Just A Woman (The Porter Trilogy Book 2) (13 page)

Grabbing one of the roses from the bunch, I stepped in front of the bouquet and waited. I could feel my heart palpitating and I took a few deep breaths to calm my nerves. This was it. This was what I had worked so hard for. Charlotte was my everything and tonight, I hoped I would be able to prove that to her. She was mine.

I saw her, long before she spotted me, giving me ample time to observe and appreciate the beauty that was Charlotte Hightower. The people around her parted like the red sea as she scanned the crowd. I couldn’t help the feeling of excitement that coursed through me once I saw her. She wore the dress, and all the accessories to match. She was the most beautiful woman in attendance, and my heart beat an unsteady rhythm inside my chest. She wore her hair half up in a small bun, the clip perched on the right side, and the other half down and curly.

I couldn’t help but notice that she drew the attention of every male and female in the room. Although many people hadn’t noticed her, the ones that had had quieted down, looking on in admiration. The undeniable pride I felt swelled up within me. She was radiant and the overwhelming urge to ravage with her and claim her as my own in front of all of these people was fierce.

I wanted every man in the room to burn just for having seen her. Her visage should have been mine and mine alone, never to share, or for anyone else to remember. Her image and her breath belonged to me now, and even if I had wanted to, I could never give it back.

It didn’t take very long before she caught my eye, spotting me from across the room. I watched as she stopped in the walkway and stared at me like I stared at her. The electricity shooting between us was overwhelming . Neither of us moved, neither of us could peel our eyes away from each other. There was no one in the room but her and me.

In that moment, I saw everything that was, and everything that could be. I saw her in a white dress, walking slowly down the aisle, flowers everywhere. I saw her in the hospital delivering our child, sweaty and perfect. I saw her next to a cap and gowned individual at a graduation. I saw her older and gray, holding a small grandchild in her arms. I saw it all, and it was everything I thought I never wanted.

When my vision finally refocused on Charlotte, she was looking down at her phone, typing furiously. Confusion at her actions stopped me in my tracks for just a moment, but not very long, I needed to get to her. Gathering up my courage, I gripped the rose and made my way to her. She was my everything and I would spend all night and all of my life proving it to her. 

Daydreamer Musings
August 14, 2015
Followers- 718

He’s here! And he’s holding my 12th rose.

I wish you guys could feel what I’m feeling right now. My heart is beating out of my chest.

He’s walking to me, Oh God, this is it.

Wish me luck!

Love you all xoxo!

Alex

The distance to her was far too long. It took everything in my power not to jog to her. I needed her to look up, to see her eyes. I needed them to close gently in anticipation. When she finally put her phone away and glanced up at me, her eyes almost gave me pause. She looked elated, but there was an undercurrent of fear mixed in. I watched as Rachel leaned over and whispered something in her ear. I watched her face flush and she giggled, looking back at me, no trace of fear remaining. I picked up my pace, needing to get closer to her.

Suddenly, she started walking towards me as well, and the smile on my face grew, erasing any and all of my possible frown lines. She moved in a way that would make the Gods full of lust and rage. Every motion she made, made me ache with wonderment and desire.

Within a few feet of her, we both slowed down, the joy in her eyes suddenly mixed with a tinge of nervousness. Straightening myself, I took the final step to bring us together, before I handed her the rose and wrapped my arms around her, her body a perfect fit for mine.

She smelled like lilacs, and moonlight, and everything that was good and right with the world. It took a moment or two, but I felt her relax and wrap her arms around my torso. It was the single most beautiful experience of my day, and I knew I would treasure that moment for the rest of my life.

When I finally convinced myself to pull away, I looked down at her and noticed a single tear falling down her cheek. Frowning to myself, I reached my hand out and plucked it from her cheek, looking at the drop as if it had magical properties. I didn’t want her crying, not because of me.

“Why are you crying, my daydreamer?” I whispered, hoping she heard me over the noise of the fundraiser.

“Oh Alex, I’ve missed you so much, and these last few weeks... I’m just so happy right now, in this moment,” she sniffled out, a smile overtaking her features. I would slay the world and leave it at her feet, just for another glimpse of that smile.

