Page 18 of Sweet Redemption
Chapter Nine
Markus
Talk about history. Everywhere I looked, there were pictures of Charlie’s family adorned on the wall. The furniture was no different. It was old, except for the huge couch and loveseat in what looked like a family room Charlie led me to. A large fifty-inch flat screen television was on the wall adjacent to the seating area was the only modern amenity I saw and looked out of place in the room.
“Have a seat. I’ll get you a cup of tea, unless you’d prefer coffee.” Charlie yanked her robe tightly closed at her chest and tightened the belt around her waist.
“Coffee, please, if you don’t mind.” I sat at the end of the couch.
She gave me a nod and walked off into another doorway. From the way she sauntered off, her ankle had to be much better. I wasn’t sure if Charlie was angry because I showed up at her home or that I left her wanting and in a state of undress in the library. I had never walked away from a woman like I did with Charlie, for good reasons. I thought so at the time. I would have to wait and see.
It wasn’t too long before Charlie was back with a small tray filled with cups, cream, sugar cubes and cookies. She had also changed her clothes into a sweatshirt and shorts. Both surprised me.
“I hope I wasn’t intruding in something you were doing,” I said and took the cup of coffee Charlie handed me.
“No. I just got out of the bath and was enjoying a cup of tea when you pulled up.”
I placed the cup back on the tray and looked at Charlie. “Are you still mad at me for leaving you?”
Charlie’s cup of tea was midway to her mouth when she paused and looked at me. She didn’t take a sip. Instead, she put the cup down and wiped her palms on the small hand towel she’d brought with the tray.
“Markus…” She shook her head and laughed. “I was going to lie to you and say no. But I have to be honest. Yes, you left me half naked,and a bit confused, but I’llhavetoget over it. We’re adults and after thinking about what your reasons were for stopping, I’m glad you did. I know I’d regret sleeping with you, for the simple fact that I am not that way and I don’t even know you. Though, that still doesn’t mean that you didn’t hurt my feelings.”
“Like I said, I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.” A level of nervousness and trepidation swirled in my gut. What I was about to say would go against everything I had done in my life. Being upfront and honest about my feelings was something foreign to me.
I took a deep even breath, moved over to the love seat where Charlie sat and took her hand. She didn’t pull away from my touch. That was a good sign.
“As crazy as this sounds, Charlie, but the moment we met, I knew you were someone special. And it made me nervous—scared even. You have to understand something about me.”
“What?” Her fingers tightened around mine.
“I’ve fucked around since college—hell, even some in high school. Practically slept any woman who showed interest in me. Granted, I’ve slowed down since then, but I was still up for a party.”
“Are you saying you’re a man whore?” She smiled. There was no hint of censure in her eyes. No judgment.
“You can say that.” I took another breath and let out the demon I had bottled up for years. “About two years ago, I made the biggest mistake of my life and for that, I lost my family.”
Charlie stayed quiet and only listened. I needed that. I hoped after what I would say, she wouldn’t throw my ass out of the house.
“My brother Bryce was engaged to the daughter of a friend of my father. Her father was one of the incoming partners at my family’s firm. It was a match made in my father’s world. But their relationship went to crap, or so I thought from what Brittany had told me. Anyway, she called me one night crying saying that she and Bryce had broken off their engagement.”
“You went over there.” It wasn’t a question. Charlie was smart and caught on quick. “She seduced you, didn’t she?”
“When she called me, I just got home from having a few drinks with a couple of clients of mine. I ran over there to console her. One second, I was hugging her and then she started to kiss me. I know it was a lame excuse using the alcohol as my weakness, but it was a part of the issue.”
“When did your brother find out?”
I let go of her hand and stood. “When he walked in on us in his bedroom.”
“Markus.” It was all she said.
“So, everything Brittany had said to me was total bullshit. And I believed it.” I paced the small room and then stopped. The realization dawned on me. I wasn’t worthy of Charlie. I wasn’t worthy for any good woman. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking… to spill my shit out on you.” I needed to leave. “I’ll just go.”
I reached the handle of the front door but Charlie was right there, blocking my way. “Did you try to tell your brother what his fiancé had said and done?”
“In that moment, Bryce only saw betrayal from me. From that point on, we stopped being brothers. We haven’t talked, not since that night before I left for Los Angeles.”
“Oh Markus.” Charlie cupped my face and pulled me to her. She kissed my lips and then hugged me tight. So tight that I could hardly breathe, but welcomed it.
“Charlie. There is another reason why I came here.” I had to finish. I wanted her desperately, and that need hadn’t stopped for one second. I just hoped that Charlie felt the same way. From the second our eyes met, there were sparks between us. Though, for me, it was more than a physical connection. I couldn’t explain it but knew immediately Charlie was much more to me than a beautiful woman.
“Don’t say it,” Charlie replied with a hand on my cheek.
“But—” She covered my mouth with her finger.
“I said, don’t say it,” she interrupted. “Show me.”
