Chasing Love (Dark Love 1)

He smirked, still washing his hands. “I bet you would be thinking differently if it belonged to Justin Timberlake.”

“Well, dang, he wouldn’t be wearing one if he were with me.”

Alex laughed and splashed me with the water and I screamed at the coldness.

“Now I’m wet!”

He turned the tap off, drying his hands on the towel hanging on the rack. “Weren’t you before?”

“Oh, wouldn’t you like to know?” I teased as I walked back into the room.

Suddenly, I felt his arms around my waist, my body stiffening in his embrace. He leaned into my neck and whispered in my ear, “Yes, I would, Charlotte. You don’t know how much.” His lips brushed against my skin, and succumbing to my desires, I allowed him to do it. Reaching my arm up behind, I pulled him into me. His hands were still around my waist, then I felt them slowly move up to my breasts. I waited in anticipation before I heard a commotion outside. Like a splash of cold water, we pulled away from each other.

I grabbed the garbage bag and pretended to pick up trash as Alex looked at me with a satisfied smirk before walking out of the pool house.

I heard the voices—it was Sam and Adriana.

“Adriana, seriously, we need to get cracking. Andrew and Emily will blow up, and you’ll be grounded for a year if they see the house like this.”

“I know, I know. The house is done. It’s just the pool now.”

“What about the pool house?”

“Charlotte did it,” Alex lied. “I just showed her where to find the spare sheets.”

“Eww, like people fucked in there?” Sam complained.

“I know,” Adriana wailed. “I’m never drinking again. Or throwing a party.”

“Wait till you get to college,” Sam snickered. “The parties there are wicked.”

“That’s what I’ve heard. I better go find Elijah.”

I heard Adriana walk away as I pretended to clean, hoping they would leave.

“Nice influence, Samantha,” I heard Alex say. “Is that really how you want to tell an eighteen-year-old to spend her time in college?”

“It’s more fun than staying in Carmel,” she bit back sarcastically.

“You want to bring that up again?”

“Fuck, Alex. How can I not bring that up again?” she argued back. “I’m tired of this boring place. Being married doesn’t mean you have to stay at home every day. I miss the city. I miss the crazy parties and the drinking.”

“I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I’m going to finish cleaning.”

“No, I’m sick of you not wanting to talk or do anything for that matter.” Her voice was loud, carrying through the eerily quiet backyard. “God, I even miss the fucking around. It’s like you came here and became a celibate doctor. Do you realize we haven’t fucked in like a month? Even then, it was a pity fuck. I had to beg you for it.”

“Don’t do this now,” he warned.

“I’m so sick of our marriage, Alex. It’s turned stale.” I heard her storm off.

I stood there awkwardly, trying to take it all in. The door opened, and I shuffled to the bedside, pretending to clean. He came up behind me again, turning me around quickly and he crashed his lips onto mine. I dropped the garbage bag and wrapped my arms around his neck. He tasted so good. I kissed him faster, the urgency and thrill of wanting more. As we slowly stopped to catch our breath, he looked me in the eyes.

“It’s you, Charlotte. You’re the reason behind what she said outside. All I think about is you. I don’t want to stop this. Do you trust me?” he pleaded.

I didn’t know what I was thinking. I didn’t know why I believed him, but I couldn’t help but tell the truth, lay my feelings out in front of him.

“I trust you, Alex,” I whispered, my lips brushing against his. “More than anyone else in my life.”