Chapter 345: Before Departure
Charles's trip to Seraphim was scheduled for early the next morning. This afternoon before his departure, he sat alone in his office, gazing out at the brilliant sunshine through the window, yet his heart was shrouded in shadow.
He knew this journey to Seraphim would be fraught with danger. Kismet's words were half-truths at best, but he couldn't ignore any lead about his mother's death. Still, the thought of having to deceive Emily filled him with overwhelming guilt.
Just then, his office door was gently knocked.
"Come in," Charles said, composing himself.
The door opened, and Emily walked in. She wore a tailored light gray business suit with her hair neatly pinned back, carrying a manila folder in her hands.
"Charles, I wanted to discuss some details about Obscura Fashion's transition out of the Windsor Group," Emily said, approaching his desk and placing the folder on its surface.
Charles looked at her, a powerful urge surging through his chest. He stood up, walked around his desk, and approached Emily.
"Emily..." his voice was husky.
Emily looked up at him, her keen intuition picking up on something unusual in his expression. "What's wrong? You look... I don't know, different."
Instead of answering, Charles reached out and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against him. His embrace was almost desperate, as if he wanted to merge her into his very being.
Emily could barely breathe in his crushing embrace, but her concern outweighed her discomfort. "Charles? What's going on?"
Charles buried his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling deeply the familiar scent of her perfume. "Nothing. I just missed you."
Emily couldn't help but laugh softly. "We only parted ways this morning."
"Still missed you," Charles's voice was muffled against her skin. "Emily, let's go home."
Emily checked her watch. "Now? It's only noon, and I still need to get back to the office..."
Charles interrupted her, lifting his head to meet her eyes with an intensity she'd never seen before. "Right now. I need you, Emily. I'm going crazy without you."
His gaze burned with such fierce longing, mixed with an urgency and unease that Emily had never witnessed before. Though she didn't understand what was troubling him, she could sense his emotional turmoil.
Emily relented, reaching up to caress his face. "Alright. Let's go home."
Back at Starlight Manor, Charles practically carried Emily upstairs in his haste.
The moment they entered the bedroom, he pressed her against the door, kissing her hungrily. This wasn't his usual gentle kiss—this was desperate, possessive, as if he wanted to devour her completely.
"Charles..." Emily gasped against his mouth, her hands pushing weakly at his chest as she tried to catch her breath, but he only held her tighter.
Charles trailed burning kisses from her lips down to her neck, leaving marks on her neck. His fingers worked urgently at the buttons of her suit, his hands shaking with need.
"Charles, slow down," Emily's voice trembled.
But Charles seemed beyond hearing. He swept her up into his arms, carrying her to the bed where he laid her down gently on the soft bedding.
Standing beside the bed, Charles gazed down at her with eyes dark and complex—filled with love, reluctance, guilt, and something Emily couldn't quite identify: a kind of finality.
"Emily," he whispered her name, his voice heavy with suppressed emotion.
Emily looked up at him, anxiety rising in her chest. She reached out to touch his face. "Charles, what's really going on? Please tell me."
Charles caught her hand, bringing it to his lips for a soft kiss. "Nothing's wrong. I just want to love you properly."
He leaned down, claiming her lips once more. This kiss was gentler but deeper, more thorough. His tongue parted her lips, exploring and tasting her sweetness.
Emily closed her eyes, responding to his kiss. She could feel Charles's distress, could sense that something was weighing on his mind, but she chose to trust him, to comfort him with her body's surrender.
Charles's hands roamed over her form, each touch sending shivers through her. He skillfully removed every piece of her clothing, leaving her completely bare before him.
"Emily, you're so beautiful," his voice was rough with desire, his eyes burning with love and possession.
His kisses descended again, this time with infinite tenderness and patience.
"Charles..." Emily breathed his name, her voice shaking with arousal.
"I'm here," Charles responded, though his ministrations never ceased.
He worshipped every inch of her skin with his lips, marking her as his own. Emily lost herself in his touch, her body heating under his attention as she allowed him to guide her into the depths of passion.
"Emily, tell me you love me," Charles whispered against her ear, his voice devastatingly intimate.
"I love you," Emily's voice was thick with tears. "Charles, I love you."
Charles kissed away the tears at the corners of her eyes. "I love you too. Always."
When he finally joined with her, they both sighed in perfect harmony. Charles moved with exquisite gentleness, each stroke deep and complete, pouring all of his love into her.
"Charles... that's enough," Emily's voice was breaking, exhaustion weighing down even her fingertips.
"Not enough. Emily, it's never enough," Charles's voice was raw.
He gathered her close, shifting their position as he continued to claim her. This time his movements were more intense, as if he needed to pour out every emotion he carried.
Emily could feel his anxiety, his reluctance to let go, but she was too spent to speak, surrendering completely to his need.
Again and again, Charles seemed inexhaustible. The sunlight shifted from blazing noon to gentle afternoon warmth, then to the golden glow of evening.
Emily had lost count of how many times they'd made love. Her body ached pleasantly, her consciousness drifting as exhaustion finally claimed her.