Page 86 of Take It Offline

I can’t even move, and yet I feel like the one in control. I’m giddy with it.

“I want to see you come, Charlie. All over my stomach. Give it to me.”

“Fuck.” He throws his head back with a groan, bucking up into his fist, the muscles in his neck straining as he spills over, onto his hand, my belly, my thigh. Like a shockwave, his pleasure washes over me, and I close my eyes, already wishing we could do it again.

Plan A was good. Now I want to see plan B. Let’s see them all.

As my heart rate slows, I force my eyes open and find Charlie on the bed beside me. He releases one wrist from its cuff and rubs circles against my skin. I sink into his touch, my entire body loose, my strings cut in every sense as he removes the rest.

My mind is hazy, floating in the fading cloud of lust, and I reach out for him, needing more. But instead of skin, he’s zipped up.

Job done. Ready to leave.

“Good plan?” he whispers, brushing my hair back.

I can’t help myself. Things will change tomorrow, but it’s not tomorrow yet. Maybe I can keep being a little selfish.

He lets me pull him closer. If I had any energy left, I think I’d kiss him.

“Great plan,” I say. “Exceeded,” and sleep is already starting to take me, “all of my expectations.”

CHAPTER 28

I’M NOT READY TO LET GO (TELL ME SOMETHING I DON’T KNOW)

CHARLIE

Things I didn’t know about Emma before this morning:

She sleeps on her back, legs thrown out like a chalk outline.

Her fridge is barer than a frat house.

She looks even more perfect in the morning.

I shouldn’t have stayed last night. It isn’t what we do. But then we did a lot of things we don’t do last night.

All I can think about is the way she came undone. How deliciously she let go. Shameless, moaning as she listened to us together. It was easy to get off while she watched, hungry for every drop. Like I imagined she would be.

I almost left. After I cleaned us both up, the plan was to take my stuff and go, but then she blinked up at me and asked me to stay.

And what the hell was I supposed to do?

I said yes. I’ll always say yes to her.

Carefully, I slide out of her bed and already miss holding her. Waking up with her in my arms will go down as one of the best moments of my life, but I can’t let myself get attached.

Don’t forget she hates you.

She’s so beautiful, it hurts. Hair fanned out across the pillow, lips parted. I allow myself one touch, stroking her cheek softly, just to prove she’s here, that I’m not dreaming.

The coffee table is littered with notes, and familiar clothes hang on a small rack in the corner. It’s a carefully curated selection of items, but no more.

As if I can talk.

Everything I care about can be summed up in a few words: Reese and my car. Everything else is dressing.

The sheets rustle, catching my attention.

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