Page 69

Based on the tiny smirk playing on Charlotte’s lips she supposed not. Following her back into the house, Alex didn’t fuss about the plates they’d left outside and did her best to go with the flow.

“Gimmie like two minutes,” Charlotte said when they stopped in front of the bedroom door.

“You want me to wait here?”

Charlotte’s face flashed with a momentary grimace. “Not exactly how I planned it, but will you humor me?”

Alex smiled. “Go do your thing.”

“Two minutes. It’ll be worth it,” she promised before popping a kiss on Alex’s lips and disappearing into her bedroom without her.

Instead of standing in the hallway doing nothing, Alex picked up outside and turned the candles o . Because the bedroom door was still closed when she finished, she cleaned the kitchen too.

Apparently two minutes was closer to fifteen, but Alex didn’t mind. It was nice that Charlotte had put so much e ort into her birthday. She?

?d really made it special. This hadn’t been what she expected when Charlotte pursued her.

There was a sweetness to her that wasn’t easy to see. Even now Charlotte seemed to keep it well concealed, but she couldn’t hide it completely. A fact for which Alex was grateful.

The second time Alex started down the hallway, she was joined by the scent of lavender and ginger. As she drew closer, she detected jasmine and vanilla too. Soft instrumental music escaped through the door. Charlotte had left it ajar, a signal that she was ready.

Inside the bedroom, Charlotte had placed dozens of candles in corners, on the nightstands, and on the dresser.

She’d even arranged them around the settee and side table near the window overlooking the pool.

As Alex’s eyes adjusted to the low light, she looked for Charlotte.

“Are you coming in?” Charlotte asked from where she stood between the two walk-in closets leading to the bathroom.

Without responding, Alex walked toward her. Standing nude with her legs crossed, she was practically angelic.

If Alex had any skill, she’d commit the moment to memory and paint her on a canvas. She only wished she’d been able to undress her, but Charlotte had yet to give her the opportunity.

Alex kissed her wine sweetened lips hungrily as she turned Charlotte in her arms and pressed her against the closet door. Before Alex’s hands could go further than Charlotte’s navel, she stopped her.

“Not yet,” Charlotte whispered against her lips.

Resisting the urge to pout, Alex exercised her patience and allowed herself to be led into the bathroom. There, Charlotte had placed more of the scented candles, but the bulk of them were around the large, oval tub that she’d filled with rose petals.

“Ready to get wet?” Charlotte joked as she started to unbutton Alex’s shirt.

“Way ahead of you,” Alex replied before unbuttoning her jeans.

The hot water shocked Alex’s sensitive skin as she slid into the tub. She’d barely sat down before Charlotte’s self-control shattered. Water splashed over the edge and onto the tiled floor when Charlotte pounced.

When Charlotte straddled Alex’s hips, she forced her all the way back to one end of the tub. Groaning from the discomfort of hitting her neck on the ledge and from the sensation of Charlotte’s naked body sliding against hers, Alex reached for Charlotte’s face to pull her into a kiss.

“Nope,” Charlotte said as she resisted. “I’m in charge.”

Alex laughed. “Isn’t this supposed to be part of my birthday present?”

Charlotte grabbed Alex’s wrists, pulling her hands into the water so she could pin them down with her knees.

“Yes. That’s why you have to let me give it to you.”

Alex smiled wryly. “Shouldn’t I be getting whatever I want? I mean if it’s a gift?”

“You should be gracious and love what you get,”