HeartBeat

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Chase

I was afraid that I had scared her. My relief is expressed, as I kiss her desperately.

How I spoke, how I touched her. I didn't want to be pushy or come across as demanding. I had learned to watch out for any intimidating actions.

My friends, and even Jessica claimed it was paranoia, and residue from my toxic relationship, but it had left its mark. It made me aware of how I was handling the woman in my arms, as if she was fragile glass.

But I knew she wasn't I had felt her steel. Her grip. She had wanted rough and wild on the cliff side. I had given her soft and slow. Only because I loved her frustrated noises, and it seemed almost to surprise her, that I was so gentle with her, as if she had never known gentle.

The image of Charlotte Bowe has been the biggest conundrum for me recently. I had seen her smile delicately at others. If she was to stand in front of me with that smile, if I had not known her glares, scowls or scathing words, I would have mistaken her for someone else. Someone soft and sweet...innocent. True to her given name, Charlotte Bowe.

But no, that was wrong. I flick my tongue out and taste her. She moans, opening her mouth wider. She is sweet, so very fucking sweet. And at times she seems entirely innocent, wide eyed with curiosity, and petulance. And there is softness, behind her steal. An image of her outside the gym flashes through my mind, and then one of her huddled, knees to her chest, squat down to the ground, with her back hunched. And even moments before.

Her name sometimes felt strange on my tongue. She's Charlotte for sure, in those delicate smiling moments, but then most times, whenever she's around me, she's Hazel Eyes. A swirl of colorful emotions, that stared right into me. I was having trouble picking between the two names, odd enough.

I slow my kiss and lean back a little. I watch her eyes flutter open. I scan her face, questions, racing through my mind. I sigh.

"Slowly." I whisper. I'll learn everything about her, one day. There wasn't a need to rush.

My lips curl up into a grin, excited at, "slow," with this woman. She'll destroy me. Ruin me for all others. Maybe...its likely...that she already has.

Ah fuck, this is insane. Who knew love at first sight was real? I swallow thickly at my thoughts, clearing my throat. Christ. Love.

I push the thought, away, refusing to dwell on it, and question everything. I want to be here in the moment.

I grin at Charlotte. She responds with a frown. I chuckle. Yeah, I rather be here in the moment than questioning everything.

"Well now. Now that that's out of the way. Can we please head back to the car, so I can take you home? If that's still where you want to go...? I mean I'm all for walking but, we're a forty-five-minute drive away..." I trail while rolling my eyes off to the side.

My lips twitch as she tugs herself out of my arms, and huffs.

"Is this the annoying part you spoke about."

I return my gaze to her and shoot her a smile. Feeling lighter than I've been in a very long time.

I bite my lip.

"Well..."

She rolls her eyes, almost stiffly, and I furrow my brows momentarily in wonder at why she does that.

"Let's go back to the car." She begins walking in the correct direction, taking the right, that if it had been anyone else, would have likely stumped them to remember where we had just come from. The trees were kind of hypnotizing this far out.