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“Glad to be the first.” At the mention of men she’d met, he was reminded of the bastard she last smiled at other than himself. He brought her to his lap with one lift of the arms, and she settled happily. “Since we’re back on track, this means that you’re done with the other guy, I would assume.”
Her brows pinched. “What other guy?”
Rick told her the story of volunteering with Nick and seeing her on a golf date by happenstance.
“Oh,him.” She smiled. “I completely forgot about him. Don’t worry. There’s nothing between us.”
“So you weren’t on a date?”
Charlie thought about it. “Not really. My mother ambushed me while I was with Aera. She brought him with her and forced a date on us.”
He felt a flicker of relief that it wasn’t truly a date, but the reminder of Charlie’s meddling mother didn’t make things better.
“Were you jealous?” Charlie asked, a smug smile spreading her lips. Rick didn’t answer and glared at her.
He blazed at how casually she regarded the whole thing. Shedidn’t understand how he felt seeing her with someone else. It sparked in him a beastly rage he only read and heard about in animals and sometimes, in men.
A growl shot out of him as he lifted her up and dumped her on the couch. She gasped at his change of tone.
“It’s not just jealousy, Charlie.” He ripped her shirt open and pulled it off until she was once again, naked. “It’s how I knew you should bemine.” He laid her down and took off his own briefs, then fondled her silken folds with marked concentration and felt the moisture thicken as he stroked. “It’s how I knew I wanted you so much. I wanted to beat that fucker up.”
Without warning, he plunged into her. Her gasp overtook the music in the room. “He’s innocent, I know that. But to me, right there? He was just another dick who wanted you, and that wasn’t okay with me.” Charlie held his arm and closed her eyes, feeling the load of his harsh thrusts.
“Rick,” she breathed. “Oh, god.”
“Feel it, Charlie,” he demanded of her as he pounded. “This is what I want from you. I wantallof you. You belong with me. Even if the future says otherwise. Right now, you belong withme. Do you understand?”
He shook her, and she had to bite her lips from screaming. “Yes, Rick. I’m with you. More, please.”
He pistoned deep inside her. He was barely able to contain himself; the rise getting the best of him. Her legs went to wrap around his hips, trying but failing to meet his thrusts. It wasn’t long before she cried and convulsed under his possession. He filled her with his load when he came, falling right after, the high coming earlier than the last.
Charlie held him on the couch with him still buried in her. “I’m with you, Rick.” She kissed him, shutting out any doubts and questions he had.
Twenty-Two
Charlie wason her way to Rick’s when her phone chimed. She made the mistake of not looking at the caller name before answering, and connected with her mother. Groaning, she hoped the call wouldn’t ruin the mood tonight. After a long day of work, she’d been looking forward to snuggling with Rick.
“Charlotte,” Grace said. “You didn’t pick up my calls today. All three times.”
“I was busy with work,” Charlie answered dully.
“As if there is anything important to do there that will keep you from picking up my calls.”
Grandiosity. Narcissism. Obsessive compulsiveness. Charlie should check with a psychologist about seeing her mother for personality disorders.
“I spoke with Frederick. He said you haven’t been answering his messages.”
“Who?Oh.” Oh, yeah. Rick Number Two. “I already told him I wasn’t interested.”
“Why not?” Grace griped. “You two were perfect!”
Charlie snorted. “And you figured that out how? The five minutes that youdidn’tlet ustalk?”
“Your interests, of course. He loves golfing. He’s a business owner of some sort. His family owns four vineyards in Napa Valley and six best-selling wines.”
“None of that is my interest,” Charlie said flatly. “Besides, I’m already seeing someone.”
“Who? Which family is he from?” her mother asked eagerly.
