“You look a little shell-shocked.” Charlie walked toward her on two feet.
“I’m...I’m okay. I was scared this was all some kind of a trick. You know after Laurence, it’s difficult to trust myself, let alone other people.” Penny hugged herself, fighting the need to put a barrier up between them. She wanted to trust him. She needed to trust someone again, or Laurence would keep on winning.
“It’s real. Very real.” Charlie put his hand on her shoulder, and she dropped her hands to her sides, letting him in. “Shall we go back to the house?”
“Yes, it’s freezing out here.” Penny nodded. “I need coffee.”
They headed back into the house and Charlie poured them coffee, while Sally went back to watching a movie. “Here, this will help warm you up.”
“Thanks.” She nursed the cup, warming her hands.
“What’s on your mind?” he asked.
“Laurence and the news story.” Penny walked across the kitchen and leaned against the counter, her hip nestling against his.
“If there’s nothing you can do to stop it, then try not to worry. We’ll figure out what to do once the story breaks. If it breaks, Laurence might still do the right thing and withdraw it.” Charlie tried to calm her.
“It’s not that.” Penny half turned to him. “I was thinking of a countermeasure.”
“A countermeasure?” Charlie narrowed his eyes. “What are you thinking?”
“Of telling the world what kind of a guy Laurence really is. If the papers run the story, his face will be everywhere and maybe it would mean no one else has to go through the same thing I have.” She took a long, deep breath. “What do you think?”
“I think it’s a good idea. You take the lead. You take back control.” He watched her closely. “There’s more?”
“Not really.” She placed her coffee cup down on the counter and turned to face him. “This isn’t just about me. This involves you, too. Maybe even Sally and Lilly.”
“How so?” Charlie asked. “Because we’re mates?”
“Yes, if you really think we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together, that means you will be pulled into this, too.” She lowered her eyes.
“And when they find out I live with a woman and a child, people will automatically think Sally is mine and we are adulterers.”
“Yeah, that just about sums it up.” Penny hated bringing this down on them all. Yet it would prove one thing to her. If Charlie wasn’t completely serious about spending the rest of his life with her, then he would walk away and not get embroiled in her drama. Drama she’d never wanted.
“I’m going to have to talk this over with Lilly. But I’m sure she’ll be on board with it.” Charlie shuffled away from her and poured himself more coffee. “Want some?”
“No, I’m going to be buzzing for the rest of the day if I drink much more coffee today.” There was something he wasn’t saying. “She won’t mind?”
He turned to face her. “She’s up to speed with what’s going on. I told her this afternoon.”
“I see.” She frowned. “Did you tell anyone else?” It was beginning to make sense now why he’d been so long at the hotel. “Julius.”
“He’s going to do all he can to help.” Charlie turned to face her. “I’m sorry. I know it wasn’t my business to tell. But we all want to help you.”
“I know. I realize that and I thank you, I really do.” She turned away from him, not sure how she felt. What was it about shifters and how they would do anything for their mate? Charlie was simply doing what he thought was best. “And it’s not as if it’ll be a secret for much longer. Julius will be able to read all about it in the newspaper.”
“Unless we stop Laurence.” Charlie raked his hand through his mane of hair. When the sun caught it, she was reminded of the lion and his mane of hair. “And Julius is trying to get the local paper to run the story, but from a different angle.” He held up his hand. “We might be able to get this story out without involving you directly.”
“No, we can’t. If you don’t name a woman who has been duped by Laurence, the story has no credibility.” She was ready to be that person. “I want an end to this. I want an end to Laurence and his tricks, and I want to stop hiding.”
“Good for you, Penny.” Charlie grinned and turned his face to the side. “Once they see what kind of man you are engaged to, no one will care about Laurence.”
She giggled. “You might be right. Bear Creek will be filled with lonely women, all coming to steal you away from me.”
His face grew serious, and he placed his coffee cup down on the counter and pulled her into his arms. “I’m yours, no one will ever steal me away from you.” His eyes flickered down to her lips and he dipped his head, capturing her lips with his. As he kissed her, she was left breathless and without doubt his words were true.
She grasped hold of his arms as her knees went weak. This man sure knew how to kiss a girl off her feet. Penny pressed her body against his, feeling the strength in his body, and his need for her as his hard length pressed against her thigh.
“I don’t know what I did to deserve you, Charlie, but I’m grateful I found you.” Penny rested her head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart, while he held her close as if he never wanted to let her go.
“I think you know what you did,” Charlie said. “You could have spent your life lying on a beach, or shopping in expensive stores, but instead you spent your life trying to make a difference.” He cupped her face in his hand and raised her face to his, his brow creased. “Although why you got me, I don’t know. I’m the lucky one, I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”
“That’s easy,” Penny told him. “She’s sitting in the other room watching a movie.”
“Sally?” Charlie asked.
“What you’ve done for them is amazing.” She cleared her throat. “How do you feel about building another one of these cabins? There’s plenty of space out there.”
“You wouldn’t mind them living right next door?” Charlie asked.
