Page 18 of What He Always Knew

She shook her head softly, eyes on her hands as she sniffed again. “I’d just like to go to bed.”

My stomach knotted, but I squeezed her knee again in understanding before pushing my door open. I circled the car quickly to grab hers next, helping her up and out, and she held onto me as we walked inside.

I had to reach her.

That’s all I could think as I watched her kick out of her heels, abandoning them on the hardwood behind her as she made her way upstairs. I followed, my eyes stuck on her delicate spine she’d revealed as she swept her long hair over her shoulder, and blood pumped through me harder at the thought of touching her.

It was the only way I could get to her tonight.

I didn’t have words — I never did. Tonight was no different. What could I say to possibly comfort her from the painanotherman had caused? And there wasn’t a single thing I could think to give her in that moment that would make her feel any better — nothing I could build, nothing I could cook, nothing I could buy.

The only way I knew to make her feel my love was to use my hands, my lips, my body to show her I was there. I was always going to be there.

A small sigh left Charlie’s lips when we made it to our bedroom, and she pulled all the rings from her fingers, save for the one I’d given her the night I proposed at her parents’ house. She unclasped her pearls next, and as she set them on her vanity and made to move for her zipper, I slid up behind her.

“Let me,” I breathed, and my fingers covered hers momentarily before she conceded, letting me undress her.

I took my time, sweeping her hair away from where it had fallen back and pulling the zipper down slowly. Charlie stiffened when my fingers grazed her lower back under the fabric, and I swallowed, just the sight of her skin eliciting that same carnal reaction in me that it always had.

Chills raced down her back next as my hands moved up and over her shoulders, sliding the straps of her dress down, and when she let her arms rest at her side, the entire dress fell into a puddle of silk on the floor.

She hadn’t worn a bra, and I let my fingertips trail leisurely over her shoulders and across her thin collarbone before they dipped just a little lower, grazing the small swell of her breasts. We were standing in front of the same vanity mirror I’d watched her get ready in before dinner, and my eyes found her in the reflection just as she closed hers.

She was still stiff under my touch, but I took my time warming her up, stepping closer as my lips found the back of her neck. I kissed her gently at first, my lips tender and feather-light against her skin, but when her lips parted, a sigh leaving the space they left, I palmed her breasts in my hands and softly bit her neck.

Charlie arched her back, leaning into my touch, and the reaction I had to that movement, to that sigh, was automatic. I hardened instantly, pressing that arousal into her backside to let her feel me. She gasped again, but then she leaned away.

“Cam…”

I spun her, hand finding the back of her neck and pulling her mouth to mine before she could say another word. My lips devoured hers greedily, tongue sweeping in to claim her as my hands tightened around her waist. The way she fit there in my arms, the way her mouth moved with mine, it was like the sweetest, most familiar dance. We both knew the music well, and it sang straight to our hearts, bringing us back together, if for only that small moment.

My hands swept up into her hair, tugging gently, just enough to make her head drop back and allow me better access to her mouth. I kissed down her jaw, up to the lobe of her ear, across her neck, her collarbone, before crawling my way back up to her lips once more.

She was fighting it, fighting me, but the more I kissed her, the more she melted.

Yes,I thought,come back to me.

I pleaded with her to do just that with every touch, every kiss, every moan. Steadily, carefully, I wrapped my arms around her until I could lift her, carrying her to our bed. She hit the comforter with a softwhoosh, her legs spread for me, and I slid between them with my lips still fused to hers.

When my left hand slipped between us, trailing down until I felt the wetness of her core on my fingers, she sighed. I plunged one finger inside her, soft but deep, and her hand shot out to wrap around my wrist.

“Please…”

Her request fueled my fire, and I slid another finger inside her, growling against her neck.

But she shook her head, gripping my wrist harder.

“Please, Cameron,” she said again, this time waiting until my eyes met hers. “I’m tired.”

And with those two words, my blood ran cold, draining the heat from me in a slow, torturous current.

I still held her there, my fingers inside her, my eyes searching hers for what those words truly meant. It was the first time Charlie had ever rejected me, the first time I’d ever known the feeling, and I realized then how badly I must have hurt her all those nights I’d pushed her away.

But it was only because I didn’t know how to touch her, anymore. Not after what happened.

Not after I filled her with love, love that became our babies, babies that were never born.

Slowly, carefully, I withdrew my fingers, wrapping her in my arms as I watched her.