“What are you doing?”
“Refocusing your attention, since you won’t let me go to sleep.”
“You can sleep. I’m sorry.” She gasps when I pull her nipple between my teeth. “Oh, that’s nice.”
I grin and pay the same attention to the other breast, then slide down her body. I push her knees up beside her ears and lick her, from anus to clit, twice, and then I push inside her in one fast thrust.
“Oh my god!” she exclaims and wraps her legs around my hips, holding on tight.
“Maybe this will help empty your mind.” I plant my thumb on her clit and watch her go wild as I fuck her hard, pressing the base of my cock on my thumb.
“Jesus, Simon.”
“That’s right. Just me, Charlotte. Just me and what we have together.”
She’s clutching onto my shoulders, and arches her neck back as she comes apart, moaning my name.
I pull out and flip her over, pinning her hips to the mattress. I spread her cheeks apart enough to see her glistening pussy, straddle her legs, and push inside her again.
“Fucking love this angle,” I growl and bite her shoulder. She’s white-knuckling the sheets, biting her pillow. I fist her hair and pull back slightly, just so I can see her gorgeous, flushed face. “Your pussy is so bloody tight.”
“Your cock is just big,” she replies between gasps. “God, you’re hitting my spot in just the perfect way.”
“Like this?” I ask and push harder, making her moan.
“Fuck me,” she moans.
“Oh, I am, love.” God, she brings me to my knees. Whether it’s hard and fast or soft and sweet, I’m lost in her. I can’t get enough of her.
Her pussy clenches down on me as she comes again, and I follow her over this time, the orgasm shooting along my spine, sending electricity through every part of me.
“Damn, you’re amazing.”
“You were doing all the work,” she says, still catching her breath. Finally, I roll off of her and she manages to roll onto her back. “I think I’m going to pretend to be afraid more often. The benefits are spectacular.”
“You weren’t pretending, darling,” I reply and suck her nipple into my mouth, loving the way she gasps. “You taste delicious.”
“I bet you taste delicious right now.”
With a wicked look in her hazel eyes, she takes my semi-hard cock in her mouth and sucks me gently.
“Fucking hell.” My hips jerk, and I’m already at full attention again. God, she’s sucking herself off of my cock.
It’s the sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever seen in my life.
“We taste good,” she says with a satisfied smile. “And look at that. You’re hard again.”
“What are you going to do about it?”
She tilts her head to the side as she rises over me, as though she’s considering my question. She takes me easily inside her and begins rocking back and forth, milking me with those strong as hell muscles of hers.
“I think I’ll do this.”
“I won’t complain.” I grip her hips and guide her up and down, but suddenly she takes my hands in hers and pins them over my head, kissing me lightly. She licks my lips, down my jaw and to my neck where she nibbles leisurely, all the while riding me at a slow, even pace.
“I like this,” she breathes. “I love feeling you inside me, against me.” She bites my shoulder. “But do you know what I like the most?”
“Tell me.”
“I like the look on your face while you fuck me.”
“What look is that?”
“Surprise. Happiness. Lust.”
I sit up, easily breaking out of her hold and wrap my arms around her waist, picking up the pace. “I never stop wanting you, Charlotte.”
“You’re the only one who uses my full name, you know.”
“I’d better be the only one to do a lot of things.” Her eyes find mine in surprise. I fist her thick dark hair in my hand and tilt her head back, giving me access to her smooth neck. “I’m the only one.”
“Yes.”
I push up hard, making her gasp.
“The only fucking one.”
“Yes, Simon.”
She comes around me, then collapses against me, breathing hard, eyes closed. I lie back, cradling her on my chest, and smile when she simply drifts off to sleep, unaware of the creaks and groans in the house around us.
Chapter Fourteen
~Charly~
I feel dumb this morning. My house is not haunted. I was just all worked up because of what Mallory said yesterday, and well, because that shit does freak me out. I’m quite sure Gabby’s inn is haunted, and probably every other building in Louisiana.
But not my house.
I’ll have plenty of time today at work to lose myself in other thoughts and by tonight, I’ll be back to normal.
Although, maybe I should pretend to still be scared because apparently, that gets me some good sex.
“What are you grinning about?” Simon asks as he walks into the bedroom. I’m getting ready for work, and he’s pulled the clothes he’s been wearing for a couple of days back on.
“Nothing important.”
“You look like you’re cooking up some sort of scheme,” he says.
“Maybe I’m just happy,” I suggest.
“Perhaps,” he concedes and kisses my neck. “Or maybe you were thinking about last night.”
“Are you a mind reader?” I ask and playfully elbow him in the ribs.
“You wound me,” he says, rubbing his ribs as though I’ve broken them and makes me laugh. “I really need to go back to my hotel room to change clothes. These are starting to stand on their own.”
“Why don’t you just bring everything back here,” I suggest calmly, as if it’s no big deal at all, but my stomach is turning. “If you’re going to stay longer, there’s really no need to keep two places.”
