Page 27 of Shadowing Charlotte

Chapter twenty-seven

Charlotte

W e drove for what felt like hours, singing along to one of my playlists. When we got tired of listening to heavy shit, I switched to my musical playlist. Lex didn't know any of the words, but he watched me recite them from the corner of his eye, smiling at me every few minutes.

After my mother died, I changed. I didn't listen to the music I liked when I was with others; crying in front of anyone was out of the question. In the short time since I'd met him, I had done both.

Alexander never judged me. How could he, after the way we had met? Having someone I could share all of myself with, even the parts I usually hid away like cobwebs in the shadows, was nothing short of liberating.

We reached our destination around nine. The waterfront restaurant was intimately lit, soft, low music coming from the piano in the corner of the dining room.

"Lex… This is beautiful," I breathed, my eyes round as I watched the ocean waves crash and sparkle under the moonlight.

"No. You're beautiful," he whispered against the shell of my ears. I wanted to roll my eyes at his cheesy words, instead, I shivered as they set my body on fire. Lex always did that, made my breath hitch and my heart pound, even before I'd actually met him.

As we were escorted to our table, I couldn't help but marvel at all Lex had done to make sure our date was perfect.

The restaurant was upscale, so he'd had to have made a reservation.

It was Wednesday night, so there weren't many other patrons to distract us.

Our table had a small vase of flowers in the center, the scent of hydrangea wafting around us as we were seated .

"You didn't have to do all of this for me, you know," I teased.

"I know, but I wanted to. We can't very well hide out in your house for the rest of our lives."

The rest of our lives… Was it just a little turn of phrase or was Lex thinking about the rest of our lives?

A lifetime of feeling like I belonged to someone; that someone saw all of me and still chose to remain by my side.

Was that even possible for us? We had only known each other for a week, and yet, it felt like years.

Trying not to overthink things, I focused on enjoying our dinner together. Everything was incredible, from the oysters to the pasta. As we ate, we talked. Lex told me about his friend Shawn, who was a graphic designer, and his little sister, Jessica.

"Is she really gay?" My eyes fixed on him with a pointed look. After learning about his night out with Zane, I still had my doubts about his contact with other women.

"Completely gay." he replied. "You can meet her, if you want, and her girlfriend." My shoulders relaxed slightly. "She's closer to your age, I think…"

"Sounds great…" I rolled my eyes my eyes and staring out the window at the breaking waves.

It was an idle comment, but it reminded me that I was, essentially, too young for him.

Our age difference wasn't something that should have bothered me, but this time, his casual mention made me uncomfortable.

"What?" he asked, his tone immediately taking on a defensive edge.

"Nothing," I mumbled, picking at the remainder of my pasta. All I wanted to do was finish my meal and forget about what he said.

"Charlotte…"

"What?" The question spilled out of my mouth, sharper than I'd intended, cutting through the quiet atmosphere.

"I can't fix anything if you don't tell me what's wrong," he insisted gently.

"There's nothing wrong!" My voice rose an octave, elevating like my suddenly-racing pulse. Fuck. Why couldn't he just leave it alone?

"Alright, then," he replied, shaking his head in irritation, "Keep pouting like a fucking child."

"Don't call me a fucking child!" I smacked my hand against the table, glaring at him.

"Then stop acting like a spoiled fucking brat!" he countered, his voice raising just enough for one of the waitresses to glance over at our table.

"I'm allowed to have feelings, and I'm not obligated to share them with you all the time!" God, he made me feel so fucking stupid.

"Right…" Lex sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose like I'd given him an instant headache. "I knew this was a mistake…" he muttered under his breath, sighing .

I felt like he'd struck me in the stomach, the breath sucked from my lungs as I fought the urge to regurgitate everything I'd just eaten.

This was a mistake… I was a mistake.

"Fuck this…" I scoffed.

Opening my purse, I tossed a small handful of twenties down beside my plate before storming away from the table. This was the second time in a matter of days that he'd hurt me; I wasn't going to sit around and give him a third chance.

The coastal air was chilly; goosebumps prickled across my skin as I walked blindly down the sidewalk, heading back the direction we'd driven. The road was long and empty, and I suddenly realized how far from the city we really were.

I stumbled when my heel caught on a crack, my ankle twisting painfully, but I didn't stop. Even when I heard the Camaro, I didn't stop.

"Charlotte, get in the fucking car!" he shouted from the window.

"Leave me alone!"

"Charlotte, I swear to God, do not make me get out of this car and get you," Lex threatened. I snorted derisively and kept walking. As if he would.

The car surged forward and, for a second, I thought he was going to drive off and leave me in peace. And then the Camaro screeched to a halt, and he threw the door open.

