WindSwept Narrows: #21 Charlotte Bell & Natalie Templeton

by Diroll-Nichols, Karen

  “The lady has made her choice,” Jesse said quietly, his palm possessively on her waist, their hips touching. He stared at the man, bristling at the way his eyes were cruising over Charlotte.

  “I allowed you to dance with him the other night, Charlie,” he told her, enough of a hint at indulgence that she felt one eyebrow rising.

  “Allowed me?” Charlotte repeated slowly. “I met you Friday night, Rory. I make decisions who I do and do not allow into my life. I don’t want to make a scene or be in the middle of a scene being made,” she added hastily, easily aware of the tension between the two males. The younger one wouldn’t have a chance. With either of them, she realized. “Good night, Rory.”

  “I’ll give you a call next week, Charlie,” the younger man promised, nodding to himself and wandering through the lounge.

  Jesse kept his palm on her waist, guiding her from the lounge and out into the bustling corridors of a Saturday night.

  “He has your number?” Jesse waited until he was sure he could keep his voice level before speaking.

  Charlotte knew the question was coming. After all, he believed she trolled the internet and other people’s office parties for dates.

  “Contrary to what you might believe, I did not give him my number. Paige introduced us, we talked about work stuff, I told him I was self-employed,” she looked up at him. “He knows the name of the shop, Jesse.”

  “I’m not accusing…” He drew in a slow breath. “I’m sorry for how it sounded, Charlotte. I did not mean to suggest you…”

  “I know, I know,” her let her head fall against his arm as they walked. “I’m sorry, too.”

  “Gonna take a while before how I sounded in the beginning goes away, isn’t it?”

  “Not if I keep reminding myself you didn’t mean what you said,” she told him, inhaling and taking his palm. “Let’s go to the arcade for a bit. Maybe a few games.”

  “You’d rather the arcade than the casino?” One brow was up at the choices she had open to her.

  “I don’t like gambling. I’m not good at it. But if you’d like to go, I like watching people,” she told him, smiling up at him, voicing what was in both their minds. “He interrupted our mood.”

  “Just a little,” he agreed, kissing her brow. “But I’ve no doubt it’ll come back in an instant given the right opportunity. I think I’d like to look at the arcade, since the kids spend a lot of their off time there.”

  “They said you hadn’t been there until the day we had our match. It’s been very smartly put together for both fun and safety,” she recalled, sighing and unable to get her mind off Rory. “I don’t understand him, Jesse. I haven’t offered any kind of…I only met him once.”

  “Maybe we need to introduce him to Jasmine,” he said sourly.

  “Maybe they just need to grow up and move on,” she said through her teeth.

  “Aren’t you just full of imagination,” he met the wrinkled nose with a laugh, relaxing and stopping her outside the entrance, noise and lights filling the well-equipped rooms.

  “I am and I’m not sure you can handle it,” she informed him loftily, stepping ahead of him into the arcade, sauntering casually around the room. She liked the tingle his laughter sent through her and watched him from the corner of her eye, his hands shoved into the pockets of his slacks.

  He wasn’t trying to be casual in the way he let his gaze caress along her legs and ass while she walked. Pure male eyes followed the sway of the soft fabric that fell just past her knees and clung to the curves of her body. His body recalled their night and he felt the hard tension strike like lightening.

  An hour later, his tie had been pulled free and hung around her neck. She’d demonstrated the controls for the game and walked him through the first level, their laughter increasing as he stumbled through attempts to maneuver and shoot. Jenna and Jamie nudged one another as they watched their father playing the shooter game, barely stifling their laughter.

  “Enough,” Jesse laughed and held out the controller to Jamie. “Have fun. We’re leaving.” He quickly grabbed up Charlotte’s palm and moved toward the entrance.

  “Jesse, slow down,” Charlotte was laughing, trying to drag in a deep breath. “You’re safe. We’re clear.”

  “Don’t ever…ever…suggest that game again,” Jesse finally managed to stop laughing as he cornered her in the elevator and pushed the button to the floor he wanted.

