Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

TEDDY

C harlotte Monroe was wearing nothing but my flannel shirt that was open so I could gaze at her gorgeous body while she was on her knees with my cock in her mouth. It was as if every fantasy I’d had for the past year was finally coming true. And it was so much better than I’d imagined.

Her grip was tight, her mouth wet, and her eyes filled with an emotion I couldn’t quite place. She was eager to please me. She wanted to make me feel good. And when was the last time I’d given up control in the bedroom?

She might have been on her knees, but she was the one dominating this situation.

If a woman wanted to give me head, I quickly turned the tables to go down on her. The woman was always satisfied and had no idea about my little hang-up.

But with this woman, I was willing to let go a little. To enjoy what she had to offer.

I cupped her breast, tweaking the nipples.

Her eyes darkened, and she sucked harder.

My hips thrust into her mouth. I didn’t want to completely lose control, so I lifted her by the shoulders and tossed her on the bed.

I grabbed another condom from my wallet before joining her. I wanted to fuck her while she was wearing my shirt. I felt something primal, deep in my body, that was urging me to claim her as mine.

I saw a relationship as detracting from my responsibilities, and nothing had changed. But I was considering the possibility that I could enjoy the physical aspects of a relationship and keep it a secret from my family.

Because one night would never be enough.

I grabbed the condom, sheathing myself before considering the sight of Charlotte on her bed. Her ample breasts begged for my touch, her nipples were hard, and her pussy glistening. There were no words that could adequately describe how she looked.

I lowered my body over hers so that I could tease her with my dick. I kissed her, cupping one breast. How did I want her: on top, doggy style, or missionary? Nothing would be boring with this woman.

I braced my hands on either side of her head and eased inside. She was slick and swollen, more than ready for me.

Her hands were all over me, touching and exploring. Usually, I preferred to hold a woman’s hands over her head. But I liked Charlotte’s hands on me. I liked everything about her. I should have been panicking, but I was so gone for her.

I easily rolled us so that she was straddling me. With my hands on her hips, I guided her down my cock until she was fully seated.

Her lips parted, and her head fell back. When she finally moved, it was like nothing I’d ever experience before. Her pussy was tight around my cock, her breasts bobbing with her movements. I cupped them, marveling at their weight, the way they spilled over my palms .

She whimpered whenever I touched her nipples. She was sensitive there, and I loved that I could drive her wild with just a brush of my fingertips.

Her movements grew jerky as she moved over me. I gripped her hips, helping her lift, then lower. She worked me over, taking what she needed. I touched her clit, causing her body to jerk.

She bit her lip as her body spasmed around me, drawing my own orgasm.

She was an irresistible combination of soft and hard, sweet and demanding. I couldn’t resist her, and I sure as hell couldn’t walk away from her.

I gently lifted her to the side, getting up to take care of the condom.

When I eased back into bed, she was already breathing softly. This was my opportunity to slip out without her knowing. But the resulting feeling in the pit of my stomach wouldn’t let me do that.

I wanted to hold her close. I wanted to sleep next to her. This might be the only night I got with her, and I wasn’t about to give it up.

Instead of leaving, I held her close, and she curled her body around me. She still wore my flannel, and it satisfied some urge deep inside me to possess someone. Is this what I’d been missing my entire life? I protected my family, but maybe I was destined for something more. Someone like Charlotte.

The idea was so overwhelming; I quickly dismissed it. I wasn’t cut out to be a boyfriend, much less a husband.

Charlotte deserved so much more than I had to offer. She deserved the house, the white picket fence, the dog, and two-point-five kids. My heart clenched at the vision of her standing in my kitchen, cooking breakfast while I fed our little girl or boy food in a highchair. It was so domestic and so outside any reality I let myself imagine that I had trouble drawing in a deep breath.

Being with her like this was dangerous because I couldn’t have her. She wasn’t mine to possess. But I still wanted her.

