by Liz Lovelock
“Well, Jase, you should probably learn that when you anger one of the lionesses, then the whole pack will turn on you.” Parker chuckles.
“Damn straight,” Elsie agrees.
“One hundred percent,” Paislee says, shoving Dane in the shoulder. “We stick together.”
“These girls are like the sisters I never had. Devon is great, but having this tribe as my sisters is even better.” Addison’s eyes shimmer with unshed tears. She quickly clears her throat and takes a sip of her drink.
My arms wrap around myself, and an ache in my chest slowly tears away at the brick walls around my heart. What is happening? I’ve never had this kind of connection with people. The girls are like a sisterhood I’ve not experienced before.
“Hey, are you alright?” Jase asks.
I nod. Is this what it feels like to have people care for you? To show love?
“Charity, can you help me with something in the bedroom? I need your help,” Paislee says.
Without saying a word, I get up and follow her. The people behind me have become silent. I must be a defective person. Always causing problems. Is that why Dad did what he did? Why he was so hard on me?
The door clicks into place behind me. “What’s going on? One minute you were fine, and the next it was like a switch flicked.” Paislee’s worried gaze holds mine.
“Am I the problem when it comes to Jase?”
Paislee pulls back at my question, her eyes curious. “What do you mean, the problem? You’re not any kind of problem—not for any of us. We’re your friends, Charity.” Her voice is soft and calming.
“But tonight was all my fault. And when I hear you girls talk about how close you all are, I can’t help but think that I’m the one with the problems. I told the guy you’re trying to set me up with tonight that my father emotionally abused me. Then he simply shut down and didn’t respond. I come with too much baggage. I’m broken, Paislee, and I don’t know how to build up the strength that you girls have.” Wetness coats my cheeks as I unload all my fears—well, not all, but some.
Without saying a word, Paislee pulls me into her arms and secures them around me. Hers aren’t the arms that I want to be wrapped in right now. Eventually, she pulls back. “You are not the problem. You’re an amazing person who has so much to offer those around her. I’m sorry you went through that with your father. If you ever want to talk, please reach out. I don’t want you going through this alone. You aren’t alone. And as for the guy, give him some credit.” She bites her lip a moment before she blurts out, “Because he’s sitting out there.” She points to the door.
“Um… what? Jase?”
Her face scrunches up as she nods.
“He’s the guy you were setting me up with?”
“Yes, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I should have. He didn’t want me to tell you.”
“Why?” A rush of excitement pours over me, and suddenly, I feel like a kid in a candy store.
“He wanted you to have someone you could talk to. Someone you could trust. Do you know what I mean?”
“Strangely enough, I do.” The words come out slowly. Stepping out of her arms, I wrap mine around me again.
I meet her worried face. “What am I supposed to do now? Should I tell him that I know it’s him? I’ve never been in a situation like this. And if I’m being honest, I’ve never even kissed a guy until Jase.” Heat rises from my chest and settles on my cheeks. My lips turn up in a superstar grin.
Paislee laughs. “What if you don’t say anything? He knows it’s you messaging him. He saw a message on your screen at some stage. So, you now both know, but he doesn’t know that you know it’s him. This is crazy.”
It’s as though I’ve been shot by a rush of adrenaline. “Oh my goodness.”
She shakes her head. ‘This is going to get interesting now, isn’t it? Don’t shut him out, though. Let him be there for you. You like him, don’t you?”
“I do. Though he probably thinks I hate him or that I’m a crazy person. I’m so hot and cold at the moment.” I run my hands through my hair and take a breath. I can’t believe this. I’ve been messaging Jase for the last week or so, and he knew it was me, and he’s still talking to me in messages but not so much in person. I’ve been super high maintenance lately with all these stupid emotions ramming into me like fists into a punching bag.
She takes a grip on my shoulders. “Trust me when I say he doesn’t think you’re a crazy person. Personally, I think he cares deeply about you. He can be a stubborn male sometimes. All us girls in there have stubborn men.” She laughs. “You know, you could use this to your advantage, if you know what I mean,” she says slyly.
