Word count; 2685 (ex notes)

Notes at the bottom

CHAPTER 6;

Bass felt her nearly slam into his back as he stopped without warning. There was no time to explain to her what was happening so he turned around and dragged her to the nearest safe place.

"What the hell, Monr.." He placed his hand over her mouth before she could finish that sentence, before she could give their position away. He watched closely as he saw realization dawn on her face and took his hand away when he felt her slight nod. Patriots, he only just barely noticed them before they could spot him and Charlie, quick thinking kept them from being detected.

Intently he listened to the footsteps on the ground, thankfully it sounded like the group was moving away from where they had made camp, moving slightly closer to her to make sure they they could not be seen. Luckily the tree was quite large and the sides enveloped them almost completely. Finally he heard the group move on and the sounds of boots hitting the ground became fainter and fainter. He allowed his muscles to relax but that only lasted a second. When he didn't have to focus on the Patriots any more he could finally focus on what was right in front of him, and that would be Charlotte Matheson's lean frame. He wasn't quite sure where he ended and she began.

Her smaller frame was pressed so ridiculously close to his that one of his legs had slipped between hers, due to the difference in height she was nearly resting on his thigh. He felt his heart rate pick up when he felt her soft curves molding to his body. It was insane, it was crazy, it was wrong... it was absolutely delicious. She smelled amazing, which was a feat after all the traveling but she did. She smelled like flowers and sunshine, if sunshine even had a scent. She smelled soft and girly, it was turning his brain to mush and another part of his anatomy to granite. When they would get back to Willoughby he'd get her a dozen of those damn soap bars she liked.

Her slender hands were gripping his shirt and with every breath she took those soft, tempting mounds of her breasts were pressing against his chest. "Charlotte" Damn, he didn't even recognize the sound of his own voice, it was like he'd spent days trekking in the Sahara or some other bone-dry desert.

There was no response from the woman before him but he noticed she was staring at his mouth, her lips parted ever so slightly and he fought to silence a groan bubbling to the surface. She had no idea how tempting she looked with those lips parted and wet, practically begging for a kiss. Their bodies were pressed so tightly together that he could feel every inch of her, every soft, delicious inch. In a reflex the fingers of his left hand dug into her hips and he shuddered when he heard her soft gasp.

She was glorious. Lips parted and wet, hands grasping his shirt and that sinfully delicious body pressed to his. He felt control slipping "Damn you, Charlotte." Before he could think about it his head moved down of its own. Brushing his lips across hers so lightly, so soft it felt like the wings of a butterfly. He didn't dare do more because this girl could take care of herself and he didn't want to piss her off only to end up with her knife in his shoulder.

The little sounds that came from her mouth set him on fire. Every inch of him lit up at the needy little gasp that escaped her lips and he was lost. All those thoughts about her inflicting bodily harm on him evaporated from his mind. "Goddammit, Charlotte" His voice still rough as he leaned back in, this time taking her mouth by force, not taking no for an answer. Though to be quite honest, it didn't seem like she would be protesting much. He slipped his tongue into the wet heat of her mouth when she parted her lips on another one of those sexy little gasps he found were already addicting. Wasting no time he danced his tongue around hers, flicking it across every surface he could find. He left no inch of her mouth untouched, un-tasted as he drank her in. Slipping his other hand down to her hips and grabbing on tightly, pulling her impossibly closer against him.

Her next needy little groan he graced with a responding one of his own, not able to hold back as he felt her hands slip up to bury slender fingers in his hair. She pulled his head closer and he complied willingly, eagerly. He couldn't remember the last time a woman had him so completely out of control with want, need.

"Bass." It was a whisper, a gasp, a moan, reality. Somewhere through the lust-crazed fog reality came crashing down. He didn't know what had brought it on, her hands tightening once more in his hair, the surrounding noises in the woods or his name coming from her plush, kiss-bruised lips. Whatever it was, it shocked him back into the here and now.

