Charisma
I could tell from my daughter’s pleading look that she wanted to room with the boys for the night. Which meant I’d be sharing the other one with Phantom. There were two beds, and I had no doubt he’d be a gentleman. If he’d planned to force himself on me, he’d have done it already. Or he’d have paid Heather for the privilege and not bothered rescuing us and killing her.
At least the pajamas he’d bought for me were modest. He could have bought anything, and I’d have had no choice but to wear it. Or sleep in my regular clothes. Instead, he’d chosen something I’d be comfortable in, which told me he’d been thinking of my needs and not his. I’d never met anyone like him before. Which terrified me. With the men who came to Heather’s, I’d always known what to expect.
Phantom came out of the bathroom, his pants slung low and no shirt on. My breath caught as I studied him. He had a few scars, and some ink across his chest. When he turned to toss the towel onto the counter, I saw more tattoos on his back. Why did I want to reach over and trace them with my fingertips? They were beautiful. Well, most were. I saw his club colors took up the center of his back, and I had to admit, the figure wasn’t exactly a fluffy bunny.
He faced me and froze. My cheeks burned when I realized he’d caught me staring. I hated not being able to talk to him, except through the app on his phone. I hadn’t tried to speak since I’d realized my hearing was gone. I couldn’t tell how loud I spoke, and the boys had said my words sounded funny the few times I’d tried. Even though I remembered the way words sounded, it was hard to speak when you couldn’t hear your own voice.
I pressed my fingers to my lips, wanting to talk to him, yet too afraid to try. He came closer, stopping near enough I could feel the heat off his body. Phantom wrapped his fingers around my wrist and tugged my hand from my mouth. He laced our fingers together and I looked up at him. I knew he had to be tall for a Japanese man. If he wasn’t six feet, he had to be close to it. When the boys had told me they were half-Chinese, we’d done some research together on men from different countries in Asia. The average height for a man in Japan was five foot seven. Phantom was definitely taller than that. I might only be five feet tall, but he was roughly a foot taller.
He traced his finger down my nose, his gaze intent.
“Beautiful.” I couldn’t hear the word, but I read it on his lips. I didn’t see how he could think I was anything other than ugly and scarred. I tried to shake my head, but he gripped my jaw and gave me a stern look. “Don’t argue with me. You’re beautiful.”
I tugged away from him, taking a step back. Slowly, I lifted my shirt. I didn’t know where I found the courage, but I needed him to see, to understand. The scars on my stomach came into view and I saw him inhale sharply. I kept going until I’d exposed myself to him. Fighting the urge to cover myself, I let him look before turning and showing him my back.
His hands curled around my biceps, and I felt his lips touch my shoulder. Tears burned my eyes as he kissed his way from one side to the other before wrapping his arms around me and holding me close. Phantom released me only to turn me so he could speak. I read his lips and I knew everything had changed.
“Did that bitch do all this?” he asked.
I shook my head.
“I will hunt them down, and I will end them. Every last fucking person who hurt you. Their time left on this earth is limited.” He cupped my cheek. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Charisma.”
He bent down and helped me back into my pajama top. Again, he could have taken advantage and he hadn’t. I swallowed hard, realizing something. The boys and Nova trusted him. They’d seen enough evil men to know when a good one came along. Not only that, but they wanted to remain with Phantom forever. As his family. And I was the only one holding Nova back from the life she’d always wanted. A dad. Siblings.
I licked my lips and tried to speak for the first time in years. “Do you still think I’m pretty?”
His eyes widened and he smiled a little. “You can speak.”
I shrugged. I waited for him to answer my question. There was a sparkle to his eyes I hadn’t noticed before. Had me speaking pleased him that much? I hoped I hadn’t shouted my question to him. The fact the kids hadn’t come running meant they hadn’t heard, or were ignoring us. It could go either way.
“No. I don’t think you’re pretty.” I tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let me. He tightened his hold. “You’re stunning. The most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen. Nothing you show me will change my mind.”
“How?” I swallowed hard. My throat hurt. I hadn’t spoken in so long, it felt like I was swallowing razor blades. “How can you see me like that?”