I shake my head. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. What if it all turns out bad? What if we keep fighting in person?”
“I doubt that. I saw you both out there just now. There is so much already between you, yet you’re both as stubborn as each other. Just open your heart and let someone in. Trust me. You’ve got this. It’s time to enjoy life, Charity. Allow him to show you a love that you haven’t experienced,” Paislee whispers, but her words ring loud and clear in my messed-up head.
It’s time to let love in.
What is going on in there? One minute she was fine, and the next everything about her changed. Perhaps these kinds of situations with everyone here might be too much for her. But when she told me what her father had done to her, I needed to see her and know she was okay.
After I’d read her message, anger had rushed through me like a bush fire with wind behind it. If that man were still alive, I probably would kill him myself. How could a father do that to his daughter? Is this why she’s so defensive, always got her guard up? I have a desperate urge to take a sledgehammer to her walls and force her to let me in, but that’s not going to work. Slow and steady will win the race with her.
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I send her a quick message while she’s still in the room with Paislee.
Jase: You could never say anything wrong. We may not know each other very well, but I want you to know I am here, no matter what. I’m so sorry you went through what you did with your father. I wish I could take that pain away from you. So, it’s your birthday soon… Tell me one thing you wanted that you never got.
As I hit send, the bedroom door flies open, and laughter filters out.
“Hey, what did we miss?” Elsie asks. My focus stays on Charity. Her eyes shine as though she’s been crying. What went on in there?
“Oh, nothing. I wanted her opinion on something.” Paislee shrugs off Elsie’s question, and Elsie doesn’t push it, which is strange.
Charity pulls her phone from her jeans pocket and smiles down at it. The weight sitting on my chest lifts slightly. Still doesn’t help the anger I feel toward the man who hurt her.
Her fingers glide over her phone, and then she comes and sits down in her seat, and again, her leg brushes my arm. My phone vibrates in my hand, alerting me to another message. Thankfully, I’d thought to put it on silent before I came in the dorm.
The way she makes me feel is nothing like I’ve experienced with girls in the past. She’s different. She’s special. Warmth hits my shoulder, and I realize it’s her hand again. Tingles spread from my chest and down my body. Again, I reach up and take her hand. This time, I don’t take it away. I want her to know I care. I curl my fingers around hers to keep it in place. I can’t help but wonder what she is thinking. What did her message say?
“Do you want another drink, Charity?” Elsie asks.
“Yeah, sure. Thanks.” She sounds happier.
“So, everyone, Charity and I share a birthday weekend. We’re hoping you guys will host the party of a lifetime next Saturday at your place.” Paislee turns to her brother, Parker; she has puppy-dog eyes for him.
He’s silent for a moment before answering. “Yeah, that will be fine. We have a game here next week.” Even if he said no, I would have offered up my place. Charity needs a birthday party. She needs to exper
ience what good friends do for each other.
Paislee claps excitedly. “Yay, planning time.”
Hours later, it’s after midnight, and we’re all sitting around watching one of the Marvel movies. I think it’s the last Avengers. I haven’t been able to concentrate since Paislee moved to the ground beside me. She lies, stretched out, with her hands tucked under the pillow her head is resting on. Our hands are almost touching. Heat radiates between us; it’s almost electric.
I stare at her. I wish I could take away all the pain she’s experienced. Her hand shifts and is right beside mine. My fingers inch closer and closer. Swallowing the nervous lump in my throat, I glide my pinky against the side of her hand. This is the kind of move I’d put on girls when I was in high school. But Charity needs gentle and slow. I intend to deliver that.
Her finger moves against mine. Taking it as an invitation, I curl my hand over hers. A wave of exhilaration rushes over me. You’d think I’d never held hands with a girl before. Charity is different. She’s the one who left, and I lost her. I’d thought she was gone forever, yet here she is beside me, gripping my hand as tightly as I am hers.
