she was carrying their babies. The truth was, she was beautiful always to him. She could gain or lose weight, grow older, change her hair. It wouldn’t matter. He would see her one way. He was surprised to find out the Charlie of his dreams wasn’t the woman he’d first met. She’d been amazing. She’d haunted his dreams for years, but when he closed his eyes, the Charlie he saw was the one he’d opened the door to. The one who had been smart enough and brave enough to find her way home. The one with strawberry blonde hair. She’d gotten on her knees for him that night, too.
“Charlie Taggart,” he said in an authoritative voice as his hands found her hips.
Despite the fact that she was tall for a woman, she had to look up at him. “Yes, Ian?”
He stared at her as though he could imprint his will on her. “Did I ever say thank you?”
Her lips curled up slightly. “You rarely do, but you don’t need words to say how you feel. I know.”
But she deserved the words. “Thank you for coming back for me.”
Her face softened and reached up to touch his, her fingertips sliding along his jaw. “Babe, there was never a question of that. I will always find my way back to you.”
“I love you and you should know that if you die on me again, I’ll find you. I won’t let us be apart again.”
“Never again,” she promised. “Ian, I’m going to be okay.”
She always saw through him. He lowered his mouth to hers. “You better be or there will be hell to pay. I love you.”
“Back at you, Taggart.”
Her arms went around his neck and he stopped thinking about anything but getting inside her. His tongue plunged deep and met with hers, sliding together. He caressed those sensitive breasts and felt her shudder in his arms. She was right. He’d spent the last few weeks treating her like she was fragile, but his Charlie was strong enough to handle almost anything. He drew her close and circled one of her nipples with his thumb. Even under the cotton shirt and bra she was wearing, he could feel the nipple go rigid, begging for his tongue and mouth. He unbuttoned her blouse and drew the strap of her bra down so he could release one plump breast.
“Please,” she murmured as his hand cupped her. “Please touch me everywhere. I miss this so much.”
He kissed his way down her neck, her skin so familiar and yet always so exciting to him. This was his true home. This woman. They could be anywhere in the world and as long as he was with her, he was home.
He leaned over and gently captured that pert nipple between his lips. He was careful with her, licking around the areola before sucking it into his mouth. Charlie shook in his arms, her hands finding his hair and fingernails scratching along his scalp. He fucking loved that. He pulled on her clothes until she was bare from the waist up and he got those breasts in his hands. He dropped to his knees and began to drag the voluminous cotton skirt she wore over her big belly.
“You’re sure it’s not horrible?” She stared down at him.
She might still get a spanking. He dragged on the skirt until it hit the floor and then ran his hands over the outrageous curve of her stomach, smiling when something kicked back at him. His girls. They weren’t calm or patient. They wriggled around as though anxious to get this life going. He kissed her belly. “You are the most beautiful woman in the world, and for that I’m putting you on the human hamster wheel. No talking shit about my property.”
She was his and no one talked shit about his queen. Not even his queen.
He gently eased her back on his desk, his hand running down between her legs. He could already smell her arousal. Sweetest damn smell in the world. His fingers found her, parting her and playing through her labia. So hot. She was already wet for him.
Charlie spread her legs for him. She was supported by his desk, her palms flat behind her so she leaned back to where she could get comfy. Yeah, he could work with this position. He circled her clit.
“Hamster wheel?” Her voice came out in a breathy pant. “You can’t be serious.”
Oh, he was serious. “Top of the line. And after you’re through breast