“Not at all.” She prodded his toned chest mischievously. “As long as we can have a puppy.”
“I’m outnumbered, aren’t I?” Charlie asked.
“Well, we should talk this all over with Lilly first. But yes, I think you are.” She slipped her hands around his neck and kissed him, nipping his bottom lip before he slid his tongue into her mouth, tasting her. Penny wriggled her body against his, teasing him until he groaned and pulled away.
“No fair,” he ground out.
Then he kissed her again. Penny could stay like this forever and block out the world.
But she had to put an end to Laurence first. So he could never break a woman’s heart again. Because not every woman would be lucky enough to have a man like Charlie to put it together again.
Chapter Sixteen – Charlie
“Take the truck.” Charlie passed the keys to Lilly. “I’ll make my own way home.”
“Are you sure?” Lilly kept her voice low as she accepted the keys from Charlie.
“Yes, I want to spend some time with Penny.”
“Alone.” Lilly looked down at the keys. “Sally and I are cramping your style.”
“No, it’s not like that at all.” He kissed Lilly on the cheek. “We’ll talk tomorrow. Right now, you need to go home and get some rest. You look exhausted.”
“It was a long shift.” Lilly pulled on her coat. “And you are certain?”
“Yes, I’ll make my way home on four paws.” He ushered her out of the hotel, and they made their way across the parking lot to the truck where Penny was waiting with Sally.
“Hi, Penny.” Lilly waved to his mate and went around to the driver’s side as he opened the passenger door.
“Hi, Lilly.” Penny turned to Charlie as he held out his hand for her. “Thanks.”
“Maybe tomorrow we could have coffee together. We’re going last-minute shopping in the morning, perhaps we could meet up,” Lilly sugge
sted as she started the engine.
“I’d like that.” Penny gave Charlie a quizzical look as Lilly started the engine. “Aren’t you driving Lilly and Sally home?”
“No, I thought I’d walk you to the hotel and we could have a drink.” Charlie hoped he wasn’t being too presumptive. “Unless you are too tired.”
“No, I’d like that.” Penny slid out of the truck and landed right in front of him, her body so close he could feel the warmth emanating from her and the scent of her excited him.
“Be good for your mom, Sally.” Charlie closed the door.
“She always is,” Lilly replied. “You two have a good evening.”
“Bye.” Sally waved out of the window and then Lilly drove out of the parking lot, leaving Charlie and Penny alone.
“I’m already changing your lives, your routines,” Penny told him.
“Change is good. We’ve been stuck in a rut for the last couple of years. Lilly’s worked hard between her job and studying. But now that’s done, and she has a job as a teacher, so things are already changing.” He slipped his arm around her shoulders. “Let’s get inside.”
They walked to the hotel and entered the lobby area. It was a weird feeling going in through the front door when he usually used the rear door along with all the other staff. However, to Penny it was natural, she was used to hotels and fancy restaurants. Nerves fluttered in his chest. In his excitement in finding his mate, he hadn’t given much thought to just how different they were. How different their lives had been.
“Are you okay?” Penny asked as she headed for the bar.
“Yes, why?” Charlie asked.
“Your arm tightened around my shoulders.” She took hold of his hand.
“We’re worlds apart.”
Penny led him to the stairwell leading to her floor. There she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him, her hands on his back, pulling him closer. As their kiss broke, she asked, “Are we?”
He gazed into her eyes, mesmerized. “You know what I mean. You come from a family with wealth, I’m an orphan who doesn’t have a full-time job to provide for you.”
“You see, that’s the thing. I don’t see that. I see a man who wants me for who I am, not because of my wealth or family name. I see a man capable of love, a love so deep it takes my breath away. And most of all, I see loyalty.” She placed his hand on her heart. “I know my heart is safe with you.”
“I...” She placed her fingers over his lips and turned around, leading him up the stairs. Charlie followed, just as he would follow her anywhere in this world or the next.
When they got to her floor, she led him along the hallway to her room, opened the door with her keycard and took her coat off as they entered. Once inside, she dropped her coat over a chair, before running her hands under his jacket and pushing it off his shoulders. “I want you, Charlie. For who you are. Because I believe in fate.”
Charlie didn’t need to know more, Penny had reminded him that fate had brought them together. He picked her up and carried her across the room to the large bed. Laying his mate down on the covers, he looked down on her, a smile spreading across his face. Penny’s cheeks flushed pink and she reached out and pulled him down onto the bed.
“You are beautiful.” His compliment was met with more blushes. “I mean it. You are an incredible woman.”
“Kiss me.” She slid her hand around his neck and pulled his head down, so their lips met. He wanted to do more than kiss her, he wanted to strip the clothes from her body and make passionate love to her for the rest of the night. Then he wanted to do it all over again, every night for the rest of their lives.
His lips moved against hers, his hands caressed her body through her clothes, while he inhaled her sweet scent. With fumbling fingers, he tugged at the hem of her sweater and pulled it up. They broke their kiss and Penny lifted her arms above her head, so he could pull it off. Then he unbuttoned her shirt, exposing her flesh to his lips. As he pushed her shirt off her shoulders, he kissed her skin, leaving a trail of heat in his wake.