  “I thought you did…okay…” the soft laughter fell to nothing when he leaned into her, his mouth down over hers hard and fast. She was glad the rail was behind her because aside from his fingers spearing her hair and holding her mouth against his, she was positive her knees had abandoned her. His tongue surged inside, sweeping and tasting; flicking and luring hers out to play.

  “For some reason,” dark eyes burst with fire when he raised his head. “I just can’t seem to focus on shooting things.” His mouth lowered to hers again, sweeping in hot kisses from one end to the other.

  Charlotte knew by the time the kiss ended they were panting and not lightly.

  “Jesse…” She couldn’t stop the small giggle breaking free when he gripped her fingers and pulled her along the corridor.

  “I spent the last hour with teenagers. I feel fifteen again,” he told her, a gaze over his shoulder that went from her feet to her head. “And you’re my girl. And we got the apartment to ourselves for at least an hour, maybe longer.”

  “You are not serious,” the laughter gurgled free followed by a loud yelp when she found herself on his shoulder. “Jesse! Put me down!”

  “Sorry…got an agenda…” Jesse slid his key card through the slot, pushed the door wide and continued on toward the kitchen. The master room was down a hall next to the kitchen, a huge room with a big private bathroom. He closed the door solidly behind him before setting her down on the floor.

  “An agenda,” Charlotte tossed the purse she carried to a nicely ornate cushioned chair, her toes working the straps free from her heels before stepping back. “And you’re getting this way from spending an hour playing video games?” She watched him toss his jacket to the chair, followed by the tie before he worked the cuffs open. Or was it from seeing the younger man trying to stake a claim on her?

  “I think I began this way when we met,” he admitted, dark eyes never leaving the painted toes, long legs and rise and fall of her chest. “Breathing a little difficult?”

  “I was upside down…takes a few minutes to…what are you doing…” She backed up again when he took a couple steps forward.

  “Do you recall planting an image in my head, Charlotte Bell?”

  Jesse felt his body tighten when she laughed, a soft, happy sound that caressed and stroked him from head to toe.

  “And that’s my fault because you can’t change the channel?” But she was quick enough to keep out of arms reach.

  For the moment.

  Teasing was a big part of the game and she loved games. She could feel the tension and excitement in him.

  “You wore that specifically to drive me mad with lust,” he returned, taking in the large open spaces and her possible movements. He laughed when she only arched an eyebrow at his comment. “Not denying it?”

  “Do you have a weakness for sexy undies?”

  “I don’t think there’s a safe answer to that one,” he laughed again, hands slowly opening the buttons down his shirt, the tails pulled free and hanging open. “You managed to paint a picture with your words and you know guys, honey…”

  “Extremely visual,” she whispered sexily, holding up one finger for him to stop.

  His feet came to a stop when her hand continued to her neck, fingers working at something behind her throat. Then the halter top fell free, exposing the lacey white bustier that hugged her ribs and thrust her breasts into nice, compact mounds.

  He couldn’t recall seeing anything more sexy in a long, long time. He opened his mouth to speak after clearing his throat only to stop when she held up one ha
nd, a finger up to stop him.

  He watched as she reached behind her, the rest of the dress sliding and pooling at her feet without any noise other than him swallowing. Hard. The bustier held snuggly to her form, cinching in her already narrow waist and stopping there. A few inches of bare skin came next and then a three inch strip of wide lace that had slender straps that went to the stockings riding high on her thighs. And nothing else.

  “You…” Jesse worked to clear his throat again. “You’ve been out with me all night…like that?”

  Charlotte bent forward, glancing up when he groaned at the sight. She pulled a scrap of lace and nylon from inside her dress pocket.

  “I had these on…took them off in the bathroom before we left the restaurant,” she dangled the white and silver laced panties from one finger as she straightened up. “Didn’t want to spoil the effect.” She turned very slowly, separated her feet and bent forward, peering up at him from between her ankles. “So? Does it have a good effect?”

