Flight (12 page)

“
You’re awake.” She murmured, her eyes lingering on him as he walked into the shower to join her. 

He stepped under the spray and cupped her face, bending his head to kiss her.
“Good morning.” He said huskily when he finally released her mouth.

She clung to him, her knees suddenly feeling weak.
“Good morning.”

She never knew taking a shower could be such a sensuous experience. The shower cubical was small, but that didn’t seem to deter Ryle as he soaped and washed her until she was squirming with pleasure. Ryle helped wash her first in the front, and she did the same with him. Her hands lingered on his hard muscles, so firm under smooth skin. Her soapy hands traveled past his navel, and she daringly took him into her hands. He groaned and his hand covered hers, trapping her hand there. And even with the water running over them, she could feel him growing in her hand.

“Turn around, let me wash your back.” 

She closed her eyes as she felt his large hands rubbing her back in slow caressing motions. When he finished rinsing her, she tried to turn around, but he stopped her. He pulled her back to him as he nuzzled the nape of her neck while his hands caressed her shoulders, her breasts, lingering to cup them, his fingers rubbing her nipples until they were swollen with desire.

She moaned and leaned weakly back against him. He had one hand pressed against her flat belly, and another hand on her thigh. Pressed to him, she could feel his hard arousal pushing against her lower back. Despite last night’s tireless lovemaking, her whole body quickening, needing to feel him, needing him inside her.

He seemed to know exactly what she wanted as he pressed her front against the tiled wall, and his erection probed between her thighs. She felt his head probing against her opening. She gasped in pleasure as he entered her from behind. The feeling of his bare skin against hers was incredibly arousing, she savored the feeling. Her hands pressed against the wall, half anchoring herself as he started to move, in and out, long and deep. It felt too good and her passion peaked swiftly. She cried out as she came, her body shuddering uncontrollably. Her legs gave out under her.

Ryle caught her and swung her up into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he carried her back to bed. Back in the bedroom, he set her down beside the bed and grabbed a towel to dry her and himself.

Charlie
lay in bed, watching as he toweled himself with brisk movements. He was still hard and she knew he didn’t come in the shower. His erection stood out stiffly as he moved. Despite experiencing an amazing orgasm just a couple of minutes ago, she felt desire flood through her again just watching him.

He tossed the towel aside and reached for a condom before joining her on the bed. He kept his eyes on her face as he tore off the foiled packet with his teeth. Her heart started racing just seeing the look in his eyes.

“Come here,” He said huskily and she went willingly.

It was almost noon when they finally got out of bed.

“We could go to Joe’s for brunch.” Charlie suggested as they discussed where to eat.

“
Sounds fine.” Ryle agreed. “I’m going to need lots of substance to keep up with you.” He added teasingly.

She smiled brilliantly; she couldn’t help it. He implied he
would be spending more time with her and just the thought of that was enough to make her feel relieved it was not just a one-nighter to him. 

“
I should go over to the house and see my parents first.”

“
I’ll wait for you here?”

“
Okay.”

After all they’ve just shared, she still felt a little self conscious getting out of bed naked because Ryle was watching her every move. He lounged on the pillows lazily, watching her.

With his eyes on her, she walked over to the wardrobe to get clean clothes. She pulled on a pair of black jeans and a light blue T-shirt.

Her parents were preparing to go out when she went into the house.

“Good morning, Mom, Dad,”

“
It’s more like good afternoon, darling.” Eva smiled. “Did you have a late night last night?”

“
Um…yes.”

“
We’re heading out to visit some friends.” Eva told her. “I made pancakes this morning; they’re in the fridge if you would like some.”

“
Thanks Mom, I’ll be heading out too.”

“
Oh, okay.” Eva nodded. “Should I expect you for dinner tonight?”

Charlie
thought about Ryle. She wanted to spend as much time with him as she could, but she couldn’t let her parents down unless there was a good reason for it. Sunday dinner was an important part of their family time. “um…sure. Yes. I’ll be home for dinner.” She said finally.

“
Will Jeff be coming? Are any of your friends coming?”

“
No, Jeff’s not coming, but I might bring a friend from work.” She answered, still thinking of Ryle.

“
Okay, darling, I’ll see you later.”

“
Yes.” She murmured.

Ryle was dressed
when she got back to her apartment. He was looking through the piles of books that were stacked all over her apartment floor because she ran out of room on the bookshelves.

“
Let me guess; you like to read.” He murmured, picking up several volumes to look at it.

“
Good deduction.”

“
I’m surprised we didn’t trip over these last night.” He teased, indicating several piles of books near her bed.

“
When I get a house, it must have a library.” She grinned. “The bigger, the better.”

“
I can see why you would need one.” He moved on to the pictures that were taped to the walls. The apartment was small, but not very cluttered except for the books, and dozens of pictures she hung up in frames on the wall, or taped in a random decorating fashion.

“
Is this you?” He looked at a picture of a baby in a white outfit.

“
That’s Megan when she was a month old.” Charlie told him, smiling. “I’m her godmother.”

He studied the photo for a moment, then turned to look at her.
“You never did answer if you liked kids.”

She gave what she hoped was a nonchalant shrug,
“I adore kids, but I don’t think I’ll be having kids any time soon.”

“
Why not?”

“
Because I don’t want to get married for a long time yet.”

And that was true for her, before now. She turned away, frowning. Now, she wasn’t so certain about that. She was lacking the conviction in her voice when she used to say this. The thought of marrying Ryle and having his baby was something else entirely.

“Let’s go eat; I’m starving.” She said lightly, abruptly changing the subject.

“
Yeah, let’s go.”

