Where did your heart go? (The Heart Trilogy Book 1) (29 page)

“Ok” he replied, reluctantly removing his hands from her skin as they both sat up.

“Sorry Mitch” she murmured, suddenly missing the feel of his touch “Part of me really wants to just throw caution to the wind as when you are touching me it feels so right but I’m scared” she admitted, hoping this would not put him off.

Mitchell pulled her back into his arms and gently stroked her arm.

“I should be saying sorry, you are the first girl who has ever said no to me and I guess I’m not used to it” he said.

“So how many girls have you been out with then?” Charlotte asked, she sort of wanted to know even though she knew she would feel jealous of them.

“You’re number four” he replied “I did play the field when I was younger but that’s the number I’ve slept with”

“Oh” she replied.

“But you are the only one that I have ever danced with” he finished, as he pulled her closer to him and their lips came back together again, the tense mood dispelled.
Charlotte hugged this information too her, she was his first dancing partner; she was special and different from the rest.

“What about you?” he asked “since we are on this delicate subject” Mitch asked.

“You are my second boyfriend but I am still a virgin” she responded, feeling nervous admitting to her lack of experience “I hope you don’t mind” she finished, shyly looking away from his gaze.

“Don’t be sorry I love your honesty” he replied “I also love dancing with you, the way you look and of course the way you feel when I have you in my arms” he finished, as he tilted her face back so he could once again look into her eyes and show her the strength of his feelings. He also pondered on his Dad’s wise words from that morning about being honest.

“I am finding it hard not to
push you too far too fast, you are so fucking hot and I’m just a horny guy” he said, grinning at her in such a sexy way she couldn’t resist “But I can try and wait”

Charlie didn’t really know how to respond to such an honest statement so she just pulled him close and they were about to kiss again when they heard the door swing open and the smell of hot pizza wafted through.

Chapter 36

After they had eaten pizza together they headed upstairs so that
Charlotte could pack her bags and get her leather’s back on for the ride home. Mitchell took great care in zipping up the jacket for her before he pulled her into his arms again.

“You’re like a magnet I just keep getting pulled towards you” he said. Charlie smiled up at him

“I could get used to being your magnet” she replied, parting her lips slightly so she could run her tongue over them before his lips came down to capture them.

As they headed downstairs Darren heard them and stuck his head out of his room “Bye Charlotte, see you soon” Darren said.

“Bye Darren” Charlie responded. When they reached the hallway Jester came bounding over and
poked his nose into her hand for a final stroke, as if he somehow knew she was going. James appeared in the kitchen doorway

“Are you taking
Charlotte home now?”  James asked.

“Yes Dad” Mitch replied “I’ll be home later” he finished.

“Thanks for letting me stay Jim” Charlotte said “It was nice to meet you” she finished, extending her hand to him. James had other thoughts and crossed the short distance and pulled her into his arms.

“Thank you
Charlotte, you don’t know how much Mitchell meeting you may have helped me get my life back on track” he said, dropping a kiss on her forehead.

They were about to head out through the front door when Jester started to bark and they spotted Pam and Peter heading down the hallway.

“We didn’t want to miss saying goodbye to
Charlotte” Pam said, as she pulled her in for another embrace.

“We are both looking forward to the dance competition, we caught a glimpse of the two of you in the garden yesterday” Peter said, as he reached out and hugged Charlie too, shaking his head he turned to James
.

“So like her Mum” he murmured. Charlie smiled at the compliment as they all headed out onto the driveway.

“Please give her our love” Pam said. She looked across at James as he nodded at the sentiment expressed by his Mum.

“Come on Charlie, we’d better get going” Mitchell said, as he took her hand in his and they headed towards his bike. Charlotte climbed on behind him and held tight as the engine shuddered beneath them and they headed off. The ride back was fairly clear of traffic so they made great time. Charlie thought Mitch was showing off a little as he put his foot down more than on the drive up, confidant in the feel of the bike beneath him and as Charlie’s hands wrapped tighter round his torso he almost felt her heart beating in time with his as they sped along the roads. Pulling onto the driveway they both dismounted and Mitch helped Charlie remove her helmet and at the same time took the opportunity of kissing her. She held it out for him but he shook his head.

