by Anna Blakely
Not wanting to go to Derek looking like a drowned rat, Charlie quickly blew her hair dry. After fluffing it with her fingers, she wrapped the white towel around her body, securing it between her breasts.
Praying she wasn’t about to make a monumentally embarrassing mistake, Charlie filled her lungs with air and released it out slowly. Before she could change her mind, she opened the bathroom door and stepped into the hallway.
With a quick glance to her right, she could tell there were no lights on in the kitchen or living room area. The door to her left was slightly ajar, and there was a soft glow filtering through the small, open space.
Guessing Derek was already in bed, she took another deep breath and headed for his room. With a slight tremble in her hand, Charlie said another silent prayer and pushed the door open.
Shirtless, Derek was sitting up in bed, his head tilted down as he looked at something on his phone. His sandy blond hair was damp, as though he’d just taken a shower, too.
As she walked into the room, he lifted his head. Their eyes connected and his widened slightly as he took in her full appearance.
Setting his phone down onto the nightstand, he cleared his throat and gave her a sweet smile.
“Everything okay?”
“Not really.”
Charlie stepped a little farther inside before shutting the door behind her.
She could see Derek’s Adam’s apple bob up and down as he swallowed before clearing his throat again.
“Anything I can help with?”
He appeared to be adorably nervous, which made Charlie’s heart smile. Good to know I’m not the only one.
She took a tiny step closer to the bed. “I sure hope so.”
Pushing past her nerves, Charlie tugged at the knot between her breasts. The terrycloth towel fell to the floor, pooling around her bare feet.
As she stood there, completely naked and exposed to him, she prayed he still wanted her as much as she did him.
Looking as though he were about to swallow his own tongue, Derek slowly pushed the covers off his legs and got up from the bed. His erection was impossible to miss as it pushed against the thin material of his black boxer briefs.
Her mouth watered with anticipation, and Charlie found herself yearning for the chance to taste him.
She dreaded giving Caleb blow jobs. Just one more way she was forced to serve him. Sex was a means to an end for him, and he didn’t give two shits whether or not she was satisfied.
Like so many things with Derek, this was different. Charlie found she couldn’t wait to slide his hard length between her lips.
No longer the boy she once knew, he continued walking toward her. She could make out nearly every impressive muscle on the front of his body as he moved.
His chest and abs were so sculpted they almost looked fake. Charlie bit back a gasp when she lowered her gaze to the delicious V running from his hips toward the center...and below. Just knowing where it ended left her inner muscles clenching with desire.
“God, you’re beautiful.”
Hearing his low, sultry voice had Charlie bringing her eyes back up to his. Her breath froze inside her lungs when she saw the expression on his face.
Derek West, the man she’d fantasized about more times than she could count, was looking back at her as if she were the most gorgeous, desirable woman on the face of the earth.
“So are you,” she whispered back as he closed the remaining distance between them.
With the most gentle touch, he brushed a few strands from her forehead and tucked them behind her ear. Something as sweet and innocent as that left her knees struggling to keep her upright.
“You need to be sure, Charlie. A lot has happened today, and I don’t want you waking up in the morning with another regret.”
Charlie leaned into his touch, her cheek resting against his strong palm. “I’m sure, Derek. I’m more sure about this than anything in my entire life.”
Reaching up, she pressed her hand against his chest. His heart pounded against her skin, its fast, steady rhythm matching her own.
“I’ve wanted you for as long as I can remember,” she told him honestly. “For years, I’ve closed my eyes and pretended you were the one touching me.”
Derek’s eyes filled with remorse. “Charlie, I—”
She shook her head, not allowing him to finish. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes, Derek. The biggest one was walking away from you. You’re worried about regrets...the thing I’d most regret would be if I didn’t take this chance right now. With you.”
Charlie moved in closer, her breasts pressing against his hot, smooth skin. Derek inhaled sharply from the contact, his cock jumping against her lower belly.
“Please, Derek.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I need you. Show me what this is supposed to feel like.”
A torn look filled his eyes, making Charlie’s stomach drop. After everything they’d shared and conquered, was he really going to turn her down?
“Charlie, there’s somethin’ I need to tell you before this goes any further.”
“Okay.” Her heart beat like a kick drum slamming against her ribs.
Derek swallowed, looking more nervous than she’d ever seen him. He filled his lungs and blew out a breath.
“To say I haven’t been a saint these past eleven years would be a major understatement.”
“O-okay,” she stuttered, unsure of where this was leading.
Looking resigned, Derek’s strong shoulders fell a little as he admitted, “Honey, I’ve been with a lot of women. A. Lot.”
Understanding hit. “Oh.”
Though he really didn’t owe her an explanation, he rushed to explain.
“It’s not somethin’ I’m proud of. I was always respectful and honest with them from the get-go, and I always, without fail, used protection. We get tested every six months for the job, and I’ve always come back clean.”
“It’s okay,” Charlie started to say, but he kept going.
