Chapter 13

 

“Are you sure you’re okay, Ren?” Charlotte toyed with the stem of her wineglass and gave him a worried look. He had been quiet and almost withdrawn over dinner and, as she sat down on the couch next to him, she rubbed his large thigh.

“I’m good.” He put his arm around her and she leaned into his embrace. “How are you?”

“I’m happy.” She said simply. She rubbed his thigh again and despite their afternoon lovemaking, he could feel his cock stirring.

She glanced around the cabin. “I’m glad you brought me here, Ren. This place is, well, it’s special.”

He didn’t reply and she squeezed his leg. “Did you come here often as a child?”

“I did.” He confirmed. “I spent a lot of time with my grandparents growing up. My dad was a cop and worked long hours, and my mom was a nurse and did a lot of shift work.”

“Do you have any other family?” She asked gently.

He shook his head. “Not here. It’s partly why I’m so close to Vince and Mel. I have an aunt on my mom’s side but she’s lived in Europe most of my life. How about you? Are you close to your parents?”

“My mom died when I was four. She had a brain aneurism and it killed her instantly. My dad remarried when I was eight. Cathy is nice enough but we never really connected, you know? She and my dad moved to Florida ten years ago to be closer to her family. Dad and I kept in touch pretty well the first few years but then we just drifted apart. He came down for Rick’s funeral and we promised that we’d be better at keeping in touch and for a while we were. I even went to Florida and stayed a few days with him and Cathy. But I think too much time had passed and we just didn’t have much in common anymore. He calls about once a month but it’s pretty awkward.”

“What about Rick’s parents?”

Charlotte smiled a little. “They didn’t care much for me, actually.”

“What? Why?” Ren asked a bit indignantly.

“Rick was an only child and very close to his mom. She saw me as competition, I think.”

“Gross.” Ren muttered.

Charlotte laughed softly. “Yeah, it was kind of gross when you think about it. Rick was pretty good about trying to keep the peace between us. He was really easy-going and did his best to keep his mom happy while not allowing her to invade our space or push between us.”

She sighed deeply. “I know it was hard on him, though. He loved his mom deeply and it was stressful for him to see her upset.”

“How long were you and Rick married for?”

“Six years.”

“Did you want kids?” He asked tentatively.

“Oh yes.” She smiled enthusiastically at him. “Both Rick and I loved kids and we planned on having at least three. We were actually trying to get pregnant when we found out about the cancer. We put the plan for kids on hold until after he recovered.”

She leaned a little closer to him. “Mel asked me once, about six months after Ren died, if I wished that we had gone ahead and tried to have kids.”

She gave him a slightly anxious look. “As terrible as this makes me sound – I’m glad we didn’t. Rick was horribly sick for two years, and I couldn’t imagine how difficult it would have been to be caring for a baby as well.”

“That doesn’t make you sound terrible.”

“Doesn’t it? Rick’s mom thought it did. She actually took me aside one day, after it became clear that Rick was going to die, and told me that I should be trying to get pregnant. She wanted a grandchild. She wanted someone to remind her of her son and I get that, I do. There was part of me that wanted it as well but even then, she was fooling herself about just how sick her son was. It was too late, you know? He didn’t have energy for eating, hell he couldn’t go to the bathroom on his own, there was no way we could try for a baby.”

“I can’t imagine how difficult it was for you.” He murmured.

“Rick’s mom helped a lot, and we had nurses who came in at the end and helped care for him. He wanted to die at home and I made damn sure that I did whatever it took to make that happen.”

“You must miss him.” He stroked her arm lightly.

“I do.” She stared at her bare ring finger. “But after he died, the overwhelming feeling was one of relief. He had been so sick and I couldn’t help feeling relief that he wasn’t suffering anymore. My therapist said that was a common reaction. Like I told you before, the missing him and the true grieving didn’t come until about five months later.”

He stared out the window at the darkness. While Charlotte had been grieving her dead husband, he had been indulging in masturbatory fantasies about her. Shame swept through him and he shifted away from her.

She frowned at him. “What’s wrong?”

He sighed. “After the salon thing, I spent months thinking about you. Thinking about seeing you again – about touching you and being with you – while you mourned your dead husband. I’m feeling pretty awful about that right now.”

She shook her head immediately. “I don’t think you should. We obviously had a – a connection at the salon. I think it’s a normal reaction to have after what happened between us. Besides, the day after I found out you were alive, I was having my own fantasies.”

“Really?” He gave her a startled look and she flushed a little.

“Yes, really.” She leaned back against him before giving him a curious little side glance. “So what were your fantasies about?”

