Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15

CHARLOTTE

T here was nothing else but the feel of his cock inside of me and his hands gripping my hips tightly.

I didn’t think about what it meant that he followed me home to share my bath with me. It didn’t mean he wanted a relationship or anything more than sex. But my hopeful heart couldn’t help but desire more.

Whether he realized it or not, he was the full package: protective, caring, and sweet under all that gruff. I couldn’t resist the combination.

Each time I slid down, I ground my clit against his pelvis, driving me higher. Teddy closed his mouth over my nipple, sending zings of desire straight to my clit. I moaned as the orgasm flowed through me.

I spasmed around his cock, feeling like I’d never get enough. With a slight bite of his teeth around my nipple, he let go to grip my hips. He took over pounding into me from underneath. The water sloshed out of the tub, but neither of us cared.

My heart called out for more, but I didn’t dare say anything out loud. Teddy wasn’t ready to hear it, and I wasn’t sure he’d ever be. I had to remember that this thing was a temporary release.

It didn’t mean that he thought of me as anything more than a coworker or a woman he was attracted to.

With a roar, Teddy thrust hard inside me one last time. He held me tight to him, like he didn’t want to let me go.

I lowered my head to his shoulder, wishing for so much more than this. I just hoped he felt it too and would keep an open mind. But he was so set in his ways. I wasn’t sure he’d ever change, not even for me.

Eventually, Teddy lifted me off him to remove the condom. Then he rejoined me in the tub, sitting behind me.

I snuggled against him, my back against his chest, his legs at my sides. It was a tight fit since he was so big, but I felt like I was surrounded by him. I felt safe and content. “Was this what you were imagining all day?”

“You always exceed my expectations,” he murmured against my ear; his arms hung loosely around my body.

His muscles were lax, and for once, he wasn’t on high alert. I liked that I could help him relax. But I wasn’t sure if he even realized he was usually hyperaware of his surroundings. He never fully let go of his job.

I loved that I could be a soft spot for him to land. I just hoped he didn’t freak out when he realized being around me softened him. I had a feeling he wouldn’t like it.

He held tightly onto his rituals and routines, his priorities and responsibilities. He took everything so seriously. I wanted to be the one person who could help him let go.

He kissed my temple, sending a tingle through my body. “I could get used to this every night. I see why you like it.”

I sighed, content to be in his arms.

I let my head fall back on his shoulder, the water lapped at my breasts when he shifted. One of his palms pressed firmly against my stomach, and the second rested loosely on my thigh where his fingers were making circles on my skin. “Where would you live if you could live anywhere you wanted to?” he asked me.

“I never thought much about it, but now that I’m living here, and I have the beautiful views of the fields and trees, I might like to have some property. But that’s so far into the future.”

“I own a house on several acres.” His voice hummed against my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

I liked being this close to him with nothing between us. It was intimate.

“You used to work at a marketing firm. Isn’t that lucrative? I would think you would have a place by now.”

“Eh. You had to work a lot of hours, and it didn’t pay big until you worked there a long time.” And I hadn’t. “It’s fairly cutthroat with people stealing ideas. I didn’t like the atmosphere.”

He brushed a strand of hair off my shoulder. “I suppose you wouldn’t do well in a place like that.”

“Why would you say that?” I asked, curious what he thought of me.

“You’re good and probably too trusting.” He soothed his words with a light kiss on my shoulder.

“You think I’m too trusting?” Is that how I got involved with Rick? I thought everyone had good inside of them and didn’t recognize the warning signs?

“I suspect you are. But that’s just years of honing my instincts on the job. You surprised me because I had a different vision of you inside my head.”

I shifted so I could see his face. “Oh, yeah, and what was that?”

“I thought you were spoiled, entitled even. You came here demanding lodging at the cottage as part of your contract. You were so confident you’d get what you wanted. ”

I stiffened. “Is there something wrong with a confident woman?”

“I was looking for reasons not to like you. I didn’t want anything to change around here.”

“I got that.” I relaxed slightly.

“I couldn’t understand how anyone could be so joyful all the time.”

“You found my positivity off-putting?” I might have heard that criticism a time or two.