"Fuck" Fuck, this was Charlie Matheson. Fuck, she was Rachel's daughter, Miles' niece. Fuck, he'd caused her pain and suffering and now what? He was resorting to molesting her? His brain chose to ignore the fact that the girl had been putty in his hands, that her tongue had danced eagerly with his. His brain ignored the fact that she was still panting, her breast rising up to meet him on each inhale of oxygen. He could still feel her heart pounding against his chest.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" What the hell was he thinking. She was half his age! Her uncle was his best, former best, friend for fucks sake. She hated him, she'd tried to kill him and vice versa. She fucked his son, for crying out loud. She'd had sex with his son, and damn if that didn't deflate his aching erection within the blink of an eye. He quickly took a step back and tried to stay focused on those blue eyes of hers. He ran a trembling hand through his disheveled hair. Disheveled because scant moments before she had been grasping at his locks with abandon.

"I'm Sorry." God, he wasn't sorry. He fought to keep his eyes on her forehead because god forbid, if he'd look down and saw those dark eyes, clouded with lust and those soft, pliable lips, red and bruised from his kisses he might just lose control again. If he'd kiss her again he didn't know if he could muster up the same self control twice.

"I'm sorry, I should not have done that. It was a mistake." Though she hadn't tasted like one, she hadn't felt like one. He took several more steps back from her, wanting, needing to create more distance between his thrumming body and hers. Her breathing was fast and erratic, just like his but he shoved that fact to the back of his mind. She was Miles' niece, for fucks sake!

Tearing his eyes away from her he turned around. He needed to get back to camp, he needed to not only put distance, but also people between them. He needed the added safety of actual people to keep himself from doing what he really wanted to do because he knew that once he did, Miles' would really never forgive him.

Darkness had set in, the nights sky was mottled with stars and the moon was nearly full. The light from those heavenly bodies illuminated another heavenly body, one that was in a fitful sleep not even ten feet to his left.

After they'd gotten back to camp they hadn't said a word to each other, something Bass was relieved about. In fact, she hadn't given him the time of day from the moment he'd stepped back and headed back to camp. His mind told him that this was best for them, for her, but his body... his body had other ideas. He was high strung, every move, every sound she made registered with him like a thunder clap.

He'd offered to keep first watch, there was no way he'd be able to fall asleep anyway. It was becoming a recurring thing, not being able to sleep and ninety nine percent of the time that heavenly body to his left was to blame. She turned him around, she surprised him every chance she got and she always kept him guessing what her next move would be. She was one of the least predictable people he'd ever met and one of the most infuriating, intriguing and addicting.

Bass ran his hand across his face in a sigh, what had happened in those woods could never happen again, he knew that. His mind was aware of it but the rest of him, the rest of him just wanted to walk those few feet and crawl into that sleeping bag with her. This was dangerous territory, he knew that. This wasn't just simple lust, it was respect, it was admiration and those things could lead to even more dangerous roads.

A hand came to rest on his shoulder and he startled from his musings. "My turn." Bass looked up to see Roger standing next to him. What the hell, had he been so distracted he hadn't heard the man get up and walk over to him? "Thanks, man." He got up and stretched out his back. The tree he'd been leaning against was far from comfortable, or maybe he was just getting old. Slowly he walked over to his own sleeping bag that was, as always, positioned right at the foot of hers and he slipped in.

Sleep overtook him faster than he would have thought and he slept through till morning when Connor's voice woke him up. It was early, the sun still soft and watery at the horizon but they wanted to get an early start so they could make Willoughby before nightfall. Bass stretched and took the container of water Connor offered him. "Thanks" His voice still raspy with sleep and he took a few good chugs. One thing he was glad about was that he and Connor had been talking more and more. It seemed that the events in New Vegas had somehow made them closer, maybe it was the fact that he'd almost let Connor kill him. The first few days had been a little strained but they'd fallen into a comfortable camaraderie.

They wasted no time packing up camp for the last time and before the sun could reach it's full strength they were back on the road, the last few miles to Willoughby before them. Bass allowed Pete do drive the wagon this time, he couldn't stand being on that bench another day with nothing but Charlotte and thoughts of Charlotte to keep him company. He opted to walk instead, staying several yards behind the wagon and forcing himself to focus on his surroundings instead of the girl sitting next to Pete.

The closer they got to Willoughby the more high strung the group got, not just because they were finally at the end of their long journey but also because they knew what was potentially hiding around the next corner. They had agreed that Duncan's men and Connor would wait in an old abandoned barn about two miles from where Miles and Rachel were hopefully still hiding with Gene. Bass and Charlie would go over and tell them about what happened in New Vegas, afraid that a larger group would only be more easy to spot than just two people.

