Chapter 9

The months leading up to the heist went by quickly. Charlie and John continued to date, still in the honeymoon phase of their relationship. She'd moved into her apartment and true to his word John had helped her pick out the bed and they christened it shortly after its delivery. Gordon kept an eye on them, still concerned that they were together for the wrong reasons, but everything seemed to be going fine. Ghost and Lilly on the other hand were arguing constantly, most of it was about her long hours at the club with Jake.

They'd started the remodel and Jake had hired Charlie to help them with it. She and Lilly were constantly coming to him with plans. Charlie had already gotten them mentioned in several magazines and newspapers and was in the process of planning a massive New Years Eve party for the club. Several event planning companies were keeping an eye on the event in the hopes of picking Charlie up for their team.

What surprised everyone the most was how close Charlie and AJ had become. True to their word, they had both made an effort to become friends, something that John often wondered about, but had not commented on. She was still dating him, he had nothing to worry about. Gordon often sent AJ and Charlie on errands together, encouraging their friendship. Lilly suspected that Gordon would rather see Charlie with AJ, they were only separated by a year in age and seemed to have more in common. Everything was going well, but things were about to take a turn for the worse.

"Let's go over the plan one more time," Gordon ordered. They were all in his apartment as the club couldn't be used, between the remodel and the prep for the party they never knew who could be listening.

Charlie groaned loudly from inside his kitchen. She and John had been discussing their plans for Christmas. "G, we've gone over it 10 times already, it's going to be fine." She pressed her head against John's chest and sighed loudly.

"Once more won't kill you," G called back to her.

"It might G, and then what is John going to do with himself," Charlie asked before kissing her boyfriend. John shook his head at her and quickly threw her over his shoulder carrying her back into the dining room. "John, put me down."

The others laughed loudly at John's antics before he sat her down and pushed her into a seat. "I'll cry hysterically and drink myself to death," John said sarcastically.

"I figured," Charlie replied with a smile. Gordon rolled his eyes at him before clearing his throat for attention.

"All right, we start at 11," Gordon started.

"By 12 we are ready to move on the jewelry store," John continued. "I take out the first guard while Ghost takes the second."

"I deal with the elevators and the cameras," Jake said picking up the thread. "Then Ghost and I load up the money."

"While they are doing that, I setup our exit," AJ continued. "I take the first two bags across."

"John and I watch the people, John takes bags 3 and 4, Jake takes 5 and 6," Gordon said.

"You take 7 and 8 and I bring up the rear, taking the wires down after I get out," Ghost said.

"I park the van in the parking deck below the building and leave it, AJ has the keys, and your clothes will be there. Scott is meeting you guys at the club at 3. Lilly and I are to be at my apartment waiting for word before heading to the airport to meet you guys," Charlie said. "I am not to leave the apartment after returning from placing the van, I do not watch the news and I do not answer the phone."

"Once we all arrive at the airport, John and Charlie are headed to Aspen for Christmas, AJ is going to New York, Jake is going to Mexico with his brother, Ghost and Lilly are headed to Hawaii, and I'm going back home. Everyone is back in time for the new year's party at the club, if everything goes according to plan."

"Which it will," John commented.

"If it doesn't, no contact, you flip you die," Gordon said looking at each of them carefully. His gaze lingered on AJ. They all loved AJ, he was the perfect addition to their group, but he was the newest and they still didn't know if he could be trusted.

AJ stared right back at Gordon refusing to be intimidated, he had no intention of flipping if he got caught, he didn't plan on getting caught though. Charlie laid a hand on his knee under the table causing him to look away from Gordon. He grabbed her hand giving it a reassuring squeeze before returning his attention to the meeting.

"Anything else," Charlie asked.

"You've all got your tickets? The last thing we need is one of us stranded at the airport," Gordon said.

"I've got ours," John said.

"Lilly has us covered," Ghost commented.

