We share an overpriced plate of nachos. It’s actually pretty good. A generous amount of melted marble cheese can be found throughout the dish, every baked nacho covered in freshly chopped tomatoes, black olives, guacamole, salsa, and sour cream.
“I was talking to Alessandro at the front desk,” Roman says after taking a couple of bites.
“Oh? What about?”
“Needed some recommendations. I didn’t want you to feel cooped up in the hotel, so I asked if there were any interesting activities we could participate in.”
“Anything interesting?”
Roman nods. “I know you don’t swim, but I thought it might be nice to go on a group kayak tour. They’ve got these tours set up specifically to see bioluminescent plankton at night.”
“I don’t swim? I guess I would have found out pretty quickly, huh?”
“It should be fine as long as you wear a life vest. And I’ll be there to rescue you. But only if you want to go. He says there’s tons of stuff we can do.”
“I want to go,” I insist. “I’ve never seen bioluminescent plankton before. That’d be really cool. And if we’re going on a group tour, there’s safety in numbers, right?”
“Cool. I’ll ask Alessandro to call a local guide, and we can make it happen.”
I smile, wonderfully excited. “Do you think we can take a trip to Smith Cove too? I heard a couple of tourists talking about it today at the market.”
Roman smiles back, bright and dashing. “Sure. Maybe a picnic?”
“That’d be so romantic. I’m totally in.”
His expression falters ever so slightly, but he can’t recover fast enough for me not to notice.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. “Is this about before? When I kissed you?”
“What? No, that’s–”
“Was that not okay? I don’t want to do anything to make you feel uncomfortable, Roman. I just… I just really wanted to kiss you.”
Roman shakes his head and laughs softly. “You’re worried about me feeling uncomfortable? You’re too sweet, Charlie.”
“I don’t want you to feel like you can’t talk to me. I know this whole memory loss thing is a real downer, but I want you to know that you can trust me.”
“I trust you. I do.”
I shrug my shoulders. “Then why do I feel like you’re holding back? Are you always like this and I just don’t remember?”
Roman stiffens in his seat. “Charlie, I–”
“That was a joke,” I say quickly. “Please know I was joking.”
“I know. It’s just… There’s something I’ve been meaning to–”
“How are the nachos so far?” our waitress asks, popping up from behind me like a Jack in the Box. I nearly jump out of my seat and choke on a chip.
“Great,” Roman says, voice tighter than usual. “Everything’s great.”
“Awesome,” she says chipperly. “Entrées are on the way. Should be any minute now.” She produces a silver pitcher, water and ice cubes sloshing about inside. “Can I refill your glasses?”
I force a polite smile. “Sure. Thanks.” I return my attention to Roman. “What was it you wanted to tell me?”
Roman doesn’t get a chance to answer. The waitress clumsily overfills his glass, spilling water all over the edge of the table. In a frantic attempt to fix her mistake, she places the glass down, but ends up knocking it over with the back of her hand when she tries to soak up the water with the rag that’s attached to her apron. In a manner of seconds, my lap is soaked through, my thighs thoroughly chilled.
“Oh, my God,” the waitress gasps. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry, ma’am. Let me grab some napkins; hold on.” She makes a mad dash toward the bar and returns with a comically large stack of paper napkins. “Are you okay? I haven’t ruined your dress, have I? I’m so sorry.”
Something odd comes over me. I feel a flicker of anger deep down in my gut. It sparks at an old memory in the back of my mind. I can’t see anything, but I can hear myself berating someone.
You call this service? I want to speak with your manager.
This is cashmere, do you understand? It’s worth your entire month’s salary.
I’m never coming to this restaurant again.
Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous!
Roman’s gotten out of his seat to help me clean up. He kneels down next to me and looks at me with a worried expression.
“Are you okay, Charlie? Please don’t be upset.”
I shake my head. “Why would I be upset? It was an accident.” I turn to the waitress. “Would you mind having the food sent up to our room? I think I’m going to call it a night and get changed.”
