torturous friction. He released her backside and slid his hand between her legs. She arched against his palm as he stroked her through her yoga pants. He could feel how hot she was, how wet, and he groaned into her mouth.
“Charlie,” he said, reveling in the way she trembled in response.
It was the way he’d remembered—only better, because he knew her now, and he understood how precious she was. How strong and brave.
Suddenly Charlie wrenched her mouth from his. She was panting, her brown eyes dilated as she looked at him.
“I need you. I need you so badly,” she said, her voice a low husk.
He spotted what he hoped was her bedroom doorway. “Come on.” He urged her ahead of him.
His gaze slid to her round, firm backside as he followed her. He yanked his polo shirt over his head and let it fall to the ground, his hands dropping to the buckle on his belt. He had it open and was working on the stud of his jeans when he entered her bedroom.
Charlie tugged off her long-sleeved T-shirt, revealing full, creamy breasts cupped in white lace. She reached for the rear clasp, but he beat her to it, slipping it free and then cupping the warm, heavy weight of her in his hands. She pressed her backside against his erection, her head dropping against his chest as he teased and soothed her breasts.
“You’re so damn hot,” he whispered in her ear. “I’ve been dreaming about you for weeks, Charlie.”
She slipped a hand between their bodies to grip him through his jeans. She stroked her hand up and down the hardened length of him. He pressed forward, his hands tightening on her breasts. After a torturous minute, she released him and stuck her thumbs into the waistband of her pants, pushing them down. He forced himself to take a step away and felt himself get even harder as she removed her panties, bending to offer him a perfect view of her ass.
She glanced over her shoulder, her ponytail swishing against her pale skin, her eyes alight with heated desire. She stepped forward and crawled onto the bed, offering him an even better view. He realized he was standing like a dodo, his pants half undone. He dragged his zipper down, shoving off his jeans and boxers. Seconds later he followed Charlie onto the bed, stalking her across the mattress. She rolled onto her back and welcomed him as he covered her body with his.
“I need you inside me,” she said against his mouth as he kissed her.
She hooked a leg around his hips and urged him closer. He found her entrance, and she arched her hips at the same time that he thrust inside her. He closed his eyes as he slid home—the rightness of it, her heat, her scent, the feel of her skin against his. He’d needed this, craved this for so long, and he hadn’t realized, hadn’t understood.
“Charlie,” he whispered against her skin as he started to move. “You drive me crazy.”
She dug her hands into his backside, urging him to go harder, faster. She met him thrust for thrust, her need feeding his, until finally she cried out, her body shuddering around his, her face distorting with pleasure-pain. She pushed him over the top into his own climax and for precious seconds he forgot everything except the rush of sensation bombarding his body and mind.
Only afterward did he notice they were both panting raggedly, their bodies slick with sweat, and—more important—that he hadn’t used a condom. Then he remembered the baby—crazy, but she’d slipped his mind in his mad rush to be a part of Charlie again—and he let his head drop to Charlie’s shoulder.
After a minute or two she stirred beneath him. He rolled to one side.
“Did I squash you? Sorry.” He brushed a damp strand of hair from her forehead, admiring the purity of her skin, the fullness of her mouth.
She looked at him and he could see the doubts beginning to crowd behind her eyes again.
“You need to stop thinking for a moment,” he said.
“I can’t.”
“Yes, you can.” He curled his body against hers, one arm wrapped across her waist, one leg thrown over hers, his face pressed into her neck. “Just breathe. And think about how good this feels. How right.”
Despite his words, he felt the tension returning to her body, degree by degree.
“It’s going to be okay, Charlie.” He pressed a kiss to her neck.
“I need to know what happens next.”
“We