Charlie.
She had forgotten he was coming. Trying not to wince with every step she took Catherine made her way to the door and opened it. She leaned against the door and tried not to drool. Her aching feet were quickly forgotten. Charlie’s bangs were draped over his eyes, giving them a curtain look but she could still see his green orbs perfectly. Her eyes roamed over him, and instead of his usual baggy shirt or button up, he was wearing a skin-tight black shirt that enhanced all his muscles. Stop her beating heart. Her fingers itched to touch every ridge and crevice of his chest. She knew he was muscular at his shoulders and biceps, but she had not been prepared for this Adonis who now stood in front of her.
“Keep staring at me like that and I won’t be accountable for my actions,” Charlie growled sending shivers down her back.
Catherine looked away trying to hide her blush. “Sorry.”
Charlie stepped closer to her, reached out and stroked her cheek before planting a kiss on her forehead. “Don’t apologize. I love how you look at me. Almost as much as I love this blush.”
Catherine didn’t think it was possible but her cheeks grew even warmer and probably went from her cheeks to her ears. She hadn’t been discreet when looking him over. She apologized, but she wasn’t sorry. “Come on in.” The last thing she wanted was for her neighbors to see her ogling the man. She stepped back to allow him to enter and felt a sharp pain shoot through her foot. She tried hiding her discomfort from Charlie, but she should have known better. Mr. Observant was like a hawk with prey.
“What happened?” His teasing tone gone, in its place was anger. At her, but she didn’t know why.
“Too many hours standing in one place. Normally I can move around more or sit down when needed, but a few employees called out, so I had to stay at the register all day. I’ll be fine.” She waved off his concern.
“Go sit down.”
“Are you ordering me to?” She asked with an arched brow.
“Please sit down.” He tried again, softening his tone.
“Better.” Catherine hobbled back to her couch and plopped down. Charlie was hot on her heels and took a seat next to her. “May I?” he asked, tilting his chin towards her feet.
Catherine didn’t know what he had in mind, but she trusted him. She nodded, and he took her ankles and turned her to face him, so her back was against the arm of the couch and her feet in his lap. Catherine watched silently as Charlie picked up one of her feet and massaged it. His hands were gentle and soothing. She hardly felt the callouses on his hands as they worked their magic. It shouldn’t have aroused her, but it did. Every glide of his fingers went straight to her center and she had to bite her lip to keep from moaning. Funny, she had massages in the past and never had one affected her like this. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes.
“How does that feel?” His deep hypnotic voice called to her from far away.
Her lashes fluttered open, and she looked at Charlie gazing at her with a heated glance. He was just as affected by giving her a massage. She could feel the bulge against her foot still sitting in his lap. “Amazing.” Energy crackled between them. His eyes seemed to glow with a passion that mirrored her own.
Without breaking eye contact, Charlie set her foot down and picked up the other one. This time she couldn’t hold the groan in, and she felt Charlie pulse under her foot. Her foot glided over his crotch. She watched Charlie’s nostrils flare, but he didn’t stop her, so she took it as permission to keep going. For every stroke he gave her foot, she gave to his hard length. His cock was pushed tightly against his jeans. His hips moved against her foot. The hands caressing her foot tightened.
“We have to stop,” Charlie croaked. His words said no, but his eyes said yes. He wanted to keep going, but he was trying to be a gentleman. Who wanted a gentleman in bed? Definitely not her.
Catherine pulled her legs back. Charlie didn’t look happy about her retreat even though he stopped them. She didn’t stay on her side of the couch for long though. She sat up and straddled his thighs, cursing their clothes in the way.
“Catherine,” he whispered her name as he gripped her hips with both hands, to stop her or encourage her, she didn’t know, nor care.
Gripping both sides of his face, she pulled him to her and sealed her mouth over his. His hands tightened on her hips; she wouldn’t be surprised if she had a bruise in the morning. Not that she cared. She kissed him hard, pulling him close to her as she rocked over him. One of his hands left her hip and moved under her shirt to her bra covered breast. Catherine hated the barrier between them. She wanted his hands on her bare flesh. No, she needed it.
Catherine sat up abruptly, leaving Charlie kissing the air a moment before he realized she was gone. She tore the shirt over her head and unclasped her bra and threw it to the side. Charlie stared at her face a moment, first in shock, then his eyes traveled down her torso. His face was void of emotion. She didn’t know if he liked what he saw or not. The silence was killing her. She crossed her arms over her middle, but he grabbed her wrists in a light grip she could easily break, and placed her hands at her side. It was agony just sitting on his lap and letting him look at her. She sucked in her stomach as much as she could, feeling momentarily self-conscious. “I know I’m not as skinny as some of the girls you’ve been with.” She said, filling in the silence.
Charlie didn’t let her get anything else out before his hands reached out and kneaded her breasts. Anything else she would have said was quickly forgotten. “You’re beautiful. Inside and out. I don’t ever want to hear you say otherwise.” He said before taking a nipple into his mouth.
She would have agreed to anything at that moment. He could have told her she was a purple unicorn and she would have believed him.
