Blackmailing His Runaway Bride by Dance-is-me (mobi reader txt) 📖

Sixteen

"What is going to happen now?" Isabella was almost biting off her thumb as she stared out at the clear sky.

"What do you mean?" Charles handed her a glass of water before he went on to find his stance behind her, looking at the scene ahead as well.

"Gabriel is not going to simply leave me if he sees me with you. He will get even more furious and heaven knows what he will kill and send this time around."

"Bella..." He gently placed his hands on her little shoulders. "You are with me now." Charles seemed to love reminding her of that fact. "I am going to take care of things from now on."

Isabella turned instantly, her eyes coated with some tears. "How Charles?"

"How what?" He reached for a strand of her hair and played with it.

"How can you help me? I hurt you."

Clearly, the hurt was still there because his eyes dashed to the side for a second.

"Truthfully Bella," he started, his hand retreating to his side, "a part of me is still angry at you. But there is this part of me that never stopped loving you and caring for you. So, I won't sit back and watch you suffer when I can do something about it."

"Oh, Charles," Isabella whispered,  her tears rolling down as they resisted her unwillingness to let them flow. Then, almost reluctantly, she placed her hands on his chest.

Without haste, he gathered them into his huge palms and he hugged her hands closer, introducing warmth and a new kind of need through his simple touch.

"You have no idea how painfully I have waited for a moment like this, Bella. You and I, together again. Though," his nose scrunched in amusement, "I had a totally different plan."

She sniffed before a smile grew on her lips. "What is that plan? To seduce me?"

"Oh, Bella, you know I do more than seduce." Immediately, a strong hand went to her waist and drew her closer to his heat. His head lowered to her face, his breath fanned her face as he said with almost a growl, "You know I always go an extra mile when it comes to you."

"You do?"

He smirked, his gorgeous eyes mapping her face with certain carefulness. "Do you want me to give examples?"

On the other hand, Isabella was trying hard to not break into a bigger smile. She could feel that crazy churning she usually felt in her stomach when they were still together.

Then, she asked, " Like the day you kissed me at the charity event?"

Charles swayed her a bit to the left as though he were about to engage her in a dance, and then he smiled. "I surprised you back there, didn't I?"

Isabella closed her eyes and smiled as that memory flashed. "I am yet to forget how I thought of escaping through the toilet window."

"Thank God you didn't." He breathed more onto her small face and gently made her dance to the left once again. "I wouldn't have gotten to kiss you one more time." Her eyes still shut, Isabella replayed the scene he mentioned. "I wouldn't have gotten to feel you so close to me again."

As Isabella opened her eyes, she jumped back.

But she soon relaxed when she figured that the image of Gabriel that suddenly flashed past the memory of her sudden meeting with Charles was all in her head.

"Isabella?" Charles called concernedly.

"I... uh..."

"What's wrong?"

"I thought I saw something."

Charles sighed and drew her closer. "Isabella, I want the truth from you. How has Gabriel treated you over the years?" She went quiet and her eyes darted to the floor. "Hey, look at me."

"Charles..." Her eyes began to wield tears again as she thought of the last time he hurt her. "I..." Words failed to come even though she wished to say something.

"Shh." He hugged her closer. "I will make you forget. I will make sure of it." Isabella hugged him tighter and held on to his words.

~

Isabella walked back into her office wondering when she would get out of the mental cage Gabriel's actions have put her in.

She had been seeing her ex-husband's face quite a lot and that was not a good sign in any way.

"Where are your stuff?" Charles's voice brought her out of her trance. He decided the first step in ensuring she was safe was to have her move closer to him.

Honestly, Isabella had no particular idea what he meant when he said those words- was she moving to the hotel room next door or with him?

"Behind the desk. Some stuff is with Caleb though." Isabella finally responded but Charles wore a frown that was filled with questions. "Caleb is my secretary." She was quick enough to provide answers.

"Oh, that jolly fellow. I should thank him for taking care of my woman." Isabella didn't give a response to his suggestive tone. She just went to where her stuff was and packed her things together.

As she did, a thought or two dropped.

"Charles?"

"Yeah?" He grabbed a bag.

"How are you going to help my company?"

She watched him as he left what he was doing and approached her. His hand on her cheeks, he stared down intensely into her eyes. "Bella, I don't want you to worry about that yet."

"But..."

"I will take care of everything Bella, I promise. And..." His lips found her forehead. "I..." Then her left eye. "Will..." Her nose was next. "...Take good care of you." He took her lips gently assuring her in a sensual way.

This time, Gabriel did not ruin it. This time, she did not recall what he did to her.

This time, it was Charles and only Charles that occupied her mind.

Even if it seemed only for a moment, the peace that his kiss brought had to be enjoyed.

So, with tipped toes, she leaned in for much better access to the man she used to be hot for.

Well, by the looks of things, she was still yearning for him in every way.

As his hands encircled her waist, her own went around his thick neck which she missed drawing teasing lines on. Her body melted into his which she used to love seeing, nude or not.

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