“You want to date?” he asked.
“Maybe. I don’t know. I’d like to give it a try.”
The way he looked at me for the longest time had me dying to know what he thought.
Finally, he frowned and gave me a cautioned look. “Why now, Charlie?”
My heart started to pound at his question. If only he’d known how hard it was to walk away from him all those years ago … how it nearly tore my heart in two. Just a few days ago my only reason for going after Tucker was to save my position as CEO of my father’s company, the company that was now mine. Now it was completely different. The thought of him dating any other woman made me nearly mad. I wanted back what we shared that weekend, and I wanted it back for longer than a damn year.
I chewed on my lip, knowing I should be honest with him. If I came clean now, he’d probably walk out of here and never look back. He’d think I was playing him, and I couldn’t risk that.
“Well, if I’m being honest, maybe my intentions at the beginning were purely selfish reasons.”
His brow lifted. “And now?”
Wringing my hands together, I answered him honestly. “It killed me knowing you left with that woman and went out on a date with her more than once. I didn’t like it.”
The corner of his mouth rose into a small smirk. God, it was sexy as sin.
Note to self: Make Tucker smirk more.
“You didn’t like me being out with her?”
I shook my head then lifted my chin some. “No, and I’m not afraid to admit it. I sat here and pouted about it if we’re going to be truthful.”
He made his way closer to me. “Truthfully? The whole time I was with her, I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”
I grinned. “What were you thinking about?”
“Being inside of you.”
My breath hitched and I felt the room tilt.
“Touching you and liking how wet and ready you always are for me. Hearing your little whispers begging me to fuck you harder.”
“Tucker.”
My voice sounded heavy and deep. I didn’t remember this version of Tucker all those years ago. The dirty talker. I liked this version very much. Very. Very. Much.
Stepping up to me, he laced his fingers through my hair. “You scare the fuck out of me, Charleston.”
Widening my eyes, I fought to breathe. “I don’t mean to.”
He closed his eyes and whispered, “Don’t hurt me again. Do you hear me?”
With my knees shaking, I reached for him and held onto his arms before I dropped to the floor. His admission to me hurting him all those years ago played havoc with my heart.
Tell him the truth, Charlie. Tell. Him. The. Truth.
When my mouth opened, I had every intention of telling him my stupid plan to seduce him into marrying me because I needed his help in staying CEO of CMI, but a whole other set of words slipped from my lips instead. Words that were more pressing on my body. I’d let my mind sort it all out later.
“Make love to me, Tucker.”
He smiled, pulled my hair back and rubbed his soft lips across mine as he whispered, “Anything for you, Charlie. You’re my fucking weakness. Always have been, always will be.”
He deepened the kiss. I was lost in him. He was my safety, my escape from everything else. He was the world I dreamed of.
“Tucker,” I whispered against his lips. “I need you.”