A/N: Reviews have definitely reduced on this one since the high response to the earlier chapters. I'm going to keep going, but I hope the numbers rise again.
The day after their first night together…
Caribbean Retreat
Chapter 8
Sarah's morning awakening in the past was either instant alertness when at risk on dangerous missions or a gradual slow and relaxed surfacing from deep sleep when not. This morning should've been one of the later, and probably would've been if it hadn't been for the fact that Chuck needed to get up to work.
"Sarah," his voice filtered through to her. He was speaking softly, but she still heard him.
If her head was lying on a pillow, she'd probably bury her face in it and cover her ears to block everything out. However, her head was resting on a warm chest that was rising and falling, and his voice rumbled through that chest.
She quickly assessed everything else. Her right arm was lying on Chuck still, but lower on his rib cage and partly on his stomach. Not much of a change, but her right leg was now sprawled across his legs and her foot buried between his calves. It was warm, something very unusual. Her left leg was pressed up against his and that foot felt warmer, too. All that meant that her body was pressed against his, a wonderful feeling.
All in all, she loved where she was and certainly didn't want to move. She moved her arm and tightened it around his chest. "Don't wanna move! Like this!" she muttered.
His laugh rumbled through to her ear pressed against him, and then he said, "Sorry, Sarah, but I have to get up. I'm working today."
She reluctantly released him and slid off onto the other side of the bed.
"God, what a beautiful sight to wake up to," he said.
She blinked at him. She knew what she looked like when she awoke. She'd looked at it in bathroom mirrors. "Chuck, my hair must be a rumpled mess, my eyes puffy and my face red and blotchy."
"And you look absolutely gorgeous," he said reverently.
She focused on his appearance. His hair was mussed up, but apart from that, he looked just as he had when they went to bed. Thinking of his word gorgeous, she smiled. "You do too, Chuck."
"Oh, and that perfect smile, as well," he said, which made her smile widen.
He started to close the distance between them, obviously meaning to kiss her, but she stopped him by placing her hand on his chest. It was distracting as she loved the feel of his chest hair on her palm, but she managed to control herself and say, "We are not kissing until we've brushed our teeth. I don't want your first kiss of the day spoiled by my morning breath."
The thought of a kiss from his soft lips was enough to get her out of bed. She grabbed her toiletries bag and walked to the bedroom door and reached out her hand to him. "We can brush our teeth side-by-side."
He grinned and clasped her hand and unlocked and unbolted the door.
She'd not done this before, but there was something very intimate about brushing their teeth together. As soon as they'd finished she wrapped her hands behind his neck and pulled him into a kiss.
One of them moaned into the kiss, probably her, but she was so lost in it she didn't really know. She loved his kisses. No one had ever had this effect on her before.
She clung onto him as the kiss ended and pressed her lips against his again.
He eventually had to physically separate them. "I have to get ready to start work, Sarah. I'm sorry."
She sighed. "No, it's me that should apologize for slowing you down. Sorry I'm so clingy this morning."
He smiled. "It's still amazing that you-"
She raised a finger, pointed it at him. "Stop that! You're a catch, Chuck. I'm lucky that you haven't already been snapped up." She knew that was because he'd hidden himself away, but wasn't going to mention that. "Ok. I assume you want a shower, so I'll leave you to it." The thought of sharing it appeared in her head, but she kept that to herself.
"I'll just grab my change of clothes first," he replied and followed her back into the bedroom.
When he left again, she wondered about going back to bed, but decided to shower, dress and head down to breakfast after he'd gone.
Bryce walked into the kitchen with today's shopping. He was surprised to see Chuck already there. "So, how did last night go?" he asked.
Chuck looked up and his eyes said it all, but the words came through, too, "It felt like a dream come true. And I have never awakened happier."
Bryce smiled at his friend. "So, all your worries about sharing a bed proved to be foundless?"
"I think it's who was with me," Chuck said quietly.
Bryce chuckled. "It's a bit ironic. An assassin climbs into bed with you, and you feel safe."
"That's who she was, not who she is now!" Chuck replied, looking annoyed.
Bryce put up his hand, palms facing his friend. "Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you."
Chuck looked down. "Sorry, Bryce. I'm a bit sensitive about how Sarah is perceived. I see her as the beautiful, loving woman I spend time with, whereas you see a past version of her."
"And I'm trying to see her differently," Bryce said. "But you did lose your sense of humor a bit there, buddy."
"Joking in poor taste?"
"Yeah. I guess." Bryce changed to topic. "I'm glad last night worked out for you both."
A mile crept over Chuck's face. "It did."
"So, you think you'll be ok staying at her apartment?"
"She's gonna see what adjustments she's allowed to make," Chuck replied.
Bryce knew how persuasive Sarah could be. He patted his friend's arm. "She'll make things happen. I've already ordered the security system."