“Are you sure?” His eyes narrow as he watches me closely, and I nod. This is a big step for me. I’ve never suggested that anyone come stay with me for any length of time.
But I don’t like the idea of Simon keeping his things somewhere else. He should be here, with me.
“Here’s a key.”
He accepts it, then takes my hand and kisses it tenderly.
“You’ll hardly know I’m here,” he says, his eyes dancing with mirth.
“Right.” I laugh and shake my head. “You’re kind of hard to miss, Simon.”
“I blend quite well.”
I laugh now and cup his cheek in my hand. “Given that I can’t seem to stay away from you, I doubt that I’ll forget you’re here. But I want you here. So please make yourself at home.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” We’re grinning foolishly at each other when his phone rings.
“Sorry, I have to take this.” He frowns and accepts the call. “Hello, Mum.”
He walks out of the room, not bothering to lower his voice, and I can’t help but listen.
“No, I won’t be calling her.”
I sit on the edge of my bed.
“Because I don’t want anything to do with her. I’m sorry that she’s going through that, but it’s no longer my problem.”
There’s a pause and I hear him sigh.
“Yes, I know how you feel. You’ve made it quite clear. I’ll make myself clear. I would rather you didn’t speak to her, but I can’t control who you choose to talk to.”
His voice has gone hard and cold. I’ve never heard him like this.
“Mother, I didn’t tell you everything that happened because it was none of your business. But I will say this, please consider the source when she’s crying on your shoulder. Well, then I guess I’m heartless.”
What the hell? Simon is the least heartless man I know!
“Listen to me. I’m not going to bloody call her. Ever. That part of my life is closed. Have a good evening, Mother.”
He ends the call, and I wait for what seems fore
ver for him to come back. When he doesn’t, I walk into the sitting room to find him sitting with his head in his hands. He looks…defeated.
I cross to him and rub circles on his back.
“Are you okay?”
“I don’t like arguing with my mother,” he says softly. “And it seems that we argue more than anything lately.”
“What do you argue about?” I ask, not at all ashamed to pry.
He lets out a humorless laugh and stands, pacing away from me, then back again. He rubs his neck and I sit, waiting for him to work out whatever is torturing him.
“I told you about Amy, my ex-wife, and how our marriage ended.”
“Yes, that you’d found her cheating on you.”
He nods and paces the room.
“The thing is, her cheating on me was the least of it. She did me a favor by fucking around because she gave me a valid reason to leave her.”
“What did she do to you?” I ask, and clench my shaking hands in my lap.
“Physically? Just the scratches on my arm. But she was manipulative and emotionally abusive from the moment we got married. I was an idiot. I would give in every time she threatened to kill herself if she didn’t get her way or like the way things were going.”
“She threatened to kill herself?”
“Not often in the beginning, but as time went on, it became more frequent. I don’t know how many times I’d come home to find that she’d swallowed pills and I had to call an ambulance. She could cue tears at the drop of a hat.
“I had her in therapy over and over again. She would claim that the therapist came on to her, or tried to have sex with her, and would refuse to go back.” He turns to me, his deep blue eyes radiating pain. “Those poor men, and one woman, did nothing wrong but tell her that she’s a sociopath.
“I couldn’t help her, and it tore me apart. I thought I loved her, and I did. Otherwise I never would have asked her to marry me.”
“But she was abusive, Simon.”
“She was ill.”
“Bullshit.” I stand and prop my hands on my hips. “She was a mean, manipulative woman. She knew exactly what she was doing. She was playing head games with you for her own enjoyment.”
He swallows hard.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know her, but I can see what she did to you.”
“I’ve made it my life’s work to empower women. To help them believe that they are worthy of everything wonderful in this world. I’ve helped women leave their abusive husbands, end careers that were toxic, and even stand up to parents and family members who were nothing but bullies. And here I am, a man who couldn’t help his wife. You were right in Montana, I am a hypocrite.”
“Oh for fuck’s sake, you are no such thing.” Now I’m just angry. At him for believing this bullshit and at her for, well, for being her. “I was mad at you and I shouldn’t have said that. She didn’t want to be helped, Simon. That’s what you need to realize. I hate this saying, but it’s true: you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. You did what you could for her, but she didn’t think anything was wrong. She was manipulating you, and she was pretending to be sick. In reality, she loved the attention you gave her, and she loved getting her own way.”
He’s watching me with so much hope in his eyes that I want to cry. My God, has he been clinging to this false sense of responsibility for all this time?
“I’m proud of you for walking away and washing your hands of her. And I understand not wanting to air all your dirty laundry to your family, but they should know some of it, Simon. Especially if your mother is choosing to keep Amy in her life.”
“I don’t think she’s choosing it, I think Amy is just pressing all the right buttons to keep herself there. You’re right, I should tell Mum more of it, so she knows what she’s dealing with. I just didn’t want her to be disappointed in me. And that may be the first time I’ve ever admitted that. I sound like a coward.”
