A smile erupts on her face, and she moves herself to straddle my hips. Which is dangerous, because my cock has stirred to life. Now isn’t a moment to have sex, because I feel like I’d be taking advantage of her vulnerability. “It’s okay,” she says as she moves, and lowers herself onto my cock. She rocks her hips, and my eyes close for a second as I enjoy the feel of her tight little pussy engulfing my cock. “I love you, Charlie,” she says.
I open my eyes and gulp. My hips thrust up as my hands weave into her hair, and I bring her face close to mine. “Say that again.”
She lowers her mouth to mine. “I love you, Charlie.” Her lips seal over mine, as she pokes her tongue out, daring for more.
Jesus, she fucking said it. She pushed past all her barriers, broke all her walls down, and admitted to me that she loves me. “I love you so damned much,” I reply. Grabbing onto her hips we move together, not hard and fast, but I’m letting her set the pace. The water is sloshing around everywhere, making a mess throughout the bathroom. But right now, I don’t care, because my girl has made a huge breakthrough, and I’m so proud of her.
Tabitha pushes back, and grabs the edge of the bath as she grinds her hips further down on me. God, I want to speed this up, but she obviously doesn’t. “Hmm, I like this,” she moans as she closes her eyes, while tilting her head back and swiveling her hips.
I lean forward, taking her tit into my mouth to suck on it. She loves it when I bite and pull her nipple. I play with the nipple, sucking, biting and running my tongue over and over the erect edge.
She snakes her hand down to play with herself while she’s riding me, but I take her hand, and place it on the edge of the bathtub again. “No touching.” She opens her eyes and stares into mine. There’s a hunger growing inside of her, desperate for a release. Using my thumb, I apply pressure with circular movements on her clit.
“Yeah, like that,” she mumbles. This is all about her, and everything she needs right now. Tabitha’s breathing increases while she tries to grind down as far onto me as she can. “I’m gonna cum, Charlie.” She erupts around me, going from steady to manic, then back to slow. She opens her eyes, leans down and kisses me. “I know you didn’t yet, but thank you.”
I grab the sides of her cheeks, and kiss her the way I’ve always wanted to. Greedily, like I’ve been starved of her for too long. “We’ve got all the time in the world. Because, we’re not sleeping tonight.”
She bites her lip and lifts a brow. “Yeah?” she asks. Oh, I see, my little minx is back.
I grab her nipple and pinch it between my thumb and finger. “Yeah,” I reply.
She smirks and stares straight into my eyes. “Good.” She pushes up over me, and gets out of the bath, standing with her butt to my face as she takes a towel and dries herself off. Fuck, her butt is so damn cute. I move and bite her ass cheek so hard she yelps. But she pushes it further back into my face. I love her sexual appetite. I don’t think I’m ever going to stop loving to fuck her. She makes me crazy. I grab her hips to kiss and bite her sweet, rounded butt cheeks. Then I let go, and slap her so hard, she’s left with my hand print and bite marks. “Oh no,” she says when she turns to stare at me getting out of the water.
“What?” I ask.
She moves her hand, and inserts two fingers into her pussy. “I’m wet.”
Fuck me! “Dry off and get in the room. Time I explore this little ass of yours.”
She jumps with a squeak as I smack her on the other ass cheek. Fuck, I’m crazy about her. I’m going to lose my mind if I don’t get to spend every single day with her for the rest of our lives.
Tabitha
“Joanne, I’m leaving now. I have to head over to Hope and River’s place. Are you okay here?”
Joanne rolls her eyes, and flicks her hand at me. “Evie and I have it covered. Right, Evie?”
“Evie has the list I’ve left her of everything she needs to do before she leaves for the day. You’re super organized, okay.” Joanne has slotted into the B&B effortlessly. I’m liking her and her easiness.
“I know, but Hope still hasn’t made her mind up about the cake! And that’s stressing me out. I only have two days, and that’s really not enough time to make…”
“Stop!” Joanne says as she walks around the counter and stands in front of me. She places her hands on my shoulders, looks me straight in the eyes, and says, “You’re an amazing chef, Tabitha. If Hope wants something over the top, tell her it can’t be done. But knowing Hope, she’ll probably settle for something simple.”
