Chubby & Charming (Big & Beautiful Book 1)

by Mary E Thompson

  “You said you would wait until I was ready to listen to you. And after that you would let me make the choice. You would let me decide where things were going to go with us. The truth is I want all the same things you want. I was miserable without you. I wanted to cry for all the moments we wouldn’t share. My heart ached for you. I don’t know if I’ll ever completely let go of my fears that you’ll fall in love with someone else who’s skinnier than me, but I’m going to try. Because with all my heart, and all that I am, I love you Xander Carlson.”

  The words had barely passed my lips when Xander’s mouth was on mine. He kissed me like his life depended on it, like he’d been starved for me. I kissed him back, feeling like it’d been longer than just a day since his lips had been against mine.

  His frantic kiss had his lips kissing mine, all over each lip until he’d covered them both in soft kisses. Then he pressed his full lips against mine and his tongue darted out to run over my lips. I sighed softly, reveling in the feel of him, and he slid his tongue into my mouth.

  He kissed me fully, deeply, learning me all over again but always returning to the places he knew were my favorites. As he kissed me his hands drifted over my thighs, caressing my skin through the fabric of my capris. He held on to me, not letting me move from the place he had me pinned.

  Xander leaned over me, still on his knees in front of me, pressing me back against the back of the couch. His large strong body covered mine, making me feel small cradled within his arms. His fingers laced into my hair as he manipulated my head to plunge his tongue deeper into my mouth, claiming me all over again as his.

  “Let’s go upstairs,” he whispered as he drew back from me. His eyes were hot with desire for me. My body was on fire, aching for him, so ready to get back to where things were before. In the back of my mind I wondered if I’d forgiven him too quickly, but I pushed the thoughts away. Like Claire said, he wouldn’t have gone to so much trouble to talk to me if it was all a joke.

  He loved me.

  In my room he turned on all the lights. I reached to turn them off, not liking to have him see me in full light. Naked. Vulnerable.

  “I want to see you. I want to see all of you.”

  I took a deep breath and knew this would be it. This would be the last thing to let go of so I could fully trust him. I’d already trusted him with my secrets, my heart, my love, even my body. But letting him see me in the harsh lights of my bedroom, letting him watch my body jiggle and shake as we made love, it meant trusting him with my soul.

  Xander stood next to me, holding my hand. He kissed my neck, slowly brushing my shirt aside to kiss my shoulder. “You’re beautiful, Mandy. So soft.”

  His fingers toyed with the edge of my shirt, lifting it so he could graze his knuckles across the sensitive skin on my stomach. I felt the roughness of his knuckles, the wounds left from his fight with one of his oldest friends. Over me.

  I reached down and grabbed his fingers, taking his hands into mine. He looked down at me, wondering what I was doing. I brought his hands to my mouth and kissed each scratch, each bruise. “Thank you for defending me,” I breathed against his skin. “Thank you for thinking I’m beautiful enough to be upset for me.”

  “You are beautiful Mandy. You are worth defending every day for the rest of my life, if I have to.”

  I smiled up at him and let him return his hands to my waist. He lifted my shirt from me and gazed down over the top half of my body. “So beautiful,” he whispered as he leaned down to kiss my collarbone. His hands went to my breasts, lifting them in his large palms, holding the weight of them for me. He trailed kisses between the heavy globes and back up, running along the lacy edge of my bra.

  He gently lowered my breasts back to my body and slid his hands around my back to unclasp my bra. I shimmied out of it and felt his hands return to my bare skin, cupping my breasts and drawing him thumbs over my peaked nipples. I gasped and arched into him, pressing more of my heavy breasts into his hands. “I know these hurt your back, but I love your breasts. They fit perfectly into my hands and respond so easily to my mouth. And the skin around your nipples… it’s almost as sweet as the skin on your stomach.”

  He dipped his head to capture one nipple then the other, nipping them gently then laving his tongue over the ache. His hands went to my hips and slowly lowered my panties and capris together. He dropped to his knees in front of me, holding each leg as he helped me step out of the last of my clothes. Then he kissed my stomach.

  “This is my favorite part of you. Your skin here smells like only you and I can catch hints of your arousal when I inhale you deeply. Your stomach is so soft and perfect here. One day I will watch as this soft round belly of yours grows with the product of our love, with our children. It makes me so happy to imagine the rest of my life with you.”

  I stood before him, my body bare for his eyes, his hands, his body. I stood there and listened to his sweet words and knew, without a doubt, I’d never be happier.

  “You have too many clothes on,” I told him, a wicked glint in my eye.

  My stood before me and stripped his clothes quickly, leaving them on the floor at our feet. He guided me quickly to the bed and directed me to lie down. He took the space next to me and let his hands and eyes drift over me, naked and waiting for him.

