This is the penultimate chapter of the story. I hope you enjoy it. Love, IJKS xxx
Chapter Ten
"I'd try, Joey," Charlie replied without hesitation. "I'd do everything it took to be enough for you..."
"I meant for you," Joey said.
Charlie looked bewildered.
"What if I went against all my instincts and gave you another chance? What if we got to that place again and you decided it wasn't enough?"
"It would be enough," Charlie insisted. "You'd be more than enough for me."
"What if you got insecure again?"
"I won't."
"How do you know?"
"Because I love you more than life itself," Charlie told her.
"What if you're just confused?" Joey asked. "What if us falling in love was a big mistake? What if you're not bisexual like you thought? What if I give you another chance and you start craving sex with men?"
"I won't," Charlie said firmly.
"How do you know?"
"Physically and emotionally, you're the most incredible person I have ever been with," Charlie explained. "You're the most loving partner I've ever had. And you're the best... you know."
Joey laughed.
"For someone who puts it about so much, you're really cute and prudish about sex."
"I don't...!" Charlie said desperately.
Tears surprised both of them as they began to cascade down her cheeks. She pushed away from the table and grabbed her bag.
"This was a mistake," she mumbled. "I thought you invited me to dinner because you wanted to talk but you just wanted to ridicule me and call me a slut."
"Charlie..." Joey said, standing up.
But the police officer shook her head and began to leave.
"I'm sorry I messed everything up," she said as she tried to figure out the best way off the boat. "I'm sorry I let you down. I'll never forgive myself for..."
Behind her, Joey caught hold her hand and spun her round. They gazed at each other for several long moments.
"I'm sorry," Joey said softly. "I didn't mean to upset you. I guess I'm just... I have issues about the way you treated me and why. The only conclusion I've reached over the last two years is that you never loved me and that I was inadequate."
"That's not true," Charlie said sincerely. "You were more than good enough. You were too good..."
Joey interrupted her with a kiss. It took Charlie's breath away. Dropping her bag, she wrapped her arms around Joey's slender body. Joey's mouth was warm and soft against her lips. She felt the gentle pressure of her tongue and immediately granted it entrance. Everything existed in slow motion as their intimacy intensified. Joey rested her hands gently on Charlie's shoulders. Charlie pulled her in closer, holding her tight and never wanting to let her go.
"I love you," Charlie whispered when they parted.
Joey gazed into her eyes for several, lingering seconds before taking her hand and leading her round to the back of the boat where there were a pile of cushions and blankets.
"This is where I like to spend my evenings," she explained, sitting down and pulling Charlie with her.
"It's nice," Charlie said, making herself comfortable, although inside her mind was racing.
Joey licked her lips and took a deep breath. Then she leant in and kissed her again, wrapping her arms around her neck and pulling her on top.
"Does this mean...?" Charlie asked between kisses.
"I don't know what it means," Joey admitted.
Charlie nodded uncertainly.
"Okay," she said. "I'm just... I'm just happy to be close to you. Even if..."
Joey stroked her hair and kissed her again. She wrapped her arms around Charlie and pulled her closer.
"I've missed you so much," Joey breathed. "And I know I'm probably being the stupidest person alive but I just..."
She sighed, looking almost tearful.
"Nobody has ever meant as much to me as you do."
They kissed again, ever more passionately.
"If you gave me another chance, I swear I'd do everything I could to make things up to you. I..."
Joey interrupted her with another kiss. Charlie melted into her embrace, never wanting the moment to end.
An hour later, Charlie and Joey were still making out amongst the cushions on the deck of Joey's boat. Charlie lay back and closed her eyes as she felt Joey's lips trail down her jaw and neck. She sat up, a little startled, when she felt Joey's fingers on her shirt buttons.
"What's wrong?" Joey asked when Charlie pulled away.
"I... I don't think..."
Offended and embarrassed, Joey pushed away from her. Standing up, she hurried towards the table they'd eaten at and began clearing plates away. Panicked, Charlie followed her.
"Joey..."
"Forget it," Joey said, pushing past her and heading below deck.
She tossed plates unkindly into the sink and turned the tap on. Charlie grabbed her arm and turned her round, desperately searching her eyes.
"I didn't mean to make you angry," she ventured.
"It's fine," Joey said. "I should have known you were just playing with me. Again."
"I wasn't!" Charlie denied.
"Then why did you push me away?"
"Because I was listening to you."
Joey looked blank.
"You spent the whole night telling me that I sleep with people first and I think later," Charlie said. "You said I was a nymphomaniac and that I'm easy. I was just... I was trying not to be."
Joey felt her heart melt as she witnessed the sadness in Charlie's eyes.
"I was trying to be better for you," Charlie said. "I'm... I'm sorry. I guess I did the wrong thing. Again."
Joey turned and stopped the water running. Then she turned back to Charlie and took her hands, pulling her a little closer. They rested their foreheads together.
"I'm sorry," Charlie said again. "I think I'm doomed to upset you."
"I hope not," Joey replied. "Because I really don't want to be unhappy every time I see you."
Charlie's eyes lit up.
"You'll see me again?" she asked hopefully.
Joey smiled and kissed her gently.
"I've never felt so strongly for another person before," she admitted. "And if I still feel like this after two, long years and after everything that's happened..."
Charlie closed her eyes at the memory of all they had been through.
"If I still love you then... then I think that's something too special to walk away from."
Their lips sought each other out again and again and again.
Next time... out on a date with Charlie, Joey meets Angelo and Brax...