When the movie ends, all the guys leave, and the tired-looking girls make their way to their beds. Charity stands from the ground and stumbles back slightly. I reach out, take her arm, and steady her.
“Thanks, just a little light-headed. I got up too fast.”
I keep my hold on her. She shifts a little closer. Moving my arm, I drape it over her shoulders. Thankfully, she doesn’t fight me or move away.
“Charity, you can sleep in Willow’s bed if that’s good with you,” Addison says. I swear, Willow and Jane are never here anymore.
“Yeah, that’s fine. I’m going to bed. My body is screaming at me to sleep.” As she says it, her body sways against mine.
“Here, I’ll help you so you don’t fall flat on your face. You’re swaying right now.” I chuckle. No one else says anything, so I lead her in the direction of the room.
She sits on the bed the minute she gets close enough to collapse on it. “Gosh, I don’t think I’ve felt this tired ever.” She rubs her face. Hesitantly, I take a seat beside her. She’s so beautiful.
“Sorry about earlier and being all macho man. It’s not who I am, but when it comes to you…” My words fade.
Charity’s hand reaches out and takes mine. “It’s okay. It’s probably me. I tend to overthink things sometimes. Maybe this time we can actually start over.”
My thumb glides over her knuckles. Her skin is smooth and soft. “I’d like that very much.”
“Me too,” she whispers.
“Charity…” My body wants her. My lips want to taste her, to caress every part of her in ways that make her forget her past. Swallowing, I ask the burning question that sits on the tip of my tongue. “Can I kiss you again?”
She sucks her bottom lip in between her teeth. Even that small move does things to me. The urge to jump her pounds in my chest, but I use every bit of strength in me to hold back until she gives me the all clear.
Her face meets mine. “I’d like that.” My hand wraps around her neck, and I thread my fingers through her hair. I pull her against me. My heart thrums with anticipation. Our noses gently touch, her eyes close, and I memorize every freckle that splays across her nose and cheeks. She has captured me, and I’ll gladly be her prisoner.
Gently, I press my mouth to hers. A small groan erupts from her throat, which causes my senses to go into overload, but I refrain from becoming a pushy asshole. Scaring her away isn’t what I want. She’s a fragile flower, and one wrong touch could crumple her. I won’t be the one to cause her pain. Love is what I want her to feel when she’s with me. I’ll be her security if she’ll let me.
Charity presses her lips harder to mine, and I don’t let her pull back. Instead, she opens her mouth and allows my tongue access, and it soon becomes a tangle of tongues. Together, we’re electrifying. I am the current, and she’s the zap that follows. She’s all I want.
With one swift move, she lifts her leg over my lap and straddles me. Our kiss deepens. Desire radiates between us. My hands slide down her back and over the curve of her hips, stopping on her perfectly shaped ass. As I slide her closer to me, a sigh rips through my chest.
“You’re so beautiful, Charity,” I say, pulling back a little so she can see the truth in my eyes.
“Do you want to know something I’ve never told anyone else?” she asks.
I nod.
“You’re the first guy I’ve ever kissed.” Her cheeks become a rose color, and her admission has me wanting her more. Now I know, without a shadow of doubt, that I have to take things slow with her.
“Thank you for sharing that with me. I hope you enjoyed it.” I grin. My fingers trace down her jawline and along the bottom of her lips.
“I did.” Her warm hands take the sides of my face and pull me toward her. Our lips collide again. This kiss is full of passion, love, and desire. She tastes like the candy we’ve been eating. So sweet.
Pulling back again, I reluctantly say, “I should go. You need some rest.”
“Okay. I’ll talk to you later.” With one last chaste kiss, she climbs off me. My lips are left tingling and calling to hers with such a power I have to bite the corner of my mouth to stop myself from speaking.
As my hand lands on the door handle, I turn around. She sits on the edge of the bed, her hair slightly tousled, a sight that causes my heart to hammer.
“Screw it,” I mumble before stalking back to her. Her smile is wide, as though she’s won a prize. “One more. You tease me.”
