Page 74 of Charlie

I lean back, taking him in. "Why are you here?"

"I was miserable," he chuckles, shaking his head. "I asked a colleague to take my place – I left as soon as they arrived."

"Why were you miserable?" I ask, desperate to hear the words confirming the maelstrom of emotions swirling through me.

He cups my face, the corner of his mouth quirking, "Because the world is dull without you by my side, my little witch. The spell you have me under only grew with the distance. All I could think about was the feel of your skin under my hands, the smell of your hair, the way you taste." He burrows his face against my neck, "The sounds you make when you cum." He lifts his head, tilting my chin with one long finger, "Your turn. How are you here?"

"We'll discuss that inside," Jack says gruffly, coming up behind us. Cameron spins around, keeping one hand on my hip, "Jay!" He reaches out and they complete a complicated handshake before Jack pulls him into a hug. "It's good to see you, man."

"Cam." Lach greets him and pulls him into a fierce embrace, winking at me over his shoulder. Cameron looks between me, Jack, and Lach, trying to puzzle out the mystery of the century.

"I'm going to need a drink, aren't I?" He asks, taking his bag from the cab driver and slipping a bill into his hand.

"Several," I confirm, my heart in my throat. What if he doesn't want this? What if it's too much? We follow the guys toward the house, but I pull him back before entering. "Wait, aren't you exhausted? Do you want to get some sleep first?"

"I won't be sleeping for a while, Charlie," he whispers, catching my bottom lip between his teeth. The doorbell digs into my back as he presses me against the front of the house, one hand pulling me flush against him, the other fisted in my hair. My body ignites as he slides his tongue against mine, deepening the kiss. He tilts my hips, pressing his cock against me. I moan into his mouth as he slowly rolls his hips, lighting my world on fire. He breaks the kiss, pressing his forehead to mine, our breaths mingling. "I need you, Charlie. Can this wait? I want to take you home."

I shake my head, "It can't wait, I'm sorry," I whisper, my breath catching in my throat, shuddering out of me on a stifled sob.

"Okay." He breathes in deeply, steadying himself. "Let's go inside and get this over with." He brushes his lips over mine one last time before stepping away and tidying himself.

I follow him inside, my gaze roaming over him, barely believing he's here. And now I have to tell him what I did–what I'm doing. What I want to do. Fuck.

We find them in the kitchen, Jack is sitting at the counter with a cup of coffee and Lach is pulling ingredients out of the fridge.

"I spiked it with Bailey's," Jack says, pushing two more mugs toward Cam and me, motioning for us to sit.

Cam takes a long sip and groans. "I've missed your coffee." He eyes all of us, taking in Jack's bouncing knee, Lach's concentration on the fridge, and my teeth lodged in my bottom lip. "Rip off the bandaid," he says, squeezing my knee.

"It's not her fault," Jack mutters, but I hold up my hand to stop him.

"It is my fault. I should be the one to tell him." I take a sip of my coffee, collecting my thoughts. I look up at Cam, memorizing the way his curls fall over his forehead, how his glasses frame oceans of expression, the sharp cut of his jaw, his dimples barely peeking out. I take a deep breath and begin. "After you left, I started working on the tree in the pub in the afternoons. Jack was bartending one night and offered to help me... so, I stayed. He made me dinner, helped me with my work, danced with me, and drove me back to the flat on his bike."

"Well, fuck. I never had a chance, did I?" he says, looking over at Jack, his chuckle devoid of humor.

"Just wait 'till I'm done, okay?" I take his hand in mine, tracing his fingers. "We didn't get each other's numbers before I left Portree and came here."

"Here?"

I nod. "I rented the cottage."

"What are the fucking chances?" He shakes his head in disbelief.

"Exactly. I met Lach when I checked in and, well.."

"I didn't have a chance," Lach says, his gaze leaving the potato in his hand and landing on me.

"Can you feel it?" I rasp, looking back at Cam.

"Feel what?" he asks, licking his lips.

"The inevitability of this. Of us," I circle my hand, encompassing the four of us. "I feel like I'm going to suffocate in it."

"The inevitability of what, Charlie? I want you to say exactly what you mean so there's no misunderstanding."

I clear my throat and straighten, squaring my shoulders. "You. Me. Jack. Lach. All of us. Together."

"Fucking, you mean?"

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