“You sound like someone who was abused,” I reply gently and wrap my arms around him. “I’ve never been there, but Savannah has, and she had many of the same feelings. You do so many great things for people. You should be proud of that, and if it was your relationship with Amy that circled you around to it, well, then maybe it was worth it. But you have to reconcile it for what it was and move on, Simon.”
“You’re an amazing woman, Charlotte Boudreaux.”
“I think I’m just the voice of reason right now.”
He catches my chin with his finger and tilts my face up to look at him. “Thank you.”
“You can pay me back later.” I press my lips to his chin, then check the time. “I’m about to be amazingly late. Feel free to unpack and just put your things wherever you want. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Are you okay, love?”
“Of course.” I send him a bright smile. “Just call me if you need me.”
“Have a good day.”
I blow him a kiss and leave, my mind reeling. When he was telling me what Amy did to him, I wanted to sit and weep for him. What a grade-A bitch. I’d like just five minutes alone with her.
And given that I’d like five minutes alone with her, I’m just fucking angry. How could anyone treat another human being like that? What kind of sick joy does that bring them?
I’ve never felt this overwhelming need to protect a man before. Not that he needs it; she can’t hurt him now. But I feel fiercely territorial.
And this is new.
I don’t know what to do about it. I still don’t see how a relationship with Simon can make it long-term. He can’t stay in New Orleans forever, and I don’t plan to leave.
But I do know that I’m going to enjoy him for every minute he’s here.
***
I flip the sign to closed at exactly six o’clock. It’s the first time I haven’t stayed open later in…I can’t even remember. I usually take my time, visit with straggling customers, count the till, organize credit card receipts, and I even sit and pore through shoes online, deciding what to buy next.
But not tonight. I’m excited to go home. Not because there’s someone to go home to, but because it’s Simon.
I’m ready to see Simon.
Even the evening traffic doesn’t bother me a bit. I whistle along with the radio, and patiently make my way through town. Butterflies set up residence in my belly as I pull into the driveway. Simon’s rental is parked at the curb.
I walk in and grin when I see him at my dining table chatting on the phone. He glances up and smiles at me, that smile that makes me forget that I have knees, and finishes his call.
“How was your day?” he asks.
“Busy, so it was a good day,” I reply and set my handbag and keys on the table. “How about you?”
“The same.” He kisses me gently, sending a shiver down my arms. “I brought all of my things over.”
“Great.”
“There are a few things that I couldn’t find a home for, so you can just tell me where you want to put them.”
“That’s fine.” I look up at him and realize that he looks nervous. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong.” He grips my shoulders, then rubs his hands up and down my arms. “But I need a favor.”
“Okay.”
“I have to record my weekly video today. I missed last week, and I can’t miss two in a row.”
“Of course not. You have quite a following.”
He grins. “I usually have a camera guy, but I obviously didn’t bring him with me from London. I can record the whole thing here, then send it to him and he’ll cut it together and make it look nice to go live.”
“Sounds good. What do you need me for?”
“I need you to run the camera. I’ll just use my phone, which is fine, but I’ll need you to make sure I’m centered in the shot, hit record, and end it as well.”
“This sounds like a very easy job. I can handle it.” I give him a mock salute. “Why do you look nervous? You’ve record
ed hundreds of these.”
“Today’s topic is going to be a bit more personal.”
He doesn’t say anything more. He sits at the table, and I realize he’s already set up his phone across from him.
He looks amazing. He’s in jeans and a casual polo shirt, showing off the tattoos on his arm. His hair is combed back, and he’s clean-shaven.
He looks professional and comfortable, which is perfect for pulling a viewer in. It worked for me, anyway, when Van and I sat and watched just about every video he had available. Of course, this is the first time he’s recorded a video without long sleeves.
And now he’s sitting in my house, recording his video.
And I’m sleeping with him.
Crazy.
“Everyone will see your tats.”
He glances down and then shrugs. “I’ve decided I don’t care.”
“Any special reason?”
“I didn’t bring a long-sleeved shirt.” He grins and I shake my head.
“Are you ready?” I ask, looking at the camera. “You’re in frame.”
“Yes, ready when you are. If I mess up, I’ll start at the beginning of my thought, and Perry will fix it later.”
“Okay. One, two, three.” I press record, and Simon’s whole demeanor immediately changes. He’s the confident, in control life coach that his fans can’t get enough of, and I’m excited to see what he’s going to speak about.
“Hello, everyone, and thank you for joining me this week. As you may have noticed, I missed last week’s video, but I’m back this week with something that I think many of you will identify with. This week’s topic is How to know when your partner is manipulating you.
“I try to keep my personal life very separate from my professional life, but I’m also a human being, and I’ve experienced many of the same things that you have. This topic is one that I’ve been hesitant to talk about because it is so deeply personal, but someone whom I care about very much reminded me today that there is no shame in being human.”
He’s not looking into the lens now, but rather in my eyes. I’m stunned. I sit quietly and listen intently as he describes what it is to be in an intimate relationship with someone who betrays your trust by manipulating and hurting you. His face is passive, but his eyes are passionate.
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