His hand still clenched my ass, and his breaths came in strident rasps. “Oh my God.”
I sat up and wiped my mouth on my wrist. “Was it good?”
“Yes.” Then he moved so quickly I didn’t even see how he did it, but somehow he flipped me onto my back and jumped to the floor, slinging my legs over his shoulder. Kneeling at the side of the bed, he kissed his way up one thigh and slid two fingers inside me. “Fuck yes. It was more than good. It was outstanding.” His tongue grazed my swollen clit. “Now wrap your legs around my head and let me hear you scream.”
I did what I was told.
I’m a good girl like that.
#
“Is this the pillow?” Charlie held up the body pillow I liked to snuggle at night.
“Yes.” Giggling, I took it and threw it on the floor. “But I don’t need it tonight.”
“No, you don’t. Come here.” He lay on his back and opened his arms.
“Hold on, I need underwear.” I slipped out of bed.
“What? No, you don’t. Sleep naked with me.”
“I can’t,” I called from my walk-in closet. “I have to have clean underwear to sleep in and they have to be cotton. Preferably white.”
Charlie groaned. “That is so ridiculous. It’s dark! And your ass doesn’t know the color of your underwear.”
“Well, I do. And I like it white.” I gave my butt a satisfied little spank before I crawled back into bed and knelt next to him. “Look, they’re cute. They have a little pink bow at the top.”
“They are cute.” He traced the top of them with a fingertip, making my stomach flutter.
“See? So leave me be. I’m quirky about this stuff, I know.” I stretched out along the length of him, my head on his chest, my arm and leg over his torso. “This OK?”
He pulled the covers over us and wrapped an arm around me. “Yes. Until I get too hot.”
“As long as you wait until I fall asleep to push me off. I’m so comfortable right now.”
“Me too, actually.”
“Do you have to get up early tomorrow?”
“Not crazy early, but I can’t stay all day. I don’t have to work but I have to…” He hesitated. “Pick something up.”
“Hmm. Very mysterious.”
“Sorry.” His tone was a bit peeved.
I picked up my head. “Hey, I’m just teasing. Listen, just because we’re dating doesn’t mean you have to tell me every little thing you do.”
He gave me a little smile. “Dating, huh?”
Oh crap. Had I misunderstood? “Well…aren’t we?”
He squeezed my shoulder. “I’m just kidding, Erin. We can call it whatever.”
I lay my cheek on his chest again, but I felt a teensy bit unsettled. What the hell did more mean, anyway, if it didn’t mean dating? Was there some sort of stage between fuck friends and dating I didn’t know about? I started to wonder if I’d made a mistake listening to Coco and Mia. What if Charlie and I weren’t on the same page?
What if I was falling alone?
“Your body is so tense right now.” Charlie kissed my head and traced a little circle on my shoulder. “Relax, honey. I’m right where I want to be.”
The uncharacteristic endearment eased me a little, and I melted into him again. Stop being so scared. Be patient and honest, and have a little faith. “OK. Night.”
“Night.” He kissed my head again, and I felt better.
But I noticed that he didn’t fall asleep right away. As I drifted off, he kept brushing his fingers over my shoulder in a slow, sweet arc.
#
The next morning I woke up before Charlie did. I was on my side facing away from him, and when I flipped over, I found him still lying on his back, one hand over his head, one on his stomach. It gave me a girlish little fluttery feeling in my belly to see him there. His face was just as handsome in repose, which seemed unfair since you couldn’t even see the cerulean eyes. So what was it then? The individual features were nice—straight nose, nice lips, strong jaw—but not all that unique. The symmetry? Propping my head in one hand, I closed one eye and scrutinized him. I was leaning in a little closer when Charlie’s eyes opened.
“What the hell?”
Blushing, I flopped back onto my pillow, facing him. “Sorry. Just checking you out.”
“Did I pass muster?”
“Eh. You’ll do. In a pinch.”
His hand shot over and pinched my side, then his arm circled my waist and pulled me into him. I curled my body around his side, head on his warm, bare chest. He smelled so good. I was glad he couldn’t see my silly grin.
“How’d you sleep?” I asked.
“Pretty well. You?”
“Like a baby.”
“Good.” He squeezed me. “I have to get going, but I’ll take you to get your car before I head home.”
“OK. Thanks.”
“What will you do today?”
“I was thinking of putting up my Christmas tree later. I’ve been so busy with the wedding and weekend rehearsals I haven’t had time.”
“What are you rehearsing for?”
“Competitions in the spring. The first one isn’t until March, but there are a lot of vacation weekends before that. I want to be really prepared. Those things are nerve-racking enough, and I have the added pressure of being a new studio owner who has to prove herself.”