"What is going to happen now?" Isabella was almost biting off her thumb as she stared out to the clear sky.

"How do you mean?" He handed her a glass of water before he went on to find his stance behind her.


"Gabriel is not going to simply leave me if he sees me with you. He will get even more furious and heaven knows what he will kill and send this time around."

"Bella," he gently placed his hands on her little shoulders. "You are with me now." He reminded her again. "I am going to take care of things from now on."

Isabella turned instantly, her eyes surfaced with some tears. "How Charles?"


"How what?" he reached for a strand of her hair and played with it.

"How can you help me like this? I hurt you."


Clearly, the hurt was still there because his eyes dashed to the side for a second. "Truthfully Bella," he started, his hand retreating to his sides. ", a part of me is still angry at you. But there is this part of me that never stopped loving you, caring for you. So, I won't sit back and watch you suffer when I can do something about it."

"Oh Charles," the tears came down, resisting her hold. Almost relunctantly, she placed her hands on his chest. Without haste, he gathered them into his huge palms and hugged them closer giving her warmth and a new kind of need.

"You have no idea how painfully I have waited for a moment like this Bella. You and I, together again. Though," his nose scrunched in amusement. ",I had a totally different plan."

She sniffed and smiled. "What is that plan? To seduce me?"

"Oh Bella, you know I do more than seduce." Immediately, a strong hand drew her closer to his heat. His head lowered to her face, his breath fanned her face as he said with almost a growl, "You know I always go an extra mile when it comes to you."

"You do?"

He smirked. "Do you want me to give examples?"

"The day you kissed me at the charity event?"

He swayed her a bit to the left as though he were about to engage her in a dance and then he smiled. "I surprised you back there, didn't I?"

Isabella closed her eyes and smiled as her memory flashed back. "I was already thinking of escaping through the toilet window."

"Thank God you didn't." He breathed more onto her small face and swayed her to the left. "I wouldn't have gotten to kiss you one more time." Her eyes still shut, Isabella replayed the scene. "I wouldn't have gotten to feel you so close to me again."

Isabella opened her eyes. She jumped back. But she soon relaxed when she figured that the image of Gabriel she had seen was all in her head.

"Isabella?" Charles called concernedly.

"I... uh..."

"What's wrong?"

"I thought I saw something."

Charles sighed and drew her closer. "Isabella, I want the truth from you. How has Gabriel treated you over the years?" She went quiet and her eyes darted to the floor. "Hey, look at me."

"Charles..." her eyes began to wield tears as she thought of the last time he hurt her. "I..." Words failed to come even if she wanted to talk.

"Shh." He hugged her closer. "I will make you forget. I will make sure of it." Isabella hugged him tighter and held on to his words.

~

Isabella walked back into her office wondering when she would get out of the mental cage Gabriel's actions have put her in.

"Where are your stuff?" Charles's voice brought her out of her trance. He decided the first step in ensuring she was safe was to have her move closer to him.

Isabella had no particular idea what he meant- was she moving to the hotel room next door or with him?

"Behind the desk. Some stuff are with Caleb though." He frowned in question. "Caleb is my secretary."

"Oh, that jolly fellow. I should thank him for taking care of my woman." Isabella said nothing at his suggestive tone. She just went to her stuff and packed her things together.

As she did, a thought or two dropped.

"Charles?"

"Yeah?" He grabbed a bag.

"How are you going to help my company?"

She watched him as he left what he was doing and approached her. His hand on her cheeks, he stared down intensely into her eyes. "Bella, I don't want you to worry about that yet."

"But..."

"I will take care of everything Bella, I promise. And..." His lips found her forehead. "I..." Then her left eye. "Will..." Her nose was next. "Take good care of you." He took her lips gently assuring her in a sensual way.

This time, Gabriel did not ruin it. This time, she did not recall what he did to her.

This time, it was Charles and only Charles that occupied her mind. Even if it seemed only for a moment, the peace that his kiss brought had to be enjoyed.

So, with tipped toes, she leaned in for a much better assess to the man she used to be hot for.

Well, by the looks of things, she was still hot for him.

As his hands encircled her waist, her own went around his thick neck which she missed drawing teasing lines on. Her body melted into his which she used to love seeing, nude or not.

Caleb was right. A part of her wanted Charles still.

She had the chance right there to ensure she did not run away again. She could assure herself that it was all real. Charles was really with her, he wanted her.

Just like he seemed to want her more by driving her butt to find a place on her desk.

"Bella," he huskily said. "I want to do things to you. So bad."

Something inside her growled back in response. There, was her chance to erase Gabriel and replace his actions with something much more better. One more heated sex with Charles Oxford. But there was something she had to do first.

Charles who wasn't waiting for her response found her bare thighs beneath all her clothing and he ran his hand through with light strokes that made Isabella jump.

Smirking, he looked up at her and asked, "What do you think? Should I enact my revenge now. Or should I wait till we get married?"

Isabella exhaled loudly.

"Tell me Bella," his hands went higher, to a spot he knew drove her crazy. "What should I do?"

It had to be done, Isabella thought. "Charles," she had no idea her hip was bucking, waiting for his touch on her most sensitive area. "Before we do this, there is something you should know." His wandering hands stopped but they still sent warmth to her as they rested on her thigh.

"What is it, my love?" He searched her eyes to her delight.

She sighed. "There is something you should know before you get married to me."

"Tell me..."

"Gabriel... he... I..."

Charles's eyes wore anger at the man's name. "What did he do?"

"He once-"

"So this is why you are no longer coming home."