Finally

by R. L. Mathewson

  Maybe she was overreacting and this wasn’t even a big deal.

  “Do you think he’s going to be upset?” she asked, sending a hopeful look towards the iPad in her hands to find Ben giving her a “Are you fucking kidding me?” look.

  “Just tell him already,” the man that Grandma Bea should have forbidden her to play with when they were little, said with a sigh that she really didn’t appreciate at the moment as he rolled over onto his back.

  “I’m going to,” she said, but…

  She didn’t want to lose him and she knew that compared to a lot of things that this wasn’t a big deal, but even knowing that wasn’t stopping her from worrying that she was going to do something to wreck this. She’d never been this happy before and she was terrified that it could be taken away from her. She knew how much it hurt to have the one person that you loved more than anything ripped out of your life and she…

  She didn’t want to go through that again.

  “Then do it already. I’m not sure why you’re making a big deal out of this. Just tell him that you’re starting your own company and that you’re not going to leave him hanging. He’s not going to be pissed because you want to start your own business, but he is going to be pissed if he finds out that you kept something from him. For some reason the man’s in love with you.”

  “That’s because I’m loveable,” Charlie said, nodding only to glare when Ben followed that up with, “But are you though?”

  “I hate you,” she said even as she decided that she was being an idiot about this. As soon as she got home, she was going to tell him.

  “Then stop calling me so I can get some damn sleep, woman!” Ben muttered as he rolled back over onto his stomach.

  “Fine. I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” Charlie said, sighing heavily as she ended the call and tossed the phone aside, already bored out of her mind.

  She could get some work done, but…

  She didn’t feel like it.

  She also didn’t feel like watching another movie, staring at the ceiling, or taking another bath. What she wanted to do was to tuck Abbi and Dustin in and kiss them goodnight before ending the night in Devin’s arms, but that wasn’t an option tonight, which meant that she was probably going to end up taking another bath, order room service, and stare at the ceiling until she fell asleep.

  Deciding that there was no point putting it off, Charlie reached for the room phone and-

  Found herself smiling when a chime alerted her to a text from Devin. Charlie picked up her phone only to frown when she read the text waiting for her.

  Are you going to let me in?

  Feeling her lips pull up into an excited smile, Charlie climbed off the bed and raced across the room, throwing the door open and-

  “God, I missed you,” Devin said, chuckling when Charlie jumped into his arms.

  “Where are the kids?” Charlie asked, wrapping her arms around him as she kissed him.

  “Being spoiled by their grandparents,” he said, carrying her back into the room and closed the door behind them as she showered his face with kisses.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked as she found herself placed on top of the dresser.

  “What do you think?” Devin asked, reaching for her shirt.

  “That you realized that you couldn’t live without me?” Charlie asked, raising her arms so that he could pull the shirt off the rest of the way.

  “I already figured that out a long time ago,” Devin promised her as he reached for her panties as Charlie pulled his belt loose.

  “And that you adore me?” she asked, working his pants open as she shifted so that he could pull her panties off.

  “God, yes,” he said as he reached back and grabbed hold of his shirt as she leaned forward and pressed a kiss against his chest.

  “And you love me?” Charlie asked, needing to hear it as she pressed another kiss against his chest as she slid her hands beneath the back of his pants.

  “Yes,” Devin said with absolutely no hesitation.

  Worrying her bottom lip, Charlie looked up at him and asked, “Are you sure?”

  The expression on his face softened as he reached up and cupped her face and said, “Yes,” as he leaned down and brushed his lips tenderly against hers, letting her know just how much he loved her.

  Chapter 35

  “Baby, I have to go,” Devin said, unable to help but moan as that small hand that had been rubbing his cock through his pants gave it a gentle squeeze.

  “You really do,” the little fucking tease said as he felt that small hand work his fly open.

  He never should have woken her up so that he could say goodbye and he sure as hell should have known better than to watch as the sheet fell when she sat up. He should have left her a note, kissed her cheek, and moved his ass. Instead, he was standing here, struggling not to fucking lose it as Charlie wrapped her hand around his cock and pulled him free.

  He should definitely go, Devin told himself as he watched her work her hand over him, slowly stroking his cock as she leaned forward and licked the tip, making his hips buck. He’d never met a woman that knew how to drive him out of his fucking mind with a few simple moves, but that probably had something to do with the fact that they’d never cared enough to find out what he liked.

  They did what he wanted so that they could get what they needed. They had no idea that he liked it when a woman teased his cock, taking her time to drive him out of his fucking mind with her hand, lips, tongue, and teeth, making him think that he’d lose his fucking mind if she didn’t put him out of his misery and take him into her mouth, but Charlie did.

  She knew that he’d end up fucking her harder if she teased his cock because she’d paid attention, noting what he liked, what he hated, and what would make him groan her name louder. She loved having this kind of control over him, loved knowing that she could drive him out of his fucking mind to the point that he mindlessly fucked her. But she hadn’t been the only one paying attention in the last few months…

  He watched her take the tip into her mouth as her hand stroked him one last time before he pulled away. When she tried to pull him back, he chuckled as he leaned down and kissed her. “Get on your back,” Devin said even as he reached down and cupped the back of her knees and pulled up, giving her no other choice but to lay down.