The waitress nods quickly. “O-of course. I’ll send it right up as soon as it’s ready.”
I rise and do my best to pat the front of my dress dry before leaving the restaurant with Roman trailing closely behind.
When we get back to the suite, I’m exhausted. I’m thankful there’s a large bed waiting for us.
“Roman,” I say when the front door clicks shut, “would you mind helping me with my zipper?”
“Sure. Not a problem.”
A heavy quiet settles over us as Roman unzips the back of my dress. The action is slow, done with the utmost care. His fingers graze my back and send a chill slithering down my spine. I allow my dress to fall to the floor, much too tired to pick it up. One of Roman’s large shirts sits at the edge of the bed, so I move to slip it on. He’s nearly double my size, so I’m left practically swimming in cloth.
It smells just like him.
Roman leans against the doorframe, distant. “You’re quiet,” he mumbles.
“Just thinking.”
“About?”
“I’ve been remembering things,” I say softly. “More and more.”
“You sound upset by that.”
I take a deep breath and sigh. “I… I still can’t remember you. And all my memories, they’re… Was I a bad person, Roman?”
He comes to my side immediately and takes my hand, encouraging me to sit on the bed next to him. “Why would you think that?” he asks.
“I just remember being angry all the time. In my memories, I’m always yelling at someone. I remember being miserable all the time. Alone and frustrated. And insecure, I think. I remember being so insecure that it was almost crippling. I don’t…” I swallow hard as I try to ignore the sting of tears. “Why can’t I remember anything good? Why can’t I remember you? Why aren’t you denying anything? How can you love a person like that?”
“Charlie.”
“What?”
Roman says nothing. Instead, he cups my face in his big, strong hands and closes the distance between us. Our lips crash together in a passionate, hungry frenzy. He leads, teasing my lips apart with his tongue before heatedly exploring my mouth. The taste of his lips intoxicate me, a warm haze washing over my entire body as Roman deepens the kiss.
I close my eyes, more than happy to let Roman’s earthy cologne consume my thoughts.
CHAPTER TEN
Roman
I can’t stand to see her cry. I never could.
Charlie is a brave woman, far too brave to ever shed a tear for any reason. When she does, it means she’s at her limit. She’s the kind of person who doesn’t ask for help, even when she desperately needs it. She’s always been too proud, too independent. I’ve known this for a long time, since we were kids. I didn’t know how to comfort her back then. Now, the least I can do is kiss her tears away.
In many ways, I blame Uncle Charles. He demanded the best of her. He thought if he pushed her, Charlie could achieve the impossible. And she did. She’s amazing at what she does, at the top of her game. But I can’t help but wonder at what price. Beneath the confident image she projects, she’s just like anyone else—seeking validation and acceptance.
I hold her close, eager hands exploring every inch of her skin. It’s astounding how small she really is. I can easily wrap her up in my arms, feel the heat of her
body against my own. As I slide my tongue over hers, she moans languidly into my mouth, her voice vibrating straight through me. My fingers find their way to her hair, combing through her soft locks as we fall onto the bed together.
Charlie wraps her legs over my hips and grinds against me, a hot spike of pleasure piercing through me. The front of my pants is already distressingly tight, but I take my sweet time. I pepper kisses along the line of her delicate jaw, down her throat, sucking hard to leave marks over her pale skin. It’s insanely sexy to see red love bites on her, knowing I am the one to give them to her.
I slip my hands beneath her shirt, which is technically my shirt, admiring how soft she feels. The scent of vanilla and coconut fill my nose. I don’t know if it’s because of the shampoo and bodywash she’s been using, but I suppose it doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that Charlie smells delicious, and it’s driving me up the wall with desire. Seeing her in my clothes further cements the need to make her mine.
Mine to protect. Mine to cherish.
But only if she wants me.
Charlie circles her arms around my neck and pulls me down for another deep, languid kiss as she deliberately grinds against me, teasing me into action.