He brushed his thumb across my bottom lip. “Don’t talk so much if it hurts. Even though I love hearing your voice. As for how I can see you the way I do? You’re strong, Charisma. A fighter. A protector. You think of others before yourself. The kind of beauty you have is more than just your looks. It’s a glow you have, a light that shines bright.”
A sob caught in my throat, and I couldn’t hold back my tears. No one had ever spoken to me that way. I knew my mother had loved me, but she’d never told me I was special. This man who’d known me less than a day had done more for me than anyone in so long and saw me in a way no one ever had before. He could be saying everything he knew I wanted and needed to hear. Or he could be telling the truth. He’d said Heather had hurt his cousin. He’d wanted revenge, but he hadn’t left us to fend for ourselves.
I cupped his cheek and stared up at him. “Hold me?”
Phantom gave a nod and led me to the bed. He stretched out on top of the covers and held his arms open. I eased down next to him and let him bring me closer. The way his scent wrapped around me made me feel secure. Safer than I’d ever been before.
Phantom tipped my chin up so I could see his lips. “The people who hurt you. What else did they do?”
I shook my head, knowing what he thought. “Not that.”
Some of the tension eased from him. I knew my time there could have been worse. I could have suffered like the boys had. Instead, the men who’d wanted to “adopt” them liked hurting me.
“In the car, the boys said Heather accepted money for people to hurt you. Were they the men she’d adopt the boys out to?” he asked.
I nodded and tried not to think about all I’d been through. I’d do it again, if it meant the boys got a reprieve. It hadn’t always been Li and Jian. There had been others before them. I hadn’t been able to save them. I didn’t know what good a night or two had been in the grand scheme of things. Now they were with men who would hurt them every day. Break them.
“Can they be saved?” I asked, my words coming slow. I didn’t know how much longer I could speak tonight.
“Maybe. I won’t lie to you. It won’t be easy. I’ll ask someone to see if they can track the others. I doubt they stayed with whoever adopted them. Assuming they’re still alive, they could very well be out of the country by now. Sold time and again. Passed from one pedophile to another.”
My heart broke for them. I wanted to rescue them. Give them a proper home. A chance to find happiness. How was it fair Phantom had come for me, Nova, Jian, and Li, but the others didn’t get the same opportunity? I knew there were bad people everywhere. Even though he’d stopped Heather, there were others like her. He’d taken out one monster, but how many would rise up in her place?
“If I stay… If I choose you, what happens?” I asked.
“What do you know about bikers and clubs? Anything?”
I shook my head. I didn’t really understand any of it. Yes, I knew what a cut was, and what some of his patches meant. Other than that, I’d been kept in the dark. Or maybe my mother just hadn’t known. Even if she had, I’d been young and impressionable. There were probably things she could have never told me at that age.
“When I claim you as mine, you’ll be my old lady. You’ll get a cut similar to mine that will say Property of Phantom. But I want more than that. I want to marry you. The entire world will know you’re my woman, and those are my kids. All three of them.” He brushed his nose against mine and drew back a little. “And if you want more children, I’m all right with that. If not, I’m happy with the ones we have already. Or we can adopt. I will be faithful to you. Never doubt it for one second.”
I pressed a hand to my stomach and felt a part of myself wither and die. He wanted more children. Of course, he would. All men wanted a son or daughter to carry on their bloodline, didn’t they? Some sort of throwback gene to days gone by. He said he’d be happy with Nova and the boys. What if he changed his mind later? It wasn’t like I could just decide to have more children.
He gripped my neck, drawing my attention to him again. “You can’t have more children, can you?”
How could he always read me so easily? “No.”
“From the damage they’ve done to your body?” he asked.
I shook my head and glanced toward the other room and back again. I didn’t know how to tell him the birth had been difficult with Nova and my son who’d never had a chance to draw breath. “I nearly died.”
“When you had Nova?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“I’m so sorry, beautiful. You lost your son. Nearly lost your life. And the experience robbed you of having more children. Sometimes life isn’t fair. More than that, it’s downright cruel.”