“My mom got sick and died. I started to expect the worst of people and everything around me.”

“Your job didn’t help that assumption.”

“I see the worst society has to offer. For a short time, I wondered if your happiness was a cover for everything you went through as a kid.”

“It was a decision I made. I could look at things in a negative way and eventually drown myself in a bottle like my dad. Or I could put a positive spin on everything. It was hard at first, but then it got easier. And now, that’s just how I see things. An obstacle is an opportunity, a challenge even. A rejection is protection from something that wasn’t good for me. There’s something better out there for me.”

“I kind of love that about you.”

“Maybe some of my positivity will rub off on you?” I asked gently.

“Not sure I need it. But I like spending time with you.”

That was good enough for now. “Well, I’m turning into a prune, and my stomach is rumbling.”

I tried and failed not to swoon when he grabbed a fluffy towel and wrapped me inside of it, patting me down.

“A girl could get used to this.”

Something flashed across his eyes before it was gone. Was it regret? “I like to take care of people.”

“Me too.” The only difference was that I never got that in return from a boyfriend. I usually did the caring, and they did the taking. So this was a nice change. “Some people will take advantage of that personality trait.”

He pulled on his briefs, then turned to face me. “Can I dry your hair? There’s a chill in the house.”

“Um. Yeah. That would be nice.” That was an inadequate word for what this was.

He set up a folded towel on the edge of the tub, then motioned for me to sit on the fluffy carpet between his legs.

I grabbed a brush and the hair dryer, handing both to him. “Do you know what you’re doing?”

“Daphne needed help to get tangles out of her hair after Mom died.”

“You did that?” I settled between his legs, lowering my head so he could drag the bristles through the stands. I was glad he couldn’t see my face right now.

His admissions were breaking my heart. How many men would transfer colleges to be closer to home and take care of their siblings? Then take the time to brush out the tangles in his sister’s hair?

Not any I’d ever met. Even my brother had escaped from our home life.

“She needed my help, and Dad didn’t have the patience to deal with tangles. He was barely making it through the day.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, imagining this man brushing his little sister’s hair. “Not many people would do that.”

“I wanted to care for my siblings.”

“Your family is so close.” Instead of drifting away after a tragedy, they’d only grown tighter.

“I did what needed to be done, and I don’t regret any of it. Even if it meant I lost out on a regular college experience. I was there to get my degree, then go to the police academy. And my family kept me on that path.”

He turned on the hair dryer, which made talking difficult, and my eyes drifted shut as he carefully dried my hair. I couldn’t remember anyone doing this for me, even my mother. She was too concerned about whether my father ate dinner or left his recliner after he got home from work.

When my hair was dry, he set the dryer aside. “There. How’s that?”

I stood and checked in the mirror. “Looks great.”

“Let’s eat. I’m starved.”

In the kitchen, Teddy paused at the sight of blue tape around the windows and trim. Cans of paint sat in the middle of the room. “You’re painting?”

“Yeah, your dad said it was okay.”

“You want some help?” Teddy asked, surveying what materials I had placed next to the paint cans: drop cloths, a tray, brushes, and rollers.

“I would love some.”

“Let’s order pizza, then paint.”

“Are you sure you want to? Painting isn’t fun.”

“I’m almost positive you’re going to make it fun.” He opened the lid, dipped his finger in the yellow paint, and touched my nose with it before I reacted.

“What are you?—”

He raised a brow. “What does it look like I’m doing?”

I placed my hands on my hips. “You’re making me messy.”

He smirked. “I thought it would be nice to dirty you up.”

I laughed despite the ridiculousness of his statement. It was so out of character for him. I loved it. “Let’s paint.” I poured paint into the trays, then placed the roller in one, watching Teddy do the same. Then I slid it across his bare chest before I could second-guess myself.

He paused, glancing down at the shiny yellow paint.

“You started it.” Then I squealed as he came for me. I was still holding the wet roller up as a barrier.

He reached for me but kept running into the roller .

With a growl, he wrestled it from me and rolled it down the front of my shirt.

“I can’t believe you just did that.”

He waved a hand at his chest.

