Love Beyond the Curve (BookStrand Publishing Romance) (15 page)

Charlotte wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed even closer against him. A moan escaped from her lips as he continued to kiss her along her jaw to the sensitive spot behind her ear. She sunk her fingers in his thick, dark hair as he continued to kiss her neck. She gasped in surprise as he leaned down to sweep her off her feet and carried her to the sofa. He sat down with her draped across his lap and rested his hand on her knee as he kissed her lips once again.

Reed broke the kiss and looked down into the smoky blue eyes staring back at him. “I’ve wanted to do that all night. Do you know how hard it was not to ravish you on that dance floor? And I thought you’d be the death of me every time you leaned over to shoot pool with Logan. Every guy seemed to stop and stare with his mouth hanging open. You have no idea how sexy you looked playing pool in four-inch heels and a V-necked dress.”

“No, I don’t have any idea. I hope I didn’t embarrass you tonight in front of all your friends.” Charlotte started to get up, but Reed held her down.

“No, you didn’t embarrass me. I wanted to jump up on that pool table and say, ‘Sorry, guys, she’s with me.’” Reed shook his head and continued. “Charlotte, I know you have your doubts about me, but if you’ll give me the chance, I’ll prove to you how much I sincerely want to be with you.”

“I’m sorry, Reed. I want to believe you. I’ve heard the words before, and I always end up feeling like a fool. I’ve sworn I won’t let it happen again. You had your go with me. I can’t take that back. I don’t really even want to, but it was foolish to do it. I’m sure this makes no sense at all to you. I’m sorry. I really do enjoy spending time with you, but I think we may need to keep it on a friendly level.” Her mind went back to the conversation she had overheard in the restroom earlier. Her heart sank as she considered the possible truth to those hurtful words.

“Charlotte, I do get it. You’ve been played by some other bastard and gotten hurt. You don’t want to get hurt again, so you won’t let someone get any closer than a friend. Well, I’d like to meet the guy that did this to you and take him out to a back alley and beat the hell out of him. Why do I have to be punished for his sin?” Reed spoke earnestly with her, gripping her shoulders as he tried to convince her he could be trusted.

“I’m not punishing you. I’m protecting myself,” Charlotte answered back quietly, looking down at her hands in her lap.

Reed lifted her chin with his finger so that he could look her directly in the eye. “That’s the way to play it safe, Charlotte. I agree, but in the meantime, you may be passing up what could turn out to be the love of a lifetime. Where is the gutsy girl I’ve come to know over the last few months? The girl I know wouldn’t sit back and watch what may be her future happiness slide right past her because of some jerk. You will get hurt again, Charlotte. Hell, I may hurt you, but it wouldn’t be intentionally. You may hurt me, but it is part of living life and having meaningful relationships. I choose to jump in and play the game, because the alternative is one hell of a lonely life. Will you jump in with me? Give me a chance, Charlotte. Please?”

Charlotte sighed and put her arms around his neck. “Wow. That was quite a speech. I think you missed your calling. You would have made a great lawyer.”

“I grew up with a lawyer for a father, and now my brother has joined his firm. It is osmosis. Did I convince you to be open-minded about us?” Reed ran his hand up over her hip and rested it at her waist.

“I believe you did. We’ll see how it goes. Promise me one thing, though.” Charlotte ran her hand over his tie, smoothing it out before looking back up at him.

“Anything.” Reed waited with bated breath to hear what her request would be.

“Promise me that you will tell me immediately if you decide we should remain friends and let the dating go. Let me go if you find someone you’re more interested in. I won’t be a pity date. That would be humiliating.” Charlotte managed to look him in the face even though she was very uncomfortable with what she was asking of him.

“Charlotte,
if
I feel like that at any point, I will tell you. Now, will you make
me
a promise?” He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close.

“I’ll do my best. What is it?” Charlotte was hesitant to commit without knowing the nature of the promise.