I snuggled against him, shutting off any other conversation. He saw far too much, and it left me feeling raw. For so long, I’d either been unnoticed or someone’s punching bag. Heather had seen me as a tool to keep the boys in line. The men she invited over got off on inflicting pain. Not once had anyone held me like this or wanted to know anything about me. Phantom didn’t just see the surface things about me. It was like he could look into my soul. And it terrified me.
I could walk away. Take Nova and go. Except, I had this feeling in my gut I’d regret leaving Phantom. I didn’t think men like him came along all that often. For whatever reason, he wanted me. Not just me, but Nova and the boys too. He wanted a family. Our family.
Our.
I liked that. All the times I’d thought about escaping Heather, not once had there been a man involved in our lives. I’d dreamt of running away with the boys and Nova, hitting the road and never looking back. It never occurred to me there would be a man I’d be tempted to invite along for the ride. Or in this case, one I wanted to move in with. His touch didn’t repulse me. If anything, the small circles he’d been tracing on my back the last few minutes had my body coming alive.
My nipples tightened and I felt an ache building between my legs. When Nova’s father had raped me, I’d not wanted more than a kiss from him. Since then, I’d not desired a man. For that matter, I’d been so young at the time, I hadn’t really understood the things I’d been feeling. I hadn’t been ready for sex.
Now I had to wonder what it would be like for someone like Phantom to kiss me. To touch me intimately. I didn’t think I was brave enough to ask. Sure, I’d requested he hold me, which he was doing. Kissing and other things were different. Then again, if I agreed to be his, he’d want to do those things.
I pushed back, putting a little space between us.
“Can we go slow?” I asked.
He traced his finger over the arch of my brow. “You set the pace.”
“Then kiss me. Please.”
He hesitated only a moment. His gaze clashed with mine before he closed the distance between us. His hand curled around the back of my neck as he pressed his lips to mine. I sucked in a breath at the spark I felt between us. I’d thought to endure his kiss, but as his lips brushed against mine, I found myself leaning into him, wanting more. His tongue flicked against my upper lip, and I opened, letting him in. His mouth devoured mine.
A whimper escaped me, and it seemed to set something free inside Phantom. I felt a vibration and wondered if he’d just growled. His hold on me tightened. The kiss deepened. Became rougher. My heart raced and I clung to him. When Phantom broke the kiss, I felt his chest heaving and saw the heated look in his eyes. More than that, he looked every bit as stunned as I felt. I reached up to touch my lips and stared at him.
“Too much?” he asked.
I shook my head. No, not nearly enough. Even now, I wanted him to kiss me again. I’d been brave enough for one day and night. Snuggling against him again, I closed my eyes and breathed in his scent. Small steps. I wasn’t ready to fling myself over the cliff just yet. Kissing him had been the boldest thing I’d ever done. Or rather, asking him to kiss me. Maybe tomorrow we do it again. Or go a little further.
For now, I felt content. Happy. “I’ll be yours.”
He gave me a squeeze, letting me know I’d spoken loud enough he could hear me. And it seemed he was in agreement. I looked up at him once more.
“One more thing. I already told the boys. We have a dog. Her name is Momo and she’s spoiled. She’s also going to adore you and the kids.”
“A dog?” I’d always wanted a pet and never been allowed to have one. “I can’t wait to meet her.”
For better or worse, Phantom was part of our family now. He’d saved us, and now it was our turn to save him. Phantom might seem to have a lot to offer, but so did we. He wanted a family? Then we’d be his family.
Perhaps one day, we’d be his everything. And Momo’s too.
* * *
Phantom
There had been times I’d dated, and I’d had women fall asleep in my arms before. None of them compared to holding Charisma. It might have been because she was mine. The others had wanted me to claim them, but it hadn’t felt right. My longest relationship had ended when Grey had shown up at the club with her son in tow. Even though she belonged to my cousin Samurai, I’d ended things with Celeste. A clean break had been best for both of us. She wanted forever with me, and I wanted kids -- something she hadn’t been willing to budge on. I’d known for a while things weren’t going anywhere. We wanted different things in life. But it had been fun and being with Celeste had kept the loneliness at bay.
