Jake let go of her long enough to pull off his jacket and vest. As he did, Charlie took the opportunity to look around at what she guessed was his room. Slightly larger than her guest room, it was distinctly masculine including the huge four-poster bed positioned opposite the bank of windows. A black and red Persian rug covered much of the hardwood floor and a tall chest of drawers sat between two other doors in the room.
Later she would have to check out the view from the windows. She suspected it was even better than the one from her room. Right now though she had another view she wanted to see. Turning on her heel, she noticed that Jake had pulled his white dress shirt out of his pants. Before he could begin to unbutton it, she moved closer to him and brushed his fingers away from the tiny buttons.
“Let me,” she whispered against his lips. She heard a deep intake of breath and couldn't contain her smile.
Charlie took her time undoing each tiny pearl button. Between each one she placed a gentle kiss on his lips or caressed his arm or back. The change in his breathing let her know her actions excited him. As she trailed a hand down his chest she wondered just how long she could tease him before he turned the tables. Jake didn't give her the opportunity to do anything else before tearing his arms out of the shirt as soon as she slipped the final button from its hole. The white t-shirt he wore underneath immediately followed, both of them quickly landing in a pile on the floor.
Jake with clothes on was gorgeous, but half-naked he was simply a sight to behold. Unable to stop herself, she ran a hand over his powerful chest then down his sculptured abs. She felt his abs contract and a new feeling of empowerment flowed through her. Without pausing she let her hand travel down further toward his belt buckle. With deliberate movements she undid the buckle making sure her hand brushed over his erection more than once.
After her third pass, he gripped her wrists. “I suggest you let me finish.” Jake didn't wait for a reply. Once he undid his tux pants and added them to the growing pile on the floor he took a step back toward her. “My turn.”
He began by pulling the pins from her hair. Once the twist she'd fashioned was gone, he slid his hands over her bare shoulders and back to the zipper of her dress. Inch by agonizing inch Charlie felt the zipper move downward until the only thing holding the dress up was the fact that her body was pressed tightly against Jake.
“I think it's time we get rid of this.” As Jake whispered in her ear he took a step back and the dress began to fall away from her body.
Determined to remain calm, she fought the unexpected urge to grab the dress and yank it back into place, and when the dress hit the floor around her ankles she deliberately stepped out of it. Her heart pounded an erratic rhythm as she stood there in nothing but her white lace thong, strapless bra and heels. Despite her discomfort she never once looked away from Jake's face.
The raw desire she saw on his face as his gaze slowly and seductively slid down her body extinguished any fears and replaced them with a burning desire that set every inch of her body on fire. Her entire body craved his touch and she wanted nothing more than to fall into the bed behind them, wrap her body around his and satisfy her craving. With every intention of doing just that Charlie took a step toward him, but Jake reached for her first and held her in place. Slowly his eyes traveled from her face down to her feet and then back again. As his gaze moved over her it left a trail of pulsing excitement behind on her skin.
“You're sexier then I imagined.”
Whether because of his compliment or the way his eyes devoured her, Charlie's confidence grew stronger. Before she could rethink her decision, she undid the tiny hooks at the back of her bra and tossed it on the floor. At the sound of Jake's sharp intake of breath she smiled. Before she could do or say anything else he closed the gap between them and scooped her off her feet.
The hard muscles of his chest and arms felt warm and secure against her already overheated skin. What would it be like to be held like this every day? To wake up in the morning surrounded by his arms and to fall asleep every night tucked safely up against his chest? Charlie couldn't dwell on the questions for long because Jake's mouth once again settled possessively on hers and thoughts of anything but the feeling of his warm hard body against hers disappeared into the night like smoke blowing in the wind.
Without breaking contact with her mouth, he deposited her in the center of his bed. Then with excruciating slowness Jake made love to her mouth with his lips and tongue while he teased and caressed the rest of her body. Though she wanted to reciprocate the sweet torture, he wouldn't allow it. Every time she tried to reach for him, he pushed her hands away.
“This isn't fair.” Charlie moaned as she tugged at his thick hair.
“Seems fair to me,” Jake whispered, his breath warm against her nipple.
She wanted to argue but the sensations coursing through her body were too exquisite.
Jake seemed to take his time learning every inch of her body. By the time he was done kissing and caressing her, Charlie was close to begging him to take her. Then just when she opened her mouth to beg him to end his torture, she heard the rustling of a foil package.
***
The heavy fog of sleep slowly dissipated and Jake opened his eyes. Right away he was aware of two things. The early morning rays of sunlight were streaming through his window and Charlie's warm body was pressed up against his. Sliding a hand under his head Jake replayed the events of the night over in his head, and a smile immediately spread across his face. Sex with Charlie had been everything he'd expected and more.
From the moment he led her off the dance floor she was an active and eager participant in their lovemaking. She teased him almost to the breaking point when she undressed him. It was as if he was a teenager experiencing sex for the first time. He stopped her when he did because he was afraid he would embarrass himself by coming the second their bodies joined. Yet when he reversed the tables and undressed her, it didn’t help much. He knew she'd be sexy as hell naked, but still he wasn’t prepared for the sight of her standing before him in a lace thong and bra. The woman was a mix of surprises. On the outside she presented herself as a strong Navy officer who always had everything under control. Every once in a while, however, he caught a glimpse of sadness in her, like when she spoke of her family. And her choice of underwear showed that despite her usual style of dress she definitely had a feminine side.