As I pulled her back into my embrace, I whispered, “Me too, baby, me too.”

After a few moments, in which we just held each other, reveling in each other’s bodies and remembering the perfect fit of them, I pulled her away just enough to look down at her and smile. She smiled back up at me, unshed tears glistening in her eyes. She was stunning, absolutely breathtaking.

“Alex, I need to go clean up a little. I’ll be right back, ok?” she asked, clearly wondering if I was going to let her go. 

She had a right to be suspicious. I honestly didn’t want to. I wanted to follow her into the bathroom, gender be damned, and never let her out of my sight again. But I knew Charlotte, and part of earning her trust back was making her comfortable, and giving her the space she needed.

“Of course, Charlotte. I’ll be waiting right here for you.” I placed a kiss on her cheek and pointed her in the direction of the ladies room. As I watched her walk away, I felt a little twinge in my heart. I knew that I had no reason to be worried, but watching her walk away brought out feelings in me I didn’t like. Most feelings felt foreign to me, unless it was rage.

Shaking myself, and looking away from the red haired angel walking away from me, I focused on the brunette with the shit eating grin standing before me. I knew it was coming. Rachel always took her opportunity to gloat.

“Hello again, Rachel,” I sighed, half exasperated, half amused.

“Hi, Alex. So, that was a beautiful reunion. I’m so happy for you,” she said, clearly pleased with her hand in this.

“Thank you, Rachel,” I said genuinely, “I really love her.” It was getting easier and easier to say those three words. Never in my wildest imagination did I think that I would be saying that sentiment, but here I was, practically shouting it, and I didn’t fucking care.

Rachel and I stood there, chatting for a few minutes, while I waited for Charlotte to return from the restroom. After a little over ten minutes, I began to get worried. Rachel had excused herself to talk with a group of managers from her office, leaving me no one to break me from my paranoia or to go look for her in the restroom. I scanned the crowd, wondering if Charlotte had gotten caught up in the hustle and bustle of the party or someone had stopped to talk to her, but found no trace of her.

At the fifteen minute mark, my nerves were fried to the maximum as I headed down the hallway to the restrooms, fully preparing to barge through the ladies room door and verify she was alright. I could feel my heart beating out of my chest as I stormed down the dimly lit hallway, my mind racing with scenarios I prayed not to be true, when suddenly, the door of the restroom opened, revealing a cleaned up and very surprised Charlotte emerging.

“Alex? What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” she stated, worry evident in her tone.

Without warning, I pulled her into my arms and turned her, pushing her softly up against the wall, my lips moving of their own accord and descending on her pink, ripe lips. I felt like a man starved, my lips crushing hers in a kiss that promised heaven and hell. It took but a sliver of a moment for Charlotte to collapse into my arms and kiss me back with the same vigor I administered to hers.

When my tongue peeked out, poking at her lips, she immediately opened her mouth, allowing me access. The feeling of familiarity hit me hard and fast and the overwhelming need to take her, here and now, had me mentally stumbling. I couldn’t, for the life of me, believe how profoundly perfect being in her arms felt.

Together, Charlotte and I made love with our mouths, reacquainting ourselves with each other. Her hands sunk into my hair, tugging at my locks and pushing my face and body closer to hers. My left hand cradled the back of her head as my right arm supported her lower back and pressed her into my growing erection.

“Stay the night with me, Charlotte.” I mumbled, in between kisses and fevered panting.

“I can’t Alex, not yet,” she breathed, leaning in for another kiss, her words betraying her actions.

I couldn’t get enough of her, and I knew that if we didn’t stop this, we would never make it back into the fundraiser. I didn’t give a shit about this fundraiser, but Charlotte would, and I wouldn’t take this night from her.

Reluctantly, I dislodged her hands from my hair and ended our kiss. The little moan that came from her throat made me chuckle, so to appease her, I moved in for one small peck on her lips. We were both panting when I pulled us both away from the wall. It was almost as if we had never been separated, our bodies knowing each other as if we hadn’t just spent over two months divided.

