by Karen Booth
They both jumped when the door dinged. He grabbed her hand again and they stole down the hall, this time to her apartment. Thor made this presence known with a bark as soon as they were inside, but Charlotte shushed the dog and Michael ignored him. Her hands were all over Michael as they kissed while practically stumbling through the foyer. They bumped into the wall, Charlotte with her back to it. She groaned her approval and dug her fingernails into his biceps, tugging him closer as he deepened the kiss, but that wasn’t what he wanted.
“No wall this time. I want to make love to you.”
She took his hand and they hurried to her bedroom. Charlotte kicked off her shoes and pulled Michael over to the bed, shuffling backward as she went. She climbed up onto the mattress and unbuttoned his shirt, rocking from side to side on her knees. He loved her enthusiasm. She blew her hair from her face and yanked his shirt from the waist of his dress pants. He could hardly keep up with her and he wasn’t sure he wanted to. She grabbed his shoulders and pulled him into a kiss, this one more frenzied than the one in the hall. With her full body weight, she flopped back on the bed, tugging him down on top of her. She slipped her leg between his, rocking back and forth, the firm pressure of her body making the blood rush to the center of his belly and due south. Their kiss was messy and perfect, fueled, he suspected, by what was new between them—his willingness to let down his guard. They were both so inspired it was like they might never stop kissing. He wasn’t sure he’d ever been so hard—not even the time they did it against the wall.
Michael rolled onto his back, taking Charlotte with him. She straddled his waist, her dress hitching up her legs until it was around her hips. He sat up, but it took every ounce of strength he had in his abs to sit like that and unzip the back of her dress. He eased back down as Charlotte smiled at him and tossed her hair to one side. She was a vision he could’ve soaked up forever. So sexy. So sweet. He’d never met another woman like her. Did he love her? He was starting to think he might. That would’ve been unthinkable six months ago, but Charlotte had worn him down, even when she’d been trying to push him away.
She crossed her arms and lifted the hem of her dress, dragging the garment up the length of her body and revealing her creamy skin to him. In matching red lace panties and a strapless bra, she could be the subject of countless fantasies, and yet here she was, with him. He’d never felt so lucky in his life. “You’re so beautiful, Charlotte. Why did I ever let you go?”
“I believe we’ve already had that discussion, but thank you. You’re pretty damn handsome, but you already know that.”
The grin on his face right now had to be regrettably goofy. He didn’t care. She scooted back and to the side, then went to work on his pants and boxers, determinedly pulling them down past his hips and flinging them onto the floor. Now that they were gone, she again bracketed his legs with hers, but she’d stationed herself lower, with their feet touching. Her hands traveled up his thighs while a mischievous smile played on her lips. He knew exactly where she was headed and his stomach clenched in anticipation. His breath stalled in his chest. She dug in deeper with the heels of her hands as she reached his pelvis, firm pressure on either side of his erection, making it impossible to think straight, or see straight, either. She was taking her sweet time, torturing him with every second of delay, but it made the moment when she finally gave in so much better. She shimmied closer and her graceful fingers wrapped around his length. He drew in a deep breath and sank into the sensation. She stroked hard with one hand, looking deeply into his eyes, a connection he had many times found too deep to endure. He loved the in-charge version of Charlotte. To her, and only her, was he happy to relinquish control.
A deep groan rumbled out of his throat when she took the strokes faster. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to be way ahead of her. He reached around to her back and unhooked her bra, but the vision of her plump breasts and hard nipples only brought him closer to the edge. As good as her touch felt, he pulled her into his arms, flat against his torso, and wrapped her up in a kiss unlike any other. He rolled her to her back and laid on his side against her, admiring every inch of her beauty. His hand caressed her silky belly, soft and smooth, then he slid it inside the front of her panties and found her apex. She sharply sucked in a breath as he employed one finger to do his bidding, creating tiny circles and a good deal of hot friction. The tiny bundle was tight and hard, but everything around it was wet and warm. She was as ready as she’d ever been, and he was so ready to be inside her that it physically hurt to wait, but he loved watching the look on her face as she closed her eyes and gave in to the pleasure.
“We’re going to need a condom,” he muttered into her ear, his fingers keeping steady time.
She opened her eyes halfway. He didn’t mind that his touch might be making it hard for her to think. “Bedside table drawer.”
He hated to stop touching her, but this had to be done. “One sec.”
“Hurry.”
He did exactly that, tearing open the package and putting it on. “I’m back.” He returned his hand to his previous charge, sliding his palm down her belly and starting in gentle circles.
A smile broke across her face and her eyes drifted shut. “Good.”
Her breaths were coming shorter now and he could tell she was close. Considering everything Charlotte had done for him, he wanted to bring her to her peak more than once tonight. He quickened his pace and stifled a smile when her mouth softened to an O, she jerked her head back on the pillow, and several gasping moans left her lips. He didn’t wait for her orgasm to wane—he pulled down her panties and urged her up on top of him. He cradled her hips as she lowered her body. He closed his eyes as ecstasy threatened to overtake every inch of his body. She was so warm, her body still pulsing, now tightening around him. They began to move together in a rhythm that felt right from the first pass. They fit together so well it was as if they’d been built for each other. He took his thrusts as slowly and carefully as he could, but the reality was the pleasure was so tightly wound in his belly, he didn’t have enough time to think before white light flashed through his head and the release rocketed through his pelvis. Charlotte gasped and it seemed that she was coming again, her body grasping him tighter.
