Chapter 55: Chapter 55

If Morgan's kitchen could talk, it was very likely that the first thing it would say was that Charlie was too stubborn to be trying to cook for her husband again.

Still, when she woke up on that quiet Monday morning, when the sun still seemed to be deciding whether she would rise, Charlie didn't let herself be cowed by her previous poor attempts. That was a special day and, therefore, she wanted to make him a special surprise. So, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek, so as not to risk waking him up and spoiling the surprise, Charlie resisted the temptation to wake him up again with a blowjob. Instead, she slipped silently out of bed and showered thoroughly, wanting to be as fragrant as possible for him when she woke up. After that, she went on a real hunt through his wardrobe, trying to find one of her sexy new pieces that he hadn't already seen. Luckily, when she was about to give up, she stumbled upon something perfect. It was one of the last pieces she'd bought, during her walk with Emma through the mall: it was a sky blue satin nightgown with sheer lace at the bust and a slit that opened wide at her hips.

Not bothering to wear anything under it but perfume to make his job easier, Charlie dashed to the laundry room, giving Matilda and Sawyer breakfast and promising to give them the attention they deserved later, before to get them safely inside once more, and walk to the kitchen. At least in his head, her plans for the breakfast in bed she would bring him were perfect. Her previous disasters had shown her that she wasn't good with things that needed baking, cooking, and mixing. So she was just going to ignore anything that ended up falling into those categories. Picking up the jars of peanut butter and jelly where she herself had organized some things to make quick snacks to take to college, Charlie smiled, content with the fact that she had, in fact, come up with a foolproof plan.

Of course, since she had several slices of bread spread out on a tray, some of the jam ran down her hands as she scooped it out of the jar with the tip of her knife, but at least when she was done mixing her with the peanut butter and closed the sandwiches, nothing was burnt or uneatable. Proud of herself, she then started slicing various fruits into a bowl, especially strawberries, which she knew were his favorites. Humming along, she was just finishing filling a pitcher with yogurt, ready to go straight upstairs, when a voice spoke behind her.

" What are you doing? Morgan's voice sounded strange, and as she turned to study him, Charlie noticed that he sounded tense and defensive, almost scared.

A bad feeling started to rise in her chest, but she refused to let it get to her. Convincing himself that this was just his reaction to seeing her in danger of causing an uproar in his kitchen again, Charlie just smiled, going over to hug him.

“ Does a woman no longer have the right to prepare a romantic breakfast for her husband? she asked, standing on tiptoe to kiss him, but Morgan didn't kiss him back, making it just a quick peck before he turned his head to the side, looking at what she had prepared.

“I just... I didn't expect this. “ he admitted shyly, scratching the back of his head.

“If that's your way of saying thank you, then you're welcome. “She teased, making him smile a little, though the mirth didn't quite reach her gaze.

“I'm sorry I'm being rude. “ Approaching her, Morgan kissed her forehead gently, but pulled away again in the next second “ It was an incredible surprise. Thanks.

“The best thank you you can give me right now is to sit at the table and appreciate all my effort since you botched my plan to make this a special breakfast in bed. “She complained, but soon her expression brightened, as she cast a lecherous look in his direction “But, don't worry. Dessert you will still receive in bed.

Coughing nervously, Morgan turned his back on her and practically ran towards the dining room table, as if he were running away from her, which was bothering her more and more. Still, Charlie once again tried to put that aside and concentrate on serving what she had made, in hopes that he might be back to normal after eating. But even after she'd set the trays and pitcher down on the table and sat down in the chair right next to his, Morgan was still silent, her eyes fixed on the carpet, the way she used to do back in the day when she was trying to pretend she wasn't there. nothing unusual happens between the two.

“ This time I finally made a food that won't send anyone to the hospital, right?" she tried to joke, taking a bite of her sandwich.

“Yes, everything is great. “ Morgan agreed, with a crooked smile, still not looking at her. “No one is born knowing how to cook. As you get more comfortable with this kind of simple recipe, you'll be able to advance further and further and soon you'll be making even better cupcakes than mine.

“If you keep lying like that, your nose will grow. “ she teased him, giving him a flick on the nose that made him blush, but no more than that.

