by Nikki Paris
Sienna and Evan excused themselves to go through inventory in the backroom. After they left, Charlie leaned forward to steal a quick kiss. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to come into the bar anymore, Burke. I won’t be able to keep my hands off you after what you did to me last night.” She smiled and bit her bottom lip. “I have to ask, are you going to be a strict Anatomy teacher on Wednesday mornings?”
“Damn, Charlie.” I rubbed my beard and stared at my cutie with desire rolling through my veins. She was getting good at the dirty talk. Then I glanced over my shoulder. “You don’t think we should tell them yet?”
Charlie laughed. “Burke, it’s been a week! Again, if I’d been seeing anyone for only a week, I wouldn’t be spilling all the details to my family. We deserve a chance to decide what this is for ourselves before everyone else starts to tell us what it is.” She pulled her hair back, revealing her gorgeous, delicate neck. “And besides that, Evan has no room to get in my face about keeping secrets. That person they’re talking about? Ava? She was Sienna’s best friend, and he dated her for two years while he secretly loved Sienna. So seriously, if he gives me shit, I’ll give it right back.”
“I have no doubt in my mind that you’ll give your brother plenty of shit.” I grinned at Charlie.
She leaned forward and kissed me again. “All right, I’m going to have lunch with my friend and his almost-boyfriend. Also, I need to actually attend my first week or two of classes so that the professors think I care.”
“You gonna come over for a 2 am booty call then?”
Charlie laughed out loud. “Don’t ever say that to me again. Just because you said that I’m not coming over tonight.”
“Okay, I’ll see you tonight, cutie.” I smirked at her and leaned on the bar. “You better finish your homework on time, or I’ll have to spank that ass.”
Charlie’s mouth dropped open. “Oh fuck. I think I might be into that. Exactly what time do you get home tonight?”
“12:30.”
The backroom door swung open, and Sienna walked out, smoothing her t-shirt. For a split second, I worried that she’d heard us, but one look at her face told me she was far more worried that we’d heard them. She cleared her throat. “Hey, guys! You heading out, Charlie?”
Charlie smirked at Sienna. “Yup. How’s the cock?”
“What?” Sienna gaped at her.
I snorted into my hand and turned away.
“Stock. I said stock. What were you thinking, Sienna? Got something else on your mind?” Charlie grinned at her and turned to walk away. “Bye, Burke!” She gave me a sweet smile, and I watched her ass all the way to the front door.
Sienna cleared her throat. Shit. She saw me staring at Charlie’s ass. I glanced over at her, but she was looking down at the kegs, with her cheeks turning slightly pink. “We haven’t seen each other for three days,” she mumbled, still keeping her eyes down.
I laughed and held up my hands. “Hey, I’m not judging.”
Sienna smoothed her long, dark hair and let out a deep breath. “I swear we don’t do this all the time.”
“Right.”
“Cool. So let’s move on from that.”
“I’d like nothing more.” I laughed and went back to my prep work.
She bent to grab the crate of clean napkins and set it on the bar. Evan made his way out of the backroom next, stopping to press a quick kiss to the side of Sienna’s head before slipping past me. "Oh, Burke, I forgot to tell you. Marla said a hot blonde was in here asking about you this weekend. She left her info for Marla to pass on to you. It’s by the register.” Evan grinned at me and patted the bar, then walked toward the entrance. He sat at his usual table, near the stage, to make his phone calls.
Sienna watched me with curious eyes while I continued my prep work. “You’re not even going look at the number?” She gestured toward the register.
I glanced over at her while I sliced limes. “Nope. I’m not interested.”
“Huh, do you ever call any of the women that hit on you?”
“Nope.”
“Wow. Okay. Why not?” Sienna folded a napkin.
I rubbed my beard. “I’m not interested in the kind of woman that drunkenly leaves a phone number for a stranger.”
Sienna nodded. “Hmm…Well, I mean, keep smiling at them cause you’re keeping this bar full,” she teased.
“I don’t smile at anyone.”
