by Jennifer Ann
Instead I avert her attention by slipping my finger beneath her swimming suit and stroking her wet flesh. I grin with the little cooing noises she makes in response to my touch. There’s nothing hotter than seeing her breathe heavily as her body answers mine, eager for more. Things get intense until a group of teen girls float by on paddle boards. Deciding it’s late anyway, we head back to the beach house to get ready for dinner.
There are countless mysteries about women that I’ll never understand. Why they need to go to the bathroom together. Why they seem more interested in getting dressed up to impress each other rather than guys. Why the dumbest shit can make them cry like a baby. And why it can take them hours to get ready. Thankfully Evelyn comes out of the bathroom after a mere twenty minutes, though I suppose without her make up and whatever stuff from home, there isn’t a whole lot for her to do.
She clearly took most of the time styling her hair in a complicated braid that pulls her bangs away from her face, giving me an unobscured view of every last freckle. But it’s the sexy-as-shit little dress clinging to her tight body that I can’t tear my eyes away from. She spins around, the slinky fabric dancing against the swells of her gorgeous tits until I’m given a jaw-dropping view of her bare back, dusted with more freckles that coax a small growl from my throat. The dress drapes over the top curve of her perky little ass where I suddenly envision a little tattoo. Maybe even my name. Just thinking about marking her flawless skin gets me as hard as steel.
My balls tighten when I realize she isn’t wearing a bra. Or panties. The knowledge that she’s naked under the dress and I’ll get to strip it off her at the end of the night gets my fingers twitching at my sides. She’s all mine for the taking.
Then my gaze follows the length of her tanned, silky legs and I discover her fuck-me heels. Suddenly I can’t swallow or manage a rational thought. The only thing on my mind is how killer those heels would look wrapped around my waist as she’s riding me.
“Baby,” I manage, making the nickname sound like a curse word.
“You like it?” she asks, her voice thick with amusement. When I look up, her eyes are sweeping over my white button-down and khakis sent to me from some designer in Paris, probably worth more than I care to know. “Am I overdressed?”
Rather than laughing at her naivety, I step up to wrap my arms around her, bending to brush my lips over the freckled shoulder that’s driving me insane. “Underdressed is more like it.”
A low hum vibrates in her throat as she leans into me, rubbing her ass against my cock like a damn cat. I run my fingers up and down the tender skin above her ass, breathing in my girl and whatever’s making her smell like the best kind of flowers while running my lips and tongue along her sun-kissed skin.
“You are so damn beautiful,” I say with my lips pressed to the hollow of her neck. “I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”
“We’re going to miss our reservations,” she replies in an irresistible, throaty voice.
“They’ll wait.”
Without any coaxing, she spins around and our lips lock. She readily glides over to the bed along with me and we fall down to the mattress together in a tangle of limbs. The primal urge to bury myself in her burns through my belly with every stroke over her lips and touch of her fingers. She brushes the sensitive skin beneath my shirt, dragging her fingernails along my back with every surge of her tongue.
Then her hand wraps around mine, moving it down between her legs. I almost blow my load knowing I’ll connect with skin instead of panties.
“Patience, baby,” I say, flipping her over to lay on her stomach.
I take my time worshipping every last inch of the supple skin on her back with my lips, loving the way she mewls and squirms beneath me. I could sit here and do this for the rest of the night, immersed in her scent and anticipating ways I could make her come.
Turning her back over, I settle between her legs and stare into her big beautiful eyes. I didn’t go down on women before since I honestly didn’t care if they got off. But after getting a taste of Evelyn, I want more and I want to hear her scream because of my mouth. When I dive in to give the skin inside her thighs special attention, her fingers hook behind my head. Anticipating the feel of my tongue well before it makes contact with her flesh, her hips buck upward. A quiet whimper rolls off her lips when I finally sink inside.
