Page 139 of Quiet Longing

“Rhys,” my name on her tongue sent a rumble of satisfaction through me.

“I’m going to kiss you now,” I grunted, and then my tongue was in her mouth, drinking her in. She crawled into my lap, her breaths quickening as she straddled me and ground against my erection. It was all I could do not to growl. My hands slid up the back of her dress, searching for a button or zip, anything that would allow me to touch her bare skin. Frustrated when I found no opening, my palms delved beneath the skirt, sliding over her soft, golden thighs until I found her underwear slick and damp.

“Wait,” she gasped when I started to tug her knickers to the side. A second later, she was off me, standing as she ran her hands over her dress then glanced at the door. I sat there, clenching my fists to keep from dragging her back to me. She walked to the door, and I thought she was going to leave, but then she simply turned over the lock and returned to me.

“I … I don’t want anyone to walk in on us.”

My gaze heated. “No?”

Charli shook her head, looking shy but determined as she lowered to her knees in front of me. My breathing grew shallow as she ran her hand up my leg, my thigh muscles clenching when I realised her intention.

“You’ve given me so much this year. Your time, your help, your patience,” she said in a quiet, sultry voice. “I want to give you something in return.”

“Fuck, Charli,” I swore as her delicate hands went to my fly. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her she didn’t have to. Nothing I gave her ever required repayment. But the selfish voice in the back of my head told me to shut the fuck up because every part of me wanted Charli’s mouth on my cock.

When she pulled me free, I was painfully hard. I groaned when she gave a few stroking pumps then ran her nose from the base of my cock and up along the shaft. When she reached the tip, her tongue snaked out, circling the head, and I closed my eyes in sheer pleasure, hands fisting at my sides. I wanted to touch her, but I feared I’d come in seconds if I did. These long months without her had my need for her at a fever pitch.

Charli’s mouth opened, and she took me in, her tongue still working as she lowered as far as she could go. “You’re so fucking beautiful. You’re perfect. I love you so much.” I couldn’t stop the litany of praise that seeped from me as she continued to work me with her heavenly mouth. My abs tightened, and I knew I was going to come embarrassingly fast, her hand stroking up my thigh somehow was what got me there. I came roughly, hips jutting forward as I grunted and cupped her jaw. Her eyes held mine, and the sexy, confident, possessive gleam in her gaze surprised me. She enjoyed doing that, making me lose control.

She drank down every drop, and I felt like a man possessed as I pulled her up, cradling her in my lap as my mouth crashed down on hers. I felt her squirming and knew she probably needed a release, too, so I slid my hand between her silky thighs, finding her wetter, slicker. I was this close to bending her over and shoving my cock inside her, but I’d just come less than a minute ago like a fucking schoolboy, and I needed a moment to recalibrate.

My other hand cupped her breast as I rubbed her clit in fast circles, loving how she gripped the lapels of my suit, little mewls of pleasure leaving her. Quick and hard, I shoved two fingers into her, moving my thumb to her clit as I sank my tongue deeper into her mouth. Charli cried out, her thighs clenching around my hand, and then she fell apart, shaking against me.

“Good girl,” I murmured, petting her hair.

“Rhys,” she breathed. “That was … I really needed that.”

“There’s more where that came from,” I replied huskily just as my phone vibrated in my pocket. Pulling it out, I found a missed call from Ross, followed by a text asking where I’d gotten to and that they were about to serve the food.

Groaning, I let my head fall back against the cushion. Charli studied me. “What’s wrong?”

I cast her a playful, long-suffering look. “We need to get back out there, but I don’t want to leave.”

“Well, we can’t stay here all night. Besides, you’re the best man. Your absence won’t go unnoticed. Also, I’m starving, and I heard they’re serving lobster rolls.”

My smile was indulgent as I stole another kiss. “Far be it from me to keep you from your food.”

I helped her up, and after we both put our rumpled clothing back to rights, headed back out to the wedding reception.

Only this time, we did it hand in hand.

37.

Charli

I felt like I was floating as we went back out. Rhys lifted my hand, pressed his lips to my knuckles, a carnal promise in his gaze before he went to check in with Shay and the others. I spotted Nuala at a table with Jonathan and the couple we’d been chatting to in the church, Alan and Jim. Before joining them, I hot footed it to the bar for a drink.

I needed a glass of Prosecco. Or several. I was still in a state of disbelief that I’d confessed my true feelings to Rhys. I felt like my soul was drifting halfway out of my body the entire time I sat there, spilling my guts. Some illogical part of me had expected him to recoil, tell me he was fond of me, but love …no, he just didn’t share those feelings. But that wasn’t what had happened. Rhys loved me back. He’d perhaps loved me for even longer than I’d loved him, and this feeling of pure contentment and bliss couldn’t ever be matched. If today was the pinnacle of my emotional existence, then so be it. I could be happy with that.

The guy behind the bar handed me a glass of bubbly Prosecco, and I took a healthy gulp before going to Nuala and quietly lowering into the seat next to her.

“Well,” she whispered to me while the others were busy talking. “Did you do it?”

I nodded, unable to help the giddy, nervous laugh that escaped me.

Nuala lifted an eyebrow. “Okay, that laugh was a little manic, so now, I’m worried. How did it go?”

My eyes began to shine as emotion rose forth. I looked across the room to where Rhys sat with Maggie and Shay. His shoulders were broad, his features handsome as he spoke andgestured with his hands. I loved him more than all the stars in the sky. He didn’t notice me looking yet, but my heart filled just to know he was mine. And I was his.

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