by Jennifer Ann
The kiss he gave me before I left the beach house left me all hot, achy, and hopeful this weekend will move along quickly so we can get to the deed. As many times as his body rubbed up against mine in the night when we made out, it’s clear he’s large and my imagination runs wild when I envision him pleasuring me with more than just his hand or mouth. Admittedly, a part of me’s terrified that first time sex with Charlie will be unbearably painful.
“You ready to head back?” Katie asks, suddenly back at my side.
Cheeks warm from being caught while fantasizing about her brother, I nod.
* * *
After Katie helps me unload the bags into the garage, I release a small yip in surprise when she jumps me with a hug. “I’m so glad I had the chance to spend time with you, Evelyn. You’re good for my brother. He needs someone like you after all the shit he’s been through. I don’t know what forces brought the two of you together, but I think you’re what he needs to get his career back on track. Just remember under all that swoon-worthy ink and those bulky muscles there’s a sweet guy from Brooklyn who wants to be loved like everyone else. He’s not a bad guy.”
Not knowing what to say, I bring my hands up to hug her back. “You’re not coming in?”
“Let’s be real,” she says, drawing away with a goofy grin. “My brother wants me crashing your romantic weekend about as much as he wants the paparazzi digging around in your lives. Besides, my mission’s accomplished. I came by so I could meet the girl who finally stole my brother’s heart.” Taking my hands in hers, she winks. “And he’s gonna lose his shit when he sees everything we bought today. No way I want to be around for that.”
The mention of Charlie’s heart sends an army of butterflies swarming through my chest. Does she really think he could love me?
Squeezing her hands, I giggle. “Thanks for everything. I’m really glad I got to meet you too. Nice to know Charlie’s family is down to earth.”
“Don’t let the stardom thing get to you, Evelyn. You’ll get used to it with time. It’s not so bad.” She throws me a wink before heading back to her car.
The house is empty. After I’ve changed into my swimming suit, I find Charlie out back, all smiles when I step out onto the patio. His icy blue eyes flicker over my side-braid and exposed skin with approval.
“I don’t suppose you’d rather stay here and fool around?” he asks, gathering me in his arms. When he kisses me, long and hard, I almost consider taking him up on his offer.
Then I step away and scrunch my nose. “You’re not getting out of that boat ride you promised. I grew up in the land of ten thousand lakes. Where I’m from, we take our play time in the water seriously. Do we need to grab food and drinks?”
“Everything we need is already on the boat,” he tells me. “You think this is my first voyage?”
This “boat” turns out to be a 40-something-foot yacht. After watching him help another man maneuver everything in preparation for launch, shirt off and muscles flexed, I fall for him a little harder. Though he obviously knows his way around the water as he steers us out of the bay, I’m excited he hired someone to man the boat so we can relax together on a bench in the back.
“Hope hard lemonade is okay,” he says, handing me a bottle wrapped in a bright koozie. “Katie took the boat out last and it’s her drink of choice. There must be an entire case of it down there.”
“I’m good with anything wet,” I answer, my face growing warm when it makes me think of other things. Accepting the drink, I shiver when he settles close to me and his tattooed arm pushes across my bare arm.
Looking down on me, his brilliant white smile is almost as blinding as the sun. “You look at home.”
Crossing my legs out on the white bench and leaning into him, I tip my head back to meet the warm sun and smile. “We’ve always spent every weekend in the summer on the water. It isn’t anything near this nice, though. Until my dad bought a boat, we were sometimes lucky if we could find someone with a fishing boat to take us for a ride.”
His beautiful eyes dance with appreciation when he smiles. “I love the fact that you seem to dig the water scene as much as I do. This boat was one of the first things I bought after our first record went platinum. My parents took us to Coney Island every weekend when I was a kid. There’s something calming about being around the water. Whenever I’m out here, it feels like I’m home.”
The way his face lights up as he talks about his boat warms my heart. Until this moment I hadn’t considered just how much I enjoyed being on the water and love that Charlie feels so passionate about it. A girl could get used to cruising around on a boat like this with a guy like him.
