Unbound (19 page)

Olivia immediately responded, “Sure, no problem.” Dani didn’t really want company but wouldn’t have said no. When they got out of the car and started walking to the dorms, Steve approached.

“Hey Charlie, I won’t be home tonight. I’m going to ride this girl home a
nd,” he paused uncomfortably, “you know, man,
I won’t be back until tomorrow afternoon. See ya,” And he was off. Olivia and Lindsay looked at Dani and Charlie holding hands as they walked and said in unison, “Alright then, we’ll see you guys later.”

Dani guessed they saw the same opportunity she had, but she wasn’t sure it had dawned on Charlie yet. He was too good-hearted to jump to that conclusion. Dani decided to plant the seed for him and see if it grew. Still holding hands, she leaned her head against his arm as they neared his dorm.

“You ready for me to walk you to your dorm or would you prefer a walk around the park first?”

“I would love to get out of these heels but I’m not ready to go home yet. Maybe, if it isn’t too big an imposition, we co
uld go to your room for a while,” s
he suggested without the slightest hint of impropriety. Dani actually saw the light bulb over Charlie’s head switch on. He looked introspective for a moment.

“I’d be glad to remove your slippers, Cinderella,” he teased. “But I’d hate for you to wake in the morning and see a pumpkin instead of the prince you’re really after.” Now he was serious, and Dani wished she hadn’t confided quite so much of her feelings about Lucas and Chase.

She stepped in front of him to stop his forward motion past his dorm. If the guys she had wanted in her life didn’t want her, then she would give herself to the one that did. She was more than ready and willing. After everything she’d learned about men and their indifference to the pain they caused others, she saw no need to wait for some fantasy love that didn’t exist. “I believe you are the only prince I have ever met, Charlie. Not to mention you already agreed to be my test subject.” she teased. Then more seriously, she added, “Could you still care for me knowing that I have problems? I don’t know who I am. Could you be with me even if I told you I didn’t know where my life is going and I can’t make you any promises?” Charlie took her face in his hands and searched her eyes. She continued, “Would you still stand here and hold me if I were honest with you and admitted to being completely lost in this world? I can’t offer you tomorrow but tonight I belong to you.” She turned her head and kissed his palm.

Charlie seemed satisfied with whatever he saw in her eyes. He took a slow deep breath and wrapped his arms around her, “I believe that only makes me want you more. I believe you have the most honest and pure heart I’ve ever known, and I hope you’ll find room for me in that heart, no matter where your mysterious road takes you.” He led her up the stairs to his empty room.

Inside he turned on the lamp and told her to make herself comfy. He was going to take a quick shower after all that dancing. The bathroom door closed behind him and she considered the possibilities. She could stay there like a coward and wait for the end of her innocence, or she could laugh in the face of modesty and do it up right. The latter sounded like much more fun, and it wasn’t like she hadn’t ever stood naked in front of a guy before. She heard the water come on in the shower. With sober determination, she removed her dress and stood proudly in only a thong and her heels. She knocked on the bathroom door. Charlie opened the door wearing his boxers and she greeted him with a sexy smile. She could see the heat rise in him when he looked her over and a sly smile stretched his lips.

“I’m having the damnedest time getting these glass slippers off. I thought they were just supposed to fall off. Could you help me?” She put a hand on his bare chest and pushed him farther into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. His eyes said all she needed to know. He wanted her and she needed so badly to rid herself of all the rejection that plagued her mind. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he lifted her off the ground wedging her between him and the door. Holding her pinned, he licked from her jaw line to her neck. The flames of new desire and anxiety over her inexperience filled her, and she trembled under his heated touch. Charlie pulled one of her t
high
s up and ran his hand down the length of her leg to dislodge a shoe as he n
ibbled and sucked his way across her collar bone
. Then the other shoe was gone before she knew it.

He pulled her against him and turned to sit her on the edge of the counter. Dani did what felt natural and wrapped her legs around his waist. He pushed her shoulders back until her head and shoulders rested against the mirror that now steamed over from the hot shower. He couldn’t help noticing the purple bruise that about covered her ribs. “I’ll try to explain later” she told him.

Charlie’s eyes roamed over her body and his need to have her was apparent in the fire of his green gaze and the stiffness she felt pressing against her belly. Lightly he ran his fingers from her neck past her collarbone and traced a small pattern between her breasts and down her abdomen to the small triangle of lace that was the only thing standing between him and her heat.

* * *

He spoke in a husky, soothing voice, “You’re so beautiful, Danielle. I want you so badly, but I need you to be sure you want this. I can’t stand the thought of losing your friendship for any reason.” He leaned in to kiss her because he wasn’t ready for her answer. He wanted to feel her close to him and think that she wanted this for one more moment. Then he’d give her the chance to leave before they couldn’t take this back. When he pulled away her answering cry of agitation at the loss of his lips against hers told him everything. She meant what she said, and she wanted this as badly as he did. He kissed her again, his tongue danced with hers. Her silky skin against his palm tantalized when he slid down her panties. Then she stopped kissing him back and just looked into his eyes. He froze, waiting for her to change her mind.

“I need you to understand that I’ve never done this before. I’m not this kind of girl.” She took his face in her hands and told him with a nervous hitch in her voice.

“You think I don’t know you better? I’ve never had sex on the first date either, but we have known each other for a while. I hope you don’t think it’s normal for me.” Charlie smiled.

“No.” she tried to explain, “I mean… I mean I’ve never had sex at all…ever.” Heat and color spread up her neck and across her face.

The smile dropped from his lips and he leaned away from her, trying to see if this was a bad joke. It wasn’t. So he had to ask, “And you really want to do this… with me?” His heart was hammering against ribs when she pulled him closer again.

