Seeking Happily Ever After (Ever After #8) - Elena Aitken Page 0,40

overthought. All. The. Time. It was exactly why he’d become so successful in everything he’d done.

Almost.

Her touch on his skin was like fire. More than anything, Nick wanted to tangle his fingers through her hair, pull her tight to him, and kiss away any more thought until they were both naked and sweaty and—

And why not?

Why shouldn’t they take things to the next level? They’d already talked about expectations and where his priorities were. Even if it was getting harder and harder to keep it all straight, because when Char kissed him, the line he’d drawn in the sand blurred immediately. Which was why there were about a million reasons he shouldn’t go there with her. Not when he was so confused about what he felt.

But there was also one really damn good reason why he should.

Charlotte.

He’d wanted her almost from the moment he’d laid eyes on her. If circumstances had been different—fuck, he hated that saying. Circumstances weren’t different. They were right here. Right now. In the exact circumstance that they were in.

And what exactly was wrong with that?

His mind was made up before the thoughts had even fully processed.

Nick took her face in his hands and kissed her. Hard.

She groaned against his mouth, and he was completely lost.

Like a switch flipped, his hands were all over her. And hers on his. He lifted his head up long enough to look in her eyes and see nothing but desire and need. No regret. No hesitation.

Perfect.

Their kisses intensified and then there was no going back. Together, they tugged and pulled until clothes were left in a pile by their feet. It was only when Nick’s hands slid down Char’s bare, soft skin that he paused for a moment. He took a step back so he could see all of her and sucked in a sharp breath. Damn. It wasn’t even remotely suitable to describe her beauty and how perfect every part of her was.

And how badly he wanted her.

“Everything okay?”

Her voice snapped him out of the trance she’d put him in and a smile crept over his face. “So much better than okay.” He moved quickly then, scooping her up and once more taking her mouth in his. He moved toward the bedroom and stopped.

Amelia was in there. And she could sleep through anything, but somehow that felt wrong.

He turned toward the living room and the tiny couch. No.

Nick turned, Charlotte still in his arms, her legs wrapped tight around him, squeezing into him in a way that was making it very hard to think straight.

Out of options, he turned and set her on the kitchen island. Her eyes grew wide in question, but there was no going back. For either of them.

“I know this isn’t what you—”

“It’s perfect.”

She wrapped her hand around the back of his neck and pulled him in. Perfect didn’t even begin to describe what was happening. Not. Even. Close.

“You are so gorgeous, Char.”

Nick couldn’t help but feel bad for the lack of worshiping of her body he was doing. Because it was so worthy of all the worship. But having his hands on her body and his mouth on hers was making it hard to focus on anything else.

He ran his hands down her curves, cupping her breasts before bending to kiss each of them in turn. Beneath his attentions, she shuddered and moaned.

Charlotte slid her own hands down his body to find the throbbing between his legs. When she took his length in her hand and squeezed, he was done. “Oh,” he moaned, dropping his face to nuzzle in her neck. “Careful or you’ll—”

“I’ll what?” Her tone teased and played.

But he wasn’t playing. Not anymore. The intensity with which he needed her was all-encompassing.

“Char…I…oh God…”

Nick lifted his head and took her mouth in his, kissing her hard. She responded by shifting back on the counter, pulling him between her legs, tighter.

He needed a condom. He needed to slow it down. He needed…

“It’s okay,” she murmured. “I’m on the Pill.”

Nick swallowed hard.

And when Char spoke again, there was no more holding back. “I need you, Nick.” She tugged him forward. “Now.”

There was no way he could argue with that.

He took her breath away when he entered her. She was ready. More than ready, but it had been awhile and the sensation of having him inside her, filling her was beyond intense. Charlotte squeezed her eyes shut with a groan and let her head fall back as he stilled, letting her body adjust to him. But