CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

 

 

Standing in front of the mirror in her bedroom, Charlie couldn’t wipe the smile from her face. In the two weeks that had passed since Jake had come home from the hospital, he’d improved so much. Their relationship was now official and Charlie had honestly never felt so happy.

Tonight was so important to Jake, which was why she’d forgone her usual casual smart for a pretty little floral dress that stopped halfway down her thighs, and a pair of beige strappy sandals with a two inch heel. The music agent, who had left his card last time Jake had been at The Crow, was coming to meet with him at his gig later. A lot was riding on the whole evening. It had taken a ton of persuading, most of it without clothes, to get Jake to call the guy, but eventually he gave in. The fact that the man didn’t hesitate to arrange to meet him said a lot about how keen he must be to work with Jake.

It was hardly a surprise. Charlie could be accused of being biased, but she knew Jake had the talent to take him far. If only from the response he’d already got at The Crow, the audience there was proof of it.

Charlie was probably more nervous than he was. It wasn’t only his first gig since the attack; tonight he could be performing for his future. If the agent took him on, who knows what opportunities would come his way.

No one deserved it more than him.

Washing her lips in muted coral lipstick, she straightened her dress and checked herself over once more, eager to get to Jake’s. Jason and Selena were picking them up in a little over an hour, so she was ready far too early; it would give her a little time with him before they left for the gig.

A knock at the door surprised her. Must be Jake. Maybe he was as keen as her. It was crazy how the butterflies multiplied in that moment. She’d only seen him an hour and a half ago when she’d called in briefly after uni.

Almost sprinting to the front door, she felt stupidly giddy when she opened it, ready to pounce on him and drag him inside.

Her blood turned to ice the moment she saw who was standing there instead of Jake.

“Hi, Char.”

It would be normal to question her eyes and ears in that moment. The mousy hair was the same, but the face was smoother, clean shaven. And the clothes he wore were very different to what she’d been used to seeing him in: Dark denim jeans that were smart and looked expensive, a soft, beige woollen jumper under a grey, knee-length tailored coat. For a moment, Charlie struggled to take air in after the wind had been knocked from her lungs.

As difficult as it was, she hardened her voice. “What are you doing here, Dale?”

Honestly, she inwardly cringed at the smile he gave her. “I’ve been trying to get hold of you—”

“How did you get my number? My address?” The shock was wearing off now, a mix of anger and unease taking over. “Why are you even here?”

“Char, I haven’t come to cause any—”

“Don’t call me that.” She hated that he was shortening her name, like he was familiar enough that he felt he could do that.

When he took a step forward, she put her hand up to stop him getting any closer, her heart picking up pace. It was strange to feel what she did in that moment. The last time she’d seen Dale she’d been frightened of him, cowering to his aggression. It wasn’t the same anymore. It seemed she’d underestimated her strength; as she stood before him now, all she felt was contempt.

“Charlie, I’m trying to explain here.” When he reached out for her she couldn’t help raising her voice.

“No. Dale. I don’t want you to explain anything. You need to leave.”

“For God’s sake Charlie. I’m trying to—”

It happened so fast that all Charlie saw was a blur before Dale was spun around. Next thing she knew, he was being held up against the wall with a pissed off Jake gripping hold of his coat with both hands.

“She told you to leave,” he spat, his expression thunderous.

“Jake.” Oh God. Holding his arm she tried to get him to loosen his grip on Dale. “He’s not worth it.”

“Who the fuck are you?” Dale snarled, struggling to move Jake’s hands.

“Someone who’s putting you in your place, which is long overdue from what I’ve heard.”

The way he was manhandling Dale, Jake was at risk of doing damage to his stomach. It wasn’t like she didn’t appreciate his knight in shining armour act, and she definitely wasn’t thinking about how hot he was right now, but he wasn’t Superman. He’d been advised to take it easy for the next couple of months. Any other time, Charlie would have left him to it—it wasn’t like Dale didn’t deserve it—but instead she tried harder, pulling on Jake’s arm and getting up into his face. “Jake. Don’t. He’s not worth it.”

