For the first time in forever, I want more than a quick lay with a woman. I haven’t wanted a relationship with anyone, but with Charlie, I do, and I’m already feeling stupidly possessive. I want to spend time with her. Not as my roommate, but as my girl—mine and no one else’s.

But instead she’s out with some skinny-jean-wearing rock star wannabe all because I’m a fucking idiot who couldn’t make it clear that it was her, not Megan, I was kissing that day. My mind’s reeling, and this possessiveness almost unnerves me. Realizing I finally want more with a woman while she’s on a date with another guy means I have pretty bad fucking timing.

To be honest, I never thought I’d get to this point with Charlie, but the thought of her with another man? It tears me to shreds. I’ve taken for granted having her here every night, and I know now I want to be the guy she comes home to. The one she shares her day with. The guy who gets to see her in her pajamas every night. Not some other asshole who probably isn’t even man enough to handle her strong personality.

I don’t know if Jace was trying to twist the knife when he called or if he was trying to tell me to get off my ass, but I’ve been stewing ever since. When I got home from work, she was already gone. Glancing at the clock, I notice it’s after eleven. Yeah, that’s not late on a Friday night, but if a date’s not going well, they usually end early. A feeling of relief washes over me when I hear a car pulling into the driveway, headlights shining through the window.

Minutes later, she still hasn’t come inside, and I’m wondering what the fuck they’re doing. I’m fidgeting while watching the TV, and it becomes more than I can stand. Getting up, I head towards the front door but then realize the glass will give me away. Peeking out from the corner, I can see their figures, and just as I look, I see Chris pulling her in for a hug, placing a kiss on her forehead. It’s more than I can bear, and I lean back again the wall, closing my eyes before I freak the fuck out.

Her skin is meant for my lips. When I kissed her in the ring, I felt so much more than lust, and seeing another man with his mouth on her is almost enough to make me tear the door down. I want Charlie. Physically. Emotionally, too? I don’t know. I just know I want her. And the thought of Chris getting near her drives me wild. I have to show her. I have to let her know that when I kissed her, I knew it was her, I wanted it to be her, and I’m going to prove it.

I bide my time, waiting for her to come inside. It’s not long before I hear the door open, and she’s in my space, smiling big, and it sets me off.

Before I can stop myself, I’m on her, pushing her up against the wall. Her purse drops, and she gasps, looking up at me. Gripping her wrists, I pull them up over her head and hold them against the wall, just like I did outside the pub. My face is only inches from hers, and I’m about to ravage her mouth when she speaks.

“Knox, what are you doing?” she asks, squirming in my hold.

“Been waitin’ on you all night, sweetheart. And I’ll ask the same thing. What do you think you’re doin’?” I have no idea if she had a good time on her date or not, but I don’t fucking care.

“Umm, coming inside? You’re the one who attacked me the moment I walked in the door.”

Looking down into her eyes, I see them burning with desire, and I know I have her. I tell myself that Chris was just a distraction.

“How was your date, Charlie?” I ask, wanting to hear her confirmation that it was nothing.

Smiling sweetly, she answers me. “It was great. I had a fantastic time, and Chris is a really nice guy. But I’m exhausted, so I’m going to turn in. Goodnight, Knox,” she says, pulling away from me and walking down the hall.

Oh hell no. This conversation is nowhere near over, and I’m not letting her get away.

Catching up to her, I grab her arm, pressing her up against the wall again. Yeah, I’m sensing a theme here, but Charlie all backed up with nowhere to go is hot as hell—and the only way to keep her still.

“So if it was good, do you plan on another one?”

“Knox, seriously? Can we talk about this tomorrow?” she asks, yawning for effect.

“Sweetheart, are you going on another fucking date with him?” I ask, wincing at how harsh I sound, but I can’t help it. I’m getting worked up when I feel her wrap her arms around me as I push my erection in between her legs. Before I allow her to answer, I can’t fucking stop my lips from smashing against hers. Not giving her a chance to part her lips, my tongue pushes them open as it invades her mouth, wanting, needing to taste her. She kisses me back with fervor, wrapping her arms around my waist and lifting up into me before I pull away from her, ready to move this to the bedroom.

But she has a different idea as she apparently she comes to her senses. Removing her arms, she glares up at me, but the pink, puffy lips from where she’s just been kissed take away my attention.