Bass waited for Charlie to get her stuff together before they headed out. It wasn't too far so they should be able to get to Miles and Rachel before nightfall. That was, if they weren't spotted by any Patriots. Charlie had been fairly quiet today, she'd been talking to Pete on the wagon but she had yet to say a word to him. He felt guilty, it was after all his fault. He should never have kissed her, it had made things awkward between them and he had just been getting used to their comfortable companionship.

"Monroe." Her voice jerked him back to the present and he followed her lead as she ducked behind a ramshackle shed. Moments later two Patriot scouts passed them at about 15 yards. He felt her hold her breath, her back leaning against his front as they hid from the two soldiers. Instantly his mind jumped back to the last time she was pressed against him, how her little moans and gasps had caused his blood to simmer.

When the coast was clear she grabbed his sleeve and guided him forward, both still listening for more soldiers. When it became apparent that there were none they hastily made their way to the place where they'd last seen Miles, Gene and Rachel.

Charlie was a few paces in front of him and damn it if he couldn't keep his eyes away from her. He should be focusing on their immediate surroundings but as they got closer she got more confident in where she was going and before long she was taking long strides towards the barn her family was hiding in.

Bass couldn't tear his eyes away from her back, her ass, to be precise. It was an amazing one, it dipped and swayed with the rhythm of her steps and he was hypnotized. He was losing his mind. He imagined digging his fingers into her soft flesh without the barrier of her jeans, could almost taste the slick velvet of her tongue against his. He wanted to lick that tiny indentation at the base of her throat, wanted to hear her calling him 'Bass' again with that wanton tone from the other day, but he knew he shouldn't.

"Why did you fuck my son?" The words were out before he could stop them and he silently cursed himself. Charlie turned around and he was denied the view of that delectable ass any longer "'scuse me?" She squinted "Where the hell did that come from?" Her eyes searched his face but he kept it neutral, belying his internal turmoil. "I was just wondering, from all the men in New Vegas and there were a lot, why did you pick MY son to sleep with?" Bass watched something, he didn't know what, cross her face before it became as neutral as his own.

"I slept with Connor because I was bored and he was cute and available. It... it didn't mean anything, it was just... convenient." Bass took in her words and nodded "Do you regret it?" Damn him, why the hell couldn't he just keep his mouth shut, what was he, a masochist? She turned around without saying anything and started walking again, he barely picked it up but right before the barn came into view she whispered "Yes... yes I regret it" But there was no time for him to respond. The door to the cellar of the barn opened and out came Rachel, a hurried pace towards her daughter, no doubt needing to check her only child was in good health. Miles followed close behind and Bass watched as his former best friend gripped Charlie's shoulder with a smile "Good to see you, kid."

Here he was thinking about doing all sorts of naughty, wrong, delicious things to Miles' niece. It was a good thing Miles couldn't read his mind. Patriots, left over Militia, Conner... those were the least of his problems. He was going to hell in a hand basket, literally. When Miles found out just what he'd done to Charlie, what he wanted to do to Charlie... Miles was going to use those sharp blades of his and all his knowledge about sword fighting to chop him up into teeny, tiny little pieces for thinking these thoughts, Bass was sure about it.

Miles was going to kill him.

Author's notes;

Will be adding Rachel, Miles, Gene and Tom and Jason Neville as supporting characters in the next 2 chapters. Not too heavy a presence, the focus will stay on Charlie and Bass, all chapters told from their point of view.

Thank you so much for all the reviews! It's very gratifying and motivating to see that people like my story so thanks to all who took the time for a review. Especially Lady Krystalyn. You are absolutely right, Charlie had been through a lot that we haven't seen. So, I will be making my Charlie a bit more like the bad-ass she is in season 2 than I had originally intended because I do want it to be slightly believable and not end up with a whole different Charlie and Monroe, just a little softer. Thank you for the feedback on that!

I had a vacation last week so that's why I could update so often, I have started working again so it might be that the updates will take a little longer but I'll try and update at least a chapter each 2 days.

I hope that you're still liking the story at this point. It's coming slow but steady, do expect things to start heating up a bit, though.

Thank you all for taking the time to read it. Reviews, notes and constructive criticism is as always wanted and welcomed.

Love, Marisa