But she has a different idea as she apparently she comes to her senses. Removing her arms, she glares up at me, but the pink, puffy lips from where she’s just been kissed take away my attention.

“First of all, do not speak to me like that, Knox Wellington. Secondly, it’s none of your goddamn business, but no, I’m not. We’re better suited as friends.” I can’t help the smirk that spreads over my face, first from her scolding me and then her confirmation that Chris has no chance. And then she opens her mouth again. “But who knows? I’m sure we’ll spend more time together.”

Knowing she’s just trying to push my buttons, I ignore her comment and move back in. Pressing my lips against hers again, I kiss her, but she pushes me away.

“No. Screw you, Knox. You only want me because I was out with someone else,” she says, trying to break away.

“You are so fucking wrong, sweetheart. I’ve wanted you this entire time. It wasn’t until I was on top of you at the gym that I thought there was a possibility for this, and then Megan showed up and ruined it all. You’ve acted like it didn’t affect you at all. But when I found out you were with someone else tonight? I knew I couldn’t go another night without laying it all out on the line.”

She places her hands on her hips and glares at me. “And that’s supposed to make me feel better? I could wake up tomorrow and you could decide it was a one-night thing. A point to prove. I’m not messing up what we have here just for you to work out your jealousy and baggage in the bedroom.”

Shaking my head, I realize I’m not getting through to her. I lean in, kissing her again, and this time she doesn’t pull away first. “No baggage, Charlie. I don’t know why I want you. I tried to fight it. I’ve been fighting it for weeks. But I can’t anymore. I want you. I want you more than I ever imagined possible, and it has nothing to do with anyone else but us—”

Something in my words causes her to give in, because she interrupts me when she slams her lips against mine. Our desire has finally been unleashed, and neither of us can get enough. We’re wrapped up in each other, tongues tangling, hands wandering, and I savor every taste, every touch, the very feel of her skin under my fingertips. When I pull back, more than ready to move this to the bedroom, the look of her lips, swollen and flushed, has my dick rock hard.

“One. Last. Time,” I growl. “Are you going to see him again?”

She jerks her chin up, looking at me. “No, I’m not and I’ve already said that twice. But what I don’t get is why the hell you care.”

“I care, Charlie. It just took me a while to realize it. And when it comes to you, I won’t share,” I tell her in the simplest way possible. It’s cute as hell when her eyebrows draw together, her lips tightening as she takes in my words.

“I wasn’t aware that I was yours to share, Wellington,” she says, jaw tight, setting her chin defiantly. Then she pulls out of my grasp as she heads to her room. I watch her hot little ass for a few seconds before I follow after her.

She’s about to reach her room when I scoop her up, throwing her over my shoulder and taking her into my room. Tossing her on my bed, I’m quick to climb on top of her.

“Maybe not right now, but I want you to be,” I tell her, pressing kisses from her jawline down to her neck.

Her fingers find my chin, and she lifts my face up towards her, stopping my kisses. “You want me to be what?” she asks, her eyes searching mine.

I take a deep breath, unable to believe I’m doing this. I’ve sworn it off for so long, but this girl’s found her way into my heart, and if she needs to hear me say it, I will. My heart’s pounding, and if I can admit it, I’m scared out of my fucking mind. It’s been so long since I let someone in, and I’m going out on a limb hoping that Charlie wants more with me.

“Here’s the thing. I’m tired of this roommate bullshit. I want more than that. I want you to be my girl. I want you in my bed, just like this. I want to take you out, show you off, and get the jealous looks from all the other assholes who wish you were theirs. I want, more than anything, for you to be my sweetheart, because that’s what you’ve become to me, even if I started saying it by being an ass. I want to be able to call you mine for real, not pretend.” Sighing, I pause. “Charlie, I want—I need—you to be my fucking girl.”

I don’t realize that I’m holding my breath as I wait for her to respond. When she smiles up at me with shining eyes, I let it out as relief rolls through me. “Show me,” she whispers, and she doesn’t have to tell me twice.

Even though I want to tear her jeans off and sink into her more than anything else, I know I need to do what she asks. Lowering my head, my lips hover just over her ear. “With pleasure, sweetheart.” Trailing kisses from her ear across her jawline, I quickly find her mouth and learn that she’s just as eager as I am to finally give in to our attraction. Her left hand wraps around my neck while the other one moves to my ass, and she pulls me into her so that nearly every single inch of our bodies is touching. I’m desperate to get her out of these clothes and I know she feels the same, because the moment my fingers graze her stomach, she’s lifting up onto her knees, our lips still connected as she pushes me off of her. She breaks the kiss and her hands go the hem of her shirt when I stop her.

“Let me,” I gently order, and she stills, dropping her hands. Slowly, I slide her top up, and at the last minute, she raises her arms so I can pull it over her head. Leaning back on her elbows, she’s on display for me. If I had any fear that I still have residual effects from the pain medication, the sight of Charlie in a lacy, chocolate brown bra that barely covers her breasts pushes them away, because I’m harder than hell.

“Your turn,” she says, still leaning back as if she wants to enjoy the show.

Sitting back on my knees, I don’t take my time getting rid of the shirt, and I hear the sharp intake of breath. I can’t help the cocky grin that spreads over my face as her eyes rake over my muscular chest that’s gotten back most of its definition.

“I’d ask if you like what you see, but I think I already know the answer to that.”

“Okay, Rugged, you only get one of those tonight, so shut the hell up and get back over here.”

Responding to her request, I move back towards her, but this time I lay on my side, directly next to her. My hand covers her stomach, and I trace the waistband of her jeans with my index finger. She shivers at my touch, and I lean down to press wet, hot kisses against her skin there. Pulling my head up, she leads me back to her mouth, her tongue more than ready to begin a battle with my own. She’s sucking and licking greedily, as if she’s been deprived and is trying to get her fill.

Letting her mouth take the lead, I go to work getting to know her body. Trailing my finger from temple to chin and then down her neck, it finally settles between her breasts, where I trace the outline of each cup. Feeling her shudder at my touch, I have to tear away from her mouth so mine can do some exploration. I feel like I’ve been waiting so long for this, so long for her, and a hunger unlike I’ve ever known washes over me as my lips trail down her body.

When my lips meet my finger, I waste no time pushing the bra cup aside, letting me finally taste her. Licking is nowhere near enough, I realize, and I’m getting eager to give her more when she moans as I bite down on her nipple, a little less gently than I planned. Working both breasts over, I worship them like a man who’s finally found his salvation after a lifetime of deprivation. If I let myself think about it, that’s probably a true statement anyway.

At the same time, my free hand moves down to her jeans and sets about undoing the button, sliding down the zipper. Slipping my hand into them, I feel the silky fabric of her panties right before my hand slides underneath them. A single finger moves over her clit, and I press down, just to see what pushing that particular button does for her. Immediately, my finger’s caught in between her thighs as she clenches them, squeezing together to get relief.