Page 17 of The Doctor's No-Strings Deal

CHARLIE

He hadn’t planned to kiss her. At least, that’s what Charlie was telling himself. She just wouldn’t stop talking. But now that he’d had Megan in his arms, he couldn’t think about anything else. Visions of taking her home, kissing her more, and claiming her as his own would haunt him for weeks if he didn’t do something about it. There was only one real solution, of course. He had to take her home, kiss her more, and claim her as his own.

He texted his driver, who was parked close by. Regardless of whether Megan agreed to come home with him, Charlie wasn’t going to spend the rest of the evening in a bar. He was aching for her, and aching for her in public was not going to be good for his image.

“It’s a shame I’m not going to have that second drink,” she said while he was giving his location to George.

“You’re the one who said there were no safe levels of alcohol.”

“That wasn’t me. It was the… somebody. It was studies. Studies said it. Anyway, how am I supposed to blow off steam now?Kayla or someone said I have to blow off steam sometimes.” She was too adorable for words.

He smiled but quickly stopped himself. “Oh, I’m pretty sure I can think of something.”

The look on her face was nothing short of sly. She knew exactly what she was doing, and he had to give her credit for it. He wanted her so badly he thought he might burst. He grabbed her and kissed her sweet mouth one more time before the car pulled up to the curb. George stepped out and opened the back door for them.

“Ooh, fancy,” Megan said.

Charlie slid in after her and resisted the temptation to pull her into his lap right then and there. “Text Kayla and tell her you’re okay,” he said. “I don’t want them thinking I had you kidnapped.”

“Isn’t that what’s happening?” she asked with a grin. “I was hoping it was.”

“Just text her.”

“Okay, okay.” She pulled out her phone and began typing. “Please, help,” she read aloud as she texted. “I am being taken against my will. Charlie has a knife to my throat, and he won’t let me go. Send police and an ambulance because I might kick his ass.”

“Megan,” he chided, glowering at her.

She laughed as he snatched her phone from her and read what she had typed. It just said,Feeling tired all of a sudden. Decided to head home. Have fun for me!

“They’ll notice I’ve gone, too,” Charlie reminded her.

“Mmm… I think you’re overestimating your own presence.”

“Now who’s being nasty?”

“It’s just the truth. You never talk to anyone. We’d all love to hear from you more often, but you’re just so above us all.”

Charlie felt his shoulders drop. “I’m not,” he said, too quietly. “There’s just… a lot of pressure from my family. I don’t have the liberty of messing around.”

“Messing around?” She laid her hand on his upper thigh, and he nearly jumped at her touch. “Isn’t that what you’re doing now?”

“That’s the point,” he said. “If I mess around now, I’ll be less tempted to do it later.”

“Are you saying I’m tempting?” she teased as her hand slid up his thigh.

Charlie silently apologized to his driver and closed the window between them. There was no way to answer Megan with words, not when his whole body was screaming with the proof of just how tempting she was. He slid closer and kissed her hard. Her hand slid to his fly. Without stopping her completely, he murmured, “Careful. I’ll take you right here.”

“Would that be so bad?”

“Not at all. But come home with me, and let me show you a better time.”

As much as he tried to make himself out to be the one with restraint, Charlie couldn’t help touching her, kissing her, undressing her in his mind. Why was this drive so damned far? He couldn’t get to his own apartment fast enough.

By the time they arrived at his apartment, he was itching to get her to his bedroom, but Charlie forced himself to be patient. He took her upstairs and showed her the place, offered her a drink like a gentleman. The whole time she watched him like he was crazy.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she asked.

“I’m…” He paused, unsure of what she was getting at. “I’m introducing you to my home.”

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