Page 19 of Just Screwing Around

We found a rhythm that worked and kept it up, faster and faster. The muscles of my thighs grew tired and my tongue sloppily tangled with his until I pulled back as I was hit by my second O of the evening.

Nick wasn’t far behind me. He stabilized both my hips with his hands and drove up into me with a few strong strokes before he doubled over too, moaning my name and shaking from head to toe.

It was easily the best sex I’d ever had. Erotic and shameless. Each with the singular goal of pleasing the other. I’d dreamed about having Nick inside me for a long time. Now that I’d had him, not once but twice, I wasn’t sure I could ever let him go.

Chapter Twelve

Nick

We fell into routine over the next few weeks. Charlotte sold her favorite recipes and coffee from the side of her yet to be opened restaurant. I’d called in every favor I could think of and wasn’t sure if I had the manpower to complete the townhouse project on time. Still, I left the office at five to have dinner with her. After cleaning up the kitchen, sometimes we’d go our separate ways. More often than not I’d end up in her bed or her in mine. In the beginning, we’d slept in our own rooms once we were both sated, but the last few nights we’d woken up wrapped around each other.

I loved starting my day with the dopamine hit that came with spooning Charlotte. Running my hands over her curves possessively, hoping she’d feel my touch long after she left my bed. She did have a tendency to hog the blankets, but the sweet softness of her skin made up for it.

We finally made it to the day of the grand opening of Oh, Beans! Charlotte woke up even earlier than usual. I didn’t have to work until later than she did. I wanted to wish her good luck, so I got up when she did at fuck-off o’clock.

“Hey, I know we are overdue for a conversation about what exactly this is between us, and I’d like to have it once I get through this opening,” she said as she got dressed and pulled her hair into a ponytail.

My stomach clenched at her words but somewhere deep down I knew she didn’t want this to end. There was nothing impermanent about the way we were together. There was nothing temporary about the way she gave herself to me. Friends with benefits would keep things in the bedroom. Charlotte and I shared meals, shared fears and woke up in each other’s arms. I saw her excited for her business, stressed about money, blissed out over my dick and questioning her decisions. She saw me exhausted, wrung out, playful and horny as fuck.

Life was busy and chaotic.

Every once in a while, I would watch her as she went about her day. Whether it was cooking dinner or wrapping her legs around my waist, I’d realized how fast and how hard I was falling for her.

How did I survive before she moved in here?

Everything, from the towels in the bathroom, to her scent on my pillow was better now that she was here. We had a few obstacles to figure out. I couldn’t fight with her brother and call her mine. I knew I never wanted to let her go. To make that happen, things would have to change.

The next time a big job came up for bid, I had half a mind to let Derek win just so I could have more time with her. And I could keep more of my sanity for myself. Charlotte wasn’t the type to play games. She wasn’t the type to do things half assed, either. She may have changed her mind on her career a few times but once she decided the bakery was it, she jumped in with both feet and her entire life savings. I hoped she’d do the same with me.

I arrived at the office earlier than normal and was surprised to see a man I didn’t recognize sitting outside my office door. “Can I help you?” I asked.

He was dressed in work worn jeans and had a ball cap pulled low over his brow. He held out his hand. “I’m Wesley. I just moved back to Springwood and heard you might be looking for an extra set of hands.”

I shook his hand, happy to see that his were as callused as mine. If he had lived in Springwood in the past, I didn’t remember him, even though he looked about my age. “Good to meet you. I’m Nick and I am looking, depending on what kind of skills you have.”

He chuckled. “I’m a plumber by trade but I’ve done a bit of everything when it comes to construction.”

I ushered him into the office before he could change his mind. Twenty minutes later I’d gone over his resume and hired him on to help with the townhouse complex. It turned out he worked maintenance at the seniors center, but that only kept him busy about ten hours a week. I watched his taillights leave the parking lot as he drove to the townhouse complex to get started.

I might just pull this project off after all.

Maybe.

I headed over to Oh, Beans! next. I planned to grab coffee and snacks for the guys before heading to the job site to see how things were progressing. I’d had luck with hiring a few guys for the short term. With the addition of Wesley, I hoped it was enough.

The parking lot next to Oh, Beans! was only big enough to fit a half a dozen cars and it was already full when I pulled up. I circled the block and managed to squeeze my truck into a spot before jumping down and heading towards the bakery. There was a big sandwich board that readGrand Opening!With a bouquet of helium balloons on either side.

When I stepped inside, I took a minute to look around. At the front was a brightly lit display case, filled with every kind of donut, muffin and cookie. It was flanked by a cashier on either side, standing behind a counter paneled in what looked like recycled wood. The walls were painted a cheerful plum colour on the top, the bottoms covered in a cream-coloured wainscoting. The booths and table tops were a rich brown and the chairs and seats were covered in a deep green vinyl.

And it smelled like heaven.

Overall, it was inviting and fun. Exactly like the owner. Every table and booth was full and there was a line up of three people at each till.

The one person I didn’t see was Charlotte.

I expected her to be running around like a mad woman. I took my place in line, my head on swivel. When it was my turn, I ordered a box of assorted pastries and a to-go box of dark roast coffee.

“Will that be all?” The girl behind the counter looked to be high school age with a ring through one nostril. She wore a pair of overalls at least a size too big and her long cherry colored hair was tied back in a bun.

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