Into the Darkness

I placed my hands on her hips for a brief moment. “Victoria, perhaps you misunderstood me. I’m not interested and the next time you want to act like an overbearing shrew, I am more than happy to inform Daddy that his precious princess fucked his best friend last year in the back of his Merc which was the only reason Preston enterprises won that major tender. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a speech to make.” I left her standing there mouth wide open stunned at my words. Yeah, it was times like this it paid to have a private investigator on hand.

I delivered my speech and followed all the instructions that Kate gave me. Two hours later, sitting there in first class I leaned my head back. Finally I was going to see her. It may have only been ten days but it was the longest ten days of my life. Closing my eyes I thought about seeing her again, thought about being honest and tell her exactly what I wanted. No more friend’s bullshit, it was time. The ache I felt in my heart could no longer be ignored, I knew this ache. It was telling me that I was in love with her…again or still. This time I wasn’t losing her, she needed to know. No hidden messages, not through a song. No, I wanted the words to leave my lips, I wanted to watch her face as the words I love you left my mouth and maybe if I was the luckiest guy who walked this earth, I would hear those words being said in return.

Chapter 27

Charlie

I held onto him, my breaths shallow, my head thrown back and my eyes half closed as he slowly grinded himself against me. He took his time, savoring every part of my body. His fingers trailed down my body, causing me to shiver. My nipples became erect, I knew he loved that. Like a hungry beast he slid his hands back up cupping my breasts then slightly pinching them. I felt it…all over me. Like my body was possessed, I moved faster, pushing myself down harder and that feeling…it was climbing…soaring high, and I was almost there…just that slight push…please… He knew the signs. Pulling me down to him, he stopped. Wait…no no no. Softly caressing my lips, he kissed me like it was our first kiss. His soft tongue rolling over mine, tasting me, and slowly he moved his hips. The climb started to build again…building…just that extra push. Please baby, do it, I moaned. He grabbed my hand and entwined his fingers with mine. I held on…and then he kissed me, on my finger where the gold band sat, and I held on running my fingers over his hand, where his gold band sat. It was all I needed but he pushed me further, further than I had ever been while whispering those words that my body craved. No other words could have secured this moment more than this.

I love you, my wife.

I woke up startled, drenched in sweat unable to determine where I was… Crap, I was at home, alone in bed. It was just a dream. I tried desperately to close my eyes and return to that amazing dream, throwing the blanket over my head looking for that blissful escape. It was pointless. I was wide awake and now I was trying to interpret what the dream meant. Did I want to marry him? Would I be his girlfriend and be happy with just that? I was seriously overthinking this. Frustrated, I threw my blanket off and headed out for a run.

It was five in the morning, quite possibly my earliest workout ever but I’ll be damned if I laid there in bed trying to relieve the frustration. After last night’s three attempts with a mild and unsatisfying finish, I called it a day after my wrist could no longer physically move and that damn crystal vibrator was weighing me down. I had to face the facts, nothing could measure up to the real thing and here I was trying to prove to myself that I could be all mature and shit. My va-jay-jay screamed profanities at me throughout the day. Yes, there were two of us in this hell.

I ran for an hour straight till my legs felt all wobbly and my sweats started to stink. It was time to head home and hit the shower, another place that caused torture.

“Charlie… CHARLIE!!” I heard my name and slowed down my pace. It was Kate and much like me she was sweating bullets and trying to catch her breath as we caught up.

“Hey Kate. Sorry, I was off in la la land again.”

We took a seat on the closest bench, both of us

letting out a sigh. We laughed as we realized how pathetic we looked as the other runners sped by looking so Olympic medalist-like with their fancy running outfits and their ridiculous arm weights.

“Oh shitbags, haven’t you solved the love triangle yet?” She panted, still trying to catch her breath.

“Argh, I don’t know what I’m doing. I try to be all grown up and shit taking this high mature road and be friends with one of them but it’s backfiring. I miss him and I’m having withdrawals,” I moaned.

“Great sex will do that do you.”

“I wonder if this is what it’s like to be a crack addict in rehab? No wonder they fall off the wagon so many times,” I wondered out loud.

“Well, have you fallen off the wagon yet?”

“No but I was so close to asking him to spend the night last night. I mean the words were there hanging off my tongue. My body was in hell because he looked like a sex god. And all night, the flirting…” I shook my head, trying to clear the image.

“Good for you. A little willpower never hurt anyone. What about the other guy?”

“He gave me the key to his place as a birthday gift. Julian is perfect, you know. I couldn’t ask for a more perfect fiancé than him.” Bowing my head, I didn’t want to admit what I already knew.

“But he is not the one who is rocking your world so bad that you can’t even get up in the morning without waking up in a pool of sweat because you spent the last eight hours dreaming about him.” She sighed. Was she seriously psychic?

“You said it, sister. How are things with your honey down under?” I asked, happy to get off the topic of my turbulent love life.

“I’m confused. I thought I trusted him but I keep hearing stories from friends and they don’t match with what he tells me and so…I’m not sure. Like for instance, I called up and his mom said he was asleep and then I checked Instagram and one of my friends posted this pic of her at the club with some girls and in the background I saw the back of his neck, I knew it was him because the shark tattoo was easy to spot. I asked her if she was there and she said yes. I didn’t ask him if he was there but the next day I told him I tried to call him and he was like yeah, sorry babe, I had a headache and went to bed.”

“I’m sorry, Kate. It doesn’t sound right. I’d be feeling the exact same way as you. Look, you need to confront him. If he is doing this then you need to walk away and stop wasting your time.”

“I know, but I want to confront him in person. He is coming to the States in three weeks for some surfer convention, I’ll do it then. I’m sick of worrying about this on top of work. Blimey, I need a bloody holiday.” Frustrated, she threw her hands in the air.

“Oh, is the bastard boss still acting all weird?”

“Yes. I want to ask him about it. His recent behavior has me all curious, but you do not ask him questions about his personal life. You should have seen him all last week. Screaming down the phone, slamming doors. I swear this bird is riling his feathers and she must be stupid not to see it.”

“Maybe if my love life falls through you can set me up with him. If he is as good looking as you say.” I chuckled.

“Ha! Something tells me he won’t stop till she is his. He is that determined. Listen, I’ve got a few things to do but I’ll be back in the city in a few weeks. Do you want to catch up for a coffee or something?”