“What's bothering you?” Charles asks. I peek up at him through my lashes, his attention on me. It always is. He has this way of making me feel important and special. It can be rather addicting. He reads me so well already for knowing me for such a brief amount of time. “Is it about your sisters?”
“No.” They kind of slipped my mind, honestly.
Guilt would normally come along with that thought, but it doesn’t this time. I have always known that how I was treated by my family wasn't okay. I put up with it to a degree. It wasn'tin my nature to be mean, so I'd simply left, and now for some reason, they're here.
Except now it’s different. In the short time I've been with Charles, I see how families should treat each other. Sure, I knew all along, but living it gives such a different perspective. I have written so much off, but no longer. I’m not willing to compromise who I am to make others happy.
“Talk to me,” he encourages as the elevator doors slide open and he leads me off. The condo I once thought was cold is no longer that way.
“Our marriage,” I say.
Charles visibly swallows. “What of it?” His eyes search my face.
“The contract.” He nods. “There is an expiration date. What happens after?” My teeth sink into my bottom lip. I know that’s months away, but I’m already dreading and worrying over it.
“The contract is bullshit,” he tells me. “There is no expiration date on us, and if you try to leave me, I will fight like hell to keep you. I only put a date on it so you'd sign it. I knew I would never be able to let you go.”
“Really?”
“Belle.” His fingers sink into my hair. “I have been in love with you from the very start. I knew you were different from me.”
“You're in love with me?” I blink quickly, trying to push back the tears.
“Love even feels too tame of a word for what I feel for you.”
“I love you too,” I blurt out, not caring that we haven't known each other long. This man has become the most important person in the world to me. He's shown me what it's like to be truly cared for and loved.
He drops his forehead to mine. “You have no idea what it does to me to hear you say that.”
“The feeling is mutual.” A small laugh leaves me.
“Is there anything else you want to get off your chest before I finally make love to my wife?” Warmth blooms through my whole body.
“No.” I give a slight shake of my head. “Let's not think or talk about anything to do with the outside world tonight. Just focus on the two of us.” That’s all that matters now.
I reach up, my hand cupping his jaw. He closes his eyes momentarily. I love the effect my touch has on him. He opens his eyes, his head turning so he’s able to place a warm kiss on my palm.
“Your wish is my command.” He leans down, his mouth taking mine in a kiss that starts out slow and sweet but quickly becomes possessive and full of need.
One of his hands entangles in my hair, holding me to him. His other wraps around my waist, pulling me closer to him until I can feel the outline of his hard cock against me. I rub myself against him like a friggin’ cat in heat. My body is so worked up already.
We get lost in the kiss, and I start to tug at his clothes, wanting us both naked, forgetting we’re still standing in the living room.
Charles swoops me up into his arms and carries me directly into the master bedroom, where he gently places me back down on my feet beside the bed.
“I know how much you love this dress. I need to get it off you now before I end up ripping it off your body.” I suck in an excited breath. I don’t hate the sound of that; the image in my mind of him doing it is erotic.
“What are you waiting for?” I ask, making him groan as I turn around so he can pull down the hidden zipper. It falls, pooling at my feet, leaving me in only a pair of panties and heels. I slowly turn back around to face him to see he's removed his shirt. Ireach out and touch his bare chest, loving the feel of the small trace of hair he has under my fingertips.
“Fuck, you're so damn beautiful. I don't deserve the pleasure of even touching you.”
“You better.” A small laugh leaves me.
“Oh, I said I didn't deserve it, not that I wasn't going to.” He grips my hips, easily lifting me. It makes me feel small and delicate as he lays me out on the bed, my heels falling free. Charles comes down over me.
“Not fair, you have way more clothes on.”
“It's so that I don't take you before you're ready. I'm barely controlling myself now.” I smile at him, loving his need for me. “You have no idea how many times I fucked my hand thinking about this moment. I want it to be right for you.”
