Happy Birthday, Betham!

A/N:  Dearest betham,

I am so glad I’ve gotten to know you through reviews and Ravelry.  You are such a sweet, kind soul, and I am happy to be able to call you a friend.  I wanted to write you a little something for your birthday – I hope you enjoy it!

These drabbles are from “Be Careful What You Wish For” and take place during the time period when Charlie and Carlisle were first “dating” before Carlisle moved home to England. 

I hope you had a fantastic birthday!

Love and hugs,
Jen

Coffee

The coffee mug is warm in my hands as I stare absently out my kitchen window before taking a sip.  The outside world is still dark, hushed… asleep.

But not my Charlie.

Across town, he’s wide awake.  I know he is.  He’s been hinting for weeks about asking me to go fishing with him, and he couldn’t be more excited about this trip.

I’m excited because he is, but I truly don’t see the appeal myself.  He says I’ll change my mind.

We’ll see. 

If nothing else, I’m looking forward to unveiling the mystery of why he loves it so.


Sunrise

I answer his knock with the first stirrings of anticipation in my gut.  Charlie’s there, dressed in one of his signature flannel shirts with his hair still messy from his bed, and I just want so badly to pull him close and kiss him until he begs me to stop.

But I can’t.

I have to be fair to him.

So I hide my longing and sorrow and return his hug with as much of a smile as I can muster.

“Come on,” he whispers gruffly.  “Sunrise is nice on the river.”

His kiss makes my cheek tingle with surprise.


Hook

Amusement is clear in Charlie’s voice when he says, “Well, now, who would’ve guessed that you’re afraid of a little mealworm?”

I blanch.  “I’m not afraid.  I’m disgusted.”

He laughs, a strange hushed sound unlike his normal exuberance.  “Didn’t you have to dissect people in med school?”

“Yes,” I answer promptly.  After a pause, I mumble, “It’s different…”

He chuckles and reaches out, taking the repulsive creature and the lure from my hands.  “Here…” he murmurs, shifting closer.  I barely notice what he’s doing, my eyes focused instead on his face.

He meets my gaze, and I swallow, looking away.


Squirm

Eventually, I am able to follow Charlie’s lead, and we spend the day catching fish – releasing some, stringing others.  I would be bored out of my mind except for him.  He’s a wonder when he’s here – relaxed, happy.

Completely at peace.

Still, the monotony is draining, and as the sun begins to set with nothing but occasional sandwiches and beer in my stomach, I grow restless.

Charlie clicks on the battery-powered lantern to bait his hook and then glances up at me.  I don’t understand his expression as he sets his rod to the side and begins to clean up.


Balance

Silently, we clean up and put the gear away.  I mimic Charlie when he rinses his hands in the river, scrubbing vigorously and wondering if they’ll ever be clean again.

He cracks a grin as he watches me, waiting for me to stand up before he whispers, “Come here, please.”

I step to him curiously, but all my questions are answered when his hands go to my hips and he kisses me hard, his tongue brushing mine.  My moan is the loudest noise of the day.

We settle onto the dock and spend hours more there, talking, kissing, caressing.

Perfection.