The Vampire Playboy - Blood and Lust

Chapter 18

Charlie's POV

Shit, we were at the boathouse, I didn't want this to end, I needed to find a way to keep her here with me. I was selfish, I knew it and I knew I was in deep.

I was an i***t. I knew I was an i***t. I shouldn't have approached her. I was shocked to see her in the park. The park I'd taken her to but that she couldn't possibly remember, yet there she was on her own. I'd be lying if I said I didn't watch her curiously for a while as she lay there on the grass, stretched out like she was trying to absorb every ray of sun in the sky. She had looked peaceful with her eyes closed, I wondered what music she was listening to but as hard as I'd strained I couldn't hear without getting closer. Every so often her feet would move side to side and she would tap her fingers to whatever beat it was. Her shorts cut high up on her thigh and I could imagine those legs wrapped around my hips, those perfect breasts in my hands and the taste of her on my tongue. A smile would briefly come and go on her face.

Not like earlier in the bar when I'd been a bigger d**khead than I had intended. I could punch myself in the nuts just thinking about what I'd said and that look on her face. I knew I should continue to keep away from her and Noah would be pissed when he finds out I'd done this. I'd seen her face crumple before she caught herself when she saw me, it was a look of disgust and weariness. I'd caused that. F**k, my stomach had dropped and I'd felt sick.

The more we talked the more I was in awe and had so many things I wanted to say, things I knew I could never say to her or anyone.

I wanted to tell her that there were so many things in my long life that I regretted including everything I'd said and done to her since she arrived.

When it came to her I'd lost all of my self-control today. F**k Noah would be pissed at this.

Every moment of silence between us bothered me, I wanted to hold her attention to have her talk to me, with me, every so often she wore this kind of sadness that made me want to grab her and never let her go.

I had concluded that her parents are dickheads. They might make me break my now killing human rule, in fact, most of the people in her life before coming here were awful.

I was livid, how could they treat her like that? Did they not realise how perfect and special she was? Could they not see what I see? God, it hurts to not reach out and touch her.

I had tried to keep my emotions in check but that was becoming harder, with every word she said the anger built up stronger. If I didn't calm down soon I'd regret my actions.

I couldn't help but smirk at her words and, and imagine her in my bed with my head between her thighs tasting how sweet she was.

She was beautiful, stunning even, in a way I'd never admired in a human before. Sure I'd had my fair share of beautiful women, but they all knew what they were, Liv was oblivious making her all the more attractive. And as for that asshole that had used her for s*x.

I was going to kill him. I made a promise right here and now to find that arsehole and separate his head from his body. But to her, it had seemed like nothing, as though she had moved on.

How the hell is she so accepting, so forgiving and so gracious about everything? Liv was something special.

I could have sworn she was checking me out, that briefly, a look that wasn't hatred toward me had broken through her mask. Did she like me as I did her?

"You're hard to read sometimes," I confessed. Seemed to catch her by surprise causing a slight grin briefly to appear on her beautiful face.

"I'm not that complicated of a person" she shrugged, "I'm pretty unremarkable really"

I found myself watching every moment of her lips as she spoke, the flicks of her tongue. I was longing to taste her to have her lips on mine.

I knew I was going to get her a car. But how? She wouldn't accept one from me directly, she was too proud for that, and would I tell Noah what I was doing?

I didn't like thinking of her and Noah. I was jealous, I could admit that now to myself. I had no right to be, I'd told Noah I wasn't interested and yet here I was.

"So what is it you do for a living," she asked.

"I…my family have multiple companies, a strong property portfolio, some hotels, I just take care of it all really, obviously I have a team of staff to help, but I take care of the Irish side of things." That was more or less the truth, just there was no family.

"Do you miss being away from your family?"

I cupped the back of my head nervously while I thought about how to answer this without saying too much.

"Yeah I guess so, but I like my life here and Noah is like a brother to me, he's my family."

She nodded like she understood.

"It must be great to have so much money and freedom, being able to just be a playboy."

Ouch, that hurt.

"There's more to me than just seeming like a playboy. You don't know me."

Her expression changed and I watched her face drop.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound like that, I know I don't know you, I…I don't mean to offend you. It's none of my business."

"I know you're judging me on what you've seen, but there's more to me than that."

She took a large gulp of her coke and paused.

"Have you ever had a relationship or is it always just flings and one-night things?"

I raised my eyebrows and felt a smirk creep across my face. Was she interested? Is that why she was asking? Red began to seep across her face.

"I've had relationships. I told you, there's more to me than just the playboy you think you see, and for the right person I'd have another relationship"

Olivia chewed the inside of her bottom lip.

"You, um make me sort of nervous, especially when you're like this"

"I do hmmm. Like what?"

"Nice I guess"

I laughed. I wanted to tell her that my not being nice was an act, a defensive mechanism to keep me away from her and her away from me. One that was currently failing miserably.

I didn't want this to end. I knew that if this continued much longer I'd take her in my arms and kiss her right here. I couldn't allow that to happen, I needed her to stay safe and away from me. But more importantly, she was Noah's girl, he seemed to like her, I'd not probed at any length about how much he liked her but I could tell and I wouldn't do that to my best friend. Sure we had competed and even shared girls before but I could tell this was different. Me going there would be a betrayal of trust and would damage our bond. No, Olivia was with Noah and I'd missed my opening because I was an i***t.