“I'm serious…” he remained with his eyes fixed on the pieces of fruit she was eating, while making small talk “It's just a matter of practice…

With that feeling that something was wrong making her more and more anxious, Charlie gripped the hem of her nightgown tightly under the table, wondering what was supposed to smooth the awkward atmosphere between them and make him feel more comfortable. to tell him what was going on to make him act so strangely, as if last night never happened. And it was just the feel of the soft silk on her fingers and the zesty memories of the night before that let her know what she needed to do.

“ You know…” dropping the sandwich she was holding and sliding into her chair to approach him, Charlie rested her head against his shoulder “I woke up today feeling full of energy and this breakfast made me even more excited .

“That's…” he gulped down the strawberry he was munching on, while his cheeks gained a pale shade of pink. “Very good.”

“So I was thinking, since I still have a full two hours until I need to go to class…” With a suggestive purr, she jumped onto his lap, making him gasp as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “So why don't we take advantage of this time and you show me what other ways we can have fun in the bedroom?

"Uh... Well..." he cleared his throat, looking like he was on the verge of another coughing fit.

" What it was? Don't want to finish what we started yesterday? “ she urged him, nibbling the nodule of his ear and wiggling in his lap until she felt him shudder “ I want to find out what else we can do, but I also want to be a little traditional and go all the way... “ she infiltrated the hands inside his shirt, caressing his abdomen, and was about to start undressing him, when Morgan suddenly grabbed hold of her wrists, moving his touch away.

“Maybe… This isn't such a good idea…” he muttered hesitantly.

" What do you mean by that? she asked slowly, anger and disappointment already souring her tone.

“I mean thinking about this sort of thing is more modern these days, Charlie, I know, but…” He rubbed his face, keeping his eyes across the room, as if he didn't have the courage to look at her. la “ I don't know... It doesn't seem right for you to waste your virginity like that. I should save it for when I'm feeling real love, not something like what we have...

“And what do we have? “ she spat out each word, as her heart bled inside her chest, ready to break.

“Something... Passenger. “ he commented finally, after a long moment of silence “ A momentary passion that may seem irresistible now, but later time will pass and I am afraid that you will regret giving yourself to me like that, instead of waiting a little more...

“So you're afraid I'm going to regret losing my virginity to the person I chose? “ she laughed bitterly, getting off his lap roughly “What a gentleman. I didn't know you were also capable of predicting the future, to be so worried about something that doesn't concern you that you don't even know if it's going to happen.

" I'm not trying to hurt you, Charlie..." he defended himself, getting up too " But, yesterday... I should have been more responsible and avoided giving in to my desire, regardless of how you act...

“Are you going to start that conversation again? “ she let out a mixture of scream and whimper, more furious than she had felt in 20 years of existence.

“Please listen to me…” he tried to approach her to hold her by the shoulders, but Charlie avoided him “I'm 14 years older than you. I know you don't like to think that way, but the truth is that it is my duty to look out for your well-being. And I just can't live with the idea that I'm taking advantage of something you're feeling right now, a momentary desire that maybe could suddenly disappear tomorrow... When I'm a grown man who knows all this and should try to open up open your eyes and stop you from making a bad decision, instead of keeping your mouth shut and just doing whatever I want with you, even though I know it might hurt you in the future.

" And there it is! Charlie laughed, feeling a terrible, acidic sensation threaten to tear her apart from the inside; maybe it was disappointment, anger or just your hopes turning to dust; she couldn't say “It didn't do any good what I asked you before we left for Las Vegas a month ago, did it? You will never see me as an equal or as a person who can make her own decisions...

" It's not that..." he tried to defend himself, but she didn't allow it.

“The hell it isn't, Morgan! “ she screamed, causing Matilda to give startled yelps in the distance. “Look what you're doing! Treating me like I'm a kid who needs to be stopped from sticking his finger in a socket! It seems that no matter how many times I tell you that I want to sleep with you or how many times I demonstrate it, you still don't believe me! “She blurted out, feeling the tears that burned in her eyes begin to flow profusely“ Do you think encouraging me to go to college means anything, when you don't want to respect the other decisions I make? None of what I want matters to you because you always think you know better than me and should decide for me.

" No, I don't think so..." he denied, again trying to get closer, but Charlie once again didn't allow it.

