One minute I was listening to the usual crap from my parents, and then Charlie’s mouth was on mine. My lips were still tingling, my heart racing, strange things were going on between my thighs, and, while I should be berating him for doing it, I was speechless, following him to our room, my hand in his.
When we were safely inside with the door locked, I dropped his hand like a burning coal and moved as far away from him as I could without looking like I was running.
“Princess?”
“Yeah,” I answered without turning around.
“Sorry about that kiss. I was trying to distract your family like I promised.”
I tried to hide the shudder that rippled down my spine from the memory of his lips on mine because it was obvious he hadn’t felt the same things. I mean, how many people must Charlie Wyatt have kissed over the years compared to the one other person I had?
“No problem at all. I was glad for the intervention.” I sat on the edge of the bed feeling super uncomfortable.
“Well, we’ve walked, opened presents, eaten. What else would you like to do today? Do you have any other Christmas traditions?” he asked, sitting next to me.
I stared at the floor and shook my head. “Whatever you want to do is fine,” I replied.
He twisted, turning to face me. “Fuck off. I didn’t make that speech downstairs for the good of my health. You’re not the woman your parents trained you to be. You’re so much more. So stop giving men what you think they want. What doyouwant?”
Without letting myself overthink, I replied, “I want to watchDie Hard. We were never allowed to watch TV on Christmas Day, so I’d like to watch it and eat some of the emergency snacks Neo sent because dinner was awful.”
“God, it was so dry, wasn’t it? I mean, why don’t you people have gravy? It’s so wrong.” Charlie groaned. “You line up the movie and I’ll get the snacks. Do you want me to light the fire?”
I sighed contentedly because if I could choose my perfect day, this would be it. Films, fire, snacks, comfy clothes, and no parents or James. “Please.”
“God, I love Bruce in that vest top,” I declared as we finished watchingDie Hard 3. I’d been lying on my front in the darkness of the room, the only light coming from the fire and the laptop we’d been staring at for hours, but now I needed to stretch mybody. Sitting up, I reached my arms above my head, arching my back and leaning my neck right and left, cracking the kinks that had settled there.
Charlie and I had ignored the dinner bell when it rang and the maid who came knocking on our door, deciding we couldn’t cope with another awkward meal with my family.
“Shush, just pretend you’re asleep,” he’d whispered, as he covered my mouth with his hand, laughing in my ear as we heard the angry shouts of my father downstairs.
It got worse when Charlie started bouncing on the old bed, making the frame squeak and groan from the movement, while he moaned loudly, crying out my name, demanding I went harder.
“Will you stop it?” I hissed, tears of laughter streaming down my face. “No wonder you’re always in trouble. You’re like a naughty child,” I berated him, the smile never leaving my lips.
“What?” he’d asked, looking at me all wide-eyed and innocent. “We’re meant to be a couple. The kiss was one thing, but now they think we’re up here having fun. You’re having fun, aren’t you, Princess?”
I nudged him with my shoulder. “I’m having fun, Charlie. Although I really wish you’d stop calling me that.”
And now we were here, watching the end credits of the movie. “I need a drink,” I declared. “You want a tea or water?” I twisted to look back at Charlie, who sat against the cushions at the head of the bed, looking relaxed.
“A water would be good as I’m not allowed anything stronger.”
“Don’t you feel better for giving your liver a break?” I asked, pushing myself from the bed.
“Maybe, but I won’t be telling Neo that.”
“I’ll make sure he reinstates your contract, you know that, right? Just by being here this week, you’ve made my life so much easier.”
Charlie tilted his head, taking me in before he spoke again. In the low light of the room, his square, stubble covered jaw was more prominent and his brown eyes seemed to sparkle. “Are you ever going to tell me why Neo was so worried about you?”
I shook my head. “Nope. There’s no point digging up old ghosts. But I do appreciate you being here with me. I’m not sure if I’ll regret this later, but I’m actually having fun… with you, I mean. Those weirdos are as much a nightmare as they ever were.”
Charlie gasped, bringing his hands to his chest in mock surprise. “Princess, are you being nice to me?”
“Cheeky fucker. I’m always nice. As your bandmates will tell you. It’s only you who seems to have a problem with me.”
“Fair point. Although, for the record, I’ve never had a problem with you. You’re not like the women I’m used to being around and I guess that’s why I was a dick to you… and I was wrong. However, I will never admit that to another living soul. Now go get me a drink, wench. I want you back in ten minutes or I will hunt you down and throw you over my shoulder.”