AJ and Jake simply nodded before they all rose from the table. Charlie lingered for a moment as the others headed toward the door. Gordon glanced at her as he waved the others out. "I need to talk to Charlie about something, give us a minute then you can go," he told John.

John glanced between the two of them before walking out of the room. Gordon pulled a slim box out of his suit jacket and set it on the table in front of her. "Merry Christmas sweetheart," he said.

"G, you didn't have to get me a gift," Charlie said as she picked it up.

"I know, but I hope you like it," he replied. Gordon had become a father figure for Charlie, she hadn't seen or heard from anyone in her family since that day at her office. He frequently bought her gifts or sent her and Lilly shopping on his dime, he knew how to treat a woman, and their boyfriends knew it was a platonic relationship so they didn't mind.

Charlie carefully unwrapped the box, before flipping the lid up. Inside lay a white gold Rolex with a diamond-set dial. Charlie gasped, the diamonds caught the light perfectly and Gordon had remembered her preference for white gold over yellow. "G, it's beautiful, thank you," she said softly. She pulled a box out of her purse and passed it to him. "I think you're going to like it."

Gordon took the present and quickly opened it to find a watch similar to Charlie's. He was steel and yellow gold. He smiled happily and quickly put the watch on. It fit his wrist perfectly. "How'd you get the right fit," G asked curiously.

"I might have borrowed one of your other watches," Charlie confessed.

"Smart girl," G replied. "Thank you love, it's perfect."

Charlie smiled sweetly before speaking, "You'll look after him G?"

Gordon looked up at her noticing how tense she really was. She kept it hidden from John, but Gordon could tell her was worried about not being there tomorrow. She wanted to know what was happening every step of the way, making sure all of her guys, but especially John, were safe.

"Of course, I'll watch them both," Gordon said indicating he knew about her friendship with AJ.

Charlie was surprised that Gordon would say something about it, but chose not to acknowledge it for now. "Thank you, take care of yourself too. I don't know what I would do if I lost one of you," she said softly.

Gordon tipped her chin up so she was looking him in the eye. "We'll be fine, now get out of here. John is probably wearing holes in my carpet waiting for you out there," Gordon said.

Gordon wrapped an arm around her shoulders and ushered Charlie toward the door. John stood in the hallway waiting for her, pacing back and forth. Charlie smiled at the sight of him, his blonde hair was ruffled from running his hands through it so many times. John held his hand out to her and pulled her out of the apartment.

"We'll see you tomorrow G," John said before pulling Charlie to the elevator.

"Don't stay up to late," Gordon called.

Charlie looked at John across the table and sighed. "Can we get out of here please?"

They were having dinner out, neither of them liked to cook, but Charlie just wanted to be alone with John, not stuck in a crowded restaurant. John met her gaze before nodding. "Yeah, let's go," John said before throwing some money on the table.

Charlie took his hand and followed him out of the restaurant. They waited at the valet stand for John's car before quickly heading back to his house. They'd decided that she would stay with him for the night, the van they were using for the getaway was at his house. She'd leave from there and park the van in the parking deck.

They didn't speak on the way back to John's, they both had a lot on their minds. They finally arrived at John's, Charlie climbed out of the car and stared at the van for a moment before following John into the house. John headed into the kitchen and began fixing himself a drink. "You want anything," he called.

Charlie wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed a kiss to the back of his neck. "Just you," she whispered.

John turned around and pulled her closer, he smirked at her for a moment before kissing her hard. Charlie's hands ran up his arms before tangling them in his hair. John deepened the kiss before lifting her up on the counter behind them. Charlie broke away from him gasping softly. "I'm scared," she whispered as she leaned her forehead against his. "I wish I were going with you tomorrow."

"You can't Charlie," John said before kissing her. "If you were there, no one would be focused on their job, we'd be too concerned about making sure you were ok."

"Even you," she asked with a coy smile.

