TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 339

Three hundred and thirty-nine

Barbara POV

Charlie’s grip tightened on the wheel when I mentioned the guest house. I could already see how tense he was, the muscle in his jaw working as though he were testing the idea.

“I just don’t want to go home,” I said. “I don’t even know what to tell my parents. They’d find out and blame me, thinking I’d done something to piss Wesley off.”

“I could talk to them,” Charlie said.

I smiled and shook my head. “You don’t want to see my mother when she’s hysterical. It’s something no one should have to experience.”

He was approaching the T-junction leading to the highway toward my house. He had to decide soon, so he pulled over instead.

“Why don’t we just talk here?” he said, staring straight ahead.

“Charlie, I don’t bite.”

He looked at me, managing a smile. For someone who was already an Alpha, it was almost ironic how shy he seemed.

Then he met my eyes. Everything I needed to know shone in his grey eyes.

“I don’t think it’s smart for me to be in an enclosed space with you tonight,” he said.

I slipped my hand into his.

“Well, that’s too bad,” I said, letting my face fall. “I really could’ve used your company. I don’t want to be alone. I’d probably cry all night.”

I let my voice shake.

“I’m not asking for anything else. I just can’t go home with everyone watching me fall apart.’

His Adam’s apple bobbed, temptation hanging between us.

Then I leaned forward.

“I know why you’re being careful,” I said softly before he could refuse again. “You respect Wesley. But does he deserve that?”

Charlie kept his eyes on the road.

I smiled, placing a hand on his stubble and turning his chin toward me.

“I still have those texts, you know,” I said. “The ones where you professed your love for me.”

His jaw tightened.

“Why?” he asked. “Those texts were from before Beatrice’s death.”

“I know.” I smiled. “I just couldn’t delete them. They mean too much to me.”

He seemed uncomfortable, and I sighed, leaning back in my seat.

1/5

• 15 8gnus

“Well, maybe now that everything is falling apart, I should tell you something.”

My voice cracked right on cue.

“Maybe Wesley and I were never right for each other,” I said. “It wasn’t always love for me. After Beatrice died, he wanted me to replace her.”

I stole a glance at Charlie. He was frowning.

“He said I reminded him of Beatrice. It felt strange, considering she was gone, but I felt sorry for him. He’d suffered so much after she died, and I let guilt talk me into something I shouldn’t have. Then he made me fall in love with him.”

I reached for his hand, and he let me hold it.

“When you told me you liked me, I liked you too. I just didn’t know how to say it with Wesley so wrapped up in me.”

I caught the look in his eyes. He tried to hide the hope there.

“Then let’s tell him,” Charlie said. “Let’s end this the right way. I don’t want to go behind his back.”

I smiled.

“We will. I promise. But tonight, I just need something real. A loving touch. Someone to remind me I’m not losing my mind.”

I tightened my fingers around his hand, then leaned in before he could think better of it and kissed him.

It was slow and tentative at first, but he kissed me back, pouring into it all the years of rejection I’d given him. Then he pulled away, breathing hard.

“We should sort this out with Wesley first. No matter how shitty he was tonight, I need to know his hands are off you before I do this,” he said.

But there wasn’t much conviction behind it. As far as he knew, Wesley had cheated on me in front of the whole family, leaving Charlie with very little ground to stand on.

I let my face crumple, just the right amount.

“Nobody wants me,” I said, my voice thin. “Not even you, who claimed to like me for years. You never once pushed. Why?”

“Barbara, please don’t.”

“No. Tell me why.”

“You know that’s not true,” he said. “I told you several times, but you were fixated on him. I wasn’t going to get between you.”

“Well, he’s gone now,” I said, resting my hand on his lap. “There’s nothing standing between us anymore. I want you. Please. Do this for me.”

My hands went to his fly.

“I promise we’ll tell Wesley tomorrow.”

I winked at him as he bit his lower lip.

2/5

• 15 Bgnus

“So, shall we go to the guest house? I could use a touch from a real man.”

He managed a smile and started the car.

We ended up in a suite at the guest house. The moment the door shut, Charlie pinned me against the wall, kissing me hungrily. His mouth moved from mine to my neck, his hands roaming over me as though he still couldn’t believe he was finally touching me.

Then our lips met again as I let myself grind against his hardness, moving against him and watching his eyes till with desire, all of it focused on me.

“My throat is parched,” I said as he reached for my blouse. “Could you get me a drink?”

“Sure,” he said breathlessly, turning to pour.

While he did, I unclasped my silver dress.

He turned and swallowed when he saw me bare-chested. Then he smiled, handed me the sparkling wine, and lifted his own glass.

“Cheers,” I said.

He clinked his glass against mine and sat across from me as we drank.

“You’re so beautiful,” he said.

I sighed. “Well, Wesley doesn’t think so.”

He shook his head.

“Wesley doesn’t know what he’s missed.”

I hid my smile behind my glass.

I finished my drink, set the glass on the side table, and dropped to my knees, unzipping his pants.

“Emma likes you,” I said, watching his face.

He gave me an are-you-serious-now frown and laughed uneasily.

“I’m not blind, Charlie. Are her feelings one-sided, or is it mutual?”

“Barbara, can we not?”

“Come on. I need to know. I don’t trust you men these days. You say one thing and do another.”

He sighed.

“Emma and I are complicated.”

“Hmm,” I said, studying his reaction. “How so?”

He shivered, and I knew he wished he could tell me to stop.

“We’re better off as cousins.”

I laughed. “She’s not even related to you.”

“I know,” he groaned. “Can we not talk about Emma right now?”

3/5

15 8gnus

“Okay, fine,” I said, laughing as I let it go.

He relaxed the moment I took his cock into my mouth, moving up and down and nearly choking at the girth.

“Yes,” he hissed.

I looked up, my eyes locked on his as he wrapped his hand around my hair.

“Don’t stop,” he whispered.

Not long after, I joined him on the bed and straddled him, letting the euphoria take over as he pounded into me. couldn’t lie, the sex was incredible, far better than I’d imagined I could enjoy.

The sounds of our bodies and Charlie’s thrusts sent tingles of pleasure through me. Then he flipped me over, making sure my legs were wrapped around his waist as he pounded into me until my moans filled the room.

Sunlight streaming through the windows made me wince as I opened my eyes.

Charlie lay sprawled beside me, fast asleep. I stared at him, aroused, and almost woke him for another round before I left.

But I needed to milk this properly. I needed someone on my side. Someone I could tell to jump and who’d ask, How high?”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify