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Charlie stares at me, tears still spilling down her cheeks. She’s quiet long enough for me to worry that she thinks I’m weak, too.
“Rylan Jacobson.” Her jaw goes tight, her tone stern. “You are not weak. And you are not a number. You are so much more than how you just described yourself.”
When I open my mouth, she covers it with her small hand, shushing me. Fiercely, she says, “You are so strong. Stronger than your teammates. Because you’re doing everything they are, except you’re overcoming pain and injuries to do it. And also?”
Ramping up, her voice strengthens. “It’s not a competition, Ry. I bet your teammates aren’t keeping track. It’s just in your head, and I understand feeling inadequate. I’ve felt that way my entire life. But you aren’t. You are more than enough for your team, and you are more than enough for me.”
Silver eyes flashing, squeezing my hand for emphasis, Charlie is every bit the attorney making her case. But this time, she’s fighting for me, and I feel myself falling even more in love with her.
I pull her hand off my mouth gently. “Charlie.”
“No, Ry. Don’t argue with me. You are the most incredible man I’ve ever met. Nothing about you is weak. I would choose you every time to protect me, to support me, and to me, you’re infinity percent. And I know that’s not a thing, but I don’t care. That’s how I feel.”
“Charlie. Love.” Emotion makes my throat swell.
“What?” Charlie looks at me, her chin jutting out defiantly. Her cheeks are flushed and her brows are arched down like she’s mad at me.
“Thank you.” I kiss her hand, pressing my lips to her palm. “What you just said. It’s more than—” I have to stop, swallowing hard. “It means everything to me.”
Her expression softens. “Do you believe me, then?”
“I’m trying,” I say honestly. “I will try.”
Leaning forward, Charlie brushes her lips across mine. Her eyes lighten, sparking with amusement. “I’ll convince you. I am an attorney, after all.”
Cupping her face, I kiss her, first softly, then more urgently. Tasting her mouth, stroking her tongue with mine, nibbling at her lips, plunging deep, showing her how I feel without saying anything. Charlie grabs my arms, pulling herself closer, answering my message with a silent one of her own.
We keep kissing, only taking quick sipped breaths before coming back together again. Charlie scoots onto my lap and settles herself over me, her skirt pushing up, we’re only separated by the mesh of my shorts and—I glance down, getting even harder immediately—a thin strip of black lace.
Charlie follows my gaze and she lifts her lips from mine, giving me a tiny smirk. “I did some online shopping.”
Damn. If we weren’t in the gym where anyone could come in…
“I like them,” I grit out, staring at the black lace, watching it get even darker with her arousal. “But maybe we should go upstairs. And I can really get a good look at them.”
“What if we go upstairs and I give you a massage,” Charlie suggests. “Naked, of course. And after that, you can get a close look at them.”
“Only if I get to give you a massage, too.”
“Hmm.” Charlie taps her lip, thinking. “How about a shower, two massages, I’ll show you all the new lace things I ordered, and then you can take them off me?”
All my aches and pains forgotten, I stand up and scoop Charlie into my arms. She squeaks in surprise. “Ry! What about—”
I silence her with a kiss. “I say yes.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHARLIE
“Are you sure this is going to be okay?”
I hate sounding like a scared little girl, but the closer we get to the Hop-less Horseman, the brew pub we’re headed to, the more nervous I get. It’s been weeks since I was out in public, and my last memories of it were not great.
Job rejections, countless insults and propositions, a former friend rejecting me, and two assaults. Is it any wonder I’m feeling anxious about going out tonight?
But I don’t want to be that woman who lets her fear control her. And I am going to be surrounded by a crew of former and active Green Berets, so I should be okay.
My brain knows it, but my stomach isn’t convinced as easily.
