Bump and Run (Wide Open #6)

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Jones

The entire ceremony went by in a blur. We were before the judge, Ollie and Kit standing up as our witnesses, and then I was sliding a ring on Charlie’s left hand. A ring he produced out of nowhere that somehow fit perfectly. He winked at me as did the same for me. The coolness of the ring sent shivers up my spine as it glided over my skin, and then Charlie was kissing me, telling me he loved me and that he was going to take care of me for the rest of his life.

I reached up to fiddle with the rose boutonniere I had pinned on Charlie’s lapel.

“Mine,” I reminded him, and then he yanked me against his hard chest, his mouth on mine as he kissed me over and over again. No one was going to take Charlie away from me again. I would fight this time if it came down to it.

“Congrats, Jones.” Ollie gave me a tight hug once the ceremony was done, his smile lighting up his entire face.

I pretended not to notice the way Kit didn’t let go of his hand or the way he looked at my best friend. If that wasn’t love, then I didn’t know what it was. I knew Kit was trying to figure himself out. I just hoped Ollie didn’t end up hurt when he did .

Kit nodded. “Yeah, what he said,” he murmured; his blue eyes focused on one man alone. He didn’t try to hug me, but that was okay. He only seemed to want to touch Ollie.

“Take good care of him, okay?” Ollie didn’t even try to keep his voice low as he spoke to Charlie, the warning behind it blatantly obvious.

Charlie smiled at me. “I’ll make sure Jones is happy every single day for the rest of his life, Ollie. I promise.”

Oh my goodness. Warmth spread throughout my body, over my skin, and into my heart. How did I ever get so lucky to have someone like Charlie love me?

“Me, too,” I murmured, and when Charlie ducked his head to kiss me again, I carded my hands through his hair to get as close to him as possible.

“Gross,” Kit muttered, but when Charlie and I pulled apart, I watched the way he let Ollie tug him closer so he could casually wrap an arm around his waist. And Kit tucked himself into his side like he was meant to be there.

Charlie chuckled as he kissed my nose. “I’m going to steal this one away for the rest of the afternoon. We’re still on for tonight, though, right? Eight o’clock at my father’s place.”

“Yep, we’ll be there. Don’t worry,” Ollie assured him. “Have fun.” He grinned, then he and Kit walked away, leaving us alone.

I wasn’t looking forward to confronting Remi tonight. I was a little scared that he would somehow convince Charlie he shouldn’t be with me again. Force him into a marriage he didn’t want, even though he had proven to me today that he only wanted me .

“Hey.” Charlie cupped my head in his hands. “Let’s go get something to eat to celebrate our marriage.”

I gripped his wrists. “What about, you know...sex.” I wanted him to take me home and have his way with me. He had promised that it would be worth it if we waited. And my body had waited long enough.

“Need to make sure you have enough energy. I can’t have you dehydrated or hungry while I make you come over and over again,” he teased and slid his lips over mine. “You have nothing to worry about, Bashful. I’m not going to leave you again. You’re stuck with me this time.”

I chased after his mouth, slanting our lips together, then groaned when Charlie’s tongue licked at the edges of my lips. “Forever, right, Charlie?”

“Forever and ever, Jonesy.”

***

I thought Charlie would take me to a restaurant, maybe somewhere fancy where he would try to force me to eat snails or something even grosser than that. But instead, he drove us back to my house, helped me out of the car, and scooped me up into his arms bridal-style before he pushed open the front door. I clung to him as I laughed, my arms wrapped around his neck as I stared up at his face. When he placed me back onto my feet, I caught a glimpse of red and silver out of the corner of my eye. I gasped as I glanced around, taking in the red and silver balloons, the rose petals, and what looked like a picnic set up in the corner of the living room .

“Charlie.” My vision blurred as I remembered that night. The one where I gave him everything and he told me he was mine.

He helped me back to my feet. “I wanted a do-over, Bashful. To right the wrong that I did, and—”

I smashed my mouth over his before he could finish. I didn’t want to think about that, I only wanted to think about now and our future. All the things we could accomplish. Together. Only when I tasted tears that weren’t mine, I pulled back.

Charlie gave me a sad smile. “I don’t deserve a second chance.”

“That’s not true,” I assured him. “You didn’t have a choice, and I understand that now. Charlie, baby, you deserve the world.” I wiped the tears from his cheeks.

He sniffed and gave a soft chuckle. “I don’t deserve you. I hurt you, and I will never forgive myself for losing that time with you.”

“I don’t blame you. Not anymore.” I kissed him again, and this time he gripped my hips as he walked me backwards.

Charlie pushed me against the wall. “I love you,” he whispered, his lips trailing down my jaw and neck.

“I love you, too.” I whimpered as his mouth left hot, wet marks behind on my skin. “Charlie, please.”

He shook his head. “Not yet, Bashful.” He planted a kiss against my lips again. “Let me feed you first.”

“Fine.” I rolled my eyes but couldn’t stop the smile that spread over my face, nearly splitting it in two. “I hope you got something good. ”

Charlie chuckled as he guided me over to the blanket, helped me onto the floor, and then joined me, crossing his long legs in front of him. “I might have.” He opened the basket and produced a container of lasagna.

My eyes were wide as I stared at the food before I met his eyes. “You remembered.”

“I remember everything, Jonesy.” He leaned forward to kiss my nose.

I had so many questions. “But how?”

“You don’t have to worry about that.” Charlie placed a napkin and utensils before me and then grabbed some for himself. His eyes sparkled with mischief as he watched me, and I couldn’t stop myself from climbing over to sit next to him.

I reached across the blanket to grab my food and rested my head on Charlie’s shoulder. “I don’t want to be that far away from you again.”

“I would have to agree with you.” He pressed a kiss into my hair. “Are you going to let me feed you?”

I giggled as I sat up. “You can do anything you want to me. Just say the words.” I blushed as the words slipped from me but sighed happily when Charlie’s lips found mine, his hands in my hair. He pushed me down onto my back and blanketed me with his heavy body.

We kissed for what felt like forever. It was messy and sloppy as our tongues tangled together, but I wanted more. I shamelessly rubbed against Charlie, the friction against my penis sending jolts of pleasure up my spine and straight to my groin. I clung to his shoulders, silently begging him to strip me naked and have his way with me. Make me scream his name.

“Stop,” Charlie warned as he pinned my hips down. “You need to eat first.”

I pouted as he sat up, and I joined him. “Fine.”

“You’re such a brat sometimes,” he teased and kissed me quickly, then served up the food. It smelled like heaven, and my empty stomach growled. His brows shot up. “Let me guess, you didn’t eat breakfast.”

I shrugged. “I was too excited. I couldn’t eat. I didn’t want to chance throwing up all over myself. That would have been embarrassing.”

“Eat, Bashful.” Charlie pointed to the plate and then picked it up, grabbed a fork, and cut off a piece. “Now.” He lifted it to my mouth.

Warmth spread through my body as I opened my mouth. Charlie placed the lasagna against my lips, and I happily accepted it. I knew I was blushing, and I was suddenly sweating, but I knew that Charlie liked taking care of me. He wanted to make sure I never went without, that I had everything I needed and that I was happy.

Luckily all I needed was Charlie to secure all those things.