"I said leave me—" I shrieked as he gripped my thighs and threw me over his shoulder, hauling me back to the car in an undignified manner. "Put me down, Alexander!" I screamed, kicking and struggling.

Lex merely wrapped his arms around the back of my knees, holding me in place.

He flopped me onto the passenger seat, slamming the door closed before I could protest. I reached for the handle, but he leaned against the outside, crossing his arms over his chest. As I tried to push the door open, he smirked at me, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a pack of cigarettes.

You absolute fucking prick.

He lit the smoke, continuing to lean against the door as he took a long drag.

Fuck this!

He called me a spoiled brat when he was acting like this ?

Fury burned through me like liquid fire in my veins.

Not only was he locking me in his car, but he was still fucking smoking.

Well, if Lex wanted to play stupid games, he was about to learn I wasn't one to be outdone.

I kicked off my heels, wrapping the strap of my purse over my neck and across my chest. Then, while he was looking up at the sky, taking a long drag, I climbed over the seat to the driver's side and flung the door open .

I was halfway down the block, the soles of my feet already stinging from running on the asphalt, before he'd managed to get back into the car. When I heard the engine rev, I stepped off the road, walking in the dirt.

"Are you fucking kidding me, Charlotte?" he yelled at me as he pulled the car up alongside me. Another car rolled past, the driver honking angrily as they swerved around Lex. "Get your little ass in the car!"

"Fuck. Off."

I heard his snarl as he pulled off the road and into the dirt shoulder.

The car shut off, and a strange mix of fear and exhilaration coursed through me.

My pulse roared in my ears, sweat prickling along the back of my neck.

In some sick way, I enjoyed pissing him off; knowing I could get under his skin.

Even if he did think being with me was a mistake.

When I heard the car door open, I broke into a sprint away from the road. Lex cursed as his foot caught on something and he stumbled. I couldn't help but grin. That's right, motherfucker. Run.

When my lungs began to burn and I could no longer hear him behind me, I slowed, walking with my hands on my hips. Everything hurt. My sides were aching, and I was sure my feet would be scratched and bloody when I got home.

There was a scuffle to my left, and then I was caught around the waist. Lex and I fell to the ground as the air was knocked out of me.

I met the dirt with a pained huff, the rocks scraping against my skin.

My dress tore and my knees began to burn.

Crying out, I struck out at him, feeling my nail catch on his cheek, a pink scratch blooming across his skin. "You fuck—"

Lex pinned my wrists above my head, rolling me onto my back, his thighs encasing mine and rendering me immobile.

"Stop it, Charlie!" he snarled, his grip tightening until I whimpered and stopped struggling.

"You're an asshole!" I snapped at him.

"And you're a spoiled bitch! Tell me something I don't know!

" he countered without hesitation. The words wounded me, filling me with white-hot anger.

Without thinking, I spat up into his face, my saliva spattering his cheek as his eyes widened in shock.

"Do that again and, I swear, you won't be able to sit for a fucking week…

" he warned, his voice low and measured, despite the fact that his entire body was shaking with rage.

I don't know what made me do it. Maybe it was the fact that I loathed being told what to do. Maybe it was simply my need to do exactly what I shouldn't. Maybe I just wanted to anger him the same way he had me… Whatever the reason, I spat at him again .

I found myself face-down in the dirt before I could fully register what was happening, the scent of damp earth filling my nose. Lex wrenched both of my hands behind my back, the motion making my shoulders ache.

"I warned you, you fucking hellcat," he ground out. One hand remained firmly around my struggling wrists as the other yanked my dirty dress up around my hips and tore my thong down my thighs.

"Don't you fucking—" The first strike of his hand shocked me, wrenching a surprised yelp of pain from my lips. The sting was unexpected, spreading heat across my ass cheek that only made me fight harder.

"Stay fucking still, little brat," he hissed against my ear, before he spanked me again. I gasped as the pain radiated across my skin, morphing into a lingering warmth.

The feeling was both humiliating and strangely exhilarating.

Tears sprang in my eyes, but I found myself stilling.

My back arched in anticipation of the next blow.

Lex spanked me over and over again, until I was a mess.

A writhing, moaning, sobbing mess. My tears mixed with the dirt, smudging across my face along with my makeup.

"Please…" I begged in a sob.

"Alright, princess. No more…" he agreed, gently trailing his hand over the welts that had formed on my ass.

"N-no… Don't stop…" I pleaded, the words spilling out without a second thought.

A low chuckle of disbelief followed. "Well, aren't you a little glutton for punishment…

" he mused, his voice low and husky as he nipped my earlobe.

He released my wrists, his hands stroking over my heated skin and down between my trembling thighs.

"Fucking Christ, Charlotte, you're so wet," he groaned, sliding his fingers between my legs to emphasize his point.

I could feel the cool air against my wet skin as his fingers spread the slickness around.