All else was forgotten, but for the beautiful woman in his arms and the warm feelings stirring in his chest. Though the world around him was a blur, she was in sharp focus; she was his, solid and present in his arms. He was stroking her long hair, while she smiled at him, making Chuck feel important, wanted, and whole.
Time was passing in a strange way, jumping forward, then slowing down, but it didn't concern him. Where they were was constantly in flux, shifting from indoors to outside, then from the beach to his parent's store. None of it concerned Chuck.
It wasn't until Sarah was fading, blurring into the background that he began to feel anxiety building within him. All the warm happy feelings vanished, as he felt her slip away. He called out her name hoping to find her, but heard only the echoes of his own voice.
Reaching forward with his hands, Chuck tried to touch her, but there was nothing there. The air was thinning. He couldn't bring her back. Chuck didn't understand anything. Where had she gone? Why did she leave? Pain and anxiety had his mind spinning.
He woke up panting, his heart racing. Chuck opened his eyes, but it was so dark that it made no difference. He reached out to his right and felt her sleeping there beside him. Instant and complete relief filled him as his hand made contact with the curve of her hip. Chuck laid back down on the bed, trying to slow his breathing.
What the hell was wrong with him?
Chuck turned and wrapped his arms around Sarah. Her nearness helped calm his mind after the dream. Chuck breathed in the scent of her and felt his anxiety start to fade. Having fallen asleep in just his boxers last night, he could feel the soft fabric of whatever you'd decided to sleep in against his bare chest. She fit so perfectly in his arms. He tried to shrug off the dream.
In the dark, Chuck could only really see the numbers on the digital alarm clock next to the bed. Even for an early riser like him, it was far too early to be awake. He expected to have trouble falling back asleep after a dream like that, but Sarah's warm presence against him was comforting and he fell asleep quickly listening to the sound of her even breathing.
He woke up again as the sun peeked through the curtains.
Sarah still slept next to him. The strip of sunlight from the window that had woken him didn't seem to be having much effect on Sarah. Chuck propped himself up on his elbow, and just watched her sleep for a moment, thinking.
Sarah had on a simple nightgown. Chuck didn't know much about women's fashion but he did know it looked amazing on her. Even with her face pressed up against a pillow and her hair all disheveled, Sarah was still the most beautiful woman he'd ever met.
Chuck was very happy to be here with Sarah. He was glad that her interest in him hadn't sputtered out and died yet. Chuck let himself just be in the moment. His dream was fading from his memory fast. He could hardly remember the details as he studied Sarah's face, basking in her presence.
She rolled over, and for a moment, he thought she'd woken up, but all Sarah did was snuggle up closer to him. Chuck smiled, and began stroking her hair. She seemed to be quite a deep sleeper. With her snuggled up so close, he couldn't move away without disturbing her, and he realised he didn't want to.
The only noises in the room were their breathing and the soft ticking of the clock by the bed. His mind remained calm as he just let time go by. He couldn't help but be relaxed as he closed his eyes. No one had ever made him feel like this before. He was happy to just lay here as the morning escaped him.
The small, repetitive movement of stroking her soft blonde hair was calming. He wasn't sure how long it was until Sarah woke up, but when she did, he was there smiling at her.
"Good morning," Chuck whispered, leaning down to kiss her cheek.
"Sun bright," Sarah grumbled, burying her face in his shoulder.
"Yes, it does that," Chuck laughed. "You hungry?"
"Too early for food," Sarah disagreed, shaking her head against his chest. With another light kiss this time on her forehead, Chuck got out of the bed in search of breakfast. Then he remembered her hotel room didn't have a kitchen.
"I could pick up some pastries," Chuck suggested.
"Room service," Sarah mumbled and Chuck obliged, asking Sarah what she wanted before making the call.
"It's nice," Chuck said as he returned to lay beside her on the bed. "Waking up next to you, I mean."
"That's putting it mildly, Chuck," Sarah replied, moving closer to kiss him. Chuck got his arms around her small frame and pulled her on top of him.
He wasn't thinking about the future or the past for once. He was just in the present. He wasn't thinking about the fact that Sarah might end her vacation at any minute, leaving his life forever. Chuck wasn't going to worry about how in the space of a few days, he had let himself become so vulnerable. He wasn't going to worry about how this dream would end. He just kissed her slowly, almost lazily until she broke them apart, sitting up.