Before I had a chance to straighten myself out, I watched as Charlotte reached her hand up and readjusted my tie for me. I felt a glowing warmth flow throughout my body at the simple domestic act. I knew I would always want her to tie my tie for me, from here on out. Too bad my raging erection couldn’t be so easily fixed in a public setting.

“I’ve smudged your lipstick, Charlotte,” I whispered, enjoying the flush creep up her cheeks when my thumb rubbed over the affected areas.

I watched as she pulled out a small compact mirror from her clutch and reapplied her ruby red lipstick. When she was done, I held out my hand for the compact and checked my own reflection. My face was slightly flushed and my lips held a tint of her lipstick on them. I smoothed back my hair and produced a handkerchief to remove the excess color from my mouth. When I looked over at Charlotte, she stood there staring at me. I gave her a little wink and continued my cleanup.

When we were both presentable again, I grabbed her hand, “You ready, Charlie?” I asked, purposely using her nickname that I normally associated with sex. 

I heard her intake of breath before she squeezed my hand and said, “Let’s go.”

Hand in hand, we walked out of the hallway into the muted lights of the ballroom. I watched Charlotte look around in amazement, soaking in the decor. I saw when the lightbulb clicked that she was wearing the same colors as her surroundings. I hoped she didn’t assume that I was trying to make sure she blended in. Picking her outfit had been risky on my part. I wanted her to feel like the queen that she was, not like a piece of the decorations. When I turned to tell her my thoughts, and assuage my own fears, she raised her hand up to me.

“I know what you’re thinking, Alex. Please believe me when I tell you, I love the dress and I feel amazing in it. Thank you,” she said, rising up on her toes, silently asking me for a kiss.

I obliged her request, but took her into my arms to deepen the kiss. I couldn’t seem to get enough of her intoxicating scent and the taste of her lips. It was like a drug I never wanted to quit.

“Stay the night with me, Charlotte, I have a suite upstairs,” I asked for the second time, knowing she would probably turn me down again.

This time her response took longer than the first time. “Alex, please. I can’t. I’m just not there yet.”

She put her head down, clearly upset with her own decision. Although I wanted nothing more than to hold her all night long, in my bed, I wouldn’t force her. I might try to persuade her, but I wouldn’t force her, and I didn’t want her feeling bad for her decision. Lightly grabbing her chin, I leaned her face up to look at me, making my intentions clear. When she angled her head in my direction, I leaned in for another kiss, pouring as much passion through to her as I could muster.

“Ah hem...” a female voice behind me coughed out. When I turned, I found the same shit eating grin I had found earlier on Rachel, plastered back on her face. “You both seem to be getting reacquainted quite well.”

“I’m so sorry, Ms. Mansfield, I know I’m here for Mansfield Management, and for you. What can I do?” she asked, stepping away from me and reaching in her bag for a small pad of paper and a pen. Her preparedness never ceased to amaze me, but happiness was not what I felt at the moment.

I’d never in my life been honestly upset with Rachel, but in that moment, I was angry with her. Very angry. How dare she ask Charlotte to work right now. Especially considering my plan to be reunited with Charlotte was partially Rachel’s doing. “You asked her here to work, Rachel?” I seethed.

Holding up her hand, as she usually did, she stopped me, mid rant. “No, Alex, I didn’t. Charlotte, the only thing I would like for you to do today is have a good time.”

I instantly deflated, the fight leaving me. My emotions had been on a roller coaster today and I wasn’t handling or processing things with the same speed and clarity that I normally would have.

I leaned into Rachel and kissed her cheek before whispering, “I’m sorry.” When I straightened back up, she smiled at me before turning her attention back to Charlotte. “Please don’t feel obligated to sit with Mansfield Management, but you’re both welcome to join me at my table when dinner begins.”

I watched as she grabbed Charlotte’s hand and leaned in to plant a small chaste kiss on her cheek. When she stood, she winked at me and left, leaving me to wonder what that was all about. I didn’t get the chance to ask before Charlotte grabbed my hand and took me over to the tables displaying the auction items. At the end of the table, people were selling tickets for each individual auction item. Each ticket was $100, prompting a large donation to the charity this year.