Page 10 of Shadowing Charlotte

Chapter ten

Alexander

W hen the car pulled up in front of her house, my pulse quickened and I leaned forward in my seat.

Charlotte stepped out onto the sidewalk, clad in the tiniest dress I'd fucking seen, her ass looking fucking incredible.

She stumbled on the asphalt, her heel catching on a crack in the road as she opened the door.

Where the fuck was she going dressed like that?

I followed the car, sure to keep my distance, until we were downtown. When the vehicle slowed to a stop in front of a club, I relaxed, watching her step onto the sidewalk.

An Uber. I sighed with relief, the jealous monster inside me settling.

Charlotte pulled open her little bag, gripping something. She lifted it to her lips and sucked, letting out a cloud of vapor as another woman pulled her into a hug. I wondered if she was still smoking the vape I had left in her Jeep.

"Hey, man. This is valet only." I was warned as someone knocked on the hood of the car.

"Where's the parking around here?" I asked as I rolled down the window.

The music pounded as I stepped into Eden, grateful for the low lights.

I could keep an eye on her and she'd never even notice me.

I made my way to a dark corner, taking a seat, her copper curls barely visible through the crowd.

For a while, I drank, losing sight of her every few minutes as she left the floor to order a drink or use the bathroom.

"Hi." The blonde that suddenly appeared in front of me smiled, batting her fake lashes at me. I couldn't help but think if her eyelids fluttered any faster, she could use them to fly away.

"I'm not interested." I turned to look for Charlotte on the dance floor .

"Here with someone?" she asked as inched closer.

"Even if I wasn't, I still wouldn't be interested," I snapped impatiently. Without a second thought, I turned my back on her.

I scanned the crowded space, finally spotting her. Charlotte was sandwiched between two men. Her hands held the shoulders of the guy in front of her, and she was bent over, grinding back against some other motherfucker. The sight made my blood boil.

When his hands gripped her hips, thumbs grazing the swell of her ass, I lost it. I was across the dance floor before I knew what the hell I was doing, grabbing hold of his collar and shoving him away with a glare.

"Touch her again and I'll break your fucking wrists!

" I snarled. Charlotte turned to look at me, her brown eyes growing wide in shock.

She was slick with sweat, her pupils dilated, her gaze unfocused as she gaped at me.

Christ, she was fucking higher than a kite.

The music melted into the background of my mind as she stared at me, her chest heaving.

I had no chance to react as she jumped into my arms, her mouth colliding painfully with mine as her hands snaked around my neck, drawing me close.

"What the fuck, Charlotte?" I yelled over the music, pulling away from her kiss in shock.

She'd kissed me. It was something I'd always dreamed about, but I didn't want her like this.

Gripping the collar of my shirt, she yanked me closer, grinding her body against me as she raked her bottom lip through her teeth. Fuck, she was so damn sexy. When I pushed her away, her expression morphed into a pout.

"What's wrong?" she asked, her half-amused voice barely audible over the music. "Don't you want me, Alexander?"

Fuck… She knew. How the fuck did she know?

"Not like this, I don't!" I snarled at her, recoiling. A wounded look flashed in her eyes, before her pout transformed into a glare.

"Fuck off, then. I don't need a babysitter!" she yelled, shoving against my chest.

Oh, but she did. She needed someone to protect her from her own fucking stupidity.

"Damnit, Charlotte!" I found myself shouting over the music, gripping her arm. "Are you out of your fucking mind?"

She smirked at me, like she'd just won a game of fucking chess. It made me want to shake her, if only to rattle some sense into her addled brain.

Suddenly, something changed in her expression.

Her smiled died away and a look of panic flashed in her eyes.

Charlotte turned and shoved her way through the crowd toward the bathroom.

The undignified shrieks and protests from people around us fell on deaf ears as I followed her into the bathroom.

I couldn't care less what the rest of those women thought about me. All I cared about was Charlotte .

Just like the night I'd taken her home, she vomited, falling to her knees on the disgusting bathroom floor with her head over the toilet. The moment she started to heave, I was behind her, gathering her auburn curls in my fist and holding them away from her face.

