Chapter Four
Charlie brushed down her clothes before knocking on Joey's front door. Her breath caught in her throat when she caught sight of Joey. Her girlfriend's hair was loose and beautiful and she was wearing nothing but a short, satin dressing gown. Her legs were bare, long and slender and the gown teased a view of cleavage. Charlie just stared.
"It's rude to stare, you know," Joey smirked.
Charlie blushed and laughed.
"Sorry," she said. "You just look... wow."
Joey beamed at her and beckoned her inside. Still staring at Joey's body, Charlie followed her in. She fell into her arms the moment the door was shut. Nudging Joey against the wall separating the living room from the kitchen, Charlie kissed her fervently. Finally, they pulled away, breathless. Joey looked Charlie up and down. Charlie had donned a pair of shorts that required no belts, zips or buttons. On Joey's advice, she'd worn something easily removable. On top, she wore a white sleeveless top and Joey had already clocked that she wasn't wearing a bra.
"You look pretty hot yourself," Joey purred, reaching up to tease Charlie's chest a little.
She enjoyed the reaction and lust surged within both of them. They kissed again and then ran up the stairs giggling. In Joey's bedroom, they left the door open as they kissed their way to the bed. Joey paused to gaze into Charlie's eyes. She stroked her face.
"I've missed you," she said sincerely.
Charlie smiled and kissed her.
"I've missed you too," she replied. "And I can't wait to show you how much."
Kissing her once more, Charlie nudged Joey onto the bed. Eagerly, she pulled on the cord of Joey's dressing gown, letting the slippery material fall open. Joey held her breath as she saw Charlie observing her. She hoped she was up to par.
"You're even more beautiful than I remember," Charlie almost whispered.
She gazed into Joey's soulful brown eyes.
"How is that even possible?" she wondered.
Joey smiled. She ran her hands up Charlie's back, reaching into her hair and pulling it free. Charlie shook her hair out and Joey enjoyed the way it tumbled over her shoulders. She ran her hands back down and over Charlie's almost bare chest. Reaching the top of Charlie's shorts, she helped them down her legs. Charlie stepped out of them and whipped off her top. She kicked herself out of her sandals and Joey's eyes widened at how stunning she was, standing there in nothing but a thong. Reaching out to pull her in, Joey settled her arms on Charlie's waist and kissed her. Charlie covered Joey's body with her own as their lips met again and again and their hands began to roam.
Later, lying in each other's arms in bed, Charlie didn't think she'd ever felt so content in her life before. She lay on her back with Joey curled into her, stroking her hair. She kissed the top of her head and told her that she loved her. Joey rested on Charlie's bare chest and placed a delicate kiss between her breasts. She moved to gaze at Charlie. A smile teased her lips.
"I'm so glad I called you," she said.
Charlie's smile widened.
"So am I," she said. "I'm so, so glad and so, so happy."
They moved in for another kiss.
Charlie reluctantly showered and changed into her uniform. Joey leant her a hairdryer to fix her hair and stayed temptingly alluring in her dressing gown, watching her. Charlie sank onto her knees in front of her, parting Joey's legs to wedge her hips between them, excitedly aware that Joey wasn't wearing underwear. She put her arms around her and kissed the tip of her nose.
"I really wish I didn't have to go to work," she admitted.
"So, stay here!" Joey suggested brightly.
Charlie laughed and said she wished she could. Unhappily, she stood and headed for the door. Joey followed her down the stairs and to the front door where they stopped to kiss goodbye.
"When will I see you again?" Charlie asked eagerly.
"When do you want to?"
"Now?"
Joey laughed and pointed out that they had already established that she needed to go to work.
"How about tomorrow?" Charlie asked. "I'm working until lunch time but then I have the rest of the day off."
Joey smiled.
"Tomorrow sounds good," she said. "Enjoy your shift."
"Almost a whole day without you is going to be hell," Charlie said flatly.
She pouted. Joey kissed her lips and nudged her to the front door, warning her not to be late for work or for her visit the following day.
Charlie had had a boring day at work so far, made worse by the way Angelo continued to gaze at her. She felt guilty around him, like she was cheating or something. She wasn't. She and Angelo were firmly broken up and she was fully entitled to see whoever she wanted. But she was painfully aware that her ex-boyfriend still held out some kind of hope that they could make things work. Once upon a time, he had asked her what would happen when Joey came back. She didn't know then. But now, she felt like she should have known all along that if it was a choice between Joey and anyone, even Angelo, Joey would always win. Joey was the love of her life and she was so grateful to get a second chance to prove that. As the early evening rolled around, Charlie was aware that Angelo was due to finish his shift while she had several hours to go. When it looked like he had lost track of time, she reminded him.
"I'm just going to stay and catch up on a few things," he replied, not looking up from the computer monitor.
"Okay," she replied before returning to her own work.
"I've not really got anything to go home to," he added.
Charlie looked up sharply to find him looking at her with his heart on his sleeve. She wondered if she was meant to feel guilty or wrong for not wanting to be with him. But she didn't. She loved Joey and she wasn't going to apologise for it – although she thought she ought to tell him the truth soon. It would be terrible if he found out some other way. It would be wrong of her and she really didn't want to hurt him. He changed the subject moderately by asking what she was up to after work.
"Not much," she told him. "I don't finish till nine thirty so I'll probably just crash."
It was disappointingly true. She had wanted to go and see Joey but Brett was home in the evenings and she really was quite tired. Angelo continued to gaze at her. She met his eyes and the silence of the room was interrupted by Charlie's phone beeping. Charlie picked it up and read the text message.
Miracles do happen. Brett has a date. So would you like to come round and be mine? Joey xxx
A happy smile spread across Charlie's face. Suddenly she didn't feel tired at all. Chewing her lip, she pondered over what to say.
I'll be there and I can't wait. Charlie xxx
It wasn't exactly the wittiest response she could think of but she was eager to let Joey know she was coming. She was always aware of the way Angelo was watching her. Sending the text, she looked back up at him.
"Ruby," she lied.
He nodded and returned to his work, as did she.
Joey waited patiently at home for Charlie. At quarter to ten there was a knock on her door. Bounding down the stairs, she attempted to look cool, calm and collected as she pulled open the door and welcomed Charlie inside. They closed the door and kissed tenderly.
"Have you eaten?" Joey asked.
Charlie shook her head.
"Good because I made you some dinner."
Charlie smiled at the way Joey had such a tendency to look after her. She was wonderful at playing mother hen. In a hot kind of way. Joey led her into the kitchen and sat her down at the table. She presented her with home made lasagne and then served a plate for herself. Opening a bottle of wine, she poured it into two glasses.
"Just a tiny bit for me," Charlie said. "I'm driving."
"Who said I was going to let you go home?" Joey grinned.
Charlie laughed and reminded her that Joey's brother hated her and would be horrified if he found her sleeping in his house.
"Well, if all goes well, he won't be here. And if he does come home, I doubt he'll come and see me. So we're safe."
She sat down and offered Charlie a full glass of wine. Charlie thanked her and took a sip.
"You really have got naughty since you've been away!" she commented.
Joey kissed her.
"You bet I have," she replied. "And you haven't seen the half of it yet!"
Charlie giggled. It was definitely something she was looking forward to.