One of his hands slide down her side, and unsnapped the top of her jeans and lowered her zipper. Catherine sat up more to give him better access to her center. But he didn’t touch her there, where she needed him the most. Instead, his hand went around her back and up and wound around her hair. His lips left her breasts and traveled up her neck. He tugged on her hair, not painfully, but just enough for her to tilt her head back as he licked and nipped her exposed throat. Catherine held onto his shoulders like an anchor. Afraid she would come apart if she didn’t hold onto him. “You taste so good,” he murmured against her throat. “I could lick you from head to toe.” Oh lord, she didn’t know if she could survive that.
“Do it,” she commanded.
“I promised you we would take our time. Get to know one another.” He couldn’t honestly be suggesting they stop now, could he? Not when she was on fire. She was a raging volcano about to blow.
“We can give each other pleasure without actually having sex.” She suggested. She would do anything to keep this going.
Charlie must have understood what she was suggesting because his hand tightened on her hair. “You could tempt a saint.”
“I’m not trying to tempt a saint. I’m trying to tempt you.”
“You really don’t play fair.”
“I’m playing to win.” Catherine leaned down and licked the shell of his ear. Charlie spits out a curse that would have made her blush if she wasn’t already on fire.
“And what do you win?” Why were they still talking? She would have to up the ante.
“You, all I want is you.” Catherine’s lips moved from his ear, after a quick bite to his earlobe, to his scarred cheek. She kissed every dip and scar. She wanted to show him that his scars didn’t matter to her. That she saw the real man underneath it all. His facial hair tickled her lips, but she didn’t let it get in her way. She was working her way down his chin when suddenly she was sailing through the air and landed on the couch with a panting Charlie hovering above her.
His breathing was harsh, pulling on his already tight shirt. The seams looked ready to burst under him. His eyes blazed down at her. She had awoken a beast. Her sex dripped knowing what was coming next. He was the beast and she the prey. And she was
about to be devoured.
Chapter 10
Charlie stared down at Catherine. She was panting just as hard as he was. He should get up and walk away. He had promised her they wouldn’t make love until they knew each other better, but she was making it so damn hard, looking up at him with that come fuck me look. He was so hard right now, he was surprised his dick hadn’t ripped through his pants yet. Here he had planned to be nice and give her a foot rub. Now, he was ten seconds from tearing off her pants and bury all ten inches deep inside her, and fucking her until neither of them could walk. But he wouldn’t. He had never broken a promise, and he wouldn’t start now. But Catherine had given him an idea, when she said there are other ways they could take care of each other. He had almost come in his pants when she had suggested it. His heart stopped beating when she kissed his cheek. Most women fled from him when they saw his scars or at the very least cringed. Not his Catherine. She kissed them. Each kiss slew him as no insurgent weapon could. The tenderness and care she showed them made his eyes sting.
Taking back control Charlie flipped them over so she lay on the couch and he straddled her. She looked like a banquet feast, and he couldn’t wait to gorge himself on her. He gripped both sides of her pants and yanked them down. Catherine lifted her butt to aid him, and she kicked them away leaving her bare. He licked his lips in anticipation, not knowing where to start first. Catherine had gotten shy with him the last time he stared at her too long. He would find the piece of shit ex-boyfriend of hers who had filled her head with the idea she was overweight. He had seen her suck in her stomach more than once or tried to keep a hand over her stomach when someone looked at her. First chance he got, he was calling Ghost to track down the SOB. Right now, he had another mission to complete. Make his woman come. And she was his. He was putting his mark on her. He didn’t give a shit that it was caveman of him or not. He wanted her sporting his mark. He hoped she left her mark on him too.
His hands caressed down to her ankles and spread her open. Her juices gleamed in the light. Calling to him. Begging him to take her. He leaned down and swiped his tongue over her slit, her essence coating his tongue. Charlie’s eyes almost rolled into the back of his head as the taste of her hit him. She was an aphrodisiac, and he was already hooked. He dove back down and speared her. She even tasted of vanilla here too. Catherine’s legs clamped around his head threatening to cut off his air supply. It would be a glorious death in his opinion, but he wasn’t ready to check out yet. Charlie wiggled his upper body closer, so he could keep licking her and keep her legs pinned outside his shoulders. Catherine panted his name as she writhed under him. It was all the encouragement he needed to push her over the edge. He twirled his tongue around her bundle of nerves, and she near shot off the couch screaming his name. He didn’t let up until the last tremor passed, and Catherine flopped back on the couch like a limp noodle. Perspiration dotted her forehead and her cheeks were flushed. Her eyes were closed, and she looked ready to pass out. Pride filled him knowing he did that to her.
Charlie ran his tongue over her one last time and kissed his way back up her body until he reached her lips. He didn't think he could ever tire of kissing her. Catherine wrapped her legs around his hips and pulled him close. She apparently wasn’t as tired as he first thought. Thankfully he still had his pants on. Though that wouldn’t be for much longer as he felt her slight hands glide down to his pants and try to open the top button. Charlie sat up and clasped her wandering hands in one of his.