She’s right, Hope would be happy with something simple. “Yeah, she’s exactly like that. I just need to stop panicking.”
“Yes, you do. What time are you meeting her?”
“I’m going home first. I have everything at home. Then um, Elle, Jake, Charlie and I are meeting in about an hour or so.”
“We’ve got it covered here, so don’t worry about anything, okay?”
“Thank you.”
“By the way, if you see that son of mine, tell him to get his butt home,” Joanne says.
“I will.” I look out the back and take a deep breath. As of tomorrow, it’s all hands on deck getting everything ready for Hope and River’s wedding in just two damned days. “Bye.” The decking out in back needs to be decorated, the marquee tent erected, the lights hung, the tables set. But it’s okay; we’ll get it all done.
I walk out front, and down the street to where my car is parked, and when I’m in the car, I grab my phone. I dial Hope’s number, but it just rings out. “Where the hell are you?” I ask, frustrated. I place the phone beside me, and high-tail it back home to get ready for tonight.
When I get home, Charlie’s truck is here. I spend more of my nights in his bed than I do in my own. I figure Aunt May isn’t going to want to hear us having sex most nights.
I walk into Aunt May’s to find Charlie and my aunt sitting on the sofa together. “You’re home early,” Aunt May says.
“Yeah, Charlie and I are heading over to Hope and River’s to finalize a few things for the wedding. How are you? How was Serena today?” I look around and see the walker isn’t anywhere. “Wait, where’s the walker?”
“I’ve graduated with honors, and have progressed to a walking stick.” She holds it up, then carefully demonstrates how she can use it instead of a walker. I’ve noticed her speech has improved quite a lot too. It’s amazing how determined she is to get better.
“Wow, that’s just made my day, Aunt May.”
“Serena will be here tomorrow, but she told me because I’m her best student, she’s giving me a few days’ vacation.”
“Best student? You’re her only patient.”
Aunt May flicks her hands. “Semantics. Same-same.”
Well, not really, but anyway. “Have you spoken with Hope? I’ve been trying to get in contact with her all day,” I ask Charlie.
“She called me this morning and said she and River had to go somewhere to get something. I don’t know.” He shrugs.
“So you haven’t heard from her either?”
“Not since this morning.”
“Do you think they’re okay? They couldn’t be hurt, could they? Shit, do you think we should call Jake?”
Charlie stands, walks over to me and hugs me. “You’re stressing too much. Don’t worry about them, they’re probably looking at houses. Hope does this.” Charlie’s phone starts ringing. He lowers his arms, and takes his phone out of his pocket. “Here.” He holds the phone up to me. I instantly breathe a sigh of relief. “Hey,” he pauses. “Yeah,” he pauses again. “Yeah, about an hour. Sure. Okay. Yep. Alright. Bye.”
“Everything okay?”
“They’re getting pizza for dinner, they’ll be home in about an hour. Gives you about forty-five minutes to get ready. I’ll just go take a quick shower too.”
“Okay. I’m on a mission. I’ll get Hope and River to commit to a damn cake tonight, or they’re getting a freaking donut with a wedding couple on top
of it.”
“Oh my God!” Charlie says as he laughs.
“What?” Aunt May asks.
“Remember when Hope broke her nose, and she was most upset about the donuts she left behind?”
“That girl,” Aunt May sighs. “She’s fiercely loyal but has no tolerance for bullshit.”
“A bit like you, Gran,” Charlie says.
Aunt May pulls her shoulders back, and raises her chin. “Yeah, a bit like me.” She smirks, then adds, “A younger version of me.”
“You’re so smug,” I say.
“And so I should be. You don’t get to be my age without a certain amount of pride.”
“Anyway, I’m going to take a quick shower too, and get ready.” I head into my room to get my stuff ready.
We pull into the driveway of Hope and River’s house, and I look out at the ocean. “It’s nice here, isn’t it?” I ask Charlie.
“Yeah, living by the water would be pretty cool.”