The girls at the clubhouse were fine if you just wanted a quick release. They weren’t exactly the sort you settled down with. Although, our VP, Scratch had gotten one pregnant a long time ago. His daughter was now fully grown and claimed by a Dixie Reaper. Hell, Scratch hadn’t even realized he had a daughter until the other club had started poking around, trying to find Darian’s family. I didn’t think poorly about those girls. They served a purpose, but I couldn’t imagine setting one of them up in my house, starting a family with her.
Then again, I had a woman of my own now. I wouldn’t be using those women ever again. I hadn’t touched them in a long time anyway. When I’d been with Celeste, I’d been faithful. I might not have seen forever happening for us, but it didn’t mean I disrespected her. I treated her right, even when she wasn’t by my side, and I’d expected the same in return. Seemed like my good behavior had paid off. I’d been given the ultimate reward -- a family.
I smoothed Charisma’s hair back from her face and studied her features. She looked so peaceful while she slept. I wondered if this was how Samurai had felt when he’d met Grey the first time. I’d known something was different with him. He hadn’t been the same for months, then his woman showed up, pregnant and needing help. It had made more sense, his odd behavior, but he hadn’t wanted to man the fuck up and claim his family.
Thankfully, things had worked out okay for the two of them. I’d been willing to make Grey mine, even if it meant waiting a long-ass time for her to ever want my touch, just to guarantee she and the kids would be safe. Everyone kept asking if her son, Ryo, was mine. It wouldn’t have been a hardship to go along with it. It just hadn’t been what Grey, or Samurai, needed. She’d seen the pain in his eyes, known he was suffering, and she’d been the only one able to heal him. The rest of us had never questioned why he acted the way he did with women. Figured it was just his kink.
Now I felt like an asshole for not realizing sooner that he’d been through a trauma. I’d tried to do better. Not just with Samurai, but with everyone in the club. Who else had slipped through the cracks? Had I missed anything else? I knew Samurai better than anyone and I’d been completely blind to what he needed. Grey had been with him for one day and figured it out.
Charisma mumbled in her sleep and snuggled closer. I breathed her in, savoring the moment. She shifted again, brushing against me, and I mentally cursed as my cock started to harden. Letting her set the pace meant lots of cold showers in my future. Or giving my hand a workout. Wouldn’t be the first time. I’d survive.
I eased away from her and slipped out of bed. The other room had gone quiet in the last hour, and I peeked inside, seeing all three kids were asleep. I picked up my phone and carried it into the bathroom then shut the door. I should have spoken to Charming already. Coming home with a woman and three kids wouldn’t go over well if I didn’t say something first.
The phone rang about three times before he picked up. Instead of a nice hello, I got a deep growl and a lot of cussing.
“Do you have any idea what time it is, you motherfucking asshole?” Charming demanded. “If you woke up…”
The Pres went silent, seeming to have said more than he’d intended. Interesting. “If I woke up who, Pres? Last I heard, you didn’t have an old lady. I haven’t been gone that long.”
“Long enough. Next time you take off without discussing it with me first, I’m going to kick your fucking ass. Now what the hell was so important you had to take off like that? A few lines of text and you shutting off your damn phone isn’t how this works. I need details. If you’re going to run off like a damn vigilante, I need to know exactly what’s going on.”
“I found the woman who hurt Samurai. Or rather, Shade found her for me. He also discovered she’d become a foster mom to two boys. The story is long and not something I want to say repeatedly. Can it wait until I’m back?” I asked. “I’d rather tell the entire club during Church. Well, after I let Samurai know the issue has been dealt with. I don’t want to broadside him.”
“Sure.” Charming sighed. “So why call now? I could have just as easily cussed you out in person than over the phone. Just get home.”
I cleared my throat. “I’m not coming home alone. I’ve never asked the club for anything. Never asked you for anything.”
“But you are now,” Charming surmised.