  Using his hold, he spread her legs further apart as he knelt down and found himself groaning when the move caused the prettiest pussy that he’d ever seen to spread open, revealing the swollen little clit, glistening with excitement. Unable to help but smile, he leaned forward and exhaled, knowing the move would tease her. When she shifted anxiously, he turned his head and pressed a kiss against her thigh as he released his hold so that he could reach between her legs and-

  “Mmmmm,” Charlie moaned softly as he ran his fingertip slowly down her slit.

  She was so fucking wet, Devin thought as he placed his hand on her thigh so that he could brush his thumb over her slit, teasing that swollen little clit that loved attention. He continued caressing her slit with his thumb as he stood up and placed his other hand on the bed next to her so that he could lean down and take her nipple between his lips.

  As he gently sucked on her nipple, he moved his hand between her legs and slowly slid his finger inside her, groaning when he found her wet. He could fuck her now and make her come quickly, but he wanted to make this last. Last night had been fucking amazing, being able to take his time as he’d touched, licked, and fucked her without having to worry about his children waking up in the middle of the night or that someone at work was going to barge in on them.

  There had been a few times over the past few months when they’d been able to fuck at their leisure, but it hadn’t been enough. Thank god his kids were getting older. In a couple of years, they wouldn’t have to worry about the kids waking up in the middle of the night asking for water or demanding that they make sure there weren’t any monsters under their bed and he couldn’t fucking wait. Until
then, they were going to have to savor moments like this, Devin decided as he slid a second finger inside her, slowly fucking her as he released her nipple only to take the other one between his lips and flick it with his tongue.

  Charlie’s moans became louder as she ran her fingers through his hair, encouraging him to keep going as she rolled her hips, riding his fingers until even that wasn’t enough.

  “Devin?” she said, moaning his name just right.

  “Yes?” he said, releasing her nipple so that he could lean over and kiss her.

  “I need to be fucked, Devin,” she whispered seductively, knowing exactly what that would do to him.

  “Do you?” he drawled, pulling back just enough so that he could look at her as he continued slowly fingering her.

  “I really do.”

  “How badly?” Devin asked as his thumb found that swollen little clit between her legs and pressed.

  “Very badly,” Charlie said, nodding solemnly.

  “Are you wet for me?” he asked, already knowing just how fucking wet she was.

  “Very wet,” she promised him, licking her lips hungrily.

  “What do you want me to do?” he asked, feeling his cock jerk in anticipation.

  Moaning, she pulled him back down and slowly kissed him as she ran her tongue over his with teasing caresses that had him groaning. When he felt her hand wrap around his cock, his breath caught. She stroked him for several minutes, making sure to rub the underside of his cock with her thumb until he couldn’t take it any longer.

  When he broke off the kiss, she gave his cock one last squeeze before releasing him so that she could turn around and get on her hands and knees. Grabbing hold of her hips, Devin leaned down and pressed a kiss between her shoulder blades before he stood up. Releasing his hold on her hips, he placed one hand on the small of her back as he wrapped his hand around his cock and-

  “Oh, god…” Charlie moaned as he traced her wet slit with the tip of his cock.

  Unable to wait any longer, he slowly pushed inside her with a groan. She was so fucking tight and wet, Devin thought as he watched her generous ass that he loved so much press back against him. As he pulled back, watching as his cock slowly appeared, glistening with her arousal, he found his attention shifting back to her beautiful ass. He’d never been this obsessed with a woman’s ass before. Christ, he loved her ass.

  Then again, he loved everything about her, Devin thought as he watched her pull away. By the time she rolled over onto her back, he was already there, pushing back inside her. She had her legs wrapped around him before he finished the first stroke. He took his time fucking her, uncaring that he was going to get stuck in traffic as he savored the feel of her wet pussy wrapped around him, squeezing him with every thrust inside her until he felt her clamp down around him and-

  She moaned his name, whispering all those things that she knew that he wanted to hear in his ear as her hands slid over his ass. Her hips rolled harder and faster beneath him, desperate to meet every thrust as her back bowed off the bed and his name was torn from her lips as she milked him, clamping down around him. He felt his balls pull up tight seconds before intense pleasure moved up his cock only to shoot up his spine as his cock jerked inside her in time with the pleasure tearing through him.

  For several minutes, he lay there, struggling to catch his breath until he forced himself to let her go, knowing that he couldn’t stay. When he pulled back, he felt his lips twitch when he found the little traitor closing her eyes on a sleepy murmur. By the time that he stood up, Charlie was curled up on her side with the comforter pulled over her, fast asleep. Somehow, he resisted the urge to lean over and kiss her and forced himself to move. After a quick stop by the bathroom to clean up, he headed for the door, careful to close it quietly behind him. Ten minutes later, he was walking up to the front desk.

  “Good morning. How can I help you?” came the warm response as Devin pulled out his credit card.