"Thanks, Bryce."
"You better look at what I've bought this morning, and plan what to make for lunch before you get fully started on breakfast." He left Chuck to do that, while starting the coffee machine.
When he walked out of the kitchen, Sarah was just coming down the stairs. He had to admit, she looked very different these days and the night had obviously done her good. He never thought he'd use the word radiant to describe anyone, but it certainly fit Sarah this morning. He stopped and looked at her.
She raised a brow when she felt his gaze upon her. "What?"
"You positively glow, Sarah. Looks like the new sleeping arrangement works for you, too."
She smiled. "Is that what Chuck said?"
"Not in so many words, but I've never seen him happier."
Her face took on a dreamy look. "We're so right for each other, Bryce."
He nodded. "Seems that way."
"Thanks for your support," she said. "I know it was hard for you."
"D'you think Graham ever sees people differently?" he asked, as the question appeared in his head.
She frowned. "You know, I just see him as part of a past life, no longer relevant."
"Chuck?" he questioned.
"Yeah. He's all that's relevant to me now." The dreamy look briefly appeared and then faded as she thought about his question. "Even though he lives in the gray shadows, I think everything in Graham's life is purely black and white, nothing in between. And, no, I don't think he ever changes that picture in his head."
"He's not going to be happy that you don't go back." Bryce said.
"He gave me his word that if I decided to leave, I could, after the six months were up."
"Do you think he'll keep to his word?" Bryce really didn't.
"Not wanting to boast, but I was the best at being invisible when I wanted to be and probably the deadliest assassin. He should know better than to go back on his word."
He gasped. "You'd take him out?"
"I'd threaten that first. Besides, I captured our conversation when I went to see him, so it would be his word against his own."
Bryce chuckled. "You got better after you left me."
"A solo female operative has to be at her best to survive."
"I guess." He looked at his watch, opening time would be in twenty minutes. "Want coffee?"
"Only if you'll have one with me," she replied.
That was another reminder how she'd changed. The woman who always kept herself to herself wouldn't have said that.
He went to get the coffee.
While Sarah had been in the café for breakfast, she'd sat planning what she was going to do for the rest of the day, and subsequently followed through on that.
It was all about getting her apartment to feel like hers. Her home. She enlisted Chuck's help on that during his free time. After all, she saw this as his apartment as much as it was hers. She had thought he might argue that point, but thankfully he didn't.
When he left her to go and prepare dinner at the café, she spent another hour arranging the place with what she had managed to buy on the island.
By the time she headed to the café for a late dinner, she was only waiting for things she'd had to order online.
The place wasn't finished, but it felt more like a home already.
Home. That thing she'd never had until now. She still couldn't really believe this was happening. She also knew that it wouldn't completely feel like home until a certain curly-haired guy moved in with her.
Saturdays were always busy and this one was no exception. For Chuck, helping Sarah with getting her apartment sorted was a welcome relief, although time on the beach would've been better than shopping.
Still as the evening progressed, Chuck found he was getting excited. He would be sleeping with his girlfriend overnight and tomorrow he didn't have to rush to start work. He could spend all his time with her. Every minute from when he awakened!
As always, he went over the top cleaning the kitchen at the end of the day. He justified that by the fact that it would be nearly thirty-two hours before it was used again the following Monday. Bryce helped, as he always did, but this time maybe a bit more.
"Sarah's out there, and looks even more excited than last night," Bryce said, conspiratorially. He stopped Chuck's wiping the surfaces. "Let me finish, so you don't keep her waiting so long."
Chuck wouldn't normally allow that, but tonight was special. "Thanks, Bryce," he said, and rushed out of the kitchen.
Sarah always took his breath away, but Bryce was right about her tonight. Her eyes were sparkling as she caught sight of him. She stood up and when he reached her table, he swept her up in his arms and kissed her. She kissed back just as fervently.
When their lips parted, both were a bit breathless. He lowered her to her feet, but held onto her and said, "You've got me for nearly thirty-two hours with no breaks. I hope you're ready for that."
She nodded and kissed him again, which was all the answer he needed.
He hoisted her up into a fireman's lift and carried her up the stairs, with her giggling and kicking her heels all the way.
As Chuck set her back down on her feet outside his bedroom, Sarah thought she would never have let anyone else carry her like that, and certainly wouldn't have enjoyed it. Just another thing that was different about her around this man.
Once Chuck had the door unlocked and she'd walked into his bedroom, he surprised her by grabbing her shoulders, twisting her and pressing her back against that door before forcefully pressing his lips to hers. The kiss was far more passionate than normal. She felt overwhelmed with desire. Is he going to take this to the next level?
After a couple of minutes of this intense make out, he pulled away. "Sorry, I just couldn't resist."
She felt breathless and so turned on. She cupped his face. "Don't be sorry for what you did, but you got me quite worked up." She looked into his eyes. She knew what hers must look like.