It seemed to work. Jake threw a quick glance at her and she hoped her eyes said what she didn’t want to say out loud, which would expose his weakness in front of Dale. You’re going to hurt yourself.

Loosening his hold on Dale’s coat, Charlie sighed with relief as Jake took a step back. Until Dale’s bruised ego got his mouth moving.

“Yeah.” Straightening his coat as Jake let go, Dale’s face was full of scorn. “You put your hands on me again and—”

Well, there was nothing she could do to stop the punch Jake threw his way, except for putting her arms in the air in defeat. She didn’t even see where it landed, but from the umff Dale let out as he fell back against the wall, throwing his arm out to stop himself falling, it must have hurt.

He wiped at his lip as he righted himself. “You’re a dick,” he said to Jake.

Charlie grabbed hold of Jake’s arm to stop him going for him again. “No. Leave it.”

“I didn’t come here to hurt her.” Wiping his split lip again, Dale looked at the blood on the back of his hand. “I came here to apologise.”

Well, that was unexpected, and for a second she was taken aback.

“What makes you think she wants to hear it?”

“Jake.” Doing her best to move him back a little, Charlie looked at Dale who hadn’t attempted to retaliate, which was out of character for him. It piqued her interest. “Why would you come all the way here to apologise to me? And why now? It’s been a long time, Dale.”

“I didn’t come here especially to see you. I’m working about twenty minutes away, and seeing as you kept ignoring my calls, I thought I’d come and see you face to face.”

“And how did you get my address?” First her number, now this.

“From a friend.”

“What friend?” she demanded, trying to keep hold of her cool even though she also wanted to punch him in the face.

“It isn’t important. If you just let me explain why I’m here, then you’ll see I’m not trying to be a creep.” Dale glanced at Jake as if to push that point home to him too, which again, was not like Dale. He wasn’t a reasonable person. Not the Dale she’d known anyway.

Glancing at Jake, she was glad he’d stepped away, but she could see in the way he stood—arms folded, jaw tense, and nostrils twitching—that one wrong word and he would pounce. “So, what is it you do want?”

Dale ignored Jake, addressing Charlie. “Like I said. I wanted to apologise for everything I did to you. When you left, I went right off the rails with the drink. I was out of control, and I ended up in the hospital. I got a place in rehab.” His rueful brown eyes looked at her, ignoring the big, towering man who was looming behind her. And as she tried to work out what his angle was, she couldn’t seem to find one.

“I’ve sorted myself out. I did an anger management group, but it was the alcohol that was responsible for most of it. I met someone and we’re getting married. I have a good life and I know now how much I ruined yours. You were the only thing I had left to fix and that’s why I’m here.”

Closing his eyes for a second, he frowned. When he looked at her again, he said, “I’m sorry, Charlie, for everything that I put you through. I know you won’t be able to forgive me, and I honestly don’t blame you. But that’s not why I’m here. I just wanted to make things right, at least in some way.”

Stunned by his declaration, Charlie eyed Dale suspiciously. It was strange to see him this way. It was a glimpse of who he had been when she’d first met him. And although it was unexpected, it was hard for Charlie to deny that she’d never seen him look remorseful like he did now. He appeared to be genuine. No, she would never be able to forgive him for what he did. But she could accept this from him, for her own sake, not his.

This way she could finally close the door on that part of her life.

“I accept your apology. And I do hope you’ll be happy.” That was it. She honestly couldn’t say anything more. Thankfully, Dale didn’t expect anything. He nodded, already backing away. She saw his eyes close for a moment, as if he was relieved. “Take care, Charlie.” Then he turned and walked away.

As she watched him go down the hall, she edged closer to Jake and was glad when his arm went around her. Placing her hand over his stomach, she nestled into him, needing his closeness in that completely bizarre and unexpected moment.