“That’s washable,” I sputtered, not sure how he couldn’t see the difference. My pajama shirt was now officially a painting one.

Still holding the roller as if it were a weapon, he said, “You’re ridiculous.”

“Can I declare a ceasefire?” I asked tentatively.

He dipped his head slightly. “I see how it is. You’re losing, so you call mercy.”

I nodded, having no shame. “That’s right.”

He slowly lowered the roller. “No more playing in the paint.”

“Deal.”

He reached out to shake my hand, he had wet paint on his hand from the horseplay, and my hand came out covered in paint. “Ugh.”

Teddy winked. “We’re going to get messy. Better get used to it.”

This couldn’t just be physical for him. If it was, I was going to be in for a heartbreak. There was something about getting behind the scenes with this man that was so satisfying. It made everything feel more real. But that didn’t mean he felt the same way.

He’d only said I was different than he expected me to be. It wasn’t exactly a declaration of love. But he’d brushed and dried my hair. That said something. Maybe his love language was acts of service.

“I’ll paint the edges; you can start with the roller.”

I placed my hands on my hips. “You’ve been here for five minutes, and you’re already bossing me around.”

His lips twitched. “Fine, Miss Charlotte. You’re in charge. Where would you like me to start? ”

I smirked. “Much better. I hate doing trim. So you can handle the brush.”

Teddy chuckled, then dipped his brush into the paint, getting to work in the corner.

“I’ll order the pizza while you do that.”

“Meat lovers.”

I smiled over at him, enjoying the flex of his biceps as he painted. “Wow. It’s like we were made for each other.”

Teddy leaned down to dip his brush in the paint, and he raised his brows at me.

“What? I love it too.” I got on my phone and pulled up the app for my favorite pizzeria. “Does this place deliver here?”

“They’ll know the cottage. Daphne used to order from there all the time.”

I liked spending time with him, just taking a bath or even doing a chore like painting. Who knew that Teddy Calloway could be fun?

I entered the order and paid for it so we wouldn’t need to give the deliver guy cash at the door.

“Are you going to work anytime soon?” Teddy wiggled his brows at me.

“Hey, food is important.” I moved over to him, and he snagged me around the waist, pulling me against his chest.

“Did you do that on purpose, so that the back of my shirt matches the front?”

He kissed the back of my head. “Maybe.”

“You’re the worst,” I groused, even as I reveled in the feel of his body pressed against mine. I loved that he couldn’t get enough of me and wanted me in his space.

Rick wanted what I could give him, and when I removed myself from the same situation, he couldn’t stand that I’d stood up to him and left. But this man was easing himself into my heart with every kind act .

We painted side by side until the pizza came. Then Teddy pulled on a shirt and jeans to get the door.

I was just getting paper plates when Teddy returned with two pizza boxes. “You didn’t have to pay for it. I would have gotten it.”

“I didn’t have cash. Thought it would be easier.”

“I like to pay when I’m with someone,” Teddy said like it was no big deal and he wasn’t admitting we were together.

I elbowed him as he set the pizzas on the counter. “Aren’t you rusty? It’s been, what, twenty years since your last relationship?”

He gave me look, one that I was positive got suspects to lay out all their secrets. “Hey, it hasn’t been that long, and I’m not that old.”

I giggled. He made me feel so light and free. I’d always been on edge around Rick, and maybe that was the sign that he wasn’t the right guy for me.

Teddy picked me up so that I was perched on the counter, then stepped between my legs, and we ate the pizza like that, foregoing plates. It was unconventional, but I was close to him, and it was nice.

We stole kisses between bites, and by the time we’d finished eating our first slice, my arms were looped around his neck, and we were full-on making out. I eased back. “We’re not going to get much work done.”

He pressed his lips to mine. “I guess we’d better get to work then.”

I sighed. “I don’t think I like your work ethic anymore.”

“Your kitchen will be painted yellow in no time.” The color on the one wall was already lifting my spirits, and I loved the sound of him describing this place as mine. It wasn’t, but I could live in that fantasy where I resided in a cottage on a farm for a little bit longer .

And with this man by my side, it might just be as close to perfect as I’d ever experienced.