“You keep it her;
it matches your leather’s”

“Thank you” Charlie replied,
realising what this symbolised, Mitch had no intention of asking anyone else to ride pillion with him. It was a small statement of his claim upon her. Charlie loved it as she smiled up at him and drowned a little further into his green eyes.

The door was unlocked so they went in and breathed in the smell of stew cooking in the kitchen.

“Mum, we’re home” shouted Charlie, as she dumped her bag and helmet at the bottom of the stairs and they entered the kitchen.

“Hi Charlie, Hi Mitchell” I said, turning from the counter to see their smiling faces

“How was the weekend?”

“Great thanks Stephanie” Mitchell responded, as he removed his jacket and then turned to watch Charlie unzipping hers, the desire, burned in his eyes. Charlie headed for the fridge and poured them both a cold drink as they sat down on the stools by the island unit.

“How did the routine go?” I asked. Curious to hear about it all, as I took the stool opposite them, cup of tea in hand.

“It was amazing Mum, Mitchell got his brother to film it and then we watched it on the television and it looked almost like the real thing” Charlie gushed, as she glanced over at Mitchell, her eyes just as hungry for him.

“Oh and I met Mitchell’s Dad and his grandparents and Jester the dog too” she finished. Careful to avoid saying their names in case her Mum guessed like Mitch’s Dad had done.

“My brother should finish editing the recording tomorrow ready to send off so I’ll email a copy to you as soon as possible” Mitch said.

“Are you staying for tea” I asked “I’ve made a pot of stew so there’s plenty”

“That sounds great” Mitchell said.

“It will be ready in about an hour” I finished, as I stood up to start to prepare the dumplings.

“Ok Mum, we’ll head upstairs” Charlie said, as she ali
ghted from the stool and grabbing Mitch’s hand in hers they left the kitchen.

As I continued the cooking I could hear the music start from above and faint sounds of laughter floated down the stairs. I remembered how it felt to be young and in love, it was truly the best feeling in the world. Upstairs Charlie dumped her bag and carefully placed the helmet on her stool under the window. She put the samba music on from the club and then turned towards Mitchell.

“I think I may need you
r help with these leathers again?” she said, already breathless with anticipation for the feel of his hands on her body again.

“Now that I am happy to do” Mitch replied “So long as you’ll help me with mine”

“Deal” she responded, as they both crossed to meet each other in the centre of the room.

Mitchell pulled her towards him, his one hand firmly on the waistband of her leather’s as he located the zip and started to pull them down. Kneeling in front of her he managed to get them to her ankles and as she steadied herself by holding onto his shoulder he was able to pull them over her feet, each in turn. Then he slowly ran his hands back up her legs over her jeans and then to the hemline of her t-shirt. His hands touched the skin of her belly as they ran further up to discover that she wore no bra as his fingers encountered her already erect nipples. She ran her fingers through his hair and then slowly stretched them above her head so that he took the hint and pulled it over her head.

Then it was her turn so she reached down and undid the button on his leather’s and slowly bent down as she eased them off and then threw them aside. Her hands travelled up over the outside of his jeans and then on up and under his t-shirt too. She mirrored his moves from minutes before but as she was shorter than him she struggled to get the t-shirt all the way up. With a quick move he helped her with this and then ran his hands down her back, revelling in the feel of her smooth skin as he reached her bum and then in a swift move picked her up and walked easily with her in his grasp to the bed. He laid her down on the soft covers and then paused for a moment to drink in the sexy sight of Charlie beneath him.

Charlie lay there beneath his hot gaze, his pupils burning an invisible path over her skin, deciding where they would touch first. She reached up to him

“I’m getting cold” she breathed, even through that was the furthest thing from the truth.

“Are you” he said softly as he leaned down and blew on her nipples. They had already been standing out but they seemed to increase further.

“Are you getting warmer?” he asked. She shook her head but grinned up at him at the same time. He watched her pupils widen with the sensations as he gently blew on the other nipple and her body arched to get closer to his mouth.

“And now?” he teased. Charlie loved his wicked grin as she deliberately licked her lips before her arms reached out to him as she drew his body onto hers.