"You really shouldn't mix shit, Charlotte," I scolded gently. My free hand rubbed over her back as I sat down on the floor behind her.

Charlotte groaned, sinking back against me, her head falling sideways to rest against my shoulder.

"Why?" she asked in a soft moan of discomfort, nuzzling me like a fucking cat.

"Because they'll fuck up your brain." She shook her head, dissatisfied with my answer. "Why what?" I asked.

"Why did you choose me?" she asked weakly.

"I didn't choose you, Charlotte. It just happened. Believe me, I wish I fucking knew," I sighed, gently running my fingers through her hair. She reeked. Vomit and alcohol and the low notes of her musky jasmine perfume intermingled unpleasantly. "Come on, baby. Let me take you home," I offered.

She nodded, her eyes falling closed as she rested her head against me, the heat of her skin prominent, even through my clothes.

"Oh, princess, what am I going to do with you?

" I asked in a heavy, exasperated sigh as I helped her up off of the disgusting tile floor.

Charlotte leaned against me as we weaved through the club and out onto the sidewalk, her eyes glazed over.

She looked every bit as high as I knew she was. "What did you take, anyway?"

"Something blue…" she mumbled against my sleeve, clinging to me like a lifeline. Shaking my head, I pulled her closer, my arm wrapping tightly around her waist.

"You're an idiot, Charlotte…" I muttered under my breath.

"What does that make you?" she countered, her words jumbling together almost incoherently.

"A bigger one…" I replied, unable to hold back the smirk that spread across my lips. By the time we reached the car in the adjacent parking lot, she'd thrown up again. As I opened the door, Charlotte halted.

"This isn't your car," she mumbled, her honey eyes looking confused.

"You're right; it's not." I pressed against the small of her back, urging her into the passenger side.

"Where is the Camaro?" Her brows knitted together as she looked up at me, her nose doing that wrinkling thing that made her look adorable.

"At home," I answered shortly, closing the door before she could ask another question. I would need to switch rentals now that she'd seen what I was driving. Then again, perhaps there was no need. Perhaps I didn't have to hide from her anymore. Perhaps, after tonight, things could be different.

Charlotte was quiet as I drove her home, her head lolling from side to side, tiny little huffs and whimpers falling from her lips, the kind that made my dick ache.

When we pulled up in front of her driveway, she was already half asleep.

"Come on, Charlotte," I groaned, hauling her out of the car and up the path to the front door.

"What's the code?" She didn't answer, letting out a sleepy sigh and rubbing her face against my sleeve.

"Charlote, baby, I need you to focus," I insisted. "What's the code?"

"Lottie," she replied dreamily. I cocked an eyebrow at her in confusion.

"What?"

"You can call me Lottie," she mumbled.

"I'm not calling you Lottie. It makes you sound like a fucking toddler, which is what you're acting like," I replied, grimacing when I realized I was chastising her like a fucking parent.

"Charlie, then…" she insisted, pulling her face from my shirt.

"Better," I breathed, smiling at her as she finally focused, her gaze settling on the door. She nearly tripped on the mat, fumbling as she entered the code, once, twice, finally getting it right on her third attempt.

1776. I smirked. America's birthday as her passcode. It didn't seem like something she'd use. Perhaps she was right that afternoon we'd tried to have lunch together; maybe there was a lot I had to learn about her.

Stumbling inside, Charlotte yanked her heels off, tossing them on the floor and wandering barefooted into the kitchen. She just left me standing there in the doorway. The light flicked on, and I heard the pop of a can.

"Do you want something to drink? Some weirdo left a pile of Pepsi cans in my house," she teased, peeking out of the kitchen with a grin.

Stepping inside, I closed the door and flipped the lock. "Damn, that's some coincidence. I just had a Pepsi splashed on me the other day." I crossed the living room. At my playful reply, the smile fell from her face.

"You're still an asshole, you know…"

"I know," I grinned and followed her into the kitchen.

Charlotte opened the fridge, gently tossing me a can.

She didn't close the door, leaning into the fridge and letting out a sigh as her skin cooled in the frigid air.

I watched as goosebumps rose on her arms, the sight sending another wave of arousal through me.