“Yes. The boys, Jian and Li. I’m going to have Shade work his mojo and make them my sons. They’ve been through hell, and I want to give them a stable home where they can learn to trust people again. I think being around the club will be good for them. A lot of the kids are close in age to the boys. Jian is twelve and Li is fifteen.” I took a breath, bracing myself for the next part. This was where Charming might get a little pissed. “There’s more… I’m also bringing home a woman and little girl. Charisma and Nova. They’re mine. I’m not taking it to a vote. If the club doesn’t like it, I’ll walk.”
Charming gave a humorless laugh. Yep. I’d pissed him off. I knew the guy could be a bastard when he needed to be, which was part of why Cinder had put him in charge when he’d stepped down. He’d known Charming could be compassionate, but in the end, would do whatever it took to ensure the good of the club as a whole. Which meant the guy was a total dick sometimes.
“Of course. Leaving the club would be that easy, right? Just walk out the doors?” Charming asked. “Sorry, brother. You know better. If you survived having your colors stripped, and I know damn well they’re inked into your back, you’d still have to make it out there on your own. No club funds or businesses to line your pockets. No brothers to watch your six.”
He wasn’t wrong. Oh, I could find work and start over. I wasn’t worried about that. But getting out of the club wouldn’t be a cakewalk. And I wasn’t sure Charisma, Nova, and the boys could handle seeing me like that. They needed me to be strong. I also knew they needed the club, even if they didn’t realize it. The sense of community, of family, would go a long way to healing all four of them. It wouldn’t be like Samurai. We’d know going in what they’d been through.
“Pres, they need me. They’ve been through more than any of us can fathom. Charisma can’t hear. I don’t know all the details, but it looks like that bitch poured acid on her ears. I’m guessing there’s more to it than that. I don’t know that damaging the outside would necessarily strip her of her hearing. They had to have hurt her inner ear too. She’s got scars all the fuck over, where the woman let men hurt her. It was payment for those boys having a night off from the torment of Heather’s touch, or the men she invited over.”
Charming sighed. I could picture him pinching the bridge of his nose and praying for patience. I’d hit him with a lot, and it was a shit thing to do over the phone, but I didn’t want Charisma and the kids walking into an unknown situation without me having paved the way a little.
“Phantom, everyone knows the one thing you’ve wanted most is a woman and kids. Do you really think any of us are going to say you can’t keep the ones you’re bringing home? As long as it’s what they want, then consider it done. I’ll have a property cut made. We can still take it to the table, let everyone vote, but I don’t think a single brother is going to tell you no. Hell, Scratch and Clarity tried to set you up with Samurai’s woman when your cousin wouldn’t man the fuck up.”
The tension in my shoulders eased at his words. I hadn’t really thought the club would vote against me, but Charming wasn’t exactly predictable these days. I now had to wonder if it had something to do with whoever I wasn’t supposed to wake up. If he’d snuck a woman into his home, none of us knew about it. Why keep it a secret? I had a feeling shit was about to rain down on the club. I only hoped my family had a chance to settle in first.
“I know we have a lot of relationships in the club with a big-ass fucking age gap. Charisma is more than twenty years younger than me. I don’t want anyone giving her shit about it. They might be teasing, but I’m not sure she’d see it that way. She’s strong because she’s had to be. Deep inside, I think she’s also vulnerable and more than a little broken.”
“You know better. None of us will say a word. How are the two of you communicating?” he asked. “You said she’s deaf.”
“Li knows sign language and talks to her. She can also read lips. At first, she used an app on my phone to type messages for me. Tonight, she actually spoke. Her voice doesn’t sound like a hearing person’s, and her volume is a bit all over the place, but I think it’s beautiful. Like her.” I smiled. “She’s amazing, Charming. So fierce. You should have seen her stand up to Heather. She got between that bitch and the boys, and despite everything she’s been through, she wasn’t backing down. No matter the pain she’s been through, she still wanted to keep the kids safe.”
“What do you need? Is the house ready for them? And what about Momo?” Charming asked.
