Escaping Love (Rewrite) [Book #1]

Chapter 41

|| JACKIE ||

|| Tuesday, February 18th ||

Once we finished admiring the beauty of this house, we found the bedroom up the stairs. The way this house got designed makes me want to become an architect.

I finished showering, and Charlotte went in after me. I walked down to the kitchen and found the cabinet with the wine and apple cider. I walked back up to the bedroom and placed the bottles and glasses on the coffee table.

I noticed the white curtains behind me and moved it to look at the view. What caught my eye was the handle. No way. I unlocked it and opened the door, stepping out onto the balcony. With it being late-February, it wasn't as cold as I expected it to be.

I walked over to the edge and looked down at the view. With trees and some light from places pretty far from here, this house was in a much more secluded area than the town we drove by.

I heard a door open, and footsteps walking up behind me. "Isn't this place beautiful?"

"It truly is," I smiled, handing Charlotte a glass of wine.

She remained behind me as her hand grazed my back. It slides down my spine and around my waist. This feeling lets me relax as I lean my head on her shoulder. Charlotte turned and kissed my hair.

"We really needed this," I said.

"After everything that went on, I'm not complaining to some alone time," Charlotte agreed.

I took a sip of my cider, and I could feel her arm wrap around my waist. She pulled me closer to her.

"Maybe this is what Madison meant—being alone together and cherishing our time. Not getting caught up about what the rest of society thinks," I mentioned, turning my head to look in her eyes.

She had a small smile across her lips, "Maybe."

I looked back to the night sky, but I felt Charlotte's eyes still on mine.

I could feel her fingers running up the center of my spine, then cleared some hair that blocked my side-view. They ran down my jaw, and she gently turned my head towards her.

My eyes locked with Charlotte's. She slowly moved in, leaving the glass on the wooden railing. Leaning down with her lips slightly parting as they came closer to mine. I reflected her movement and slowly part my lips as I tilt my head the other way. I let my body be in control, rather than my mind.

The desire in her eyes has my heart racing for more. Instead of continuing, I look away from her, blushing, as I finish off the glass of cider.

Staring up at the sky again, I look at the stars twinkling by the moon. Charlotte's presence moved behind me and allowed me to lean back against her. It wasn't long before we walked inside and closed the door, preventing the cold from seeping inside.

I put my glass on the table. "Do you want any more?" I asked Charlotte as I poured myself half a glass of cider.

"Sure, just half," she said. I handed her the wine, and she held out her glass, "To us."

"To us," I repeated as our glasses touched.

I sat on the couch, and Charlotte joined me a minute later. She sat on the recliner across from me.

"Come here," I said, and she moved over to sit with me, but she leaned against the opposite armrest. "Charlotte."

Charlotte only smiled, knowing she was teasing me. She scooted closer, and I pulled her in, so her back rested against my chest. My legs are on either side of her body, and one of her hands grazed my skin.