Loud and Clear (F1 x CL16)

14. Enchantment

The dinner was amazing. Pierre was like a master chef and made the best steaks ever. Which we enjoyed a lot. Even Charles came to make some pasta as well. It was busy in the kitchen and the counter was filled with all sorts of dishes. Within an hour we were at the table and eating dinner. We talked a lot, even sang. And made fun of each other. The whole time I had a smile on my face. I hadn't smiled that much since my parents had died. I always enjoyed Christmas and other holidays a lot when my parents were around. But ever since they had passed I distanced myself from the joy of holidays. But today I finally found my spirit again.
Pierre had left a few minutes ago and I was chilling on the couch when Charles walked up. And yes, he didn't join Pierre. Just like Pierre suspected. Thinking of it made my stomach ache. I had feelings for him, and now that Pierre even suspected that Charles would rather be with me than at some club made me feel things. I was starting to think Charles liked me as well.
"Ready to decorate the cookies?" Charles asked and I jumped up from the couch. We decided at dinner to finish the cookies after dinner, so that was now.
The cookies were already displayed on the counter and I picked one up. "They look delicious." I said as I took a bite.
"Hey we're supposed to decorate them, not eat them!" Charles said and I had to laugh.
"I'm sorry!" I took another bite and Charles shook his head as he turned to get the decorations.

It was an hour later, already later on in the evening and we were almost done with the cookies.
"Hey this one looks like you!" I joked and lifted the cookie up. It looked like shit.
Charles chuckled and took it from me. "I'm offended. I don't look like shit." He glanced down at me. And god I could die any minute now if he kept staring at me like that.
"You kinda do..." I said sarcastically and he placed the cookie down.
"I. Do. Not." He said as he started tickling me. I gasped, trying to breathe as he made me giggle like a fool. I kicked out, trying to make him stop. My stomach began to ache as he kept tickling me.
"Stop!" I squealed between several breaths. And he did stop. I took a normal, deep breath and glanced up at Charles. "I hate you." I said and the only thing he did was fucking smile.
We finished the cookies and I might have taken a few to eat... but there were enough remaining for the other days.
"I have an idea." Charles started as he sat down beside me on the couch. "How about we go in the Jacuzzi? We haven't used it yet." I glanced over at the Jacuzzi that was in the backyard of the cabin. It wasn't snowing anymore so it was possible to use it.
"Sure. Now or after the movie I was going to watch?" I asked as I pointed at the television with the remote control.
"Now?" Charles suggested and I nodded. I switched off the television and stood up. Luckily I packed a bikini, just in case there was a Jacuzzi, which luckily there was one. We got upstairs, and for a second I forgot we shared a room. Both of us got out our swimming-suits and Charles quickly walked out, giving me the space and privacy to change. Such a gentleman.
I quickly changed and put a bathrobe around me to stay warm enough outside. Charles knocked on the door as I was just putting on the bathrobe. "Can I come in?" He asked. I quickly put my robe in place and opened the door, being greeted by a handsome, half naked man. I just stared at his abs as if he wasn't there, and honestly I didn't even mind because... wow.
"Ready?" He asked as he extended his hand, waiting for me to take it. Wait? Take it?
I ignored my questions and placed my hand in his and he started to lead me downstairs, to the backyard. He held the door open for me and I already saw the cover being pulled off from the hot tub. Was I really that slow?
"Watch out for the step. It's quite slippery." Charles said as we made it to the tub. I quickly pulled the robe off and turned to get in the tub because it was freezing outside. How the hell was he standing there without a robe and not shivering? I glanced over to him, only to find his gaze all over me. Was he checking me out? My skin began to heat even though it was freezing outside.
I ignored my thoughts and quickly went into the tub. But the hot water from the tub didn't help with my already burning skin from his gaze on my body. He came in right after me and didn't even flinch or react to the hot water. My admiration for him even expended. He sat down opposite me and I couldn't help but check out his body through the clear water. I quickly scanned him before finding his eyes, which were already locked on mine.
"This was one of the best Christmas Eve's of my life." Charles said. He gave me that special smile again, the one where his dimple came to shore. A smile only I got to see very often.
"One of the best? I feel offended." I joked. For me it was the best, even the ones with my parents didn't reach the enjoyment I had felt today.
He chuckled at my stupid joke. "The ones with my family are the most special..." he trailed off, staring at me as if he just said something what was forbidden.