I always tell the boys at Phoenix House not to get involved with drugs. There’s nothing in the world worth the high. Except now I know what it means to be truly out of my mind. Charlie has me addicted, already itching for more. No matter how hard I kiss her, no matter how tight I hold her, it isn’t enough. This is everything to me, but it still isn’t enough. I want her so badly that my blood burns and my mind blanks, moving only in pursuit of pleasure.
I lose myself in her taste, in her sound. This is literally the closest I’ve ever been to her. All our lives, there’s been distance. She’s kept me at arm’s length, put up impenetrable walls to keep the rest of the world away. Under Uncle Charles’ harsh expectations, it was the only way Charlie could protect herself.
But now she doesn’t remember. She doesn’t remember she’s made herself hard and cold. She doesn’t remember she always has her defenses up. Charlie can be who she wants to be, who she really is, without worry. She can be herself when she’s with me, allow herself the freedom she was always too scared of taking.
I pull my shirt off of her and toss it over my shoulder, abandoning it to the floor. The white lace of her bra and underwear sit against her flushed skin like snow. I trail my way down and breathe her in, kissing her collarbones, the center of her chest just above her heart, nip at the sides of her full breasts. My fingers drag over her stomach, grab at her hips where her thong sits comfortably. I slip the dainty fabric off to expose her dark lips, already glistening with want.
I settle between her parted legs and hold onto her thighs, using the tip of my tongue to tease her swollen clit. All it takes is a single pass, a quick flick, and I already have Charlie quivering beneath me. Her breath catches in her throat as her legs spasm with pleasure. A low moan escapes her chest as I proceed to draw lazy circles against her, savoring her taste.
Charlie curls her fingers in my hair and throws her head back. “Roman,” she gasps. “Roman, oh my God, yes.”
I close my eyes and allow the sound of her voice to wash over me. My cock is rock hard for her, almost painfully so, but my only priority is her. I want to show her how much she means to me. I want to prove to her that no matter what, whether she remembers me or not, that I’ve cared and loved her for as long as I can remember.
I tease her entrance with my tongue, coming right back to draw tighter, faster circles against her clit. Charlie’s back arches as her breathing becomes more frantic and shallower. Her grip on my hair tightens, but I don’t stop. She hooks a leg over my shoulder, giving me just enough space to press a finger in between her tight, warm walls.
“Roman,” she whimpers as I curl my finger again and again, sweeping over her sweet spot.
It doesn’t take very long before I’ve got a second finger inside her. Coupled with my crafty tongue, Charlie’s reduced to spouting nonsense, lost to her pleasure.
“Roman, yes. Fuck, just like that. I fucking love your fingers, oh my God. Roman, I’m going to—Roman!”
Charlie shudders beneath me, groaning loudly as the climax overwhelms her. She pulses around my fingers, clit twitching in my mouth.
I rise, shucking my clothes off as quick as I can. I hook my thumbs over the waistband of my boxers and pants and drop them, my throbbing cock springing forth. I suck in a sharp breath as the cool air hits my sensitive length, the tip red and dripping precum.
Before I get a chance to climb on top of her, Charlie gets up on her hands and knees, dragging her tongue over the head of my cock. Pleasure sweeps through me, knocking the air from my lungs.
“Charlie, you don’t have to.”
She peers up at me, baby blues so fucking gorgeous I lose my conviction to argue. Charlie wraps a hand around my shaft as she takes me into her mouth, swirling her tongue around to torture me. She hollows her cheeks and sucks me down, working me over with a steady hand. When Charlie hums contently, the vibration is almost enough to push me over the edge.
I comb my fingers through her soft hair and tug, not hard enough to hurt, but firm enough to have Charlie release me from her mouth. Her lips are shiny with spit and precum, and it’s honest to God the sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.
“Lie down,” I order.
She pouts. “Was it not good?”
“That’s not the problem. It was too good.”
“Oh?” she says, smirking rather triumphantly. “Don’t you want to fuck my mouth?”
I groan, the idea making me harder than I already am. “Right now, I want my cock inside you.”
