Page 25 of Brazen
The door started to open. Then he followed orders. I threw his arms around me, and his cock brushed against my thigh.
I tensed. “What’s that?”
His gaze bore into me. “You must remember Big Charlie first thing in the morning.”
I lifted my chin. “Keep him on your side.” Then I called out, “Come in.”
His mother opened the door fully, wearing a white shirt and shimmering slacks that were probably real silk. “Good morning. I wanted to check on how you two slept.”
Charlie waved. “Great. Thanks.”
She nodded. “The storm is almost cleared. The service said planes will safely start getting home if we leave in a few more hours.”
Charlie said, “Sounds good.”
His mother tapped on the frame and stared at the bedside. I followed her gaze to the reflection in the mirror, and I realized his blankets were sticking out. I trembled as she said, “So we’re having a beachside breakfast and some sports after.”
She waved at me and said, “Good morning, Hope. See you soon.”
I waved back and nodded, though I braced for her to call us out as liars. My heart thumped. I’d always wanted someone like her in my corner, but I'd already screwed it up again.
Once the door closed, he jumped out of bed like I’d burned him. My skin prickled at the thought, but I asked, “Sports?”
He stretched, and my mouth watered as I ached to touch that perfect body of his again. “My brothers and I toss the football around. My sisters-in-law are getting in the game.”
Lying down was sending naughty thoughts through my brain, so I stood. “I don’t think your mom believes we’re a real couple. She saw your blankets.”
He shook his head. “I think she does and that we’re fine.”
“How can you know that?”
“Maman doesn’t hold her tongue when she thinks something’s up.”
My stomach tightened. We brushed our teeth in the en suite bathroom with the double sink. As I finished, I asked, “Do you often lie to them?”
He finished as well. “No, this is a first.”
I raised an eyebrow. The tone in his voice was new, so I asked, “Is that a pang of regret?”
We headed out together and perused the closet together as he asked, “Pang?”
I bobbed my head a little and shrugged. “Well, it’s a word used in books, and for a second, it seemed like you were upset about lying.”
“It’s not just that. She clearly saw your sheets and must know you didn’t sleep in the bed with me.”
“She knows we kicked off the blanket. Don’t stress.”
“I’m not that confident.”
He shrugged then took out a pair of cargo shorts and a shirt that would cling to his body. “Maman wants us to be happy. It’s all she ever wanted.”
I grabbed a yellow sundress with pink flowers embroidered on it. Part of me wondered if it would be easier to accept Charlie as more if he weren't richer than everyone else in Manhattan. I headed to the bathroom and half closed the door to change as I called out, “Did you ever wonder what life might be like if the plane hadn’t crashed?”
He tugged off his pajama bottoms, and I realized he had no underwear on as I spied through the space by the hinge. My heart stirred as I wished I really were his girlfriend. He turned, and I moved and changed into the dress.
“I’ve always wondered if my need to keep moving was genetic. You?”
I came out, brushing my hair. “My grandfather talked about my mom, and we had a lot of old photos and her social media. But yeah, I’d always wanted a mother.”