As the waves began to ebb and everything blissfully sank bank down to earth, Michael pulled Charlotte against his bare chest. He rolled to his side, carefully dotting her face and shoulder with slow, deliberate kisses. All stress was gone. As he felt his body about to give in to sleep, he snugged her closer, wanting to feel her warmth all night long. Only one thought crossed his mind—Charlotte was perfect, and he’d better not let her go again.
Eleven
With the sun shining through her bedroom window and Michael’s naked body next to her under the covers, Charlotte was nothing if not optimistic. Was there anything better than waking up next to someone as smart, funny and good-looking as Michael? No. She was quite certain of that. She snuggled closer to him just to soak up his body heat. She loved the way he smelled in the morning, a faint mix of his cologne and musky man.
Michael jumped when she put her feet on his calves. “What are you made of? Ice?”
“I can’t help it. I’m always cold. Especially this time of year. Just the thought of how cold it is outside makes me even more cold.”
“That makes absolutely no sense.” He turned onto his side, facing her, his head resting on the pillow. He had a crease across his cheek and his stubble was a little longer than it had been yesterday. She palmed the side of his face, and the feel of his unshaven jaw tickled her hand. She found herself getting lost in his eyes, so soulful and deep. Funny that she had once thought of them as cruel. That was before she knew about his past. She was sure there were more secrets to be unearthed, but it would take time to reveal everything swimming in Michael Kelly’s head. Possibly years.
“What can I say? I defy all logic. You�
�ll have to get used to it.” She hadn’t meant for any mention of them in the context of being a couple to slip so soon, but it had and there was no taking it back.
“I’m more than accustomed to ignoring sound judgment when it comes to you.”
“Good. It’s highly overrated anyway.” His comment hung over her as a reminder of the words she needed to finally say to him, the potentially life-shattering news she had to share. She’d said to herself last night that she would tell him today. She had to stick to that. Sooner rather than later would be best. But she still feared his reaction. She’d just gotten him to the point where he’d sleep at her apartment, for God’s sake. That was a first for the two of them. Announcing a baby on the way seemed like an impossible leap, but she could no longer exclude him from their shared reality. Not when she wanted more.
Thor barked insistently from the other room. The confession would have to wait a few more minutes. The discussion that would follow was not to be interrupted. “I’m going to run him downstairs for a potty break. I can be back in ten minutes.”
Michael reined her in with his arms and kissed her forehead. “You are too beholden to that dog.”
“You should talk. You wouldn’t even still be here if your brother wasn’t staying in your apartment.”
“True. Tell you what, I’ll put on coffee, you take the dog out, I’ll be here when you get back.”
“No note required.”
“No note.”
He smiled that Michael smile—effortless and sexy. So brilliant it took her breath away. All she could think looking at his face was that she loved him. But would he ever feel the same way? He seemed different this morning, much more relaxed. Everything he’d been hiding must have been weighing on him terribly. Maybe that could pave the way for happier days for them. She wanted to believe that could be the case.
She pecked him on the lips. “Perfect.” She hopped out of bed, threw on some jeans and a sweater, her fluffiest hat and mittens and a big coat. She and Thor caught the elevator right away. He scurried across the lobby, bolted through the door and did his business on the very first tree. She walked him to the corner, but was too eager to get in from the cold and back to Michael, so they turned back. As they approached the hotel, she marveled at how beautiful the holiday decorations were in the daylight. Tomorrow was Christmas Day. She’d be spending time with her family and Michael had plans with his brother. They apparently always spent Christmas together since they’d been estranged from their parents. Would Michael want to change his plans when he knew what she had to tell him? She wanted to believe he would. Maybe he and Chris could come over to Sawyer’s and they could start folding themselves into each other’s lives.
When Thor and Charlotte got back to the fifteenth floor, the lovely aroma of coffee hit her nose immediately. Charlotte couldn’t think of a more pleasant scenario than spending the rest of the morning with Michael and her dog. As long as everything went well with the pregnancy announcement. She reached for the doorknob, knowing her moment of reckoning was upon her. Everything will be fine.
She let Thor off his leash and walked into the kitchen. Michael wasn’t there, but a full pot of coffee was. He had apparently not taken a cup for himself yet.
“Michael?”
“Yeah. In here.” His voice came from the living room. It did not sound warm or inviting. Quite the opposite, actually.
When she rounded the corner, he was sitting on the couch, elbows resting on knees, staring at her bottle of prenatal vitamins. They had been on the counter in her bathroom. Right where anyone could see. He picked it up and turned his head to face her. “Please tell me these belong to someone else.”
All the warmth drained from Charlotte’s body. She couldn’t lie. It was bad enough she’d kept the secret so long. “They’re my vitamins. I’m pregnant.”