She’s sweeter than honey and already delightfully wet. My own need for release takes a back seat to satisfying her in every way possible. I revel in the way she reacts to every stroke, gripping the sheets in her fists and tilting her head back. I never knew getting a woman off could be so satisfying. Then again, I’ve never been with anyone I cared about as much as Evelyn. Watching her thrash from my touch is better than any drug out there.
She comes apart with a final cry and screams, “Fuck!”
It gives me another rush of pride knowing I drove her far enough to utter something she normally doesn’t say.
“Oh, Charlie,” she whimpers, stroking my hair. “That was out of this world.”
Chuckling, I run a finger along her side as I slide back up to meet her gaze. “Seeing you light up like that was unreal. I thought I was going to lose it just watching you.”
She sleepily blinks back at me, her eyes swarming with desire. “I love you, Charlie Walker.”
My gut roils with shame. Why can’t I say it back?
I bend in to kiss the tip of her nose. “We better get going. We’re already late for our reservations.”
“We have to take care of this first,” she purrs, rubbing the bulge in my shorts. It’s adorable how she’s still in a post-haze bliss, drunk with satisfaction.
“I plan on taking care of that when we get back later,” I say with a growl, wondering where the hell I’m mustering the kind of self-control it takes to resist. Watching her parade around in public without anything underneath her dress is going to be hell on my control. It’s also going to make for the best foreplay.
By the time Dante gives us a ride, we arrive to find the restaurant packed. My upper lip curls with the sight of the big crowd waiting for their table beneath trendy chandeliers. The manager assured me the place would be quiet so long as we arrived before six. So much for coming during their downtime. If I hadn’t been so eager to please Evelyn, we would’ve made it in and out without the extra hassle.
“Stay here, Freckles,” I whisper in her ear, loving how she shivers when my breath tickles her skin. I kiss her cheek and dust my fingers over her lower back before going in search of a host. Without my trusty Nets cap I’m painfully exposed and at the mercy of the dim lighting. I try to keep my head low, avoiding eye contact with anyone as I make my way up to the front.
“Welcome to Ocean Side,” a perky blonde greets me from behind a podium, glancing down as she scribbles something. “Do you have reservations?” When we lock gazes, her jaw lags and her eyes get that holy-shit haze I’ve seen a thousand times. “Oh…hi! We’ve been waiting for you! Wait here and I’ll get the manager…he…uh…wanted to personally escort you to your table!”
She makes a scene when stumbling away with flushed cheeks, drawing the attention of a few people nearby. I clear my throat and look down, casually draping my arm over the podium. I’m in no mood for a scene. I just want to hurry through dinner so I can take Evelyn back to the beach house and make love to her before asking her again if she’ll move in with me. Maybe if I catch her in another post-orgasmic bliss, she’ll give in this time. My gut twists knowing we have to head back in less than twenty-four hours.
“Charlie?” a woman calls at my side. I turn to find a middle-aged couple staring back at me. The wife looks ready to straddle me while the husband looks mildly amused. “Can I please get a picture with you?”
Shit. Here we go. I glance around, praying no one heard her request. I normally don’t hesitate to take pictures, but a few people are already looking on with interest. “Sorry,” I say, looking back at the wife. “I’m hoping for a quiet night
out with my date.”
I excuse myself past them and make my way back to where Evelyn stands, talking with two thick-necked men in suits who are closer to her than necessary. From the subtle pinch to her eyebrows, I get the sickening feeling she doesn’t welcome their attention either.
“Everything okay?” I ask, nudging my way between her and one of the men.
The guy on her other side looks from me back to Evelyn as a sly smile spreads over his lips. “I thought you looked familiar.” He elbows his buddy in the stomach. “It’s that chick from the news!”
“Please respect our privacy,” I snap, dragging Evelyn closer. A fist forms at my side, ready to pound the fucker for leering at her like she’s a two-bit hoe. Lucky for him there are too many people around.
The man’s thick fingers curl around Evelyn’s bare arm. “You should try being with a one-woman kind of man, sweetheart. With someone like me you wouldn’t wonder what STD I’m going to bring home from work.”