Charlie licks her lips, eyes dark and hungry. She rises onto her knees and presses herself against me, reaching around to quickly unclasp her bra and toss the offending garment away. I eagerly grasp at both her breasts, dipping down to tease and suck her hard nipples. I easily snake an arm around her tiny waist and lay her back on the bed.
Our lips lock together almost immediately, finding each other like magnets. I line myself up with her entrance, but take a pause.
“Are you ready?” I ask.
“Yes,” she says, a bit raspy. “Yes, Roman. Please. I need you inside me. I can’t wait anymore.”
I press into her slowly, slipping into her slick heat with the patience of a saint. Charlie’s warmth is all-consuming, so blindingly wonderful that I briefly forget how to speak.
She’s perfect.
Charlie digs her nails into my back and gasps. “Fuck, you’re so big. Roman, oh my God, you’re huge.”
“Do you need me to stop?”
She shakes her head slightly. “No. Don’t stop. Just … a little slower. I need to get used to it.”
I press my lips to hers, her hot breath ricocheting off my face as I sink further into her. “You’re so fucking beautiful,” I whisper against her lips. “Fuck, you feel amazing. You’re fucking amazing, Charlie.”
“Roman,” she whines, “Roman, please.”
“Tell me what you want, baby. Tell me how bad you need me.”
“I… Fuck.” She clings to me, our bodies overheating as we tangle together. “I want you so bad, Roman. I want you to fuck me hard. Fuck me slow. I don’t care, I just… I need you. Make me feel good.”
I kiss her hard as I snap my hips against her. The gasp of pleasure that’s forced from her lungs is the most sinfully wonderous thing I’ve ever heard. I thrust into her, chasing after that sweet friction I know will have me melting within seconds. I pin Charlie’s hands above her head to secure her in place as I pick up the pace.
“Fuck, you’re so tight,” I grunt against her. “You feel so fucking good, Charlie.”
“Roman, right there. Right there! Yes!”
She shudders as she climaxes again, my name spilling from her lips in satisfaction. She clamps down around my throbbing cock, giving me exactly what I need to spill over too. A mi
llion fireworks go off, ecstasy exploding from every cell within me. We’re both breathing hard, sweaty with exertion, but blissed out of our minds.
And in this instant, I forget about everything else. I forget about the amnesia, about the accident that brought us together, about our shared past. None of it matters now that I have her. No matter what, I don’t want to let Charlie go. I want to protect her, love her. Maybe, just maybe, we can make this work. Maybe she won’t remember me. I’m fine with that.
I’m fine if that means I get to have this.
“Charlie?”
“Mhm?” She sighs happily.
“I love you.”
The smile she gives me is sweet and full of adoration. She kisses me again, pulling away to whisper against my lips. “I love you too.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Charlie
I like making plans.
At least, I think I do.
Organization and neatness, they’re qualities I’m drawn toward. I don’t know how or why, but I get the sense that I’m the kind of woman who likes to know where I’m going and what I’m doing. It just feels right to have a solid schedule plotted out. It feels good to do research about certain tourist sites before actually going. Maybe it has something to do with comfort. After all, what kind of person enjoys not knowing what’s happening next? Nobody likes to be lost. And those who say they like the adventure of it all are either crazy, or they’ve got some kind of safety net waiting to catch them just in case.
By that logic, I must be crazy, because I have no sweet clue where Roman’s taking me.
And I’m kind of excited to find out.
We go for a long walk. It’s definitely a nice day for it. The sun’s out and shining, the skies are as blue as the seas below, and the wonderful smell of coconut sunscreen and fresh ocean air combine to leave my head feeling nice and light.
It’s understandably crowded on the streets and beaches as tourists soak up the sunshine and locals go about their days. Lively conversation, street music, and the crash of waves on the beach surround Roman and me, a cocoon of joyous noise.
I hold Roman’s hand as we walk.
Forgotten Inheritance (Inherit Love Book 6) Page 7
