Page 47 of Country Road Romance

Easy, Charlie. It’s not like this is your first time.

That might be true, but he didn’t want to hurt Jared, either physically or emotionally. He knew that he was probably making too much out of this, but he also knew that Jared tended to be a lot more vulnerable than he was willing to let on.

He got the condom and lube out and, while he got the package open and began to put it on Jared prepared himself. Charlie took the bottle of lube and did his part, and then it was time.

“Are you ready?” he asked Jared, his voice thick with desire.

“Oh my God, yes,” Jared said. “I’m not a wilted little flower.”

“Okay then,” Charlie said with a little growl.

Their bodies melded together perfectly. In fact, Charlie didn’t think that he’d had this kind of immediate physical connection with anyone that he’d ever been with. It was as if their bodieswere two halves of the same whole, that each of them had just been waiting for the chance to finally be with the other. As soon as they came together they fell into a steady rhythm, each of them knowing just how to bring the other the most pleasure.

Usually whenever Charlie had sex with someone his mind always stayed active. No matter how hard he tried, he just couldn’t shut off his intrusive thoughts. This time, though, all of that disappeared, as he lost himself to the physical experience of being with Jared. He kissed him up and down his throat, he whispered sweet and dirty nothings into his ear, he ran his hands through his hair. He wanted to be as close to Jared as he could possibly get, he wanted Jared to know in this moment that he was protected and safe and that Charlie would do everything he could to bring him as much pleasure as he could.

They tried to stay as quiet as possible, but neither of them could stay entirely silent. Truth be told, Charlie enjoyed the sounds of pleasure that Jared was making, and he loved the fact that he was the one making him make them.

When they both found release it was like Charlie had been taken to a different planet. The pleasure filled his entire head and his body and his soul, and he clamped his lips to Jared’s so that their moans blended together. Wave after wave of pleasure crashed through him.

As the tide of his orgasm began to recede, he started to pull out but Jared reached behind him and pulled him deeper again.

“Please,” he whispered, “I just want to feel you for a few more minutes.”

Charlie was happy to oblige, but eventually nature took its course. Even then, though, he didn’t move away from Jared. They lay there, each of them catching their breath.

When Charlie thought about the sated feeling that people always described as afterglow, this was what he’d thought of. He’d never actually experienced it before–most of the guys he’dbeen with couldn’t wait to get done and leave. He wasn’t sure what he’d done to deserve this piece of good luck, but he wasn’t about to mess it up by saying or doing anything that would disturb it.

Suddenly a small bedside light came on, and Jared turned to look at him.

“You always look like you’re thinking about something deep and profound,” Jared said. “And that always makes me wonder about just what’s going to come out of your mouth.”

Charlie couldn’t help but smile at that. “I think that’s funny coming from you of all people, considering how often you say things that aren’t always tactful. I’ve never met someone who is so good at being unintentionally mean.”

Rather than being offended, Jared smiled and snuggled closer to him, pulling the blankets up as he did so.

“You might not believe me, but I usually don’t mean even half the things I say. I usually just say something snarky or mean as a defense mechanism.” He huffed. “I can’t believe I’ve just told you that deep dark secret about myself. Now that means I have to kill you.”

“Do you really think that you’re that successful when it comes to convincing the world that you’re some sarcastic ice queen? You’re not Bette Davis you know.”

“I’ve always thought of myself as more of a Joan Crawford, actually,” Jared said.

“Well, that’s it,”Charlie said mock-seriously. “I’m afraid I can’t possibly date a man who’s a Joan Crawford fan.”

It was a mistake to mention the word “date.” That much was clear at once. Though Jared didn’t pull away, there was a slight but very noticeable change to his posture, a stiffening that suggested he was very uncomfortable with the direction that this conversation was starting to take.

Way to go, Charlie. Can’t you have one conversation with this guy without it turning into something weird?

It only took a couple of seconds for the awkwardness to pass.

“Let’s just enjoy the moment,” Jared said at last. “Let the future take care of itself.”

Charlie held his breath for a moment, but since there was nothing more forthcoming, he decided to just let it go at that. He planted a gentle kiss on top of Jared’s head and felt a flush of warmth when Jared once again snuggled up to him, as if he was seeking comfort. He put his arm around him and pulled him close.

This is good enough,he thought.Like he said, deal with the future when it gets here.

With that comforting thought in his mind, he finally let himself relax and slip into sleep.

CHAPTER 15

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