Fortune's Deception (6 page)

He bent forward to kiss her neck, draw his hands up and down her back. “You feel so good, Brittney.”

“Hmm, so do you.”

They began to move together, the scent of sex filling the room, the slap of skin on skin and her juicy cunt gripping him sounding in his ears. She slid forward onto the desk, her legs spread wide and he rubbed his hands over her fleshy buttocks, watching as his

cock slid in and out. Just the sight of him plunged deep inside of her, her pussy dripping cream made him want to climax.

Hell, he
was
coming. Coming hard and coming fast. With a shout he spurted, balls deep inside her and she ground herself against him, crying out as well. Unbelievable. She came again, just like that.

All of this hot and heavy action was him feel like a real stud.

He withdrew and she turned to kiss him, her lips soft and clinging, her tongue slow and searching. He cupped her face, his mouth lazy, as if they had all the time in the world.

“I don’t give a shit what you said about no relationships,” he murmured against her mouth. “I want to see you again. Tonight.”

She nodded, the movement so subtle he almost wasn’t sure it happened. “All right, that’s fine.”

Charlie kissed her, stole her breath, stole his breath and it took him a minute to say anything else. To recover from the overwhelming need to possess her fully. Make her his. “Come to my house. I’ll cook you dinner.”

“Are you trying to seduce me with food?”

He chuckled. “Maybe.”

She gazed up at him. “What time do you want me there?”

Ah fuck, can you stay forever?
“Seven?”

“Perfect.”

Brittney stood on Charlie’s doorstep, wringing her hands. She ran her tongue over her teeth, pressed her lips together to make sure they were evenly coated with gloss. Any excuse to prolong this, any reason to not knock on his door just yet.

She was already fifteen minutes late, had been standing on his front porch for what felt like an eternity. Knew that what waited for her inside his house was something she had never ventured into before. Uncharted territory was about to be explored.

The uncharted territory of an actual, real live, serious
date
. At a man’s house with said man making her dinner.
Dinner
. This was important.

And scarier than shit.

Before she could bolt, she raised her arm to knock on the door and it swung open, shocking her silent as her arm dropped to her side. Charlie stood in the doorway, looking amazing in an untucked button-up white cotton shirt, sleeves rolled up casually, jeans and bare feet. She stared at those feet, a warmth trickling through her veins at his intimate appearance.

So casual, so homey, so right. That’s what it all felt like.

Panic clawed at her and she willed it away, clearing her throat and shooting him a dazzling smile. The one she used when she wanted to impress. “Are you a mind reader?”

“I was worried and ready to go out and look for you.” He opened the door wider, waved her in. “I’m glad you made it.”

She walked inside, her eyes widening at the sight before her. His home was gorgeous, all open spaces and spread out with an airy feeling to it. Sparse, simple furnishings only added to the atmosphere. It suited him.

Charlie shut the door and leaned in, pressed a quick yet lingering kiss to her lips. “I was afraid you weren’t going to show.”

“And miss a free dinner cooked by you?” She raised her brows, not surprised that he knew her well enough to realize she might bail on him tonight. “Not a chance.”

“I hope you’re not a vegetarian.” He led her through the living room and into the kitchen, where a shallow pan filled with marinated meat sat on the counter. “I thought I’d barbeque some steaks.”

“Don’t worry, I’m a total carnivore.”

She studied him, watched him move about the kitchen with efficient movements, pulling a bowl of salad from the refrigerator, then peeking in the oven.

He was so utterly comfortable in his skin, in his home, she envied him at that moment. Wished she could be as comfortable as he.

“I have potatoes baking in the oven, a salad and French bread.”

“Sounds wonderful.” And it did. She had a brand new stainless steel barbeque on her back patio that she’d never used, let alone opened up. She didn’t even know how to turn it on. Maybe she should invite him over to her house next time and have Charlie break it in.

No, no, no.
This was not a permanent deal no matter how cozy this night might end up being. She couldn’t allow it, not when it would eventually end.

And it would end, her attempts at relationships always did. She just never allowed her heart to break in the process.

With Charlie, she could see him breaking her heart literally in two if she let him.

“Want a glass of wine? I have a nice red chilling.”

“Sure.”

