“Well, don’t say I didn’t offer,” I taunted with a wink before going to read Isla her bedtime story.
16
LUKE
Listeningto Charlotte read my daughter a story was the sexiest thing I’d ever heard. She didn’t rush, she made Isla giggle when she attempted to mimic the characters’ voices, and when I poked my head around the corner, I found them curled up on Isla’s bed together.
Not wanting to interrupt, I went back out and tidied up, folding the blankets and picking up the forgotten pieces of popcorn scattered all over the floor. I was exhausted but I didn’t care. It’d been a great day—one of the best. Isla had been her energetic self, and Charlotte hadn’t batted an eyelid. She hadn’t complained or shied away from being dragged from animal to animal, and when Isla asked if Charlotte was my girlfriend, I couldn’t be prouder of my daughter.
“So?”
I’d been so caught up in the day's events I hadn’t heard Charlotte come back out to the kitchen.
“She asleep?”
“Yep. Went out like a light.”
“I’m not surprised. She had a big day.”
“Didn’t we all,” Charlotte reminded me as she leaned against the kitchen counter, wringing the tea towel in her hands.
“We did,” I confirmed, stepping toward her, my hands automatically gravitating to her hips.
“So, girlfriend hey?”
“Is that a problem?” I asked, second-guessing myself. If I’d had any doubts in my mind that that was what I wanted, after today, after seeing how incredible she was with Isla, they were long gone now.
“I wasn’t expecting it.”
“Charlotte.”
“Luke.”
“I really want to kiss my girlfriend right now,” I told her, pushing her hair out of her eyes.
“Your girlfriend really wants you to kiss her right now,” she confirmed with a wicked smile, and I didn’t hesitate.
Kissing Charlotte was addictive and I found myself never wanting to stop. When she pulled back, I didn't know whether to be grateful for her strength or frustrated.
Still breathing hard, Charlotte stepped out of my hold and collected her things. “I should go.”
“Charlotte?” What? What had just happened? What had I missed?
“Trust me, I want to stay. Fuck me I want to stay. But I think it’s smarter if I leave before we go too far down the rabbit hole tonight.”
“I really want you to stay,” I confirmed, refusing to leave her in any doubt.
“I know. And I want to stay too. But Isla’s in the next room. We both know if I don’t leave now, it’s going to get harder …”
“I don't think that’s possible,” I grumbled, adjusting the hard-on tenting my jeans.
“To leave, Luke. It’s going to get harder for me to leave,” she finished, her cheeks turning a gorgeous shade of pink.
“Fine. Did you want me to order you an Uber?” I conceded.
The last thing I wanted Charlotte to do right now was to leave me high and dry, but when I wasn’t thinking with my dick, I knew she was right. Watching her walk out the door right now was going to be hard enough, but if she stepped into my bedroom, we both knew there was going to be no way I’d be able to let her go.
I’d ordered Charlotte an Uber and kissed her goodbye. After locking the door behind her, I went into the bathroom and stripped off, turning on the taps and letting the room fill with steam.
