Charles continued kissing Gemma until kissing was no longer enough. He lifted her easily into his arms and princess carried her to the bedroom. He placed her on the bed and threw his tie off and hurried with the buttons of his shirt.
"Charles—" Gemma began. Before she could finish, Charles pounced on her.
"Shh! Every time this week we've attempted this, something has interrupted us. Not this time. Please! I can't take much more of this!" Charles coaxed.
"But—" she tried again.
He silenced her with a kiss. She felt herself falling back against the soft bedding. She felt herself melting into him and she moaned, wrapping her arms around his neck.
But warning bells rang somewhere in the back of her mind. She pushed against his shoulders and turned her head.
"No! We shouldn't do this. There's too much uncertainty!" She cried.
Charles slowly stopped and pulled away, looking down at her in disbelief.
"Do you really want me to stop?" He asked in surprise. How many women would do anything to crawl in bed with him? Gemma refused him.
She looked up at him, pitiful. Her eyes betrayed her. She wanted him but her rational brain told her to resist. Charles sighed heavily in frustration. He could probably convince her with coaxing and seduction but he respected her too much to force her into something she didn't wish to do. Besides, he had his pride! He wanted her to want this as much as he did. Well fine, then!
He rolled over beside her on the bed.
"Will you at least let me stay the night?" He asked her. He would never admit it, but having her beside him was comfortable and calming.
Her soft little hand found his large one.
"Yes, you can stay." She said quietly.
He grinned at her.
"May I use your shower?" He asked.
Gemma nodded.
A few minutes later Charles yelled for Gemma.
"Yes?" She asked poking her head into the door. The sight that greeted her caused her to double over in laughter.
There in her tiny bathroom stood the President of the Wen Company, wrapped in a hot pink Hello Kitty bath towel. Charles did not look amused.
"I need something to wear, Gemma." His voice held irritation.
Gemma tried to stop laughing but every time she looked in his direction, she burst into laughter again.
"Gemma!" Charles growled.
"I'm sorry! It's just that..." her voice trailed away as she tried to choke back her laughter. She ended up snorting and that caused her to lose her composure all over again.
"Woman, if you don't stop laughing, I'll—" Charles made his way toward Gemma when his towel slipped and fell around his ankles.
Gemma couldn't hold it back anymore. She was laughing so hard that she held onto the doorframe.
Charles strode across the room, grabbed her and tossed her over his shoulder like a potato sack.
"Charles!" She shrieked in between bursts of laughter. He tossed her on the bed and crawled on top of her.
She smiled up at him, her fingers running through his hair.
"I'm sorry!" She giggled.
"No you aren't." He said, trying to hide his own smile.
"Okay, so no, I'm not. But you have to admit the situation is a bit funny." She coaxed him. He just shook his head, and leaned down to kiss her. All of her laughter faded away as she sighed contentedly. After a few minutes, he pulled away.
"What is it? Why did you stop?" Gemma asked in confusion.
"Because I'm at the point of no return." His ragged breathing coming between his words.
"Don't stop." Gemma whispered.
"But you didn't want to—" he began.
"That was earlier. Now... I, well, I don't want you to." Gemma admitted, pulling him closer.
"Will you regret it later?" He asked seriously.
"No. I do love you. I don't want to do this with anyone else." Gemma told him.
He regarded her seriously, searching her eyes. He may be known as a harsh and cold man, but he would never force a woman to do what she didn't want. He saw the sincerity reflected in her eyes and was satisfied.
"Once you're mine, I won't let you go back." He warned.
"I don't want to, Charles. I only want you." She said simply.