  “I’m sensing an evil streak in you, woman,” Jesse ground his teeth and took a step forward, his eyes focused on the upturned globes of her behind with lace surrounding her hips and stockings ending high on her thighs. “I’m not sure evil begins to even cover it…” He watched her straighten up and face him, backing to the bed and sliding back into the center.

  “Only thing missing is five inch heels,” she taunted, leaning up on her elbows, her ankles crossed as he shrugged out of his shirt and tossed it to the chair. She watched him reach for the button on his slacks before she cleared her throat. “Uh-uh.”

  Jesse stopped. Not because of anything she said. But because she was moving.

  Moving might not be quite the word, he realized, watching as she seemed to float to her knees and crawl towards the end of the bed where he stood.

  He felt the sweat break out.

  And he wasn’t normally a sweating kind of guy. He was Canadian.

  They had control and calm in their favor.

  Suddenly he felt like he was being stalked by a polar bear out on the icy tundra.

  Charlotte grinned when he froze. She rose up on her knees when she was at the edge, her palms sliding from the flat plains of his waist higher, onto his chest and shoulders. Her eyes followed the movement of her hands, loving the dark coils beneath her palms as she caressed higher. When she leaned closer, following her palms with mixed kisses and strokes of her tongue, she was sure he’d quit breathing.

  “I was a little concerned,” she whispered against his skin, letting her tongue stroke long and slow along the line of his belt. Her fingers worked it free, a little extra smile on her lips when she saw his hands clench into fists at his sides.

  “Should I say anything?” Jesse was sure his tongue was as swollen as the rest of him at the moment. A deep groan rumbled inside his throat when her fingernails grazed down the length of his erection as she eased the zipper lower.

  Very. Very. Slowly. He ground his teeth together to keep from biting himself.

  “Only if you feel the need,” she whispered against his naval, swirling her tongue and dragging it hotly lower toward the band of his boxers. “Of course, if you want me to stop…” she almost broke out laughing at the expression on his face, a fire in his eyes that shifted to momentary panic. And he definitely did not appear the calm, confident business man Paige always talked about. More like a seventeen year old on the verge of seeing God, ready to confess at the same time he swore it was amazing.

  “What are you doing to me, Charlotte?” Jesse spoke low, his lips barely moving when her hands slid inside his slacks and eased them open to fall over shoes he’d forgotten to remove. Yet. His feet moved to toe himself out of the shoes and step out of his slacks.

  “Hmm…I thought I was seducing you,” She left his boxers in place for now and straightened up, allowing the bustier and firmly confined breasts to drag firmly over the throbbing cock bursting and erect. Her hands pressed along his sides until she circled his neck, fingers toying with the strands of deep brown above his ears. “Is it not working for you?” She asked with a seductive grin, her tongue stroking over his lower lip.

  “Evil,” he murmured, his hands up and spearing through the free hanging hair at the same time capturing her mouth hard and hot, his tongue surging hungrily.

  Charlotte had no idea a kiss could be so good. So wildly arousing. His teeth nipped her lip and then his tongue stroked over that spot before his kisses ranged along her jaw to her throat, the sweet tingles racing through to the hot arousal between her thighs.

  She pressed her palms against his shoulders with a little push, both losing their focus and staring into the eyes of the other, waiting. Panting. Charlotte could feel the moisture begging to have him inside her.

  “Condoms.”

  “Drawer,” the single word was low and hungry as he looked toward the nightstand where he’d tossed the packets he’d bought that afternoon and each time he went into one of the resort restrooms. His interest and cock grew when she hooked one finger in the waistband of his boxers and tugged him around to the side of the bed.

  Jesse had no idea his body could harden any more until she turned from him, her finger caught in the band of his boxers and tugging him after her. Her tan seemed to be all over, no lines and the muscles of her thighs melded right into her ass. Nice, tight and round and begging to have his hands on it.

  That luscious all over tan topped with the wide strip of white lace, the very narrow way the bustier held her slim body in place as she moved was beyond erotic. His mind snapped back when she turned and backed toward the outside wall, the foil packet in her free hand.

