25. Close To You

Blaze’s heart sped up as he took in a deep breath. Charlize gazed over her shoulder at him with those beautiful sable eyes. She felt his chest inhale and exhale against her back.

Charlize turned around, facing him, gently placing her hands flat against his chest. Blaze saw the serene look in her eyes, saying something different from her words. He could see she didn’t feel uneasy and that she was letting her guard down. In that moment, Blaze felt she might just surrender her heart to him. It was something he had been dreaming about lately, being within her heart, but he was waiting for her to invite him in.

But will she?

Blaze, a responsible man, knew how deep she was in this. He didn’t take it lightly; it was her decision, and hers alone. But he knew what he was offering her. He felt the weight of being fully responsible for her fragile heart if she selected him.

He felt honored and saw it as a privilege to be the one she was submitting her heart to, but he wanted her heart to be full of love for him. So, he was willing to wait for her compassion and love.

Blaze smiled briefly as his eyes intently looked into hers.

“Charlize, I need you to soak all of this in, and when it’s time for you to decide and say yes, Blaze, I’m ready to be all yours. When that time comes, when you are ready, will you let me know? Your heart is secure with me. I promise to take care of it and your love for me.”

This promise shattered her last defense. Tears shimmered in Charlize’s eyes as Blaze kissed her—first on the lips, then her forehead—with a tenderness that undid her.

Charlize gazed up at him. “Please don’t stop. I don’t deserve you, but I want you.”

He paused, not sure if he’d only heard what he wanted to hear. She reached her hand around his neck.

Blaze smiled as he covered his mouth with hers, succumbing to its inviting warmth.

The city’s neon lights flickered across the river, and the party boat rocked gently beneath Blaze and Charlize’s feet. Charlize’s laughter danced on the night air as she tugged Blaze toward the railing, her eyes alight with mischief. Blaze leaned his back against the boat rail, stealing a glance at the water—but it was Charlize’s smile that stole his breath.

He couldn’t tear his gaze from those eyes, that smile, the way the city lights painted her skin with color. The drinks had loosened his nerves, but Charlize made him dizzy.

Charlize faced him, close enough that he could feel the heat radiating off her skin. Blaze pulled her into his arms, heart racing, and pressed his lips to her cheek—then her lips, then her neck, each kiss bolder than the last. Her perfume mingled with the scent of river water and summer air. She pressed herself against him, breathless, her hands exploring the lines of his back.

His hands caressed her exposed back, craving contact with her pliant skin. She pushed her body away, giving herself just enough room to kiss his neck. When she couldn’t get to the place she wanted, she ran her fingers up the back of his neck into his hair, firmly pulling his head back and placing her mouth on the spot near his earlobe.

Blaze’s voice dropped low, rough with anticipation. “You’re really going to make me lose control—right here?”

“I want to please you.”

Blaze chuckled. “But not right here and not right now?”

“Why?” She softly asked.

“Why? Because my friends are here, and you’re tipsy. I want you, but not like this—not when I can’t have all of you,” he said, his eyes burning with promise.

Charlize looked away disappointingly. Even though Blaze asked her to look at him, she refused. He pressed his hardened member against her hot center.

She lifted her head and looked at him with a smile. He kissed her passionately and then pushed back.

“Hold tight if you choose me.” His words lingered between them as their hands and mouths explored, desire crackling like electricity in the humid night. They lost themselves in each other, pushing limits, stopping just shy of surrendering completely.

>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

After a breathless pause, they wandered to the far side of the boat where shadows cloaked them from prying eyes.

“Look at those lights, Blaze—it’s as if they’re putting on a show just for us,” Charlize whispered, her voice trembling with excitement.

“That’s awesome!”

Blaze couldn’t help himself—her smile was brighter than the stars themselves, and he needed to taste them again. He bent down, lips meeting hers, the world narrowing to just the two of them.

And now, he could no longer resist when Charlize glanced up at him and saw that look in his eyes. He kissed her. It was so pleasing and enticing. Their tongues touched in a sensual game of play, tantalizing each other’s passion.

He paused only to kiss her again, sending currents of desire through her. She caressed the strong tendons in the back of Blaze’s neck. Charlize’s arms wrapped around his small but long torso. She could feel his uneven breathing on her cheek as he held her tightly.

“Do you know how badly I want you?” Blaze asked.

“Mm... as badly as you wanted me. I think I want you.”

“Alright, you win—I want you every night, not just tonight,” he teased, but his voice trembled with sincerity. “I don’t want this to end.”

“Let’s not talk about it ending. Let’s just enjoy the time and the sharing of love we have right now with one another.”

>>>>>>>>>> 

Side by side, they watched the river shimmer, hearts pounding from everything left unsaid. The night felt charged—like the world had narrowed to just this boat, this moment, and the possibility of something unstoppable.

Blaze reached his hand toward her face. Once his fingers touched her cheeks, he tenderly cupped the side of her face with his hands, causing her to exhale softly.

“Charlize, every time I’m with you like this, it’s harder to pretend I’m not falling for you,” Blaze confessed, his voice almost lost to the river breeze.

Smiling, she gazed at his face, which was so different from hers, yet she loved every inch of it. The way his eyes smiled when he smiled, the curvature of his lips that looked so delectable.

Gently, he guided her face to his. Charlize’s pulse quickened, anticipating more kisses. She could almost taste them on her tongue. Blaze’s gaze shifted to her mouth.

On cue, her lips responded, opening slightly as they touched him. Charlize closed her eyes to savor the moment, for however long this could last?... Every part of her tingled with excitement.

Charlize pressed against him, her voice barely a whisper. “Blaze, I—I can’t fight this anymore.”

>>>>>>>>>> 

Subtle jazz music played softly throughout the boat with a touch of Asian instruments. Blaze and Charlize made their way to the top of the ship as they took the last sip of their fourth drink, taking a spot on the wooden bench.

Blaze caught Charlize’s hand, tugging her down onto the bench beside him. They tumbled together, laughing, breathless and reckless.

“You’re so silly, Blaze.”

“You know you wanted to sit too.”

Charlize snickers. “You’re so naughty.”

“No, you know what’s bad?” Blaze smiles mischievously.

“What?” she says, smiling at him curiously.