She laughs, falling back. I lean over her. My fingers trace up under her shirt and dance over her skin. She’s a temptress with magical powers, and with one look, she’s got me crazy for her even though I know I need to leave. I pepper kisses over her stomach, making my way up her neck and stopping on her mouth.
I sigh. “You captivate me, Charity. My temptress.”
This entire experience is a whole new world to me. Jase is tender and respectful, even though my body aches for his touch all over. He steals my breath every time his lips touch my sensitive flesh.
“Thank you,” I say between heated kisses.
His head comes up. His eyes are questioning. “For what?”
“For being you and not giving up on me. I’m not the girl you remember. I’ve been through so much, and being able to share this moment with you is special.” The words get caught in my throat, and the burn in my eyes becomes too strong. The tears pour out before I can contain them.
Jase is off me in a flash, pulling me into his lap. He rests his head against mine and lets me cry.
“I’m here.” Two simple words speak volumes. He stands with me in his arms and then lays me down on the bed and slips in beside me. “If you want me to, I can leave, or I can go after you’re asleep, or I can stay. The choice is yours.” He presses a kiss to my forehead.
“Stay.” It’s him I want. His comfort, kindness, and support. Being in his large arms and pulled against his sturdy frame, I take a deep breath, locking to memory his familiar musky scent. It’s calming and settles the bundle of emotions bursting through me as though fireworks have gone off inside me. Listening to his breathing lets the blanket of sleep come soon. Hopefully, my dreams are full of Jase and not the nightmares I’ve been enduring lately.
My body slowly wakes from a perfect sleep. A tattooed arm is draped over my waist, and hot breaths hit the back of my neck. My mouth pulls into a grin. Jase. I don’t want to move. Lifting my arm, I take one look at my watch and freak out. Bolting upright, I startle Jase.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” He rubs his eyes as I climb over his body.
“I’m late to meet Mom to get something to finish off my bedroom. I was supposed to meet her ten minutes ago. We’d planned this earlier in the week, and it just skipped my mind.”
Jase stretches. I pause. His shirt rises a little, and there’s a visible six- or possible e
ight-pack under there. “I can take it off if you want me to.” He cocks a grin.
“Shut up. I’ve got to go,” I say. Jase gets up and slips on his shoes, as I do mine, and we leave the room. Opening the door, we’re greeted by the same group of people we spent time with last night.
“Damn, if I had known we could have slept over, I would have stayed,” Aiden teases. Elsie backhands him in the chest.
“Shut up,” she says through gritted teeth.
“It’s okay. We only slept, and now I’m late meeting Mom.” The words clamper out of me; I’ll be surprised if they understood it.
“I’ll drop you home. Come on,” Jase offers.
Five minutes later, we pull up out the front of my place. A wave of nerves crashes over me. “Ah… thanks for last night.” I can’t help the flush that hits my face. He makes me feel stupid, but in a good way.
He leans across and places one small kiss on my lips, and it’s as though my body lights up like a Christmas tree. It wants more. More kisses. More touches. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay.” Climbing out of the car, I’m left breathless. I watch him drive away. Last night, I really kissed him again, and we slept in the same bed. Oh my goodness, my father would be rolling over in his grave. A shiver stabs down my spine as his words punch me in the chest. “If you kiss a boy, you’re a slut. If I find out you have ever done that, there will be hell to pay. You’re a good girl, Charity. Good girls don’t let boys kiss them or touch them. Rules are rules, and one is NO BOYS.”
Slut. Is that what I am? Surely not. My father was a liar. Of course I can’t believe anything he told me. My stomach twists and knots. Anxiety creeps over me like a hundred ants on my skin. My breaths get short and thick, like I can’t pull in enough air. Crouching down on the sidewalk, I’m sure I must look crazy to anyone looking.
“Charity? Are you okay?” Mom’s panicked voice comes from our house. Within seconds, her arms are around me, pulling me up. “Come on, honey. Let’s get you inside.” She’s such a caring person. Why did she let that man take me? She should have fought for me. I am her daughter as well. He told me she didn’t want me.