Incinerate

Chapter 30

Knox

LATER ON, when we’re leaving the bar, Charlie makes Lexi promise to keep her posted on wedding details, even though that’s all they’ve talked about tonight. Chicks. They go crazy about this kind of stuff, but I have to admit that it’s nice the way Charlie fits right in with my friends, especially Jace’s girl.

Most of the ride home, Charlie’s chatting it up about the wedding. “Isn’t it just so romantic the way that they can’t wait to get married? I can’t imagine being engaged for only a month. She’s going to be stressed to the max. Drew and I had been engaged for four months and I was already freaking out.”

The thought of another man’s ring on her finger makes my blood boil, and I’m pretty sure she catches the way I grip the steering wheel tightly at the mention of him. Like I told Jace, I’m not ready for any crazy love declarations and I’m nowhere near ready to propose, but I still don’t like the idea of her ever being with someone else. Stupid? Maybe. But that’s how much she’s come to mean to me.

Parking the car, I notice Charlie grin at me when we both get out. “Thank goodness for slutty janitors, right?”

When she rounds the car, I pin her up against it and my dick stirs to life, remembering the way I took her on the hood when we got home from the gym. Gripping her hips, I brush up against her, letting her feel the bulge in my jeans. Her arms come up and slide around my neck, and I can tell she wants a kiss. Leaning down, I bypass her lips and bring mine to her ear.

“Thank fuck for idiots who like slutty janitors,” I whisper before biting down on her earlobe and trailing kisses along her jaw before planting a firm one on her lips.

A soft laugh escapes her lips, and she slides out of my embrace. Grabbing my hand, she pulls me towards the house. “Come on, Rugged. Let’s take this inside. I think Evelyn’s seen enough action today.”

I follow her closely, and we barely make it inside before she pushes me up against the wall, undoing my jeans. Take Charge Charlie is fucking hot, and I don’t mind letting her have her way with me.

As she slides to her knees, she pulls my boxers down, releasing me. Looking up at me, she smiles that fucking smile, and I groan the moment she takes me in her mouth. I can’t help the way my hands find their way to the top of her head, and she sucks harder, greedily, while her hand simultaneously strokes me, gripping me tight like a vice.

It’s not long before I’m close to coming, and when I try to pull out so I can be inside her, she shakes her head, bringing her hands to my ass, not allowing me to move. Letting a woman take control is something I’ve always struggled with, but knowing that Charlie wants to do this one solo turns me on, and I decide to give her what she wants. I’m not going to protest as she continues to work my cock over expertly, devouring me like she can’t get enough. I begin pumping harder until I feel my balls tighten, and she grips me even harder as I come.

Leaning back against the wall, I look down and watch as she swallows and then sucks, draining every single drop out of my cock. Her eyes are closed and she looks so damn sexy, milking me for all I’m worth. Opening her eyes, she slowly pulls away, grinning and licking her lips like she just had the most delicious meal. Damn, I could seriously get used to this. I’ve always had a massive sexual appetite, but with Charlie, every encounter has become intimate, more than a quick fuck, and I’m finding myself feeling things I haven’t felt in a long time.

“Thank fuck for idiots and slutty janitors,” she says, pulling my boxers back up, covering me as I pull her to her feet to kiss that smart mouth I love.

Yeah, I’m definitely getting used to this.

WE’RE IN the bathroom getting ready for bed when Charlie brings up the wedding again.

“Are you going to be able to get off work on such short notice?” she asks out of nowhere.

“Shouldn’t be a problem, especially if it’s just a weekend thing. What about you? I figure we can drive down either Thursday after work or leave early Friday morning. Jace said they’re keeping it low-key, just a get-together at his parents’ place that night. Then the wedding’s not until sunset on Saturday.”

She pauses, giving me a funny look before responding. I can’t make out what she’s saying because her mouth’s full of toothpaste, so I wait, watching her finish and then rinse her mouth. “I’m coming?”

Wrinkling my forehead, I look at her, confused as to why she’d think she wasn’t. “Umm, yeah. Why wouldn’t you?”

She shrugs. “I mean, I kind of figured I’d be your date, but I didn’t want to assume. I know Lexi and I’ve become friends over the last couple of months. I just wasn’t sure how small they meant. If it was just close friends and family.’

This girl, I swear. I feel like a high school boy asking his girl to the prom. Picking her up, I set her on the counter and lean in so we’re eye to eye. “Charlotte Rose Davenport, will you do me the honor of being my date to the McAllister-Sullivan wedding?”

