A/N: A short one again and a bit choppier than I wanted but I hope you enjoy it. Thanks to all those who reviewed!
Bit racy so if that's not your cup of tea, best skip down to the first break.
Tabula Rasa
Chapter Twenty One
Previously:
Brax stood silently by the door. He wasn't sure what was going on. What she wanted from him. He watched as she stood there and began to fiddle with her watch, slowly unbuckling the band.
"But I needed it," she said passionately.
Charlie held out her arm to him. Her fist was curled slightly and he had to move forward to see what was spelled out on her wrist in stark black ink.
"I don't remember you," she said and his heart clenched. His hand reached out to clasp hers and he felt like he was about to collapse when he finally took it in. He couldn't catch his breath and his hands shook as he traced the letters.
Blood and Sand.
"I don't remember you," she admitted. "But I never forgot you. Not for a second."
Brax looked up at her and was meet with eyes that pleaded for him to understand. His fingers curled even tighter around her small, limp wrist and pulled. She slammed into his chest, her arm flying past his ear and finally coming to rest at his shoulder. His other hand grasped the side of her face and finally kissed her.
.
He wrapped his arm around her waist and felt hers mirror him. Her hand was running up his side and clawing at his skin to draw him closer.
He couldn't get enough. He had missed this, missed her, for so long. Her kiss was different and she held onto him differently. Her lips didn't quite catch his and her hand didn't grasp his shoulder or pull at his clothes. As he hoisted her up, her legs didn't wrap themselves tightly around him but she smelled the same and moved the same. She still held his face in her hand and her flesh still broke out in goose bumps as he ran his hands over it. She was still demanding and he could feel her smiling into the kiss. She was still Charlie.
He grasped at her leg and pulled it tight against him, keeping her in place. He crossed the room in a few short steps, depositing her on the kitchen table. He set her down roughly and pushed himself tighter between her legs. Charlie's moaning gasp broke the kiss and Brax looked down at her hungrily. He hooked his fingers beneath her tank top and she raised her arms to help him get it over her head. As she brought her arms down she hooked them around his neck and pulled him to her, her lips chasing his.
His hands cupped her breasts, fuller than he remembered, while his mouth broke away from hers and blazed a trail down her neck. She threw her head back and pushed her hips into him, the fabric of her pyjama pants feeling hot and constrictive. She could feel him hard against her and she reached for the drawstring of his track pants.
Brax took a step back from Charlie, his mouth disconnecting from her skin. He shoved his pants down his legs and they pooled around his knees, slipping slowly to his ankles. Brax's hands grabbed at Charlie's hips and he tugged at her pants. She struggled to lift her hips to help him and Brax laughed softly before wrapping his arm around her waist and hoisting her up. Together they pushed her pants down and Brax dropped her back to the table, bending to strip the completely from her body.
As he made his way back up, Brax wrapped a hand around each of her legs, gliding up the side and guiding them back around his hips. He pulled himself closer to her and cupped her face in his hands. He looked into her eyes and saw her smile. Charlie reached forward, closing the gap between them.
Brax gripped her hip with one hand while the other guided himself into her. He moaned as he pushed himself inside of her with a quick thrust. His fingers dug into her side, pulling at the scars that scored her stomach. Brax pulled her closer and Charlie wrapped her arm around his neck, pulling herself closer and using his shoulder to anchor herself and meet his thrusts.
Brax could hear that Charlie was close, small mewling noises off set by guttural moans escaped her and Brax reached down between their bodies to circle her clitoris with his thumb. The rough pad of his finger was enough to send Charlie over the edge and she cried out and gripped Brax's shoulder hard as she came. Brax still held her tightly, thrusting into her roughly until he followed her to climax.
He gave a few languid thrusts as he felt Charlie slump against him, breathing heavily. Brax lay his head in the crook of Charlies neck, breathing heavily. He rested his fists on either side of her hips and felt her leg release from around his waist. He pulled back and smiled before kissing her lightly on the lips.
"Hi," he said.
"Hi," she replied shyly.
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Charlie awoke the next morning in a daze. Her eyes flitted around the room. There were two surfboards standing against the wall and a silver rail functioned as a wardrobe. A small bedside table boasted a lamp but the room was mostly bare. She felt a warm arm wrapped around her.
Brax.
Her eyes adjusted to the morning light and her mind quietened. She laced her fingers with Brax's. she pulled herself closer to him and closed her eyes contentedly. Sometime later, She felt Brax beginning to stir and opened her eyes. She shifted in his arms, turning to face him.
Brax smiled. "Morning," he murmured.
"Morning," Charlie said. She let him kiss her lightly. "Sleep well?"
He felt warm and sleep dotted his eyelids. He held her closer inching his body towards her. He kissed her neck and Charlie wrapped her arms around him. She smiled, his short hair tickling his face as the beginnings of stubble scratched at the delicate skin of her neck.
"Yep," he mumbled, in between kisses. "And you won't believe how energetic I feel now."
"Oh really,?" she smiled.