After their afternoon lovemaking, she hadn’t bothered to get dressed, just snagged his t-shirt while he had tugged on shorts. He stroked her bare thigh. “The usual. Me taking you every which way from Sunday and you screaming about what a stud I was during your multiple orgasms.”

She burst out laughing and he grinned at her as she straddled his lap. “Stud, huh?”

“I’m also willing to accept stallion, sex machine or master of the clit.”

She laughed again before lightly tracing his tattoos. “You are nothing like you seem, Ren.”

“What do you mean?”

“What do I mean?” She arched her eyebrow at him. “You’re huge, muscular and covered in tattoos. Don’t you think that projects a certain image?”

He shrugged. “I suppose.”

She rolled her eyes. “You know that it does. People think you’re a badass motherfucker. Pardon my language.” She giggled to herself. “If people only knew the real you.”

He gave her a mock scowl and tugged lightly on her blonde tresses. “Hey, I am a badass motherfucker.”

She snorted loudly. “Is that what you tell yourself when you’re rescuing kittens from trees and helping little old ladies cross the street?”

He grinned at her and she leaned forward and kissed him lightly. “Face it, Ren. You’re a soft-hearted, big old teddy bear.”

“Only around you.” He slipped his hands under her shirt to rub the tops of her warm thighs.

That, she decided, was probably closer to the truth. Ren was undoubtedly kind and he treated her like she was a fragile doll he needed to protect, but he had also killed a man on her front porch. Just broke his neck like it was nothing. A shudder went down her back and Ren squeezed her legs.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes.” She smiled at him. Despite what she had seen Ren do, she had no fear of him. In fact, she had never felt safer in her life. Ren loved her and he would do whatever was needed to keep her safe.

He loved her.

She mulled that over in her head. Ren really did love her, despite only knowing her for a short time, and that knowledge both frightened and excited her. She didn’t know if she loved him or not. She was very fond of him and she was certainly addicted to his skills in the bedroom but love was easily confused with lust.

You’re very fond of him? The man saved your life twice, he quite obviously adores and loves you, and all you can say is you’re fond of him?

Her inner voice gave a snort of disgust and she sighed to herself. Her therapist would tell her that she was pushing down her real feelings and thoughts on the matter, out of guilt. Guilt over wanting someone after Rick, guilt over enjoying another man’s touch. It wasn’t fair to Ren and she needed to figure out how the hell she felt about him before she hurt him badly.

“Charlotte?”

Ren was giving her a worried look and she gave him what she hoped was a seductive smile. They were stuck at this cabin for God knew how long and, despite how selfish it made her, she wanted to think about nothing but how good Ren made her feel.

“So, about these fantasies. Did any of them ever involve me naked in your lap in a secluded little cabin while you fucked me senseless?” She asked innocently.

She tugged his t-shirt over her head and dropped it to the floor, smiling at the hungry look on his face as his gaze dropped to her breasts.

“Well, did they?” She asked as she cupped her breasts.

“Yes.” He replied hoarsely. He tugged her hands away and cupped her breasts himself, tugging lightly on her nipples until they were hard and throbbing.

“Quite the imagination you have, Detective.” She murmured. She could feel his erection pulsing against her and she rubbed herself against his lap. He arched his hips into her and she helped him ease his shorts down his legs. She stroked his cock, rubbing it firmly as she stared at him, and he made a quiet groan before urging her forward.

She slid his cock deep inside her warmth, her hands clutching at Ren’s shoulders as she stretched around him. He kissed her throat, nibbling lightly, before pressing soft kisses against her mouth.

She returned his kisses as they rocked against each other in a slow, deep rhythm. He cupped the back of her neck and she couldn’t look away from his warm gaze as they continued to move in the same slow rhythm.

His hand slipped between their bodies and he touched her clit lightly. She moaned, her eyes slipping shut, as he touched her until she was tightening around him. He groaned harshly and she opened her eyes and smiled at him.

“I’m so close, Ren.” She panted lightly.

“Me too.” He muttered. “Charlotte, I lo– “

He stopped, his face twisting, before he buried his face in her neck and pumped his hips against her.

“What?” She tugged on his hair until he raised his head.

“Nothing.” He kissed her gently before rubbing her swollen clit more firmly.

She moaned as the familiar tingling began deep in her pelvis. She was very close now and she bit her lip and rocked her hips against him frantically. “Say it, Ren!” She gasped out. “Say it!”

“I love you.” He whispered.

He groaned with pleasure as her pussy tightened around him and she made a loud gasping cry as she came. He thrust into her, his entire body shaking wildly, and wrapped his arms around her small body.

“I love you.” He repeated as his orgasm swept through him.

