Page 65 of Unearthed Dreams
“Mmhmm. Mom’s shows ended at ten, Dad started snoring by ten-thirty.” She dropped her backpack by the stairs. “Chase was out, probably at Elena’s again, though he won’t admit it. And Jasper and Nat are...” She wrinkled her nose. “Well, being newlyweds.”
She moved through my space—ourspace, if I was being honest—with the easy familiarity of someone who knew exactly where they belonged. The sight made my chest ache.
Because she did belong here. With me. Even if the thought terrified me.
Billy’s letter burned in my pocket where I’d kept it since this afternoon.You deserve good things.Maybe. But Charlie? She deserved fucking everything. More than sneaking around her family’s backs. More than being my dirty little secret. Morethan loving a man who’d spent the last decade drowning in ghosts.
“You’re thinking too loud,” she said, stepping into my space. Her fingers found the furrow between my brows, smoothing it gently. “Stop it.”
I caught her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm. “Can’t help it.”
“Try.” She pushed up on her toes, pressing a soft kiss to my jaw. “Or I’ll have to distract you.”
Christ. The innocence and heat in her voice—it still knocked me sideways every time. A month of teaching her pleasure, of watching her bloom under my hands, and she still managed to surprise me with these little moments of bold sweetness.
I was so fucking in love with her it hurt.
But love wasn’t always enough, was it? Hadn’t I learned that lesson the hard way with Kelsey?
“Charlie...” Her name came out rougher than intended.
She pulled back slightly, those stormy eyes searching my face. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t start overthinking this. Us.” Her hand found my chest, right over my heart. “I know that look. You’re spiraling.”
I covered her hand with mine, marveling at how small she was compared to me. How delicate. How fucking precious. “You deserve better than this. Than sneaking around, hiding what we are from everyone.”
“Maybe.” She stepped closer, eliminating the little space between us. “Or maybe what I deserve is to choose for myself. And I choose this. You. All of it.”
My arms wrapped around her waist automatically, drawing her closer even as my mind screamed to push her away. “You’re twenty-two. You should be out living your life, not tied down to?—”
“I’m twenty-three, actually.”
The words stopped me cold, my hands still resting on her hips. “Today’s your birthday?”
“Yep.” She traced a pattern on my chest through my t-shirt, refusing to meet my eyes.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” My thumb brushed the strip of skin where my shirt had ridden up on her waist, and I felt her shiver.
Her lips curved into that small smile that always made my heart skip. “I’m telling you right now.”
“Yeah, but there’s only”—I glanced at the clock hanging behind the bar, its soft ticking suddenly loud in the quiet space—“an hour left.”
She pressed closer, and the innocent way she fit against me made my blood run hot. “Can’t be certain, but I think that’s plenty of time for my gift.”
“Gift?” The word came out rougher than intended as her fingers slid up my chest to play with the collar of my shirt.
A blush crept up her neck, but there was something decidedly wicked in her expression. “Might be more of a gift for you.”
“What the fuck are you talking about, Riddler?” My hands tightened on her hips instinctively as she swayed closer.
Her cheeks flushed darker, but those stormy eyes held mine with unwavering certainty. “My virginity. I’d like to gift it to you for my birthday.”
The air left my lungs in a rush. My fingers flexed against her hips as I struggled to form words. “Charlie...”
“Don’t.” She pressed a finger to my lips. “Don’t overthink this. Don’t tell me I deserve better or that we should wait. I’ve done enough waiting. Please, Kai.”