T he next morning, hair tickled my chin and a heavy weight rested on my leg. My eyes drifted open to find Charlotte sleeping on top of me. Tenderness unfurled in my chest.

My first instinct was to feed her breakfast and maybe give her one more orgasm before I had to work on the farm. When I dated in college, I considered myself a nice boyfriend. I was courteous and attentive. But when my mom died, I couldn’t keep up the long-distance relationship in the way I wanted to. I couldn’t give her attention when my siblings needed me.

After that, I didn’t think it was fair to be in a relationship with someone when I had so many demands on my time. There were the hours, and then I worked a second job. And despite what Wes said, I thought my family still needed me.

So what was I doing with Charlotte? I was operating on pure instinct when I almost kissed her in the barn. But coming to her house last night was intentional. I wanted to blame Wes’s pushing, but I couldn’t be upset about where I was right now.

I stroked a hand over her hair, reveling in how nice it was to sleep and then wake up with a warm, mostly naked woman in my arms. And not just any woman. Charlotte. She wasn’t what I expected.

She’d experienced a trauma with her father being an alcoholic. I saw the aftermath of that in my job.

Charlotte shifted in my arms. She must have sensed that I was awake. She lifted her head slightly before collapsing onto my chest. “We have to get up early to set up for the festival. ”

I groaned internally. “I forgot about that. I had other plans for this morning.”

She lifted up so she could see my face, her eyes a little brighter. “Oh, yeah?”

“I thought I’d cook you breakfast and have my way with you.” My voice was rough from disuse.

Charlotte smiled. “I do love when you cook for me.”

I glanced at the clock. “But we don’t have time if we want to set up before the festival begins.”

“Breakfast and sex sounded amazing too.”

“We have tomorrow.”

She cocked her head and gave me a quizzical look.

“What?”

“You just surprise me. That’s all.”

“Did you think I was going to walk out this morning without so much as a goodbye?”

Charlotte shifted so that she was sitting, the sheet falling away. “In the middle of the night actually.”

I winced. “Ouch. I suppose I deserved that.”

“I’ve heard you’ve never had a relationship.”

“Is that what this is?” I wanted to know where her head was at.

Charlotte opened her mouth, then closed it again. “Can we enjoy it without any labels? I’m not ready to dive too deep into this right now.”

I was relieved by her answer but, at the same time, a little disappointed. “Last night was a surprise for me too. Let’s handle the festival and then see what happens.”

Charlotte shot me a smile as she got out of bed, buttoning my flannel shirt.

“Am I going to get that back?”

Charlotte sent me a sultry look over her shoulder. “Good luck with that.”

“I like the idea of you wearing my clothes. ”

“It’s the perfect shirt to sleep in. It’s soft and smells like you.” She went to her dresser and pulled out lace panties.

I liked it a little too much that she wanted my scent on her. I don’t know where these caveman instincts came from because I hadn’t gotten attached to anyone over the years.

Charlotte pulled on the panties, the string disappearing between her cheeks.

“A thong?” I asked her.

She shot me a saucy look over her shoulder, flipping my shirt up for a peek at her ass.

I groaned, throwing an arm over my eyes. “How am I going to work with you today, knowing that you are wearing that?”

She grabbed my arm and attempted to tug me out of bed. “Come on. We have time for a quick shower if we forego food.”

I let her pull me to my feet and lead me to the bathroom. “I can’t go without food. I’ll ask Daphne to bring us something.”

Charlotte turned on the water before undressing. Then she pressed her body against mine. Her wrists looped around my neck. “That sounds perfect.”

When the room heated, I stepped into the stream of water and pulled Charlotte in with me.

I grabbed the bottle of body wash, squirted some on my hands, turned Charlotte so that she was leaning against my chest, then cupped her breasts, brushing my fingers over her nipples. Charlotte moaned and pressed her back against my body.