He gulped. "I got carried away."
She held his gaze and said, "So did I, Chuck."
He didn't seem to be listening to her, just wrapped up in guilt. "I really shouldn't have done that," he said and grabbed what he planned to wear to bed and rushed to the bathroom.
'My god! He walked away after igniting this fire in me?'
What he'd done had changed her plan completely. She wanted sex now, desperately. She obviously wasn't clear enough about that after the kiss.
She opened her backpack and pushed the t-shirt and plain panties aside. The red set she'd brought for later in the week was what she was now going to wear.
Chuck turned away from her as he walked back in. "Bathroom's all yours."
She headed in and stripped. She did what she needed to before putting on what she'd brought in with her. She looked at herself in the mirror. She'd never had to wear anything like this on missions, but she had to admit she looked hot.
She put on her robe and walked back into the bedroom, bolted the door, and dropped the clothes she'd taken off onto the floor by what she now regarded as her side of the bed.
She turned to face Chuck. He was watching her. His eyes were hard to read. She slipped off the robe. His eyes widened and she saw exactly what she hoped to see in them.
"You got me so fired up, Chuck, that I won't be able to get to sleep. I want you so badly that I decided to wear this."
A quick glance showed that his body was reacting as she hoped. "Sarah, are you sure?" he asked tentatively.
She climbed onto the bed. "I've been sure for days, Chuck. I was just waiting for you to be."
"I haven't for many years," he mumbled. "I don't want to disappoint you."
She rolled her eyes. "This is about us having sex, Chuck, not competing in a marathon." She sat on his thighs. "Don't you want me?"
"God, I've wanted you for days," he replied as he looked into her eyes after briefly looking at her bare legs upon him.
She leaned down and kissed him while pressing her body on his, which felt perfect.
The passionate kiss from earlier was surpassed with this one and what followed was everything she'd hoped for.
Chuck quickly helped her out of the red negligee, and matching bra and panties, before she helped him with his t-shirt and boxers. All of the items soon lay discarded on the floor on his side of the bed.
Chuck proved to be a great lover. She couldn't remember ever being so satisfied, or so vocal. She finally lay next to him, panting. "You definitely did not disappoint!"
He was struggling to breathe, let alone reply, but eventually said, "My god, Sarah! You're as amazing in bed as everything else you do!"
She rolled onto her side and kissed his cheek. "I hope this will continue in our lives together."
He pulled her to him. "Every night, I hope." The kiss that followed was a tender lingering one that didn't lead to more sex, just confirmed how they both felt.
They finally drifted off to sleep naked in each other's arms.
Chuck woke up with a naked Sarah Walker sprawled across him as he lay on his back. The intimacy was breathtaking, but the warmth of their bodies that so perfectly melded together was, too.
She was still asleep and they had nothing to get up for today, at least not work-related. He realized that they'd never discussed religion. Would she want to join the people of the island in a Christian service? He wasn't religious, so hadn't paid any attention to it.
Should he wake her to let her shower and head to the church?
It was still early. He looked at his clock. Just after seven o'clock. For now, he'd just enjoy the sensation of her lying upon him and take in the scent of her hair.
He couldn't believe that they'd made love the night before. He expected they would start that at some point in their relationship, but not so soon.
When he'd walked to her in the café, he'd been so excited about sleeping with her again and, this time, not having to rush out in the morning that he just picked her up to get them to his bedroom as quickly as possible. That excitement increased as he carried the woman of his dreams up the stairs and turned into raging desire.
Once he got them into his room, he lost control and kissed her more passionately than ever before. It was only when his body started to react to her kissing him back just as forcefully, that he decided he'd gone too far. He was mortified and fled to the bathroom.
What he hadn't realized was how turned on she was. He'd driven her desire through the roof. God! If she hadn't taken control of the situation and shown him what she wanted, he would've left her frustrated, something he would never have wanted.
When he saw her in that red negligee and the matching bra and panties, he was stunned. She was always gorgeous, but in that, she was just breathtaking. His body certainly reacted, which was what she wanted, as did he.
Undressing each other had been a dream. Not surprisingly, what he hadn't seen of her body until then was as beautiful as the rest of her. A naked Sarah Walker must be every man's fantasy.
Making love to her had been everything he'd dreamt of, and a whole lot more.
It wasn't just that it had been six years since he last had sex. He had never felt for Jill as he did for this woman, so it was no surprise to him that making love to Sarah wasn't just a physical coupling, the emotional and mental connection was just as intense.
Her bodily reactions as well as her gasps, moans and cries showed him that there was no disappointment. She eventually said that, but how she then looked at him convinced him just as much.
Then, they fell asleep holding each other completely unclothed.