“Shade is taking care of Momo while I’m gone. As for the house… I don’t know. The boys are going to need a room, and Nova will get her own. But neither bedroom is ready for kids to move into them. The boys are older, so they might be fine with something generic. They’ll need two beds, though.”
“Don’t you have four bedrooms?” Charming asked. “Is there a reason they can’t each have their own space?”
“One is set up as more of an office. Another is a guest room. And the last one is set up as a library. As much as I’ve wanted a family, it was looking like it would never happen. I decided to use the rooms for another purpose. Now I guess I need to figure out how to combine the two, and maybe add onto the house. No fucking clue where I’d add another room.”
“Your house has an attic, right?” Charming asked.
“Yeah. Nothing up there, though, except the inside HVAC system and the hot water heater. Well, that and a shit ton of insulation. I haven’t put flooring down or anything. Why?”
“It won’t be an immediate solution, but I think we need to look into adding some rooms up in your attic. There should be enough space up there for two bedrooms and at least a half bath if not a full one, even if it’s just a pedestal sink, standing shower, and toilet. It will give you room to grow.”
I rubbed at the ache building in my chest. “Charisma can’t have more kids. When she had Nova, something went wrong. She said she nearly died. Whatever happened, I think they had to give her a hysterectomy. But we’d both be open to adopting if the opportunity came along. She wants to try tracking down the other kids Heather ‘placed’ with adoptive fathers and probably even some mothers.”
“We’ll sit down with Shade after you’ve gotten back. Focus on your family right now and getting them home. I’ll see who the hell is awake. Maybe we have some wood we can put down in the attic for temporary flooring. I’ll have the Prospects start boxing up your office and the library. How long before you’re home?” Charming asked.
“I thought I’d let everyone sleep in a little. I’d planned to stop for breakfast once we’re on the road. Maybe four or five hours? Depends on how many bathroom breaks the kids and Charisma need.”
“So you’d be here around lunch or a little after.”
“Sounds about right.”
“When you get close, text me. Don’t bring them straight here. I’m sure there’s shit they need. Take them shopping for any necessities you haven’t already procured, and yes, I’m aware you’ve probably bought them stuff already. Get enough to last them a week or more. It should give us a little extra time to get the place ready. Any idea if they have favorite colors or anything?”
I thought about the list the boys had given me. “Nova likes pink and purple. Even though she’s tough, she’s girly and isn’t afraid to show it. The boys are harder. Li didn’t specify any colors or favorite characters or anything. I have no idea what he’s into, and he may not know either. Jian likes blues and grays, and Pokémon.”
“I’m sending out a text to all members, old ladies, and even Prospects to let them know what’s going on. If there are any objections to you keeping the woman and kids, they can speak up now. Otherwise, we have some work to do before you get here. You’ve done a lot for the Devil’s Boneyard over the years, Phantom. Let us do something for you now. Like you said, you’ve never asked for anything.”
My throat got tight with emotion, and I nodded before I realized he couldn’t see me. “Thanks, Pres. I appreciate it.”
“We’ll see you in the afternoon. Be careful. You have precious cargo now.”
I smiled and ended the call. Hell yeah, I did. I stepped out of the bathroom and nearly collided with Charisma. Her eyes were wide and she’d been worrying at her lip. It was all red and puffy from her teeth digging into it.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. She glanced at the phone and back at me. “I had to call my club President and let him know I was bringing you, Nova, and the boys back with me. I didn’t want to surprise him by showing up with a family in tow.”
Her brow smoothed and she stepped closer. “Is it okay for us to come with you?”
I nodded. “You’re mine, beautiful. You agreed. Remember? I just needed to make things more official with the Devil’s Boneyard. Everything’s going to be fine. Promise.”
She smiled and wrapped her arms around my waist, burrowing into me. I held her tight. If only I’d known about her sooner. I could have gotten her and the kids away from Heather. Ended that bitch before she’d done more damage. Maybe I’d have even found Charisma before she’d lost her hearing. Wishing wouldn’t change things, though. I’d cherish my new family and show them what it meant to be loved. They’d learn to trust not only me but the men and women in the club. If Samurai could find a way to have a normal life, become a parent and find love, then so could Li and Jian. It would take time, but they had a home with me for as long as they wanted one. I didn’t care if they were twenty and still living under my roof.