I spent extra time on her breasts and nipples until she was begging for more. Then I slowly made my way down the rest of her body, careful to avoid her pussy.

When I rinsed off my hands and dropped to my knees, Charlotte’s hands immediately landed in my hair. “We don’t have time.”

I cocked a brow. “That sounded weak to me. I bet I could make you come in under two minutes. ”

Her lips twitched. “I’m up for that challenge.”

I used my shoulders to widen her stance, then lifted one leg over my shoulder, holding her to me with a hand on her ass. In this position, she was open to me.

Her fingers dug into my scalp as I licked her. She tasted sweet, like warm honey. I circled her clit, then used my fingers to plunge in and out of her. Her hips undulated at my ministrations, and when she went over, I held her through her orgasm.

I stood, kissing her until her back was pressed against the wall. I lifted her and entered her in one motion.

“Oh, fuck. You feel better than you did last night.”

She arched a brow. “Maybe because you’re not wearing a condom.”

“Shit. I’m sorry.” I quickly pulled out and lowered her to the floor. I couldn’t believe I’d been so careless.

“Hurry,” Charlotte called after me, but I’d already grabbed a towel and rubbed myself down before grabbing the last condom in my wallet.

I was back in the shower within seconds, the rubber covering my dick. I didn’t waste any time lifting her against the tiles and sliding home.

It felt good, not quite as nice as going bare, but still amazing. We didn’t have much time, so I thrust hard, my eyes falling shut as I reveled in the feel of her pussy squeezing my cock. I’d never get enough of this, of her.

There was something about her that drove me crazy and inspired me to keep her close at the same time.

When I felt the telltale tingle at the base of my spine, I used my thumb to press against her clit, her head hit the tile with a thunk, and she moaned. I followed her over, wishing we could spend the whole day in her cottage, hiding from the outside world.

I lowered her slowly to the floor, grabbing the soap to wash off quickly while Charlotte shampooed her hair. We were quick and efficient, neither of us saying anything.

Charlotte got out before me, drying off, then disappearing into the bedroom to get dressed. I followed more slowly, needing some time to deal with my feelings.

I never felt anything after sex. It was a release. It was something I did from time to time but not anything I craved or needed. But Charlotte was quickly becoming an addiction. One I wasn’t sure I’d be able to drop.

But we’d promised to give it some time and enjoy being in the moment. I shouldn’t be thinking about it or why it felt so different from anything else in my life thus far.

When I walked into the bedroom, Charlotte was already gone. I dressed quickly, finding her in the kitchen drinking coffee. “You want a to-go cup?”

“Sure,” I said as she poured the coffee.

Charlotte screwed on the lid and handed it to me. “We should get going.”

We headed out to our vehicles.

“I have to stop at home to change.” I was wearing my T-shirt and the clothes I had on last night.

“I’ll see you on the farm then.”

“Sounds good.” I nodded to her as she got into her small car and drove away. It was better this way. My family didn’t need to see us arriving together or me in the same clothes I was wearing last night.

For the first time, I was grateful my house had flooded and I was forced to stay in the garage apartment. At home, I changed quickly, then drove to the main house, parking next to Charlotte’s car.

When I met up with Wes by the barn, he said, “You take my advice last night?”

My jaw tightened. “I don’t kiss and tell.”

Wes smirked. “That’s a yes. ”

I jerked my chin in the direction of the door to the barn. “Get back to work, or I’ll tell your wife you married her out of pity.”

Wes sobered quickly. “That’s not true, and she knows it.”

I raised a brow. “Does she?”

“You can’t go putting ideas into a pregnant woman’s head. Sutton’s already worried that things are going to change.”

I stilled. “Did you say Sutton’s pregnant?”

Wes’s eyes widened. “Did I say that?”

I tipped my head to the side, considering him, “Yeah, you did. Was it a slip of the tongue, or were you not supposed to say anything?”