“It was always casual. Honestly, I’ve never had any sort of serious relationship with any woman, and I think...” He paused, licking his lips nervously. “I think I never settled down because somewhere deep down inside me I knew. I knew you and I would find our way back to one another. Now”—he shook his head— “I know that doesn’t excuse my behavior with all those other women, but...”
“Derek, stop.” Charlie put a finger to his lips. “You don’t owe me anything. I ran off and married another man, for crying out loud.”
He kissed her fingertip before gently removing her hand from his mouth. “I get that, but—”
“No. No buts.” She gave him a look that meant business. “The past is the past. Neither of us can change what we’ve done or who we were before now. All we can do is focus on who we are. Who we want to be...together. But, if you’ve changed your mind and you don’t want this, then—”
Derek slammed his lips against hers, his kiss telling her this was exactly what he wanted. He ravished her mouth, and when he was finished, he rested his forehead against hers and whispered, “I’ve wanted you since before I left for BUD/s.”
Her smile felt bittersweet. “I wish I’d known back then.”
“You know, now, darlin’.” Derek brushed his knuckles against her flushed cheek
“Yeah.” Charlie leaned into his touch. “I do.”
With thoughts of time already lost, Charlie became bolder in her movements. Sliding one of her hands between their bodies, she wrapped her fingers around his cloth-covered shaft and squeezed.
“Take me to bed, Derek.”
He sucked in a breath, his large hand halting her movements.
“Oh, I’m going to, baby. But you have to promise not to do that again until I’m ready. Otherwise, this will end up being even more embarrassin’ than the time my mom walked in on me measuring my...worth.”
Charlie threw her head back and laughed. “Boys actually do that?”
He snorted. “Of course they
do. And anyone who tells you they haven’t is a bold-faced liar.”
“Well”—she squeezed him again—“I don’t know how big you were back then, but I know you’re going to measure up just fine, now.”
“Charlie...” he warned again.
“You know, Derek.” She rose on her tiptoes and nipped at his chin. “If you’re so worried about this ending before it begins, maybe we should stop all this talking and get to it.”
He grinned as he tilted his head to the side, giving her better access to his neck. “You never were big on waiting to get what you want.”
“Nope.” She began kissing him along his jawline and neck.
In a quick, unexpected move, Derek pulled back and removed her hand from his cock. With her hand in his, he began leading her to the bed.
“Far be it from me to make you wait any longer.”
Charlie smiled from behind him, taking in the magnificent way the muscles in his back tensed and moved as he walked. Those and his perfect, tight ass.
Just imagining how it would feel to grab ahold of it while he drove himself inside her left her inner thighs damp with arousal.
When they got to the side of the bed, Derek gently guided her onto her back. He climbed over her, his lips finding that sweet spot where her neck and shoulders meet.
“Mmm,” she moaned as he licked and sucked and nibbled her there.
“You took the words right out of my mouth,” he whispered against her skin. “I have to warn you.” He moved toward the center of her throat. “Once I get inside you this first time, I probably won’t be able to give you my best performance.”
Charlie would have laughed had his hand not found one of her breasts at that exact same moment. He kneaded the supple globe before using his thumb and forefinger to tweak her hard-as-nails nipple.
“W-why is that?” she barely managed to ask.
“’Cause I feel like I’ve just been given every birthday and Christmas gift I ever wanted but never got. I’ve waited too long for this, darlin’.” He nibbled her bottom lip. “I’ve waited so long for you.”
Supporting her breast with his hand, he took that same nipple in his mouth. Sucking it between his lips, Derek flicked it with his tongue in a way that left her imagining what it would feel like if he did that to a different, swollen part of her anatomy.
Her sex clenched tightly with hopeful anticipation.
With his mouth still busy devouring her breast, Derek slid his hand down her belly and below. Pushing gently against her inner thigh, he coaxed her to spread her legs wider, giving him better access to what she was offering him there.
As his fingers began their journey over her neatly-trimmed sex, Charlie found it harder and harder to breathe. And when one brushed against her swollen clit, she nearly came undone.
Moaning, she lifted her hips from the mattress. Her body instinctively searching for the pleasure only this man could give.
“Derek, please,” she begged.
She felt him smile against her breast. “Trust me. I know the feeling.”
“Good. Because I need you.” She pressed herself against his hand. “I need...” Charlie couldn’t seem to find the words through the haze of pleasure already building,
“Somethin’ like this?” He used his middle finger to slowly trace her slit up and down.
“Mmm,” she moaned. “Yeah.”
“More?”
With her eyes closed and her head resting on her pillow, Charlie nodded quickly. “Yes, please.”
Derek continued sucking, first one breast and then the other, as he slowly dipped his large finger into her wet heat.
“Jesus, baby,” he panted. “You’re soaked.”
“Sorry.” She opened her eyes, her apology reflexive.
Stopping what he was doing, Derek looked at her with earnest. “You’re apologizing for being aroused?”
She swallowed nervously. “I-I didn’t know if that was a turn-off for you. I don’t know what you like, so I thought maybe...”