Well, that wasn’t entirely true. At some point, I’d like to have the freedom to walk around the house in my boxer briefs if I wanted, without worrying about the kids seeing me. Then again, I wasn’t exactly young anymore. By the time Nova was old enough to move out, things might be different.
I tipped Charisma’s chin up so she could read my lips. “Still tired? We can sleep a while longer. It’s nowhere near daylight yet.”
She hesitated before speaking, and her words nearly knocked me on my ass.
“I liked your kisses. I woke up thinking I might like other stuff too.”
Holy hell. “You want me to what? Kiss you again? Touch you?”
She nodded, her cheeks flushing. Before I could say or do anything else, she’d pulled her pajama top over her head and shimmied out of the pants. My heart hammered against my ribs so hard I wondered if she could see it beating. She dipped her fingers under the waistband of my pajama pants and rubbed them back and forth. When she started to tug them down, I placed my hand over hers.
“I don’t have anything else on under them.”
Her eyes dilated and she visibly swallowed before drawing in a breath and letting it out slow. “I want to see you.”
I held my arms out to my sides a little, giving her room. She tugged the pants down and I stepped out of them. With her hungry gaze fastened on me, I turned, giving her a chance to view all of me. Instead of fear and uncertainty, when I looked at her again, all I saw was hunger and curiosity.
Fuck me sideways.
If Charisma didn’t put on the brakes, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to. I glanced at the connecting door, noticing for the first time, she’d shut it. It seemed she’d been waiting on me, planning this very moment. She amazed me.
“You can touch me if you want,” I said. “I won’t force you to do anything you aren’t ready for. If you decide this is as much as you want from me right now, then that’s all right.”
She reached out and ran her fingers over my chest and down my abdomen. My cock hardened until it was fully erect. I heard her slight gasp. She wrapped her fingers around my shaft, and I groaned at how fucking wonderful it felt. I’d been with my fair share of women over the years. Being with her wasn’t the same. She was mine. Funny how that seemed to make all the difference in the world.
I ran my fingers along her jaw, drawing her attention. “Can I touch you?”
She glanced at the shut door between our room and the kids. When she turned back to me, I could see the concern in her eyes. She didn’t know how loud or quiet she was when she spoke or made noises. I knew she wouldn’t want to wake them or worry them.
“We could get in the shower,” I suggested. “Not as romantic as a candlelit bedroom, but we can do that when we get home.”
Charisma released me, only to push at my chest. I took the hint and backed up into the bathroom. She shut the door behind us, and I turned on the water. I heard her behind me, the slide of fabric down her legs, and knew she’d removed her panties. Once the water was warm, I stepped over the side of the tub and helped her in. She slowly pulled the curtain closed and stared at me, her chest heaving, cheeks flushed. Her fingers twitched at her sides.
Reaching for the soap, I decided washing her might be the best way to ease into things. I lathered my hands and started at her neck and shoulders, rubbing the suds into her skin. I worked my way down her arm to her hand, cleaning every inch of skin, even between her fingers and all the way to her fingertips, then did the same to the other side. Placing my hands at her collarbones, I eased them down the slopes of her small breasts until I palmed them.
She made a sound, and I felt her nipples harden. Charisma subtly pushed her breasts against my hands, silently asking for more. I took my time, keeping my touch light. I explored the soft mounds, swiped my fingers over the hard peaks, and started over again. When she started panting, and I saw the feverish need in her eyes, I pinched one of the little buds giving it a slight twist.
Charisma’s eyes went wide, and she cried out, her knees buckling. Her body trembled and I wondered if she’d just had her first orgasm. She clung to me as I tried to wring out every drop of pleasure, making it last as long as I could. My cock throbbed and I wanted nothing more than to be buried inside her. Didn’t mean I’d act on it. Not unless Charisma was one hundred percent certain it was what she wanted.
This wasn’t about me. It was all for her.