"Do you work today?" Sarah asked.
"Nope," Chuck said. "Mom opens and Ellie closes."
"A whole day to ourselves," Sarah smiled sweetly. "What shall we do?"
Chuck couldn't help his first thought being more of what they'd done last night, but he didn't say it out loud. Sarah seemed to read it off his face, though. She giggled at him.
"Yes, but coffee first, and I want to brush my teeth."
Chuck laughed. "Those are very reasonable requests," he said. "I think I'll take a shower."
Getting up off the bed, Chuck headed to the bathroom. It was far more fabulous than any bathroom he'd ever been in before, with huge marble tiles on the floor and a custom tiled shower with a seat in it. Who had a shower with a chair in it, anyway? Even the light fixture was beautiful. Chuck felt like he was in a whole other world when he was with Sarah.
Taking off the boxers he's slept in, Chuck turned to face the mirror. As he stared at his reflection, a rather unremarkable man stared back at him. Despite her words, Chuck still felt out of his league with Sarah. She was simply too perfect, but today he wasn't going to worry about that. She'd started things last night and Chuck couldn't doubt for a second that she'd wanted him just as badly as he'd wanted her.
There was a knock on the door, then Sarah's voice. "May I come in?"
Chuck thought about wrapping a towel around his waist, but then realized how silly that would be after last night, so he just opened the door. She stood in the bathroom doorway, the look in her eyes as they roamed over his body sent his blood south. He tried to fight the embarrassment to avoid blushing down to his toes in front of her.
"I haven't actually gotten into the shower yet," Chuck confessed.
"I can see that," Sarah giggled at him. "But breakfast is here."
"Oh, I'll be right out," Chuck said. This time he did wrap a towel around his waist before heading back into the main room.
Sarah was sitting in one of the chairs drinking her coffee. The coffee, bacon and eggs Chuck had ordered was waiting for him on the little coffee table.
"Are you sure you don't want to order something else?" Chuck asked as he sat down to eat.
"I already ate my toast," Sarah said. "I'm not really a big breakfast person. Just a light snack in the morning is all I need."
"Suit yourself," Chuck said and got to work devouring his breakfast.
It didn't take Chuck long to eat. Then he stood up, intended to hear back to the bathroom to shower.
But as he stood up Sarah said something that totally changed his priorities.
"You look stunning in a towel, by the way," Sarah purred. "Makes me want to pull it right off you."
Chuck turned around. She was still sitting in that small chair, but it looked like she'd finished her coffee. Sarah was wearing just a thin nightgown. Chuck realized she must have put it on last night after he'd passed out.
Slowly Sarah stood up and walked towards him. She reached out and pulled on his towel until it was on the floor.
Unable to react any other way, Chuck reached forward and pulled her against his body before kissing her. He just couldn't resist her. He wanted to touch every inch of her. Her soft hands moved over his bare chest, sending a shiver down his spine. Without wasting time, Chuck got her nightgown up over her head.
Chuck had never been bold before, but with her it was like he was capable of anything. Seizing the moment, Chuck's hands moved down her shoulders until they were teasing her breasts. Her fingers were equally naughty, trailing their way down past his navel.
Chuck's breathing was very erratic now, and he knew if he kept kissing and touching Sarah like this, they'd end up back in bed again, but Chuck wanted to keep kissing her. He wanted this feeling to go on and on forever.
She raised one of her legs to the side of his hip and Chuck moaned. His hands helped support her weight as he carried her to the bed.
With Sarah it was easy, because she wasn't afraid to ask for what she wanted. Chuck couldn't even bring himself to wonder if she didn't want this. With her every movement, sound and gesture Sarah made her desires perfectly clear.
A while later, they were both lying on the bed, out of breath. Sarah was snuggled against his chest.
"So what do you want to do today?" Chuck asked.
"I don't know about you, but I am just gonna lay here for another minute," Sarah answered his question with a slight laugh.
"Suits me fine," Chuck replied. Her feet were cold. Chuck sat up just long enough to pull the blankets over them before tucking his feet in beside her to warm them up.
"Thanks," Sarah said.
Chuck wasn't sure how long they stayed like that, just snuggled up together in comfortable silence. The only sound Chuck could hear was their breathing. He tried to keep his mind blank, but despite his best efforts, it wandered off.
