"You Call It Madness But I Call It Love"
Hi CJers!
Thank you so much for your support!
JCLuv - Well if you insist on them not keeping up the tension... Glad you're loving all the twists! Brax isn't a match for CJ - let's hope your right!
B2T - I think I like you reading between the lines! Feeling sorry for Brax - that's new! The couple's feelings are well and truly stronger as you predicted!
Claudia - Oh do tell your predictions for what could be in the file! Even if you're wrong it doesn't hurt to take a guess and work out the mystery which I'm sure you'll manage to do!
CJ4eva - Disaster for CJ? Isn't that just a regular thing in my fics lol? Another hot chapter coming right up for you!
Hope you like this one!
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Several Weeks Later
Charlie wandered down towards the end of the beach to the cove looking forward to her next surfing lesson with Joey.
A lot had happened over the past few weeks.
Though Joey didn't know and Charlie felt guilty for not telling her, after Brax had told her about the second file of police reports about John Braxton's murder, Charlie hadn't been able to resist taking the file from Brax's locker.
For two days Charlie had been plagued by Brax's daring words and eventually she gave in and took the file at the gym when no one was looking.
But the moment the file was in her hands Charlie knew she couldn't open it and she returned the file to the locker not an hour later.
Charlie was too afraid to open it fearing what it could lead to.
Charlie had a history of destroying her relationships, seemingly on purpose to get out of committing her life to someone else according to her ex-boyfriend Angelo. She knew by opening that file, even though it might quieten Brax's words that were replaying in her mind, she'd be responsible for destroying another relationship before she was even in it.
Though they weren't together, Charlie was hopelessly in love with Joey and couldn't stand the thought of ruining any chance of being with her before anything romantic happened between them. More importantly Charlie didn't want to hurt Joey more than what she already was going through and the thought of anything more coming between them and stopping them from being together wasn't something Charlie ever wanted to deal with.
Although Charlie was terrified of Brax telling Joey himself about the details that were contained in the file and could see that he could find a way to paint it against her in that she was lying to Joey about not knowing about what he'd told her because she had indeed taken the file, albeit for an hour, she just wanted to forget about Brax and the possibility of him ruining their happiness so she could enjoy the time she got to spend with Joey in secret.
Having bumped into Brax at the gym the day after she'd come close to taking the file home with her, Charlie told him straightforwardly that she didn't have it in her possession and never would because she wasn't going to read it. She then told him to keep whatever he knew from Joey because she didn't want to see her hurt, then convincingly lied to the man and informed him that she'd stay away from Joey if he did so.
Brax reluctantly let it go but warned Charlie once more to stay away from Joey or else he'd reconsider telling his sister everything he knew about what happened the night their father was killed.
Charlie hoped that in time if she and Joey did manage to begin a relationship with each other that when Brax found out that he would be more concerned over hurting his sister then revealing more details over their painful loss to get some kind of revenge for what had happened between their families.
Since the slight awkwardness after their 'double date' with Casey and Ruby, things had progressed well between Charlie and Joey.
Over the last few weeks the pair continued their forbidden friendship. They snuck out for their surf lessons almost every morning and spent hours on the phone to each other every night. Though it was never enough time with each other they made the most of it.
Though they were still desperate to be with one another, the pair had settled into a nice routine with their friendship and it was enough to satisfy them.
Charlie smiled as she thought back to the times they had spent together. If anyone was to catch them together, there was no denying their chemistry. They spent so much of their surfing lessons unconsciously flirting with one another and the sexual tension between them came close to over boiling on several occasions.
But the forbidden lovers had managed to control themselves with both of them realizing just how difficult it was to imagine them having a real future together.
Deep down Charlie knew it was impossible to deny anything ever happening between the soul mates. She knew without a doubt that they belonged together and although it was difficult right now for the two of them to come to terms with that, Charlie knew when the time was right things would turn around for the pair and their love for one another would be impossible to overcome.
As Charlie jumped down the slight rock cliff to the cove, she grinned happily as she spotted Joey standing there waxing her surf board which was standing up in the sand.
Charlie dumped her surf board next to Joey and the small esky she had also been carrying so she could wrap her arms around Joey. Kissing her cheek softly the pair greeted each other like they normally did – intimately but controlled.