Brax nodded seductively.
.
.
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Brax pulled up to the Caravan Park. He'd offered to drive her closer but the lane was narrow and not really meant for extra traffic. It had been widened in recent years as caravans and cabins were added, but the gravel drive was often littered with holiday gear and children. Charlie assured him that she was more than capable of walking the short distance.
"So I'll see you later right?" Brax asked uncertainly. He looked at her strangely, as if he didn't really know what he was seeing. He seemed small and vulnerable and Charlie couldn't help but smile at his obvious anxiousness.
"Yes," Charlie confirmed. "Now go to work before Heath steals the entire till float."
She kissed him quickly and got out. She waved quickly as she turned to make her way up the path to her cabin. As she rounded the corner she saw Ruby sitting on the steps. He head was down and her thumbs were working furiously across her phone's Qwerty keyboard. Charlie took a deep breath and came to a stop in front of her.
"Rubes."
"Oh my god, Charlie!" she cried, finally looking up from her screen. "Where have you been. I was- is that Brax's t-shirt?" she asked suddenly.
Charlie looked down at the black t-shirt that she wore over her singlet top. It was too big on her and hid her frame nicely.
"What?" she asked. She brushed past Ruby, and hauled herself up the small stairs. "I guess." She unlocked the door.
"Were you with Brax?" Ruby asked excitedly. "Like with with?"
"Ruby," Charlie intoned.
"That would explain why you didn't answer your phone," Ruby posited, ignoring her mother's warning tone. She flopped down onto the couch. "Much too busy," she teased. "Otherwise occupied."
"Thank you," Charlie said, smacking Ruby's shoulder lightly. "Thats enough out of you."
"But you were with Brax?" Ruby probed. "All night?":
"I had a nightmare," Charlie defended. "I didn't want to be alone."
"Riiiight," Ruby smiled. "Didn't want to be alone." She winked.
"Shut up," Charlie said but she couldn't keep the smile out off her face. Ruby grinned.
"This is good, Charlie," she said sincerely. "You both deserve it."
Charlie brushed deeply. "I'm going to go shower and then we'll have lunch, yeah?"
"At Angelo's?" Ruby said, waggling her eyebrows, "Missing lover boy?"
"Don't be mean to your mother," Charlie said striding awkwardly down the hall.
She could hear Ruby laughing and excitedly clapping as she closed the bedroom door. She leant against it and smiled. She pushed herself off the door as she heard her phone vibrate on the side table.
She picked it up, rolling her eyes slightly at the amount of missed calls and texts from Ruby. There was another unknown number amongst Ruby's deluge that caught her eye. She couldn't recall the number but she recognised it. Alarm bells chimed softly at the back of her mind.
She listened carefully to the voice mail, then sat numbly on the bed,
"Charlie," Ruby called through the door, "Are you even in the shower yet? I can't hear the water running." She knocked on the door and then launched herself into the room.
"Charlie," she asked suddenly genuinely concerned. "Are you okay? I thought maybe you'd fallen over or something?"
"What? No. Yes," Charlie replied. "Fine. Just had a few voice mails." She shook her head lightly. "And I should shower," she said brightly. "I'm starving!"
.
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Lunch was a series of questions from Ruby ranging from the mundane to pornographic, and Charlie found herself in a state of almost permanent blush.
"I'm not telling you!" Charlie cried for what felt like the hundredth time.
"Oh, come on," Ruby pouted. "You used to tell me everything!"
"Are you lying to the amnesia patient?" Charlie asked with fake affront.
"What? No," Ruby said, hand on heart. "I'm just trying to help you."
Charlie threw her crumpled serviette at Ruby, who let out a laughing sequel. "But you're happy, right?" Ruby asked seriously.
Charlie paused. "What do you mean?"
"Just before," Ruby shrugged, "You seemed, I don't know, weird."
"I was not weird!"
"Okay, not weird," Ruby conceded, "Just staring into space with a blank expression."
"Ruby," Charlie started.
"No," Ruby interrupted. "Don't fob me off with some lame line, I know you weren't fine. And," she said, holding up her hand, "I know I can't fully understand what you're going through but I want to try. Please let me try."
Charlie smiled and reached out to hold Ruby's hand. "I know you do, but I really am fine. Things are just-" She shook her head and squeezed Ruby's hand.
"Weird," Ruby supplied with a small smile.
"Weird," Charlie agreed.
.
Ruby reluctantly left Charlie at the diner to head to work.
"I'll be fine," Charlie laughed. "More than fin in fact. I'm just going to have a piece of cake and walk home."
"Are you sure? I can call in sick."
"Your shift starts in fifteen minutes!"
"Fine but breakfast tomorrow?"
"Sounds brilliant," Charlie nodded her confirmation. "Now go."
Ruby kissed her mother quickly and waved. Charlie sat and watched her daughter's retreating form until she disappeared from view. Charlie pulled her phone out her pocket and dialled quickly.
"I need a taxi please."
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More to come soon! Please review!