Charlie
and Ryle went to Joe’s for breakfast. If Joe noticed that Ryle was in the same clothes he wore last night, he didn’t make any indication. He simply served them and left them alone.

“
Do you have any plans today?” Ryle asked her as he watched her spread strawberry jam onto her toast.

“
I wanted to go into the office to finish a report.”

“
Do you go into the office a lot on the weekends?” He asked.

“
Yes, most weekends.” She admitted ruefully.

“
So, you spend all your free time working or with your friends.”

“
Yes, that’s about it.” She said. “Pretty boring, huh?”

He smiled, leaning over to kiss her on the corner of her mouth where she left a bit of jam.
“You’re sweet.”

“
Sweet?” She said as if the word offended her.

He grinned,
“Delectable?” He said, kissing her again, this time more deeply.

She was breathless when he finally released her, but she was smiling.
“What about you? Do you have plans today?”

“
When you’re around, the only plan I like to have is to screw you until you’re senseless.” He said softly.

“
Ryle!” She gasped, flushing as she quickly looked around to make sure no one heard them.

He laughed, amused.

She threw him a coolly disapproving look, but ruined it by lingering on his mouth and remembering everything he did to her last night.

“
Come on, let’s get out of here and I’ll show you my plans.” He said, putting some money down on the table, and urging her out.

They didn’t get anywhere for a long time. When they got to Ryle’s place, he pull
ed her into his arms before the front door was even closed properly behind them. They made it as far as the sofa, where they made love until she was too sated to move.

The bungalow Ryle
lived in was at the end of the street, just a few doors from Jeff’s. It had the same layout, only smaller. Whereas Jeff’s was a two bedroom bungalow, Ryle’s was a one bedroom.

Charlie
was dressed again and walked around the bungalow while Ryle went to change. She noted that unlike Jeff’s place, this house seemed empty, devoid of all personal items. It didn’t feel like a home. It was temporary. She frowned, unable to control the void she felt at that realization. This was exactly what it was to Ryle: just a temporary place. He didn’t even bother to make it feel more like a home. The only personal touch was the plants. And even that wasn’t his doing.

She touched the soil in one of the potted plants, automatically checking its moisture level. The soil was bone-dried. She took a cup from the kitchen and started watering the plants. Who was the blond who bought these plants? She wondered. Was she Ryle’s girlfriend? Or just one of many?

“Think they’ll live?” Ryle asked from the doorway.

At the sound of his voice, she jerked her hand away as if she was guilty. He had moved so quietly she didn’t hear him approach. She felt strangely vulnerable; she wondered how long he was watching her.

“Mandy recommended the ones with the easiest care.” She said lightly. “I’m sure they’ll be fine.”

“
Unfortunately I only ever water them when I remember.” He said ruefully.

“
The soil is dry, but the leaves are still green and firm. I’m no expert, but I think you’re doing an okay job.”

“
Jessie would be amused to hear that. She was betting me that the plants would die within a month.”

Her heart skipped a beat.
Jessie. Was that the blond? “Um…Jessie?”

“
Jessica, my cousin; the one who bought the plants.” He said softly, watching her.

“
Oh,” Charlie shrugged, pretending a nonchalance she didn’t feel. But she couldn’t help feeling relieved that at least the blond was not a girlfriend. Stop it. She told herself. It shouldn’t matter to her.

It was mid-after
noon by the time they got to PAL.

“
How did you do that?” Charlie asked, watching as Ryle used his security badge to get them into the building. She only realized she had forgotten her security pass after they got there. She was turning away when Ryle used his card to try the doors.

“
Open the door?” He asked.

“
Yes.” She said, serious. “Only people with high level clearance are able to use their cards on off hours.”

“
Like you.” He murmured.

“
Yes.”

The security around the plant was always very tight. Other than the implementations of several highly sophisticated security systems; security guards were posted at the plant 24/7 year round.

Ryle shrugged, “It’s the first time I’ve been here on a weekend.”

“
Hmm.” She murmured, puzzled.

The security camera overhead clearly showed who was opening the doors. And they would have a scanned computer image with their employee profile up on the screen even as Ryle was running his card through. Security would know by now if Ryle had clearance or not, even if there was a malfunction with his card.

They walked through security without any problems, stopping at the security desk to sign in.

“
Good afternoon, Miss Brison.” The security guards knew her well. “Did you forget you card today?”

“
Yes.” She said, pressing her hand against the digital scanner.

“
I’m with her.” Ryle said after he signed in and scanned his hand.

“
Of course, Mr. Sullivan.” The security guard said politely.

Charlie
was frowning at Ryle as they walked towards her office. “What exactly is on your employee profile?” She asked.

“
VIP?” He teased.

“
Ryle, I’m serious.”

He shrugged.
“I imagine whatever HR put on it.”

“
Hmm.”

“
Don’t you trust me?”

She looked at him. Strangely she did. She didn’t know anything about his background and what he did before he came to PAL, and yet she looked into his eyes and knew she could trust him. With everything. Except with her heart, she wasn’t so sure.

“I’ll see you later. I have my cell on; call me if you’re ready to go.” He told her.

“
You know you don’t have to wait around for me.” She said, even though she secretly wanted him to.

“
I don’t mind.” He told her. 

Leo
was in the office when she walked in.

“
Hey Charlie,” Leo said, smiling when he saw her.

“
Hey Leo, what are you doing here?”  Leo was dedicated, but he rarely came into the office on weekends because he has a family of his own.

“
Hiding.”

“
Hiding?”

“
And trying to get some work done.”

“
Who or what are you hiding from?”

“
The in-laws.” Leo said with a wide grin.

“
Oh.” She laughed softly. “I’ll see you later.” She said, going into her own office.