Charlotte's Master Read online

  “Oh no, you don’t. Not without coffee and breakfast. I happen to know you like your coffee in the morning, and you didn’t eat last night, so you have to eat this morning.” Baxter steered her toward the kitchen.

  “Maybe just a cup of coffee then. I’ll get something to eat on the way to work,” she said.

  “Not when I’ve already cooked breakfast for you, you’re not. Waffles and bacon,” he said as he directed her to sit at the bar.

  He poured her a cup of coffee and then poured waffle batter into the waffle iron. The smell of the heating batter made her stomach rumble, and he lifted an eyebrow. She huffed out a breath and settled into her seat. Leave it to her traitorous stomach to make itself known.

  “Butter or margarine?” he asked.

  “Neither, thanks. I’ll just add a little syrup, and that will be fine,” she said.

  “Don’t you like one of them on your waffles?” he asked.

  “Yes, but they have too many calories.”

  “You don’t need to worry about that. You look great like you are.” He spread margarine on her waffle and handed it to her along with the syrup. “Enjoy.”

  He slid two pieces of bacon on her plate and then poured more batter into the waffle iron. She watched him for a few seconds and then picked up her fork and began eating her waffle. It was delicious. She hummed her approval.

  “Glad you like it.” He added butter to his waffle and then coated it in syrup and put two strips of bacon on his plate. He stood there to eat and watched as Charlotte finished hers.

  “How about another one?” he asked when she finished.

  “No way. I am stuffed. I’ll never be able to work this morning.”

  “Sure you will. You haven’t eaten that much, and you didn’t eat last night. You’ll be fine.” He laughed.

  Charlotte took her plate to the sink and rinsed it off. Then she put it in the dishwater and began to wash them.

  “Nope.” He pulled her hands out of the water and handed her a towel to dry them with. “You will mess up your clothes. I’ll take care of the dishes. You finish getting ready for work.”

  “I’m ready. I’m on my way now. Thanks for letting me stay the night here.” She picked up her bag and purse and started out the door.

  “Wait, I’m going with you. You’re not going alone today. I’m going to follow you and be sure he isn’t there waiting on you again.”

  Baxter jerked his shirt off the back of the door into the kitchen and pulled it on. He grabbed his keys by the back door and opened the garage door for them to back out. He took her bag from her and put it in the back seat and then opened the door for her to climb up into the Jeep.

  “Don’t get out of the Jeep until I tell you it’s clear, okay?” he said.

  “Okay.”

  “Jack is going to carry Nina to work today, so you can give her a ride home, can’t you?”

  “Of course. I’ll be glad to,” she said.

  “I’ll be waiting for you to get off work and watch while you get into your car. I don’t want a repeat of yesterday.”

  “You really don’t have to do that. I don’t want to be a bother to you.”

  “You’re no bother, Charlie.”

  She shrugged and cranked the car. She backed out of the garage and then pulled out onto the street. She knew Baxter was behind her. When she got to work, she parked her car, but waited until Baxter had ridden around the parking lot for several loops before he gave his nod that she could get out.

  “Are you safe inside? Do they let the public in?”

  “No, we’re safe. We only deal with businesses, so no public to be concerned with. The doors are all locked from the inside.”

  “Good. You need anything, you call one of us. Understand?” he asked.

  “Right. I’ll be fine.” She turned and walked to the outside door, then keyed in a pass code and walked inside.

  As soon as she was inside, she felt the pressure return. It was as if as long as she was with Baxter, she knew nothing was going to happen to her. Now, she wasn’t as sure and wished he were going to be there with her the rest of the day.

  That’s absurd. I’m perfectly safe at work. No one can get in. And why am I suddenly so attached to Baxter?

  A little over ten minutes later, Nina arrived and walked into her office.

  “How did you sleep?” she asked.

  “I slept pretty good actually. I guess I felt safe there,” she admitted.

  “Good. Baxter will take good care of you.”