We fall into a pattern of questions and answers, sharing more details of our childhoods as we fly over the blue waters and make a small dent in his sister’s lemonade stash, even stopping for a dip in the cool water. Charlie points out landmarks on the shore as we pass and later we break out snacks from the kitchen down below. More than anything, we genuinely enjoy each other’s company and somehow manage to do nothing more than cuddle or hold hands.
Before I know it, my buzz is gone and the sun is sinking down to the horizon as we head back to the yacht club. An anxious swell climbs into my throat. Once we’re back at the beach house, there won’t be anything to stop us from doing whatever we want. As easy as it was to spend the afternoon without jumping him, it was mainly due the fact that we had an audience and I didn’t want to miss the beautiful view. By now there’s no way to deny that I’ve fallen in love. But after his unexpected rejection the night before, I doubt he’s ready the way I am.
“What’s the plan?” I ask.
“Dinner,” Charlie tells me with one eyebrow cocked. Before I’m able to ask any questions, he adds, “Don’t worry, the food’s coming to us.”
Charlie assists the captain in docking the boat before we leave. Just as we step off the dock, hand-in-hand, we’re met with a small man wielding a giant camera. Heart leaping into my throat, I stop dead in my tracks. There’s no chance a tourist would be running around with a camera that massive. I pull down on the floppy black hat, glad I thought to wear it along with my sunglasses.
“The paps are known to hang out around on this beach,” Charlie whispers under his breath, tugging my hand until I move. “I’m not the only celebrity who docks here. Ignore him and keep walking.”
“Charlie!” the man calls out, practically tripping over himself to keep up. “You ready to give us the name of your mystery lady? The world is dying to know everything about her! I’d love an exclusive!”
“It’s okay,” Charlie whispers, squeezing my hand. “The yacht club threatened to restrain them from entering the property if they follow anyone home.”
Though I’m unsettled by seeing the reporter, we make it back to the beach house without being followed, just as Charlie promised. While he’s in the master bathroom taking a shower, I sneak into the bedroom to slip into my newly purchased bra and underwear, not wanting to sit around in a wet suit any longer.
Upon catching my reflection in the full-length mirror across the room, I stop to shamelessly check myself out. The satiny material feels amazing on my skin, hugging to my curves like a glove and cutting across my butt cheeks in exactly the right places. The matching pushup bra does a respectable job of making my breasts appear a full cup size bigger and for as much as it cost, I’d be willing to bet the sparkling design in the center is made with Swarovski crystals. Forget Victoria’s Secret. I can finally appreciate why rich women would spend obscene amounts of money on good lingerie.
The door between the rooms opens before I’m ready and Charlie emerges, body sprinkled with water droplets and towel slung low on his thick hips. My eyes catch the sharp V leading down beneath the towel and I suddenly can’t breathe. I’ve seen him without a shirt, but there's something irresistible about him in nothing more than a piece of loosely draped fabric that prevents him from standing naked in front of me.
Frozen in the doorw
ay, his eyes rake over my skin, making me feel completely naked beneath the heat of his stare. Then those icy blues roll upward and I suck in a breath. The connection of our gazes releases a warm glow that burns deep inside my gut and makes my lower half completely numb. He struts toward me with confidence, his eyes blazing.
Stopping a mere foot away, he hooks the bra strap with a damp finger. “This from your shopping trip today?”
I look down to see him rip off a tag with his fingers and my face heats. The last thing I want is for him to think I spent that much of his money on underwear. “Uh, yeah. It was something I wanted to buy with my own money.”
Still holding the towel in place with one hand, his other hand dusts over the tender skin of my breasts, tracing the lines of the pale pink bra. My skin erupts in goosebumps with his touch and all at once my nipples are as hard as diamonds. When his head dips low, I’m filled with the fresh scent of body wash, shampoo, and Charlie. His lips graze up and down my neck, pausing beside my ear.
“Solid choice,” he says in a half growl. “You’re so goddamned sexy.”
