“Right here, Mommy?”
Naomi held a teddy bear ornament to one of the lower branches of their Christmas tree. They had spent the evening decorating after they purchased it. She had planned on only a few lights, some silver tinsel, and some ornaments. Bryson wouldn’t hear of it. He’d loaded their cart down with way more than they needed. Now her entire living room was filled with all the mess. She couldn’t be happier.
“Yeah, that looks great, baby.”
Their tree looked ghetto, in all honesty. Naomi loaded it down with every bobble. It was a wonder the thing didn’t topple over with the weight of the junk on every available branch.
“I’ve got hot chocolate,” Bryson announced when he walked into the room.
“Where did you get that tray and mugs?” she asked.
He handed her a Santa Claus one and set a snowman one on top of a box for Naomi. Her daughter cheered and rushed over to blow on the hot beverage.
“They were among the load of things I put in the cart. You didn’t see them.”
“I can’t believe you, Bryson.” She grinned and took a sip of her chocolate. The warm sweet brew eased down her throat, soothing her insides. “Mm, this is good. So you learned to make hot chocolate, huh?”
His chest swelled. “It’s your recipe. Remember the time I was snowed in and frustrated, and you said you could make me feel better?”
“Oh, yeah.” She blushed and focused on her cup. He remembered the most interesting incidents that happened between them. She’d wondered if he forgot about her, but that was silly. Why would he? To shake loose the memories from her head, she concentrated on Naomi “Be careful, baby. It’s hot. Blow on it.”
“Mommy, it’s got marshmallows.”
“You love marshmallows, don’t you?”
“Yes.” She bounced excitedly.
“Tell Mr. Bryson thank you.”
Her daughter popped up from her knees and launched at Bryson. He caught her just as she landed in his arms, and the pink in his cheeks said he was happy to get a hug from her little girl. Over her baby’s head, he looked at Charon.
“She’s so small.”
“You’re so big,” she countered.
He watched Naomi sipping her treat. “She looks a lot like you, so beautiful.”
“Bryson.”
“Am I wrong for saying that?”
“You shouldn’t.”
“You’ve been fighting me this whole time, but I’m determined to make sure this is a happy Christmas for you and her.”
“I truly appreciate it, but it’s enough.”
“It’s never enough.”
Naomi dragged a box of her toys down the hall toward her room. They were left alone. Although Bryson sat across the room, Charon felt like he was right next to her within touching distance. And boy oh boy did she want to touch him. She couldn’t because he belonged to another.
“Charon.”
She jumped. “Yeah?”
“Why are you so nervous? I know it’s been a while, but I’m still the same man you knew.”
“You’re not the same.”
He gazed down at himself. “No? I’ve gained a little.”
“Lies,” she teased. “You’re not the same as before we had our night together.”
“You’re seeing me differently.”
She didn’t deny it. When he moved to the sofa where she sat, she resisted drawing her knees up and curling into a protective ball. The only furniture they had was a futon because it could double as a bed. Bryson hadn’t been able to furnish her apartment yet.
“I’m not,” she denied.
He sat down beside her. His thigh was too close. She imagined she felt the heat from his body, but it was more likely all in her head. A gentle thumb brushed over her cheek and made her tremble. She shut her eyes and turned her head. Temptation overwhelmed her.
“I’ve missed you,” he whispered.
“Don’t, Bryson.”
“Should I lie? We talked every day. It was a heavy blow to have that disappear. I hated it. I missed you, Charon, and I’m going to be honest. It’s taking everything inside me not to take you into my arms right now. I want to kiss you—”
She popped up off the sofa, but he caught her wrist before she could get away. He gave a gentle tug, and she fell back down. Another pull had her against his chest and his arms around her.
“It’s wrong,” she mumbled.
His lips brushed her jawline. “It’s right. Charon, be mine.”
“You can’t talk like that!”
“Be mine.”
Tears filled her eyes. She tucked her chin into her chest, but it lasted for an instant. She drew closer, allowing her hands to be trapped between them. He smelled amazing, and the warmth of his breath on her face along with the rumble in his chest as he spoke, affected her far more than the chocolate.
“I’ve always been yours.”
His embrace tightened. They didn’t kiss, but the intimacy between them was still very real. It was as if they were one. Her entire being was so alive and aware of him. He satisfied something in her soul that only he could. Having Bryson hold her, seeing him, it made clear how empty her life had been with Morris. When she lost Bryson, the only thing that made her existence good was Naomi.
“I wish she was mine.”
Charon gasped and jerked back to look into his face. “You mean Naomi? You’re kidding?”
“She’s a part of you, and if she were mine, that would mean I gave you a child.”
“Bryson.” Confusion had her mind spinning. “You talk like… no, I’m not going to fool myself. And what difference does it matter anyway? We made choices that led us here.”
“We were stupid!”
She blinked at him.
“I was a fool to choose money over you.”
Her heart went nuts, beating crazily.
“When I made love to you that night, it was right.”