Of course he knew about my parents. I didn't talk about them freely, only when people specifically asked. "Christmas with my parents was also magical. But today was the highlight of my year..." I finally felt happy again. Somewhat at peace.
Charles gave me a weak smile. "I also miss the magic in Christmas since my dad passed away." Charles admitted. And this confession made my heart beat faster. He never really talked a lot about his personal life, so this was something new. "But even without the magic it's still fun."
"Exactly." I said with a smile. "I've celebrated Christmas with Pierre and his parents for the past 12 years. But I'm happy that I could celebrate it with you this time."
A silence fell over us for a moment. But it was stopped by the splashing of water. Charles was moving in the tub, now sitting down next to me. And his action made my heart jump for a heartbeat. My heart seemed to do that every time he came close.
"You're such a powerful person..." Charles started and I could almost not hear his words because my heart was beating so loudly. "Even when something is missing you still seem to find a way to make things possible. You're so special, Brie." If his words didn't made my heart shatter already, then the way he said my nickname was my breaking point.
"You've never called me Brie before..." I said in a whisper and I locked my eyes with his. He was leaning in. God I think I was leaning in as well. I could feel his warm breath against my very cold face. His eyes pierced into mine, he quickly glanced down and I knew he was thinking the same thing as I was. I didn't want to glance down those few inches... where his lips were. God I missed the feeling of his lips on mine. I hadn't even kissed anyone since him last summer. I probably didn't even remember how they felt like.
His hands cupped my cheeks, his thumbs stroking over my temples. Kiss me. My heart screamed the two words, but I couldn't seem to find the words to roll off my tongue.
My heart threatened to shatter into pieces. I couldn't stop the beating of my heart. My chest rose heavily. I couldn't keep it in anymore.
My arms flung around his neck and I pulled him in, locking my lips on his. For a moment he didn't do anything, but then he kissed me back. His hands crawled into my hair as I clung to his neck, trying to keep myself as close to him as possible, god I almost crawled up his lap. His hands left my hair and a little noise escaped from my mouth as a protest, but his hands found their place on my waist and he pulled me up, lifting me onto his lap. Another noise escaped, this time one for approval. My hands lingered at the back of his neck, my fingertips brushing through his hair. He leaned his head back just a bit, so that I could deepen the kiss, which I did. I locked my lips on his as if he was the air I breathed. My mouth opened as I was desperate for air and Charles took the advantage of it by sticking his tongue in. I groaned into his mouth at the contact and his hands tightened their grip around my waist before trailing back up, leaving a hot trail against the side of my body. His hands found their place back in my hair and I almost let my head fall back at the pure pleasure he gave me.
His lips unlocked from mine and my eyes shot open. He stared at me while breathing heavily.
"Brie..." he started, but his lips already found mine again. He couldn't stop, nor could I. His fingers intertwined with my hair and he pulled at it, making me bend my head back. A noise escaped from my lips as his lips left mine. But instead of stopping he started to kiss my throat. And god... I moaned. The trail he left behind with his lips made my skin heat. My whole body felt like it was on fire.
"Charles..." I panted his name as his lips trailed down to my collarbone. He let his hands slip out of my hair and I leaned forward. His lips left my skin and he leaned back a bit, so he could look me in the eyes. "This isn't right..." I said, my mind speaking. Because my heart... it was screaming to be let out.
"Is it?" He asked as his eyes pierced into mine. From this distance I could make out every single detail in those forest green eyes.
"We're going to be teammates..." it was the truth. And I didn't know if it was against the rules, but I didn't want to think that I only got into Ferrari because of my connections with Charles.
"I don't see a problem in us being teammates." Charles said, making his statement. But did he want this? Was he a relationship-kind-of-person like I was? "You're making that thinking face again."
"Do you see this as a fling?" The question came straight out of my heart. My brain didn't even get to process it first.
"Do you want this to be a fling?" Charles asked back, not answering my question. His gaze slipped back to my lips.
"No." I said it. I wanted this to be real. I wanted him to be mine. But we were teammates.
"Then it won't be." Charles' hand stroke over my shoulders. "Brie, I like you. And even though we're going to be teammates, I don't want to let you go." His eyes pierced into mine, a glint in his eyes. "I just got you, I'm not letting you go." His words made my pulse race. God I was falling badly for him. I was for months.