“First of all, do not speak to me like that, Knox Wellington. Secondly, it’s none of your goddamn business, but no, I’m not. We’re better suited as friends.” I can’t help the smirk that spreads over my face, first from her scolding me and then her confirmation that Chris has no chance. And then she opens her mouth again. “But who knows? I’m sure we’ll spend more time together.”

Knowing she’s just trying to push my buttons, I ignore her comment and move back in. Pressing my lips against hers again, I kiss her, but she pushes me away.

“No. Screw you, Knox. You only want me because I was out with someone else,” she says, trying to break away.

“You are so fucking wrong, sweetheart. I’ve wanted you this entire time. It wasn’t until I was on top of you at the gym that I thought there was a possibility for this, and then Megan showed up and ruined it all. You’ve acted like it didn’t affect you at all. But when I found out you were with someone else tonight? I knew I couldn’t go another night without laying it all out on the line.”

She places her hands on her hips and glares at me. “And that’s supposed to make me feel better? I could wake up tomorrow and you could decide it was a one-night thing. A point to prove. I’m not messing up what we have here just for you to work out your jealousy and baggage in the bedroom.”

Shaking my head, I realize I’m not getting through to her. I lean in, kissing her again, and this time she doesn’t pull away first. “No baggage, Charlie. I don’t know why I want you. I tried to fight it. I’ve been fighting it for weeks. But I can’t anymore. I want you. I want you more than I ever imagined possible, and it has nothing to do with anyone else but us—”

Something in my words causes her to give in, because she interrupts me when she slams her lips against mine. Our desire has finally been unleashed, and neither of us can get enough. We’re wrapped up in each other, tongues tangling, hands wandering, and I savor every taste, every touch, the very feel of her skin under my fingertips. When I pull back, more than ready to move this to the bedroom, the look of her lips, swollen and flushed, has my dick rock hard.

“One. Last. Time,” I growl. “Are you going to see him again?”

She jerks her chin up, looking at me. “No, I’m not and I’ve already said that twice. But what I don’t get is why the hell you care.”

“I care, Charlie. It just took me a while to realize it. And when it comes to you, I won’t share,” I tell her in the simplest way possible. It’s cute as hell when her eyebrows draw together, her lips tightening as she takes in my words.

“I wasn’t aware that I was yours to share, Wellington,” she says, jaw tight, setting her chin defiantly. Then she pulls out of my grasp as she heads to her room. I watch her hot little ass for a few seconds before I follow after her.

She’s about to reach her room when I scoop her up, throwing her over my shoulder and taking her into my room. Tossing her on my bed, I’m quick to climb on top of her.

“Maybe not right now, but I want you to be,” I tell her, pressing kisses from her jawline down to her neck.

Her fingers find my chin, and she lifts my face up towards her, stopping my kisses. “You want me to be what?” she asks, her eyes searching mine.

I take a deep breath, unable to believe I’m doing this. I’ve sworn it off for so long, but this girl’s found her way into my heart, and if she needs to hear me say it, I will. My heart’s pounding, and if I can admit it, I’m scared out of my fucking mind. It’s been so long since I let someone in, and I’m going out on a limb hoping that Charlie wants more with me.

“Here’s the thing. I’m tired of this roommate bullshit. I want more than that. I want you to be my girl. I want you in my bed, just like this. I want to take you out, show you off, and get the jealous looks from all the other assholes who wish you were theirs. I want, more than anything, for you to be my sweetheart, because that’s what you’ve become to me, even if I started saying it by being an ass. I want to be able to call you mine for real, not pretend.” Sighing, I pause. “Charlie, I want—I need—you to be my fucking girl.”

I don’t realize that I’m holding my breath as I wait for her to respond. When she smiles up at me with shining eyes, I let it out as relief rolls through me. “Show me,” she whispers, and she doesn’t have to tell me twice.

Even though I want to tear her jeans off and sink into her more than anything else, I know I need to do what she asks. Lowering my head, my lips hover just over her ear. “With pleasure, sweetheart.” Trailing kisses from her ear across her jawline, I quickly find her mouth and learn that she’s just as eager as I am to finally give in to our attraction. Her left hand wraps around my neck while the other one moves to my ass, and she pulls me into her so that nearly every single inch of our bodies is touching. I’m desperate to get her out of these clothes and I know she feels the same, because the moment my fingers graze her stomach, she’s lifting up onto her knees, our lips still connected as she pushes me off of her. She breaks the kiss and her hands go the hem of her shirt when I stop her.