Wes shook his head. “It’s a secret. Sutton’s going to kill me.”

I considered the situation for a few seconds. “I won’t tell anyone if you keep what I told you last night secret.”

“Fine.”

We each grabbed a folding table from the barn and carried them outside, opening up the legs where Charlotte had placed an X for the placement of each one. These would be the vendor tables where the crafts people would show off their wares.

“Does that mean you’re not going to tell me if anything happened with Charlotte?” Wes asked as we headed back inside for another folding table.

I gave him a look. “You got that right.” I lowered my voice and said, “But congratulations on becoming a father. I can’t believe I’m going to be an uncle again.”

“It’s old hat now. This is the third niece or nephew.” Wes hefted another table, and I followed him outside.

No one was inside, so we were by ourselves.

“That’s right.” My siblings were growing up, getting married, and having kids. I was still single, but that was fine, wasn’t it? I never wanted anything for myself. Not after Mom died. There wasn’t time. Everyone needed me. Didn’t they ?

“It’s okay for you to have someone for yourself.” Wes set up the table, then looked at mine to make sure they were lined up.

“Mind your own business,” I said tightly, hanging onto my normal grumpy demeanor. I was usually successful at getting my siblings to back off.

Wes blew out a breath. “You deserve to be happy.”

“And I will be now that you’re giving me another kid to spoil,” I grumbled as we moved toward the barn.

Charlotte had placed a Santa Coming Soon sign at the door. My stomach tightened at the idea of playing a part and wearing the suit for children. What if I wasn’t a good Santa?

Wes turned, crossing his arms over his chest. “You can’t just watch us live our lives, you know?”

I frowned, wondering why he’d stopped working. We were on a tight timeline to finish the setup before the festival started. I reached around him to grab a table. “That’s not what I’m doing.”

Wes rushed to grab a second one and followed me outside into the light. “It’s what you’ve been doing since Mom died. You made sure we graduated from high school, then college, and got jobs. Now we’re getting married and starting to have kids. Your job is done.”

A job of a parent was never done. But then these were my siblings, not my kids. Suddenly, I felt older than my years. I set the table down, opening the legs, and flipping it to stand. My back was stiff, and my head ached.

“You put your life on hold and never really picked it back up again,” Wes observed as he set his table next to mine.

I looked around the grounds where holiday music played through the speakers and customers milled about, drinking hot chocolate. Charlotte must have gone through with her plan to sell refreshments.

I’d never felt anything when I saw families on the farm. But Wes telling me Sutton was pregnant was hitting me hard, and I couldn’t understand why when I didn’t think I wanted kids. I’d practically raised my siblings.

The vendors were starting to set up on the tables we’d already assembled. Daphne walked over to the one nearest the sign for the festival with her cooler of pies.

“That’s not true. I graduated from college and got a job.”

“You moved home so you could be closer to us.”

My jaw tightened. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“Yeah, but what do you want? You don’t have to stay here or even work on the farm. Not if there’s something else you want to do.”

“I think you’re reading into things that aren’t there. I came home a little earlier than planned. But I always intended to work for the local police department and help out on the farm.” Being close to my family was part of who I was. Mom dying just pushed things forward more quickly. It didn’t change anything.

Wes’s eyes narrowed on me, but he said, “Yeah, okay.”

There was no way I was talking to him about what happened with Charlotte. I always kept my personal life private, and this was no different. Nothing could happen. I was sure she didn’t want to jeopardize her job on the farm or future marketing positions with the rumors, and I didn’t want anything serious.

Nothing had changed. Wes was looking for something that wasn’t there. I was happy with how things were. When I’d be able to get back into my house, it would be perfect.

I felt a little off kilter because I was living temporarily in the garage apartment. It had nothing to do with Charlotte Monroe.

I headed inside the barn, determined to finish the setup and not talk about my personal life with any of my brothers. They were happy with their significant others, but that wasn’t what I wanted or needed.