“How so?”

“I was just so pissed that I let Ryan use me for sex for all of those years. Granted, it was mutual, and it was exclusive. If either of us wanted to see other people, our physical relationship stopped. We were honest about that, and I believe he told me the truth.”

“Okay, that sounds reasonable.”

“But I was blind too, because I honestly believed he was my friend. And then we had the day in Montana when you drove home that we need to know our worth, and not settle for anything less than we deserve.”

“You deserve so much, Charly.”

“I know.” She nods and pushes her empty plate away. She ate every bite. “My dad reminded all of us frequently that we deserved a person who loved us the way he loved our mom.”

“You do.”

“And I just convinced myself that Ryan was good enough until something better came along. It wasn’t really fair to either of us.”

“And how do you feel now?”

“I’m not angry, and I’ve broken it off completely with him, so there are no more games.”

“So now that you know that you were participating in unhealthy behavior, you’ve taken steps to correct it, and you’ve purged the toxic relationship from your life.”

“God, you’re good at this,” she says with a laugh. “Yes, I would say all of that is true.”

“You did learn something from me.” I smile proudly at her and stand to gather what’s left of our meal. I stow it all away and come back to find Charly lying on the floor, half asleep.

“The candles are pretty.” Her voice is soft. “I like the way they cast shadows on the walls. And the flowers smell so good.”

“I’m glad you like them.” I gather her into my arms after I blow the candles out and carry her up the stairs.

“You’re strong.”

“You’re small.” I kiss her nose. “How about a massage?”

“My feet could use it,” she says with a yawn. “I’ve abused them this week.”

“I can arrange that.”

I place her on the bed and strip her out of the robe. Her skin is soft and still a bit dewy from the bath. She’s on her belly, and it takes everything in me to not strip down and sink inside her.

I want her.

Now.

But I’ve been patient so far, and I can wait a few more minutes. I retrieve some lotion from the bathroom and begin massaging her feet, her legs, and over her perfect arse. She arches a bit and moans when my thumbs find the small of her back.

“Mm, so good.”

“I love your skin.” I work my way up her back and shoulders, her neck, and then down again. The feel of her beneath me, the small moans, is making me lose control faster than I wanted to.

I strip quickly out of my clothes and return to her. Kissing her now, where my hands have been. She grows quiet, and just when I drag my hand up between her legs, she snores.

Snores.

My poor girl is completely knackered.

Part of me is as frustrated as it gets. My cock is throbbing for her, and I want nothing more than to wake her and fuck her, but that would just be selfish.

Not that I can’t be a selfish bastard at times, but not now.

Not with Charly.

I arrange us under the blankets and pull her into me, holding her close. She wraps her arm around my chest and settles in, sighing deeply, and soon her breathing is slow and deep in sleep.

As much as I was dying to be inside her tonight, this is excellent as well. Nothing feels as good as Charly wrapped around me. I missed this with her.

I bury my nose in her hair and breathe her in. Her arms tighten around me, and soon I’m falling asleep myself.

Chapter Eleven

~Charly~

“Charly.”

Someone is whispering in my ear and dragging his hands down my naked body, deliciously following every curve, every dip.

“Charly, wake up darling.”

“If I wake up, will you stop doing that?” I whisper back, not opening my eyes. I arch my back as his hand covers my breast and gently grazes over my nipple, waking it up.

Waking all of me up.

“I want to see your beautiful eyes,” he replies and buries his face into my neck, biting the tender flesh there. “I want you to wake up.”

Rather than reply, my hands take a journey of their own, down his back, his chest, stomach, and finally his impressively stiff cock.

“Is this for me?” I ask, sleep still heavy in my voice.

“Mm,” he murmurs, his mouth wandering expertly over me. I blink my eyes open, and there he is, leaning above me, smiling down at me with lust-filled blue eyes. One hand trails down my stomach and between my legs and his thumb finds my nub, making me inhale sharply. “But this is for me.”

“I’m sorry I fell asleep last night.” He was incredibly sweet last night. I don’t think I’ve ever been pampered the way he pampers me.

“You can make it up to me,” he replies and kisses me, bites my lower lip, and follows his hand down my body to my core. “I think I need to finish waking you up.”

“I think you’re right.” I reach above me and grip onto the headboard, grounding myself because I know exactly what Simon does to me with that mouth of his.

And oh, how I’ve missed it.

But he teases me, nibbling on the inside of my thighs, the crease where my leg meets my center, my pubis, and even my lower stomach.

“Simon,” I moan, circling my hips.

“I’ll get there, love.” He circles my pussy with a finger, then slowly slides it inside of me and places a kiss on my nub. His tongue tickles me. “I missed this. Your taste. The noises you make. The way your body comes alive for me.”