All the things I didn’t know.

Like magnets. (Charlie's POV)

Oh my goddess, that was the most embarrassing moment of my entire existence. If I was a sane person, my mind would be telling me to grab my stuff and run as fast as I could to escape the shame of the mistake I had made. But no, instead that voice in my head that seemed to get so much louder and stronger since I got here was screaming 'Go to him! mine.' I could not deny that I felt a pull to him, I had never felt the need to rush into the arms of a man who for all intents and purposes was a stranger, sure I knew him when I was little but I was 6, a lot can change in most 12 years.He certainly had, he had grown from a little boy with leaves stuck in his mop of brown curls to a man. I mean a real man, the kind who you know would take care of you in every sense of the word. He looked strong and had a dominating aura about him that made me wet just thinking about running my hands over his shoulders, allowing them to slide down his torso until they reached his impossibly ripped abs, leading to that delicious 'v' shape that you know always leads to the best part. Get a hold of yourself girl! You have never had this reaction to a man before. Why him?

As I tried to think of anything else besides allowing this man to have every piece of me, I quickly changed out of my work-out clothes and into a olive green t-shirt dress that hit mid thigh. I let my hair down and it fell around my shoulders. I threw on some mascara and barely gave myself a glance in the full body mirror before rushing out the door and making my way back into the kitchen. I looked around for Cohen but he wasn't there. He wasn't there but that smell, the most delicious smell that has ever existed, led me out of the kitchen to the opposite wing of the house. I know I shouldn't be creeping around looking for him, but for some reason I couldn't help myself. Just like when I lost my temper, it felt as if I was being controlled by some other source, a different mind completely yet part of me. I stopped in front of two solid wooden double doors, they suddenly swung open and there he was. I couldn't resist this time. I fell into his chest and two strong comforting arms wrapped around me. I felt like nothing could hurt me when I was in those arms. I inhaled deeply with my cheek pressed up against his bare chest and I realized the smell wasn't coming from some wonderful air freshener, it was him. He smelled like fig and pine with an undertone of musk. He smelled like a man. 'MINE' the voice in my head kept repeating this over and over again. I did my best to push this down and regain some composure. I tried to pull away slightly but his grip on me only tightened. After we stood there just holding each other, I pulled back slightly and looked up at him. Our eyes locked and I said the only thing my mind could muster up; "sorry I broke into your house and slept in your bed, and helped myself to your kitchen." A gruff chuckle vibrated through his chest as we finally separated. I immediately felt cold and missed the warmth of his touch. The oddest part being that where our skin touched my skin felt strange. It felt hot and tingly, like pins and needles, but so much more pleasant, almost like tiny bubbles were popping all over my skin.

"Honestly Charlie, it's nothing to be sorry for. I really like having you in my house. If I didn't know your dad was waiting for you I would have tried to convince you to stay", he said, as his eyes seemed to darken and glaze over until he forced himself to look away. Dad! Oh my goddess, my Dad! I had gotten so wrapped up in meeting Cohen again that I completely forgot that I was meant to go find my dad. Part of me wanted to run to go look for him but an equally large part of me was begging to stay by Cohen's side. It felt like we had never been apart. He felt like coming home. I know it sounds nuts to feel such a strong connection to someone I barely knew, but I couldn't help feeling that way. Neither my heart nor my head wanted to listen to reason.

"Your dad is looking for you down in the dining hall. Would you like me to take you there?" It was at that exact moment that my stomach decided to remind me that I hadn't eaten in over 12 hours and growl loudly, causing both Cohen and I to burst out laughing. "I'll take that as a yes", Cohen made out between laughs.

We made our way out of his house, stopping just a few feet down the hall in front of two very large heavy wooden doors with a large bronze 'A' in the middle. "This. Is your dad's place", he said casually, pointing to the door. Then it clicked that this was the house my bags had been taken to. In my exhaustion I hadn't stopped to think that I could have been in the wrong house. We descended the stairs and the house was much busier than before. People were bustling around, children ran by. But everyone nodded to Cohen. Clearly, he holds some level of authority here, in this place. What was this place, I thought to myself; a compound? a cult? a community? I will have to ask my father what's going on here, but for the moment my heart wanted two things, my dad and to stay by Cohen's side. My stomach, on the other hand, wanted food. The other thing I noticed is that everyone here was fit and gorgeous. What was in the water here? The women looked like super models and the men looked like Greek gods. I was immediately very aware of my wrinkled sundress and messy hair. I started to smooth out my dress with my hands when Cohen grabbed my hand in his without even looking. "Relax" he said, " you look amazing. Don't be nervous, everyone here has been so looking forward to your return". What? Why? I'm no one special, I thought to myself. We finally made our way through the winding corridors and the sounds of people laughing and talking, coupled with the sounds of silver ware clinking on plates got louder and the smell of bacon got stronger. We stepped into what looked like a huge dining room except, instead of having one big table, in the middle of the room there were dozens of heavy live-edge rectangular dining tables with jade green upholstered chairs surrounding them. The room progressively got quieter until you could hear a pin drop. That's when I realized that every set of eyes in that room were glued to me. I blushed and almost by instinct my hand searched to find Cohens. Our pinky fingers linked together as to not be too obvious. I can't explain the amount of comfort this small contact gave me. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding in.