  “I’d like to pay for my room,” Devin said, handing his credit card over as he took in the deserted hotel lobby. Last night when he’d arrived, it had been filled with convention attendees, guests looking to check in late, and a few guests trying to figure out where their rooms were as they stumbled towards the elevators.

  “What room would that be, sir?”

  “Room 735. It should be under Bradford Creations,” Devin said, glancing towards the glass patio doors overlooking the pool, wondering if the kids would like to-

  “That room is under Dabbi Digital Marketing. Are you sure that you have the right room?”

  “I guess not,” Devin said, frowning as he picked up his card. “Thanks anyway.”

  For a moment, he was tempted to go back upstairs and double-check the room number, but he was already late. Deciding that he’d grab the bill from Charlie when she got home so that he could reimburse her, he headed for the door.

  He was still thinking about it several hours later when he finally made it in to work. He got stuck in traffic on the way home and didn’t get a chance to grab breakfast after picking up the kids and dropping them off at school, but it had been worth it, Devin thought, unable to help but smile as he walked in the back door of Bradford Creations with Bradford by his side and-

  “I’m sorry to bother you, Devin, but I was hoping to get a chance to talk to you before you made your decision,” Kelly said, drawing his attention to find her standing by the backstairs, hugging a small stack of mail against her chest. When she saw Bradford, she cleared her throat and took a step back while the dog that demanded love from everyone, stood at his side, glaring in her direction.

  “What decision?” Devin asked, absently reaching down to scratch Bradford behind his ears.

  “I know you’re probably busy and a lot of people are going to be applying, but I thought with Charlie quitting and everything that it wouldn’t hurt to throw my hat in the ring,” Kelly said with a hopeful smile as she pulled one of the envelopes from the pile in her arms and handed it to him.

  “What are you talking about? Charlie’s not quitting,” he said, opening the envelope to find a neatly organized resume for Charlie’s job.

  “Umm, I’m sorry, but I thought you already knew with Charlie having the mail for her new business sent here and all,” Kelly explained with a shrug as she handed over the rest of the mail and-

  Devin felt like he’d been sucker punched when he saw Dabbi Digital Marketing written across the first envelope.

  Chapter 36

  Two Days Later…

  “Crap, crap, crap, crap!” Charlie muttered as she let herself into her apartment because it was either that or scream.

  When she found out who was screwing with Bradford Creations’ social media accounts, she was going to kill them. She was beyond pissed right now. She was also starving, exhausted, and furious that someone was doing this.

  Thanks to whoever was screwing with Bradford Creations, Charlie had been forced to spend the entire night trying to fix this mess. Oh, she was going to kill someone, Charlie thought, forcing herself to take a deep breath as she dropped her bags near the door only to curse when she saw what time it was.

  She was hoping to grab an hour of sleep before going to work, but between traffic and trying to convince the web hosting company that she went through for Bradford Creations that she hadn’t canceled her account, she was running late. For a moment, a very brief moment, Charlie considered calling in sick so that she could pass out, but she didn’t trust the jerk making her life a living hell not to take advantage and try something else.

  She just needed a shower, an unhealthy amount of caffeine, and a jelly donut and she would be fine. More than fine, Charlie told herself with a firm nod as she headed towards her bathroom, tripping over her bag along the way while she did her best to calm down when all she wanted to do was to throttle someone.

  At least being pissed was better than wanting to cry, Charlie decided as she pulled off her clothes and angrily threw them at the hamper. For the past
two days, Devin had been blowing her off and she had no idea why. Every time she tried to call him or text him, he would tell her that he was busy and would call her back later, but he never did and now, she was home, pissed and trying to convince herself that everything was okay.

  Once she figured out who was screwing with her, everything would be fine, Charlie decided as she stepped in the shower, pausing to adjust the temperature before stepping beneath the hot water and-

  “Cold!” she found herself gasping when she opened her eyes and stumbled back as the shower curtain was slowly pushed open.

  “What’s Dabbi Digital Marketing?” Devin asked casually as he reached over and turned the hot water back on while Charlie stood there, unable to help but notice that he looked pissed.

  Really freaking pissed.

  “I can explain,” Charlie said, licking her lips nervously as she struggled to figure out where to start only to gasp and blurt out, “It’s my company!” when he turned off the hot water.

  Nodding, Devin turned the hot water back on. “Why did you move in here?”

  “Because you glared at me until I signed the lease?” she reminded him only to gasp when he rewarded her with another blast of cold water.

  “Why did you move in here?” he repeated.

  She opened her mouth to give him another smart-ass answer to buy herself a little more time, but the expression on his face…

  God, he looked so hurt.

  “I gave myself a year to start an online marketing company. It’s been something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I kept putting it off, making excuses until Ben finally gave me the push that I needed. So, I set a goal for myself to finally make it happen. I gave myself a deadline, but in order to do it I needed to cut back on my expenses and save money. So, I-”

  “Found a cheaper apartment,” he finished for her.

  “Yes,” she said weakly, not really sure what else she was supposed to say.