  Charlotte felt a rough shudder run through him when her finger slid around the band of his boxers one last time. Fingernails grazed his skin as she eased the elastic out of her way, the plain black boxers hugging his hips as she closed her palm around him, squeezing and sliding down to the full, solid base and then back up. His groan filled the room, dark eyes staring into hers.

  Jesse moved his hands to her waist, the tickle of the edge of lace against the back of his hands. Hands that tightened when she rolled the condom down his cock, stroking it hotly. Her movements were slow and pulled another groan from parched lips.

  Charlotte leaned against the wall and took one of his hands, running it down her thigh as she lifted her leg higher. His palms moved to her behind, lifting her in silent understanding of what she wanted. Jesse leaned in, their mouths touching, softly at first and then the frenzy took them both. He could smell her heat, feel the moisture touching him as she guided him to the swollen opening.

  Charlotte moved her hands over his shoulder, his knees bending just enough as his hands lifted her, held her in place for a long second before he thrust into her, hard and fast, taking their breath away. Deep gasps broke from both of them and into the kiss they continued.

  Jesse groaned when she wrapped her legs tightly around his waist, her hands sunk into the hair on his head, her mouth ranging along his jaw and into his throat. Hot, hard and fast, ragged panting filled the room. Charlotte bit his shoulder where it met his throat, her hips rotating and meeting the hunger in him without hesitation.

  “Jesse…yes…there…” she moaned against his skin, one of his palms sliding between them, stroking and pressing against the nub holding her just on the edge. An edge she flew over seconds later, his thrusts harder and deeper, his thumb stroking and pressing her clit until she exploded around him.

  Tight muscles closed and rippled, sucking him inside her and holding him captive. She didn’t know how long she hung suspended in space, the delicious feeling rolling into another one when he thrust once and once more, her name pulled from deep inside him.

  Jesse had her crushed against the wall, his hands holding tightly to her ass. Damp hair clung to his face, his tongue out to glide over the perspiration on her throat before he nipped her ear.

  “I can’t believe…Jesus, Charlie…”

  “Amazing,” she breathed, her voice
low and barely holding in her shiver. She laid her head on his shoulder, watching the strands of deep brown against her fingers.

  Unable to disagree with her, Jesse dragged a long breath into his lungs and slowly lowered her to the floor. Her muscles protesting as he pulled free and he realized his body was still aroused by her scent, her appearance and her passion.

  Charlotte moved on legs that wobbled only a little, supporting her enough so she could fall back onto the bed while he disappeared into the bathroom, striding back with his boxers where they should be.

  She felt a little tremor inside her, watching him move around the room, tossing clothing to the chair before falling onto the bed and pulling her against him. They lay side by side in the darkness, just staring for a long, peaceful moment.

  “You were very indulgent, Jesse….thank you.” Charlotte leaned closer, brushing his mouth with hers. He rolled to his back, taking her over with him. She laughed, elbows on either side of his head.

  “Indulgent…you make it sound like I had a choice,” Jesse reached up, tucking the long strands of red behind her ear. “You’re beautiful. I think I forgot to tell you that earlier.”

  “Thank you…”

  He lost himself in the smile she offered with the simple words.

  “You do realize that I’ll be forever wondering what you’re wearing beneath the clothes now,” Jesse used one finger to trace the edge of lace over each breast.

  “Makes for an interesting goal,” Charlotte laughed. She lifted her foot and dragged the nylon covered toes along his leg. “You make me feel sexy. I like it.”

  “That definitely makes two of us,” he assured her, leaning over and replacing his finger with his tongue, tasting the sweet flesh above the bustier. “So…” His tongue pushed inside the lace that barely covered her nipples. “Do you have a collection of things like this?” to be honest, he wasn’t sure how his brain managed an actual sentence when the nylon covered toes stroked the inside of his thigh. He also had no idea she was so flexible until he felt her thigh resting against his hip.