“Ah, that’s it then. Keep brooding at them.” Sienna laughed and folded another napkin, then shot me a curious look. What was she thinking? Had she noticed the way Charlie and I looked at each other? Did she suspect something?
How much longer could Charlie and I keep this to ourselves?
20
Charlie
I walked into my English class on the first day of the new semester and slid into a desk near the back. This class would be easy. I could pull thought-provoking research papers out of my ass like it was nothing. I might be able to skip this class pretty often and still squeeze out a B.
As I pulled my laptop from my backpack, someone stood directly in front of my desk and said, “No shit! Anna? Or should I say Charlotte?”
I glanced up at the vaguely familiar face in front of me. Ah. Basketball Jersey, from Matteo’s Halloween party. “Uh. Neither. Charlie.” I couldn’t remember the guy’s name, but I didn’t ask.
“Charlie. Sure, okay.” He slid into the desk next to me. “You ghosted me so hard at that party.”
“Did I? I thought you had to be kind of dating someone to ghost them.” I pulled out the notebook Burke made for me and couldn’t help but smile.
Basketball Jersey laughed. “I was trying to date you! The offer is still on the table, beautiful.”
“Wow. Thank you.” I deadpanned and stared straight ahead, waiting for the professor to begin his lecture. He sat behind the desk at the front of the room, staring at his laptop with a bored expression. It looked like he was in no hurry to get this semester rolling.
“So what are you doing this weekend? Your friend throwing any more parties?” Basketball Jersey leaned in and smirked at me. God, did that smirk actually work with girls? I guessed not if he was still single over two months later.
I met his flirty gaze for a minute and replied. “No, the little gay brown dude has a date with his new boyfriend this weekend. And I’ll be busy with mine.” I gave him a pointed look and turned back to face the professor. Any time now, teach. Go ahead and start the class.
Basketball Jersey groaned and rubbed his chiseled jaw. “Of course you have a boyfriend. Could have told me that on Halloween.” He rolled his eyes and turned away from me. “Didn’t have to give me a fake name.”
“I didn’t have the boyfriend then.” I traced the Guns N’ Roses logo on my notebook with my pointer finger.
Basketball Jersey leaned forward. “That’s a cool notebook. Where’d you get it?”
“My boyfriend.”
“Let me see.” He reached out and snatched it off my desk like a child. Basketball Jersey grinned at me and flipped it open.
I glared at him. “That’s private. Give it back.”
He laughed. “Are there love poems for your boyfriend in here? Maybe a story about the night you met an awesome guy named Simon?”
The first few pages were empty. I wrote my thoughts about love and sex on a random page in the middle, where no one would think to look. I blinked at Basketball Jersey. “Who’s Simon?”
He gave me a sour, childish look. “Me. Damn. You’re cold. You don’t even remember my name.” Simon tossed the notebook back on my desk and turned away, sulking. Wow. And to think I could have had sex with someone like him! The thrill.
◆◆◆
I headed to Burke’s apartment right after class since he didn’t have to be at the bar until 4 pm on Tuesdays. He wasn’t expecting me, and I didn’t call, but he’d be happy to see me, right?
He answered the door shirtless in a pair of gray sweatpants. Good god, he was a
sexy, impressive fucking man. Burke didn’t smile, and for a second, I thought he was angry. But then he growled, “Get your ass in here.”
I obeyed.
Burke closed the door behind me, slid both hands around my neck, and pressed his lips to my ear. “Take your clothes off. Now.” He took my mouth in a rough hungry kiss. “I haven’t fucked you in a few days, cutie. Don’t ever make me wait that long again.”
I gasped when his hands slid up the front of my shirt. “Mmm…” I bit my lip. “I won’t.”
“Why the hell are your clothes still on. I thought I told you to take them off. Are you trying to make me angry? Do you want me to get rough?”
Burke’s hands slid into my bra, and I moaned and closed my eyes. “Yes.”
He took my face in both hands and slid one into my hair, tugging my head back. “Look at me, Charlie.” I opened my eyes and met Burke’s burning gaze. “I’m going to fuck you so hard that you won’t be able to walk after. Would you like that, cutie? Can you handle that?”