Penny gasped as he brushed his thumb over her nipple, and she arched her back as if offering herself to him. Charlie unclasped her bra, her full breasts bursting free to be captured by his hands and lips. Penny writhed beneath him, tugging at his shirt as she fought to remove it. Reluctantly, Charlie released her breasts, pushed himself off the bed and quickly stripped off all his clothes. Penny watched, propping herself up on one elbow to get a better view.
“Hey, you need to get naked, too.” He slid back onto the bed, and undid her jeans, before slipping them down over her thighs.
Penny kissed his naked chest as she wriggled out of her jeans, while her hand moved lower and curled around his hard length. Air hissed through his teeth as his mate stroked her hand up and down, driving him insane with each touch, each stroke. Charlie took a moment to regain control of his senses, which were swept away on a tide of need. A need to claim her. A need to imprint himself on her so she would never look at another man again, let alone desire another.
A small part of him, a small, insecure part, feared Penny might tire of him, that the mating bond was not strong enough to hold them together.
Penny spread her thighs wider and he slid between her legs, his weight on one elbow as she guided him inside her. Charlie thrust forward, filling her with his hardened length. Skin against skin, they made love, two mates joined as one, consummating their relationship and strengthening their bond.
Charlie thrust harder, deeper, his fingers curling into the bed covers as he closed his eyes, willing himself to get a grip and not come too soon. But the touch of Penny, the feel of her hands on his skin, her lips on his flesh, made it next to impossible. He wanted to claim her, fill her with his essence and put a child in her belly. A child they would raise together, an heir to her fortune and a continuation of his bloodline.
He kissed her, a searing kiss filled with all his hopes and dreams. Penny kissed him back, her hands threading around his neck, her fingers twisting in his hair. He slowed his momentum, moving in and out of her in gentle movements, he wanted this to last, he wanted this to be the most memorable moment of her life.
In and out, the friction between their bodies incredibly intense, he made love to her. Penny wrapped her legs around him and angled her body, so he brushed her sensitive mound with each stroke. The friction between them built until he was certain electricity sparked between their bodies.
Penny slid her hands down his back, her nails digging into his flesh as she urged him on. With increased momentum, he took them to new heights, her breathing rapid as she neared her claim. Then she came, her body tensed as her inner walls tightened around him. Charlie couldn’t hold himself together any longer. He tensed and jerked into her, his seed filling her.
He cried out, calling her name, declaring his undying love for her.
“That was intense.” She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him. “Thank you for bringing me home.”
“Anytime.” He dropped a kiss on her shoulder. “All the time.”
“Is that a promise?” she asked.
“It is.” He propped himself up on one elbow. “And that starts from now. When you tell your story, if that’s what you want to do, I’ll be there for you. By your side.”
“Thank you. That means the world to me. But I think it’s something I have to do by myself. I have to face my own demons. Just knowing you are there for me, that gives me the strength to tell people my side of the story.”
“Then I’ll be your silent cheerleader while you tell your story.” He held her close. “If there is anything I can do, promise me you’ll ask.”
“I will.” Penny turned onto her back and looked up at the ceiling. “I need to call my mom and dad, too.”
“Will they be supportive about what you intend to do?” Charlie asked.
“Which part?” She sighed heavily. “I mean they’ll understand my trying to put Laurence behind me and save other women from making the same mista
ke.”
“But?”
“But they are not going to be so understanding when I tell them I’m seeing a man who wants me to move in with him and live happily ever after in the mountains.” She turned her head to look out of the window. “They’ll think I’m on the rebound. Or they’ll think you’re just like Laurence.”
“I’m not afraid of facing them. I’m up to the challenge of showing them I’m not going anywhere. I am the right man for you.” He turned her to face him. “But let’s get through this one step at a time.”
“Okay.” She slipped out of his arms and grabbed a robe hanging over the end of the bed. “The first step has to be room service. I am starving.”
He laughed and watched her grab the phone. “Room service, this is a first for me.”
“Really?” She sat back down on the bed, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Well, room service virgin. What do you want?”
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back down to lie by his side. “I have what I want right here.” He kissed her cheek. “But if you are forcing room service on me, how about steak?”
“Steak it is.” She paused, looking at him for a moment. “You are the best thing to ever happen to me, Charlie.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
Chapter Seventeen – Penny
Penny woke alone in her bed. Charlie had left in the early hours to make his way home. She missed him. They’d only known each other a couple of days, yet she could not imagine her life without him. His warmth and support were priceless.
But she needed a reality check.
Her heart raced at the thought of Charlie. But mixed up in that was the fear he was just like Laurence.
“Damn him.” She cursed Laurence as she got out of bed and headed for the shower. She would not let that man undermine the rest of her relationships. Charlie was genuine. He was for real. You don’t share a secret like, hey, I can turn into a lion, if you intend to make a fool of someone.
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