Drinking from the Devils Soul
a.n. please forgive any errors, this chapter was fast and dirty. pun probably intended.
One more chapter, one incredibly sappy ending and then I'm determined to tackle that amnesia prompt from over at Good Ship Charloe
After taking advantage of the hip bath that Bass had fixed for them, Charlie sat on a couch in what Miles said was a "parlor" with her feet propped in his lap as she ran a comb through her long hair.
"You ok?" he asked looking down at her feet as he stroked her calves.
Charlie tilted her head at him. "I'm fine." When he refused to look up at her, she shook her foot getting his attention."What's on your mind, Miles?"
He tilted his head back to look at the ceiling, "I just wanna make sure you're ok with all this. Bass and I are seriously fucked up and there's no going back for either of us. You are the one thing that we will never be forgiven for."
Charlie swung around on the couch, moving so that she could straddle his lap, her hands roaming his bare chest. She leaned forward, kissing his neck and face as his hands darted up her shirt, cupping her bare breasts, thumb and forefinger pinching at her nipples. "I'm the one person that's never pretended not to know your sins, Miles. I will drink from the devils soul himself before I ever give either of you up." She said teasing the outside of his lips with her tongue, moaning as he pushed her hips down against his.
"And you drank nice and deep, if I do say so myself," Bass' voice said against her ear, causing her to tilt her head in that direction. "We're yours and you're ours, till the bitter end, Charlotte." They stayed like for a few seconds before Miles scooted her off his lap.
"If you two prima donnas are done using up all the hot water, I'll go get cleaned up. I smell like you," he said with a growl, snapping at Charlie's neck causing her to giggle.
"There's hot water in the pail by the door," Bass called after him while juggling an armful of Charlie.
When Miles emerged from the bath, jeans slung low on his hips and a towel around his bare shoulders, Bass and Charlie were going at it like two teenagers on her parents couch. He flicked his towel at Bass' head. "Just how old do you think you are?"
Bass looked up at him with a grin as Charlie laughed. "Go on," Miles said tilting his head at the stairs. "I got first watch."
"You sure?" Bass asked as he lifted Charlie to her feet.
"Yeah, just do me a favor and actually try to get some sleep. We're heading out at first light."
Bass clasped his shoulder as Charlie led the way up the stairs.
They were both quiet as they undressed in the dark, Bass holding the sheet up as Charlie crawled in on his side before joining her. Turning into his arms, Charlie picked up from they had left off down stairs, covering his mouth with hers. Bass pulled her tightly against him before slipping a hand between her legs, his fingers dipping into the wetness between. He brushed her hands away as she reached out for him, adding another finger to the mix to take her mind off of it. He rubbed circles around her clit as he added yet a third finger, seeking out her nipple with his mouth. Fucking his hand as he fingered her, Charlie gasped at each new sensation, before falling off the edge when he bit down on the side of her breast. Tucking her up to his side, Bass wrapped an arm around her shoulders as her sweat slicked skin dried in the cool, evening air and her breathing evened out.
The sound of footsteps on the stairs had Bass wide awake before a shadow appeared in the doorway. Relaxing, Bass untangled himself from Charlie turning his pillow sideways as she rooted around for his missing body. Clutching the pillow she stilled, her slow steady breathing filled the room once again.
"Do you think we did the right thing? Miles asked his gaze on Charlie's sheet covered body.
"Honestly? I think we should have done this a long time ago. She shut down her emotions because she couldn't have what she wanted. Made herself untouchable. She didn't realize that we wanted her just as much. Like I want you now," Bass whispered laying his lips against Miles shoulder. With one last look towards Charlie, Miles led him down the stairs.
Crawling into bed with Charlie an hour later he nuzzled her neck as she pressed back against him while he attempted to steal the extra pillow from her. She hummed as she pushed back against him. "You've been with Bass. I can smell him on your skin."
"Is that alright?" he asked sliding his hand between her legs finding her still wet from her early activities with Bass.
