedside table, ripping it open with her teeth.
“That’s hot,” he said.
“Put this on.”
“Bossy, too. I like it.” Julian shifted to his knees, watching the way Charlie’s eyes roamed the length of him. She looked like she wanted to devour him.
“Let me help,” she said, sitting up and taking the condom from his hand, rolling it over his cock.
“Impatient?” Julian said, trying not to react to the feel of her hands on him.
“More like eager to see you perform.”
“You know I might not be able to sing, but this is my stage.”
Charlie snorted. “That was so corny.”
Julian wrapped his arms around her, and she laughed, thumping back down on the bed. Charlie wormed her hand between their bodies, wrapping her delicate fingers around his cock. She squeezed, staring into his eyes.
“Would you like something?” he whispered.
“Yes.”
“Tell me.”
“You. Inside me.” Her gaze filled with desire, her bottom lip trapped between her teeth, and he believed her. He believed how badly she wanted him. Julian let Charlie guide his cock between her thighs, and he braced himself on his forearms, nudging at her entrance. “Ready?” he asked.
“Yes,” she whispered. “Please.”
And with that, Julian slid inside, shuddering at the feeling. Charlie’s mouth dropped open, her brow furrowing as breathy little “oh, oh, ohs!” filled the room.
Once he started moving, he didn’t stop, chasing the climax that surged through his blood. He wanted to sink deeper into the heat, to give into the pressure that coiled at the base of his spine. His thoughts narrowed to the motion of his hips and the sound of their bodies coming together.
Charlie’s breath faltered, and her hand disappeared between them again, rubbing her clit as her legs began to tremble.
Julian huffed, his head at her shoulder, and rocked into her again and again and again.
He heard her cry out and felt the sudden jolt of a body flooded with pleasure.
She stilled beneath him, and he gave a few final uncoordinated thrusts before his orgasm dragged him through the kind of pleasure that made him see stars.
Charlie stroked her hands over his back.
“The bed was a good idea,” he whispered.
“Told you,” she said, not quite laughing.
Julian rolled off her, and she snuggled into his side. Charlie wrapped her arm over his chest, indicating that he wasn’t going anywhere.
Julian threaded his fingers through hers, content to bask in the bliss that still flooded his body. He didn’t need any more than this—just the simple truth that he was wanted.