“I did.”
“And?” I ask, wondering if he’s going to change his mind about me. I wouldn’t blame him, Chance is baggage.
“And …” He sighs. Oh no. Here it is, he’s going to tell me that as much as he is attracted to me, it can’t work between us. “… I want you.” Oh. I’m surprised by his comment. “I’m sick of fighting the pull I have with you, Derrick. I’m sick of denying myself … you,” he says, cupping my face. “You make me happy, and I like you.”
“You like me?”
“I’m scared, but yes, I like you,” Charlie confesses.
My heart wants to break out of my chest. “You like me?” I reiterate, which makes him smile. “I like you, too, a lot.”
His smile widens. “I do too. I don’t know what the future holds, but it feels brighter with you in it.”
“It does?” Oh, my goodness, this man.
“It does.” He grins before leaning forward and kissing me slowly, ever so fucking slowly that he makes my toes curl.
“I don’t know what is going to happen when we head home, but honestly, we have another week on this island, and I want to spend it with you, in the open,” Charlie declares.
“Like PDA?”
He nods. “I’m not ashamed of whatever this is. How can I be when you make me feel alive?”
“I do?”
“You do. I’ve been using my injury as a wall to protect me from the world, but you smashed your way through it.” His words are melting me. “Let’s not label anything, we will figure out whatever this is later. I just want to enjoy you. Is that okay?” He continues to cup my face.
“Yes.” I think I’m willing to give this man whatever the hell he wants.
“Good. Now get in that bed, Derrick, and let me do all the things I’ve been wanting to do to you since the night we met.” He smirks darkly.
Yes, sir. I am all yours. He doesn’t need to ask me twice as we rush toward the bedroom.
As soon as we enter the room, I turn around and look at him. There’s something different about Charlie right now, he has a dominating confidence I haven’t seen before. Tingles rush down my spine at the thought of this man taking what he wants, and what he wants appears to be me. I back toward the bed, and when my calves hit the mattress, I sit, then scoot back. Charlie follows, crawling over me with a predatory grace that has no business being that attractive. His leg doesn’t seem to slow him down one bit.
“You have no idea how many times I’ve had to walk away from you before I did something stupid.”
“Fucking me isn’t stupid.” I pout.
He smirks at me. “It’s not, but the feelings it’s going to give me are,” he mutters against my throat, his lips dragging over my pulse point that is thumping a million miles a minute. I swallow against his touch. Hearing his confession does things to me. And like him, I’m wondering if us going all the way is going to have me feeling things for him that might complicate what we have. Then his mouth is on mine, and I don’t care about whatever concerns I was just having about us fucking because I need him, like I need oxygen. My fingers find the hem of his shirt, tugging at it impatiently. He breaks the kiss just long enough to pull it over his head, and … fuck … the sight of him shirtless has my dick standing to attention. My hands explore his chest, his stomach, and I feel him shiver as I memorize every taut muscle of his body.
“Your turn,” he says, voice rough.
I reach for my shirt, but Charlie’s hands are already there. “Let me.”
It’s not a request.
He grabs the fabric and drags it up slowly, his knuckles scraping my ribs. When it’s off, he just looks at me, and the hunger in his eyes makes my breath catch.
“Stop staring.” I giggle nervously, not used to someone looking at me that intensely.
“Never,” he commands as his hand spreads across my chest, thumb dragging over my nipple, and I bite back a sound.
“Charlie …” I groan desperately.
“Say my name like that again.” He leans down, his teeth grazing my neck hard enough to make me gasp. “Louder.”
My fingers dig into his shoulders. “Use that soldier voice on me again, it makes my dick leak.”
