22. Marissa

I’m feeling confident when we leave Charlie’s house in his sports car and he drives us deeper into the city. When we end up at a lounge frequented by celebrities, though, my hesitation creeps back in.

The place is packed, even outside. Security keeps check at the doors, and a small group of people hang around, smartphones at the ready, eager to get pictures of whatever celeb must have gone inside earlier.

My stomach twists into knots. “I don’t know about this place.”

Charlie finishes parking and gives me a confused look. “You said you were tired of hiding.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t think we would go somewhere so… obvious.”

“Oh.” He looks crushed.

“I’m sorry, Marissa. I didn’t think… You’re right. This is too much.” He rubs nervously at the back of his neck. His charm-filled bravado has given way to uncertainty, and it’s surprisingly endearing.

“No, it’s… I didn’t mean…” I want to go on, but he’s already turned the ignition back on, ready to whisk us away.

“Hey!” I reach out, placing my hand on his arm. His muscles tense beneath my fingers. “I’ll go in.”

He looks at me, eyes wide and disbelieving. “Really?”

And as I look back at him, at his earnest expectation that I have the nerve to see this through, I can’t help but smile. “Really.”

His face breaks into an easy grin that has me forgetting about all my worries for a moment. “Well, all right then.”

We step out of the car and brave the flashing lights and whispering crowds. Halfway to the entrance, he subtly intertwines our fingers in a gesture so intimate it takes my breath away.

“Are you ready?” he asks in a voice so soft it almost drowns in the buzz of the city nightlife around us.

I squeeze his hand once. “More than ever,” I say.

He grins a broad, authentic smile that reaches his eyes and lightens the moment. “Let’s do this, then.”

As we stride through the entrance, I take a deep breath. The buzz of the crowd washes over me, a cacophony of laughter, excitement, and music. The scent of cologne and perfume mixes with the smell of expensive liquor. The lights, dim and moody, cast everyone in soft hues.

Charlie leads us through the crowd, every inch the football star he is. People give way as we pass. Eyes that were once focused on drinks and companions now follow our path through the floor. Whispers spread like ripples in a pond after a stone is thrown.

He doesn’t let go of my hand.

We reach our table — it’s situated in a secluded corner, but we still get clear views of everything. A bucket laden with ice and champagne awaits us. Charlie pulls out a chair for me and then takes the spot next to mine so we’re shoulder to shoulder.

“Are you okay?” He leans in closer so I can hear him above the din.

I nod, swallowing down any lingering nerves. “Just taking it all in.”

This is fine. Perfectly fine. Even if Isaac does see that we’re here, I tell myself, I’ll be able to play it off. I’ll tell him it was an impromptu fake date, just like Charlie suggested.

We just have to be careful not to be too affectionate. Take it too far, and Isaac will suspect something is up.

Charlie smiles at me, his eyes warm and understanding. He lifts our intertwined hands and kisses the back of mine, drawing my attention to our connection. Our bond that’s more than professional. I shiver at the contact, my heart pounding like a drum against my rib cage.

“Let’s just enjoy tonight,” he murmurs, his voice low and intimate. “Worry about Isaac later.”

His eyes hold mine, a silent promise blazing in their depths. Yes, I mentally agree. Tonight is about us. Not Isaac, not work, not the complications.

He releases my hand only to reach for the champagne bottle. His fingers, strong and sure from years on the football field, expertly pop the cork, the sound lost in the ambient noise around us.

He fills our glasses, bubbles dancing up the side before settling down. I watch him as he does so, how the dim light catches in his hair and his eyes twinkle with a mischievous spark.

“To us,” he toasts softly, raising his glass towards me.

A smile pulls at the corners of my lips as I reach out with my glass, the crystal edges clinking gently against each other. “To us.”

The champagne is cold and crisp on my tongue, and I relish its sweet taste as we lose ourselves in each other’s company.

Music pulses like a heartbeat in the background, a rhythmic lullaby that sways the crowd in its thrall. I watch as Charlie takes a last sip of his champagne, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly with the motion.

His eyes never leave mine, holding my gaze with an intensity that makes my breath hitch. A slow track comes on, the singer’s sultry voice wrapping around us like invisible threads pulling us closer together.

