Hearths of Fire (17 page)

“But what about Mandy?” Charlotte didn’t like the feeling of vulnerability this situation
was bringing. She had no control over the situation or events that could occur. It
was as if she was a teenager all over again and someone other than herself was driving
her future. “She—”

“I know you don’t want to hear this, but right now she’s one of them.” Neal’s words
made it hard for Charlotte to breathe. That wasn’t what she thought he was going to
say and she felt the sharp edges of the truth. “They won’t harm her unless they feel
she’s pulling away. Honestly, Char, we don’t even know if they
would
take things that far. You and I both know we’re making a lot of assumptions, which
is why I need to be able to do my job tomorrow. I’ll run some recon, which just happens
to be the job I was trained for, while you stay back as a decoy.”

She tried to lift the side of her mouth in a half smile and pulled an epic fail, as
Mandy would have said. Neal was trying to make her feel as if she were contributing
when in fact he just didn’t want her near the compound if things went wrong. She wasn’t
sure what to say to him, so she turned on her bare heel and walked back to the bed.
The sheets were cool as she lay down on them, stretching out on her side so that she
could watch him. Five minutes ago she thought they would have been in this very bed
finishing what they had started and fulfilling each other’s desires. Now she couldn’t
get it out of her head that if something went wrong tomorrow they might not get the
chance. Never once did Neal’s eyes stray from his target as she watched him into the
wee hours of the morning. The longer she was with him the more she wished the past
could be revisited.

*

Neal stood at
the side of the bed, looking down at the blonde beauty that had watched over him
for the last couple of hours. Technically he should have changed into the appropriate
clothing, gathered the suitable gear, and been on his way the moment the sun touched
the horizon. The follower that had been chosen to watch the house had left his post
and wasn’t relieved by another, but Neal figured that was because Garreth would be
coming to collect Mandy sometime this morning. The Ashes wouldn’t miss an opportunity
to share the good word with their members on this Sunday. When that happened Neal
would be there hiding in the background. He just couldn’t bring himself to leave this
room without touching Charlotte.

She was wearing a pair of pink panties with daisies printed on the soft material.
Her tank top didn’t match, but one of the spaghetti straps had fallen down while the
bottom lace trim had taken position above her abdomen. Neal traced her porcelain skin
alongside the edge of her underwear and wondered why she felt so self-conscious about
her body. From the lasting golden color on her arms and legs, she’d been out in the
summer sun yet she’d not worn a bikini. She’d never worn one back in the day either.
Didn’t she know how sensual her curves were and that men loved an hourglass figure
like the one she possessed?

“You can go lower.”

Neal bit back a laugh at her apparent need for control and her penchant for issuing
directions. He pulled his eyes away from where he’d been touching her and found that
her blue eyes were watching him intently. He wasn’t getting out of the house without
giving them both what they wanted. Giving in this one time, he leaned forward and
placed one hand on her pillow while slowly sliding the fingers of his other hand into
her panties. Her heat instantly surrounded the skin of his fingers as he kept going
lower until he felt her clit. She spread her legs wider, giving him more than enough
room to maneuver. It wasn’t until he slipped his middle finger into the folds that
her lashes closed over those baby blues and she pressed herself into his touch.

“You are so wet.” Neal was amazed that her body responded so quickly while waking
from sleep. He continued to watch her face as he pleasured her by gathering her cream
and lubricating her sensitive tissue. “This time you don’t come without me inside
of you.”

Charlotte’s eyes shot open as she searched his gaze to see if he was serious. He was.
The next time she had an orgasm it would be around his cock, pulling his pleasure
from his body. Images of their past flashed through his mind and one in particular
came to the forefront. She used to love positions that would give him access to her
clit and he doubted that had changed. He was determined to find out.

“I’m liking this game,” Charlotte said, sleep making her voice husky and downright
sexy. She stretched her arms above her head and extended her body as if she were a
satisfied kitten. “What happens if I come beforehand?”

Neal drew his shirt over his head and went about removing his jeans before answering.
He’d been around the block enough to know he liked taking control in the bedroom,
but that was where his predilections ended. He’d be more than willing to oblige her
if she wanted to carry things further and have fun in doing so. He took his time donning
the condom that she’d brought into his room last night while he thought of an answer.
He’d had a constant hard-on since he’d arrived in Hearth and last night had only made
it more so.

“I’m sure I can think of something that would be an appropriate chastisement.”

Charlotte’s light laughter drifted through the room. He held out his hand for her
to take and when her fingers melded with his, he helped her stand. Taking the edge
of her tank top, he pulled it up and over her head revealing her ample sized breasts.
Tossing the clothing on the floor, another memory came to the forefront and he knew
exactly how to carry out this morning.

“Hey,” Charlotte exclaimed when he left her to grab the chair that he’d used all night.
He had a much better use in mind for it. “What are you doing?”

