Page 106 of Kissing Games
He shook his head and opened his mouth to speak.
‘No, Charlie, it was. I would never have done any of that if I hadn’t met you. I was on autopilot, living this crazy, relentless non-life. I had no idea how worried my family was about me. You woke me up. You showed me who I could be. You were always there for me.’ He shook his head again and she punched him on the arm. ‘You listen, Charlie. Youwilltake this. You’re the most incredible man I’ve ever met, and I owe you my life. Have you any idea what it would have done to me had I done that film?’ she demanded.
He nodded.
‘I was sleepwalking myself into an early grave. Now, thanks to you, I’m going to have an actual life.’ She paused. ‘With you.’
She could see the emotion on his face, and the struggle to accept the difference he’d made to her. He pulled her close and held her tightly.
‘Valentina,’ he whispered hoarsely. ‘I’ve got my family back and let my past go, thanks to you. I’m even marginally less of a dickhead now.’
She kissed his neck. ‘You’ll always be a huevón. But you’remyhuevón.’
He let out a huff of laughter.
She propped herself up to look at him, suddenly unsure. ‘Charlie,’ she began.
‘What?’
She could see the panic in his eyes. ‘Nothing, it’s fine,’ she said hurriedly. ‘I just wanted to check.’ Her stomach was cramped with anxiety.
‘What is it? You know you can ask me anything.’
She nodded. ‘I know some men might get a bit weird about money. I don’t want you to be like that. I have so much. I have more than enough. I know it’s selfish, but I just want you with me. I don’t want you to feel you have to go off somewhere and get a job. Can you give me a few months? At least?’
‘Valentina, I can pay my way.’ She went to talk but he put his finger to her lips. ‘But I’m confident enough in my own skin not to feel emasculated by you earning me under the table. Fuck, sweetheart, I’ll do anything I can to support you. There are many more ways to be there for you than earning a wage.’ He smiled at her. ‘Look, my career was in the army and now it’s over. Yours is in full bloom. But if you want to retire now, I’ll support you. I can always do close protection work. And…’ He looked away, his cheeks flushing.
‘What?’
‘I might have a weird job in LA,’ he muttered.
‘Huh?’ He wouldn’t meet her gaze. ‘Charlie, what’s happened?’
She’d never seen him look so embarrassed. ‘I got a call before I left London. It was from a woman who knows Brad. I thought it was for close protection work, but I was wrong,’ he mumbled. ‘I don’t know what to do and could really use your advice.’
When he’d given her the details, she howled with laughter. She only stopped laughing when he pinned her down and kissed her into submission, moving down to worship her breasts, when her laughs turned into moans. She lay back and looked at their reflection in the polished ceiling above.
Everything was perfect.
They spentthree days touring Colombia in the bus, although most of the time was spent in bed. On the morning of their birthday, they made love, ate breakfast and arrived with perfect timing mid-morning to celebrate with her family.
Valentina could tell Charlie was nervous, but she knew he had nothing to fear. In their own way, her family was just as in love with him as she was. They were so grateful for the support he’d given her, and overjoyed she’d found someone they approved of with whom to share her life. Charlie was pulled from group to group. The men wanted to see the dragon tattoo and arm-wrestle him, and the women wanted to see the dragon tattoo and get his opinion on their sewing projects. It may have been their joint birthday, but her abuelas held centre stage, telling everyone who would listen how it was all thanks to them that Charlie was there.
Valentina had bought a piano for her parent’s house, and after everyone was full and sleepy, they sat around it as Charlie played. Valentina sat on a sofa next to Isabella, cradling her new nephew.
‘That’s your new gringo uncle, Alejandro. Isn’t he amazing?’ she said to him.
He looked up at her with huge, serious eyes and her heart melted.
Isabella smiled and rested her head on Valentina’s shoulder. ‘I’m so happy for you, Tina. You deserve this. He’s amazing.’
Valentina kissed the top of her head. ‘I know, little sister, I know.’
The party wenton late into the night. Kinloch’s spiced shortbread was passed around, alcohol continued to flow and people started to dance. After a pleading look from Charlie, Valentina announced that the human jukebox was taking a break and pulled him away from the piano. They turned on the radio and everyone carried on dancing. Valentina tugged on his hand and they slipped outside.
The air was warm and the stars were bright. They walked away from the house into the darkness, the sounds of the cicadas all around them. He stopped and pulled her to him, his hot lips finding hers. She clung to him, moulding her body to his as waves of pleasure rolled through her with every flick of his tongue. His cock was already hard and pushing into her stomach.
He broke the kiss, breathing heavily. ‘God, I’ve been wanting to do that all day.’