We get out of the car, and I look up to the porch that wraps around their house. Hope’s sitting outside, looking over the water. “Hey!” I call from downstairs.
She looks down at where we are, and waves. “You coming up?”
I nod, but look back at the water again. I don’t know, something’s kinda calling me. “Yeah, in a minute.” I slip my shoes off, and head down the short walk to the beach, and stand up to my knees in the water.
“Hey, what’s happening?” Charlie asks from the shore line.
“I don’t know, I just had to, you know?” I ask, still unsure why I had the desire to be in the water. Charlie smiles, slips off his sport shoes, takes off his jeans and t-shirt, and walks into the water in his briefs. “You’re in your underwear,” I say as I look around.
“Who cares. Take your shorts and tank off. It’ll be just like you’re wearing a bikini. Anyway, the only people watching would be Hope and River. And Elle and Jake when they show up. And trust me, they won’t give a rat’s ass that we’re in here.” I cautiously look around, but I’m surprised to find that this part of the beach is isolated. There’s no one here. It’s like we’re in our own part of the world. “Let loose, Pop Rock. Just let go.”
Charlie’s right. No one is going to care, because no one is around. And if they are, who cares? “You’re right,” I say as I make my way out of the water, and start de-clothing.
“Whoop, whoop!” I hear Hope yell as I shimmy out of my shorts. “Take it off! Take it all off!” she encourages. I turn to face her, and do a sexy move as I do a little strip tease with my tank top. “Take it all off, sexy lady!” she yells and claps. She makes me smile.
I shake my head, laughing. I run into the waves, and am bowled over by one that smashes into me. I can’t help but laugh when it sends me spiraling backward. Charlie’s behind me though, and as I get flung back, I land against him, and he holds me tight to his body.
“Yeah, this is the Tabitha I always knew you were.” He kisses me on the back of the neck.
I turn in his arms, and throw mine around him. Standing face to face, we’re being moved by the current of the sea. “I love you,” I say as I kiss him. Those words are easier for me to say now, because I know he loves me with everything he is.
“I know,” he replies. He lets me go, pushes me backward, and flicks water up at me.
Laughing, I try to turn and run, but the moment I do, another wave comes in and smashes into my body. This time I fall back on my butt, and my head dunks completely underwater. I get a mouthful of salty water, and when I come up I spit it out and cough. “Yuck! Fish pee!”
“What?” Charlie’s forehead crinkles. “Did you just say fish pee?”
“Yeah. I just had a mouth full of fish pee. Blech.” I poke my tongue out and pretend to retch.
He grabs onto me, laughing. “This is the real version of you, Tabitha. The one you’re supposed to be.” Charlie kisses me, and I automatically feel sorry for him for kissing my fish pee mouth. I start laughing. “You’re kissing me and laughing?”
“I’m laughing because now you have a mouth full of fish pee too.” We sink into the water, laughing and letting the waves slowly take us back to shore only to sway us out over and over again. When we’re back on the shore line, I lay on the wet sand, knowing full well, sand will be in bits and places that it shouldn’t be. But I don’t care. It’s such a perfect afternoon. “Can this day get any better?” I ask as I look up to the beautiful oranges, pinks, and reds in the evening sky.
“Today is definitely special,” Charlie says from beside me.
I look over to him, and notice he’s lying on his side, head propped on his elbow and staring at me with those hungry gray eyes. His face is relaxed and ready to smile, with his rugged, chiseled jaw line. “You know, if I took a photo of you right now, I think you could make a lot of women quite happy.” He smirks. “You’re the dead sexiest person I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
He moves his free hand over and lays it possessively on my hip. “So are you.” Something passes between us, it’s more than a feeling or emotion. It’s an intense connection I’ve always wanted to feel, but never had the chance. Until now.
“Hey, you two? Should I pop some popcorn for the free porno show?” Hope yells. “I’m all for a good sex show, but I should tell you I don’t think I want to see my brother’s junk.” Even though I can’t see her, I can tell her mouth is screwed up, and she’s balking at the thought.
Charlie pushes up off the sand, and reaches out to help me up. “Hey, throw us a couple of towels,” Charlie yells at her.