“Why don't you just admit that you don't trust me enough to make my own decisions? That you think I'm just a stupid kid who just acts impulsively and needs you to take my hand and show me what's right and wrong?

“ Because it's not what I think! “ he insisted “ I know you, Charlie! You are the bravest and most extraordinary person who ever lived! Don't you see? I don't doubt your ability to decide or take responsibility for what you want! This isn't about what I think about you! It's about myself and not wanting to see you hurt...

“And what does that have to do with you? “ he grunted “ Yesterday you told me you wanted me too! Was that just a lie?

" No of course not! “ he sighed, in a list of shame and sadness “ There is no truth greater than this.

“So you hate being attracted to me, is that it?

“No, not the way you're thinking...

“So the problem is you and not me? “ She snorted, possessed. “How creative, Morgan.

“Yes, Charlie, the problem is me, dammit! “ he spat, rubbing his hands over his face hard “ I should have avoided that! I shouldn't have put you in that situation! I should be the one who makes your life better instead of putting you in the middle of an argument like this...!

“What the fuck, you're not my father or my brother or anything like that! “ Charlie exploded “ So stop acting like you have any responsibility to me, because you don't! I don't know how the world works in your head, but you're a man and I'm a woman! That simple!

“You know it's not that simple, Charlie. “ he disagreed, livid “ If it were that simple, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

“So what makes it so complicated, huh? Why don't you tell me? “ she challenged him.

“Many things…” he took a deep breath for a moment, looking like he was trying to contain himself “But the most important of them is you. It's me knowing that I might be agreeing to something that could end badly and harm you. Relationships, even purely physical ones, are complicated and unpredictable, Charlie. And I just can't keep giving in to my desires knowing there's a possibility you could end up hurt...

" Oh really? “ Charlie looked him deep in the eyes, even though her gaze blurred with tears wasn't allowing her to see completely clearly “ So you're going to throw Matilda and Sawyer out on the street? Because there's always going to be a chance they'll bite or scratch me as long as I'm around them...

“It's not like that…” he whimpered, but she cut him off again.

“What about me going to college? I could tumble down the stairs and break my legs or some heartless teacher could tell me I'm not cut out to be a veterinarian and destroy my feelings. What made you take the initiative to apply for me, even knowing that all this could happen? Or you just couldn't think of that kind of threat, just the one I would go through if I kept insisting on sleeping with you? “She spat, fury and grief making her throat swell, but her voice remained clear and steady. “What about all the risks I take at the shelter, Morgan? The illnesses, the scratches, the bites... Are you going to stop me from going there from now on? Why don't you lock me up in this house at once, to keep the whole world from touching me, if you're that worried?

“ Because it's not the whole world that will know that it is responsible for your pain, Charlie, if what is happening between us goes wrong! “ he blurted, looking as consumed by emotions as she was “ That's the difference! If any of these things hurt you, I'll be here to take care of you and protect you. But, if I'm the one causing the pain... " he gasped, heartbroken " So what am I going to do? As will I live if you want to get away from me? How can I live knowing that I hurt you?

“I think you'll have to find the answer to that question soon. “ she sniffled, trying to hold back the sobs that threatened to break free “Because you're the one hurting me right now.

Throwing those words at him, Charlie left the room and went to lock himself in her room, completely ignoring the thousands of times he called her name and all the knocks on her door. Stripping off the nightgown she was wearing angrily enough to feel the seams fray in several places, Charlie refused to let her tears flow any further. Biting the inside of her cheek to keep from sobbing, she quickly changed into one of her everyday clothes and kept an eye on the door, waiting only for the sign that Morgan had walked away. And that was after a moment when he seemed to be talking to Sawyer, judging by the pleading meows that suddenly broke out and the heavy sigh he gave before walking away.

Slinging his bag over his shoulder, Charlie threw open his bedroom door and dashed for the front door, but he wasn't lucky enough, for just as his hand was turning the doorknob, Morgan's voice rang out, apparently coming from the kitchen.

“Charlie? “ he gasped, starting to run towards her “ Where are you going?"

" I don't know. “ she muttered through gritted teeth, not caring if he would listen or not “Maybe look for a man who really wants me."

And with that, she just slammed the door in his face and ran out of the building, not bothering to check if he'd followed her or not.