Charlene's Choice

by Tasha Hart

  “This isn’t just any reason,” I tell him, then lean in and whisper my plans. When I finish, the DJ pulls back with a grin, and accepts the bill.

  “For a noble cause,” he laughs. Then, he switches on the microphone and turns down the music. The dancers stop moving, cry out in irritation. Across the bar, I can see that Charlene is just turning toward the DJ’s stand.

  The DJ leans into the mic and announces, “Gentlemen and ladies, we’ve got a guest tonight who requested a moment to make a very special announcement.”

  I take the mic. I can tell the moment Charlene sees me. Her eyes go wide, and the empty tray she’s holding drops from her hands and clatters to the ground. My nerves make my breaths fluttery. Nothing I’ve done in my life—not the most exciting sports victory, the longest-shot court maneuver—has ever given me a feeling like this.

  “Hi, everyone,” I say. “My name is Logan, and I’m here for a simple reason. Because I’m in love with that woman.” I point, and the heads of everyone in the entire club turn to look at Charlene. “I’m in love with her because she’s the most amazing, inspiring, intelligent person I’ve ever met. I’m in love with her because she makes me want to do better, to be better. I’m so in love with her that I never want to let her go. I want to keep her forever if she’ll have me.”

  I take the box from my pocket. Out in the crowd, someone gasps.

  “Charlene,” I say, grateful my voice isn’t shaking. “I know this is new. I understand if you want to take time. I just want you to know that this is serious for me. You are serious for me. And I am all in, for as long as you’ll have me. Please, Charlene, love of my life… will you marry me?”

  Somehow, despite it all—or maybe because of it, I don’t know—she doesn’t even hesitate. Just nods over and over, and I hear her say, “Yes!” a second before the roar of the crowd drowns out her voice.

  They’re cheering for us, but I can barely hear them over the sound of my own pulse in my ears as I hand the microphone back to the DJ, then cross the room and drop to my knee in front of her, opening the box. The diamond twinkles in the club’s low light, but it’s not nearly as lovely as Charlene’s tear-gleamed, twinkling eyes. “Yes,” she says again, this time just for me, and it feels like another sign from the universe when I slide the ring over her finger and discover it’s a perfect fit.

  Twenty

  Charlene

  “You look really pretty.” Reema isn’t usually one for compliments, so I pay attention.

  “You really think so?” She nods. I’ll take it. Looking in the full-length mirror set up in the rectory, I sure do feel beautiful. It’s the kind of dress I never dreamed of trying on, let alone able to afford.

  Just when I’m starting to worry about crying and messing up my makeup, Reema heaves her shoulders in a huge, overly dramatic sigh. She’s going to be an actress, this one.

  “What?” I ask.

  “You’re supposed to say I look pretty too!” The pout is so over the top, I can’t help but laugh. Of course, she was going to find something to get upset about today.

  “You don’t look pretty, Reema.” She looks like I’ve slapped her, but I’ve got her eyes on mine. “You look gorgeous.” That did the trick. She’s positively glowing.

  And, you know what? She does look gorgeous. Even at twelve, all bundled up in the navy-blue bridesmaid dress, it’s easy to see what a knockout she’s going to turn into. Now that she and Layla are moving in with Logan and I, we’re going to have to keep a close watch on her. There’s a great danger she’ll end up boy crazy.

  “You girls ready?” Patrice peeks through the door, in a dress that shows off every curve. It’s probably the only time that dress will ever see the inside of a church. Maybe even her, too.

  “Is it time?” She gives me a wink, and my stomach explodes in a thousand little butterflies. My heart throbs. I had been so calm, up to now—get it together, girl!

  When the doors to the chapel open, everybody turns to look at me. Being the center of attention isn’t usually my thing, but there are a couple of gasps that straighten my spine. Isn’t it wonderful when looking good and feeling good align?