Grabbing onto his hips, I close my eyes and stretch my neck to the side, beckoning him to continue. A small moan falls from my lips when he delivers biting kisses to the base of my neck, then drags his lips down to nip at the top of my breasts.
“Fucking beautiful,” he mutters, his warm breath tickling my pebbled skin.
I drag him in closer, practically coming apart at the seams with the feel of a mere towel and underwear separating us. He’s hard and ready. Slipping his free hand down to release my breast from the new bra, he moans when seeing my rock hard nipple. I reach for the hand holding his towel in place and encourage his fingers to let go.
“What are you doing?” he asks, stopping to meet my hungry gaze.
“You’ve seen me naked. It’s my turn to see you.”
Grinning, he releases the fabric. It falls to the floor with a soft whoosh.
I whimper upon seeing his massiveness, strained with dark veins and waiting for me. Apparently it isn’t just his handsome looks and talented voice that make him a rockstar. When trying to decide how I could possibly fit my lips around just the silky domed head staring back at me, jerking slightly beneath my stare, I shiver.
“Wow,” I finally say before biting my lower lip. I can’t stop ogling his arousal, wondering how my body will stretch for it. “That’s…intimidating.”
With a quiet chuckle, Charlie's hands run up and down my bare arms. “Another reason why we should wait. I’m scared I'll hurt you.”
I reach out to wrap my fingers and thumb around as much of the shaft as I can, giving it a gentle caress. A dull ache settles between my legs where I’m already dripping wet for him. I want this beautiful man more than I’ve wanted anything in my entire life.
Tilting his head back, Charlie moans, then reaches up to twist his fingers in my hair at the back of my head. “Damn, baby. Keep it up and the fun’s going to be over in no time.”
“Make love to me, Charlie,” I plead.
Dropping his chin, he stares back down on me with a slack jaw. His sparkling eyes say “hell yes,” but his mouth says, “We should wait.”
“I’m done waiting.” Giving him the kind of sexy little smile I know will drive him wild, I run my fingers along the tattoo on his chest. He flinches when I settle my hand over the word “trust” inked over his heart. “I’m in love with you.”
The way his eyes widen, I fear he’s going to laugh or tell me to get out. “Are you sure?”
Holding his gaze, I nod. “I know it’s early, but—”
Growling, he bends down to steal my words. Tongues gliding, breaths scattered, lips eager for more, it’s one of the hottest kisses we’ve shared. Charlie’s talented fingers release the clasp on my bra in one try and the hand not busy in my hair is suddenly kneading a tender breast. My toes curl and my head fills with fuzzy bliss. There’s no doubt in my mind that I want him inside of me. Now.
All at once he’s lifting me into the air and cradling me against his hard body. His eyes don’t stray from mine as he carries me the short distance to the bed, setting me down with extreme care like I’m breakable. I didn’t miss the fact that he wasn’t able to tell me that he loves me back, but the way he’s being so tender is good enough for now.
When he comes at me, I wrap my arms around his neck to pull him down, ready to go. His arms lock at my sides, preventing him from moving. “Are you on anything?”
For a minute I’m ready to burst out laughing, thinking he’s asking if I’m high, then my face warms when I realize what he means. “Uh…yeah. I’ve been on the pill for a couple of years. My gynecologist put me on it to lighten my periods.” The heat in my cheeks deepens, giving my embarrassment away. We’re ready to have sex and I’m talking about my period? Great mood killer, Evelyn.
Charlie nods thoughtfully. “I want to feel you in the worst kind of way, baby. I've always worn a condom and I promise you I’m clean, but the choice is yours to make.”
I think on it for a minute, wondering if I’m completely crazy for taking him on his word. Isn’t this the part where I should be asking him to take an STD test? Then again, he’s putting a lot of faith in the fact that I’m really on the pill and not trying to trick him so I can tell the world I’m pregnant with Charlie Walker’s baby. And if he has truly always worn a condom, that means I’m the first one he’s wanted to get on an intimate level with.