Jill had always slipped a nighty on, or at least panties, before rolling to face away from him if she spent the night. Maybe that told him something back then, but probably not as much as the fact that she never took him to her bed. Sarah, on the other hand, was desperate for him to join her in her bed, so much so that she wanted it to become their bed going forward! He would have been happy for that to be all, but after last night, he hoped to make love to her more, and she seemed to be of like mind.
He involuntarily held her a bit tighter as his body reacted to that thought.
"Is that the morning thing men get, or do you want more of what we did last night?" Sarah quietly asked. He'd obviously woken her.
He pushed aside his embarrassment because she didn't sound unhappy. "I'm sorry, I was thinking of last night while holding the naked body of the woman I love. I can't stop it."
She gasped and pushed against his chest to lift up and looked at him. She was as adorable as ever, but the surprised look puzzled him until she spoke. "You said you love me!"
He hadn't thought about that, but wasn't it obvious? He cupped her face. "I think I fell in love with you the moment I saw you, but that love grows every day. It's not just about last night, although that was unbelievable."
She crashed her lips down onto his. The previous day's need for her to remove morning breath seemed completely forgotten. She didn't need to clean her teeth, but he wasn't sure about himself. However, he wasn't going to argue when her tongue slipped into his mouth.
As with all their kisses, this one was wonderful, but then she intensified the experience as she squirmed her naked body over his. Suddenly, they were joined.
He managed not to gasp, but his eyes definitely widened. She pulled her lips from his and those glorious blue orbs stared into his brown ones as she started to move. "Oh my god, Sarah!"
She said nothing but kissed him again as she continued.
Well, that was a definite benefit of sleeping with her boyfriend! Morning sex was a great way to start the day!
Sarah stayed lying upon him when they finished, but once she got her breath back, she lifted her chest, locked eyes with him and softly told him, "I was surprised, because I've never been in love before, but I fell for you just as quickly, Chuck."
He didn't leave it at that but replied, just as softly, "You're the one for me, Sarah."
Her eyes misted on hearing that, but she quirked her lips. "You're the only man I've ever fallen in love with, but I don't need to look for another."
He chuckled. "So, you're going to make do with the first."
That stopped her smiling. "You are not a make-do, Chuck! You're the only one I want. Ever."
"Works for me," he replied. His eyes told her more than that.
"Of course, what we did last night, and just now, being as fantastic as it was, helps, too."
He gasped. "I thought performance wasn't important!"
She gave him another kiss before replying, "It's not, but it's now something I want a lot more of."
He rolled her onto her back. "Your wish is my command."
She gasped as he demonstrated that.
Chuck noticed that Bryce's bedroom door was ajar when he walked out of his own room. He peeked in and Bryce wasn't there. He also wasn't downstairs when Chuck reached the kitchen to make coffee. He looked outside and saw that his friend's car was missing. That changed his plans.
He rushed back up and told Sarah that Bryce had gone out. Her eyes lit up and the naked form of his girlfriend leaped out of bed and pulled him through to the bathroom. It seemed that she wanted to share the shower as much as he did.
Shower sex wasn't the easiest, but so rewarding! It made him want to take her to a secluded beach where no one would find them, so that he could make love to this slippery woman in the sea.
For someone who was celibate for six years, he'd now become libidinous. He was sure that the cause was being with the woman he loved, who was just the same!
Bryce had heard the two of them when he went to bed. He was very happy for his friend, and for Sarah, too. She'd fallen completely under the Bartowski spell and was throwing herself into this relationship quicker than he'd expected, but he could see that it was what they both needed.
Knowing there was no reason to rush about in the morning, he suspected they'd continue then, too. Happy though he was for them, he didn't want to hang around while they had sex, so he quickly got ready after waking up, and headed out.
He drove along the coast road that encircled the island, and stopped at what was probably the furthest point from where he'd started. That wasn't the reason he'd come here, though. It was because he loved the view from this vantage point.
The cliff curved around to the left and the right, so the view in either direction was stunning. Off in the distance was the nearest island of the group theirs was in. The sunlight sparkling on the waves between them added to the view, as did the gulls leaving their nests in the cliffs and flying over the water.
Much as he loved being with his friend, he needed this escape occasionally.
Thinking about Chuck and Sarah together last night, he knew he needed something else. He hadn't been with a woman for a couple of months. He thought about Jane Freidman who lived in the town a couple of miles away. A single woman on this island was rare, but she'd lost her husband a couple of years ago and hadn't wanted to form another long-term relationship. Occasional flings with Bryce had suited her. It had also suited his lifestyle. He'd felt responsible for Chuck's safety and wouldn't have wanted to leave him.
Of course, now Chuck would be leaving him!
Maybe Jane might reconsider her plans and agree to a real relationship. He'd get in touch with her tonight and at least stay with her until the morning.
A/N: Well, it was inevitably going to happen at some point in the story.
I'd love to read a review, if you have the time.