"Especially me," he replied. "I love you Charlie."

Charlie pulled back and stared at him in surprise. They'd never said that to one another before, but she could tell by the look on his face that he meant it. "I love you too John," she whispered back.

John leaned in kissing her deeply. Her hands went to his chest quickly unbuttoning his shirt and pushing it off his shoulders. It landed behind them forgotten on the floor. John pulled back long enough to yank off his undershirt before returning to her lips. He kissed his way down her neck eliciting shallow gasps from Charlie. She pressed herself closer to John, her fingers tracing patterns across his chest.

"Shirt," John growled as he pulled back again. Charlie grabbed the hem of her sweater and quickly pulled it off. "Hold on."

John pulled Charlie off the counter and carried her up the stairs to his bedroom. Charlie laughed softly as he dropped her on the bed. He stared at her legs for a moment wondering if he should take her boots off, on the one hand they were sexy, but at the same time they would probably get in the way. Kicking off his own shoes and socks, John leaned over and tugged her boots off her feet. Charlie grabbed his arms and pulled him onto the bed with her without a word. She pressed against him wanting to be as close as possible to him. John rolled them over so she was on top of him and unhooked her bra.

Charlie smirked at him as she slowly slid it down her arms revealing her breasts. John smiled appreciatively before rolling them back over. He took his time kissing her, his lips slowly traveling down her neck to her chest. Charlie was squirming beneath him, his slow pace driving her crazy. "Patience," John said before squeezing her breast. He rolled her nipple between his fingers feeling it harden. Charlie moaned as her hips bucked up against him. John took her other nipple into his mouth slowly teasing her. Her fingers tangled in his hair again as his other hand trailed down her body to the front of her jeans.

John unclasped her jeans before slipping his hand inside to tease her. Charlie arched slightly moaning. "John… I need… please," she gasped out.

John quickly maneuvered her out of her jeans, his dress pants joining hers on the floor. He wanted to draw this out but he didn't know how long he could wait. Hooking his fingers under her underwear he slid it down her legs and dropped it on the floor as well. John leaned up and kissed her deeply his fingers teasingly brushing against her. He slipped two fingers inside her without pretense her body arching against his. Her hands grasped at whatever they could reach as he continued to stroke her. He kept a slow pace driving her crazy as his lips traveled down her body. His tongue flicked across her clit making her gasp loudly.

"John, more," she gasped out. He gave her what she wanted curling his fingers upward hitting that sensitive spot within her. He could feel her muscles tightening as he increased the pressure of his tongue. "Oh god, John, please, I'm going to…"

John stopped before she could come and quickly slid up her body. She whimpered at his teasing but kissed him hard. John managed to free himself from his boxers his lips never leaving hers. Hooking her legs around his waist John pushed into her as her fingers dug into his back. He pulled her even closer as his hips snapped forward pushing deeper than before. He set a fast pace pushing them toward the edge.

"John," Charlie gasped out as he drove into her. She moaned loudly trying to ask for what she wanted. "I want… please can I…"

John slowed for a second and kissed her. "What," he ground out as he kept thrusting.

"Top, I want to be on top," she mumbled out. John pulled back and rolled them over. Charlie slid him back inside her slowly lowering herself onto him. She gasped as he filled her completely. His hands came up to touch her, one on her breast the other brushing against her clit. She set a jerky rhythm knowing she wouldn't last long. John flexed his hips beneath her pushing upward with each thrust. Charlie ground against him moaning loudly. Her head rolled back as she came moaning his name over and over. Hearing her moaning his name was all it took for John to come too.

Charlie slid off him before collapsing next to him on the bed. "You're going to kill me," Charlie said smiling slowly at him. John tugged her closer so her head was resting on his chest. "You're all sweaty."

"I wonder why," he said sarcastically. Charlie kissed his chest before looking up at him. "What is it babe?"

"Nothing, just thinking about tomorrow," she said softly.