There was a full-length mirror attached to the back of the door. It had been there
from when they’d dated as teenagers and as he settled the chair in front of it, he
was glad that she hadn’t gotten rid of it. Neal faced her and it was apparent she
comprehended what was about to take place. She didn’t seem too pleased with his idea,
but by the time he was done she’d be beyond satisfied.

“Panties off…now.” Charlotte lifted one eyebrow, arching it perfectly over her right
eye. Her hair was tousled, making him want to run his hands through the strands, but
he would have some within his grip soon. He’d use it to hold her head back while he
licked and sucked at her neck, taking her over and over until she screamed his name.
“You’re the one who said you liked this part of me. Now.”

The smile that adorned Charlotte’s face stole his breath and for a moment, Neal was
taken back in time. It was as if they hadn’t aged in the fading years and this was
what the future had held for them. It was bittersweet but he wouldn’t waste the time
mourning the loss of something that hadn’t really gone away. Whatever they labeled
this thing between them…it would always be there. She slid her fingers inside the
lace trim edge and pulled them down over her thighs until they fell around her ankles.

Charlotte stood there in all her glory and stole the oxygen right out of the room.
Her blonde hair fell over her shoulders in waves, caressing the sides of her breasts.
The curve of her hips was the most sensuous part of her body and appeared to be drawn
by an artist trying to capture the ethereal beauty of a siren. He didn’t have to say
a word as she took it upon herself to close the distance between them and place her
warm hands on his chest.

“Make love to me, Neal,” Charlotte whispered, looking up at him as if past regret
didn’t exist. For the moment he wouldn’t allow it to. “Make me feel again.”

Neal laid his hands over hers and slowly backed up until he stood in front of the
chair and was able to sit down, placing her in front of him. Sunlight poured through
the slit in the sheer curtains, highlighting her body as if she were an offering given
to him by a higher power. He was selfish enough to take it as he held her still in
between his legs and brushed the back of his knuckles to her hardened nipples.

“I want this memory burned into our minds, Char,” Neal said, injecting his voice with
enough intensity that she understood what he was saying. He needed to say or do something
that would keep the barriers in place that would allow him to leave here and go on
with his life. “We needed more time than we were given.”

Neal could see the question burning in her light blue eyes and knew he couldn’t allow
her to verbalize it. They needed to take this moment with both hands and cherish it…not
take it for granted. He brought his hands down to her hips and turned her reluctant
body until she was facing the mirror. His cock had remained in a painful throbbing
state that would only find relief inside her body, but he needed this more than he
would have thought possible.

“I want you to widen your legs as you straddle me.” Neal positioned Char over him
and he saw the morning sunlight glisten off of the inside of her thighs. Despite last
night’s orgasm she was more than ready to take him inside of her. “Slowly ease yourself
onto me and watch in the mirror as you accept me.”

‡

C
harlotte lowered herself
onto Neal, watching as his cock slowly slid into her body. As sensual as it was to
watch, it came nowhere near the actual sensations that were being produced as her
folds parted to accept him. Those were his words and damned if that’s not what it
felt like she was doing. He was filling her in a way that made her realize she’d been
empty for a very long time. The more she took of him, the wider her sheath expanded
and that delicious burn she craved enveloped her. She was going to come.

“Open your eyes.”

The sound of Neal’s rich voice stopped the waves from crashing around her and she
met his green stare and all the intensity within. As she had finally taken every inch
of him inside of her, she held herself still so that their image was etched into her
mind. His hands came around her now that he no longer needed to support her and he
cupped her breasts. Watching things happen and to only then be overwhelmed by the
sensations was an odd combination and she found herself tensing with each motion of
his fingers. His right hand massaged her ample flesh while his left fingers rolled
her nipple, causing electric pulses to shoot through her.

“I need to move,” Charlotte whispered, her pussy throbbing and making his cock feel
even larger, which was saying something. She felt ready to split, yet she couldn’t
get enough of him. “I want to feel more of you.”

“Put your hands on my knees to lift yourself up.” Neal leaned forward with her slightly,
never once letting go of her breasts. She felt her cream run down the inside of her
thigh as she pulled her lower half off of him. She looked like a wanton woman with
the way her blue eyes were shining in the mirror and not the
girl next-door
type that made her living at selling books. “Take me back inside of you.”

“Yes,” Char moaned as she sank back down, recreating the burn that she’d come to associate
with him. He was now rolling both of her nipples, as well as tugging on them. The
longer he rubbed and pinched them, the more she wanted him to do it harder. “More.”

“Take more then.”

Charlotte didn’t care that he misunderstood her, because she also wanted more of his
cock too. She got into a rhythm and found that the sight before her captivated her
in a way she didn’t understand. It was carnal and animalistic. Did he want her to
see them this way in hopes that she wouldn’t take this act in a tender and caring
manner? He was sorely mistaken, because what she saw was beauty. She could see the
longing in her eyes, the heat practically emanating from her body, and the basic hunger
that wasn’t satisfied yet. Tuesday wasn’t going to be long enough, but she shoved
that thought behind her as she leaned back against his chest. She had this moment
now.