  “What are we going to do about lunch?” Charlotte asked.

  “I hadn’t thought about that. I guess we do without today. Have you talked to the police to see if they caught Neal?”

  “Not yet. I’m going to call now.”

  “Go ahead and do that. I’m going to get started. Let me know what you find out,”

  “I will,” she told Nina.

  Charlotte put in a call to the officer who’d taken her statement and asked about the status of Neal. She found out that Neal hadn’t returned home or shown up to work either. No, they didn’t know where he was but would continue looking for him. The worry began to eat at her again. How was she going to get through the weekend wondering where he was, and if he was going to show up at her place?

  By quitting time, Charlotte was a nervous wreck again. She and Nina looked warily around when they walked outside that afternoon. Then the sound of a motorcycle eased her fears as Baxter rode up beside them.

  “I told you I would be here. Why didn’t you wait for me?” he asked with a frown.

  “We were waiting, but there’s no way to know when you’re here without stepping outside,” Nina told him.

  He walked the big bike forward with them to the Jeep and watched as they got inside. Once they had the car going, he followed them to Nina’s house. He got off the bike and parked it in his garage and then waited as Nina unlocked the door and she and Charlotte walked inside. He didn’t follow them into Nina’s house. Charlotte breathed a sigh of relief. They’d made it home without incident. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t her home. It was Nina’s, and she knew she was welcome there.

  * * * *

  Baxter walked next door after giving the women time to wind down from work and the obvious pressure they were under with Neal being at large. He’d checked with the police himself to find out what they were doing about him. So far, they hadn’t found any signs of him at his place or his known hangouts. They promised to keep Baxter informed.

  He wasn’t about to let Charlotte stay at home by herself all weekend. He hoped he could convince her to go on the ride with them, but if she honestly didn’t want to go, he would stay home with her.

  Just before he knocked on the door, Jack pulled up into the drive.

  “Hey, any problems?” he asked.

  “No. He didn’t show up, or at least he didn’t show his face with me there,” Baxter said.

  “How is Charlotte holding up?”

  “She’s doing okay, I think. Of course, that’s going to change when she finds out I packed clothes for her to go with us on the bike ride,” he said with a grin.

  “What are you going to do if she refuses?” Jack asked.

  “I’ll stay here with her. I’m not going to make her go if she really doesn’t want to go.”

  “I understand. I wish she would though. This would have been your first rally in months.”

  “My first one ever as a civilian.” Baxter laughed.

  “Come on in, and let’s see what’s for dinner.”

  The two men walked inside to hear the women discussing work. Jack rolled his eyes. Baxter shook his head. He wasn’t going to start anything. Jack seemed determined to get Nina in an uproar.

  “Are you talking about work at home again?” Jack asked as they walked into the kitchen.

  “Jack, don’t start with me. It’s the only time we can talk openly about it,” Nina fussed.

  “Tell me about what’s for dinner instead.”

  “If you’re not careful, it will be roasted testicles.”

  Both men groaned. Jack covered his crotch and backed out of the kitchen.

  “Nina? Can I borrow Charlotte for a few minutes?” Baxter asked.

  “Baxter, I’m helping her cook.” Charlotte wiped her hands on a towel.

  “Go on, I’ve been cooking by myself for weeks now. I think I can handle it.” Nina grinned.

  Baxter led her outside and leaned against her Jeep. He wasn’t quite sure how to broach the subject of the weekend.

  “You know we’re all going on the ride in the morning,” he began.

  “Yes, I know. I won’t stay late. I know you have to get up early.”

  “Yeah, well, that’s sort of what I wanted to talk to you about. I’m not comfortable leaving you at home alone with Neal still out there. Even if they pick him up, he’ll make bail and get out before we get back.”

  “I’ll be fine though. I’m not planning on going anywhere for him to surprise me,” Charlotte said.

  “I want you to come on the ride with us, Charlie,” Baxter said.

