I can’t help but swoon when he calls me babe. Don’t get me wrong, I love and loathe the term sweetheart, but babe is unique for him, and something about it gives me butterflies.
“I don’t want to fight it either, Knox, but I still don’t know exactly what it is you want. You’ve told me you don’t do relationships,” I say, sitting up and moving so I can face him. The sight of his naked chest makes my mouth water, but I look up before I start salivating and climb on top of him, unable to get enough.
He turns towards me and brings his forehead to mine. His lips are hovering over mine. “Jesus, you stubborn-ass woman. You’re going to make me spell it out, aren’t you?” he quips, his eyes full of laughter. “I want you, and not just for tonight. Sweetheart, I have no idea what you’ve done to me, but I want to try this. I want more…but I only want it with you.”
I’m a little shocked at his words, having expected him to want friends with benefits or something—not this—even though he’s pretty much been saying it since I got home. I swear my mouth’s gaping open before I ask the question. “You want to be with me…in a relationship?”
He moves away from me, leaving my bare skin leaning against the headboard. It sends a chill through me now that I don’t have his warmth. Positioning himself directly in front of me, he takes hold of my chin, looking me straight in the eyes. He shakes his head, a small laugh escaping his lips. “I swear you’re turning me into a thirteen-year-old boy. I feel like I’m in that “Check Yes or No” George Straight song, but in reality, I don’t want to give you more than one option.”
Knowing where this is going, I can’t help the grin that forms. “Trust me. Nothing about you is boyish and I certainly wouldn’t give a thirteen-year-old the Rugged name.”
“That’s only because you didn’t know me when I was thirteen,” he jokes before turning all serious faced again. “I don’t know where this is going to go, and I know that I’ll probably fuck up along the way, so you may have to be patient with me at times. But I know what I want, and that’s you. All of you. I guess what I’m gettin’ at is this. Charlie, will you officially be my girl?”
I can’t help but think of how adorable he is during his little speech, an adjective that’s probably not often used when describing him. But he looks so serious as he waits for my response, as if he honestly thinks I might say no. In that moment, Heath Ledger’s famous line from The Dark Knight crosses my mind, and like a complete idiot, word vomit comes out of my mouth.
“Why so serious?” I ask and immediately bring my hand to my mouth to contain the giggles I’m trying not to let out as his eyes narrow at me. In an instant, I’m up in his arms, before I land on my back, him on top of me. I stop giggling when he lines our bodies up so that he’s only millimeters from pushing inside me. I try to bring my legs up around waist, forcing him in, but he pushes them back down on the bed before leaning over, stopping just as his lips are about to touch mine.
“I think you just put an end to our movie nights,” he tells me, and I have to protest because it’s one of the things I look forward to when I get home from work. After I moved in, we somehow settled into a routine of watching movies every night. We’ve been spending the last few weeks going through his movie collection, and the thought of movie nights ending is unbearable.
Shaking my head, I start speak, but he brings a finger to my lips, silencing me. He reaches down and puts the tip of his cock inside me. I squirm, trying to take more of him, but he places his hands on my hips to keep me from moving.
“I’m not going to ask twice, sweetheart,” he growls as one hand slides down to the apex of my thighs, his finger grazing ever so slightly over my clit.
I’ve had multiple orgasms in a single night before, but I’ve never been turned on so quickly. I can barely remember the question, but when he starts to slide out of me, I bring my hands up and lace them around his neck, drawing him in closer.
“Here’s the thing, Knox. You didn’t even have to ask.” I pause as I slide my hands down his back, making it easier to lean up towards him before pushing him off me and onto his back. He doesn’t fight me on this. Or when I straddle his thighs and position him at my entrance. As if in unison, I slide down onto his erection as I finally say the words he’s wanting to hear. “I was already yours.”
I’m barely able to finish my sentence before he’s gripping my hips, pumping up into me. Matching his rhythm, I do everything I can to show him that I mean it. I’m undeniably his.
Chapter 22
Charlie
WAKING UP the next morning, I find myself lying flat on my stomach with the right side of my face smashed against the pillow. Opening my eyes, I’m greeted with his gorgeous green ones watching me, and he grins when he sees that I’m awake. We’re facing each other, both in the same position, not touching except for our fingers, which are intertwined. He’s currently rubbing his thumb over mine.
When it comes to sleeping, I’m not a cuddler, and I was pretty damn happy to find out that he isn’t either—not that I was surprised. I like my space when I sleep, and I have to be cold, so wrapped up in someone else’s arms usually means a sleepless night for me.
“Mornin’,” he says, and for the second time since I’ve met him, I can’t believe I’m waking up in his bed. Of course, this time’s under much better circumstances, but I need to be careful because I seriously could get used to this. Even though Knox and I are now ‘official,’ I’m still planning on keeping my own room. It’s way too soon to go from roommates to living together romantically, and I know if I allow myself to spend every single night with him, I’m going to fall hard, fast. Even though I know he’s not Drew and has a clear aversion to cheating, it still scares me to embark on a new relationship.
Smiling at him, I lean over and give him a kiss. Morning breath be damned. I’ve always wondered about that whole thing when reading about those flowery romance novel couples that have incredible morning sex as they make out. Before now, I’ve always been adamant about brushing my teeth before ever placing my lips on another’s, but with Knox lying there watching me as the sunlight shines on his skin, I can’t help but move closer to wrap my arm around him. I let my fingers trail over his back. I love the feel of his firm deltoids and trapezius muscles. I know Knox has been happy about getting back in the gym. The results are already showing, and boy do I love a strong, sexy back.
He deepens the kiss, and in that moment, I finally understand how book heroines are okay with morning kisses pre-mouth washing. When a sexy, rugged, hot-as-sin man is devouring your mouth like it’s the best thing he’s ever tasted, you don’t even think about pushing him away. A few moments later, he pulls away from me, grinning. Yeah, I definitely could get used to this.
“I usually get a vocal response, but if you want to greet me that way every morning, I’m completely okay with that, too,” he says as he rises up out of the bed.
I can’t look away as the sheet falls away from him. Even in the morning, he’s still absofreakinglutely gorgeous, and the morning wood he’s sporting may have me salivating, wanting a taste.
Catching me staring, he grins at me. I want to pull the sheet up over my face, pretending I wasn’t just having thoughts of licking and sucking him until the morning’s effects are spilling down my throat.