"Do you need a lift home?" I asked hoping she wouldn't be stubborn and refuse.

"Yes please," she said so sweetly that it almost sounded like a song. She looked at me from below her lashes and I felt myself getting hard. I needed a cold shower. I smiled and prayed that when we stood up my arousal wouldn't be evident to her.

We walked in silence to my car, with Olivia following me as I motioned for her to get into the passenger seat.

"You were listening to music when I bumped into you earlier?" I asked curiously, I wanted to know what she liked.

"I was."

"How about you connect your phone to the car?"

Olivia raised her eyebrows and then smirked before she began fiddling with her phone.

"My taste is kind of eclectic," she said.

"Let's hear it" I smirked again.

A Little Respect by Wheatus began to play, and I turned my head in surprise.

Olivia laughed, a laugh that sounded like it came right from the pit of her stomach.

"What? Not what you were expecting?" She laughed

"Erm no, not at all, I thought" I didn't even know how to explain what I thought.

"That I was a bubblegum pop princess?" She laughed again, her smile was wide. I liked this version of Olivia, playful, sexy and new. I wanted to get to know her more.

She began to sing the lyrics as I started the engine, I couldn't help but laugh as she was doing some sort of cute little dance with her hands and shuffling from side to side in her seat to the music. I had to give it to her, her voice was incredible.

"Hmmm, ohh this next song is just perfect for you" she laughed, her voice sounding like she was teasing. I held my breath in anticipation. The music started followed by the singer, it wasn't a song I was familiar with at all but Olivia seems to have a twinkle in her eye as she began to sing.

"I was in your wet dream, driving in my car, and saw you at the side of the road, touching yourself, touching yourself" Olivia sang at the top of her lungs whilst trying not to laugh.

I couldn't help myself, upon hearing the lyrics I started laughing and felt myself blush for the first time in forever.

"Why, Charles, are you blushing? You're kinda hot when you blush!" Olivia purred.

She was teasing me and I liked it.

"Care to explain why this song is perfect for me?" I asked with a smirk.

The colour drained from Olivia's face.

"Do you think that you've been in my wet dreams and I think about you when I touch myself?" I said, trying not to laugh.

I glanced to see Olivia flush red and she swallowed hard. I felt myself get immediately hard. I thought about touching myself in the shower while I thought of her.

A sudden smile crept across her face that turned into a smirk, she turned her body to face me and put her hand on my knee, and little shocks of electricity sparked up my leg. I kept my eyes firmly on the road, if I turned I don't think I'd be able to stop myself from kissing her. She moved her body closer and I felt her breasts press against my arm, her breath hot on my cheek.

"I'm one of a few girls in town that you haven't f**ked Charles, don't try to pretend it's not driving you crazy that I haven't fallen at your feet. I'm pretty sure if I were to just move my hand a little bit higher"

It was my turn to swallow hard. I gripped the steering wheel hard, my knuckles were turning white, and I was concentrating on not breaking it. Olivia stiffened and moved her hand ever so slightly and I gasped.

She pulled away laughing hysterically and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Why Charles, did I touch a nerve there? You're blushing, I don't think I've ever seen one of your bimbos make you blush before." She giggled.

"I um, don't think Noah, would be happy" I huffed not knowing what else to say.

Olivia pouted slightly then caught herself, smile back in place.

"Sorry, I was only teasing."

The next song came on, Taylor Swift, Shake it off and Olivia began to laugh again.

"This is exactly what I expected you to be listening to Liv" I laughed too and saw her dancing again in the seat whilst singing. I didn't sing ever but found myself joining in. Her laugh and personality were so infectious that I just couldn't help myself.

When we pulled up outside her house it was much sooner than I'd liked.

"Thanks for the lift home, I'll not keep you, I hear Carmella might be looking for you."

"Carmella?" I was interested, so she had heard about me and Carmella, I half expected that viper to tell her about her times with Noah and me. She was particularly bitter that I didn't want to progress it further.

"Uhuh, weren't you two a thing?" Olivia asked with a sting in her voice. Was that jealousy? Was she jealous of me and Carmella? I wanted her to be jealous, as that meant she wanted me but I also wanted her to know that she had nothing to be jealous of. Carmella never did and never would mean even a fraction to me what Liv did now, nothing had happened between us. Sure we had kissed but Liv didn't remember those.

"That's ancient history, it was over before it started so not a thing. I've got no interest in Carmella." I stated as a matter of fact.

A slight smile crept in front of her face and motion caught me out of the corner of my eye. David was standing in the doorway eyeing us with curiosity. I raised a hand in a brief wave of acknowledgement. Olivia noticed and waved too before jumping out of the car. She paused and leaned in.

"Thank you for the lift home, this is not how I expected my afternoon to go. I had a really good time getting to know you this afternoon Charles" she said softly, her voice barely a whisper.

"I had a really good time too Liv," I replied and I meant it. She closed the door and waved as she disappeared into the house, David gave me a final look before he closed the door after her.

Shit. I'd screwed it all up. I hadn't wanted to hurt her, but I shouldn't have gotten this close to her. We couldn't be friends and I'd have to tell Noah about this afternoon. My best friend who I seemed to forget about all afternoon while I was practically hitting on his girl. What a mess I'd made of this.