Next to him he felt Charlie move and he looked over at her. The sun coming through the windows danced across her bare skin making her red hair glow like fire against the black silk pillowcase. Instantly he felt something in his chest relax and a complete sense of peacefulness settled upon him. Often disappointment and the urge to keep searching plagued him. Neither emotion had bothered him for some time. In fact he hadn't felt either since kissing Charlie for the first time outside the hospital. He didn't know what that meant. However, he did know that he wanted to explore this thing between them. She seemed open to the idea. If she wasn't would she have made the trip this weekend with him? Would they have made love three times during the night?
As Jake continued to study Charlie and think about the way she made him feel, her eyelids began to flutter. Slowly her eyes opened and stared up at him. He could tell it took her a minute to fully realize where she was and he knew the second it dawned on her.
Charlie sat bolt upright in bed and tugged the sheet against her chest. Jake almost laughed at her attempt to cover herself. The night before he'd seen and explored every inch of her naked body. It seemed a little late for modesty now.
“What time is it?” she asked.
His fingers itched to pull down the sheet she clutched against her chest and pick up where they'd left off earlier, but he resisted the urge. She didn't appear to be in the right frame of mind at the moment so instead he glanced at his watch. “Six,” he answered as he pulled himself into a sitting position next to her.
Charlie groaned and moved to get out of bed. “I shouldn’t be here. If I wait to
o long your mom or someone else might see me going back to my room.”
Jake shrugged. He didn't see why that should matter. “I doubt it, but so what? We're all adults.”
“Your mom wouldn't even let Dylan and Callie share a room.” Charlie threw him a look that would probably stop most people in their tracks. It didn't faze him though. Actually he found it cute and couldn't help but say so.
“You're adorable when you do that.” He reached for her before she could comment and pulled her under him, silencing any retort with a kiss.
At first Charlie held herself stiff with her hands still clutching the sheet and her lips pressed tightly together. After a little coaxing she relaxed under him, and her arms looped around his shoulders.
“Don't go. Stay a little longer.” Jake trailed a hand down her side to her waist. He felt her quick intake of breath. She's going to stay. A sense of pure male satisfaction surged through him.
Charlie shook her head. “Can't. I don't want anyone to know I spent the night here.” Disappointment laced her words.
“My family probably assumes we're sleeping together anyway. It's not like they think I'm a monk.” The words passed his lips and he knew it'd been the wrong thing to say.
Nice going. Next to him Charlie eyed him. Without even asking he imagined Charlie was envisioning every headline and every picture of him ever printed. Time for some damage control, he thought.
“Come on Charlie. I'm twenty-eight. They know I'm not a virgin. The media has made sure of that.”
She didn't get out of bed, but she didn't make any move to continue their earlier activities either. Instead Charlie continued to study his face as if looking for some hidden answer. “I know that.” Her voice was confident but soft.
Once again he found himself cursing the media and the false picture it painted of him. Sure he dated, but the playboy they made him out to be didn't exist. In truth it never had.
“Really don't worry about my mom. She wouldn't say anything to you even if she did see you leaving my room. She'd come to me.”
Charlie narrowed her eyes at him, and he suspected that she was deciding whether or not she believed him. After what seemed like an eternity, she relaxed next to him.
“I still don't want anyone to see me going back to my room.” Leaning over, she kissed him on the cheek. “I'll see you downstairs at breakfast.”
He decided not to force the issue. More than anything he wanted her to be comfortable this weekend. If being seen leaving his room would embarrass her, it was best to avoid it. If possible anyway. Even if she left now there was no guarantee she'd make it back to her room without someone seeing her in the same dress as the night before.
Jake didn't point this fact out to her. Instead he remained silent, content to watch her get dressed. Unlike many of the women he dated, she wasn't stick thin. She looked toned and healthy with curves in all the right places. He could stay here all day and look at her.
“How about we spend some time on the water today then head downtown for dinner?” Jake folded his arms behind his head and leaned against the headboard. He figured a day on his sailboat would give them some privacy from the members of his family who planned to stay in Newport for the week. So far, except for the hours they'd spent in his room, they hadn't gotten much alone time and tomorrow they were headed back to Massachusetts.
Charlie zipped up her dress then checked her reflection in the mirror. “Sounds good.” After running her fingers through her hair she turned toward the bedroom door. “See you in a little while.”
An unexpected twinge of disappointment shot through Jake's chest and he couldn't stop himself from getting out of bed to stop her. “What no goodbye kiss?” He tried to keep his voice teasing as he reached for her.
“Thought I already gave you one,” Charlie answered stepping into his embrace.
Jake didn't argue. Rather he set about giving her a kiss designed to make her regret her decision to leave.
***
“So what do you do when you're not rebuilding towns after a disaster?” Charlie asked as they walked down Deblois Street later that afternoon.
