(17) Can't Stop Myself

A little bit of warning for this mini steamy chapter!

*****

Charity gasped once Lucas let her lips go. They met eye to eye, and it was obvious what they both wanted.

The kitchen's warm glow cast dancing shadows across his chiseled features, making him look almost ethereal in the dim light. Her heart hammered against her ribs like a caged bird desperate for freedom.

"Mr Cassian.." she tried to resist, but Lucas sealed her words away with another kiss.

His lips captured hers with an urgency that stole her breath entirely. This time, there was no hesitance, no gentle exploration, only raw, unbridled passion that made her head spin. She felt his strong fingers press against the small of her back, pulling her impossibly closer until she could feel every contour of his hard body against her soft curves.

Her waist arched as Lucas faintly rubbed her from her hips. Their close proximity was not helping at all. He inched closer, parting her slim legs as he nudged himself between them, sparing no space left. The heat radiating from his body seeped through the thin fabric of her clothes, creating a warmth that pooled low in her belly.

"Mr Cassian..." she murmured, almost a stutter the moment Lucas stopped kissing her.

Instead, his warm lips made their way to her neck. He grabbed a handful of her hair, the way it doesn't hurt but felt good for Charity.

He guided her head to lean to the side as he kissed her neck slowly, his tongue playfully marking her skin, and his teeth sinking with blooming bite marks. Each gentle nip sent electric shocks cascading down her spine, making her knees feel weak and unsteady.

"You've been teasing me a lot lately," he said, voice low and seductive.

Lucas glanced at her, his gaze as deep as the ocean and just as dangerous. There was something primal in his eyes, something that made her feel like prey caught in the gaze of a predator, and she found she didn't mind it one bit.

"I, I wasn't doing anything." Charity tried her best to reason out despite the stimulation. Her voice came out breathless, lacking any real conviction. Even she could hear the lie in her own words.

A small chuckle escaped his smile. Lucas possessively claimed her lips and there was no sign of resistance from her. Her sweet taste, her floral scent, everything about her makes his blood boil.

He drank her in like a man dying of thirst, and she responded with equal fervor, her fingers finding their way into his hair, tugging gently at the dark strands.

"Tell me," he said in mid kiss. He hears her pretty gasps and the trembling reaction for her body, even she didn't notice how tight she was holding on to his cloth. "Tell me you don't want it."

Charity furrowed her brows. She couldn't bring herself to refuse. The words lodged in her throat, refusing to form.

How could she deny something that felt so right? How could she push away the man who made her feel more alive than she had in years?

She eased her grip on his shirt and enveloped her arms around his neck. Lucas took it as a yes.

He kissed her the way she wanted it, she drowns at his possessive lips. He doesn't allow her to breath and before she knew it, he had found his way into her skirt. His fingers traced a path up her inner thigh, feather-light touches that made her shiver with anticipation.

The roughness of his calloused fingertips against her sensitive skin created a delicious friction that had her arching into his touch.

"What a surprise," Lucas broke free from their kiss as he saw Charity's flushed face.

He touched her most sensitive area again, down there, and it feels so warm even with the thin fabric covering it.

He was amused that he asked, "Are you ashamed?"

"Just... stop teasing me," Charity huffed, her cheeks burning with a mixture of embarrassment and desire. She could feel the heat exuding from her face, could feel the way her body betrayed her with its obvious need.

"As you wish," A mischievous grin appeared on his face.

Lucas seemed to know where she was vulnerable. The way he kissed her neck, down to her collarbone, the way he sucked it and marking her softly, it brought such a teasing sensation for her.

Each mark he left behind felt like a brand, a claim that she was his in this moment. The way his fingertips slowly pushed the thin fabric of her underwear aside, and the moment he touched her swollen knot beneath, it made her gasp audibly.

She gripped his shoulders, her nails digging into the fabric of his shirt as waves of pleasure coursed through her. Her mind went blank, consumed entirely by the sensation of his skilled fingers working their magic on her most sensitive spot.

The world outside this kitchen ceased to exist, there was only Lucas, only his touch, only the overwhelming feeling building inside her.

He felt the way her body quivered as he rubbed the apex of her thigh. The way she gasps, bites her lip, and stops any groan escaping her lips, it was music for him. He pressed on the sensitive nub with a little more force, faster. It made Charity's back curve at the overwhelming pleasure.

"Mr Cassian!" She called out, expecting herself to plead for him to stop but it was difficult for her to speak up. Her voice cracked with desperation, torn between wanting more and fearing she might lose herself entirely.