* * *
Michael had sensed Charlotte might be hiding something, but there had always been an element of the unknown with her. He’d assumed it was something having to do with her family, or the hotel, or work.
But a baby? That hadn’t entered his mind once. And to think he was going to tell Charlotte this morning that he loved her. That had to be put on hold indefinitely. She’d lied to him, about something so monumentally important he couldn’t comprehend it.
“How did this happen? When did this happen?” The instant the words left his mouth, he felt both idiotic and betrayed. She’d been with someone else. After him. Of course she had. He’d practically dared her to break up with him and she’d made no secret of how angry she was about it.
“I’m about twelve weeks along. I found out I was pregnant about two weeks after we broke up.”
He was normally the person who moved on quickly. Charlotte was making him look like a wimp when it came to dating. “You found a new guy that quickly? Who is he? And why isn’t he around?”
“Are you seriously this bad at math, Michael? Or did you just not pay attention in health class? I found out two weeks after we broke up. I was about three weeks along then...” Her voice trailed off and she closed her eyes.
Oh, God. He was dense. “I’m the guy?”
Her eyes shot open. It was like a blue laser beam. “Yes. You’re the guy. I haven’t been with anyone else.”
Crushing, conflicting emotions smacked into him. Was this what it was like to be in shock? If so, it was awful. “Why didn’t you call me? I should’ve been the first person you contacted when you found out.”
“I know.” She wrapped her arms around herself, and he waited for her to retreat. That had always been her reaction when things got tough or she was put on the spot—to run away. Instead, she planted her hands on her hips. “But here’s why I didn’t. You told me flat out that I wanted too much and you weren’t going to give it to me. If being a good boyfriend wasn’t on your agenda, I had zero reason to think fatherhood was going to go over well.”
“Hey. I know I wasn’t perfect, but you make it sound like I was the worst boyfriend ever.”
“You really don’t want me to go there, do you?” The blaze in her eyes was like a dragon breathing fire.
“I know. I know. We always stayed at my place and I should have paid more attention. We’ve been over this.”
“Don’t do that.” She shook her head and pursed her lips. “Don’t make it sound like I was being trivial or petty. Your job always came first. I was second. Or quite possibly third, after Abby.”
“That’s not fair. My career is important to me. And I’ve owned Abby for nine years. It’s not like I’m going to neglect my dog.”
“I understand all of that. It’s still not fun to be constantly reminded of the pecking order and that you’re at the bottom of it.”
Michael was struggling to keep up, but rehashing the past wasn’t going to help him figure out the more pressing problem—Charlotte was pregnant and she’d hidden it from him. “This is why you ran off to England, isn’t it? I knew there was more to it than regrouping.”
“Bravo, Mr. Detective.” She rolled her eyes, making him exponentially more frustrated with her and this conversation. “You know, you make it sound like I ran away with the circus. It wasn’t an impulsive thing. I needed support. Quite frankly, I needed my mom, but I don’t have one, so I went to Fran and she welcomed me with open arms.”
Michael had to admit he didn’t like the idea of her going through this on her own, but that wasn’t his fault. “You can’t put that on me. If you’d just told me, I could’ve been your support system. I don’t understand why you didn’t extend me that courtesy. Isn’t that just common sense?”
“Common sense is not saying anything because you already know the other half of the conversation. I was upset and confused. I wasn’t about to have that talk with you. I couldn’t do it. I was barely keeping myself together.”
“How could you have possibly
known what I would’ve said?” He got up from the couch and started pacing the room. Perhaps movement would help him calm down. He could feel his anger growing and he refused to let it consume him or cloud his thoughts, which were already murky enough. “I don’t know what to say right now and if anyone should know what I would say, it’s me.”
“You need to stop being so defensive.” Her voice was clear and decisive, but her eyes were doing their best to work their way into his psyche. She was being so unfair right now.
“Defensive? You hid a pregnancy from me. I don’t know how else I’m supposed to act. I’ve had all of two minutes to wrap my head around this. And right now, I can’t think past the fact that you and I have been spending time together over the last few weeks and you’ve had every opportunity to tell me you were pregnant and you didn’t.” He ran his hands through his hair. His forehead was starting to throb like he’d just hit it with a hammer. There was too much competing for attention in his head right now. Me? A dad?
She blew out a breath. “I know. And I’m sorry, but I had my reasons. I had to get our professional entanglements out of the way. And to be honest, I think I had to protect myself from you, Michael.”
If anything stung, it was hearing those words. He hated the thought of her feeling that way. It was never his intention to hurt her when he told her he wasn’t capable of giving everything she wanted. If anything, he was trying to protect her. He cared too much to let her believe that he could be her everything. Now the stakes were considerably higher. “I don’t know how to respond to that. I would never hurt you.”
“Whether you meant to or not, you did hurt me, and this conversation is just confirming my worst fears. I feel like you’re showing me where this ends.”
“So I’ve been saying exactly what you thought I would? Am I really that predictable? Or are you just some sort of soothsayer?”