  “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, Mandy. And I’ll beat the shit out of any man who thinks less than that of you.”

  I gently brushed my fingers over the bruise covering his eye. He flinched slightly at my touch before nuzzling his face into my hand. “I want to believe you. I just don’t see what you see. I don’t see beautiful.”

  “Then I’m not doing my job. But I will. Every day, for the rest of my life, I will do everything I can to show you how I see you. To let you see the beauty of your body and your heart. You are beautiful. Always.”

  I cuddled tighter against him and my legs fell apart as he reached between them to find me slick and ready for him. He quickly brought me to an orgasm then settled between my legs. As he thrust hard and deep into me I could feel the love he felt. The love flowing between us.

  Xander punctuated his motions with his words, repeating ‘You’re beautiful’ and ‘I love you’ with each movement of our bodies together. I felt another orgasm building as much from his words as from his body. As my body gripped him, held him inside me, he lost his control, thrusting harder and deeper into me. He gritted out, “Honey, I need you now. I need you with me. I need you to love me with everything you have. Now, baby. Now.”

  “I love you,” I whispered against his lips as I tumbled over the edge he’d brought me to. I held his eyes as he moaned my name and repeated my words. I felt his love as his body released into mine. Love that brought me to tears.

  Love that I’d never dreamed of. But was mine forever.

  Epilogue

  Claire

  “A toast to the newest Customer Service Manager! Congratulations Mandy!” Xander said, raising his glass.

  We were all crowded around the island in his house, celebrating Mandy’s promotion, and them getting back together. After I talked to Mandy Tuesday night I was worried about her, especially when she didn’t call me back. I knew all too well how someone could turn on a person. I paced nearly the whole night, worrying something had happened to Mandy. I sent her a couple of text messages that went unanswered then called her. She finally answered around midnight and told me Xander was still there and everything was fine. Once I heard her voice I could breathe again.

  I can’t imagine any of my friends going through what I went through. Watching Mandy and Xander, I struggled to believe he could ever hurt her, especially on purpose. Just looking at the two of them I knew something had changed between them. They always touched and shared looks, but there was a sweetness to it whereas before it had seemed more sexual, like they wanted each other and couldn’t keep their hands to themselves.

  Now, I saw love.

  Love wasn’t in the cards for me. So
mething about getting raped by the first, and only, boy you ever let close damaged something deep inside. I was okay with that. I had friends. I was happy enough. Yeah, I’d love to feel the way my best friend felt. I’d love to share my day, my life, with someone, but it wasn’t going to happen.

  “What ever happened with Melody?” Sam asked, bringing me back to the present.

  Mandy wrinkled her nose and shook her head. “She finally admitted she’d lied to Diana and she fired her. I felt bad, but it makes my life easier. I won’t have to deal with her, or fire her myself. She was trying to get me fired so she could get the promotion and get rid of me all at once. When nothing worked she just took it to a whole new level.”

  “I still can’t believe you talked to your boss like you did,” Addi said, shaking her head.

  Mandy looked sheepish. “Yeah, I was pretty forceful. I probably shouldn’t have said all the things I said, but I was upset and just couldn’t hold back any longer.”

  Xander nuzzled into her neck. He stood behind her, his body pressed against Mandy’s back. I watched silently as he kissed the back of her neck and whispered something in her ear. Mandy turned her head to the side and kissed him softly.

  I heard him whisper ‘I love you’ when they pulled apart and my heart clenched. No one had said those words to me, except my family and friends, since high school. I didn’t know if I’d ever believe someone saying those three little words to me. I was fairly certain I was incapable of letting anyone in close enough to find out.

  “So what now? Do you have changes you want to make or are you leaving things as they are?” Addi asked.

  “For now I’m going to leave things as they are. Diana agreed to stick around for a couple of weeks to train me, but the job is officially mine on Monday. Diana will only be working half days. I have a lot to figure out, but I think it’ll be okay.”

  “You’re smart, honey. You’ll figure it out and be taking over the whole place in no time,” Xander agreed.

  “I don’t know about that, but thank you. It’s nice to know I have you guys in my corner.”

  The doorbell rang and Xander rushed over to pay for our pizzas. Sam and Addi wandered into the dining room, leaving Mandy and I alone.

  “You’ve been quiet tonight. Is everything okay?”

  I’d hoped no one would pick up on my mood, but I should have known better. Mandy and I had known each other far too long to think she’d miss anything.

  “I’m okay. I’m glad you’re happy. It’s good to know he was the guy we all thought he was.”

  Mandy glanced toward the front of the house where Xander was. “He is. He told me he loves me. And that he’s going to marry me some day.”

  Tears pricked my eyes, although I had no idea why. “That’s great, hun. I’m so happy for you.”