The buckles on their belts hit and rubbed against each other, metal on metal as Mitchell and Charlie pressed hot skin onto hot skin. Charlie writhed beneath Mitchell’s weight above her. Her hands ran over all the muscles on his back as the beat from the Latin music seemed to make the atmosphere grow warmer and warmer. Eventually they paused and looked into each other’s eyes, the green pools of desire rippled and spread between them.

“I think I’m in love with you”
Charlotte said, looking directly at him. She trembled feeling both certain and afraid of what he would say in reply.

“I think I’m in love with you too” he said, his direct gaze told her no lies. It was a wondrous moment as time seemed to stand still and they fell into feeling in each other’s embrace.

“Tea’s ready” I shouted up the stairs, and I waited for a reply. It took a few moments before Charlie replied
.

“We’ll be down in a minute”

They had been lying together on the bed in perfect silence since the last statement, their whole bodies touching, their hearts beating in perfect time and their eyes locked onto each other. It felt strange to have to stand up again. Charlie’s legs were still shaking as Mitchell threw her the t-shirt that he had removed earlier and then pulled his back on. With shaking fingers Charlotte tried to do the same but in the end Mitch took it from her and placed it over her head, as if she were a small child.

I heard their footsteps on the stairs as I started to place the steaming bowls of stew out on the kitchen table, along with bread and some cold drinks. I watched as they entered the room and I could tell something big had taken place, their broad smiles seemed to broadcast their love in surround sound. I smiled at them too as they sat down across the table from me. It felt great to see the love and not feel bitter about it. Something had clicked in me that weekend, partly to do with my conversation with Jack but also the request from a secret admirer. I knew in my heart it was probably Jack winding me up but when I had dropped him a text during my lunchtime show he had denied it. But that’s what friends do to cheer each other up and make you feel good about yourself and it had definitely worked.

Charlie must have noticed the difference too as after a couple of spoonfuls had disappeared she turned to me and said

“Are you ok Mum, you look sort of different?”

“Yes fine honey, I had a good weekend while you were away” I replied.

“Is it ok for Mitch to come down next weekend?” Charlie asked, not wanting to waste my obvious good mood.

“Yes that’s fine” I replied, again watching the two of them exchange looks and smiles. After dinner I retired to the conservatory with my laptop to continue work on the planned ‘Rock on the River’ event as Charlie and Mitch had offered to clear up in the kitchen for me. Hearing laughter I poked my head around the door and found my daughter squealing as Mitch chased her with the tea towel. Bubbles overflowed in the sink and some had got lodged in some strange places too. The happiness was infectious as I scooped up a handful and lobbed them at Charlie, they landed in her hair and Mitch squashed them and then added his own handful too.

“Next time you want to play with bubbles do it in the garden” I joked, as Charlie stopped after a final handful had been placed down the back of Mitch’s shirt and patted in.

I cleared up and threw them b
oth a hand towel so they could dry off.

“Well, I guess I’d better get going” Mitch said, as the clock showed it was nearly nine already. Charlie’s face fell as she realised
this was the moment for goodbye.

I watched as they both headed back upstairs so that Mitchell could gather his leathers ready for the return journey.

“Bye Mitchell, see you again next weekend” I said, as I pulled him into my arms for a quick embrace. I still couldn’t help but compare his body to how James’ used to feel at that age.

“I’ll walk you out” Charlie said, as she took his hand in his and they headed out onto the driveway together.

Before he put his helmet on Mitchell pulled
Charlotte into his arms for one last time. His strong arms enfolded her tightly against his body

“Until next Friday” he murmured.

“I’ll miss you” Charlotte replied, her voice soft and soothing.

“I’ll miss you too, but at least we can text and call each other and I’ll drop you the film file when I send it off on Tuesday morning” he said

“I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed” she responded, as she laid her cheek against the cool, smooth leather of his jacket. Charlie breathed in and out, trying to save the intoxicating scent of Mitchell that lay just beneath the surface. She didn’t want to let him go, not after this evening; as she replayed the words in her head.

As he slipped from her grasp she watched as he mounted the bike and turned on the engine. The last thing she saw were his beautiful green eyes before he flipped down the visor and then rode off down the road and away from her. She hugged herself tight as she wandered back into the house, she was too happy to cry and after all it would only be a week before she would see him again.

“Are you ok?” I asked, as Charlie poked her head back into the kitchen where I had just finished cleaning up the melting soap bubbles on the counter.