Revel (Second Chance Romance #1)(40)

“I love you,” she’d whisper, running her hand up his muscled abs. “Baby, I love you so much.”

It was his cue to take it slower. He’d put her legs down and lay over her, thrusting slowly in and out of her as she sighed, her hips raising to meet his rhythm.

“I love you too,” he’d say. “I always will.”

It was what she needed to hear to come again, and it was what he loved to say to her. He’d never meant something so much in his entire life.

“Please come inside me,” she’d say, her eyes sleepy and content. “It makes me feel like I belong to you.”

“You do, Charlotte,” he’d say, quickening his pace. “Completely.”

“I love you, Declan. God! I’m coming again!”

Her cry echoed throughout the house and it was met by his roar, the orgasm flooding from his shaft, his seed spilling into her wet and eager body, a pleasure like nothing he’d ever felt before. It felt like she was pulling his very soul out of him.

And it was like that every time.

Afterwards they’d lay together, tangled up in sheets and sweat. Neither could believe how happy they were; the post-love bliss was like being drunk or high off something cosmically good, a drug no company could ever invent.

“I never want this to end,” Charlotte would say.

“It never has to,” Declan would reply, kissing her head.

If he’d been told any different, he would never have believed it.





Chapter Sixteen


Charlotte had watched Declan leave, grateful to see his car pulling out of the driveway. She needed to get out and she hadn’t wanted to risk leaving the house if he was watching her.

She’d contemplated leaving Charleston. And she was still thinking about it. But for now, she’d wait and see. She’d paid for the rental house and it was non-refundable. Though she wasn’t hurting for money, she didn’t want to waste it. She could avoid Declan. And he probably wanted to avoid her too. If he knew what was good for him, anyway.

So she’d gotten dressed, fixed up her hair and headed downtown to King Street for some retail therapy.

It was so different being back in this city with money. She felt like she had arrived in a way, and after valeting her car at Charleston Place, she’d walked around for blocks, strutting her stuff in her Givenchy skirt and YSL top, a pair of sensible but stylish Tory Burch flats on her pedicured feet.

Much to her dismay, The Dixie Garden had been replaced by a Starbucks, but everything else looked almost exactly the same. It was a beautiful day, albeit hot as hell, and Charlotte couldn’t help but be temporarily boosted in her mood, swept up in the hustle, bustle, and energy of King Street on a sunny summer afternoon.

Despite the bombshell dropped on her head last night, she could choose to be happy today. After all, she’d come to Charleston to find that place again, the part of her heart and spirit that was capable of joy, even after being hit with life’s worst.

As she walked down the narrow sidewalks of King she noticed a woman walking toward her who looked incredibly familiar. But how? Charlotte barely had any friends or acquaintances when she’d lived here. So how…

Allyn Legare. It was obvious as the woman got closer. It was her old roommate. Damn.

Charlotte was tempted to duck into a store to avoid her. But then part of her wondered if Allyn would even remember her. And another part of her wanted to show her how well she was doing now. She was torn.

Ultimately, the decision was made for her. Allyn locked eyes with her once she was about ten feet away, and though Charlotte felt like she looked different, Allyn recognized her almost immediately.

“Charlotte?” Allyn said, her drawl still as syrupy as it had been ten years ago. “Charlotte Sanders, is that you?”

Charlotte feigned surprise, “Yes! And… Allyn? Is that you?”

Allyn nodded vigorously, a huge smile lighting up her face, something that caught Charlotte off guard. “Yes! Oh my GOD! Charlotte Sanders! What are you doing here? My Lord, I can’t believe it. Where are you going? What are you doing? Do you have a few minutes to catch up?”

So many questions at once, and Charlotte was still in shock to even be standing here talking to Allyn after so long.

“Well, sure,” Charlotte said, smiling. “Want to grab a coffee?”

“Yes! Let’s do it!”

A small coffee and pastry shop was across the street and the two girls sashayed their way around stopped traffic to get to the other side.

“I guess we just jaywalked but to hell with it!” Allyn laughed as they both entered the café. “I just can’t believe I ran into you. Wanna sit down?”

“Um, yes,” Charlotte agreed. “Sounds good.”

The two women, who had only known one another as girls, sat across from each other in a narrow booth, both awkwardly quiet for a time. Neither knew what to say.

“Charlotte,” Allyn finally started. “I’m really glad to see you. What brings you to Charleston?”

Charlotte smiled, “Just a little vacation. I’m the partial owner of a practice in Nashville and I needed a break. A sabbatical.”

“Practice? Are you a doctor?” Allyn asked.

“Yes. An obstetrician.”

“Just like you said you would be,” Allyn said. “Wow. That’s fantastic.”