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Chapter 19: Charlie
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The Journey Collection Chapter 20: Charlie
Five weeks and countless sessions later, Sarah was starting to show signs of improvement. I hadn't missed a single visit and drove her to Laredo every day. I was grateful I worked on my parents' farm and that they valued the Adams as much as I did. They encouraged me-and Austin-to do whatever it took to help Jack at Cross Acres. I didn't think they had any idea that would include falling for his daughter, but since they hadn't specified that was off-limits, I hadn't discussed it. Jack and Sarah needed help. Austin was working on his ranch, and I made sure Sarah was taken care of. I never asked again; I just showed up. It hadn't taken long for Jack to stop asking why I was there, and he quickly reached a point where he simply kept working. Lately, he wasn't even around when I arrived, and if he were, he would just raise a hand in "hello." Jack trusted me to take care of her, and somehow, that was a reward in itself. "Sunshine?" I called out for her as soon as I stepped into the
The Journey Collection Chapter 21: Charlie
The rehab facility had an entire room with different machines and contraptions specifically designed to assist with walking. The space was large, and multiple patients worked with different physical therapists at the same time. And while I'd thought that would give Sarah hope and encourage her to see other people struggled, too, somehow, it only made her struggles worse. Her insecurities were preventing her progress as she worried more about what other people saw than focusing on the task in front of her. No one inside these walls other than her own team paid the least bit of attention to her, yet in her mind, they were all staring. Her eyes scanned the perimeter of the room as the therapists got her into position between two bars. She held on for dear life to keep her balance, although she zoned in on everything else going on. Kappi-the newest therapist to her crew-was getting frustrated by her inability to reach Sarah. It was like Sarah had a wall up that she couldn't see pa
The Journey Collection Chapter 22: Sarah
I couldn't get him out of my mind. And that kiss. As far as kisses go, the steam level might not have been that great for anyone else, but for this girl-who'd never been kissed-it was amazing. Not only was it a welcome relief from all of the worry, all of the stress that had weighed me down the past few months, but it was Charlie freaking Burin. His mouth had touched mine; his tongue had parted my lips; his fingers had dug into my neck. It was just-ah. A girl could die happy after that exchange. Charlie had managed to nudge his way into my world without my really noticing that he'd come in, and he'd never left. It was Charlie who encouraged me through physical therapy. It was Charlie who picked me up when I was down. It was Charlie who believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. At my lowest points, he was always there to get me through. He marked every bit of progress as a triumph, and he tallied all the wins. One unassisted step at a time. And while it might not have bee
The Journey Collection Chapter 23: Sarah
There was a hint of animosity in his tone when he said my little sister's name, but I let it go. She wasn't high on anyone's list these days, but I still hadn't figured out what was going on. And anytime I tried to get information, Austin would snap at me, Daddy would find a way to change the subject or leave the room, and Charlie didn't know any more than I did. Or I didn't think he did. "You didn't have to say it back, you know?" He broke the silence, but I wasn't sure what he referred to. I looked over at him, furrowing my brow. "What do you mean?" I was lost. "Didn't have to say what?" "It." His ears were pink, and it was easy to see he was flustered-I just had no idea why. "I didn't want you to feel obligated." "Charlie, I'm not following you." "The other day after physical therapy-" I thought back to what he might be referring to, and there was only one culprit. "When you told me that you loved me?" And now I was flustered. If I'd
The Journey Collection Chapter 24: Sarah
"The surgery went well, and her stats look good." The doctor's voice was clear, but I doubted I'd remember anything he said; everything was hazy. "The nurses are going to watch her for a bit, but once the sedation wears off, she should be good to go home." I nodded and hoped to God someone else was listening. My head was swimming, and I wouldn't retain anything. Daddy and Charlie were here; surely, they were taking notes. My eyes kept drifting closed, and I'd snap them open to find Charlie grinning at me like he thought it was cute. "I'm going to write her another prescription for oxycodone and one for an antibiotic. Use the oxycodone as needed for pain. The antibiotic is twice a day for ten days. It's just a precaution, but infection is a risk we don't need to take." I just wanted him to stop talking and let me sleep. I could read a bottle when I got home; I didn't need a rundown on pain meds and prescriptions. I'd done this before. I took a deep breath and
The Journey Collection Chapter 25: Sarah
His gaze flitted up, and I wondered if he had realized what he'd started and now wanted to back out. Yet that wasn't at all what I saw when my eyes met his. Charlie's chest heaved, and I finally let go of the air I'd held and hoped he couldn't feel my erratic pulse. With care and tenderness, he spread my top open and exposed my marred skin. I didn't glance down; I knew what I looked like. What was once a creamy, smooth surface now looked like a battlefield. Charlie dropped his gaze and one by one, he kissed every mark. I took deep breaths each time his lips met a battle wound, and I attempted to relax, but having Charlie Burin this close kept me in a constant state of arousal. The mattress dipped as Charlie moved the blankets and situated himself between my thighs. And when he dragged his fingers from my knee to my waist, my cotton shorts bunched at the top of my thigh. He squeezed my hipbone just a bit and then grazed my side over my ribs until his thumb rested under
The Journey Collection Chapter 26: Sarah
It was a beautiful day, although that was true of most days in Texas. But today the heat wasn't quite as sweltering, and a nice breeze flowed. That light wind carried the smell of Mason Belle with it, and one thing I'd learned to appreciate after months of captivity was the thing that reminded me of home. Hay had a distinct aroma just like freshly cut grass, and the cattle were unique as well, but it was homecooked food that lingered on a breeze and the honeysuckle that made my heart sing. Because those were the smells of my childhood. The only thing that made them any better was experiencing them at night when I could see the lightning bugs in the fields. The sun had already started to dip in the sky, and the temperatures had dropped to bearable, in fact, it was a bit cool. I'd grabbed a jacket on the way out to Charlie's truck, although I doubted I'd need it. I was just so excited to be moving more on my own that I found myself wandering for no particular reason at all, whic
The Journey Collection Chapter 27: Sarah
He shifted to see my face-cradling me-and chuckled when he realized I'd been staring at him. "You hungry, sunshine?" "Not overly." That wasn't exactly true. I wasn't ready for food, but I wished Charlie would feast on me. I pulled him down by the back of his neck to bring his lips to mine. It took so little to coax Charlie into affection, and I loved that I never had to ask or tell him what I wanted. One kiss was all it took, and he picked up from there. Today was no different. As gentle as the breeze around us and as peaceful as the water, Charlie's touch warmed me like the sun. With his mouth on mine and his hands in my hair, the world around us faded. I didn't worry about getting caught when we removed our clothes, and I didn't consider anything outside of us when he made love to me under that tree. He devoured my cries of pleasure and filled my ears with groans of his own. And when he'd taken me to the highest place possible, we fell over the cliff of ecsta
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