She’s already got them ready and tosses them over the porch rail. “Thank you,” I yell.
Charlie and I pick up our clothes, and head up to the house. When we get to the front door, River’s already waiting for us. “Hey,” I say as I fasten the towel around me.
“Hey. Do you want to take a shower?”
“Yes, please.”
“You know where the bathroom is. Are you having a shower too?” River asks Charlie who nods. “You can use the other bathroom.” He points down the hallway. Probably best we don’t share a shower, because we may never get around to deciding on this damn cake.
Elle, Hope and River are talking about something as Charlie packs away the pizza boxes from dinner. I get up and head downstairs to Charlie’s truck and take out the folder with everything I need to get sorted for Hope and River’s wedding feast. Although, it’s starting to look more like a family gathering having a barbeque.
When I get back, Hope has disappeared inside. “If you tell me she’s avoiding this, I’m gonna lose my shit.”
“Nah, she’s just gone to the bathroom,” River says.
There’s something about Hope and River, they’ve been really happy since we’ve been here. Like, unusually happy. “Okay, I need you and Hope here so we can figure out this cake.”
“Cake? Did someone say cake?” Hope asks as she comes out only hearing the tail end of the conversation. She looks at the table, and her shoulders slump. “There’s no freaking cake.”
“No, there isn’t. But we do need to talk about the damned cake I’m making for your wedding.”
“But do we?” Hope asks as she semi-shrugs.
“Unless you don’t want one.”
“Well, so here’s the thing.” She looks at River, and my heart stops. If they’re calling this damn wedding off, I’m going to scream. “About the wedding,” she starts.
I lift my finger, and point at her.
“Are you cancelling it?” Charlie asks before I have the chance to ask the same question.
“Well,” Hope says, and River hugs her. “We kinda got married already.”
Wait, did I hear that right? I look at Elle, whose confused face is probably a mirror image of my own. Jake stares at me, then at Charlie. The four of us have no idea what’s happening.
“What?” Charlie asks.
“Yeah, we went and got married today,” Hope says and holds up her hand to show a plain gold wedding ban
d. River shows us his too.
“What the fuck!” Charlie yells as he stands and gives Hope the biggest hug ever.
“Oh my God!” Elle and I yell as we both stand and give Hope a hug, then River.
I’ve got happy tears in my eyes. “Why… what… how?” I can’t form a sentence.
“River and I were talking, and neither of us really wanted anything big after all. It was stressing me out, so we decided to take off today and go over to Mulberry Point and just get married. I’ll tell you, it’s the best thing we could’ve done.”
“Yep, the big thing wasn’t for us. We’re happy just being together after so many failed attempts at trying to work it out,” River adds.
“Holy shit. Wow, you guys, I’m so happy for you!” I look down at all my prep work. “But what about the reception? Do you want me to cancel everything? What about your dress? You bought it already.”
“I’ll donate the dress to someone who needs it more than I do. And as far as all the food is concerned, we’ll go ahead with it but instead of a wedding reception, it’ll be a party.” I’m so stunned that I don’t even know what to do or say.
“The alcohol and drinks are being delivered tomorrow. What about them? This is a lot of money you’ve spent,” I say. “Want me to try and get a refund on anything?”
Hope shrugs. “Nah. We’re still going to have an awesome party.”
“I’ve got an idea,” Charlie says.
“What?” Hope asks.
I turn to look at Charlie, who’s standing, and pushing his chair back. He takes a small blue velvet pouch out of his jean pocket, and gets down on one knee. I bring my hands up to cover my mouth. “I just want to be with you every single day. Say yes?”
“Aww.” I look over at Hope who places her hand to her chest and has tears pooling in her eyes.
I’m nodding before I even say the word. Charlie jumps up, takes my hand and places the diamond ring on my finger. “Yes.” He picks me up, and kisses me so hard I can barely breathe. He places me back on my feet, and we’re attacked by the other four who are hugging and congratulating us. I look around and start crying.
Healing Hearts: A friends with benefits, small town romance (Hope River Book 3) Page 21