Page 49 of Out of the Gold

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The car stops next to Charles, then the driver jumps out and grabs his bag. He ushers Charles into the car and stows his kit in the trunk. When he returns to the driver’s seat, he chatters about all the Chase Wright movies he’s seen and what a huge fan he is. For his part, Charles kisses the top of my hand. Then, he engages the driver for the twenty-minute drive.

Despite the crazy, corkscrew skinny road without guard rails, I manage to smile at the driver’s reaction to Charles. After all, I’m used to my dad’s fans treating him much the same way. And he reacts exactly how Charles is. With respect. As if they’re family. My opinion of myboyfriendgoes up yet another notch.

When we pull into the hotel, I ask them both to remain in the car while I check us in. No need to get Charles noticed by anyone else. While people know my dad here, they don’t associate me with him, so I slip in under the radar and get the key to our private villa.

The driver takes us to our room, then asks for photos, to which Charles graciously agrees. Once ensconced inside our room, I head for the balcony and fling open the French doors. I step outside and inhale the beauty that is the Amalfi Coast. We’re high up, with an unobstructed view of the town and the water below us. Blue skies are filled with fluffy white clouds.

Charles steps behind me and whispers in my ear, “Perfect.” He kisses my earlobe, then bites it.

A shiver of excitement races through me. I reach back and play with his hair. “The view is perfect.”

“Not talking about the view.” His hands come around my waist, and he settles my back against his front.

I melt into him. Tracing each of his fingers, I murmur, “I was thinking . . .”

He blows into my ear. “About?”

My shoulders wiggle against his torso. I blurt, “I can call you my boyfriend, right?”

He chuckles, a low, rumbling sound that courses through my body. “You’d better. I’ve been thinking of you as my girlfriend since Positano.”

His words catch in my throat and I spin around in his arms. Positano’s where I shared about King and we saw the cathedral and had gelato. Escaped the paparazzi. Almost kissed. Where I started to fall for the man beneath the actor. “I like the sound of that, boyfriend!”

I pull his face down to mine. Our lips meet, slide over the other’s, molding. His tongue presses forward, and I open for him. We kiss like we haven’t done this before and can’t get enough of each other.

His hands slide down to my hips and mold me to him. His bulge grows against my midsection, due to our height difference. But I want more. I want all of this man.

I can trust him. He’s not after my dad’s connections, he has his own.

He believes in my talent.

And I believe in him. He’s the real deal.

Charles breaks our kiss, panting. He places his forehead against mine. “Give me a minute, Goldie.”

“I don’t want to.” I squeeze my arms around the back of his neck.

His blue eyes darken and he tips his head back down to mine. Our kiss reignites.

Charles runs his hands up and down my back. My nipples harden beneath my bra. The sensation’s still new to me, yet it’s amazing. I rub my chest against his.

Charles breaks our kiss and stumbles back two steps. “I have to stop.”

I repeat, “I don’t want to.”

His eyes pierce right to my soul. I have no doubts and need to tell him. “I want it to be you, Charles. Please, show me what I’ve been missing.”

His palm runs across his perfect stubble. “Are you sure? You want to take this step with me?”

“I’ve never been more sure about anything. I trust you to make this wonderful for me. For us.”

His chest expands. “I haven’t wanted a woman as much as I want you. Ever. I promise you’ll never regret choosing me.”

When he doesn’t move, I step forward and place my palm on his pecs, over his heart. It’s pounding as much as mine is. My gaze travels upward. “I know.”

Charles closes the gap between us, his mouth landing on mine again as his hands travel down my abdomen and pull my shirt free of my shorts. Holding the hem, he tugs on the material. Raising my arms, he skims it up and over my head and buries his mouth on my neck.

He gives me little love bites, which zing straight to my core. My hips pulse in time with them, and I moan.