Charlie sets his glass down and extends a hand towards me, a silent question in his eyes. I place my hand in his, feeling the warm calluses against my soft skin.

He pulls me up and leads me to the dance floor. We move with the music, our bodies swaying together in sync with the rhythm. His hands on my waist are solid and warm; mine on his shoulders feel secure and right.

His breath is hot against my ear, stirring loose strands of my hair. “You’re incredible, Marissa,” he whispers into the space between us.

My cheeks heat up at his words, and I hide my face in his chest to conceal my blush. This feels intimate, more real than any relationship I’ve ever had, even though it’s only been a couple weeks.

Suddenly, he pulls back to look at me, his eyes searing into mine. He leans forward until our noses are almost touching, and then his lips are on mine.

The kiss is soft, almost tender, a delicate exploration that sends shivers down my spine. I can taste champagne on his tongue, mixed with the distinct flavor that is uniquely Charlie. His other hand comes up to cup my face, thumb gently caressing my cheek.

We stay like that for a while, dancing and kissing, lost in our little bubble amidst the crowd. His laugh vibrates through me as he spins me around, and I have no choice but to join in, my giggles mingling with his.

“Let’s get out of here,” he murmurs in my ear, his voice husky with promise.

He guides me off the dance floor, hand securely holding mine. We navigate through the throng of people, weaving our way towards the exit.

Outside, the cool air is a welcome relief from the heat of the club. He opens the car door for me and hurries around to the other side.

The ride back to his place is filled with anticipation. I sneak glances at him from under my lashes, finding him already watching me with darkened eyes.

The tension crackles between us like an explosive charge waiting to detonate. When we finally stumble into his house after the torturous car ride, he backs me against a wall.

His hands bracket my face, his eyes seeking the permission I’m too weak to voice. A curt nod and that’s all he needs. He takes my lips again, hungrily this time, leaving no space for doubts or second thoughts.

His fingers tangle in my hair, pulling gently till my head tilts back. The world spins around me as he ravishes me with his mouth and hands. His taste is intoxicating, sending lightning bolts crackling through my veins, making my heart race.

We stumble together through the hallway, our hands exploring, our breaths intermingling. Somehow, we make it all the way to his bedroom. His bed is soft and inviting, a stark contrast to the raw passion between us. Yet there’s something else too; a tender connection that can’t be denied.

Getting on his knees, Charlie removes my heels and pants. His lips trace a line of kisses across my inner thigh.

His hands move up, slipping under my top to unclasp my bra. His fingers are hot on my skin, creating a trail of fire that has me arching towards him. He pulls my blouse over my head, leaving me bare except for my white lace panties. His gaze rakes over me, and I feel his approval like a touch.

We collapse onto the silk sheets, a tangled mess of limbs and heated breaths. He hovers over me, his forearms planted on either side of my head as his chest rises and falls in heavy pants.

His lips descend on mine again, soft and tender this time, like he’s trying to memorize every moment of this night. It feels more intimate than any moment we’ve shared yet.

He pushes my panties down my thighs, and I kick them the rest of the way off as he quickly undresses. When he finally enters me, all thoughts fly from my head. I’m lost in the sensation of him, the way he moves within me, deliberate and unhurried, his eyes never leaving mine as he sets a rhythm that has us both gasping for breath.

I reach up, my fingers sinking into the soft hair at the nape of his neck. I urge him closer, deeper. He growls in response, a low, animalistic sound that sends shivers down my spine.

My climax surges through me like a tidal wave, the world spinning as it crashes over me. He follows soon after, his body tensing above mine before he collapses onto the bed next to me.

We lay there in the aftermath, his fingers tracing idle patterns on my bare skin.

“That was…” I search for the words to describe it.

“Incredible?” he suggests, a smile playing on his lips.

I laugh softly. “That’s one word for it.”

A contented sigh escapes me as I snuggle closer to him. This place right here, tangled up with Charlie in the soft sheets of his bed?

This feels like home.

The realization shocks me, but it also feels so right.

Being with Charlie feels right, like a wondrous spell has been cast over us, and nothing in the world could ever break it.