"I like knowing you both have someone when I'm not there," she answered sleepily as he slid into her from behind.
"You have to promise not to close yourself off anymore," he said suckling the skin under her ear as he pumped slowly in and out of her warm depths.
"I promise, as long as I get to keep doing this with you," she whispered turning her head to search for his mouth. Rolling her over on her belly, he pulled her hips up picking up the pace, as she reached between her legs to rub herself, all the while telling him how he felt inside of her, begging for more even as her limbs began shaking with her impending orgasm, crying out his name as Miles pulled out, spilling himself on her lower back before falling over her, propped up on his elbows. "You've managed to turn two old men into teenagers, Charlie."
"Need some way to keep you young," she replied her voice muffled by her pillow. He chuckled as he wiped her back off with a corner of the sheet before collapsing beside her. Charlie scooted over burying her face into his neck as he pulled her close. "Love you so much."
Miles closed his eyes as he kissed her forehead. "I love you too, Charlie,"
He fell asleep listening to her soft breathing.
When Bass came to wake them, he couldn't help but smile, Miles was flat on his back snoring to high heaven as Charlie lay on her stomach next to him, head buried in his armpit, her hand wrapped in his as it lay low on his exposed belly since she had stolen all the covers.
Walking to Miles side of the bed he leaned over kissing him first before moving Charlie's hair to uncover her face. "Rise and shine, you two. We've got time for breakfast if you get a move on."
Charlie sat up with a groan as she pushed her hair back, rubbing her eyes sleepily causing Bass and Miles to share a smile as they remembered a much younger Charlie.
As they mounted up, Charlie couldn't help but turn and try to commit the house to her memory. It would be one of her most treasured. She discovered Bass and Miles waiting on her with the same indulgent smiles that had been plastered on their faces all morning. "Ugh, stop it you two!"
"What?" Bass asked.
"The looks. And you know which ones I'm talking about. You can't do that in front of the men. Half of them already think that I got my rank due to nepotism or pussy, depending on which of you is nearby. Both if it's Miles."
They had been less than a day away from base to begin with and were making good time, covering more than half the distance by mid-day, even being slowed down by the small wagon Bass guided that Beau had left with their supplies. Miles was pretty sure Beau though the sun shone out of Charlie's ass, with Wilkerson and Reynolds not far behind.
Charlie had dropped behind for a bit leaving the two men on their own before spurring her horse forward placing herself between them. "We're being followed."
"Who" and "How many," came out of their mouths almost simultaneously as they kept their focus on the road ahead of them.
"Patriots. Half dozen, more or less. Probably a scouting party making sure we're headed back to Austin and who just happened to stumble upon Texas' two most valuable assets."
"Three." Miles said seriously looking straight ahead.
Charlie rolled her eyes. "I suggest we keep going. The closer we get to camp, the more likely we'll have backup if they decide to get stupid."
Picking up the pace they had travel a good hour or more when the attack finally came. Covering Bass as he pulled the wagon to a stop, they crouched down beside it. "Let me guess?" Charlie snarled. "I'm providing cover while you pick out a city?"
Miles gave her a cocky grin. "Good guess, Kid."
Charlie huffed. He always reverted back to calling her Kid when they were in the field. Not what she wanted to hear while their marks still littered her body. "Asshole" she muttered swinging her rifle around the back of the wagon giving them a chance to disappear into the scraggly cottonwoods lining the side of the road.
The horses attached to the wagon were freaking out so she shot off a few rounds covering herself as she blended back into the tree line drawing their fire away from the wagon. She didn't see the soldier standing a few feet away from her.
Miles and Bass made their way back to the wagon, a few of their prey having eluded them. They were both on alert as they approached the wagon, Charlie nowhere in sight. Communicating with just their heads and eyes, they separated searching the side of the road for any sign of her.
The hair on Bass' neck stood straight up at the noise he heard Miles make a few minutes later, taking off at run to find his brother. Skidding to a stop, he dropped to his knees, scrambling close as Miles crouched shirtless over an equally shirtless, blood covered Charlie, binding her shirt to a wound in her side with his own.
