by Cara North
“Charlie.” He rasped.
“Are you going to come with me, Ayden?” Charlie was losing it, and she wanted him to also. “I want you to come with me.”
“Yes, baby, just like that.” Ayden fought to keep his eyes open as he watched her come again. When he felt her walls closing around him, he found his own release. “I love it when you scream my name like that.”
Charlie was shocked by how strong the orgasm was. Maybe she had worked her own self up by talking because she screamed his name in wild fashion twisting and plunging on him like she had no control. It seemed to last forever, and she could feel him come inside her. His entire body shook, and his chest was still heaving. She collapsed onto him and listened to his heartbeat strumming. He loved when she screamed his name like that. One more step in the right direction.
“You’re a wildcat, Charlie.” Ayden pushed her bangs to the side with a trembling hand. He was spent and well sated, at least for the moment.
“And you are a real wolf.” Charlie nipped his chest. Apparently, he was going to be the alpha male in and out of the bedroom. “You practically howled at me.”
“Mmm. You bring out the animal in me, what can I say?” Ayden stroked her silky hair, twisting it around his fingers enjoying the soft feminine quality of Charlie all around him. “I have to go to Quantico for a couple days. When I get back, we will go to Tennessee.”
“Quantico?” Charlie lifted to look at him. “But that’s where the FBI… Ayden, are you still working?”
“Not really, they want me to come talk to the BAU about a couple cases I worked on. It’s more a lecture.” He still twirled her hair. Still felt calm and relaxed.
“The Behavior Analysis Unit? Why would you need to talk to them?” Charlie drew her brows together.
“How did you…?”
“I read all your books while you were out chasing bad guys.” Charlie shrugged.
“You’re amazing, you know that?” Ayden pushed her bangs aside and drew her closer for a kiss.
“I have to stay here, huh?” Charlie frowned.
“It’s work, darlin’.” Ayden hated that he couldn’t make better plans, but the flight was booked, and Charlie probably wouldn’t fly anyways.
“Oh all right. As long as you’re not chasing anyone, I’ll be fine.” Charlie conceded and lay on his chest. “When are you leaving?”
“Couple hours.” Ayden closed his eyes.
“What? When did you find out you were going?” Charlie pushed up and looked at him again.
“Yesterday on my way home from work. I didn’t want to ruin our night by telling you I had to leave today. I’ll be gone two days. That’s all.” This was the part of the job he knew women didn’t understand. This is why he never had a woman in his life while he was working. Charlie was upset over him being gone a couple days, how could she deal with a couple months? Thank God he didn’t work as an agent anymore.
“I’ll miss you.” Charlie snuggled onto his chest relishing the feel of him. “Can I sleep in your bed while you’re gone?”
“Sleep wherever you want, darlin’. This is your home, too.” Ayden thought about Charlie here in his bed while he was gone. If the FBI needed information an anything other than what they had called him for, he wouldn’t go, but they called about Preston. It was too much of a coincidence. “I will try to get back sooner if at all possible, okay?”
* * *
Charlie stood on the porch and kissed him good bye. It seemed like such a natural thing to do now. Ayden was leaving and he was sulking. She tried to pretend it was fine and dandy, but she really hated to see him go. At least he was just going to talk. The lingering fear that a talk would lead to more haunted her. She didn’t want him in the line of fire anymore. She wanted him safe.
When Ayden left, she went to the safe and pulled out the postcard. It was from Preston. The apartment was still in Ayden’s name. He refused to let her change that. Now she understood why. It was a warning.
Angels don’t always fall from heaven. Someone’s out to clip her wings.
Charlie had no idea what it meant. Just that it had something to do with her. She knew because it was a postcard from the casino she worked in. More specifically it was a card of the show, and she was on it. Charlie put the postcard back in the safe. What could she do? If she told Ayden now, it would ruin everything.
Chapter 18
“Wolf.” Jana Mason called across the lobby.