Hands pressed to either side of his hard jaw, I offer a nervous smile. “I’m guessing either way it’s going to hurt.”
He bends down to lightly brush his lips over mine. Then our foreheads touch with a sweet gesture that seems way un-rockstar-like. “I’ll be as gentle as I can, Freckles.”
“In that case, I suppose we better go bareback. That’s what it’s called, right?” Bubbly laughter spills from my lips. “Saddle up, cowboy.”
Ready to consume every last bit of my man, I use more force to yank him back to me. He falls down, half of him on top of my body. I open my mouth to giggle, stopping when I feel his silky head pressed against my thigh.
Charlie’s eyes are borderline feral when he tears my new underwear clean off my legs. I cant’ believe I’m about to be ravaged by a legendary rockstar.
Chapter 18
CHARLIE
Looking down on Evelyn, I hesitate to go any further. Maybe I need more time to think this through. My dick took over all rational control with the sight of her in the sexy-as-shit new bra and panties. She’s handing over her innocence, trusting that I’ll do right by her in every way possible. I only hope I don’t let her down.
Then her mouth is back on mine and all sane thoughts go out the door. I feel the kiss in every last crevice of my body. Her hands wrap around my neck, drawing me nearer like she’s attempting to make us one. I seek out the heat between her silky thighs, rubbing my fingers back and forth the same way I had on the patio.
Her legs open for me and she releases a strangled little noise that I feel all the way down in my balls. I capture her lips in mine and coax her with my tongue, hoping she’ll make the noise again. As her neck stretches back, she flexes her hips into my touch and releases a little purr that’s just as sexy. I quicken the strokes of my hand and release her mouth, instead latching it over the hard pearl of her closest tit.
“Charlie,” she moans, digging her fingernails into the back of my skull. I smile against her skin, knowing she’s close. Knowing it won't be long until she’s wet and satisfied, ready for me to mark her as mine.
I kiss my way back up to her ear. “C’mon, baby. Give it all you’ve got.”
Her hips buckle and her fingers claw the sheets at her side. Knowing the sure way to help her along, I lower down between her legs and replace my fingers with my tongue. She releases a wicked moan and fists my hair by its roots. Then her voice peaks at a higher octave, crying my name, and her hips lock around my head, jerking ever so slightly at the peak of her orgasm. As someone who thrives
on music, I’ve still never heard a sound so sweet. She’s so damn beautiful I almost lose it along with her as I watch her come apart.
Finally she releases me from her clutches, becoming still except for a hand that strokes my tattooed arm in a lazy pattern. From the euphoric look on her face, I’m not sure she knows where she is or or if she could tell me her own name.
Chuckling under my breath, I rise back up, kissing every part of her skin along the way back to her face. I drag my fingers along the delicious contours of her body, knowing she’s still tingling with the aftershocks. She releases a quiet hum and opens her big eyes, flashing me a drunken smile.
“You’re amazing,” she whispers, finally coming back around from her blissful haze. “I can’t wait until you’re inside of me.”
“You sure you still want to do this?” I ask one last time, brushing my thumb over the biggest patch of freckles spilling across her left cheek. “Because I don’t plan on going anywhere and that means you have all the time in the world to decide.”
Biting her lip, she nods thoughtfully. “I want you to be the one to break my dry spell.” Her fingers wrap tightly around my tattooed arm and her gaze darkens. “There isn’t a single part of me that doesn’t want this.”
Her tongue tickles across my colored ink as if to prove her point. I tilt my head back for a moment, finally appreciating that women like to “lick ink” for whatever reason. The way she sexily grins when she’s finished makes me lose my mind a little more.
Leaning in for a tender kiss, I position myself over her and she braces herself against my chest. She’s watching my every move with an intensity that scares the hell out of me, so I pause, waiting for her to give the go ahead.
With her arms firmly anchored around my back, she nods before nudging my hips downward. Lost in the depths of her honey-brown eyes, I lower myself slowly. As good as it’s going to feel without a condom, I know I have to take it slow or I won’t be inside her long before I’m ready to explode.
