Chasing Us (Dark Love 2)

“Fine.” I hold out my hand, and he reluctantly shakes it.

“For the record, guys, that fight was totally hot.”

“Edwards, leave my home now. You…” he motions to Jen, “… put those kids to bed. I’ll show you what’s hot.”

I close the door behind me, ready to take my bruised face back home.

***

It’s just before midnight when I arrive home on Sunday. I enter the bedroom, and although Charlotte said she would wait up for me, she’s fast asleep.

I’m eager to be inside her, but instead, I stand and watch her—her tiny snores barely audible, her eyes shut tight, her face nestled into her pillow. Her complexion is glowing, and I can’t help but bask in her beauty knowing that our child will mirror her beauty, it’s impossible not to. I pull my phone out of my pocket for like the hundredth time today and stare at my home screen. Our baby. It’s one of those moments where I take a minute to appreciate everything good in my life, and all of it is lying in our bed, fast asleep.

It overwhelms me, and my desire to have her kicks in. I strip at a fast pace and climb into bed. She makes a whimper, and as much as I know she needs her sleep, selfish, horny Lex needs her more. I nestle into her back, and without warning, I slide my cock inside of her, maybe a little too fast, but after a few strokes, I feel the moisture build up, and her moaning increases.

“Lex…” she murmurs, reaching behind to pull my head into her neck.

“It’s me, baby, I missed you,” I say while slamming into her harder on the verge of an orgasmic finish.

She cries out, her body tensing.

I don’t want it to end—I never want it to end.

“Come with me, Charlotte. Please… together…”

And just like that, I pull her into me tight and tug on her erect nipples causing her to scream my name, her walls contracting around my cock. I hold onto her hip trying not to hurt her.

“Fuck,” I growl loudly, enough the neighbors and possibly the whole apartment block can hear.

With our breaths shallow, she turns around to face me.

“It’s late. I missed you, too.”

I stroke her cheek and kiss her, unable to hide a smile as my mind wanders.

“What’s the smile for?” she asks, smiling in return.

“Just happy to be home.”

For the first time in my life, I find it—not a place but a person to call home.

CHARLIE

As I stand on the porch staring blankly at the door, Lex holds onto my hand and squeezes it tight.

I’m beyond anxious, my palms sweating as I begin fiddling with the rings on my left hand. When Lex suggested we fly back home to Carmel and finally announce the news to my dad, I tried my best to come up with every excuse under the sun.

It turns out, every excuse has a solution.

Nikki assures me she can hold down the fort at work, and the doctor told me it’s safe to fly since I’m only in my second trimester.

Lex even plays the I’m-offended-you-won’t-come-out-in-the-open-with-our-relationship card. It comes across like he’s mocking me. Maybe it’s my imagination.

A week later, and I’m standing here on the porch at the place I once called home. It isn’t that I don’t want to tell my dad I’m back together with Lex, I’m just anxious his gun collection may have tripled in nine years, and the last thing I want is a wild goose chase all over town.

“It’ll be okay. It’s been nine years, Charlotte,” Lex says, calmly.

“I don’t feel well,” I moan.