  And then I see him. Logan standing beside Pastor Washington looking absolutely perfect. I’d love to talk about his suit, but all I can see are his eyes, and the love they’re sending directly to me. Every bit of love I have is going straight back. If I manage to keep from crying, it’ll be a miracle.

  “Friends and loved ones, we come here under the eyes of God to join these two souls together.” How did I get to the front already? How are we already at the vows? I promised myself I would remember everything, but it’s flashing by in a whirlwind. The best kind.

  “Do you take this man to be your lawful, wedded husband, to forge a life of joy and light as long as you both shall live?”

  “I do.” Damn right I do. It feels like being with this man is all I have ever wanted.

  “And, do you take this woman to be your lawful, wedded wife, to forge a life of joy and light as long as you both shall live?” He had damn well better!

  “I do.”

  Let me tell you, I’m not waiting for instructions, I am going to kiss this man. His lips find mine first, proving yet again why he’s the perfect fit for me. To his credit, it’s not the kind of kiss you usually see in a church.

  By the time we’ve finally wrapped up the reception and made it back to our room, kissing is the only thing on the menu. The whole party is for making nice, and smiling for our friends and family, but this is the kind of party I’ve been looking forward to.

  Yet again, Logan is proving that this is a meeting of the minds. With my sisters coming to stay, there was no question of treating ourselves to a fancy hotel tonight. It’s hard to wreck a bed when there’s the chance of a two-year-old coming in crying about nightmares. That can wait for another day.

  Why are wedding clothes so hard to get out of? The dress is one thing, but his tuxedo is a maze of clasps and snaps and ties. When I finally get his pants off, it feels like I’ve climbed a mountain. Pushing him back onto the bed, I hike up my dress and straddle him. I’ve needed him so bad, there’s no time for pleasantries.

  “Oh God,” he groans as I take him as deep into me as I can. Logan tries to say something else but loses the words as I ride him hard. Bracing my hands on his still-buttoned shirt, I grind him up inside me, using him to stimulate all of the deepest parts of me.

  Logan reaches up and tugs at the front of my dress until my breasts spill out, and he leans up to latch onto me, driving my nipple wild with his tongue. I love a man who knows what he wants. He’d better, because I am definitely going for what I want.

  “Baby, I love you so much. I can’t get enough of you.” My hips are going crazy grinding on him.

  “Fuck, Char! Just keep doing that!” Like I have a choice. My body has completely taken over, demanding pleasure from his. That warm coil begins to tighten inside me, and I feel like I might split up the middle at any second.

  “Char, I’m gonna… oh, fuck, I’m gonna…” And he does. Feeling him burst and throb inside me is all it takes. I explode across him in a frenzy of shudders and jerks, both of our voices echoing off the walls as we cling to each other. He bucks up into me again and again, sending me deeper into the most crushing orgasm I’ve ever had. A Screaming Orgasm. About time we got to share one of those.

  After everything we’ve been through, I know for a fact that I won’t be panicked about getting pregnant when the morning comes. I want this man’s children. As many as he wants to give me. For the first time, I really start to know what it might truly mean to be part of a family. Looking into Logan’s shining eyes, I know that the world will be all right from now on.

  “Baby,” he says. “I love you, too.”

  Thanks so much for reading about Charlene and Logan! I hope you loved their story as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you could do me a huge solid and leave a review, I’d love you forever. Readers depend on reviews from
other readers when making buying and borrowing decisions so any review—long or short—is appreciated.

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  About the Author

  Hey readers! I’m Tasha Hart, author of contemporary romances. Thanks for reading my stories. From a young age, I’ve been inspired to tell stories about the ideas I have all the time. It started with telling wild stories, then some wilding of my own... but now I’m settling down with some good coffee and trying to write great books. It’s a lot like running, which is what I usually do to figure out how my characters are going to misbehave. Totally distracting, consumes me wholly in the moment, and then it feels like magic! If you like reading my stories, consider pushing the Amazon follow button so you’ll get notified when I’ve got a new book release!

  Copyright © 2020 by Tasha Hart

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