Page 40 of Unearthed Dreams (Sable Point #3)

Chapter Thirty-Four

CHARLIE

“Oh god, yes,” I whispered, breathless and panting as I straddled Kai’s hips.

His hands, so big and rough yet gentle and caring, gripped me by the waist. I had a small scar along my ribs that his thumb occasionally brushed, but other than that, the wounds had healed.

“Fuuuuckk,” Kai moaned as he lifted and slammed me down, over and over, impaling me with his cock.

“Please,” I begged, grinding harder against him. “I need more.”

His grip tightened, his thumbs pressing into my hipbones as he guided my movements. The familiar ache in my muscles felt delicious—a reminder that I was fully healed, fully alive, fully his.

“You’re so fucking pretty,” he growled, eyes locked on where our bodies joined. His silver hair had fallen loose from its bun, strands sticking to his sweat-dampened neck.

I leaned forward, bracing my hands on his chest, feeling the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath my palms. The shift in angle made me gasp.

“Right there,” I moaned. “Don’t stop.”

His hand slid up my back, tangling in my hair and pulling me down for a searing kiss. The taste of him, coffee and mint, flooded my senses. God, I’ll never get enough of this man.

“Charlie,” he panted against my lips. “You feel incredible. So tight, so perfect.”

Six weeks ago, I’d woken up with no memory of him. Now, every touch, every whispered word felt magnified by the time we’d lost.

I nipped at his bottom lip, loving how his hips bucked up in response. “Show me how much you missed me.”

His eyes darkened. In one fluid motion, he flipped us, pinning me beneath him. The weight of him, the heat of his skin against mine, made me whimper with need.

“Every.” Thrust. “Single.” Thrust. “Day.”

I arched up, wrapping my legs around his waist as he drove deeper. The headboard knocked rhythmically against the wall, but I couldn’t bring myself to care if anyone heard.

Kai’s hand slipped between us, his rough fingers finding my clit with practiced skill. “Come for me, pretty girl.”

Stars exploded behind my eyes as waves of pleasure crashed through me. My back arched off the bed as my orgasm hit, Kai’s name falling from my lips in a desperate cry.

“Fuck, you’re gorgeous when you come,” he groaned, his thrusts growing erratic.

Still trembling with aftershocks, I pressed my palm against his chest. “Wait. ”

His hips stilled instantly, concern flickering across his face. “Everything okay?”

“More than okay.” I pushed gently until he withdrew and rolled to his back. “I want to taste you.”

A strangled groan escaped him as I slid down his body, trailing open-mouthed kisses across his abs. His cock twitched against my breasts, hard and slick with my arousal.

“Charlie,” he rasped, his fingers tangling in my hair. “You don’t have to?—”

“I want to.” I looked up at him through my lashes, seeing the raw need in his expression. “Let me show you how much I missed you too.”

His head fell back against the pillow as I took him into my mouth, savoring the weight of him on my tongue. The taste of us mingled together made my core clench with renewed desire.

“Fuck, your mouth,” he panted, his grip tightening in my hair. The slight sting only spurred me on.

I hollowed my cheeks, taking him deeper until he hit the back of my throat. His hips jerked up involuntarily, making me moan around him.

“Sorry, sorry,” he gasped. But I grabbed his free hand and placed it on the back of my head, encouraging him to guide my movements.

“Christ, you’re perfect.” His voice was wrecked, desperate. “So fucking perfect for me.”

The praise sent shivers down my spine as I worked him with my lips and tongue, feeling him throb against my palate.

Kai’s fingers tightened in my hair as his breathing grew ragged. I could tell he was close from the way his thighs trembled beneath my palms .

“Charlie,” he warned, tugging gently. “I’m gonna?—”

I doubled down, taking him deeper and humming around his length.

His body tensed, a strangled groan tearing from his throat as he came. I swallowed eagerly, savoring the sharp, salty taste of him on my tongue.

When I finally released him with a soft pop, Kai immediately pulled me up his body, crushing his lips to mine in a desperate kiss. The taste of us mingled on our tongues as his hands roamed possessively over my curves.

“I love you,” he murmured against my lips. “So fucking much.”

My heart swelled. Those words from him still felt like a gift, especially after nearly losing everything. “I love you too.”

We lay tangled together, my head on his chest while his fingers traced lazy patterns along my spine. The steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath my ear grounded me in the moment.