“The fuck you say?” I roar, pushing Evelyn out of the way to leap at the prick. My right hook connects with his jaw and he stumbles back, falling on the laps of surprised customers waiting on a bench.
Pansy ass has probably never been in a real fight, Danny snickers. Better teach him not to mess with what’s yours.
There’s a commotion of people yelling and scrambling around as the man collects himself off the floor, cradling his jaw. I lurch forward, ready to charge again until Evelyn’s hands hook beneath my armpits. “Charlie, stop!”
With the sound of her voice among dead silence, the fog clears from my vision. Every single person in the front of the restaurant is staring at me. More than a couple have their phones held up, taking pictures or video. Defeated, I relax until I feel each of my tense muscles uncoil and the anger in my gut fizzles. Fucking perfect. Another thing the media can go apeshit over.
Evelyn releases me, instead taking my hand. “Let’s go,” she whispers, tugging me in the direction of the entrance.
The prick I punched watches on with a scowl as Evelyn leads me out of the restaurant. I’m still stewing once we’re standing out in the cool night air, and she’s waving Dante down.
What made me lose my shit back there? The fact that someone was openly making a pass at my girl when I was two feet away, or the fact that somewhere deep down I worry he’s right and the asshole side of me that’s just like my father and Danny won’t be able to control myself once I’m back on tour?
I can’t let that happen to Evelyn. She deserves so much better. I’ll just have to convince her to go along with me on the road to insure I don’t give into temptations.
Then what? You gonna drag her around with you twenty-four/seven? Danny’s voice asks, laughing. Get real, brother. You aren’t cut out for this kind of shit! Getting unlimited pussy any way you can is in your DNA! It’s the reason you couldn’t stop yourself from bringing Madison and her friend home!
“Take us to the nearest drive-through, please,” I hear Evelyn tell Dante the minute we’re sitting in the back of his SUV. Before we’re out of the parking lot, she sets a hand on the side of my face. “Hey. Look at me. Are you okay?”
I glance down at her big brown eyes, lit with worry. I sink a little further into the seat. My outburst ruined what was supposed to be a special night. “Who the fuck talks to a complete stranger—a lady that way?”
“I don’t know. I just hope you didn’t break his jaw. That guy could sue you.”
“I’m sorry, baby.” I pull her tight against me and kiss the top of her head. “I wanted our last night here to be memorable.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem,” she answers dryly. Then she giggles. “I think his buddy crapped himself when he saw you coming the second time. He couldn’t back away fast enough.”
I wrap both arms around her and bury my face in her hair, wishing I could think of some way to keep her in the Hamptons forever. “I promise I’ll make it up to you when we get back.” Caressing her bare back with one hand, I lower my face to deliver a series of kisses behind her ear.
A quiet purr vibrates inside her chest as she arches into me. “In that case, screw dinner. Let’s go straight back to the beach house.”
The entire ride back as I worship her body without being too obscene in front of Dante, I fight hard against a lump rising in my throat. I refuse to follow in the footsteps of the other men in my family. I care about Evelyn more than I care about myself or the future of my career. I’d give up the money and fame if it’s the only way we can be happy.
This thing with us is going to work. I won’t let it play out any other way.
Chapter 21
EVELYN
By the time we return to the beach house, Charlie has fallen into another one of his sullen moods. It seems to be the norm after he’s lost his temper. He’s uncomfortably quiet as he brings a bottle of champagne and two glasses out to where I wait on a patio lounger. As he struggles with the cork, I focus on the tense muscles working his jaw. It’s both sexy as hell and frustrating to see my man so fierce.
“This has been the best weekend of my life,” I blurt when he hands me a halfway full glass.
The way his intense, icy blue eyes dart down on me sends shivers through my core and pins me in place. A small smile flips the corners of his mouth. “You’re just trying to get in my pants.”
“Please,” I say, scoffing. I flutter my eyelashes and offer a flirty smile. “You probably say that to all your groupies.”