“You’re talking about sex. That’s not the same as making a decision to be with someone. I get it. You’re a man, and you think that’s everything.” She couldn’t hide her disappointment. The way he was speaking a minute ago made her think he loved her. She was letting the tinsel and the lights go to her head. It was almost amusing if she didn’t feel like crying. Then again, what was the point of getting upset? He didn’t come to North Carolina to do anything other than to make her an offer she couldn’t accept.
“I’m talking about how much I love you, damn it!”
Her mouth fell open.
He released her and rose to pace. “I thought this would be easy. I’m finding it hard to book my flight. I was going to give you money and then get out of here. I ended up shopping with you. I haven’t even reserved a hotel for the night. I don’t want to leave.”
She couldn’t speak.
“Four years ago, I thought I would lose my mind. I hired a private investigator to look in on you, to be sure you were taken care of. I fully expected that guy to forgive you because I would have.”
“Bryson.”
“Let me finish before I change my mind about laying it out there.”
She nodded.
“I wasn’t planning to invade your privacy. I just needed to be sure you were safe, as I said. You decided to marry him, and even though it killed me, I let it be enough. Then a few days ago, the investigator came back to me. I had let him go when I knew you got married. He told me you left your husband and that you were in trouble. I came here to make sure you were okay. But now…”
“Now?”
He stooped in front of her and took her hands in his. “I don’t want to leave you alone, Charon. I’ll figure out what to do with my business. I’ll settle with Gretchen. I’m going to move here with you.”
“W-what?” It was what she had wanted years ago, to hear him say he would abandon his dreams to be with her. Now that she heard it, with him being established and living his dream, she felt selfish. What would she be giving up if she moved to New York? A wai
tressing job? She had already left her husband. It didn’t compare. “You can’t. You love New York and everything it has to offer. You remember you used to tell me about the hobnobbing parties you attended. That’s your scene. This tame life isn’t for you.”
“Are you saying you don’t want me as I want you? I don’t believe it. I see the love in your eyes.”
She covered her mouth. All that time, she thought she was hiding it. He knew how she felt. It was her own insecurity not to see he loved her too. She saw it now though. His eyes were brilliant with his love, and they gave her life. A man as sweet and wonderful as Bryson adored her.
“Here we are again.” She sniffled and shook her head. “Nope. I’m not letting you do it. I’ll come to New York.”
“No.”
“Bryson, don’t be difficult.”
He straightened and chuckled. “Are we really arguing about who gets to make the bigger sacrifice?”
“You would be if I let you.”
“You’re telling me you wouldn’t be miserable at those same parties?”
She gestured to the living room with its wild mess, bags everywhere, torn paper, an over-decorated tree, and mugs of hot chocolate. “No, you’re right. This is my speed. It’s the perfect night. But there are apartments in New York. Crud, I probably couldn’t afford one in a million years.”
“You don’t have to worry about bills.”
“I do because I’m not letting you take care of me.”
“You let me get this apartment.”
“I was desperate. We’re not going to keep going like this.”
“So, you’re not going to let the man who loves you take care of you?”
She almost fainted. He said the words as if they came naturally. It was taking her a minute to get used to knowing how he felt.
“You’re not being fair,” she complained, and he wiggled his eyebrows.
“Why should I play fair? I lost you before, and I’m not going to do it again. We’re going to figure this out.”
She left him there in the living room and went to check on her daughter. Her sweet baby girl lay on her side in the middle of the empty bedroom, asleep. Charon’s heart melted. She went over and stroked Naomi’s cheek then picked her up from the midst of her toys. In the living room, she gestured with her chin to Bryson. He quickly prepared the futon. Charon laid her daughter down on it and covered her with a comforter.
“We’ll have to keep it down,” she whispered. “She’s played herself out.”
He watched Naomi as if fascinated and then drew Charon close to his side. “I want to stay the night.”
“Bryson.”
“I don’t want to leave you. Not anymore. Tell me I can stay. I promise to keep my hands to myself.”
She wanted him to stay as well. The thought of him getting on a flight back to New York was too much to bear. “Okay, but we can only be friends right now, Bryson. I mean it. As far as I’m concerned you’re off the market until you’re single, and until we figure out what to do.”
“I’ll talk to my lawyer in the morning.”
Chapter Fourteen
Bryson opened his eyes and wasn’t sure where he was at first. Something stirred beside him and he looked over to find he was in the best place in the world. His heart nearly exploded. Charon lay beside him with her daughter cradled in her arms. The two slept on, and he couldn’t take his eyes off them.
Charon was his. At last, she was his, and he planned to move the earth to make it permanent. Lying beside her all night had been torture. He hadn’t slept for hours because every molecule in his body was aware of her. His dick wouldn’t relax. It continued to drive him to pull her into his arms and make mad passionate love to her. Thankfully, he resisted.
He left the futon to go to the bathroom. After he relieved himself and cleaned up a little, he dialed his wife. His stomach turned, thinking about her rejection of him physically. Charon hadn’t done that. Their time together was unforgettable, and he knew she still wanted him. He’d seen the lust in her eyes when she didn’t notice him looking. His deflated ego grew ten times, and he chuckled under his breath as he pressed the phone to his ear.
Soon.
