AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I tryto recall the last time I had a conversation this deep with anyone and come up short. There’s just something about Charlotte, I realize, that makes me feel safe about spilling my guts to her. Unlike with other women, she carefully listens to every word with clear interest showing on her face.
It makes me feel heard,listened to, and appreciated. Something I haven’t felt in a very long time. Our conversation goes on for several more minutes and the turbulence has come to a stop by now. The pilot announces our arrival minutes later and the plane lands to Charlotte and I laughing over wine.
The door opensand I go down the first two steps before reaching my hand out to Charlotte. As soon as her soft hand slips into mine, I feel a spark of electricity coursing through my veins. I think she does too, because she gasps softly.
I leadher to the car parked a few feet away from us, opening the door for her to enter.
Before she does, her eyes meet mine. “I guess all I needed to get you to speak to me was a little turbulence,” she smiles before getting into the car.
That iswhen I remember my decision not to engage with her any more than is necessary has been rendered null.
7
CHARLOTTE
There’s a reason why Hawaii is one of the most beautiful islands in the world. As we drive past the stunningly large mountains and riveting blue-green ocean that make up the scenery of this place, I feel slightly sad that we are just passing through.
It’s quite obvious that I have never been here before from the way I point out things to Chris like an excited child in a candy store. My face is pressed to the window of the car all through our ride past the city and I make a mental note to add this place to my vacation list.
Beside me, Chris who has already admitted to being here before engages me every time I point something out. He doesn’t get annoyed or impatient with me and it’s almost like he’s seeing the island from a new perspective, namely mine. It’s a far cry from the man who had picked me up at my apartment earlier today.
Although the turbulence on the plane had scared the hell out of me, I was sort of grateful for it. It had caused Chris to sweetly try and distract me by finally talking to me. Listening to him tell me about his childhood had been a privilege, one I didn’t want to lose. Suddenly, the ten hour flight that started out long and tiring went by so fast that I hadn’t wanted it to end.
As the clear skies begin to be shrouded by dark clouds, Christopher shifts beside me. “We can’t sail to the Pacific today as we had planned, so I had my assistant arrange a suite for us at the hotel I use whenever I’m here.”
“Oh,” I let out. The idea of sharing a suite with him makes my cheeks warm and my stomach tumble in anticipation. I suddenly become very aware of his eyes, lips, and arms. “Wouldn’t that be a little too inconvenient for you, sharing a room? I can pay for a room for myself.” I assure him.
Chris narrows his eyes and his jaw clenches. “There are two rooms in the suite so you won’t be an inconvenience,” he says and I almost kick myself. Of course, he never planned to share a room with me. “And you won’t be paying for anything by yourself. I was the one who convinced you to come with me a few days early, so I should take responsibility. Besides, all expenses for this expedition have been covered by my company.”
My mouth hangs open as I struggle for what to say. Not that I can exactly argue with anything he has just said. Instead, I just nod and go back to staring out the window.
By the time we arrive at the expensive, fancy-looking ten story hotel, it’s already dark. However, I don’t feel tired at all. It’s as if the trip and the excitement of being in a new place has energized me. I’m pretty sure I skip a few times on our way to the lobby, because I feel Chris’ amused glance on me.
I follow him to the elevator when he collects the key card to our suite. Once the elevator door closes, everything changes. Being in an enclosed space with Christopher Young is torture. He might be far taller than me, but I still manage to steal subtle glimpses at his focused face. If possible, his side profile looks almost better than his full profile.
I start to imagine all sorts of scenarios in my head. Him pushing me against the elevator wall and kissing me senseless. Him wrapping his arms around my waist and lifting me up so my thighs wrap around him. His erection perfectly lined up against my entrance…
“Charlotte…”
Then, he’ll whisper my name in my ear just like that before proceeding to bite my lobe sensually. His lips will trail down my neck…
“Charlotte, we are here.”
I gasp loudly, snapping out of my lustful thoughts to see Chris staring at me with concern. Oh god, I must be completely out of it. At this point, my treacherous heart seems to have completely ignored that this man is my best friend’s father and he is to be my boss for the next three months. There’s also the fact that he’s over twenty years older than me.
As if I couldn’t disappoint my parents any more than I already have.
“Sorry, I was… I guess I’m a lot more tired than I thought,” I lie through my teeth.
Chris nods as we both step out of the elevator. “You should get some rest. I guess I should have dinner brought up to us instead of going all the way to the restaurant on the second floor.”
At that, I perk up. I rush eagerly to his side and say, “No, I want to have dinner at the restaurant. If that’s okay with you? I can’t come all the way to this beautiful, famous island and spend it holed up in a fancy suite, especially if we’ll be leaving first thing tomorrow.”
He looks impressed at my response and a smile plays at the corner of his mouth. “I should have expected nothing less,” he says and I struggle to understand what he means. “Alright, how about you freshen up and we’ll go down for dinner in thirty minutes?”
“Okay,” I nod and duck into our room as soon as he opens the door.
Just like everything else about the hotel, our suite is large and gorgeous. There’s a large TV in the living room with solid, fancy-looking furniture that I can’t help but run my fingers along. Under the glass encased table in the middle of the room is an expensive looking Persian rug and on the walls are delicately drawn paintings that I take too long to admire.
