Page 13 of Romanced by the Rat (Ghostlight Falls #3)

Chapter twelve

Charlotte

I t hasn’t even been five minutes since Ramsay left when someone’s knocking on my door. For a moment, I think he could be back, but I remember he’s a rat. There’s no way he could knock on my door and actually make a sound.

When I pull it open and see Jeremy, I can’t help the warm feeling filling my stomach.

I should be furious at him, which I am, but I also can’t help associating him with pleasure.

I don’t greet him, just cross my arms over my chest, glaring at him.

I should slam the door in his face, but after Ramsay’s apology, I can’t help that I’m softened toward the situation.

A normal person, in a normal town, would probably be sent to a mental hospital after finding out her lover had a talking rat controlling him and learning that said rat was really a man transformed into a rat, but this is Ghostlight Falls.

This kind of shit is normal. I’ve only lived here a few weeks and I already know that.

It doesn’t make any of this okay, though.

“Charlotte, I’m sorry.” He’s empty-handed. Although he looks his normal devastatingly handsome self, his curly locks are disheveled and his clothes are wrinkled. It’s clear to me now the difference between Ramsay’s guidance and his absence. “Can I come in?” His expression is defeated.

I wait, making him sweat, but of course I open the door, motioning for him to enter. “Wow, it looks great in here,” he says.

“Wasn’t me.”

He freezes, studying me. “Ramsay?” A part of me wondered if they were working together for this apology.

Jeremy isn’t wearing a hat, so unless they’ve come up with a different hiding spot, he’s solo.

But still, this could have been rehearsed.

From the genuine quizzical look on his face, I can tell that’s not the case.

“Yep.”

“Is he here?”

I plop onto the couch, my arms still over my chest. “You just missed him. I’m curious to see how you behave without your leader.”

He rushes to me, sits on the couch, and grabs my hand. “Charlotte, believe me, if I thought I could gain your affection on my own, I’d do it. It seemed like the only way.”

I scoff. “So you thought the only option was letting a rat guide you instead of, I don’t know, being yourself?”

“You don’t understand.”

“No, Jeremy, I don’t. Please explain to me why you made this choice.”

He takes a breath, turning away from me as if to gather his thoughts.

“I told you I’ve never been good with my words.

It’s like my brain and mouth are on two different settings.

I get so nervous that I end up making the shittiest choice.

I met you in a place where I was at my worst. I’m a horrible server, and there you were, looking like heaven personified, and I made an idiot of myself in front of you.

When Ramsay showed up, I was freaked out, but then he gave me some tips, and it worked.

I knew it wouldn’t be enough, though. I’d fuck up and you’d want nothing to do with me. ”

I reach out, grabbing his arm. “You’re being too harsh. Have you seen yourself? I’m sure girls swoon over you all the time.”

He turns to me, his eyes sparkling. “Sure, girls notice me, until I open my mouth and say something stupid.”

“Is Ramsay controlling you now?”

“No, I promise.”

“Well, you’re not saying anything stupid now. In fact, you sound pretty sincere.”

He smiles, almost boyish, almost like he’s not used to the compliment. He takes a deep breath. “Well, now I’m going to ruin it.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to tell you the full truth, even if it’s fucked up.”

My heart beats faster.

“It turned into something else. Sure, I needed the direction, but once I got comfortable with you, I didn’t need him as much, but I still wanted him there.”

I scoot in closer, genuinely curious, “Why?”

He shrugs. “I think I enjoyed the direction, turning my brain off, especially during sex. But then I think I just enjoyed Ramsay’s company.” His cheeks heat. “I know he’s a rat, but he’s also not. He’s a man.”

I nod. Perhaps I should be more disturbed by his confession.

He basically just admitted to being turned on by the sexually deviant rodent on his head, but I can’t judge him, mostly because I understand what he’s saying.

Ramsay was just in my apartment, and from the way he talked to me, I could understand the appeal.

But of course, neither of us can act on these thoughts.

Regardless of what he is on the inside, he’s in the body of the rat, and that’s fucked up.

I sigh. “Okay.”

He looks at me, shocked. “You’re not disturbed?”

“Maybe I should be, but….”

“But what?”

“I still like you.” I look away, too embarrassed to meet his gaze. It’s wild. This man looked me in the eyes as he sucked my clit just the night before, but things seem more vulnerable now.

“You do?”

“Maybe you’re not as bad with your words as you think.

Maybe being honest makes you hotter.” I meet his gaze, heated and darting from my lips to my eyes.

I move forward just a millimeter and he rushes to close the distance, cradling my jaw as he devours my mouth with his.

He pulls me onto his lap, and I wrap my arms around his neck.

I grind against his rock-hard cock underneath his pants.

I reach for him, the heat pooling between my legs becoming too much, but he stops me.

“Wait, I want to finish what I started.” I’m confused for only a moment, before he pushes me back, spreading my legs wide and running his fingers up my thighs.

He pulls down my thin sleep shorts and panties, throwing them across the room once he gets them over my feet.

My breath is as labored as an engine and just watching him rip my clothes off is a form of foreplay.

He kisses up my leg, sending shockwaves through my system.

For a moment, my head clears and I wonder if I’m accepting his apology too quickly.

Minutes ago, I was furious at him and now his tongue teases my seam.

Maybe I’m being too easy, but honestly I don’t give a fuck.

I’m much too attracted to him, and maybe the rat isn’t as weird as I initially thought.

He dives into me, spreading my lips with his fingers as his tongue lathers me up and down before focusing on my clit.

He circles the sensitive bud and in seconds, I’m so close to that blinding edge.

I grab onto his muscular back, my nails digging into his skin as his name spills from my lips.

He pulls back, pulling up my sleep shirt and kissing up to my neck.

I grind against him as he works on unbuttoning his pants and freeing himself from his briefs.

The heat of his cock against my stomach is intoxicating.

I reach for him, needing him inside of me, but he grabs my hands, holding them both above my head with one of his hands.

The other positions his tip at my entrance.

“Fuck, Charlotte. I need you.” It’s desperate, begging almost. He gives shallow thrusts, but I’m already so wet, my body accepting his size readily.

He moves deeper, and I nearly lose my mind at the sensation.

He hits the back of me, the delicious spot that sends my toes curling.

“Jeremy,” I cry out, pulling him closer.

His abs rub against my clit as his speed increases.

My orgasm barrels through me just moments before he’s spurting inside of me.

“Fuck!” he cries, not letting up until every last drop is drained.

My body floats back to earth, and Jeremy settles himself on top of me, still holding most of his weight up on the couch. He breathes me in, and I rub a hand down his back.

I’m sated. Satisfied. But I can’t help but think that something is missing.