In Love
Page 4
Charlotte stepped up to our trio, frowning at London, who then pointed at me. I wasn’t paying too much attention as I placed a kiss on Kaya’s fuzzy head. Damn, she was adorable.
“Rhett, what are you—hey, I thought I was the only one besides you and Liam who could get her to go to sleep.” I glanced up to see her watching me with mock annoyance, but her green eyes were soft.
I would have wanted to hold Kaya either way, but I silently said a thank you to the little girl and promised her a pony for setting up this little interaction. Now Charlotte would be picturing me with our own child. That’s right, baby, I thought smugly. Drink it in.
That was one of the few times she’d ever called me Rhett and damn it all to fucking hell. It was hot as shit. I actually felt a little guilty about the growing situation in my pants while holding an innocent little baby.
After a minute of all three women staring at me, it started to feel a little awkward. “Um…”
London snapped out of it first and laughed as she crossed over to gently take Kaya from my arms.
“Charlotte,” I said in a low, husky tone. “A word in my office, please?”
Suddenly, she looked like deer in headlights. “We’ve really got to go…”
“Now.” I didn’t wait for another excuse as I pivoted on my heel and marched back to my office. Once inside, I turned to make sure she’d followed me and gestured for her to enter. She crossed the threshold with a wary look, and I couldn’t help the wolfish smile that stole across my face.
As soon as she was in, I shut the door, turned the lock, and grabbed her hand as she tried to scurry away. I pulled her over to me and crowded her up against the door with my hands on her hips. “Did you enjoy that little glimpse into your future, baby?” I teased as I slipped one hand down until I reached the hem of her skirt and caressed her naked leg beneath it. “I can’t wait to see you big and round with our babies,” I murmured before I crushed my mouth over hers.
Charlotte moaned, and her hands locked behind my neck. Fuck, she tasted so amazing. I couldn’t get enough of kissing her. But I was hungry for a taste of her pussy, and the starvation was getting to me.
My hand crawled up and slid between her thighs to stroke the gusset of her panties. “You’re wet for me, Charlotte,” I growled as I moved my lips to kiss along her jaw. “I think it got you hot to picture our little one in my arms. Did you think about how it would happen?” I kissed her again as my fingers stroked her, and she shuddered. I tore my mouth away and stared into her passion-glazed eyes. “Were you imagining my big cock thrusting into your tight pussy, baby? Pushing you over the edge so you were climaxing as I stuffed your unprotected womb with my come? You want that, don’t you, Charlotte? To make me a daddy.”
She made a little mewling sound, then gasped when I glided a finger beneath her underwear to drag it up between her slick folds. “Are you a virgin, Charlotte?”
There was a moment of hesitation, and I could see reality trying to break through the fog of lust. I circled her clit and asked again, “Are you untouched?”
She nodded, her breath coming in choppy pants now. I wanted to beat my chest like a fucking caveman. Charlotte was all mine. Would only ever be mine.
I pressed on her little button, and she whimpered. I was pushing my luck, but I had to know. “Are you on birth control, baby?”
She shook her head, and I kissed her again, testing my tongue with hers in a seductive dance while my finger toyed with her bundle of nerves. “Good girl,” I grunted.
Then I locked my eyes with her and warned, “I expect you to stay that way, Charlotte. When you finally admit you’re mine, your body had better be ripe and ready to be bred. Or I’ll tie you to our bed and punish you until it’s out of your system, and I can fuck you until you make me a daddy.”
Charlotte’s mouth dropped open, but then I pinched her clit hard and slammed my mouth down to swallow her cries as her orgasm washed over her.
I ate her mouth while my finger worked her through the climax, only stopping when she was clearly spent and collapsed back against the door. Her eyes were hazy, but she was watching me as I withdrew my hand from between her legs and licked my fingers clean. “Fuck,” I groaned as I closed my eyes and savored the flavor. “You taste even better than I imagined.”
My body was teetering on the precipice, and I fought to keep control so I didn’t spend in my pants like a fucking teenager. If Charlotte stayed much longer, that’s what would happen. Or I’d give in and fuck her up against my office door.
I took a few deep breaths and stepped back. “Go have lunch with your sister, baby,” I ordered while still keeping my tone gentle. She was still staring at me as though she had no clue what to do next. I chuckled and pulled her away from the door before straightening her outfit and running my fingers through her bouncy curls. Then I turned her around with my hands on her shoulders, opened the door, and gently pushed her forward. “We’ll talk later.” I patted her on her sweet ass and laughed when she tossed a glare in my direction.
When she emailed me an hour later that she had to leave early to babysit, I was disappointed that she was still running from me. Yep. Time to step up the game.
5
Rhett
The next morning, I waited in Charlotte’s office for her to arrive. I was standing at the window, hands in my pockets, thinking as I observed the city down below.
I heard her sweet voice greeting Lois, but I didn’t turn around until her door clicked shut. She was hanging up her coat, obviously not having noticed me yet.
“Charlotte.”