“Promise me that you will believe me when I say I want to be with you, and don’t get crazy ideas in your head, thinking you know what I’m thinking. Talk to me if you are unsure about anything. I don’t play games, Charlotte. I don’t want you to play them either. Anything I say to you will be the truth. Trust me.” Reed didn’t break eye contact until he had her answer.

“That’s fair. I don’t like games either. I think we have a clear understanding of the playing field we’re on, and now we can move forward.” Charlotte nodded in agreement as she leaned forward to softly kiss his lips.

“I like the way you seal the deal, Ms. Hamilton.” Reed returned her gentle kiss with a scorching one, symbolizing for him the fact that he had seemingly won his first battle in convincing Charlotte to give love a chance.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The week that followed that first date was a busy one for Reed and Charlotte. They texted each other during the day and sometimes saw each other for a few minutes when Charlotte arrived home from work late at night.

On one such evening, Reed met her at her car with a cup of hot cocoa. It was an unusually cool night, and he thought it might warm her up as she relaxed from her day’s work.

“Here. Thought you might enjoy a cup of cocoa to help you relax. Did things go well at the hospital this evening?” Reed traded the cocoa for her briefcase and walked along upstairs with her.

“It was relatively quiet. Thanks for the cocoa. It smells wonderful. Did you make it yourself?” Charlotte unlocked the door, and they both walked inside.

Reed placed her briefcase in a nearby chair and took her coat from her to hang on the hook by the door. “Yes, I did. I made it the way my mother used to make it when I was a kid. I got to thinking about it and called to ask how she did it. I had all the ingredients on hand, so there you have it.”

Charlotte took his hand and led him to the sofa. He sat down and she curled up beside him to sip the hot beverage. “It’s good. Thanks again.”

“You’re welcome. You realize it was only a ruse to get to come over and see you for a few minutes. I hope you don’t mind.” Reed confessed his motives as he rubbed his hand up and down her upper arm, glad to have her close enough to touch.

“Of course I don’t mind. I’ve missed seeing you, too. Texting is fine, but nothing can replace a face-to-face with someone. I’m glad you’re here.” Charlotte looked up to meet his darkened gaze, and they both leaned toward each other to let their lips meld together in a passionate kiss.

Reed reached for the cup of cocoa and set it on the table without breaking the kiss. When he released her, she arched an eyebrow and said, “Now I’m
really
glad you’re here!”

“So am I. I’ve been dreaming of doing that every night since we went out. It was better than I imagined. I think I could kiss you all night long. Your lips are full and soft. Kissing your lips is like kissing rose petals.” Reed caressed her full lower lip with his fingertip. He began to plant light kisses all over her mouth, starting at the corner. He pushed his fingers into her hair and held her face tenderly in his hands as he deepened the kiss. He began a slow, deliberate exploration of the warm haven he had found in her mouth.

Charlotte closed her eyes and let him possess her in this sensuous dance of lips and tongues. She trembled as he moved his lips to kiss each of her eyelids, continuing on to her cheeks. She gasped when he pulled her over to straddle his lap. Now that she faced him directly, he moved on to kiss her along her jaw, holding her with his hands splayed across her back. She placed her hands on either side of his strong neck, stroking his beard with the pads of her thumbs.

“You feel so good in my arms,” Reed whispered between the kisses he was raining down her neck.

“Mmm…I feel good being in your arms.” Charlotte moved to kiss his mouth with all the heat that had been building up inside her as he had kissed her so sensuously moments before.

Reed let his hands slide down over her hips as she kissed his lower lip, biting it before she traced back over it with the tip of her tongue. He leaned back, pulling Charlotte with him. His hands came to rest on her thighs, and he began a slow, circular motion with his fingertips up and down their length. She was wearing a dress, which had ridden up when he pulled her across his lap. When his fingers came in contact with the lacy band of her white thigh-highs, he opened his eyes and looked down to see what she was wearing.

“Why, Ms. Hamilton, do you always wear sexy, silk stockings under your crisp, white uniform?” Reed pushed the hem of her uniform even higher, so he could better appreciate the view of her sheer, white hosiery.