Joey turned around in Charlie's embrace and cuddled up to the woman. It pained her to think of how much they wanted to be together. She knew she was the one who held the 'cards' so to speak on them having a relationship. She knew deep down that Charlie was still terrified of what people would think about her finding love with another woman let alone a Braxton.
When they were alone together at the cove, Charlie didn't hold back in her affection for Joey, but often when they spoke to one another over the phone at night, Charlie revealed just how scared she was of people's reactions.
While it was hard knowing Charlie was struggling with the idea of coming out should anything happen between them, it helped Joey to think that her inability to give them a real chance wasn't the only thing stopping them from spending their lives together. They both had their own internal battles to overcome if they ever had a chance of being together and Joey hoped one day they might just be able to get past them.
Joey smiled up at Charlie, enjoying just how nice it felt to have the older woman in her arms. Joey was proud of Charlie for how well she was coping with her feelings for her. When they were alone, Charlie was openly affectionate with her and never held back like she was scared of being in love with another woman. Charlie had accepted her attraction to Joey with confidence and Joey was sure this would help Charlie if anyone else found out about them.
But being so affectionate and close to Charlie without having her was frustrating Joey to no end.
Joey held Charlie tightly, "So what's the esky for?"
Charlie grinned proudly as she half heartedly let go of the woman she was holding so she could pick the esky up, "This is incentive...for me to finally ride a wave today!"
Over the past few weeks, Charlie had improved in her surfing to the point where she was out in the surf and able to stand up on the board. But standing up on the board as she tried to surf a wave was as far as she'd gotten as every time she'd finally managed to get to her feet she lost her balance and crashed into the surf.
Charlie was desperate to finally catch a wave and was determined to at least ride a wave for a good ten seconds before she would call what she did 'surfing.'
Joey eyed Charlie curiously as the older woman pulled out of the esky a bottle of champagne. She could see the esky was filled with ice to keep the bottle cold. It was only small enough to hold the champagne bottle as well as two champagne glasses.
Charlie smirked at Joey as she held up the bottle, "We both have the entire day off work today so for the first time in ages we get to spend the entire day together in one another's company without having to leave each other to go to work. And I don't care if it takes me all day...I will ride a wave today!"
Joey took a step towards Charlie, gingerly placing her hands on her hips, "Oh really?"
"Absolutely," Charlie told her confidently, "The way you've been teaching me...I am this close I know it! I will manage to ride a wave without falling off my board! And this bottle of expensive champagne is our reward when I finally do it!"
"Why have I earned such a nice reward? You're the one who's done all the hard work," Joey pointed out honestly.
"Because you have had to put up with a lot from me with my complaining that I'll never be able to surf...and because you're a great teacher who knew I'd be able to do it," Charlie replied happily, then unable to resist she leant down and pecked Joey on the lips, "Thank you for believing in me."
Joey could feel her heart beating rapidly in her chest at the feel of Charlie's lips against hers. She knew it was Charlie's way of pushing the barriers between their friendship but she was comfortable enough with letting her.
Joey smirked at Charlie teasingly, "Don't thank me yet...you haven't managed to surf properly just yet!"
Charlie chuckled, "Okay true...but I will today! And when I do we get to indulge in this champagne to celebrate!"
"Are you trying to get me drunk so you can have your way with me?" Joey joked lightly.
Charlie bit her lip, "Would it work...? Duh...I mean...of course not. We will be drinking responsibly...one glass each max...unless you give me that cute pouty look of yours...then we'll just finish off the bottle!"
"Well then the quicker you get out there and try to catch a wave without falling off the board straight away the quicker we'll be indulging in...ah...the champagne...so go on and get out there," Joey insisted.
Charlie stepped out of their embrace so she could place the bottle back in the esky and shut the lid to keep the ice from melting too fast. Picking up her surf board she jogged out to the water, enjoying the feel of Joey's eyes watching every second of her movement.
Later that day, Charlie finally smiled victoriously. It had taken her all day and a few hundred attempts that ended with her losing her balance and crashing into the surf but Charlie had finally managed to keep her footing enough to ride a wave just long enough for her to be celebrating her achievement.