Jake heard the gentle teasing underlying her words and decided to play along. “Mostly chase women in my fast cars. You'd be surprised how fast a woman wearing a pair of Prada heels can run.”
Charlie laughed. It was a rich full laugh and Jake thought it suited her perfectly. A laugh like that couldn't be faked. It was genuine, just like everything else about her. Perhaps that was what drew him to her. There didn't seem to be anything false or contrived about Charlie. What you saw was what you got.
“I wouldn't know. They don't exactly go with my uniform and I doubt they would be comfortable for doing my rounds.” Charlie stopped in front of an art gallery window where several paintings sat on display. Though each depicted a different landscape they all captured life in New England during one of its four distinct seasons.
“Seriously what kinds of things do you work on when you're not out in the field?”
She didn't look at him when she asked the question. Rather she seemed focused on one particular painting in the window which featured a family of four on a picnic. From the city painted in the background there was no mistaking it as a park somewhere in Boston. Although a nice painting, Jake didn't see what made it so interesting to her.
“Administrative business. Fundraising. Follow up on projects. The budget.” Jake turned away from the glass window, more interested in looking at her rather than the art on display. “Do you want to go in and look around? You seem really interested in that painting.”
Charlie's shoulders slumped ever so slightly and she frowned. “I've never been on a picnic.”
He could hear the deep sadness in her voice. A sadness that seemed too intense to be caused by the mere detail she'd shared with him.
“I've eaten outside but I’ve never been on a real picnic like that one.” She nodded toward the painting.
Jake opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it, unsure how to respond. Her slumped shoulders and mournful voice told him something buried deep down caused her sorrow. Something that had nothing to do with picnics, but he didn't know what or how to broach the topic. He was still trying to figure it out when Charlie turned to face him. Although the frown no longer marred her face, he could see the deep sadness lurking in her hazel eyes. Eyes that appeared almost green today thanks to her green top.
“Come on. Let’s keep walking,” she said as she took a step forward.
In silence they fell into step next to each other as they continued up the crowded downtown street. More than anything he wanted to banish the sadness he saw in her eyes. Prior to their stop she'd been laughing and relaxed. The woman walking with him now was quiet and solemn, not at all like the Charlie he'd come to know. Somehow he needed to lighten the atmosphere.
“How about we skip dinner and go for ice cream instead? Pirate's Cove is open. Nobody has better ice cream and we can play a round of mini-golf while we're there.” It seemed like a feeble attempt even to him, but it was better than nothing.
When Charlie didn't answer he added, “Unless you're afraid you'll lose.” In the short time he'd known her he'd learned she was not only headstrong and independent, but competitive. If anything would get her going it was a taunt.
Her reaction to his words didn't disappoint. Charlie's shoulders went back and the spark returned to her eyes. “You're on Mr. Sherbrooke.”
They walked the couple of blocks to Pirate's Cove in silence.
“When you said ice cream and mini-golf, I expected one of those little outside stands with a tiny course,” Charlie said as they joined the long line of customers waiting to place orders. The place they'd walked to was anything but tiny. A large eighteenth-century stone building with a flashing neon open sign sat way back from the road. To the left of the building was an enormous eighteen-hole mini-golf course complete with a windmill and waterfall. Behind the building were six batting cages and off to the fa
r right was a go-cart track.
“You grew up in New England and never heard of Pirate's Cove?” he asked feigning astonishment. “You should be ashamed.” The line moved forward and he moved with the crowd. “I used to come here all the time in the summer. They expanded the golf course and added go-carts a few years ago. I think they put in more batting cages too.”
“Really? You came here in the summer?” Charlie gestured toward their surroundings her eyebrows raised.
“And that's supposed to mean what?” Jake knew the joking tone had left his voice and Charlie's slight blush told him she'd noticed.
Jake watched Charlie's shoulder's raise and lower. “Nothing. It's just that you could hang out anywhere in the world and this place seems ordinary. That's all.”
Why did everyone think he considered ordinary below him? “There's nothing ordinary about their ice cream. They make it themselves.” He tried to keep the irritation from creeping into his voice. Jake thought he'd accomplished this but Charlie's next comment told him otherwise.
“I didn't mean to insult you, Jake.”
She dropped a feather-light kiss on his cheek and something in his chest tightened with emotion.
“Forget I said it, okay?”
“Said what?” he asked as they reached a window to place their orders.
Chapter 8
The following Wednesday night Jake called Charlie's cell while he relaxed in his entertainment room. When she didn't answer he left a short message and then checked his own three voice mails. The first was from his mother, the second from his sister Sara and the last one was from an old college buddy. He didn't plan on calling any of them back tonight. He already knew what his mother wanted. She wanted once again to broach the subject of him running for the state Senate. She saw it as a perfect place to launch his political career. A career he never planned on having despite his parents' wishes. He guessed Sara had called to just talk. She often did that, but he wasn't up for a long brother-sister conversation tonight. As for the call from Christopher, Jake guessed the guy was in town and wanted to get together. Normally when Christopher came to Virginia they'd catch a ball game or hit a few nightclubs. Neither activity held any interest to him tonight.
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