  “Then why are you crying?” Mandy asked with narrowed eyes.

  I shook my head. “I don’t really know. I’ve been really emotional this week.”

  Mandy wrapped her arm around me. “Do you think you’re losing me or do you wish you had a guy of your own?”

  She was dead on, not that I wanted to admit it to myself, let alone her, but I knew I couldn’t hide from Mandy. “Maybe a little of both. I’m not trying to make you feel bad though. I like Xander, and I’m really glad you’re happy. I just feel like I’m on my own now. Sam and Addi have each other and now you have Xander. I guess a part of me wishes I wasn’t so screwed up and I could have someone to share my life with. It wasn’t too long ago we talked about moving in together.”

  Mandy looked down and I could tell I’d made her feel bad, even though I didn’t want to. “I’m sorry, Claire. I’m not replacing you, I hope you know that. I never could. You’ll always be my best friend.”

  “I know,” I said through my tears. “It’s just different now.”

  Mandy nodded, acknowledging what we both knew to be the truth. Xander came back into the kitchen with three boxes of pizza. The smell was overwhelming, but not nearly as much as the emotions swirling through me. I excused myself quickly and ducked into the bathroom.

  The mirror betrayed my attempted calm. I looked tired. I hated when people told me that because it was always a thinly veiled insult, but right then it was true. I hadn’t been sleeping well, trying to figure out my life. I’d been thinking more and more about BJ, wondering why, and wishing no one else ever had to go through what I went through. I didn’t want to go there, but with my best friend finding love, it brought back a lot of memories of BJ, before that one night.

  I splashed cold water on my face and went back out to join the others. Everyone was laughing and eating pizza, drinking to celebrate Mandy’s promotion. I felt like an outsider for the first time. I was the fifth wheel.

  Xander approached me. “I want you to know you’re welcome here any time you want to come. No matter what, you’ll always be welcome here.”

  Confused, I cocked my head and narrowed my eyes at him. Where was that coming from?

  “I know you and Mandy are close, best of friends. She talks about you all the time and I know you spend a lot of time together. If she’s here, now or in the future when hopefully she marries me, I want you to feel comfortable here. I don’t want to come between the two of you. You’re like her sister, and I’d never forgive myself if I was the reason you weren’t as close. If you ever need anything, we’re both here for you.”

  Tears filled my eyes again. Mandy was a lucky woman. Xander was not only sweet and kind to her, but to me also. And that meant a lot in my book.

  I thanked him, wiping my tears, and knew my best friend would always be well taken care of. At least if I was losing her, I was losing her to someone who would love her and always be there for her. I envied that, more than a little, and found myself wishing for the same thing.

  Even though I knew it’d never come.

  Thank You!

  Thank you so much for reading Chubby & Charming. This book was a piece of my heart. Growing up overweight, I really wanted a series where the fat woman gets the guy, so I wrote it.

  Reviews are huge for writers, especially new ones like me. I’ve love for you to leave a review of Chubby & Charming wherever you buy books. And please check out my other titles!

  Big & Beautiful series

  Chubby & Charming

  Lush & Lovely (available for preorder now)

  Shapely & Stunning (available Jan 12)

  Bulky & Beauteous (available Feb 2)

  Fat & Fine (available Feb 23)

  Plump & Pretty (available Mar 15)

  Husky & Hot (available Apr 5)

  Fluffy & Fabulous (available Apr 26)

  Paradise Park series

  Playing By The Rules (free everywhere)

  Back In The Game

  Stuck On The Sidelines

  Better In Bed series

  Wait For It

  Work For It

  Fight For It

  Love On Deck series

  In Front Of Me

  Breathing For The First Time

  Learning To Love

  Standalone Novels

  Finding Home

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  About the Author

  Mary E. Thompson grew up loving to read, like a good little girl. Many nights she would fall asleep with the flashlight still turned on as she hid under the covers trying to finish the last few pages of a book. As an adult, the light from her ereader means she doesn't need a flashlight, but she still stays up way too late to finish a book.

  When Mary's not reading she's playing with her two kids or living out her own romance novel with her hubby. She has a weakness for chocolate, especially when it's p
aired with peanut butter, and has been known to have a bad day just because there's no chocolate in the house.

  Mary grew up in Buffalo, NY and swears she's the only local to never ski or snowboard. Soccer was always her sport, with a couple adventures white water rafting and skydiving to keep things interesting. Mary moved to South Carolina for college but missed Buffalo every day, yeah she thinks she's crazy, too. She somehow convinced her South Carolina born and bred hubby to return to Buffalo to raise the kids and live out their lives. He’s still not sure what he was thinking.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-One

  Twenty-Two

  Twenty-Three

  Epilogue

  Thank You!

  About the Author