She screamed and jumped before whirling around to stare at me like I was the boogeyman. Maybe I was right at that moment. She’d certainly been running from me enough.
“Mr. Whitney! You scared the shit out of me.”
“Language, Charlotte,” I warned.
Her cheeks dusted with pink, then she seemed to realize that she was blushing and glared at me as she straightened her posture and marched over to her desk. I glanced around, assessing the environment. My office was completely glass on three sides. Two that overlooked the city, and one into the outer office. I hadn’t had the time to frost the glass the day before, so I’d kept us hidden by staying behind the door, which was always opaque.
Charlotte’s office, however, had one large picture window. Otherwise, it was four tastefully painted walls. A much better place for our...discussion.
“Is there something I can help you with, Mr. Whitney?” Charlotte asked primly after she dropped down onto her chair.
“So many things, Charlotte,” I smirked. I sauntered over to the chairs in front of her desk and lowered my big frame into one, making a mental note to have Lois order sturdier ones. “What shall we start with?”
“I assume it’s work-related. Is there a file I need to bring up on my computer?”
“You’re cute when you’re trying to be professional with me,” I teased with a wink.
Charlotte rolled her eyes and relaxed back into her seat. “What do you want, Rhett?”
“Hmmm, for starters, I’d like to hear my name in your sexy voice more often.”
“Only outside the office,” she conceded.
My eyes narrowed at her attempted manipulation. “You refuse to see me outside the office.”
“Funny how that worked out, isn’t it?”
I’d have smiled at her cheekiness if I hadn’t been so irritated by our little game. “Charlotte,” I rumbled in a low tone. “You’re quickly approaching the end of my patience.”
She tapped her fingers on the desktop and studied me for a few beats before asking, “And what happens when you get to that point? Will you fire me?”
I reared back in shock, completely repulsed by her proposed scenario. “Absolutely not. You’ve more than proven you’re capable of this job, and I would never fire you simply because you refuse to acknowledge there is something special between us.”
“What about if I dated another guy?”
A wrinkle popped in her forehead, and she looked at me with confusion. “How would you fire him?”
“I didn’t say I would fire him. I said he wouldn’t have a job.”
“You think you can just make a call and get someone fired?” she huffed.
Taking two deep breaths, I clenched and unclenched my fingers before standing. “It would have nothing to do with being fired, baby,” I said as I began to prowl around her desk. When I was inches from her chair, I swiveled it to the side so she faced me. I bent over her and caged her in with my hands on each armrest. “The motherfucker wouldn’t have a job because he’d be dead.”
Charlotte gasped, and I took advantage of her surprised state and open mouth to steal a kiss. My tongue swept inside, hungry for her taste, and a little moan fell from her lips, turning my already hard cock into solid steel. “I love the sounds you make,” I groaned before diving in for more.
When we were both gasping for breath, and I was on the verge of tearing her clothes off and taking her right then and there, I forced myself to pull back. Charlotte’s emerald eyes were glassy, her lips were pink and swollen, and her skin flushed. I mentally patted myself on the back. She looked like she’d been thoroughly kissed.
“This game of chase has been fun, baby.” My voice was gruff as I gazed into her eyes, making sure she heard me. “But I’m done.”
Her eyes widened in shock, and her bee-stung lips opened into a little O.
I nodded firmly to emphasize my point, then stood and walked to the door, discreetly adjusted myself so I wouldn’t freak people out, and left.
I grinned to myself. Let her stew on that for a while.
* * *
Checking my watch, I noted that it was just after seven and debated whether to keep working or go home. My house was too quiet and empty these days.
My cell phone vibrated in the pocket of my suit jacket, which was slung over the back of my chair. I retrieved it and answered the second I saw who was calling. “Is she okay?”
“Yes, Mr. Whitney, she’s fine,” Nina—a member of Charlotte’s security team—assured me. “But you asked us to call if she had any male visitors.”
My back went ramrod straight, and I growled, “How long has he been there?”
“He just arrived, sir.” Her tone was hesitant, suggesting she wanted to say something else.
“And?” I snapped.
I was already up and putting my coat on when she replied, “He had flowers and a...um, duffel bag.”
“What the fuck?” I roared. “I’ll be there in a few minutes. Just...keep your eye on things.”
My keys and wallet went into my pants, and I didn’t bother with shutting my office down. I needed to get to my woman as fast as humanly possible.
Had she not taken me seriously this morning when I threatened to kill any bastard she tried to date? It suddenly occurred to me that she might have asked the question about another man because she’d already had plans with the guy I was about to strangle.
After what had happened in my office yesterday, I was royally pissed off she was seeing someone else. I knew she had feelings for me, but I still hadn’t figured out why she was running from me. So, I had no explanation for this little stunt. She wasn’t aware that I had a security team watching over her, which meant it wasn’t to make me jealous and rush right over to her. Yet that was exactly what I was doing.
My driver, Fenton, was waiting at the curb, but with New York traffic, I’d get there faster if I walked. With every step closer to her townhouse, my speed increased until I was running across the street and jogging up her front steps. I banged hard on the door and shouted, “Charlotte! Open this fucking door!”