After a few minutes of contented silence, I lifted my head from his chest. “We should probably head down for brunch.”

His arms tightened around me. “Do we have to?”

“Mom’s making her famous apple-cinnamon French toast.” I pressed a kiss to his jaw. “And you know how she gets if we’re late.”

Kai groaned but released me. “Fine. But only because Emma’s French toast is worth facing your brothers’ death glares.”

We dressed quickly—me in comfy leggings and a t-shirt, Kai in the same jeans and hoodie he’d worn last night.

As we descended the stairs, the sounds and smells of Sunday brunch filled the air—coffee brewing, bacon sizzling, the gentle clink of plates and silverware. But when we entered the kitchen, an awkward silence blanketed the room.

Elliot suddenly became very interested in his coffee cup. Jasper stared intently at his phone. Dad cleared his throat and rustled his newspaper with unnecessary vigor.

Mom, bless her, acted completely normal as she flipped another piece of French toast. “Good morning, you two. Coffee’s fresh.”

I caught Natalie’s eye across the table. Her lips twitched. Next to her, Tessa’s shoulders started shaking with suppressed laughter.

That was all it took. The three of us burst into uncontrollable giggles, the kind that only got worse when we tried to stop.

“Oh god,” Jasper muttered, looking pained.

Kai smirked as he poured us both coffees, clearly enjoying my brothers’ discomfort.

“Really, Charlotte?” Elliot’s ears had turned pink. “At our parents’ house?”

That set off another round of giggles. Even Mom was fighting a smile now as she set a heaping plate of French toast on the table.

“I seem to recall,” she said mildly, “a certain someone sneaking off to the powder room last night with their wife.”

“Mom!” Elliot looked scandalized while Tessa nearly choked on her coffee.

Dad lowered his newspaper just enough to give us all a stern look, but I could see the amusement in his eyes. “Can we please just eat breakfast like civilized people? ”

“Of course, Jay,” Kai said smoothly, pulling out my chair. “Pass the bacon?”

I caught his hand under the table as we settled in, squeezing gently. His thumb brushed over my knuckles, a small gesture that spoke volumes.

This was my family—chaotic, loving, and completely ridiculous. And somehow, against all odds, Kai had become an essential part of it.

“Next Sunday, Chase will be here,” I said.

The mention of his return brought a heavy silence to the table. I felt Kai’s hand tighten around mine beneath the checkered tablecloth.

“Twelve weeks sober,” Elliot said, pride evident in his voice.

Kai traced soothing circles on my palm. I knew he still blamed himself for not stopping Chase that night, despite everyone’s assurances that he couldn’t have known.

“He’s working through a lot of guilt,” Mom said, refilling coffee cups with practiced ease. “About the accident, about his addiction. About the things he said to both of you that day at the bookstore.”

The memory of Chase’s cruel words still stung, but not as sharply as before. Understanding his demons had helped ease that particular pain.

“I’m just glad he’s doing better.”

“He’s getting there,” Dad added. “One day at a?—”

The front door flew open, bringing with it a gust of frigid December air and a flurry of snow. Elena burst in, her cheeks flushed from the cold.

“Sorry I’m late!” She shrugged off her puffy winter coat, unwound a chunky knit scarf from her neck. “Emergency appendectomy ran long, and then my car wouldn’t start in this weather.”

“Perfect timing,” Mom said, already moving to grab another plate. “French toast is still warm.”

Elena avoided looking at Chase’s empty chair as she settled in beside Tessa. The slight tremor in her hands as she accepted a mug of coffee didn’t escape my notice.

There was definitely a story there—one that explained both Chase’s cryptic “That little...” comment months ago when he’d learned Elena knew about Tessa and Elliot’s arrangement, and Elena’s tense behavior whenever his name came up.

But that was a story for another time.

For now, I was content to lean into Kai’s solid warmth beside me, surrounded by the chaos and love of Sunday brunch with my ridiculous family.

My manuscript sat upstairs in my old bedroom, Matthew’s final edits nearly complete. The first query letters would go out next week.

And for the first time in my life, I wasn’t worried about the future. Whatever came next—whether my book sold or not, whether Chase’s recovery stuck or faltered, whether Elena’s hands would stop shaking at the mention of his name—I knew I could face it.

Because I had finally found my own story. And it was better than anything I could have written.