was she?” I ask.
“Fourteen. I can’t imagine life without her. Bailey was the sweetest dog.” She wipes a tear away, but more keep falling.
I take her hand in mine, then kiss her fingers. She gasps loudly, widening her eyes in surprise. I let go of her, just so I can cup her cheek, rubbing away another tear with my thumb. We don’t speak for a moment, but our eyes remain locked. I’m keenly aware of how fast my heart is beating, how shallow my breathing is.
Before I can stop myself, I lean down and capture her lips with mine. There’s no trace of tequila on them; she didn’t drink a single drop. The kiss is soft, tentative, but when she doesn’t resist, I tease at the seam, prying her lips open with my tongue. I can taste her tears, the saltiness on her lips, but also her effervescent passion that seems to grow at the speed of light.
I step closer, sliding my hand behind her head so she can’t escape. Her hands find my T-shirt, her fingers curling around the fabric while a moan escapes her mouth. The sound sends a shot of desire straight to my cock. With a groan, I spin her around, pressing her ass to the counter.
“Troy,” she murmurs.
“Yes, Charlie?”
“What are we doing?”
I ease off just a little so I can look into her eyes. “I don’t know. Is this not okay?”
She doesn’t answer right away, which tells me everything I need to know. I try to take a step back, but Charlie holds on to my T-shirt.
“This is more than okay.”
She invades my space this time, rising on the tips of her toes to crash her lips to mine. There’s nothing slow or easy about this kiss. It’s fervid, urgent, and sexy as hell. It sets my body ablaze, it melts my bones, and it vanquishes any doubt I had that this was only a matter of physical attraction. I don’t want only her body. I want everything.
If I wasn’t injured, I’d take her in my arms and make a beeline to my room because the things I want to do to her require a bed. Cursing my recovering shoulder, I say between kisses, “Let’s head upstairs.”
“The couch is closer.” She steps back, releasing my shirt to take my hand.
I let her steer me to the living room, and then we’re on the couch, making out like two horny teenagers. There’s only so much I can do with one hand though, but I’m glad Charlie is as eager to explore as I am.
She kisses my neck, sending goose bumps down my spine. “How is your shoulder?” she whispers in my ear.
“It’s fine.”
“Is it okay if I remove the sling?”
“Yeah.”
While she’s busy helping me out of it, my hand disappears under her sweater. Her skin is taut and warm to the touch, and I can’t wait to taste it. Her lips return to mine when the sling is off. I always feel a tension when I move my shoulder, but I’m too busy exploring Charlie’s body to notice. When I brush the underside of her breast, she slides onto my lap, sitting astride me.
“Take off your top,” I tell her.
She pouts. “But I’m blue.”
“So what? I’ve always had a thing for Smurfette.”
She watches me through slits. “Was that the reason you put blue dye in my bath bomb?”
“No, that wasn’t me. Andreas is the culprit. I’m sorry I have stupid friends.” She doesn’t seem angry anymore, so I press. “I’ll take a bath in blue dye to make things even if you want.”
“Do you mean, there are more booby traps in my bathroom?” Her eyebrows arch.
“To be honest, I don’t know. To be safe, I’d get rid of all your bath supplies.”
“Would you really turn blue for me?” She bites her lower lip, driving me further insane with need.
I kiss her again, unable to resist the temptation, while I slide my hand up, cupping her breast over her bra. She doesn’t stop me, so I push the fabric aside to play with her nipple. It’s as hard as a pebble and begging for attention.
“Damn it, Troy. You’re really working your case.”
I chuckle. “I’m very motivated. You smell so good, Charlie.” I trace her jawline with my tongue, moving along to the side of her neck.
She grabs my arms, digging her fingers in while arching her back.
“Fine. You win,” she breathes out.
I lean back and search her eyes. There’s redness in them, which makes me feel guilty