“Mason.” Ayden nodded. Jana was his contact in Nevada. She kept a good eye on Charlie for him. The woman was easily Charlie’s height, a little more muscle than smooth toned flesh. Jana had long brunette hair and blue eyes that lit up as she made her way toward him.
“So they called you here too huh?” Jana smiled and bit her lower lip. Ayden was the epitome of masculine wonder. She’d had one night with him and she’d played a little dirty to get it but it was worth it. Now she had no idea where his little angel was. She would avoid talking about it and say everything was fine if he asked. Charlie was so routine and such a recluse she never understood Ayden’s infatuation with the woman.
“Yep.” Ayden wanted to go to his room and call Charlie not hang out with Jana. She was a nice looking woman and yeah he’d had a moment of weakness a few years back but it was her idea, right after she told him Charlie was seeing someone and he had already had one hell of a day. It was a release for them both. Nothing more than that.
“So…” Jana cocked her head to the side. “You going out to eat?”
“No.” Ayden hefted his duffle bag over his shoulder and waved at another agent.
“Well if you need…”
“I’m good.” Ayden nodded and looked off in a new direction.
“Of course. Well, see you tomorrow.” Jana smiled a genuine smile at the man she desired most. Ayden was known for being reclusive and even the night they shared he barely spoke. It was more about the act and the release than about enjoyment though she had enjoyed it. What woman wouldn’t?
He shrugged and headed to his room. Why did Charlie tell him she had been untouched in over ten years when four years ago Jana said she was with someone? Of course, she didn’t give him details and he didn’t ask. Damn. Charlie affected him just as much then he was just too damn blind to see it.
* * *
Settling into the hotel bed Ayden called home.
“Hello?” Charlie had been waiting all night for his call. She knew the plane was delayed and that he was stuck in Charlotte for hours. Now he had to be there, she hoped.
“Hello, darlin’, I’m here, finally.” Ayden fought the smile creeping across his lips.
“I miss you.” Charlie snuggled into a pillow on his bed.
“Hump.” Ayden snorted. That was what he needed to hear.
“What’s wrong with you?” Charlie frowned at that sound. Grumpy, the man did grumpy well.
“Who were you dating four years ago?” Ayden cut right to the chase.
“No one.” Charlie sat up. She hadn’t dated anyone since meeting Ayden.
“You sure about that?” Ayden couldn’t get his head around it. Why would Jana lie unless… well he better back out of this before he gets himself in trouble.
“Positive. Why do you ask?” Charlie felt his discomfort now and didn’t want to hear it. She didn’t want to hear about anyone else in his life. “Ayden, if this is about another woman, I don’t want to know.”
“It’s not,” he lied. “I ran into another agent here and they asked about you. The Nevada agent said he saw you a few years back with some guy, that’s all.”
“Oh. Well they must have been mistaken. We get our pictures taken with tourists and do promotional events all over so no telling how many men I have been seen with over the years.” Charlie relaxed into the pillow again. A little twitch in her gut said he was a she, but Ayden was on the phone with her not with another woman.
“I just got a little… jealous.” Ayden told the truth about that. He was burning from jealousy.
Just as he did then, except then he didn’t know what set him off. Just that Jana had offered a release to it. What else had she lied about? “Charlie, you have been all right over the past ten years, right? Nothing out of the ordinary, no troubles?”
Jesus! He was gone less than twenty-four hours on the job, and he was pinning her in fast. “Ayden, you’re making me scared. Is everything okay?”
“Yes, darlin’. Don’t pay me no mind. I’m agitated and tired, and I wish I were home in bed with you instead of here.” That was all true.
“My poor baby. I wish I could make it all better for you. It’s only one day and you’ll be home and we’ll be on our way to Tennessee.” Charlie smiled. He missed her.
Ayden snickered. “I’m never leaving you again.”
“Cause I’m funny?” He laughed; at least he sorta laughed.
“Well you make me smile.” An admission that made his chest feel heavy. “I
should get some sleep, darlin’. I’ll call you as soon as I can tomorrow. Maybe I can get out of here early and get back tomorrow night.” Ayden resolved to do just that early or not.