I kept pounding on it until I heard heavy footsteps and the sound of the lock disengaging. The door opened, and I was staring at a tall, attractive man, much closer to Charlotte in age than I was. He had short dark hair, gray eyes, and a strong jaw. He looked nothing like my Charlotte, so I immediately ruled out my last hope that he was family.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing, asshole?” he snarled before I could ask the same question.
“Get out of my way, or I put you into a wall.” I was so fucking angry that my warning came out in a deadly, even tone.
The kid barked a harsh laugh. “You may have a few years on me, man, but I’ve got just as much muscle.”
I leaned in close, my expression as dark as my voice. “You could probably hold your own in a fair fight. But right now, I’ve got rage on my side. You have no fucking idea what it’s costing me not to kill the motherfucker trying to score with my woman.”
He raised his brows, but I gave him begrudging respect for not backing away and standing his ground. I was still going to kill him, though.
“Are you talking about Charlie?”
“Who the fuck else would I be talking about, kid? And her name is Charlotte!”
The kid laughed again, except this time, he sounded genuinely amused. “You must be the boss.”
It was my turn to raise a brow. Charlotte had told him about me?
He shook his head and answered my unasked question. “London spilled the beans the last time my girlfriend and I went to her house for dinner.”
Girlfriend? “You’re not here for a date with Charlotte?”
He laughed and stood back, allowing me to enter. “She’s letting me borrow her backyard and helping me set up to propose to my girlfriend.”
Relief flooded my body, and I almost sagged against the doorframe but managed to keep upright and crossed the threshold.
He shut the door behind me and stuck out his hand. “Hudson Kendall.”
Ah, he was a Kendall. “A cousin.”
“Unrelated by blood, but yeah. In every other sense, Charlie and London are actually more like sisters to Grace and me.”
I nodded as my eyes swept around the room, my mind already done with this conversation now that I knew the kid wasn’t a threat.
“She’s out back. I only heard your caterwauling because I came in to find the matches.”
I could see the kitchen and door to the back down the hallway so I immediately took a step in that direction. I growled and turned around swinging when a firm hand grabbed my arm.
Hudson evaded my hook and released my arm, backing up a couple of steps. “Relax, I just want to ask you a couple of questions. Charlie is one of the best people I know, and I love her like a sister. With Lincoln off in the army, the rest of the men in this family look out for her.”
I was tempted to ignore him and go to my girl, but if it were my sister in this situation, I’d be right where Hudson was now. I crossed my arms over my chest and brooded but nodded for him to continue.
“London vouched for you, or I wouldn’t have let you in the door. Still, I want to hear it for myself. Do you love her?”
“More than anything.”
“You’re going to marry her, not just move her into your bachelor pad as a permanent booty call?”
“You’re on thin ice referring to her like that, kid. But I see your point. Yes, I’m going to marry her as soon as possible.”
Hudson gestured to the hallway. “Good luck. Oh, but you two need to disappear in about thirty minutes before Grace arrives.”
I paused and gave him a chin lift. “Good luck to you, too.”
Hudson grinned. “She already said yes. I just wanted to give her the memory of an all-out romantic proposal.”
I headed to the back of the house in search of my girl, but Hudson’s words were playing in my mind. Maybe he had the right idea. I wouldn’t settle for any other outcome than Charlotte as my wife, but perhaps the illusion of a choice while b
eing swept off her feet…
I pushed open the back door and froze at the sight before me. Charlotte was slowly spinning in a circle, surveying the fairyland she’d created. She was wearing shorts and a T-shirt, but with the twinkle lights all around her and the beautiful smile on her face, she might as well have been in an expensive, elegant dress.
“Rhett?”
My trance was broken by Charlotte’s confused voice. I settled my eyes on her pretty face, which was filled with genuine shock and a wariness that I didn’t understand.
I smiled. “Charlotte.”
“What...um, what are you doing here?”
I couldn’t very well tell her that I had a tail on her and came to break up the little date I thought she was having. My mind scrambled for an explanation that wasn’t a lie. “I had to see you.”
“Why?”
“Why do you think, baby? I can’t stop thinking about you. Your smile, your wit, your amazing body, your kind heart. Take your pick.”
“But…” She trailed off and glanced away for a moment. When her gaze returned to me, there was sadness that tore through my chest. “You said you were done with me.”
“What?!” I was utterly shocked. When the hell? Oh, fuck. I rushed down the steps and took her in my arms. She let me but remained stiff. “You misunderstood me, baby. I shouldn’t have phrased it that way. I meant I was done chasing you, Charlotte.”
“How is that different?” she asked, her tone perilously close to a pout.
A wolfish smile spread across my face before I clarified, “Because I’m going to catch you.”
6
Rhett
“Catch me?” Charlotte's green eyes rounded like saucers, and I suppressed a grin at the relief mixed with the shock that shone from them.
“Hey, you two.” Hudson popped his head out the door. “Sorry to interrupt, but Grace is going to be here in fifteen.”