My panties were soaked— like not just damp— ruined. My breathing was heavy, and another moan escaped my lips. “Yes, Burke,” I almost whispered.
He slid his hands down my back and pulled my body against his. I could feel his erection pressing into my stomach. I wanted to feel it inside of me. “Say it a little louder for me, cutie.” His low voice right in my ear sent chills scattering down my spine and butterflies rushing through my stomach.
I grabbed his face with both hands and roughly yanked it down to make him look into my eyes. “Yes, Burke. Fuck me until I can’t walk.” My voice sounded low and husky like it belonged to a stranger.
Burked groaned and caught my mouth in another rough kiss before scooping me up in his arms and carrying me to his bed. He had my clothes off in thirty seconds flat, then he flipped me over and yanked my hips up like I was a rag doll. I moaned and sank my teeth into his pillow.
He gripped my hips and pressed his hard cock against my ass. Burke wasn’t wearing a condom yet when he slid into me the first time, and suddenly I knew why other methods of birth control existed. Bare felt so much more intimate.
Burke released my hips for a split second to retrieve a condom, then pushed himself back inside of me, harder this time. One of his hands gripped my hips, and the other wrapped around me and located my clit. He rubbed gently as he thrust into me. After a moment, his thrusts grew harder and faster.
Fuck yes. He let go of his control a little bit more every time, and it was sexy as hell. Burke’s fingers dug into my hips, and he drove so deep into me that I almost saw stars when I closed my eyes. “Oh, god! Burke!” I moaned. It felt so fucking good that I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. It wasn’t like, orgasm good. It was like the feeling of being desired, consumed, and completely used up by the man I loved.
Because I loved Burke. I fucking loved him. The thought terrified and excited me at the same time.
He came and then collapsed on the bed. “Fuuuuck, Charlie. You feel so good.” Burke’s breathing was heavy, and sweat glistened on his chest.
As we lay beside each other, panting, I glanced over at him and said, “That was so hot! Shit, I like it rough. Your ex-wife is fucking crazy, Burke. How in the hell could she go looking for other dick when she was getting this?” I laughed and stared up at the ceiling.
Burke let out a deep breath and tugged me into his arms. “She wasn’t getting this, not even close. You’re the only one that brings this out in me, cutie.”
I smiled and pressed a kiss to his chest. “I don’t believe that. You are like all sexy, badass man. If that dick comes out, some lucky girl is going for the ride of her life.”
Burke laughed and squeezed my ass. Like usual, I felt his sexy, deep laugh in my chest. He kissed the top of my head and said, “Charlie, you do something to me that no one has ever done before. You have me thinking I’ve been living my life only half-awake until now.”
I propped myself up on my elbow so I could look into his gorgeous green eyes. I ran my fingers through his beard and smiled. “I’m glad. You do lots of things to me that no one has ever done before.” I smirked and leaned down to give him a soft kiss.
When I pulled back, he was smiling at me. “God, you’re so damn cute and sexy.”
“Good.” I settled back against his chest. We only had about an hour before he needed to head to work, and I wanted to soak up every second of being in his arms.
21
Charlie
Most of January was a blur of sex. We fucked everywhere in his apartment — Burke’s bed, the couch, the kitchen counter, the shower, the hallway, the closet. We fucked standing up, lying down, upside-down, and sideways. The only times we weren’t fucking were when I had class, he had work, or Tess was there. Then, on the nights Tess was there, we’d fuck as silently as possible on the floor in his bedroom so that she didn’t hear the bed squeaking.
I was passing my Anatomy class with flying colors, but I was turning into a shitty friend, daughter, and sister, and Matteo was the only one who knew why. He supported me but said, “Charlotte, I’m pissed and jealous because Jonah is moving so damn slow, but get it, girl. And then when things cool down a little, you better fucking start showing up for me again!”