He couldn't help but reminisce about their time together so far. It still felt like this was all too good to be true, but Chuck was through trying to pretend he didn't want this fairy tale to come true. Maybe it was time to give in and take her to his place. If his crazy family was enough to scare her off, it was better he knew now than later. He would have to go home eventually anyway, so it was either taking her with him, or saying goodbye, and Chuck wasn't ready for goodbye just yet.
Going to his house didn't feel like such a ridiculous idea to him anymore. He knew exactly what his mother would do, and rather than worry him, it suddenly seemed like a nice idea.
"You still want to go to my place?" Chuck asked. Sarah nodded. "Then I suppose that's what we could do today, if you want that is."
"I do want," Sarah said with a smile.
"Technically, you already met mom, but I could introduce you as my date this time."
"This I haven't experienced before," she laughed. "Sex leading to meeting the mother."
"Is that a yes or a no?" he asked, laughing.
"Yes," Sarah replied. "Though first I require a shower." She made to move away, then turned to grin at him. "Would you like to join me?" Chuck blinked at her for a moment, then accepted her outstretched hand.
They got the water going, then got in. There was something very intimate about washing another person, and it was nice to be clean again, the sweat from their exertion washing down the drain. It was relaxing to be near her like this. He helped wash her long hair and they exchanged long kisses under the hot water.
When they emerged, Chuck picked his practically clean towel off the floor to wrap himself in, while Sarah put on one of the hotel's robes.
Chuck sat on the bed to check his phone. No messages. He sent a quick one to his mother telling her that he was bringing Sarah by later, then put his phone away.
Sarah came and sat beside him.
"When did you want to head over?" she asked.
"Closer to dinner time," Chuck replied. "Since mom is almost guaranteed to invite you to stay for dinner, anyway."
"Hmmm," Sarah said slowly. "Then we have some time to kill."
"Yep, seems so," Chuck agreed. "Do you want to watch another movie or go out?"
"Movie," Sarah replied firmly. "It's the only option that doesn't involve getting dressed."
It was just then that Chuck looked out the window. It was pouring rain outside. "Staying in is probably a good idea," he agreed. "You should pick the movie this time," Chuck suggested, but Sarah shook her head.
With a sigh, Chuck looked through the options. It seemed like such a shame to pay for a movie and then ignore it, so he put on the exact same movie from yesterday.
Sarah didn't seem to notice. Chuck couldn't help but smile at this. He knew she hadn't been paying attention, which was more than fine by him.
Moving backward on the bed, so they could sit up against the headboard, Chuck got comfortable and then gestured for Sarah to join him. She did so, curling up beside him.
Before long, Sarah was kissing his neck. Chuck turned to capture her lips in a kiss. They were well and thoroughly tangled up together in the bed before long, his hand under her robe, her hands against his bare chest. He used his other hand to open her robe more and kiss between her breasts. Her back arched, and then he untied the robe completely.
All he knew was that he wanted to touch her, and from her reactions, he seemed to be doing something right. She closed her eyes and he trailed his fingers over her curves, slowly taking his time, as if trying to memorize the shape of her. Sarah's skin was so soft and warm. Then they were kissing again, his hands against her hip. Chuck could feel her breasts pressed against his chest. He pressed gently against her back to bring her just a little bit closer, deepening the kiss.
Chuck's mind was hazy from all the kissing. He didn't realize how much time was passing.
By the time he turned to look at the tv again, the movie had long ended. Even the credits were over, the tv having defaulted back to the selection page.
"I think we lost track of time again," Chuck said.
Sarah turned to look where he was looking and laughed. "I think you're right," she said.
They both got off the bed to find their clothes. Chuck only had one option. He was dressed in yesterday's clothes before Sarah had even found her suitcase.
Chuck watched her select clothes out of a small suitcase, and dress in a simple pair of blue jeans and a light green blouse that accentuated her curves. She looked stunning, even in such casual attire.
"I wish I'd brought a raincoat," Chuck said as he saw Sarah put on hers.
"You can use my umbrella," Sarah told him, handing it over.
"Thanks," Chuck replied and the two of them headed out the door together.
For all those having issues viewing the new chapters. I understand it's frustrating, but there really isn't anything I can do about fanfic being glitchy. If you want to see it now instead of waiting for fanfic to be less glitchy try checking out the story on either Wattpad or Archive of Our Own. I use the same username there (writesalott) and all the stories are the same so you won't get a different chapter. Sometimes the formatting is slightly different due to how each site works but that's it.