Page 105 of No Fear

“I know. Not very decisive, huh?” There was that nervous wobble in her voice again.

Her hands still cupped his face. He gently pulled them away, kissing both palms. The warmth of her skin against his lips made his cock twitch. The smell of her shampoo, that flowery scent that was all her, filled his nostrils. He pictured those beautiful blue eyes and soft blond curls.

“It’s OK. I get why you’re hesitant. I’m the one that has the work to do to earn your trust. What changed your mind?”

Hell, she had even more reason not to be with him now, and yet here she was telling him none of it mattered.

“When you were gone and I didn't hear from you, I was going out of my mind with worry. Then when I heard you were hurt, I knew I had to get to you. To be here. Not because I feel sorry for you, but because of how much I care about you. How much I’ve always cared about you. I’ve never felt this way about anyone. Not even Simon. I thought I loved him, but my feelings for you have already shown me that I didn't love him. I’m scared, Donnie. Scared I’m going to fall so hard for you, and you’ll leave. But I’m also scared that if I don’t give us a chance, I’m going to regret it for the rest of my life. I want you, Donnie.”

Donnie swallowed down the lump in his throat. He didn't need to see to know she was crying. He fumbled a bit finding her face, working on the recall of where her mouth was by where he’d heard her speak from, but finally he wiped her tears away with his thumbs.

“I want you, too.” His voice was husky. “I want you in my life. I want to be the man you trust your heart with. Those feelings you talk about, I feel the same. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before either. I swear to you I won’t ever disappear on you again. I will never leave you. Not a chance in fucking hell. If you give me your heart, I’ll do everything I can to fill it with love every damn day.”

She sniffed but didn’t speak.

“God, I wish I could see you right now.”

“See me through your touch.” Charlie whispered and Donnie didn't hesitate. Leaning forward, he aimed for a kiss, finding the corner of her mouth first. Then, following the curve of her lips, stretching into a smile he could almost see in his mind’s eye, he brushed his lips across hers. Immediately, she kissed him back.

Pulling her onto his lap, he sat back on the sofa and threaded his hands into her hair as he claimed her mouth. It was warm, inviting and he could taste something sweet. Strawberry? His tongue entwined with hers and his whole body came alive. Their kisses had been intense before, but damn, this was different. The feel of her, the smell of her. The taste of her was magnified beyond anything he’d ever felt before, setting every cell in him on fire.

Slowly, he broke the kiss, not taking his hands from her hair. “I could kiss you all night.”

He pictured her lips pink and swollen, recalling them from their one night together.

“What if I want more than kisses?” Her question surprised him. Hell yeah, he wanted more, but not tonight.

“Just kisses tonight,” he said softly.

“Why?” She sounded hurt.

“Because you’ve had a few cocktails and I don't want to take advantage.”

“I’m not drunk, Donnie.”

“I know. But I want to do this right. I want to spend some time with you. I want to start winning your trust. As smoking hot as you are, I want you for more than your body. I want you to be sure.”

“Are you forgetting we already had sex?”

“Technically, we didn’t. But no, I haven’t forgotten. I relive it most nights.”

She sighed. “Donnie, I don't want to wait. I feel like we’ve already wasted so much time. I know you would never take advantage, but I want this. I want you. The rest of it we can work on. Together.”

Jesus, she was making it hard to say no. He had no plans to hurt her. He wanted her as his wife, he now knew that. But they needed to talk about Nate. The night he died. He also needed to tell her about Simon. He should be honest about it all. He hadn't expected Charlie to be here, like this, wanting him. He thought he had more time.

Her lips were on his neck, giving him soft light kisses. He groaned as his cock strained against his jeans.

“Charlie,” he warned as she rubbed against him.

“Are you going to make me beg?” She nuzzled his ear, nipping his earlobe.

Fucking hell, he was done. Turning his head, he found her mouth and plunged his tongue inside. His hands gripped her waist, pulling her tight against his chest. She moaned, her hands all over him: stroking his chest, his face, pulling his hair.

“Charlie, stop.”

She did, but she didn’t move from his lap.

“Babe, there are things we should talk about.” His voice was strained; he was so damned turned on.