No words came up to express how happy I was. So instead of saying it, I showed it. My mouth found his again and he immediately returned the kiss. It was deep, harsh and pure. It was nothing like our first kisses. The ones where hate and lust took over. My hands trailed down his arms, following the harsh lines of his muscles. I went lower, trailing the lines of his abs and I felt his body tense under my touch. I shifted in his lap, trying to touch him even more, but he held me firmly in my place. He let his head fall back, breaking off the kiss. "Shit... Brie you don't know how much control you have over me." His panted words made my heart burn. I tried to shift again and this time I could feel him being hard under me.
My hands trailed back up and I rested my hands on the back of his head. He leaned forward again and locked his lips firmly on mine, but quickly moved down to my jaw, leaving a trail of kisses over my throat. My head fell back and I let him touch me. God, I almost begged him to touch me.
"I need more." I said, out of breath. His kisses were burning my skin, but the space between my thighs was hotter than anything. I rocked my hips and Charles groaned as he stopped kissing my body. "I need you, Charles." I begged. I needed him inside of me. White hotness spread through my body and I was blinded by the sudden sensation.
Charles had stopped, his hands caressing my body as he stared at me. "I don't want to go too fast." He said and I nodded. We were going fast.
"We're not..." I whispered as I leaned back in, my lips holding still an inch away from his. I waited for him.
Within a few seconds he was already kissing me again, and that hot, burning sensation arose again. God the things he did to me. His arms closed around my back and pulled me closer, my chest resting against his. He stood up, my body held in his arms as I put my legs around his waist, clinging onto him as we didn't stop our kiss.
"We need to get out." He said against my lips and I parted. I was breathing rapidly as I slowly lowered myself back in the tub, giving Charles the space to get out. I immediately followed him and before I could touch the ground I was lifted up again and my lips found his again. He lifted me back into the cabin, my robe left behind outside. I didn't mind it one bit. I only wanted him.
Charles dragged me to the bathroom. I hoped he would put me in the shower and kiss me until my knees were too weak to hold myself. But he lowered me to the ground and broke off the kiss. A moan escaped my lips as he took a step away from me, but came straight back with a towel and put it around my shoulders. "You'll get more when you're dried up." He winked at me and grabbed a towel himself, taking it over his wet body and drying himself.
My mind was racing with thoughts, but in the meantime the only thing I thought of was him. His lips, his body against mine. I needed all of him, and he wasn't giving it to me.
"Are you going to use that towel or do I need to dry you off myself?" Charles said, his eyes glistening with the challenge he just proposed.
"No." I said as I took the towel. "I'll do it myself." I turned around, turning my back to him and took my top off. If he was going to play hard to get, then so was I. I let the upper part of my bikini fall on the ground and I rubbed the towel over my body, drying every piece. 
Was I going to do my bottoms as well... was I brave enough? I could feel his gaze on me as I kept drying myself up.
I was brave. Stubborn and prideful. I wasn't going to step down from a challenge. My hands trailed to my bottoms and a second later the sound of wet clothing hit the ground. I quickly started to do the rest of my body, not giving Charles long enough to check me out. Within a minute I was all dried up and put the towel around my body. I hadn't even noticed that Charles had done the same. We were both naked apart from the towel covering a small part of our body. I soaked in the sight of him. I let my gaze go from his abs all the way up to his eyes, where my gaze met his. "You're torturing me." Charles almost growled as he took me in his arms and pushed his lips back on mine. My arms clung to his neck as he bent down and kissed me as deep again as in the tub.
I was torturing him. I wanted him to want me, need me. But he was holding back. He wouldn't take me now, he wanted to wait. But could I?
I pulled back, trying to lock my eyes with his. "Should we watch a movie?" I asked, trying to stop myself from literally jumping on him. It probably was the better option to wait, see where this would go.
Charles nodded and let me go. I turned to leave the bathroom and go upstairs, so that I could change into something more comfortable. Charles followed, clearly having the same idea.
A few minutes later we were laying on the couch, his arms around my body as I laid against him, almost laying on top of him as he held me so close to him. I snuggled against his chest and he started the movie.
My eyes felt heavy as the movie was halfway done. I couldn't help but close my eyes for a few seconds. I was just so comfortable and absolutely drained. But instead of closing them for a few seconds they stayed closed, and I fell asleep before I even could finish watching the movie. The last thing I felt was Charles keeping me in his arms.