Page 32 of Fast Break

Thirty-Two

Palmer

Lunch was about as uneventful as it could be.

With the company of the Wainwrights, time passed quickly, and their presence tempered my mother's attitude.

The raspberry and lemon trifles were to die for, and the only reason I stayed through dessert.

I snag a couple on my way out to share withCharlie.

Since I left a little later than I thought I would, I drive straight to his place instead of stopping at my apartment topickup my phone. I don't think I'll need it anyway.

I luck out and find parking along the street only a few doors down.

With the dessert in hand, I flounce up the stairs to his place.

We need to talk. I have to tell him I was wrong.

I'm not cut out for casualsexor easy hookups, and I can't change.

Moreover, I don't want to change. Because I've completely fallen forCharlie, and I think he might feel the same.

I don'tcarewhatLibertysaid about his insincerity.

I'm not even sure I believe her anymore.

Charliewas so adamant last night, and why shouldn't I believe him?

He's never lied to me. He's never let me down.

I ring the bell and bounce on the balls of my feet while I wait for him to answer. When he does, the smile spread across my face falters. His hair is sticking up on one side of his head, his eyes bloodshot. Hestaresat me like he can't figure out who I am or what I'm doing here.

"Palmer?"

Ah, he knows who I am."Can I come in?"When he hesitates, Iholdup the little bag with the trifles in it."I have dessert."

He sighs, then steps back and swings the door open.

I enter, noting the empty cans of Natty on the table.

I set the bag down next to them and face him.

He shuts the door and shoves his hands into his pockets.

He'swearinga pair of trousers and a white dress shirt completely unbuttoned to reveal a tight tee.

Idrinkin his well-defined muscles and the dark, smooth span of skin along the hollow of his neck.

My libido stirs, my breathing quickening.

I drag mygazeto his dark and hooded eyes.

"I thought we could talk about last night,"I say, forcing myself to focus. Before we get down to anyfun, there's important business to takecareof.

"You sure that's what you want?"he says in a husky voice."To talk? Because you're looking at me like I'm the dessert."

"I mean,"I lick my lips,"I can't really help it. But yes, we should talk. Probably."

He saunters toward me. His finger traces down the side of my face, and he grasps my chin hard, pulling down to open my mouth.

He slants his lips overmine, and I taste thebeer, but I also tasteCharlie.

MyCharlie. I open wider and he deepens thekiss.

I rub against him, feeling his thick cock against my thighs. We can talk later.

He walks me backward, carefully guiding me around the table, until we reach the sectional.

My knees buckle when I hit the cushion and he falls forward ontopof me, biting my lips and my ear and the side of my neck.

He stops for a moment to shed his shirts, and I rake my nails up and down his gorgeouschest, dragging my fingers along the ridges of his abs to the button of his pants.

In seconds, I free him from the confines of his clothes.

He pushes my dress up and yanks my panties down.

"How wet are you?"He hisses against mychest. He licks in the valley between my breasts while his fingersslidethrough my folds."Always so wet. For me? Is this for me?"

"Yesss,"I pant."All yours."

I spread my legs wide, inviting him inside my heat. He ducks his head and licks a long trail from my entrance up through my sensitive lips to my clit, thenstaresat me and draws the back of his hand across his mouth. I can't explain why I find it so sexy, but my need blazes.

Hepullsme onto his lap. I rise and use my hand to grip him so I can lower myself onto his shaft, but he stops me. He leans over to retrieve his wallet and extracts a condom. I look at him, confused, because I thought this was something we'd agreed on.

He doesn't look at me as he tears open the packet and rolls it on.

He fists hiscockand lines it up to my entrance.

I'm so hungry for him, I don't wait and impale myself on him.

We both hiss as he slides ballsdeepinto me.

Istartto move, using hisshouldersfor purchase, as I bounce up and down, trying to shift myself into the position I need for maximum pleasure.

He rolls me onto my back, never breaking the connection, and hikes one leg up on his shoulder.

I shriek as he pounds inside me, touching meexactlywhere I need.

I arch my back and shout his name as the first wave crests over me.

He pushes and pushes, sweat pouring off his body.

"This is what you wanted, right?"he growls."You just want me tofuckyou.Fuckyou and make you come harder than you'll everfuckingcome again. You hear me? I'm the only one who will everfuckyou this good."

"Oh, God! Yes,Charlie, yes. Only you, only you."I gulp air, trying to force my lungs to expand. But the need is crushing me, stealing my breath. I dig my nails into his back until he yells.

"I can'tfuckingstop."

"Don't,"I keen."I'm coming,Charlie."

I tighten my legs around hishipsand he pumps into me in three long, devastating strokes. He lets out a wail that blends with my own until I don't know whose echo I'm hearing in my head.

After several long moments, heholdsthe condom andpullsslowly out of me. Boneless, I lie staring at the ceiling, blinking away the fuzzy gray dots floating above me while he takescareof the cleanup.

"Charlie,"I say, but my voice is creaky. I want to tell him right now how I feel. I'm madly in love with him and I'm bursting to say it. I have to tell him, no matter what the consequences. I sit up and find my panties, slipping back into them.

Charliecomes backwearinga pair of low-slung shorts and an unreadable expression. He leans against the door jamb and cracks open another can ofbeer."Did you say something?"

I startle at the brusque way he speaks."Is everything okay?"

He takes a sip andstaresat me."Yeah. Everything's fine."

"You're acting weird."

"Am I?"

His voice is flat, cold even. I wrap my arms around my middle."What's wrong?"

"Nothing."He sighs and straightens."Is there something else you wanted to do? Something else I could teach you?"

My mouth hangs open. Istandon still-unsteady legs."Why are you acting like this?"

"Like what?"

"Like a dick, that's what."

He raises an eyebrow."How am I a dick?"

"How are you—"Irunmy hands through my hair."We just made love and you're acting like it was nothing."

"We didn't make love,Palmer. We fucked. Like we have been doing. Like you wanted me toshowyou how to do, remember?Sexwithout love, something you'd never done before. Well, sweetheart, it’s calledfucking."

My heart stutters and tears spring to my eyes. I rub the sore spot on my chest."I don't understand why you're acting like this."

He runs a hand down his face."We had a deal. I wouldshowyou what it's like to have a fling, as you call it. How todatesomeone,fuckthem, without getting attached. I think we're at the end of your lessons. You need to concentrate on the playoffs, and I need to?—"

"What?"I tilt my head and glare at him."You need to what?"

He looks away."I need to get back to my life."

My body sways. I'm physically ill right now. I can't believe I was about to admit I loved him. God. He just saved me from making the same mistake I've been making my whole life. Maybe he sensed it and this is his way of stopping me before I made a complete fool of myself.

"Right."I dig in the bag with the trifles and take out my wallet and keys.“Enjoy the mini trifles. You should put them in the fridge if you aren't going to eat them right away."

My sandals had come off around the time he pushed me down on the couch, and it took me a brief search to find where I'd kicked them under the table. I put them on andwalkto the door, careful not to go near him. My hand on the knob, I stop.

"Why the condom?"I asked.

His jaw tightens. "We said we'd skip them, but only as long as it was just you and me."

Iclosemy eyes against the pain rocketing through my chest, then fling the door open and rush outside before Ibreak. I barely make it to my car before the dam bursts and the tears begin flowing from my shattered heart.