Chapter 31

Grace

Charles’ lips were warm and insistent against mine, igniting a fire that had been steadily building between us. The air around us seemed charged with tension and desire, the electric current of attraction drawing us closer with every passing moment. My heart raced in response, the memory of his touch lingering on my skin. More. I wanted more. By the moon, if I had to hold back any longer from having this man, I was going to break something.

He groaned into my mouth, thrusting his tongue with a sensual promise.

“So good,” he panted, shifting until he was pressing me into the couch. “So—”

Charles pulled away sharply, sitting up. I blinked, flustered, and about to ask why he stopped when I heard her voice.

“Mommy?” I went still and turned slowly as the sound of Cecil’s tiny feet shuffling across the floor reached my ear. “Mommy?”

Startled, I stared as Cecil came into view of the living room. Her eyes were wide and slightly teary, and her little face was etched with worry. In that instant, the heat of the moment was replaced by worry.

I took a quick breath, trying to regain my composure as I smiled at Cecil. “Hey, sweetie. What’s wrong?”

Cecil shuffled her feet nervously, clutching a stuffed animal in her hands. “I had a bad dream, Mommy. Can I sleep with you tonight?”

My heart melted at her vulnerability. I glanced at Charles, whose eyes were still dark with desire, but his smile was gentle.

“Go on.” He mouthed, nodding his head.

It felt like a repeat of that night that still haunted me. I licked my lips and slipped off the couch, and walked to Cecil. I brushed a strand of hair away from Cecil’s forehead.

“Of course, you can, sweetheart. Want to help Mommy get ready for bed?”

She nodded. “Good night, Uncle Charles.”

“Good night, Cecil,” he said softly. “Goodnight, Grace.”

I bit my lip and met his gaze over my shoulder. “Goodnight.”

She waved him goodbye and followed me, her small hand slipping into mine. As we walked, I tried not to think about the situation I’d gotten myself into.

Again.

We got to my bedroom, and whatever sadness and fear she’d had seemed to vanish.

“We should match!” She cried, rushing over to my dresser. I smiled, sinking onto the edge of the bed as she carefully considered the options before selecting a set of pajamas – a comfy pair with a cute pattern of stars and moons that matched her nightgown.

“I found them! Remember when I picked these out?”

I nodded. “I do. We’re probably the most fashionable people sleeping tonight.”

I changed into the pajamas she had chosen, feeling a sense of warmth at how she relaxed, how happy she was, and completely unaware of anything else going on. I wanted to keep it that way forever if I could. As I sat down at my vanity to brush my hair, she climbed up on the seat beside me.

“Can I?” She asked.

I gave her the brush. “Well, I could use some help.”

She grinned and took some of my hair in her hand, brushing it. She was awkward, and it seemed to take forever for her to get through just that bit, but I didn’t say anything as she fumbled my hair into a messy braid and secured it with a scrunchie.

“Thanks, sweetheart. I’m going to brush my teeth, then it’s time for bed, hm?”

“I’ll fluff the pillows!”

I chuckled as she went to my bed. With a determined expression, she fluffed each pillow and pulled the blankets back.

I drifted into the bathroom and started brushing my teeth, watching her through the mirror as she rearranged the pillows to her satisfaction.

With the pillows arranged just right, Cecil beamed with satisfaction. “There, all done!”

I rinsed my mouth and went to bed, sliding beneath the sheets and pulling her close.

“Thank you, sweetheart. You’ve made my bed feel like a cloud.”

“We’ll have sweet dreams, right? Because it’s like a cloud?”

I smiled and nodded. “Yeah.”

I pulled the covers up and tucked them around us both. She snuggled into me, clutching her stuffed animal to her chest as I wrapped my arms around her.

I ran a comforting hand over her hair.

“Do you want to tell me about your dream?” I asked gently.

Cecil hesitated for a moment before nodding. “I dreamed that there was a big, scary wolf outside, and he was growling at me. I was all alone, and I didn’t know what to do.”

My heart ached at the thought of Cecil feeling scared and alone. I leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. “You know, sweetie, sometimes dreams can be a bit like stories. They’re not real, and they can’t hurt you. And you’re never alone. Mommy will always be here to keep you safe.”