She collapsed against him, panting loudly, and he stroked her warm back as she sighed contently. It was ridiculous how much he wanted her to tell him she loved him too. He stared up at the ceiling as Charlotte rested her head on his broad chest. She just needed more time, he told himself.

And if she doesn’t fall in love with you? What then?

He grimaced to himself and pulled her even closer. If she didn’t fall in love with him, he would gather up what was left of his pride and let her go. Even if it meant losing her forever.

“Ren?” Charlotte suddenly whispered.

“Yeah?”

“You are such a stud.”

He burst out laughing and she gave him a delighted grin before kissing him firmly on the mouth. He returned her kiss, stroking her long hair as she ran her fingers over his cheekbones.

I just want another week with her, he thought. Just another week to show her how much I love her and then I’ll take her back to her normal life.

* * *

 

“Ren, I feel ridiculous.” Charlotte sighed.

Ren, his large arm around her slender neck, shook his head. “You need to learn this, Charlotte. Every woman should know some self-defence moves.”

“You outweigh me by like seventy pounds.” She protested.

“It doesn’t matter. If you hit a person in the right spots, it doesn’t matter how much bigger they are than you.” He insisted. “Let’s try it again.”

She nodded and he drew her back against him until her back was tucked firmly against his chest. “If an attacker has you in a hold like this, where is he most vulnerable?”

“Here.” She raised her foot and pretended to stomp on the top of his foot.

“Good. My arm loosens,” he released his gentle hold around her neck, “and you do what?”

She elbowed him lightly in the midsection.

“Good. Make sure you put your weight into it, Charlotte. You want me to lose my breath, right?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“What else?”

“I can also go for the groin.” She reached back with her hand and cupped his penis, giving it a light squeeze. “Of course, I’ll use more of a punching motion.”

She grinned up at him as she continued to stroke his cock. “But I like your penis so…”

He laughed and kissed her forehead. “My penis really likes you.”

“I’ve noticed.” She said tartly. He was hardening under her touch and she gave him another firm squeeze. “Why don’t we take a break and your penis and I can show each other exactly how much we like one another.”

He grinned and shook his head. “Nope. We need to keep practicing.”

She pouted at him and he laughed again. “Pouting will not get you out of this.”

She shrugged as he turned her to face him. “Well, it didn’t hurt to try.”

He kissed the tip of her nose and pulled her flush against him. “If an attacker is holding you like this, what are you going to do?”

“If my hands are free, I’ll use the heel of my hand to strike the nose.”

She brought her hand up to his face and he nodded before taking her hand and straightening her fingers a little more.

“Don’t make so much of a fist. Keep your fingers curled just a little and make sure you hit him with only the heel of your hand. Alright?”

“Okay.”

“And if your arms are pinned down?” He put his arms around hers, pinning them to her sides, and she stared up at him.

“I use my head to strike the nose.”

“That’s right. But make sure you – “

“Use the top of my head and not my forehead.” She finished.

“Good.” He smiled at her. “If you’re lucky, it’ll knock the assailant out. But even if it doesn’t, it’ll make him let go and his eyes water, giving you some time to run.”

“But not before I punch him in the groin.” She said pertly.

He nodded. “It’s the most effective way of dropping a male attacker to his knees.”

She wriggled against him and he loosened his grip so she could wrap her arms around his waist. He kissed her forehead. “We’ll practice these moves every day, okay?”

“Sure.” She agreed as she squeezed his ass. “There are some other moves I was thinking we could practice, as well.”

He nodded. “Okay, but I wanted to talk to you about one more thing.”

She frowned at his serious tone, moving her hands to his waist and staring up at him. “What is it?”

“I think you should learn how to use a gun, Charlotte.” He said gravely.

She gave him an uneasy look. “I – I don’t know, Ren.”

“I think it’s a good idea, honey.” He replied. “You can take lessons, learn how to use it properly, and have a better chance of protecting yourself.”

She sighed. “Can I think about it?”

“Yes.” He touched her face gently. “I know the thought of firing a gun can be unnerving but I really think you need to learn, honey. I’d feel a lot better about leaving you alone at your house if you had a gun and knew how to use it properly.”

She sighed and rested her forehead against his chest. “I hate this, Ren.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.” She hugged him tightly before taking his hand. “C’mon, stud, there’s something in the bedroom I want to show you.”

He grinned at her. “What a coincidence – I’ve got something to show you as well.”

“I just bet you do, my little stallion.” She said cheekily.

“Little?” He growled and she gave a soft shriek when he hoisted her over his shoulder and slapped her ass lightly. “I’ll have you know my penis is slightly above average, woman.”

She snickered loudly. “Ooh, slightly above average you say? How can I resist?”

He slapped her ass again and carried her toward the bedroom.