The crowd cheered in appreciation, and Elizabeth smiled with simple joy. She was so proud of Jane and so proud of LBS as a group. She looked back to see Charlotte coming from around her kit and the three women hugged and bowed, waving good-bye to the crowd as they left the stage.
When they reached backstage, a smaller but more devoted audience was waiting for them. “You did it!” shouted Alex as he picked up Jane and swung her in a circle.
“You girls were great!” Richard told them.
“Well done, Jane,” Darcy said quietly.
“You were fantastic,” Caroline said quickly, interrupting the scene. “Now, guys, you have to be onstage in ten minutes. Go! Go! Go!”
Darcy and Richard disappeared, while Charles stopped and took Jane tightly into his arms. “You are the most incredible woman I have ever known,” he told her with unadorned honesty. “I love you.” He kissed her again and left, leaving a glowing Jane behind.
When the elevator stopped, Elizabeth, Charlotte, Jane, and Charles got off to find Richard, Amber, Alex, Darcy, and Caroline exiting a second one directly behind them. Elizabeth was surprised to see Richard wrapped around Amber, and she looked at Charlotte with a question in her eyes. Charlotte gave no sign but walked indifferently to her suite.
Elizabeth moved to follow when Darcy’s voice stopped her. “Elizabeth?” he asked tentatively.
Elizabeth turned back to him, her expression pleasantly neutral.
“I was wondering if you would like to swim tonight?” he asked casually.
The focus of Elizabeth’s eye slipped from Darcy to Caroline, who was standing just behind him. She saw a look of pain pass quickly over her face, which was replaced by a polite smile so quickly, Elizabeth questioned if she had actually seen it.
“Yeah, actually, I was planning on a swim, thanks,” Elizabeth replied.
“I’ll see you later then.” Darcy walked to his door, leaving a confused and annoyed Elizabeth. Entering her room, she knew what was going on. He was just trying to be friendly, maintain a good working relationship. Probably trying to make up for what had happened with Collins. She grinned to herself as she remembered how she had torn him a new one that night. But why had he made a point of asking her to swim in front of everyone?
The sight of Charlotte sitting on the couch halted her thoughts. She was staring at the TV, but Elizabeth could see her eyes weren’t on it. She immediately remembered Richard’s guest.
“Who was that girl, Char?” Elizabeth asked.
Charlotte shrugged. “Her name’s Amber; she’s tonight’s flavor.” Her words sounded as defensive to her ears as they had when Richard had said them.
“Char,” Elizabeth said slowly, dismayed, “I’m so sorry.”
“Why?” Charlotte snapped, “I told you it was just a friendly fuck. There is nothing more between us, Lizzy. I don’t have any claim on Richard and he certainly doesn’t owe me anything.”
Elizabeth grew very quiet in the face of Charlotte’s outburst. “I guess I misunderstood the situation,” she said after a beat. “I’m going to go swim.”
Charlotte shrugged. “Suit yourself,” she said as she turned back to the TV.
Jane smiled brightly as she took Charles’s hand and walked with him to his suite. He led her into the living area after closing the door and looked into her eyes for a long time.
Jane stared back at him with a beautiful expression, one of trust and love. Not needing anything more between them, she rose up and kissed him, long and lush, her mouth caressing his as he wrapped his arms around her slim waist and pulled her closer.
When at last they stopped, he was breathless. “Take me to bed, Charles,” she murmured, her lips brushing against his throat.
“Are you sure, Jane?” he asked tenderly.
“Yes,” she nodded at Charles’s questioning expression. Without a word, he took her into his bedroom and shut the door. Jane eagerly flowed into his embrace. Long kisses followed as they undressed each other, becoming more impatient as they removed each garment.
Finally they were both completely bare. Jane stepped back with a wicked smile and posed provocatively as she eyed Charles.
“What are you doing?” he asked, amused.
“Taking a good look,” she answered, her grin anything but innocent. “I thought you might like one, too.”
“Thank you,” he replied, his eyes darkening, “but I prefer to examine things close up.” He moved close to her and captured Jane in the circle of his arms, his body burning wherever he made contact with hers. “See?” he asked as he kissed the line of her shoulder.
Jane nodded slowly, as her eyes closed slowly and her head tilted away giving him better access to her.
“You must be getting cold,” he said softly, “better come to bed.”
“I don’t feel cold,” Jane sighed as she crawled into the bed with him. It was a strange sensation. She had slept with him before. Being in bed with him was familiar, yet it was at the same time excitingly different and new.
Charles wasted no time. He was fully aware that Jane was finally in his bed and he had the green light to go. All the desires he had been holding back broke free with a rush. He plundered her mouth with his own and she trembled at his determination. Out of habit, her hands reached for his cock. Charles felt her grasp him and only allowed himself to enjoy it for a moment before he gently moved her hands away. At her questioning look, he told her, “Oh, no, not yet. You’re too distracting.”
Jane nodded and her hands slid up his body, taking the time to explore his chest and back.
Charles was working on his own exploration. His hand had started with caressing her stomach in slow smooth circles as he kissed her. Gradually, he worked his hand up to the lower edge of her breast, caressing more of it with each rotation. Jane moaned softly, which Charles took as a positive sign, and he slipped his hand farther up until he encircled the whole breast. “Perfect,” he sighed against her throat as her body pressed into his.
Her nipple was already hard when his fingers reached it. With agonizing slowness, he dragged his lips to it, prompting even more moans from Jane. He kissed it once, lightly, as he looked at her with hungry eyes, then he went back, drawing it into his mouth and sucking on it gently, while his hand began circling the other breast.
“Charles,” she cried.
“So beautiful,” he breathed as he changed his attention to her other nipple. Jane’s fingers buried themselves in his hair and held on tightly. His attention left her hardened nipples and traveled south, letting his lips and nose brush along her satin skin as he slowly surveyed her soft body until he reached the tiny golden triangle of fur over her sex. He kissed her there once, reverently, then pulled back to look at her, his eyes dark. “Are you ready, Jane?” he asked, his voice rough and sexy.
Jane opened her eyes, looking at him, not understanding his words, but willing to follow wherever he led. She nodded, her eyes never leaving his.
He moved back up to her, his face rubbing against her, his voice buzzing in her ear. “I want to make you feel very good, Jane, like you’ve never felt before.” He lay on top of her then, but before Jane could open her legs to him, he rolled them both over, so she was on top.
“Oh!” she cried, and Charles smiled back to her then.
“Slide on, love,” he gently directed her. And she did, impaling herself on his delicious cock, her eyes closing as she pushed herself all the way onto him. She reveled in the experience of him filling her, when she felt his hands on her shoulders. Startled, her eyes opened. “Trust me,” he told her, his voice thick, “I’m going to teach you how to come.”
Jane was confused but in no position to argue. Charles gently pushed her shoulders back until she was upright on top of him, his impressive length still buried deep inside of her. She looked down and smiled at the image of their blonde hairs mingled as one. “Now, rest your hands on my legs.”
Jane did as she was bid, leaning even farther back, placing her hands behind her and balancing herself