He went over to the tiny customized refrigerator tucked in a corner of his kitchen and pulled out a bottle, uncorking it. She wandered over to stand next to him at the counter, watching as he poured them each a glass. He handed one to her and clinked the rim of his glass against hers.

“To dinner.”

“To red meat.”

They drank, their eyes meeting and something besides the warm liquid of the wine washed over her, making her feel downright euphoric, heady.

“You’re not wearing a dress.”

Brittney glanced down at herself, then sipped from her drink again. She wore a pair of black capris and a grass green halter-top. “No, you’re right, I’m not.”

“You always wear a dress or a skirt. At least when I see you.”

Hmmm, the easier it is for him to access her just where she needed him. She should’ve worn a skirt tonight.
Sans
panties. He would’ve really liked that.

“You wanted to change things up tonight so I guess I wanted to change things up too.”

Charlie smiled, his brown eyes warm behind his glasses. “Too bad, I love to look at your legs. Ready for me to throw the steaks on the grill?”

She startled at his change of conversation, still focused on the off-hand compliment he just gave her. He liked to look at her legs? She’d had no idea.

Well, yeah, they couldn’t keep their hands off of each other every time they met, but she had no idea he appreciated her legs.

Now she really wished she’d worn a skirt.

“Yes actually, I’m starved. I can’t wait for dinner.” Couldn’t wait for dinner to be over so she could get right to her dessert.

Charlie
.

He set his wine down, grabbed the plate of steaks and went to the sliding glass door, opening it slowly. A giant black dog appeared out of nowhere, tail wagging fiercely, barks of excitement coming from him.

Of course Charlie had a dog. He looked back at her, shrugged his wide shoulders in apology. “He gets overly excited, especially when I have company.”

“Have company often?” She couldn’t help but ask, immediately regretting it. She sounded like a jealous shrew.

He shook his head. “No, that’s why he gets excited. I’m a terrible dog owner, always at work, I never give Lou the attention he deserves. I pay my eleven-year-old neighbor to come over and hang out with him just so I don’t feel guilty.”

Brittney stood silent when he shut the door, unable to move from the kitchen. Oh God, she didn’t know how to behave, didn’t know what to say. Everything felt normal, so everyday, and she’d never experienced anything like that. Living in ramshackle houses when she was a toddler, moving from place to place, her mother couldn’t hold down a job. Didn’t want to keep a job, she’d been too busy getting high and getting slapped by her various lovers. Brittney didn’t even know who her real father was. A humiliation she still didn’t like to talk about to this day.

She’d always felt alone and at sixteen, when she had moved out of her grandmother’s house, she literally was. Her mother had died a few years ago of a drug overdose. Her grandmother was in a retirement home, now funded entirely by Brittney. She had no one and she always told herself she didn’t mind.

Now seeing Charlie in his true element, watching him while he absently scratched his dog’s head as he flipped steaks on the grill with his other hand, her heart wanted more. Why should she have to spend her entire life alone with just her money and friends to keep her warm? That was no life. Eventually Lauren and Maddie would find boyfriends, get married, have lives that didn’t involve her. That was the normal progression in life. She was the only one who kept it light and easy.

Smarter that way, you won’t get hurt
.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to attempt something serious. She’d survive in the end, many others did. Why couldn’t she?

Because you’ve already been hurt so much your heart might not be able to survive.

“Are you all right?”

Brittney turned to find Charlie standing next to her, a concerned expression on his face. She hadn’t heard him come back inside. Blinking she tried to smile, but knew it came out a little twisted. “I’m fine, just thinking.”

He leaned against the counter, crossed his arms. Her eyes wandered over him, taking in those shoulders she liked to clutch, his wide chest, his denim-clad legs. Looking at him made her mouth water, her sex throb.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Oh, you know.” She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “How good those steaks smell and how hungry I am.”

“They’re almost done.”

“Good, because I can hardly wait.” She went to him, ran her hands up and down his chest, felt the heat of his skin through the fabric of his shirt. His eyes flared at the contact and she tilted her head back, parted her lips in invitation.

He dipped his head, his beautiful mouth hovering above hers. “I’m not going to start this right now.”

She jerked back from him. “What do you mean?”

