Love in the Dark

Chapter Twenty-Two: Back to Reality

Carlos emerged from the bathroom, the tension in his body eased after finally relieving the uncomfortable pressure. But as his eyes fell on Charlese, who lay still on the bed, dressed in nothing but his t-shirt from earlier, staring up at the ceiling, an entirely different kind of worry gripped him.

She was too quiet, too still.

In the time he had spent with Charlese, Carlos had come to understand that she was a chronic overthinker. Her thoughts could spiral, consuming her, and the silence in the room only amplified his fears. He knew her too well. Instead of sharing what was bothering her, she would keep it all inside, letting the weight of her emotions build until it overwhelmed her. The time he had spent in the bathroom, while necessary, had given her enough space to let doubt take root, and that thought alone made his heart clench.

Carlos wasn't sure of what words would help in a situation like this. It wasn't that he didn't care—he cared deeply—but he preferred to express himself through actions, through his touch which might reassure her. And right now, he needed her to feel that, to know it.

Without a word, he slid back under the sheets, his body instinctively turning towards hers. She hadn't acknowledged him yet, still locked in her own mind, eyes fixed on the ceiling. But the subtle shift in her breathing betrayed her. She knew he was there. And the faint blush blooming on her cheeks and neck confirmed that his presence had stirred something inside her.

Carlos hesitated, searching for the right way to bridge the gap that had formed between them in these quiet moments. And then, instinctively, he reached out, his hand ghosting over her waist before gently pulling her closer. The moment his fingers curled around her, her body reacted—a slight, almost imperceptible tremor—and her breath caught in her throat.

His touch was warm, tender, as if he was afraid she might break. He pulled her snug against his chest, his heart racing but steady. The softness of her body against his sent a wave of warmth coursing through him. She fit perfectly in his arms, as though she belonged there, and when her head instinctively nestled into the crook of his neck, he felt a quiet relief settle in his chest.

But he wasn't done. Carlos wanted her to feel more, to know she was safe here, with him.

His fingers slid into her hair, slow and deliberate, brushing through the silken strands with an intimacy that made his own heart flutter. His other hand moved beneath the fabric of his t-shirt she wore, caressing the small of her back in gentle, rhythmic motions. Each stroke of his hand was an unspoken reassurance, a way of grounding her and pulling her back from whatever overthinking was trying to consume her.

Carlos held her tighter, his body surrounding hers as if to protect her from the thoughts he could almost feel swirling in her mind. He let his touch do the talking, hoping she understood what he couldn't quite find the words for.

"Stop it, Cariño," he whispered softly into her hair, his lips brushing the top of her head. "I can feel you thinking."

Charlese's breath hitched, and her fingers, which had been resting limply against his chest, curled slightly, clutching at him as if she needed the connection. Then, in a voice so quiet it barely made it past her lips, she murmured, "What have we just done, Carlos?"

There it was—the question he knew had been coming.

Carlos tightened his hold on her slightly, letting his forehead rest gently against the top of Charlese's head. Her question hung in the air between them, and for a moment, he didn't know how to respond. It wasn't the first time he'd heard her speak with uncertainty, but this time felt heavier—like a fragile thing that could shatter if handled carelessly.

He wasn't good with words in moments like this, not when his mind was still spinning from the intimacy they had just shared. But he had always been good at feeling, at using touch to communicate what he couldn't say aloud.

"What we just did..." he whispered, his voice low and tender, "Was something I've wanted for a long time."

His hand continued to move slowly over her back, the soft material of his t-shirt making each stroke of his fingers feel more intimate. He could feel Charlese's breath against his neck, warm and uneven, and the way her body seemed to relax a little more with every pass of his hand.

"I know you're overthinking it," he added quietly, his lips brushing the crown of her head as he spoke. "I can still feel it, Cariño. But I need you to know—this wasn't a mistake."

Charlese didn't respond right away, her face still nestled in the crook of his neck, her warm breath brushing against his skin. She seemed to be weighing his words carefully, the weight of her thoughts still palpable between them. Carlos, however, continued to let his hands speak for him. His thumb traced lazy circles along her lower back, and he pressed her just a little closer to him, as if the physical connection could ease the turmoil in her mind.

"Look at me," he murmured softly, shifting his head back until her eyes met his.

"I just—" Charlese started, but her voice faltered. She sighed, biting her lower lip as though trying to keep herself from saying more, from letting her anxieties spill over. "It's not that I regret it... I don't. I just... I don't know what this means for us."

Carlos studied her face carefully, his brow furrowing. He could see the uncertainty, the fear of what this moment might mean, not just for them but for her as a person. Charlese was fragile, and her mind was a battlefield, one that Carlos had long ago promised himself he would navigate with patience.

Carlos tilted his head slightly, surprising her with a kiss to her temple. "We don't have to figure everything out right now," Carlos whispered, his thumb stroking the side of her face. "We're here, and we're together. That's all that matters right now. Not what anyone else thinks, not what tomorrow might bring. Just this."

Charlese blinked, her lips trembling slightly as she processed his words. She swallowed hard, her throat tight, and then nodded slowly, though the hesitation still lingered in her eyes.

"You... you're not scared?" she asked quietly, her voice barely a whisper.

Carlos chuckled softly, resting his forehead against hers as he sighed. "Terrified," he admitted with a lopsided smile, "But definitely not of what happened between us. I'm more scared of losing you to your own thoughts, of you shutting me out."

Charlese bit her lip again, her eyes shimmering with emotion as she stared at him. The vulnerability she felt was overwhelming, but in this moment, with Carlos holding her so gently, so protectively, she allowed herself to soften, to let go just a little.

"I don't want to shut you out," she whispered, her fingers gently gripping his shirt. "I just... I need time to understand what this all means. For us. For Kaia. For everything."

Carlos nodded, brushing his lips lightly against her forehead. "Take all the time you need, Cariño," he whispered. "I'll be right here."

Charlese blinked up at him, her lips parting slightly as if she wanted to respond but couldn't find the words. Instead, she just stared at him, her gaze searching his face for any sign of uncertainty. But Carlos wasn't uncertain. He had never been surer of anything in his life.

And then, in a moment that seemed to stretch for an eternity, she leaned into him, her body soft and pliant against his. Carlos could feel her surrender—not in defeat, but in trust. She wasn't running from the moment anymore, wasn't letting her mind spiral out of control. She was here, with him, and for now, that was enough.

He pressed another kiss to her temple, this one lingering a little longer, and murmured against her skin, "I've got you, Charlese. I'm not going anywhere."

She didn't reply, but the way she relaxed further into his embrace told him everything he needed to know. And as the night wore on, Carlos continued to hold her, his fingers never leaving her skin, reassuring her with every touch that this, whatever it was between them, was real.