"Stop, I don't want to talk about tomorrow, it's going to be fine. You worry too much," John complained. He sat up pulling her with him. "Shower time."

"Oh you mean shower sex time," Charlie joked as he led her into the bathroom. John kissed her before turning to turn on the water.

"Maybe," he whispered into her ear. "We've got all night and I've got a big house. We're going to be busy."

The doorbell chimed throughout the house waking the couple upstairs in bed. Charlie groaned loudly and kicked her foot toward the door. "No, bad doorbell, must kill doorbell," she mumbled as she buried her face against John's chest. They'd only been in bed for a couple of hours, it'd been a long night for them.

"How do you kill a doorbell," John asked as he started to climb out of bed.

"No," Charlie pouted trying to pull him back into bed. "Screw them, I'm going to hurt however that is."

"You can screw me later," John offered. He headed over to his dresser and grabbed a pair of boxers and an undershirt. "We have to get up, busy day today. Did you finish packing for Aspen?"

"Maybe," Charlie mumbled as she pulled John's pillow over her face. John found a pair of pants quickly setting his shirt, tie, and jacket out as well.

"Maybe yes or maybe no," John asked as he pulled the pillow away from her head.

"Maybe I've only packed really sexy lingerie," she replied.

"I think you might want to pack something a little warmer for the plane ride," he suggested. Charlie smirked at him before leaning up for a kiss. John finally pulled away from her and looked at her sternly. "Seriously, get up. You've got 10 minutes then I'm going to throw you in the pool and you know I'll do it."

"Fine," Charlie groaned as the doorbell rang again. She wrapped the sheet around her body and headed into the bathroom. "Tell whoever is at the door that I am going to kill them unless they brought me coffee."

"Will do," John said as he finished getting dressed. He headed downstairs and quickly pulled open his front door. AJ and Jake stood there on his doorstep waiting for him. "Charlie said she was going to kill you unless you brought coffee."

"Good thing we came prepared," AJ said holding up two cups. John took both from him setting Charlie's on the counter.

"Charlie, AJ and Jake are here, don't come down naked please," John yelled upstairs.

"Where did you get coffee," she demanded as she emerged from the bedroom. She trotted down the stairs, kissing AJ and then Jake on the cheek. She pulled John's coffee from his hands and took a sip.

"AJ brought it, yours is on the counter," John told her as he took his back.

"Oh my god, you're my new favorite person," she said happily as she picked hers up. She took a huge gulp and smiled gratefully.

"I thought I was your favorite person," Jake asked.

"That was last week, this week it's AJ," Charlie replied.

"Really? Last night I was your favorite," John pointed out.

"You didn't bring me coffee," she pointed out. "What time is it?"

"9," AJ said after a glance at his watch.

"All right I've got to go, I'm going to drop the van, and I'll take a taxi back to my place. Lilly is supposed to be there around 11:30," Charlie said quickly. She kissed John hard pulling him as close to her body as possible. "Be careful, all of you."

"Will do," Jake said.

"You're the boss Miss Charlotte," AJ said saluting her.

"Love you," Charlie whispered to John before picking up her coffee and purse. "I'll see you at the airport."

"Love you too," John said before she headed out the door.

"Long night," Jake asked as soon as the door closed behind her.

"Shut up," John ordered. "What are you guys doing here?"

"Making sure you two were up," AJ informed him. "There's been a change of plans for Christmas. Gordon wants everyone to go to Hawaii, he wouldn't say why, but we've all got tickets."

"Charlie's going to be disappointed, she wanted to snowboard," John said.

"She can surf instead," Jake pointed out. "Do you have any idea why he changed his mind?"

"No idea man," John replied.

"I didn't want to see my family anyway so this works out for me," AJ said with a shrug. He didn't know what to tell his family he did for a living.

"All right, let's get a move on, we've got things to do," John finally said waving them out of the house. It was time to set their plan in motion.