Charlie shook his head, furthering the distance between them. “We’re not doing this tonight, Brittney. I can’t.”

“What, you’re not going to fuck me? I thought that was the only reason I came here!” As soon as she said them, she wanted to take back the harsh words. She sounded like a complete gutter tramp, like she was no better than her slut of a mom. Her mother had done the same thing when she was young. Sleeping around, flitting from man to man, never able to stay around too long. Especially because so many of them were losers, drug users or pushers, abusers.

Charlie wasn’t anything like that. He was just a man. A nice man who managed to get her motor running like no other could. And she was being completely unfair with him.

His hand smoothed over her hair, his eyes gentle as he smiled at her. “I’m trying to show you a nice time without mauling you the second we lay eyes on each other. I’m using everything I have to keep my baser urges under control because, trust me, Brittney, I want you. I want you so bad but I’m not going to give in to the temptation tonight.

Tonight we act like a normal couple out on a first date, learning about each other without all the sex getting in the way. When that happens I can’t think straight.”

“I don’t know how to act like a normal couple,” she blurted.
Shit, why did she admit that?

He leaned in close, his breath tickling her cheek, his lips practically touching her ear. “Just follow my lead and you’ll do fine.”

She stood frozen, her back pressed against the counter as he went back outside to the barbeque to check on the steaks. He’d surprised her, she had to give him that.

The entire night ended up surprising her. The food was delicious, the wine giving her a pleasant buzz, the man giving her an even more pleasant buzz. She asked all the right questions, prompting him to divulge his personal life. His parents still married, the oldest of three with a younger brother and sister. A good student, a hard worker, a sentimental man when he talked about his sister’s little boy and girl.

Lou the dog had snuck in sometime during the evening and he sat at his owner’s feet, an occasional thump of his tail indicating he’d like a snack. Charlie obliged him, sneaking leftover bits of steak or bread.

Brittney absorbed it all in mute fascination, envious of his simple yet seemingly fulfilling life. She’d thought once she won all the money her life would be perfect and the ache in her heart she didn’t like to acknowledge would ease. None of this had happened. The money only made her lonelier, searching for something she didn’t know how to find.

She wondered if she could find it in Charlie.

They had moved onto his couch, glasses of wine still in their hands, soft music playing in the background. Her favorite singer to be exact, Tanner Robinson. His smooth voice crooned low throughout the room, along with the tinkling of a jazzy piano. All of it so cozy, so romantic.

A girl could get used to this.

“I’ve talked all night about myself, I’m sure you’re bored.” He sipped from his glass then set it down on the coffee table in front of them. “It’s your turn to share the dirty details.”

If he only knew how dirty they were
. Brittney shrugged, set her wine down next to his. “There’s not much to tell. You know everything about me already.”

“That’s not true. I only know that you’re a twenty-eight-year-old lottery winner with two best friends and a penchant for expensive items.” He grinned, his tone teasing and she relaxed a bit. “Come on, Britt, you gotta give me something.”

She couldn’t. She didn’t even know how to begin. Only her friends knew about her past and that had taken everything she had to confess. And she still hadn’t shared all the horrible details. Some things were better left unsaid. “I’m an only child of a single mom who died a few years ago. I did terrible in school and I was always told I’d never amount to anything. Thank God for the lottery, right?”

She tried to sound light and funny but it came off bitter and twisted. The look on Charlie’s face said it all. Sympathy filled his deep brown eyes and she looked away. She didn’t want his sympathy. She could barely handle this night, all of the emotions it conjured up too overwhelming for her to comprehend.

No, she wanted his body, pure and simple. His hard cock filling her, his hands stroking her to sexual bliss. That’s what she wanted, needed.

That’s all she could deal with.

“Brittney…”

She leapt from the couch, stood over him. He didn’t plan on giving her what she wanted tonight. He’d made that clear so she had to leave. She couldn’t stand to be around him for another second if he wasn’t going to tear her clothes off and satisfy the ache that had been growing within her the minute she walked into his house.

“I should go, Charlie. Thanks for the dinner, it was wonderful.”

Practically running to the door, her low-heeled sandals clicked loudly on the tile floor. She didn’t hear him follow. A startled gasp escaped from her lips when his long fingers curled around her upper arm.