Rather than respond with words, Derek shocked the hell out of her when he lifted the finger he’d just had inside her pussy to his mouth. Sliding it between his lips, he then sucked every ounce of her from it before licking his lips and moaning.
“Best fuckin’ thing I’ve ever tasted.”
Her relief must have shown because Derek’s expression became serious. “I hate him for what he’s done to you. But, I’m not him, Charlie. And for the record, I love that you’re soaked for me.”
“Yeah?”
“Hell, yeah. Just means you’re enjoying what I’m doing to you.”
Charlie searched his eyes and found nothing but sincerity there. “Okay,” she breathed out, unsure of what else to say.
“You do like what I’m doing to you, right?”
“Oh, yeah.”
Derek gave her a smug grin. “Good. Guess I’d better keep at it, then.”
Without another word, he put his hand back between her legs and pressed that same finger back inside. Taking his time, he began thrusting it in and out at a slow pace.
“Like that?”
“Yeah.”
“Still need more?”
“Please.”
Smiling, at her politeness, Derek added a second finger, thrusting both digits in and out a bit faster. “Better?”
“Yes.”
He increased his speed and force again, the pressure building at an almost alarming rate.
She could hear how wet she was. Charlie would have been embarrassed, but it genuinely seemed to turn Derek on.
“Listen to that, baby. Listen to how much your body likes my fingers.”
Oh, God. She never pictured Derek as a talker, but damn, it was hot. Every time he opened his mouth, more of her slick heat escaped.
“I wonder...”
He purposely let his voice trail off as he began lowering his body along the length of hers. His lips left a trail of hot, wet kisses as he brought his mouth to her navel and below.
If his tongue on her nipple was any indication, Charlie wasn’t sure she’d survive what was about to happen. But damn if she could think of a better way to go.
A sudden feeling of selfishness spread over her. Caleb had only gone down on her a few times early on and had acted like it was such a chore. Charlie didn’t want Derek thinking he had to do that for her.
She put her hand on the back of his head. “You don’t have to—”
He halted his movements and looked up at her. Looking confused, he said, “I know I don’t have to. I want to. Unless you don’t like that.”
“No, I do. Or, at least I think I will. I just...” Charlie squeezed her eyes shut and growled as she threw her head back onto her pillow. “I’m sorry. I’m screwing this whole thing up.”
Derek pushed himself back up so his face was flush with hers. “Look at me,” he ordered. His voice was low. Serious. And one hundred percent sexy.
Reluctantly, Charlie opened her eyes.
Without another word, he leaned down and began kissing her. He went slowly, his tongue teasing hers as it languidly licked and swirled around inside her mouth.
When he finally broke their connection, the sincerity in his eyes nearly brought her to tears.
“You asked me to show you what this is supposed to feel like.” He used a finger to move some hair away from her eyes. “I want to do that, Charlie. I want to make this the best it can be for you.”
She didn’t say it, but he’d already shown her more compassion and caring than Caleb ever had. In or out of bed.
“Let me do this for you, Charlie. Please.”
Could she ever deny this man anything?
She nodded. “I’m yours, Derek. Do whatever you want with me.”
The blue in his eyes turned to midnight as his pupils enlarged with desire. “Careful what you offer, there, darlin’.”
“I mean it, Derek. I’m yours.” Charlie reached up and placed the palm of her hand against his stubbly cheek. “In my h
eart, I’ve always been yours.”
He looked back at her with more love and affection than anyone else had ever shown her.
“Charlie I—”
She moved her fingers to his lips, effectively cutting him off. “I don’t need the words, Derek. Show me.”
Early on as a child, and then again as a married woman, Charlie had learned at a very young age those three little words meant squat. A person’s actions were what mattered most.
Swallowing down whatever he was about to say, Derek gave her another quick kiss before moving his face back down between her thighs.
With his finger, he began tracing her slit again, as though he was starting from the beginning. This time, however, as he pressed the digit into her slick heat, Charlie felt his hot, wet tongue on her engorged clit.
“Ah!” She cried out, her pelvis thrusting upward toward his face.
“Like that?” He smiled against her most sensitive flesh.
Not waiting for a response, Derek began using his tongue on her again.
In the most perfect, pleasurable combination, he slowly thrust his finger in and out of her pussy as he licked and flicked her clit with his tongue.
He added a second finger, stretching her tight sheath as he pumped his thick digits in and out in the most wonderful rhythm.
The combined movements of his hand and tongue nearly proved lethal, and within seconds, Charlie began feeling the early tingling of her impending explosion.
It had been so long since she’d had an orgasm that wasn’t self-induced and even those were few and far between. When you lived your life in constant fear of your spouse, sex is typically the last thing on your mind.
When she did find herself in search of release, this was the man she always thought of. Late at night, when she was left all alone—which was most nights, anymore—Charlie would lie in bed and touch herself, pretending Derek was there with her.
Her fantasies had nothing on the real thing.
“God, Derek. I’m so close.”
Her words spurred him on.
Pumping his fingers faster, his tongue flicked back and forth over her swollen bundle of nerves with expert speed and precision. It was exactly what she needed.