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CHAPTER 10
BENJI
By the time I get things settled with Brana, it’s nearly four in the morning. I found him in a skeevy roadside motel, hooked up to his music. Not the least bit concerned that he lost himself an amazing opportunity and almost cost me my career. I got him home and into bed like a disappointed father. I also left a note stuck on his forehead to meet me at my office later.
I’ll have a shit ton more to deal with come then. The only thing I can do for this kid is to cut him loose. He needs that person—the one who throws him in the dirt so he can figure his own way out. The path likely includes rehab and therapy, but Brana’s not in a place to accept help with either right now, so I’ll play the bad guy.
And, hopefully, he does one day.
I drag ass into the brownstone and miss the table when I toss my keys. Hissing out a, “Fuck,” I keep going, not bothering with bending over to pick them up. I’m tugging at my tie, a smile on my lips as I think about earlier tonight when I loosened it.
Fuck if every second with Charlie wasn’t a dream. I mean, having her sprawled out in my car with my face between her thighs was a dream I had back when my car was a piece of shit and I had far less experience with what to do with the perfection between her legs.
I regretfully dropped her off before I went to track down Brana. She smiled at me over her shoulder on her way up the steps, her gorgeous hair a mess from my hands, her lips swollen from mine.
I’m replaying the way she sounded in my fogged up car when I pass the living room and notice the lamp on. I stop in the doorway and smile at the woman wrapped in a blanket, asleep on my couch. It takes me a minute to even be able to move, to stop watching the sweet rise and fall of her chest and the way her face looks so peaceful.
I bend over and tuck a strand of hair back from her forehead. Then I press a kiss to her skin, my lips lingering while I breathe her in. Everything I’ve wanted, right here in front of me.
Charlie stirs when I gather her up in my arms. Her head rests on my chest, and she hums out a satisfied sound that heads straight south. As much as my dick wants a say in it, I’m too wiped for much more than a walk up the stairs.
When I readjust her so I can open my door, her head lifts. At first, she looks surprised to be moving, but then her eyes lock on mine.
“Hi,” she whispers, a smile tugging at her lips.
“Hey, CJ.” I kick the door shut behind me and head straight for the bed. I throw back the blankets and lower her down before stripping out of my shirt and slacks. She bites her lip when I put my knee on the bed, and I groan.
“You can’t do that, baby,” I tell her.
She gives me a sexy smirk. “Why’s that?”
I crawl over to her, grasp her by the thighs and tug. She lets out a little squeal as she slides down the bed until her head hits my pillow. I settle between her legs, resting my weight on one forearm.
“Because right now, I’m exhausted.” I run my hand up her side and lightly cup her breast, making her back arch and eliciting a moan from her. “It would be quick and dirty, baby.” I thumb her nipple through the tiny little white sleep shirt she’s wearing. “And when I finally fuck you, you can be sure I’m going to take my damn time with you.”
Then I crash to the mattress on my side next to her and pull her to me, draping her leg over my hip, her head perfectly tucked under my chin. As if I weren’t already sure she’d fit perfectly.
My hand runs along her bare flesh up her thigh until I reach the fabric of her shorts. I’m about to change my mind until she cuddles closer to me, letting out a satisfied sigh, her breath hot on my skin. I brush the tips of my fingers over her jawline then, sliding down until she lifts her face up to mine, and I can slide my lips over hers.
I kiss her gently, cupping her cheek in my hand, her body molding to mine. My forehead settles against hers, our eyes locked on one another while I drag my fingers through her hair. She has hers running over the tattoos on my chest. Gently caressing me in a way that has me falling asleep.
“Don’t,” I tell her, capturing her hand in mine.
“Why?” she asks in a whisper.
I lift her hand to my lips, kissing the tip of each of her fingers. “Because if I fall asleep right now, I’ll dream about you instead of being here with you.”
She smiles and kisses me, and I stare at her until her eyes fall shut, her breathing evening out. Then I watch her longer, not wanting to let go yet.
We have plenty of shit to deal with—shit I can’t stand to let myself think about with her in my arms. I just need her with me right now. To feel her be mine for a little bit longer. Then we’ll worry about the rest of the world.
But right now, I’m just going to watch her.
Twelve hours later, I’m walking out of JR Management’s offices with what feels like a weight lifted after releasing Brana from his contract. He fought more than I expected, pleading his case, making promises to be the perfect client.
If only the smallest part of me believed him, I might have caved.
I finally check my phone, seeing a missed call from my brother, a few texts from Charlie, and two calls from Ma. I bypass Archer and go straight for Charlie.