She laughs as she plants a kiss on my lips. “I’d love to, Knox. Especially if that means I get to see you all decked out in a fancy suit.”

Branson’s words flash in my brain, but I’m quick to push them away. She doesn’t mean anything by it. At least that’s what I’m telling myself. “Actually, babe, we’ll probably be in our dress greens.”

“Even better. I love seeing you in uniform,” she informs me before she pulls away and leaves the bathroom, still chattering about the wedding. I’m smiling at her comment, wishing Branson could’ve heard it and mentally kicking myself for ever letting his words bother me.

As I finish up, I can hear her changing and then settling into the bed. I’m about to join her when she speaks up again.

“What about you, Knox? Do you think you ever see something like that in your future?”

Not expecting that question, I freeze, not sure what to say. Even though I told Jace how I was feeling, I’m not ready for this. It’s too soon for this talk—way too soon. It’s true that I see her in my future, but I still don’t know what’s in the cards for me, if I can go down the same path as Jace. Marriage, kids, the white picket fence. I’m racking my brain, trying to figure out how to respond.

Shaking myself out of it, I leave the bathroom, and she watches as I strip down to my boxers. I get in the bed and lean over to turn off the lamp on the nightstand. Settling in beside her, I pull her close to me, hoping she can’t feel my racing heart as I try to figure out how to answer her question without saying too much. The truth is, I know I see her in my future, but I’m not sure I’m ready to say it all out loud, even though I find myself wishing I could muster up the courage to say the words.

Charlie

CRAP. ME and my stupid mouth. I have no idea why I just asked him that, but the words slipped out before I could stop myself. I knew it was the wrong question the moment I saw him freeze in the bathroom and then take a couple of deep breaths before coming back into the bedroom. He doesn’t say anything as he settles in behind me, and I’m beginning to think that he’s pretending he didn’t hear me.

When he wraps his arm around my waist, I decide I can’t stand the silence. “I didn’t mean with me or anything, if that’s what you’re thinking. I just mean in general, you know? It’s just, we’ve never talked about it, and all this wedding talk has gone to my brain, and I’m just curious, I guess.” I know I’m rambling at this point, but I can’t help it.

He presses a kiss on the top of my head. “It’s fine, Charlie. You know this is all new to me. Five months ago when you landed on my doorstep, I’d have laughed if someone had told me that you’d end up here, in my bed, as my girl. I’m still trying to figure out all this boyfriend stuff, as is evident from the gym this afternoon.”

Smiling at the memory of jealous Knox and his admissions afterwards, I nod. “I think you’re doing a pretty good job of it, today’s mishap not included. But I think you learned from it.”

“I did, but I can’t promise that I won’t do it again. It’s just that I’m still getting used to all this while trying to get back into fighting shape. There’s a lot on my plate, and I haven’t let myself think that far ahead. Hell, I’m still trying to process everything that happened today.” He lets out a sigh before continuing. “All I know is I want you with me, all the fucking time, and the thought of you not being in my life isn’t one I like. As far as the future goes, I can’t make any promises, but I can say I want you in it. I like what we have here, sweetheart, and I don’t want it to change.”

I mentally chastise myself for my earlier thoughts about my not wanting to hear his answers to the question, because I understand where he’s coming from. The fact that he’s even willing to admit that he does want me in his future is more than enough. And he’s right. What we have right now is good, and I don’t need him to draw me a map of where we’re headed. We’ll get there, somehow, someday. But for now I can just be content with the fact that he’s mine.

“I get that, Knox. Trust me. After Drew, I’m in no rush. And I like where we are, too.”

All of a sudden, I’m flat on my back, Knox hovering over me. I can see his eyes shining in the moonlight, fierce, fiery, and full of possession as he looks down at me. “What the hell am I going to have to do to get you to stop saying that asshole’s name?”

Biting my lip, I pull him down to me by his dog tags. “I can think of a couple things,” I say teasingly, and I hope he’s thinking the same thing.

“I might have to spank that hot little ass again,” he threatens against my lips.

“Is that a threat?” I ask, recalling the feel of his palm coming down hard on my skin, causing a warm fluttering to fill my belly. I’ve been wishing he’d do it again, but he’s done nothing but tease me with weak slaps on my ass. I’m almost ready to beg.

“No, sweetheart, not a threat. That’s a promise,” he growls, and I’m already mentally planning on making him keep that promise before the night is over.