“Bry, I assume you’re going to be back by tomorrow night. We have to put in an appearance at Angela’s.”
He cringed. She couldn’t get it through her head that he hated the shortening of his name. Before he saw Charon, he had looked forward to their friend’s party. Christmas with Charon appealed far more. “I haven’t finished my…business…here. I won’t be back for a couple days.”
She didn’t speak for a moment. He considered elaborating on the business lie. Up until that night, he’d been honest with her. Their relationship wasn’t conventional. It certainly wasn’t intimate or personable. They were like two business partners, and he had never questioned it until tonight.
“You’ve got a lover.” She chuckled. “Good for you. That’s all fine, but your ass needs to be in New York for the party. Fuck her and then get home. You know I’ve been wooing Angela for that property in upstate New York.”
He ground his teeth, hating that she’d called him on his lie. “I don’t give a damn about the property.”
“And I didn’t give a damn about getting Freddie to sign over his shares to you, but I got him to change his mind.”
“I never asked you to sleep with him! I’ve never slept with anyone to get what I want.”
“As if you could,” she quipped. “No woman in her right mind would—never mind. Come on, Bry. Do this for me. We have an agreement. We help each other.”
His gut twisted a little more. No one like Gretchen knew how to cut him down. Her words were always sharp and bitter. He wondered what he had been thinking aligning himself with her. For money? Sure, he still valued the power and financial gain that he obtained. He still wanted to wheel and deal because it seemed to be a part of his nature. But having all that without Charon wasn’t an option. Gretchen, on the other hand, made him feel sick.
“I want a divorce,” he said.
“What?”
“You heard me.” He knew his demand wouldn’t hurt her.
“What’s brought this on? Because she fucked you? I told you to sleep with her and come home. Hell, keep her as a mistress. I can see how you would get clingy because she had sex with you, but don’t let it make you stupid, Bry.”
“You’ll be hearing from my lawyer.”
“Bry—”
He disconnected the call. She rang back right away, but he let it go to voicemail. The phone buzzed with a message and another call. He’d infuriated Gretchen, and he had no doubt that she would get vindictive. Their divorce would be messy. He ran a hand over his face and pushed fingers into his hair.
“What are you doing?”
Charon stood in the doorway, leaning against the jamb. Her luscious brown thighs peeked out from beneath her nightie. His dick hardened. Did he love her because she accepted his size? No, she was perfect in every way. As he gazed into her beautiful face, he realized he would stay with her even if she never let him touch her. The knowledge almost brought him to his knees.
“I love you,” he said simply.
She shook, pressing the back of her hand to her mouth. “Stop talking like that all of a sudden.”
“Is it so wrong?” He took a step closer to her and brushed fingers over her face. She turned her head away and then moved back, allowing him to cup her cheek. Dark lashes settled against her cheeks, covering those liquid chocolate eyes he loved so much. His chest constricted. She was killing him.
“You’re not avail—”
“I just got off the phone with her. I told her I want a divorce.”
She gasped. “Seriously?”
“You know me, Charon. I don’t mess around with what I want. I go after it. I want you. I want to be free of her. I was a fool to make the connection in the first place. She’s not going to make things easy for me. It may get ugly, but if you’re willing to ride it out w
ith me, that’s all that matters.”
A teardrop rolled down her face, and he caught it.
“I love you so much, Bryson. I’m with you. Here or in New York.”
He drew her into his arms and held her tight. Her arms snaked around his middle, and they stood that way for long minutes. A part of him wanted to take her nightie off and fuck her until she screamed right there in the bathroom doorway. Of course, they couldn’t do it, and she wasn’t ready. He waited four years. A little more time wouldn’t hurt.
“Mommy, I gotta pee.”
They sprang apart. Bryson hurried to the living room and phoned his lawyer. After a brief conversation where the man assured him he would start the paperwork for divorce after the holidays, Bryson looked for a restaurant where they could have breakfast.
Charon walked into the room fully dressed. He lamented the loss of her bare legs.
“I’m getting hungry,” she said. “What about you Naomi?”
Her daughter, walking behind her, threw her arms in the air and jumped up and down with endless energy. “Me too! I want pancakes and cupcakes and blueberries and bacon.”
Bryson chuckled.
Charon shook her head in amusement. “You can’t have pancakes and cupcakes.”
“It just so happens that I found a restaurant that serves pancakes,” Bryson announced, “and they’re not too far away. We’ll go after I get dressed.”
Charon looked like she would protest, but she changed her mind. There was no use fighting it. He would look after her from now on. Not that he had a problem with her working or supporting herself. He had the means, so why not let him spoil her? What else was he supposed to do with all the money in his bank account?
A short while later, they walked out to the parking lot. “Mind if I drive?” he asked.
She smirked. “Gotta be in control, huh?”
“I’m fine letting you drive.”
“Liar.” She laughed and handed over the keys. He had them at the restaurant in a half hour, and soon they were ordering their food. When the waitress left to put in their request, Bryson prepared to make his proposal, which he had been considering all morning. Charon beat him to the punch. “I’ve decided we’re going with you when you fly back. I don’t care if you’ve filed yet. I’m…yours.”
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