“I most certainly do, Mr. Jackson. The dress code says we must wear white stockings with a dress, but nowhere did it say they had to be ugly. I like feeling very girlie underneath my clothes. Especially when it is a plain, ordinary nurse’s uniform.” Charlotte placed her hands provocatively on her hips and struck a pose for Reed.

“Sweetheart, with your figure, there is no way you could look plain or ordinary. You have curves in all the right places. I can assure you of that fact.” He ran his hands along the length of her torso, on down to her ankles.

The lightness of his touch tickled Charlotte unexpectedly. Her reflex was to lock her arms down tightly at her sides and fall over on her back beside him, laughing out loud.

“What? Are you ticklish? Oh, this could be great fun.” Reed followed her to straddle her legs and hold her arms over her head.

“Don’t you dare, Reed Jackson. I hate being tickled.” Charlotte pleaded with him, though she said it as she giggled.

“What will you give me if I spare you?” Reed tried to look menacing as he began the negotiations.

“I’ll cook dinner for you Saturday night. Complete with dessert.” Charlotte had laughed so hard, she was now breathing heavily, causing her breasts to rise and fall with each breath.

Reed looked down and blatantly watched as she regained her normal breathing. “Okay, as long as I get to choose the dessert.”

“Deal. What do you want?”

“You and more of your girlie lingerie.” Reed leaned down to kiss her thoroughly, giving her no chance to respond to his particular request. When he raised his head to look back at her, she was giving him what he hoped was a mock look of irritation.

“I don’t know how fair that is. It needs to be something I can bake, not wear.” Charlotte shook her head at him as he sat up, pulling her with him.

“You said I could choose, and that is my choice. Unless you want me to tickle you now and call us even.” Reed made a move as if to reach to tickle her again.

“No, no, no! I’ll see what I can do, but don’t hold your breath. You may wish you had opted for chocolate cake before it’s over.” Charlotte tried to dissuade him from his choice, but he seemingly was determined to have it his way.

“No, I’m quite certain I want you for dessert in girlie lingerie. Don’t forget…I’ve seen you once before. I liked what I saw then, and I will like what I see on Saturday.” Reed stood and led her to the door.

“You aren’t really serious, Reed. This is ridiculous.”

“Oh, I’m serious, all right. Now, I’m going to go home and take a cold shower and let you go to bed. I enjoyed my visit. Until Saturday.” Reed leaned over and kissed her firmly before heading down the stairs, waggling his eyebrows.

“Good night,” Charlotte called to him as she watched his masculine form disappear into his house, leaving her wondering what she had gotten herself into this time.

Chapter Thirty

“Come on in. Make yourself comfortable.” Charlotte opened the door to Reed and stepped back so he could enter her apartment.

When she closed the door, he pushed her back against it, kissing her passionately as he entwined her fingers with his own.

“I like the way you say hello. You want to walk outside and come back in again?” Charlotte arched a brow and gave him a sultry smile.

“No, I like where I am right here. Missed you the past couple of days.” Reed gave her another quick kiss and pulled her toward the kitchen, where he placed a bottle of wine on the counter.

Charlotte took two glasses out of the cabinet and handed Reed a corkscrew. “Will you handle the wine for me while I check on our dinner?”

“Sure. What’s for supper? It smells wonderful.” Reed began the process of uncorking the wine bottle while Charlotte opened the oven door to check the contents.

“Stuffed chicken breasts. They need about five more minutes. I’ll throw the salad together, and the asparagus is ready. Thank you.” Charlotte took the glass of wine Reed offered her as she opened the refrigerator to retrieve the ingredients for the salad.

“The table looks great. You took out the good china for this evening. I’m honored.” He walked up behind her and kissed her neck softly, resting his large hands on her hips.

“I thought we should make the evening as special as last weekend. One should never keep saving the good china for a special event. Every day should be special in its own way. Here, please put the salad on the table, along with this bottle of white wine. Can you open that for me while you’re at it?” Charlotte handed him the salad bowl and bottle of wine and proceeded to take the chicken from the oven.