“I just wanted you to know, I have no idea what I’m doing. I hope it won’t be awful for you.” She was terrified of disappointing him and embarrassing herself.

He could handle this, he told himself. He was perfectly capable of deflowering the hottest girl he’d ever been this close to, but it would only make it that much worse for her if she regretted this in the morning. No more questions, he told himself. Just try to make it worthy of remembrance. Try to make it good for her. He dropped his boxers and pulled out the clip that was holding her hair up. Lifting her into his arms again, Charlie carried her to the shower.

* * *

She could feel the solid girth of him against her bare skin. When he set her on her feet Danielle had no idea what to expect, but it wasn’t what happened. He made a mass of foam and began slowly and deliberately washing her body, taking care to be very gentle over the bruises. Bracing against the walls of the shower she was losing her mind. He told her to turn around. She put her hands on the cold tile in front of her and he began to wash her again. His slippery hands caressed her body ever closer to where she needed him. She arched her back, the movement brought her backside right up against Charlie’s thigh, and he groaned from behind her.

* * *

Charlie was watching the little rivers of water run from her hair, down her back and disappear into the cleft of her backside, marveling at the pure perfection of her body, until she arched her back and put her heat right on his leg. Okay, playtime was over for him. He was taking this hot ass girl to bed. After ensuring she was rinsed, Charlie shut off the water and proceeded with his soaking wet beauty to the bedroom. Gently he placed her on the bed and turned off the lamp.

* * *

She could still see him in the light creeping through the half-closed bathroom door. He rolled a condom down his length and she shivered.

“Are you cold?” he asked as he lay down beside her. She answered with a shake of her
head and turned her body
toward him. He lifted her leg up to rest on his hip, exposing her to the cool air. She wanted this badly, every cell in her body was screaming for it. Charlie softly licked at her mouth, begging entrance. His fingers burned a maddeningly slow trail from her collarbone all the way down the center of her body and she jumped when he slid his middle finger between her folds and began slowly, lightly brushing small circles over and over her most private part. Another finger followed, and the tension built with the added pressure he applied and she climbed higher, trying to follow it. She felt the edge of something she wanted desperately but didn’t understand.

She rocked her hips against his hand and he pan
ted, “Are you ready for more?” H
e moved those fingers slowly into her body. The oxygen left the room while she struggled to adapt to this new pressure and fullness. He moved with unhurried gentleness until the mix of pleasure and discomfort passed into something hotter, greedier. Charlie used his thumb to continue the assault on that sensitive bead.  She wheezed and writhed against him. Charlie whispered praises and told her how hot she made him while he brought her gently to her first crushing climax. The world imploded around her and she knew her eyes were black. The pressure of elongating fangs made her mouth feel full. She closed her mouth and shut her eyes hoping he wouldn’t notice. She hadn’t accidentally mesmerized him yet, so if she could avoid that and manage not to bite him it would be alright. But, of course, Charlie read the tension in her body.

“Did I hurt you, D?” He was stroking her back and looking down at her.

Dani shook her head and tried pull him closer without opening her eyes or her mouth. He responded but held himself above her waiting for a response.

“Look at me.” He said, palming the side of her cheek.

A tear started to roll down the side of her face. If he saw her for what she really was, and she didn’t even know what that was, would he reject her too? She brought her hand up in an effort to shield her mouth and said, “I can’t. Please, don’t stop.”

* * *

Charlie took a cleansing breath and prayed for control. His tether to sanity was stretched thin. He’d done his best to pr
epare her for what was coming. He rolled her onto her back and
spreading her thighs wide with his knees. As gently and slowly as his hungry body was capable, he stroked his length against her damp heat until he was coated and she relaxed. When her hips began moving to meet him he could take no more. In one long stroke, he pushed into her and past the barrier that wanted to bar him. Danielle gasped at that initial burning penetration and whimpered.

“I’m sorry, baby.”  He tried to soothe her and spent several long moments completely still, placing kisses on her cheeks, her eyelids, and her lips to allow her body time to adjust to the intrusion. Slowly he withdrew and returned, withdrew and returned. She made a strangled sound of surprised pleasure and need. His control broke and all thoughts of a slow loving were replaced with steady thrusts into her tight body.

* * *

The heat of his body, the thrumming of his heart pulled her into him. She wanted to taste him while he rocked her. Danielle decided then to share herself with Charlie entirely. All she could manage was a breathy whisper, “I want you to really know me, but I’m so afraid you’ll hate me, or be afraid of me. I’m afraid of myself.”

“You can tell me anything
,
D. I could never hate you.” He bathed her mouth in wet kisses as his pace quickened just a bit and she moaned into his mouth.

Danielle concentrated on showing him what she had become and it would be his choice to walk away, but in that most intimate moment, she needed him to see her for what she really was. She knew she could pick up memories and emotions from others. She hoped for the ability to make it work in reverse. He needed to truly see her.

Charlie was so wrapped up in the moment he didn’t even stop when she began to project her story into his mind. She wanted him to feel the urge she had to taste him. His pace slowed but he continued to stroke her while watching her story in his mind. She showed him all her recent experiences with fangs and black eyes, the loss of Lucas and her attack. She allowed him to feel her fear and sense of rejection.

Finally, he whispered, “This is what you’ve been hiding from me?” He parted her lips with his tongue and ran it around the sharp points of her fangs.

“Let me see your eyes, Danielle.” He demanded as his long strokes became faster. She opened them to reveal the cold black of a hunter. “I knew you were different, baby, just not exactly how. You won’t hurt me.” It was a statement not a question. “I could see that in your mind. I would rather you came to me than take a chance at getting hurt again.”