A noise that sounded like a mix of a growl and a roar came from the largest table at the very top of the room in front of the huge bay window. It was my dad, that sound came out of my dad. I looked up at his eyes and expected them to be on me, but instead they were on Cohen's face. I tried to pull my hand away to save Cohen from the wrath of my dad, (did I mention I get my temper from him?) but Cohen just tightened his hold and stood tall, never faltering.

My father was a good looking man by all accounts. He was young, only 38 and he looked like he spent every waking moment working out. His dark brown hair had grown out since the last time I saw him and it was almost to his shoulders, he had a beard that looked like it had recently been trimmed. He had the same piercing blue eyes that I had. Well, I had one of them. I got my blue eye from him and my green eye from my mom. He stood about 6'4 and his size could only be compared to that of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnston. His strong frame came closer to us as we stood in the doorway. Way to let me fly under the radar dad. Once he was in front of us he stared at Cohen. His face got progressively redder as they continued what appeared to be a conversation they were having in their heads. Finally, Cohen conceded and slightly bowed his head to my father and let go of my hand. My dad immediately broke into a broad smile and engulfed me in a hug. "My girl" his voice boomed out, "you're finally home. My goddess, I've missed you" he then turned to face the crowd of people who had all stopped eating and had been watching us the entire time. "Everyone, I would like to welcome my daughter Charlie Jade Summers back to Jade River. She will be living her with me. Please make her feel welcome". It was a shock when the crowd erupted into cheers, everyone was clapping and calling out. Well, almost everyone, I noticed a table of gorgeous women who looked to be around my age or possibly a bit older who were shooting daggers from their eyes at me. What did I do to them? Then I followed their gaze further, when they got a glimpse of Cohen, they all smiled and gave him a small wave. He did not reciprocate their greetings and a small part inside of me was thrilled. Maybe this is his harem of women. I felt a pang of jealousy. Why? I have no right to feel jealous at all, he's not mine. 'MINE' the voice in my head repeated, getting louder each time. I tried to ignore it.

My father led us back to what appeared to be the head table and instructed Cohen and I to take a seat. We did as we were told and shortly thereafter, two women wearing their black Jade River uniforms came by to explain the breakfast options to us. I chose a large breakfast of eggs, bacon, homefries, toast and coffee as I was starving. "That sounds great, I'll have the same, but double it. Thanks Colleen", Cohen asked with a smile. My goddess, that smile. Colleen, the waitress, smiled politely and hurried off into the kitchen, returning only a few minutes later with our meals.

"So Chuck, either you didn't stay at my place yesterday or you are the most tidy houseguest to ever exist." My face flushed beet red knowing I had to explain to my dad that I accidentally slept in the wrong bed, in the wrong house. I took a deep breath. " Well, it was really late last night when I got in and Torin was super busy so I told him I knew which door was yours. Turns out I didnt. I ended up at Cohen's house and I slept there." My father's face went red and the vein in his forehead came out. I had only seen this happen once before, the day my mom took me and left. I saw it when I looked through the rear window of our car as she drove away. It was a look of heartbreak and anger. This was not a look of heartbreak, this was anger. I knew I needed to deescalate him because he looked like he wanted to rip Cohen's head off. To my surprise, Cohen didn't break. He sat there with a smug look on his face. Bad move Cohen. I don't know a lot about my dad, but I know he doesn't like being challenged and to me this is exactly what it looked like Cohen was trying to do. "Dad" I started in my sweetest 'I'm your little girl' voice. "I promise Cohen wasn't even there and I slept in the guest room. I didn't even know it was his house and not yours until I came back from a run and he found me in his kitchen." Dad took a big deep breath and said "Silly girl, why wouldn't you have chosen the door with the big huge 'A' on it?" I looked at him thoroughly confused, "Why would I have thought that was your house? Your name is Charles Summers. What would the 'A' stand for?" His face dropped. " A for ......" he trailed off. "Charlie, what has your mother told you about me, or this place, or your background?" I know nothing about him or this place, and what does he mean my 'background'? "Honestly dad, nothing. She barely talks about you, no matter how much I ask. She just kept saying 'you'll find out when you're older'. Whatever that means?"

Dad and Cohen looked at each other. "Okay, finish your breakfast, then meet me in my office. We need to talk." He turned to Cohen," You come too.”

Cohen and I finished up our food and then he led me down to my dad's office. I couldn't help myself, I had to touch him in some way at all times. It was like we were being pulled towards each other like magnets. Our hands found each other as we walked and it gave me a sense of calm, like nothing in the world could hurt me as long as he was next to me. Why do I feel this way? Does he feel this too?