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Once we’rein the room, I lay her on my bed and feel angry all over again when she hastily grabs my shirt and begs me not to leave her.
“I will make Thomas Knight pay,”I make that promise within me again and again and again until I can breathe.
I makea different promise to Charlotte. “I will be back, love,” I assure her and she nods before finally she lets me go. I head into the bathroom to get warm water and a napkin, then I return to her side. Gently, I pat her cheek with the wet napkin, feeling pain deep in my bones when she winces from the sting. “I’m so sorry, Charlotte,” I whisper, guilt a heavy stone in my chest.
Slowly,I lean down and kiss her cheek, wishing I could take the pain away, take it all back. If I had the power this night would never have happened.
Charlotte stares up at me.“It’s not your fault, Chris. It’s not your fault,” she insists.
However,despite how convincing she sounds, I still find it hard to believe her. If I hadn’t given her the option of going down to the restaurant for dinner or if I hadn’t succumbed to Thomas and his wife asking to join our table, none of this would have happened.
I putthe bowl and napkin aside, then I caress her cheek with the back of my hand. I revel in her soft, porcelain skin and I get lost in her captivating eyes. She holds me hostage and I don’t ever want to be rescued.
I mull overthe events of today, my reaction to seeing her hurt and my eagerness to take the pain away. I come to a conclusion.
Whether I likeor want it or not, Charlotte Wilson has gotten under my skin. What scares me, however, is that I don’t want it any other way. My heart says she’s mine but my brain which holds memories of past betrayals fights against it.
And for a brief moment,I let my heart win.
9
CHARLOTTE
Iwake up to the powerful, glorious scent of Chris. Instead of jumping off the bed and overthinking about why I’m in his bed, I bury my nose in the pillow where that smell is coming from. The events of last night replay in my head and I shudder. I take another long sniff of the pillow and immediately become overwhelmed by him. He’s everywhere, in my blood, my veins, and my body. It makes me feel safer than I have ever felt.
“You’re awake,”his voice echoes from behind me and only then do I jump with a gasp.
Shocked, I sit up and look behind me. There in the corner of the room and seated on the chair is Chris, staring back at me with bloodshot eyes. His jacket is off and his shirt looks rumpled. His hair stands in different directions and it looks like he has been running his fingers through it all night.
“What… why are you over there?”
Chris raisesa brow as he stares meaningfully at me without saying a word.
“Oh,”I exclaim, understanding dawning on me. “You should have woken me up to go to my room or carried me…” I gulp as I remember how he had lifted me off the floor and carried me out of that hallway. It had felt really good to have someone take care of me the way he did last night. I almost weep again at the thought.
Chris adjustshimself on the chair. “I didn’t see the need for that when you had already fallen asleep. I didn’t want to wake you.” Those intense eyes keep me glued to the spot.
“Well,you could have slept in my room instead. That can’t be comfortable.” I nod at the chair he must have slept in.
“I wanted to watch you sleep,”he deadpans.
.
His statement makes me blush and the butterflies in my stomach take flight. At a loss for what to say, I lower my head and pick off the imaginary lint from the blanket covering my legs. Finally, I whisper, “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”I hear an undertone of anger in his voice.
Swallowing,I shrug with my head still lowered. “Thomas was your friend and because of me…”
“That bastard isn’t my friend.” There’s so much venom in his voice as he speaks. “Look at me, Charlotte,” he commands and my eyes immediately obey, finding his. Chris stands and takes one long stride that closes the distance between us. He sits by the edge of the bed and his hand brushes my bruised cheek. “You have nothing to be sorry about. Nothing that happened was your fault. Do you understand me?” He searches my eyes intensely and I nod. “I want to hear you say it.”
“Yes, Chris. I understand.”I whisper and my eyes fall to his lips. I can’t help it, my tongue darts out to lick my lips. The sound of my heart beating fast is so loud that it echoes in my ears.
I hear Chris’low groan as his eyes follow the movement of my tongue and anticipation fills me as he leans forward. Our eyes meet and time stands still. Nothing else matters except the feel of his lips against mine.
Leaning forwards,I feel his breath on mine and for just a brief second my lips brush against his. Just that sensation alone makes me release a moan.
I move closer to Chris,ready to deepen the kiss when a loud sound goes off that tears us apart from each other. Breathing heavily, we both turn to the direction of the sound and find an alarm clock on the bedside table.