Apparently it was the wrong thing to say. His gaze darkens and he dips down with dizzying speed, squatting at my eye level. “No way in hell I’d ever put you in that category.”
Guilt flattens my smile. “I know, babe.” I reach out to rest my hand over the buttons on his shirt. “It was a joke.”
“It wasn’t funny,” he says with a growl.
Sighing, I set my glass next to the bottle on the table and do the same with Charlie’s glass. Then I take his hand and motion for him to sit on the lounger at my side. Behind furrowed eyebrows, he watches intently when I kneel before him.
“Something’s obviously bothering you,” I say, spreading his legs apart and settling in-between his knees. “One way or another, I’ll find a way to make you tell me what’s going on.” When I bring my fingers to the button on his khakis and release him, his beautiful eyes spark with lust. I stare into them as I pull the pants down his hips. A hiss rips through his teeth when I stroke my fingers around his velvety head before taking it in my mouth.
“Now who’s playing dirty?” he asks before releasing a long groan. “Damn, Freckles. That feels incredible.”
Each growl from his throat and twitch of his hips encourages me to take him further despite feeling like my mouth’s going to rip at the edges. He fists the loose portion of my hair in both hands, muttering a string of words that are unintelligible as he thrusts into my mouth.
Being in love with someone famous has more perils than I’d like to admit. I was reminded of the fact when I caught a few of the women in the restaurant eye-fucking him. But as I’m learning, there are advantages too.
Rendering my man useless is a total power trip unlike anything I’ve ever felt. There are thousands of women who would do anything to be in my shoes in this moment. Hell, thousands probably already have. But I’m the one he wants to change his life to be with. I’m the one he invited to stay at his family’s vacation house and wants me to live in his brownstone. Those things should be enough to make up for what’s missing.
But somehow, they aren’t.
Driven with the need to bring him to the edge, I grope as much of him as I can with one hand and speed my mouth up until he’s roaring my name and twitching. I pull back with a satisfied smirk, watching as his eyes roll back into his head.
“Oh, baby,” he moans after a full minute of twitching. His eyes roll down to my hand, still holding onto him. “Please, you gotta let go.”
I release him to take a gulp of champagne, then lick my lips. “Read
y to tell me what’s putting you in such a foul mood?”
With a growl, he lurches forward. I skillfully dance away from his touch, so he stands and comes after me. Giggling, I point at his pants wrapped around his ankles. “If you want me, you’re going to have to catch me first!”
A maniacal grin spreads over his lips as he kicks the khakis off his feet. He’s still staring me down when he lifts one hand to grip the back of his shirt. It’s like getting my own private show of another kind when he whips it off over his head, rendering him completely naked. With the sight of his inked chest, my lips part with a quiet sigh. Seeing Charlie Walker naked will never get old.
“Better get a move on, Freckles,” he taunts, flexing the impressive muscles in his chest.
Holy hell.
Until I dart away, I forgot I was wearing the fuck-me heels and nearly trip onto my face. Charlie’s on me in a heartbeat, slinging me over his massive shoulder. I squeal and laugh as I’m launched into the air, trying to wiggle free.
“No, wait!” I plead when I realize he’s heading for the pool. “I don’t want to ruin these awesome shoes!”
Charlie swerves past it, instead setting me down to face the brick fireplace. “I caught you, now you’re mine. Spread your legs,” he demands.
The surge of dominance in his tone sends a shiver running down my spine, creating an electric buzz between my legs. I comply with his request, gasping when his fingers grip the bottom of my dress and slowly drag the material upwards. Inch by stimulating inch, his fingers trace the outline of my body as he exposes my skin to the crisp summer night air. All at once I’m standing with my back to him, naked except for the shoes.
He brushes his lips along the side of my neck. “Hands on the brick.” I place the palms of my hands on the cold fireplace and push my bottom out, soliciting a low hiss from Charlie. “Damn, you’re fuckin’ sexy,” he tells me.