And possibly for the last.
TWENTY-ONE
After Grant helped clean Charli up and gave her his dress shirt to wear, she curled up in a chair near his office door, looking a little unsure of herself all of a sudden.
He frowned over at her but was distracted when Kade returned from the restroom and touched Grant’s arm. He turned to his friend, and Kade put a hand out to him. “I’m going to head out now, but thanks for inviting me in, Grant. She really is a lovely sub. You’re lucky to have found her.”
Grant shook his hand, weariness settling over him. “Thanks, man. I’m glad you had a good time. I wouldn’t have trusted her with just anyone.”
Kade smiled like he had some secret. “I know.”
They exchanged good-byes and Kade walked toward the door, stopping next to Charli. He reached out and brushed a hand over her hair. “Thank you, Charlotte. It was a privilege.”
She put her hand over his and gave him a warm smile. “You’re a good guy, Kade Vandergriff.”
“Don’t let that get out, all right? It’d ruin my reputation.” He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
Grant’s chest seized with jealousy, the simple move kicking up a shit storm inside him. Kade may have not entered Charli’s body, but he could give her something Grant couldn’t, a tenderness that, by the looks of it, Charli craved.
Kade straightened and gave her shoulder a quick squeeze. “Later, gorgeous.”
By the time Kade walked out, Grant’s mood had tanked. Later, gorgeous? Guess Kade would be looking Charli up after Grant’s time with her ended. He gritted his teeth and picked up the equipment he’d stocked his cabinet with this morning. “Let’s get you back to the house. I’m sure you want a bath.”
“Sounds good.” She shifted in the chair and stood, unspoken questions all over her face. She looked so young standing there in his too-big shirt, her hair mussed and makeup smeared—like a college student after a long night out. Like Rachel used to look when they first moved into together. She’d always loved wearing his shirts.
The air whooshed from his lungs as if a sack of sand had been dropped on his chest. He turned away from Charli, bracing a hand on his desk.
“Hey, are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” he snapped, his words coming out like broken glass.
“The hell you are,” Charli said, her bare feet padding across the wood. “You’ve gone pale, like you’ve seen a ghost.”
His shoulders hunched.
“Oh,” she said softly.
He looked over at her, and she took a step back, as if she was suddenly afraid to touch him. “Charli.”
She wrapped her arms around herself, acting chilled despite the warm room. “That’s exactly what happened, isn’t it? Something reminded you of your wife.”
He forced himself to a stand, trying to regain control of his hammering heart. “I’m sorry. I’m okay.” He closed his eyes, took a breath. “It’s been happening a lot lately.”
Ever since you stepped into my life. He didn’t say it, but he knew it was Charli’s presence that was knocking the dust off the memories he thought he’d packed away. He had no idea why. Charli didn’t look like Rachel, and she damn sure didn’t act like her. His wife had been quiet, almost fragile, and innocent to a lot of the world. She’d been sheltered her whole childhood by a very strict family, and Grant had felt the instinct to protect her from the start of their relationship. A job he’d failed in the worst way possible.Author: Roni Loren
Charli’s gaze shifted away from his, though she still held herself tightly. “I’m going to head back to the cabin, give you some space.”
He frowned, turning fully toward her. He was doing it again—putting Charli through an intense scene and then leaving her on a limb by herself while he dealt with own shit. If they gave out membership cards to doms, his should be fucking revoked. He closed the space between them. “Come ’ere.”
She lowered her arms but didn’t make any other move. He drew her against him and tucked her against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, feeling the tension she still held in her muscles. He was fucking things up with her. He could almost see the protective shell closing around her.
After the briefest of embraces, she pushed back, slipping from his arms and moving out of his reach. “I’m going to get going. I have an article I need to write.”
“Charli, don’t do that. I know that I keep screwing things up, but don’t shut me out. This afternoon was fantastic.”
She graced him with a small smile but sadness hung in her eyes. “It was, and I’m not shutting you out. I just need a breather to get myself back together.”
Her eyes went a bit glassy, and she looked away. His heart lurched. “Charli.”