My throat closed up at the thought. My father used to say he would always be there. At her age, it had meant the world to me. Even now, in some ways, I was clinging to that promise.

Cecil’s eyes began to droop as she nestled into her pillow. “You promise?”

If it was something I could do, drug or not…

“Of course,” I whispered as her breathing evened out, and she drifted off to sleep.

As I closed my eyes, I couldn’t help but feel immense gratitude for moments like these. Then, the fear hit me as I remembered Charles’ words. The clock was ticking faster than I could imagine or hope to keep up with. As I watched over my daughter, my heart was filled with a mixture of love and protectiveness. I thought back to the passionate moment Charles and I had been sharing before we were interrupted. While the desire between us was undeniable, my responsibilities as a mother always took precedence. I couldn’t afford to be so distracted.

I couldn’t afford for this to go any further, not with the pack still in disarray and the future so uncertain.

With a gentle sigh, I closed my eyes, hoping I’d find some peace come morning.

I woke up sometime in the night, prodded awake by something, and quietly slipped out of Cecil’s room, leaving the door slightly ajar. I made my way back to the living room. Charles had changed for bed. He looked like he might have been pulled from sleep, too, drinking from a mug and looking at the fire. He looked at me, and I could feel the longing to just go back to where we were before pulling at me, but I resisted.

“Everything okay?” Charles asked softly as I joined him.

I smiled, feeling a warmth spread through me. “Yes, everything’s fine. Just a bad dream, that’s all.”

“You or Cecil?”

My lips twitched. “Cecil.”

He reached out. Beckoning me. My heart raced as I approached. He took my hand, his touch reassuring and comforting. There was no heat or anger there.

“Don’t look so braced for battle, Grace. Your children come first, always.”

His words melted away the doubts. I tried to smile. I really did, but I couldn’t. It was so obvious that Charles understood and supported me, not just as a business partner but as a woman trying to provide for my children. And as I looked into his eyes, I knew he wasn’t even considering pulling me over the couch and picking up where we left off.

Devin would have fussed about being interrupted in the first place.

But Charles just lifted my hand to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss on my knuckles.

“Do you want to join me for a bit? There’s tea left.”

I nodded and rounded the couch. He got up and went to the kitchen. I sank onto the couch, letting out a sigh as I leaned back.

“Kids, huh?” he said softly, handing me the mug.

I nodded, a faint smile tugging at my lips. “Yeah, they have a way of turning your world upside down and reminding you of your priorities.”

Charles chuckled, his eyes warm. “That they do.”

He sat beside me. Keeping a distance, I didn’t want there between us. For a moment, we sat in an almost comfortable silence, the flickering flames of the fireplace casting a warm glow around the room.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

My jaw trembled. “I wanted you to.”

“I know.”

I huffed. “I can’t believe I’m sending mixed signals like some tease.”

He placed a warm hand on the nape of my neck. My whole body jolted as he pressed at the tension there. The warmth of his hand made my neck feel like it was melting.

“Relax. I know you’re not teasing me,” he said. “You’re… not used to it. It’s my fault. I am. I shouldn’t have done that. I know why you want to keep things business-only. I respect that. It won’t happen again.”

I almost wanted to curse myself, my stupid words, my stupid moral compass too. I appreciated his understanding more than I could express, but I wanted it. I wanted the intensity of our connection, to be drawn to him in ways that I hadn’t experienced before, to enjoy being a woman again in a way I hadn’t been in years.

But he was right. Until everything was settled, how could I think of being so selfish? Hadn’t I been selfish enough?

“Stop,” he said softly, kneading the muscles in my neck still. “Whatever you’re thinking is wrong. I knew what I was getting into when I agreed to this arrangement. You didn’t. Instints and all. You’re learning, and I’m… doing my best to give you the space. When you’re ready, when you feel like you’re ready… I’ll still be here.”

His words touched me deeply. In his eyes, I saw genuine respect and admiration that went beyond our physical attraction. He saw me as more than just a woman he desired; he saw the complexity of my roles and responsibilities. He respected me.

And I was more turned on than ever.

He smiled and pulled me close, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “I should go before I break another promise tonight.”

Then, he left, and it took everything in me not to ask him not to.