Defenseless (Salvation, #5)(52)

Putting all that aside, though. I’m falling hard for this girl. I want her in my life, and I think if I can keep her around longer, she’ll see she wants it too.

Knowing her ever-stubborn self, she’ll continue to tell herself differently, but I see it. The way she watches me when she thinks I’m not paying attention. How her entire demeanor shifts when I come around. Her body relaxes, and she looks at me a little longer than she used to. She’s starting to trust me. Even though she wants to believe she’s a ferocious tiger, she’s more like a *cat lately. Sure, we fight, because that’s what we do, but it’s different.

“I have to go back. I need to finish what I’ve been doing.”

“I’m not asking.”

She stares over my shoulder without responding. I’m sure she wishes she could punch me, but that’s kind of frowned upon at a wedding. Fuck this. I grip her chin, and force her to look at me.

“I’m telling you to stay. I’m telling you I want you to stay. I’m not saying for forever, just until we get some things settled. Take it, Charlie. Take what I’m offering you.”

Her shoulders sag. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yes, you insistent ass. I’ll stay for a while.”

My hand cups the back of her neck. I realize the slip I had earlier wasn’t a mistake. I’m falling in love with her. No, I’m already in love with Charlie. I pull her to me. I need to feel her lips. I kiss her differently—not like we’re not always explosive, but this has more of a build. It’s a promise of all that’s to come tonight, because this time . . . I’m going to make her mine and steal her heart.





Charlie

It’s not as if we’ve never slept together. This is dumb, being nervous over spending a night with Mark. But between the wedding and the wine, the emotions are different. He’s different. The way he looked at me, just . . . everything. I’m being dumb, but we’re still not safe. We still don’t know who’s doing things, and Mark is still a target.

If I were to let him in my heart . . . who am I kidding? He’s already there. I told myself not to allow it, but here I am.

Screwed.

I feel like that virgin on prom night, questioning everything. Do I take my clothes off? Do I slip under the covers naked? Never mind the fact that I’ve joined the mile high club with him. Had shower sex, wall sex, sex in his bed . . . I mean, we’ve done it. Just tonight . . . isn’t about sex. God, I’m being such a girl.

Forget this.

“Mark!” I bang on the bathroom door. “Mark! Open up! Now!”

He flings it open, scanning the room. “What’s wrong?” His chest heaves as he searches for the danger I must’ve made him certain was here.

The only danger is my emerging feelings. That I need to stop. I’ll prove there’s nothing more than great sex. “This!” I grasp the back of his head and jerk him down.

Our lips collide. He’s clearly surprised by my sudden attack, but he kisses me back. I hold on tight, trying to get him to thaw a little. I need this. I have to be able to feel nothing but sexual chemistry.

“Charlie,” he mumbles against my lips, trying to pull back. “Stop, beautiful. Stop.” He pushes me back.

My lips throb from the force of our kiss. “Kiss me, damn it!” I rush toward him, but he puts his hands on my shoulders.

“What the hell has gotten into you?”

“Hopefully, you.”

“What’s the rush?” he asks as he lets his hands slide down my arms. His voice is smooth like silk. “We have all night.”

I can’t speak. One part of me wants to beg him to f*ck me because I don’t want us to have this. The other part wants to love him. I want to be the one, and I want him to give me this. I know though, in the end, this is a mistake. It puts us both at risk. When you love someone, you’re vulnerable. I would prey on that weakness. Use someone’s loved ones against them. It gives an edge that I’ve never allowed anyone to have.

Mark’s hand glides back up. It leaves a stream of bumps in his wake. Slowly his fingers hook under the strap of my dress. I stand, statuesque as his fingers slide the fabric off. “All night, beautiful. I’m going to take every second to show you.” I shiver as his lips touch the sensitive spot where my neck meets my shoulder. “Every inch of you will be touched,” he promises. “Every part of you will be mine.”

My head rolls back as the other strap falls. The dress, being made of nothing, pools at my feet. As much as I may not have wanted this, I knew it would be different. I stand before him with no bra, and commando.

“You’re the most beautiful woman in the world. Everything pales compared to you.”

Why can’t he just be quiet? He’s hell bent on making me fall. “Stop talking.”

“You need to hear it.” His lips return to my skin.

Every touch between us right now is intentional. He wants me to feel him touching me. I want him to feel me giving myself to him, and yet, I want to hold myself back.

Mark’s lips touch mine, slowly, softly, purposefully. His fingers touch the side of my neck as he guides the kiss. Our tongues slide against each other, and I feel it all the way in my core. My heart pounds in my chest because there’s no way I can shut myself down. I can’t fight him; he’s too strong for me. I can taste the determination in the air. We’ll surrender every pretense, we’ll love, and we’ll no longer be able to pretend.