"What the fuck happened?" Bass rasped out.
"Close range gunshot, the bullet's still in there, Bass," Miles choked out turning fear-filled eyes to his brother.
"Were not going to lose her! You hear me, Miles. We're not losing her! Let's get her back to the wagon."
Miles let Bass help him pick Charlie up, carrying her as fast as they could to the wagon. Bass jumped in the back, ripping open a sleeping bag before taking Charlie from Miles laying her down gently. Miles hopped in behind him to cradle her head in his lap.
"Hang on!" Bass said jumping to the driver's bench, racing the wagon down the road. They were met a few miles out by a group of soldiers who had heard the gunshots and were riding out to investigate. Bass slowed the wagon long enough to scream out orders before picking the pace back up, rolling straight through the gates which were being held open for them, right up to Medical. Charlie was gently handed from Miles to Bass and then laid on a gurney, the medical staff rolling her into the building.
Once out of the wagon Miles embraced Bass briefly, tears shining bright in both their eyes. "I'll stay," Miles said. "You take care of it. Avenge our girl, Bass."
Bass nodded, bumping his forehead against Miles before turning to search Reynolds out of the crowd that had gathered.
Running a hand through his hair, Miles staggered into the medical center where a nurse stood waiting to escort him with an update. Charlie had already been rushed into the surgery and the doctor thought her prognosis was good. While the bullet was still in her, it wasn't anywhere near her spine and appeared to have missed any vital organs. They would know more after opening her up. He nearly threw up hearing those words in relation to Charlie and had to stop, leaning against a wall before he could continue. The nurse guided him to the private room that she would be brought to afterwards, a piece of paper with Capt. Matheson already taped to the door.
He paced the hallway outside her room until he saw them rolling her down the hall, watching as they took her into her room, the doctor meeting him with an outstretched hand. "She'll be fine, General. A few weeks down time and she can start on some desk work. It's going to take some time to get those injured muscles back up to one hundred percent."
Miles rubbed a hand over his face as he watched her being moved to her bed. "She'll be staying with General Monroe and myself once she's been released. We'll make sure she takes it easy."
The doctor nodded in approval. "I'd like to keep her overnight for observation but she'll able go home with you tomorrow. I'll arrange a nurse to stop by twice a day to check on the wound and change her bandages. However, there is one other concern I'd like to speak to you about General," the doctor said stepping to the side of the hall. "The Captains body is littered with bruises and abrasions."
"We were in a battle yesterday and a fire-fight today, Doc. It happens."
The doctor cleared his throat looking down at the floor. "There were bite marks, hand prints...' the doctor trailed off as Miles expression turned to stone.
'General Monroe and I are aware of the situation."
"Of course, General. There will be someone at the nurse's desk if you need anything."
Miles walked into Charlie's room setting down on the twin size bed she was lying in, an IV line in her arm. Reaching out, he tucked her hair behind her ears as he grasped her hand, bringing it to his mouth.
That's how Rachel and Gene found him as they burst into the room, Rachel flying to the other side of the bed as Gene grabbed the medical chart that hung on the back of the door.
"Oh my God, Miles! What happened?
"Rachel," Miles drawled getting to his feet. "I thought you and Gene had already left to go back to Willoughby?"
"Blanchard offered to give us some medical supplies that got delayed until this morning. We were just getting ready to leave when we heard about Charlie." She answered absently as Gene read through her chart, eyebrow raised at one point.
"Looks like she's going to make a full recovery," Gene finally said as he put the chart back.
Miles crossed his arms over his chest. "Rachel, you know she wouldn't want you here."
"Please, Miles. She's out cold. Let me at least sit with her for a little while. Dad will stay right here with us."
Miles pursed his lips as his eyes flicked back and forth between the two women finally sighing. "Alright, just for a little bit. I need to check in at command. I'll be back later."