Jake also watched Dale leave. “Suppose I gotta hand it to him. He might be a prick, but not many would do that.”

Turning into him, Charlie took the sight of her gorgeous man in, looking up into his eyes, before wrapping her arms around him. He was dressed in a suit tonight, deep navy with narrow trousers and a very sexy fitted jacket that looked tailor made. He’d dressed it down a little with a black, V-neck T-shirt and some dark brown boots. She wasn’t going to lie, he looked really hot. Her body close to his, she leaned her head back to look at his handsome face again; unable to believe that he was hers. “Yeah. Even the big strong boyfriend didn’t put him off.” She smiled at him, warmth enveloping her heart. “My hero.”

“Always.” He lowered his head and she met his mouth with hers, sinking into him as his arms held her close. Dale had caught her completely off guard, but in a way she was glad he’d found her. It was strange to think of him in any other way than the man who had ruined her life—trampled on her confidence. Only, she didn’t feel the hate for him anymore. His admittance, the apology she never expected to receive, had given her the closure she didn’t realise she needed.

Now, with Jake’s stepdad gone, there was nothing in their way.

Holding onto the man who she no doubt was falling in love with, Charlie was excited for the future. She wanted Jake to be a part of it. Especially with the way he liked to kiss her.

As the kiss heated up, she couldn’t help the breathy laugh she let out right then, and Jake smiled against her mouth before he pulled back to look at her.

“I didn’t know you found my kisses so amusing.”

“Far from it. I was just thinking, you keep that up and we’ll never make it to your gig tonight.”

Suddenly, she was being walked backwards. Jake kissed her nose. “Who needs a singing career anyway?” Another kiss, this time a more sensual one under her jaw that sent a shiver of arousal through her body.

Then she found herself in her hallway, recognising his roguish smile and the wicked spark in his eyes. “How much time do we have?” He kicked the flat door closed behind him.

She glanced at the clock on the wall. “Thirty six minutes.”

“Plenty of time.” Scooping her up into his arms caused her to laugh as she wrapped her legs around him. Thank God for the dress. With warm hands on her arse, he quickly walked to the bedroom. Then he cut her laugh off with his mouth in a hard kiss. Suddenly there was a desperation in him. After lowering her on the bed, he got up, eyes pinning her with alluring heat as he got rid of his jacket.

Licking her lips, Charlie’s eyes lowered to the large bulge in his pants and she was suddenly desperate for him too.

He reached behind and produced his brown leather wallet from his back pocket. Opening it, he took out a foil packet and threw the wallet down on the floor. There was no messing about. After biting the packet open, he undid his trousers and pulled them with his boxers down his hips, the hard length of him jutting out causing Charlie to bite down on her lip. Rubbing her thighs together, she watched, her pleasure heightening at the erotic sight of him putting the condom on.

Then as he climbed on the bed, she parted her legs ready for him. He reached up her dress, his hooded eyes watching as he hooked his fingers in the waistband of her knickers, pulling them down her legs.

“I need to be inside you.” His voice was thick with a need she suddenly felt as he lay on top of her. “Seeing that prick near you drove me mad.” His mouth clashed with hers as he reached down between her legs. Charlie gasped into his mouth when his fingers found her. The glorious circular movement filling her with fire as she moved her hips against him.

“You’re so wet already.” A harsh whisper against her mouth as he slipped a finger inside her, then added another.

“That’s what you do to me. Oh, God!”

Then his fingers were back on her swollen flesh and her head tipped back at the delicious sensation.

He moved his mouth to her ear, licking inside. “You want me inside you?” Moving his hand away, he ground his hips against her, his hard length rubbing over her, firing up all her nerve endings. God, this man did things to her, made her feel things she never realised were possible. And she was desperate for him, her body filling with heat, craving his, needing him to give her what she knew he could.

Charlie looked into his intense blue eyes. “Yes.”

“You want me to fuck you?”