Evan commented on my weird good moods on the rare occasion that I showed up at the bar. I’d been stopping by less often to avoid jumping Burke’s bones in front of Evan. My brother noticed and commented on my absence, too. “Where you been, kid? What’s that smile for?”
My mother and Bea both asked if I was seeing someone. I was never home, and they didn’t buy it that I was hanging out with Matteo that often.
One night, close to the end of January, Bea cornered me as I headed out the door. “You’re being so weird, Charlie-girl! What’s his name?”
I bit my lip and stared at the floor. Burke and I were going to tell people we were seeing each other. We didn’t want to keep it a secret. We just knew my family would disapprove, and I wasn’t ready to deal with the drama. I was also worried that my brother would be irrational and fire Burke when he found out. I needed to tell Evan before he found out some other way.
Bea put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at me. “Charlie?”
I sighed and turned my gaze to the ceiling. “Okay, Bea. Yes, I’m seeing someone.”
Bea squealed and pulled me into her arms. “I want to meet him!”
I laughed and returned her embrace. “Not yet! It’s so new. Give me a little more time, and then I’ll bring him over and introduce him to everyone.”
My sister released me with a sly smile. “Okay, Charlie girl. Mom and I are freaking dying to meet him, though. Don’t make us wait too much longer!”
“All right, Bea.” I grinned and reached for the doorknob.
“Oh, Charlie!” Bea caught my arm and gave me a serious, almost stern look. “Do we need to talk about protection and birth control and stuff?”
I groaned and rested my forehead against the wall. “No, Bea. We’re careful.”
“Are you sure? Because a lot of college guys are dumb and clueless about birth control. They think pull out and pray is a valid method, so I need to check in with you.”
College guys. Shit. Fuck. This was why I hadn’t told my family about Burke yet. Knowing I was dating someone was one thing. Knowing I was dating someone fifteen years older than me was another. “We’re using protection.”
Bea sighed. “Of course you are. You’re smart. All right, I’ll let you go.”
“Thank you!”
When I arrived at Burke’s apartment, he pulled me into his arms and gave me a long deep kiss. “Hey. I want to tell Tess that you’re my girlfriend. I uh, I have her Valentine’s Day weekend, and I thought maybe the three of us could go to dinner, and we could tell her then.” Burke’s gorgeous green eyes searched mine. “What do you think?”
I bit my lip and smiled. He wanted the most important person in his life to know that we were together. That meant he was so serious
about us. I nodded and pressed another soft kiss to his lips. “I like that idea.”
Burke sighed and kissed the top of my head. “Tess is going to be the easiest one to tell, isn’t she?”
I burrowed into his chest. “Yes. My family at least knows I’m dating someone.” I glanced up at him hesitantly.
“They just don’t know it’s an asshole twice your age.”
“Not twice my age, and not an asshole.” I paused. “Okay, sometimes an asshole.” We walked over to his couch, and he pulled me onto his lap. “I want to tell them. Maybe we could set up a dinner with my family like the week after Valentine’s Day?”
Burke let out a long, slow breath. “Okay. I’ll start looking for another job.”
“Why?”
Burke raised both eyebrows. “Seriously, cutie? You don’t think your brother is going to fire my ass when he finds out I’ve been fucking you right under his nose for a month?”
I bit my lip. “Yeah. Evan’s going to be pissed no matter how it comes out. But it’s stupid because he was sleeping with Sienna for like two months without telling anyone, and that was fine. It’s a double standard if you ask me.” I slid a hand under his t-shirt and traced Burke’s ab muscles with my fingers. “ I need to get him prepped and in a really good mood, first. He’s protective, but he’s not crazy.”
“So, you think we should show up at his place right after he gets laid and tell him?”
I burst out laughing. “That’s not the worst idea. Sienna should probably be there to keep him from losing his shit anyway.”
“You seem unsure about how Evan will react.” Burke wrapped a lock of my hair around his pointer finger.
I sighed and leaned into him a little more. “I am. The Evan before our dad passed would have been cool about it. The Evan now is stressed and more uptight.” I glanced up at Burke. “It’s like he thinks he has to take care of all the girls or something.”