Though Joey didn't want to point out to Charlie that it was a very easy wave to surf and she'd ridden waves a hundred times harder, she didn't want to spoil Charlie's enthusiasm over finally surfing a wave.
Joey surfed over to Charlie on her board to congratulate Charlie on her effort, though a part of her wanted to tease the older woman for the other couple hundred times she'd seen Charlie 'stack it' that day.
Before Joey could say anything, Charlie looked at her with a glint in her eyes, "Last one back to the beach misses out on the last glass of champagne that'll be left!"
Joey rolled her eyes at Charlie, allowing her to have a head start before swimming after her. Both reaching the shallow water at the same time, Joey stumbled gently in her attempts to stand up and wade through the water until she could run up the beach. Joey's thoughts at that moment were firmly on Charlie's body as the woman strode on ahead of her and Joey was lost in her thoughts about being able to give into her desires.
With Joey subconsciously taking her time getting out of the water so she could spend as much time as possible watching Charlie's body move, Charlie jogged up the beach towards their towels.
Although a part of Charlie was surprised that Joey had taken longer to get up to the beach the competitive side in her forced her to keep jogging.
Throwing her surf board to the sand, Charlie collapsed onto the two towels they had laid out next to each other. Rolling over onto her back, Charlie watched eagerly as Joey wasn't too far behind and soon the tattooed woman had collapsed onto the towel next to her.
Charlie grinned at Joey, "I surfed a wave!"
Joey found herself leaning over Charlie, "Yes you did! I'm proud of you!"
Charlie watched quietly as Joey leant herself up on her right elbow, leaning over her. Charlie then subtlety shifted herself closer to Joey so she was lying right under the younger woman. Placing her right hand on Joey's hip to steady her, she smiled hoping Joey wouldn't comment on her move, "You're really proud of me?"
Joey grinned at the police officer, comfortable with the affectionate closeness, "Well granted it has only taken you close to three weeks to manage this achievement...not to mention all day today...though personally it was very hot watching you 'stack it' a few hundred times...yes I am proud of you for finally not losing your balance and surfing a wave!"
Charlie removed her hand from Joey's hip and swatted Joey's shoulder playfully, "Should've known you'd be the only one of us enjoying how many times I fell over...some of those times I crashed into the surf actually hurt and I'll have you know my body is probably gonna be covered in light bruises by tomorrow."
Instinctively Joey's eyes lowered as they roamed Charlie's body which was dripping wet and only had her tight black bikinis on. Joey blushed heavily as her eyes shifted away from Charlie's body and found Charlie's eyes again, realizing that Charlie enjoyed the way she had stared at her body.
Charlie reached out and took Joey's hand, gently entangling their fingers as she placed their hands against her torso, "I might need you to come over tomorrow and rub some cream all over me to stop me from being covered in obvious bruises..."
Joey shook her head at Charlie's flirtatiousness, "I think you can manage that all on your own. Now what do you say...we indulge in that champagne you bought us?"
"I'd rather indulge in you," Charlie replied instantly before she could stop herself.
"Charlie," Joey whispered, as she tried to fight everything in her that was telling her to give into her love for Charlie.
Desperate for Joey to see how it was impossible for them to pretend they didn't love each other, Charlie whispered back forcefully, "Stop it!"
Joey swallowed hard as she stared into Charlie's eyes before naively asking, "Stop what?"
"Stop fighting this...I love you...and you love me too," Charlie whispered honestly as she felt tears coming close to welling up in her eyes.
Joey closed her eyes briefly, trying to find the strength to remind herself that her family would never forgive her for falling in love with a Buckton.
Opening her eyes finally, all that strength disappeared the second Joey's eyes met Charlie's heartbroken ones.
Knowing she could no longer fight the 'madness' of their forbidden love, Joey crashed her lips powerfully against Charlie's...
To indulge in champagne or Joey - what a choice for Charlie...NOT!
After finally giving in this time - can the girls make it work?
Will Brax keep quiet about the second police file if he finds out CJ are in love or ruin their happiness?
Next Time - CJ get it on!
That is all!
Now review and tell me how much you're dying for the next chapter! Always got to leave you wanting more!