“Yes.” Oh God. Yes. But it wasn’t want. It was need. Desperate, yearning need.

She felt him reach between their bodies and then he pushed all the way into her, the sudden fullness causing her to cry out. His mouth covered hers, capturing her moan as he moved with harsh desperation. And she clung to him, holding on to him tightly, his firm body pressed up against hers, as he continued with his hard thrusts. It was everything she needed right now.

Slamming into her over and over, firing all her nerve endings, he groaned. Another thrust, then he stayed there, their hips pressed tightly together, her legs wide as she panted with need and gyrated against him.

His mouth went to her ear. “When I saw that prick at your door, I thought he was going to hurt you.” His voice was ragged, trembling. His tongue licked around the shell of her ear, and he gave another hard thrust, their hips locking tight and she cried out, her body tightening with veracious need. “I will never fucking hurt you, Charlie. I’ll make sure no one else will ever hurt you.”

Their sex had never really been slow and sensual. There had always been an intensity to their love making; always full of passion—tension.

This time it felt like more.

It was a claiming.

“You are mine.” He looked at her. “I want you to always be mine.”

Then his mouth was on hers, tongue slipping inside and moving frantically with hers as he resumed those punishing thrusts, every one of them making her moan, him groan, his increasing rhythm bringing her to the edge.

“Oh, yes, Jake.” She flew right over, her orgasm slamming into her, shattering her apart. A glorious rush of sensation soaring through her as her body contracted around his.

“Umff. . Shit.” His head fell into the hollow of her neck as he pumped hard. Then, with a loud groan, he came, his hips jerking against hers, his body rigid under her touch. As they both came down, panting and exhausted. They held each other, hearts still racing, their bodies twitching with the tiniest movements.

Soft kisses at her neck, then moving under her jaw. Then his lips pressed against hers. “Mine,” he said again against her mouth. Unmoving, he looked at her, his penetrating stare catching her breath. There was something behind his eyes that she couldn’t quite decipher right then. Until. . .

“I’m in love with you, Charlie.”

Pulling in a breath, Charlie’s eyes blurred with tears she desperately tried to hold onto. They fell anyway, and Jake reached up, wiping them with his fingers

“I knew it in the hospital.” A crease between his brows. “But I needed to make sure it was real, you know? I’ve never been in love before. It’s been. . . confusing. I know it now with every fibre of my being.”

When he smiled, Charlie’s heart wanted to burst from her chest. She’d known for some time too that her feelings for him had shifted. Although she’d hoped, she never realised he felt the same way.

Moving his hand, his finger stroked her bottom lip. “How could I not fall for you? Because of you, I have worth again. You have helped me find myself again, Charlie. It’s only natural I give you my heart in return.”

For a moment, she was too choked up to talk, but she couldn’t allow him to speak so candidly and not profess her feelings. “I love you too, Jake.” More tears stinging her eyes. God, she was going to need to work miracles with her make up after this. Nerves and elation made her laugh. “I’m sorry. I just. . . I’m happy.”

The smile Jake gave her was everything, his eyes lighting up. “Shit. Well. . . What a moment, huh?”

The minute he kissed her again, Charlie’s phone started ringing over on the chest of drawers. She drew away from him, looking over at the little old-fashioned bell clock on her bedside table. “Shit. We’re late.”

Ten minutes later, and they both looked somewhat presentable.

“It’s a good job I curled my hair. At least it looks like it’s supposed to be this. I’m going with shaggy chic,” she said, pulling her dress down over her fresh underwear.

Pausing as he walked past, Jake turned and took her face in his hands. “You look beautiful.” Then his kiss was soft and slow, a contradiction to the ones he’d punished her mouth with not so long ago. “You ready?”

One last look in the mirror, even though she felt sure her lips were still swollen, and that she had “We just had mind blowing sex” written on her face somewhere, Charlie nodded and grabbed her handbag.

“We can leave as soon as you’ve finished, right?”

Jake gave her a beguiling smile. “Absolutely.”