“Sweet dreams.” Charlie bit her lip.
“Good night, darlin.” Ayden heaved a heavy breath.
Charlie disconnected the call. It was all he could do not to punch the number back in and just talk to her for a few more minutes.
Charlie snuggled into the pillow, and after staring into the dark for thirty minutes, she headed downstairs to watch television.
* * *
Ayden entered the classroom and took a seat along the wall with a few other agents. Jana made no hesitation when she entered to sit right beside him.
“Why did you lie to me about Charlie?” Ayden spoke in a whisper.
“What? I haven’t.” Jana’s heart bumped up to marathon speed.
“You said she was seeing someone four years ago.” Ayden looked her directly in the eye.
“I thought she was.” Jana swallowed hard and knew he knew she was lying. He always did. Maybe because everyone knew what a great lie detector he was, so they slipped up and gave him the clues. Like she just did.
“If you wanted to have sex, you could have just asked.” Ayden turned his attention to the stage again.
“Really?” Jana sounded hopeful even to her own ears.
Ayden spared her a dismissive glance and snorted. “Not anymore, I’m taken.”
“Taken?” Jana asked but Ayden stood and took to the stage leaving her no answer. When he finished, he didn’t return to his seat. He left. She couldn’t very well chase after him. She would have to call Tom, get some answers.
* * *
Ayden didn’t call her, and he knew she would be worried, but he wanted to surprise her. It was midnight when he opened the door. The television was on. A bowl of ice cream loaded with toppings sat on the coffee table. Charlie was nowhere in sight. Ayden shut the door and dropped his bag on the floor, removed his jacket and shoes, then took a seat on the couch.
He was just about to take a bite of the ice cream concoction when she yelped. The phone whizzed by his head and hit a photo of Page on the entertainment center shattering it immediately.
“Putting the ice cream down.” Smiling, Ayden set the bowl on the table and held up his hands. He scared her and she reacted all right. She almost took him out with that throw.
“Damn it, Ayden!” Charlie shouted then laughed and then cried and laughed at the same time. He scared the living daylights out of her. She had gone back upstairs to get the phone hoping he would call and instead he had snuck home.
“I didn’t mean to scare you, darlin’.” He laughed. “Come here and let me see you.”
“You scared me to death.” Charlie felt half hysterical and on the verge of passing out, but she laughed now because he did. Really, who breaks in and heads right for the ice cream bowl?
“You almost knocked my brains out.” He reached out and pulled her into his lap. So much stress combined with too many memories, but this piece of his past was worth whatever pain came with it.
“Ground floor is the least defended.” Charlie kissed his lips. “I’m sorry.”
“Me too. I won’t sneak in on you again.” Ayden gripped the back of her neck. “I slept like shit without you.”
“I didn’t go to bed till noon today, and Evelyn came over at four to drag me to dinner.” Charlie exhaled. “I should clean that up.”
“Later.” Ayden leaned over and grabbed the bowl of ice cream.
Charlie started to protest, but he shoveled a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth. Then he licked the whipped topping and chocolate syrup off her lips. When one bite was down, he had another ready.
“Oops.” Ayden missed her mouth by a mile and ice cream slid down the V in her nightgown.
“That’s cold.” Charlie sucked in a breath.
“Here, take this off. You don’t want to get it messy.” Ayden made quick business of undressing her and licking the ice cream, syrup, and whipped topping mixture that was sliding between her beautiful breasts.
“Ayden, this is too messy for the living room.” Charlie pulled the buttons and stripped his shirt off. “Let’s go to the kitchen.”
Ayden smiled. “I can’t wait to cover you in this and eat it all off.”
* * *
Ayden was upstairs and stepping into the shower as she was stepping out of it. Charlie slid into pajamas and into the bed. Ayden followed within moments, groaning and stretching the whole way. He had so many noises to learn. These were obviously satisfied and tired sounds. He pulled her in tight and kissed Charlie’s lips lightly several times slowly with feeling. She felt amazingly cherished as a lazy smile swept across his face.
