CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

 

 

Warm fingers smoothed up and down her side, her skin prickling as goosebumps followed their movements, the gentle rhythm causing her to sigh with contentment. Charlie had never felt so relaxed as she lay in the crook of Jake’s arm with her head against the side of his chest, her own fingers playing with the hair around his nipple, hard from her touch. She could hear the dull, rhythmic beat of his heart, slow and steady, a lullaby she’d happily listen to every night to fall asleep.

They spent all afternoon exactly where they were, more exploring, more orgasms. She had no care for the time, or the reality that was waiting for them when they left Jake’s bedroom.

A knot formed in her stomach. Charlie knew that at some point, they would have to address him leaving. He’d been adamant about it before. Now, even though he’d said it wouldn’t change anything, there was a part of her that wondered—no hoped—he’d changed his mind.

“What are you thinking?” The deep voice rumbled in her ear.

Lifting her head up, she moved a little, her leg slipping between his as she lay against him, their naked bodies so comfortable with each other. Her heart kicked up when she locked gazes with him. Afraid if she hesitated she might not say it, she just came out with it. “Stay.” The moment the word left her mouth she saw his easy expression falter, only slightly, but enough that he no longer looked so relaxed, his jaw tightening. “I know you are leaving to protect me, but the truth is, I don’t want you to.”

“Charlie.” His hand slid up her back to the nape of her neck. “I can’t stay. I won’t allow you to get hurt again. I couldn’t deal with something else. . .”

When she saw the darkness wash over his face before his eyes closed and his lips pressed together, she bent down and placed her mouth on his, kissing away the anguish that tore at her heart. Knowing what she did now was a blessing and a curse: Jake wasn’t a criminal—a huge relief—but now she knew how broken he was, her stomach sinking when she thought of all he’d been through. Being the one to find his mum in that awful state. . . It was unimaginable.

She broke the kiss, leaving their lips still touching when she said, “Please. We’ve only just found each other. Don’t let that man take anything else away from you.”

He seemed to go rigid and he turned his head away. “What’s the matter, Jake? Is there something else you’re not telling me?”

Guiding his head back to face her with her hand, Charlie stared into his eyes until he closed them with a sigh. “He already has taken something else.” Shifting a little, he rubbed her shoulder. “I have a younger brother.”

Charlie pushed up a little so she was on her elbow. “Where is he?”

“He was adopted while I was in prison. Nobody asked my opinion. It happened without my knowledge. After what happened to my mum and I was sent down, he was placed into the system and went into foster care. The family who he went to live with adopted him and of course I was the criminal in prison. Even though I was his next of kin I had no say.”

His eyes lowered with a frown. “He’s the reason I moved here. I don’t see him very often. The couple who he is with, the Morgans, won’t speak to me so it’s hard for me to arrange to see him. That woman you saw leaving my apartment that morning, she is a liaison officer. She is the only reason I get to see him at all. Although the family knows I was wrongly imprisoned, they don’t like me. Must be the stigma surrounding everything that happened. Maybe they assume it runs in the family. I don’t know. All I know is they make every excuse under the sun for me not to see him.

“I’ve been let down so many times. Whenever I’ve arranged to see him they’ve always come up with an excuse.”

Charlie ached at the sorrow in his voice. He’d been through so much she couldn’t fathom how he felt. And now he couldn’t even see his own brother. There was no reason for that. None of this was Jake’s fault. “How old is he?

“Almost nine now. I don’t even think I’ve seen him half a dozen times since I got out. And even those times were brief.”

“I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Can’t you get access through the courts?”

“I’ve spoken to so many people. But they’re his legal guardians now and what they say goes. I don’t have right of access as his brother.”

Why did the world keep shitting on this man? As if he hadn’t been through enough. “There has to be something you can do. It isn’t fair that you should lose out on seeing your brother. It’s not fair that your brother should lose out on seeing you because of the actions of that evil man.”

Jake reached up and brushed her hair behind her ear. “Let’s not talk about it anymore. I don’t want anything else to spoil today. I spend most of my days trying to keep that man out of my head. Not that it ever works. Most of the time he’s here inside me, every minute, every hour, every second. Right now I want to be with you. I don’t want him intruding on us. He’s done enough already—to both of us.”

“Okay.” Settling back down, Charlie rested her chin on his chest, unnerved by what he’d told her. It was no wonder Jake was the way he was. How can someone go through all that and come away unscathed. It wasn’t possible. The scars ran deep, she knew that now. Maybe there was something she could do to help him heal from them. “Jake? Will you promise me something?

Jake nodded. “If I can.”

“Will you let me see if I can do anything? I’d like to see if I can help with your brother.”

His brows pulled down and for a minute she expected him to say no. Then he looked at her, his expression lightening. “There’s nothing you can do.”

“I’d like to try. At least, let me do that while you’re gone.”

The sorrow she saw in his eyes right then cut her deep. He nodded. “Okay.”

Pulling her in closer, she met him in another kiss. When he pulled away, he reached up with both hands and placed them on her cheeks. “Do you see now why I have no choice? Jonathan is in as much danger as me as long as that prick is around.” She felt his chest rise with a deep inhale. “I have to go. I won’t let him get the chance to hurt you or my brother. I have to make sure you’re both safe.”

He blinked hard and then his eyes held hers. “When it’s all over, if you still want me, then we can be together without the threat of him looming over us. I can try and live my life again.”

“Of course I’ll still want you.” Letting out a soft laugh, she eyed him coyly. “I’ve barely had you.”

The side of his mouth rose. “I don’t know. We haven’t done too badly today.”

His mouth captured hers and he rolled them over, moving his body on top of her.

Charlie tried to keep her mind in the moment, but the cogs were already turning. If it was the only way she could help, she would do all she could, call in all her favours, anything to help Jake get proper access to his brother.