Catherine looked up at him disappointed and tried to pull her hands away, but he refused to let her go. He never wanted to let her go. She had given him something no other woman ever had before. Compassion. For that alone, she would always be special to him. He didn’t want to rush their lovemaking. Just the small taste of her that he had, and he knew without a shadow of a doubt it would be explosive but for now, he wanted to focus on her. “I made you a promise, Catherine. We would get to know each other before we had sex.”
“I’d say you got to know me really well already.” She glared at him.
“Don’t be angry, please. I want you. Don’t ever doubt that.”
“Then take me,” she spat.
Charlie shook his head. “I want it to be special. You deserve that. I don’t want it to feel rushed. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Does that mean we can’t do other stuff?”
His cock leapt up at her question. “We can,” he said after a moment’s consideration. It might kill him eventually with them ‘doing other stuff.’ Could a man die from blue balls? He hoped he didn’t ever find out.
“Good,” she beamed at him, reaching for his crotch.
Charlie caught her wayward hands again. “I’m taking care of you, not the other way around.”
Catherine looked like she wanted to argue but nodded her head. She pulled her hands back, and this time he let them go. “I should get dressed.” She mumbled.
“Please don’t on my account.” He chuckled.
Catherine got dressed and sat back down next to him on the couch. She fingers combed her hair back under control and tried to get comfortable on the couch. Charlie snaked a hand around her waist and pulled her close to his side. She immediately snuggled up close to him and rested her head on his shoulder. She was right where she was meant to be. She fit him to perfection. Catherine sighed in contentment.
“All I want is honesty between us,” Charlie said strumming his fingers through her hair. “I don’t sugar coat things. I never have. Never will. There are times I come across crass and insensitive, and I’ll apologize now for it. I don’t do it to be mean. I am what I am, and I hope you can accept me for that.”
Catherine was quiet for several moments, and Charlie wondered if she would say anything to his statement or if she was still upset with him for not allowing her to take care of him. “I appreciate your honesty. It means a lot to me.” Her words were hollow like she had said them so often now it was ingrained in her. He couldn’t allow that.
Charlie sat up taking her with him and turned her to face him. “Hear me now woman. I want you more than I want my next breath. If I hadn’t already promised you we would take our time and get to know one another, I would have you on the flat of your back screaming my name.” Catherine’s eyes flashed from shock to passion in seconds. He loved watching the play of emotions on her face. She didn’t realize it, but her face was so animated that he could always see what she was thinking. Like now, she was thinking about what he just said. He shouldn’t have said it because now it gave him ideas, but he wanted to make his point, he wanted her.
“You want me.” It wasn’t a question.
“Every lush inch of you,” he confirmed. Catherine smiled up at him, and Charlie swore his heart skipped a beat. He could deny this woman nothing. She owned him now. With one smile she could lead him to the slaughter, and he would follow.
Catherine blushed and tried to turn away, but Charlie wouldn’t allow her to. He loved seeing her blush and knowing he caused it. He would make it his mission to make her blush every day.
They lay on the couch holding each other and talking about their past. Charlie shared with her his growing up in Montana, forty miles away from Billings on a cattle ranch. He knew how to rope and ride horses.
“I’ve never been on a horse,” Catherine confessed.
“Well then, we’ll have to see about that won’t we?” He and his team were training for the charity race against Ghost’s team, and depending on what he heard from Midas about the status of finding the mole, he might have to fly out to California. “How about after the race?” He suggested, it should give him enough time to get everything taken care of before.
“The race?” she asked confused.
“My team and another from Fort Hood are competing for charity. Mock obstacles are set up, and there is a large race at the end. The fastest team wins, and all proceeds go to Wounded Vets.”
“That’s so cool. I didn’t even know that existed.”
&nbs
p; “This will be our second year doing it.”
“So how many are in the teams?” Catherine sat up, genuinely interested in hearing about the charity race.
Warmth spread through Charlie that Catherine was interested in the cause and interested in learning more about it. He had to be careful what he said. Being Delta Force was a closely guarded secret. Only spouses knew what they did. He had never wanted to tell anyone until now. He wanted complete honesty with Catherine, but this was one secret he couldn’t share with her. At least not yet. “Seven on each.”
“Do you know the other team?”
“We do. We’ve worked with their team before.” Not many times but a few. Most Delta Force teams went out on their own missions. It wasn’t common they teamed up with other teams. It had been a joint effort with Midas’s team, and he had worked with a SEAL team out of California once a few years ago.
“Team? I don’t hear that phrase too often. What exactly is it that you do?” It was a question Charlie had been hoping to avoid. He didn’t want to lie to her, but neither could he tell her the truth.
“I can’t say,” he finally said. Catherine looked down at her hands clasped in her lap sadly, and nodded as if she understood. But she didn’t. She didn’t understand anything. Not that he didn’t want to tell her, it was simply that he couldn’t. “I’m sorry I can’t tell you more.”
“It’s nothing illegal is it?” Catherine asked carefully, as if afraid what his answer might be.
“No,” he answered perplexed, why would she ask him something like that? From all the things she could have asked him. That was not one of them.
Catherine relaxed and seemed to sigh in relief.
“Do I dare ask where that question came from?”
Hiding Catherine Page 7