"It's Lucas," he commandingly said, even going faster this time as Charity leaned on his sturdy chest. "And what do you need, hm?"

Charity can't help shiver. Something is about to release, the heat circling her stomach down to her thighs. She bit her lip as the pleasure building up threatens to explode. Her vision blurred at the edges, her entire being focused on the point where his fingers worked their magic.

Lucas heard her held back moan the moment she reached her peak. Her body quivered over the sensation as her toes curled. He could feel his hand splashed by something warm and the musky scent faintly introduces herself. Her release washed over her in waves, each one more intense than the last, leaving her trembling and breathless in his arms.

His lips hooked to a surreal arc while Charity finally came back to reality. He stared at her, not breaking his gaze and observed her flushed expression.

She looks too beautiful to ignore. Her chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath, her skin glistening with a fine sheen of sweat, her eyes clouded with residual pleasure.

Charity has no idea what to say or what to do. Should she push him off? Should she ask for more? Or should she just find a room here and lock herself away until he leaves?

Her mind raced with a thousand questions, none of which she could answer.

Lucas carefully arranged her underwear and raised his hand, now covered with a questionable liquid. He brought it up to his face, examining it with an expression that bordered on reverent.

To Charity's surprise, he licked what stained his fingers and seemingly pleased about it as well. Her eyes widened in shock, her face burning even hotter than before.

"That was... sweet," he casually said, aware of her shyness at the moment. His nonchalant tone made the situation even more embarrassing, if that were possible.

"H-hey," she cleared her throat, head turning away from him. "I don't think we should..."

"Say no more." Lucas pecked at her cheek, surprising Charity with his sudden gentleness. "Did you like the broth?"

"Huh?" She was dumbfounded at how fast he changed the topic, and was even more concerned at the visible bulge constraining in his pants.

How could he act so calmly when his body clearly wanted more? How could he switch from passion to small talk so effortlessly?

"The broth, did you like it?" He asked again as he walked back to the stove. He moved with deliberate serenity, as if he hadn't just brought her to the peak of pleasure moments ago.

"It was nice, but--"

"You said, we shouldn't." Lucas knew what was bothering her. He turned to her with the same cold and collected expression. "And I don't like taking what's not given with full consent. I have less to worry about if that's so."

Charity was stunned, another shocking personality she discovered from him. Despite his dominant attitude, his annoying teasing, and everything distant about him, he is particularly strict when it comes to this type of matter. It was such an unexpected display of honor that it left her speechless.

"That night..." her voice trailed off, Lucas turned to her. She continued, "At the cruise, did you do something to me?"

Lucas paused, he could see the brooding storm in her gaze. He shrugged, answering truthfully, "I stopped right away when you called me Samuel."

Charity went quiet. She lowered her gaze, and something told her he was telling the truth. He can be a handful most of the time, but surprisingly has a bit of kindness in him.

A man who could have taken advantage but chose not to. A man who stopped when she called out another man's name. The realization made her feel both grateful and strangely disappointed.

"So, how was the taping?"

Charity blinked at his question. "Are you trying a small talk with me?"

Lucas grimaced as if he hated what she said. "I'm asking for a report."

"Oh." Charity didn't get the sarcasm in his tone. She cleared her throat and said, "You know, Violet tries intimidating me. It doesn't work that way though. And Samuel still remains neutral. Of course, I keep my record the best and clean, while humiliating Violet back."

"Mhm." Lucas simply replied.

Charity couldn't understand if he just doesn't know how to continue a small talk, or did her summary of the events suffice. The silence stretched between them, filled only by the soft bubbling of whatever he was cooking on the stove.

"Uhm... can I go to my room?"

"Why?" Lucas asked without looking at her as he stirred pots and pans. His back was to her now, broad and solid and somehow comforting despite everything.

"I need to... wash," Charity shyly said.

She could still feel the lingering traces of her release on her thighs, could still smell the evidence of what they had done. Her cheeks burned with renewed embarrassment.

Lucas finally turned to look at her, and something flickered in his dark eyes, a hint of amusement, perhaps, or satisfaction. "Go then. I'll bring you dinner when it's ready."

Charity nodded, too flustered to form a proper response. She stumbled toward the door, her legs still feeling weak beneath her. At the threshold, she paused and glanced back at him.

"Lucas?"

He looked up, an eyebrow raised in question.

"Thank you. For stopping. That night."