  “I don’t want to go, Baxter. I’ve never been on a motorcycle before.”

  “I know, but you’ll have fun. Nina would love it if you’d go with us.”

  “Baxter. I’m not going. I’m staying home.” She shoved her hands on her hips.

  “Okay, then, I’m staying with you. You’re not staying at that house alone.”

  “Oh no, you’re not. You’re going on that ride because if you don’t, they won’t go either. You’re the reason they are going in the first place.”

  “I mean it, Charlotte. I’m not going and leaving you here alone. I’ll pack a bag and follow you home tonight.”

  Charlotte pushed her hair out of her face with a huff, turned around, and went back in the house, slamming the door behind her.

  He heard her apologizing to Nina for slamming their door. Baxter smiled. She was going to cave and go with them. She wasn’t going to disappoint Nina. Baxter had been counting on that.

  He opened the door and walked back in to hear Charlotte complaining about him in a loud whisper.

  “He’s threatening to stay with me. I don’t want him to do that.”

  “Then come with us. It will be so much nicer to have you along. They’ll gang up against me,” Nina pouted.

  Baxter grinned. Nina was going to seal the deal. Good. He went in search of Jack and found him sitting out on his deck with a beer.

  “Should have grabbed a beer,” Jack said.

  “I’m afraid to go into the kitchen right now. I talked to Charlotte about going on the ride with us.”

  “Ooo, went over that good, huh?”

  “Yep. I think Nina is going to talk her into it though. She’s laying on the guilt trip about not wanting to go without her and how we’ll gang up on her.” Baxter grabbed a chair and sat down.

  “Hmm, I hadn’t thought about that. There will be two of them to vote against us. I never win with Nina alone anyway. It will be impossible with both of them,” Jack groused.

  Baxter laughed. Jack was already learning what happens when you get married. He had watched a lot of his buddies from the unit get married and turn into pussy-whipped puppies. He wouldn’t be that way if he could get Charlotte to accept him. First, he had to get her to trust him.

  “Dinner is ready,” Nina called outside.

  “Wonder what it is tonight,” Jack said.

  “We’ll be lucky if it isn’t arsenic with Charlotte in there helping.”

  “Speak for yourself, I’m not in the doghouse. I’d fix my own plate if I were you,” Jack advised.

  Dinner proved to be chicken spaghetti. Baxter ate two helpings’ worth. He frowned at the small helping Charlotte put on her plate but wasn’t going to say anything in front of the others. She was going to have to get off this kick of thinking she was too big.

  After dinner, Charlotte looked at her watch and winced.

  “It’s getting late. I’d better go home and pack my bag,” she said, throwing a nasty look over at Baxter.

  “No need for that, Charlie. I’ve already packed your bag for tomorrow.” Might as well get it over with while he had company to mute her anger.

  “You what? How did you get in my house?” she demanded.

  “Um, sorry, Charlotte, but I gave my key to Jack so they could sort of have you ready, so you wouldn’t have to go home,” Nina confessed.

  “I don’t believe it. You turned on me? My best friend?”

  “I’m sorry. I really wanted you to come with us, and I didn’t want you to stay at home alone with Neal out there.”

  Charlotte worked her mouth as if she had more to say, but she finally huffed and threw up her hands.

  “Fine. I have a packed bag. I just hope you knew what to pack,” she said with a growl.

  “I think I got what you need, but you can check through it and see,” Baxter said, trying to hide his smile.

  Evidently, he didn’t do a good job of it because she glared at him. He took her elbow and steered her toward the door.

  “Come on, we need to get to bed if we’re going to get up at five in the morning.”

  “Whoa, I’m not going to stay with you. I’ll come back over here and stay with Nina and Jack.”

  “No. You are going to stay with me, so I can watch out for you,” he said in a no-nonsense voice. “Besides, we need to put your car in my garage, so Neal won’t know where you are and break into Jack and Nina’s house.”

