City Girl

The fight

I awoke to the sound of Charles's mumbling. Opening my eyes, I was greeted by the blinding morning sun streaming through the enormous windows of the penthouse. I moaned softly, snuggling deeper into the unbelievably comfortable bed—it felt like sleeping on a cloud.

I hadn't planned on spending the night. After the bath, I had settled on the bed and shared room service with Charles. We kept the conversation light, discussing my dreams in Boston and my job at Jax's parlor. We drank plenty of champagne, and although the sexual tension between us was palpable, Charles remained a gentleman. He spent the night on the couch.

As I shifted under the soft sheets, memories of the night before slowly came back to me, and I couldn't help but smile. It had been an unexpected evening—filled with intimacy, but not in the way I might have anticipated.

The bath had been a luxurious escape, but what surprised me most was how much I had enjoyed just talking to him all night. In the glow of the city lights and the comfort of the suite, we had shared stories about life, work, and dreams, which made me feel like I was seeing a different side of him.

The sound of Charles's low voice continued to drift through the room as he spoke into his phone, but he kept it quiet, respectful of my rest. I couldn't make out his words, but from his tone, it seemed like business—serious but under control, like everything else about him.

I stretched, my muscles feeling relaxed and warm from the night spent in luxury. For a moment, I simply lay there, soaking in the comfort of the morning, the sun casting long shadows across the room. I couldn't remember the last time I had felt this calm, this... indulged.

Eventually, I forced myself to sit up, gathering the sheets around me as I glanced over at Charles. He was still deep in conversation, dressed impeccably as usual, his back to me as he looked out over the city. For a second, I wondered what was going through his mind—if he thought about the night before with the same warmth that I did.

"Good morning," I said softly, my voice a little rough from sleep.

Charles turned, a smile immediately forming on his lips when he saw me. He held up a finger, silently asking for a moment as he wrapped up his call. "I'll have my assistant handle the rest. I'll be back at the office later this afternoon," he said smoothly before ending the call.

He set his phone aside and crossed the room toward me, his presence instantly commanding but not overwhelming. "Good morning," he replied, his voice rich and warm. "Sleep well?"

I nodded, tucking my hair behind my ear. "Better than I have in a long time," I admitted, unable to hide the smile tugging at my lips. "This bed is ridiculously comfortable."

He chuckled, sitting down on the edge of the bed, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. I wanted you to feel comfortable here."

For a moment, we just looked at each other, the morning light softening the edges of everything. The tension from the previous night had eased, leaving behind a kind of quiet intimacy that felt... nice. Comfortable, even.

"Thank you for being so respectful last night," I said, my voice soft but sincere. "I know things got a little heated, but you... you didn't push."

Charles's gaze softened, and he reached out to brush a strand of hair from my face. "Mal, I told you from the beginning, this is on your terms. I want you to feel safe with me—respected."