charge without being an overbearing ass.
He’s mine.
Oh yes, I feel. I feel everything, and it’s new and wonderful and I don’t ever want this feeling to end.
“So sexy,” he mutters. “I can’t get enough of you.” He kisses my neck, making me clench around him. “You’re the closest to heaven I’ll ever be, Charlotte.”
I love you.
Tell him! Swallow your fucking pride and tell him how you feel!
But I can’t. Not now, in the middle of the best sex we’ve ever had. I need the first time I tell him to be when we’re not mindless with lust.
Instead, I cover his hand with mine where he’s gripping my hip and link our fingers as I bite my lip and ride out the sweetest orgasm of my life.
“You’re going to bloody kill me,” he says and rolls me onto my back so he can kiss me deeply. “But fucking hell, what a way to go.”
I smile and cup his face, the words on the tip of my tongue.
“I’ll come fetch you for lunch today,” he says.
“I can’t join you,” I reply, disappointed. “I have too much to do today to get ready to leave tomorrow. There’s a lot to see to since I’ll be gone for two whole weeks again.”
“I suppose I can survive one day without you,” he replies. “I see you’re mostly packed already.”
“Of course. We leave tomorrow.”
“I usually pack at the last minute.”
I stare at him, horrified. “Don’t you make lists of what you’ll need? I have spreadsheets.”
He laughs and tugs a piece of my hair. “Now I know what your sisters were talking about in the bar. You’re incredibly organized.”
“Of course I am.” I bite my lip. “So you’re just going to throw everything in your bag in the morning, just all willy-nilly?”
“I rarely do anything willy-nilly, darling,” he says with a laugh. “But yes, I’ll throw it in the bag.”
I cringe. “I can do it for you if you like.”
“You’re busy enough. Trust me, I’ve been packing this way for years. I won’t forget anything.”
“If you say so.” I kiss him, then climb out of the bed, satisfied when his eyes dilate as the bedsheet falls away from my naked body. “Don’t give me that look. I have to go to work today.”
“You’re the one walking around naked, all willy-nilly.”
I laugh and shake my head, finger combing my hair. “I’m taking a shower.”
“Excellent idea.” He bounds out of the bed and jogs toward me, making me run ahead of him into the bathroom, both of us giggling like kids.
Jesus, he’s fun. I couldn’t love him more than I do right now.
***
I glance at the time on my phone and frown. How is it possible that it’s barely one in the afternoon? This day is dragging.
Painfully.
“Charly, someone is here to see you,” Linda says as she pops her head through the stockroom door. I’ve been spending all morning placing orders and drawing up plans for displays for the girls when I’m gone.
My hopes are immediately boosted, certain that it’ll be Simon who comes walking through the door, but instead I’m shocked to see Ryan saunter in.
“Thanks, Linda,” he says and winks at my assistant, then tosses me his most charming smile. “Boy, you’re a sight for sore eyes, darlin’.”
Ugh.
“Ryan—”
“I know, it’s been a while, but hear me out.” Linda disappears into the store, and I’m left alone with the one man on this earth that I’d rather not see. Not because I hate him, or even feel anything for him, really. I’ve moved on from him.
“I really don’t have time.”
“All I need is five minutes.” He drags his knuckles down my cheek and leans on the counter next to me, caging me in. “You’re beautiful, Charly.”
“Thanks. Now, if that’s all you came for—”
“You know better,” he replies and smiles, and all I can think is, what in the hell did I ever see in him? He’s kind of… smarmy. And he hasn’t grown up even one bit since college.
“What can I do for you, Ryan?”
“I want to see you. Later.”
“Not possible.”
“Come on, don’t be stubborn, baby. I’m telling you, what you heard Pam say was all a misunderstanding.”
I snort. “Right. And I’m the tooth fairy.”
“I’m not seeing her,” he insists. “And I miss you. I miss what we had together.”
“What did we have together, Ryan?”
“Are you going to deny that the sex was fantastic?”
I sigh and rub my fingertips over my forehead. “No. I’ll give you that. The sex was pretty great. But at the end of the