  “Fine,” she said between clenched teeth. She jerked her elbow out of his grip and stormed toward the door.

  Chapter Five

  Charlotte slammed her car door when she got out of the Jeep to follow Baxter inside his house.

  He locked the door behind them and then pushed the inside remote to the garage door to close it. He turned and looked at her with a smug smile on his face.

  Charlotte felt like the canary with a cat smacking his lips looking at her. She didn’t like that look on Baxter’s face one bit.

  “Let me see my bag, so I can be sure you put everything I need in it.”

  “Remember, we have to travel light. Your bag is a backpack, and you’re going to have to ride with it on your shoulders,” he said.

  “I know. Nina explained it to me. Still, you are not a woman, in case you hadn’t realized that.”

  Baxter advanced on her and backed her into the corner of the bar and the wall. She swallowed around the knot forming her throat at the predatory look in his eyes.

  “No, I’m most definitely a man. A man whose dick is so hard he could pound nails because of you.”

  “I…I…” She couldn’t think of a thing to say. She whimpered instead when he closed the distance between them.

  “I’m going to kiss you, Charlotte,” he said just before he dipped his head toward her.

  He licked along her lower lip before closing his lips over hers with purpose. He closed his hand over her breast, and she opened her mouth in a gasp, giving him the opportunity to slide his tongue inside. He teased hers until she ran hers alongside his. The feel of him pressed close to her gave her no doubt what was on his mind. He mimicked fucking her using his tongue even as his hard cock pushed at her belly.

  Charlotte trembled, not in fear, but in anticipation. She wanted him, had wanted him since the first time she’d laid eyes on him all those weeks ago when he’d walked into Jack and Nina’s house a wounded animal. That was how she’d viewed him then, dangerous, like an injured wolf. Still, she’d ached for him, knowing he was way out of her league.

  Now, when the opportunity was there, was she going to chicken out or go for it? He confused her with his on-again, off-again moves. Right now, he was very much on again, and she was right there with him.

  But she was scared.

  He teased his tongue along hers even as he squeezed her breast. He held her head still for his assault on her mouth. The slow, sensual marauding of his mouth over hers had her unstable and dizzy. His hand at her breast began a gentle squeeze in time with his thrusting tongue and grinding pelvis. Charlotte couldn’t breathe with all of it. She tore her mouth away from his, panting. She stared up into his eyes and saw need and something else that excited her. Determination. He was determined to make her his.

  She had nowhere to go. She was between the bar and the wall. She needed air, but she needed him more. Her gaze remained captured by his when he slowly lowered his mouth again and began to nibble along her chin and jawline.

  Before she knew what his intentions were, he threw her over his shoulder and carried her into the bedroom. When he dropped her onto the bed, she scrambled to her knees and backed away from him.

  “What do you want?” she asked.

  He didn’t answer her. Instead, he dragged his T-shirt over his head and dropped it by the bed. The still pink scar tissue at his right shoulder drew her attention, and she thought about how close he’d come to dying.

  “Baxter?”

  “What, Charlotte?”

  He unbuttoned his jeans and kicked off his boots before sliding them off. His cock sprang out, heavy with need, a drop of precum pearled at the slit. He didn’t wear boxers or briefs. She shivered.

  “What are you doing?” She couldn’t take her eyes from his straining cock.

  “Getting undressed. You need to do the same, Charlotte. Or…” He let it trail off.

  She swallowed hard and licked her lips at the sight of the dew waiting for her to lick it off.

  “Or what?” she asked.

  “Or I’m going to rip them off you, and you won’t be able to wear them again,” he finished.

  When she didn’t immediately start stripping, he took a step forward, placing one knee on the bed. Charlotte gasped and scooted off the other side, nearly landing on her ass in the process. She slipped off her heels and then quickly unbuttoned her blouse.

  Baxter climbed on the bed like a predator, never taking his eyes off his prey. He leaned back against the headboard as if waiting for her to finish. Then what?

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