* * *
The Elvis alarm went off at seven a.m.
“You packed?” Ayden grumbled and turned off the alarm. He slept like a rock last night. He needed it.
“Packed?” Charlie closed her eyes. She could steal a few more hours sleep.
“Yeah, we’re driving to Tennessee in…” Ayden lifted to look at the clock. “T minus two hours and counting.”
Charlie was settling in on his chest. Ayden swatted her butt. She yelped and gave him a scornful eye. “I’m still sleepy.”
“It’s a long drive, darlin’.” Ayden slid his arms around her and pulled her in for a bear hug as he rolled on top of her. “You need me to wake you up another way?”
She laughed. “What am I going to do with you?”
“Whatever you want.” Ayden kissed her neck. He loved waking up in the mornings with Charlie.
“Fifteen hours is a long drive.” Charlie kissed his cheek.
“Yep. Plus Evelyn will be here any minute.” Ayden smiled. They had a long drive ahead, and if he indulged in her flesh this morning, he wouldn’t make it out of the bed much less to Tennessee. He called Evelyn last night to make sure he wouldn’t be tempted.
“Good thing I packed yesterday, huh?” Charlie pushed and he rolled. Straddling him, she considered his expression. He smiled a lot now. He didn’t smile so easily ten years ago, and she had to really work to get a smile out of him every year thereafter. Now, Ayden smiled at her all the time.
“I still have to pack.” Ayden reached for a loose curl and twisted it on his finger.
“Just check over what I packed for you.” Charlie lifted off, of him and headed to his closet. She used two of her rolling suitcases and packed them each one.
“You are just too good to me, woman.” Ayden rolled to his belly and realized he was definitely falling for Charlie. Taking her home should make it all clear. He wouldn’t take her to his house. One of several investments he had made in his life. They would stay with his mother and see how she interacted on the ranch.
She smiled and headed downstairs.
* * *
Charlie watched Evelyn wave as they drove away.
“It’s a fifteen hour drive give or take.” Ayden set the odometer to zero, so he could keep track of the miles.
�
��I know.” Charlie pulled out the directions.
“What the hell is that?” Ayden snatched the papers from her hands. “Directions? You think I don’t know my way home?”
“No, I don’t think that at all. I wanted to keep track of where we were, so I went online and printed out the directions. It has a cute little map here, too.” Charlie snatched the papers back. She knew Ayden could find his way around anywhere, but he normally traveled by plane. “Why aren’t we flying?”
“I thought you hated flying?” Now she tells him.
“I’ve never flown before, but I would fly with you.” Charlie smiled. He knew her file. Who she was on paper, but that wasn’t going to tell him how much she trusted his judgment in life. She had faced so many fears just getting to North Carolina, then met family and friends. She went to a crowded beach on a holiday and out to dinner and a movie, all because of Ayden. She was getting her life back thanks to him.
Ayden shook his head. He couldn’t make anymore assumptions about what he knew or thought he knew about Charlie.
“I also like to be able to come and go as I please,” he conceded.
“You’re going to be sick of me by the time we get there.” Charlie smiled. They were now trapped in this truck for the next fifteen hours. She could talk him to death. She had so many questions.
“If you become unbearable, I’ll just leave you at a rest stop.” Ayden shrugged. Charlie pouted her bottom lip and crossed her arms. “You know I would never leave you, darlin’.”
“Not and live to tell about it.” She scowled.
Ayden laughed and reached for her hand. He pulled it to his lips and then set it in his lap gently stroking her long slim fingers. He felt so content. There was no way Charlie could talk to him for fifteen hours.
* * *
He thought for sure Interstate 40 would never end. Charlie had asked every question imaginable. She knew everything trivial he knew about his childhood and life right up to why he ordered extra pickles at the last drive thru. For twelve hours, she had asked questions. Finally, her voice gave out.