That Friday Read Online Free Page B

adjoining rooms,
and he found he couldn't breathe. Never before had anyone expressed such
emotion for him. It was long moments before he felt his heart return to normal
and could breathe once more.
    "I love you too,"
Charlie whispered back when he could form the words, a smile on his face as he
kissed her softly on the neck, knowing from their many conversations how much
she liked that and how much of a turn-on it was for her.
    Hearing him say the words she had
longed to hear, those magical words, truly meant, made goosebumps erupt all over her body and a happy tear fell silently from her eye to run down
her cheek as she too smiled. She was happier than she could remember being.
    Charlie saw the tear that ran down
Tess' cheek at his words and reached up to gently brush it away, he then moved
up to kiss the corner of her eye, his fingers stroking her cheek as he tasted
her salty tears, wanting her to know just how much he loved her. He had never
felt for anyone the way he felt for her, love was unfamiliar to him, and now he
did he was unsure how to show her the depth of his feelings for her.
    Tess' heart swelled as his love
encompassed her. He had been there for her through every step of the trials she
had endured over the preceding months, through the dark days as she struggled
with the end of her marriage and her efforts to do what was best, not just for
her but for her daughter. He had been more than a torch in the darkness, he had
been a beacon illuminating the tunnel and guiding her toward the happiness that
might be found at the end of it.
    Whenever she had been down, or
despairing of her decisions, he had been there with a shoulder for her to cry
on, even if it was only on the phone or over Skype, and sensible advice. It
would have been so easy for him to be selfish and push her into divorce so he
could have her for himself, she knew that, but not once had he done so.
    In the beginning he had counselled
her to consider what was best for her and for her daughter, to weigh up the
pros and cons of her relationship before making a decision on whether to end
it. When she had made the decision, and filed for divorce, he supported her,
advising her where he could and providing comfort in whatever way he could. She
had never known anyone to be so selfless and because of that she hoped that
that weekend was going to prove to be the start of something very special.
    Laying her head on his chest again
Tess listened to his heart, thumping in his chest, and wept.
    His arms around her shoulder he
held her close, while with his free hand he stroked her hair. In a low voice,
which he hoped was soothing, he sought to calm her; what he said he had no
idea, he simply spoke whatever nonsense came into his mind. His concern just
then was to calm her, not make sense, and his instincts told him that the sound
of his voice would be enough.
    It was a short while before Tess
stopped crying, the end of her tears announced by a sniff as she reached a hand
up to wipe them away.
    When her soft sobs had subsided Charlie
kissed her tenderly on the forehead. His lips moved from her forehead to her
cheek, planting a series of gentle kisses that made her turn her head until her
lips found his. Three years had passed since their one and only kiss prior to
that day but he had not forgotten the softness of her lips.
    He intended their kiss to be
gentle and tender, a means of reassuring Tess only, but the feel of her lips on
his awakened his passion, though he tried to control it, and his kiss became
deeper and hungrier and his tongue darted out to tease hers, making her moan
into his mouth.
    Slowly, his hand ran down her
spine, making her arch her back in response to his ticklish, but ever so
delightful, touch. At the same time her head fell back, her lips parting from
his, exposing her neck in an invitation he found impossible to ignore.
    His lips sought her shoulder,
kissing the soft skin there before moving along the arch of where her shoulder
met her