The Billionaire's Temporary Bride (Scandal, Inc #3)(65)

Neither of them spoke. It was enough just to be together. Charlotte liked the comfort she found in their shared quiet. She felt no need to fill the silence with some pointless yammering or awkward glances. They were together and alone.

She was where she wanted to be — in his arms.





***

Late that night, late enough that the sky was starting to lighten outside, Jack woke her, rubbing her shoulder and smiling down at her.

"Let's go," he said.

"You have another special place?" Charlotte asked. The fog of sleep still hung thick in her head.

"Yeah, well, I was hoping this one could be ours," he said.

Charlotte groaned and rolled out of bed. It wasn't cold, but she wrapped herself in a robe before following him. Jack coaxed her outside, led her through the dense overgrowth in the middle of the island as the sky began to brighten above them.

Gradually, the path widened, and the dirt and twisted roots underfoot gave way to sand. Jack led her onto the small beach as the sun started to break open the horizon. They sat down in the cool sand and watched the sun rise. Charlotte leaned her head against Jack's shoulder. Her cheek felt so warm against his skin.

As she watched the sun, Charlotte couldn't help but think how much had changed since that morning on the Cape when Jack had brought her to the marsh. That had been his way of letting her in, of showing her more of himself than he had shown anyone else. Now, as they watched the sun rise, and the darkness of night gave way to day, she wondered if this was a new step in their relationship, another revelation, a sign that Jack wanted more too.

She nosed his cheek and kissed him. Desire ached deep inside her, taking control of her body. Need set in like panic. Jack ran his hands over Charlotte's thighs, sending a thrill through her core.

She kissed him again, working her lips against his in a frenzy, kissing him, letting her hot breath linger against his cheek. His rough facial stubble rasped against her as he kissed her and nibbled on her earlobe.

A moment after that first kiss, their passion overtook them, like a squall blowing in off the ocean. Jack reached for the belt of Charlotte's robe and untied it, letting the robe fall open. She straddled him, pressing her bare chest against his. The warmth of his skin made her want him more.

Jack slid his hands over her hips and slipped her panties down around her knees as she fumbled with his shorts. She could feel his heat and his excitement, and she needed to feel that connection with him. She pushed against him, slowly moving back and forth, kissing him in rhythm with the waves that lulled against the beach behind her. Slowly, he pushed himself inside her. An overwhelming wave of pleasure rose inside her, and she tried to stifle her moan. Charlotte laughed and Jack looked at her, his face a contorted in pleasure and confusion.

"I just realized I can be as loud or as quiet as I want," she said.

Jack smiled. "Go ahead," he added, "shout all you like."

Charlotte rocked against him some more as the pleasure surged inside her. She moaned louder and pushed Jack back into the sand. She could feel his length push deep inside her. She closed her eyes and bit her lip as Jack grabbed her hips and pulled her against himself again and again. Charlotte dragged her toes through the sand and clenched her eyes tighter. She tensed as the pleasure grew even stronger, thrumming inside her head and her core. Her breaths grew ragged, and she felt sweat breaking out across her body.

How can this be so good? she wondered.

Jack sat up, wrapped his arms around her and rolled over in the sand, slowly lowering himself against her again and kissing her neck as he drove her to climax.

"Tell me when," he said. He slid his hands over her arms and locked his fingers between hers.

"Now," Charlotte moaned.

She shouted and flexed as she came. The world went quiet around her, and her mind went blank. The only sound she heard was her pulse pounding in her ears.

When she opened her eyes again, Jack was smiling down at her. He kissed her cheek, and nuzzled her neck.

"We might have to try that again tomorrow," he said.

Charlotte smiled and met his kiss, letting her tongue linger against his for a moment.

"Why wait?" she asked.

For that question, Jack had no answer.





Chapter 25

Charlotte was beautiful. Achingly beautiful in a way that Jack wished he could explain. Every inch of her was beautiful, from her smile to the light peppering of freckles across her face and shoulders, like the spray from the waves on the rocks beyond the beach.

He and Charlotte walked down to the beach every morning of their honeymoon. He'd hold her hand as they made their way down the worn path to the water. He'd lie down next to her once they reached the warm sand, either on a towel or a chaise, and together, he and Charlotte would read.

Lying there, Jack would peek over the top of the book and watch the way Charlotte smiled as she read. The little dimples on her freckled cheeks, the light in her eyes, it was wonderful. He loved seeing her happy, for once being far away enough from the rest of his troubles not to worry about the campaign or his family. Most of the time, he even managed to stop wondering what Charlotte would think of him if she knew all the secrets he had been keeping from her.

Charlotte had gotten a bit of a sunburn on their first full day on the island, and her face and shoulders had stayed slightly pink ever since. Over the course of the week, her tiny freckles had gotten a little darker and combined with the blush of her sunburn. She looked radiant with her cheeks flushed with color, almost glowing she was so beautiful. The tropical sun had brought out the blond highlights in her strawberry blond hair. Her eyes were as green as the sea. She looked so happy, so relaxed.