Chapter Nineteen: The Spark of Desire

A week had passed since the night in the woods—since Charlie’s world had been irrevocably changed. Her healing had come far in that short time. The deep cuts were nearly closed, leaving only faint scars that would likely disappear with time. The bruises had faded to a yellowish hue, and while soreness still plagued her if she walked for too long, she was beginning to feel like herself again—if not a newer, more confident version.

But more than just her physical wounds were healing. Charlie had found herself slowly opening up to the twins, trusting them more with each passing day. Though she had initially expected something terrible to happen—that they would turn on her or reveal some hidden cruelty—it never came. Instead, they had remained by her side, taking care of her, respecting her space, and being there whenever she needed them. The constant presence of one of them at her side over the last week had surprised her, but it also brought her comfort in a way she hadn’t known she could feel.

For the first time in her life, Charlie allowed herself to think about a future. A future with the twins, as their mate. It was still daunting and overwhelming, but the warmth of their care, their patience, gave her hope. She wasn’t ready to fully embrace the bond yet—not after everything she had been through—but she was no longer afraid to consider it.

She was standing in Luther’s room, tugging on a pair of plain panties, when the door suddenly burst open. Startled, Charlie gasped, her heart leaping into her throat as she turned to find Liam stepping into the room without so much as a knock. He froze immediately when he saw her, his eyes widening before he quickly spun around, his hand flying to the door to slam it shut behind him.

“Shit,” Liam muttered under his breath, his voice rough with embarrassment as he kept his back to her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know—”

Charlie’s cheeks flamed with heat as she instinctively crossed her arms over her bare chest, her heart hammering fast and hard. She was wearing nothing but her underwear, her body still exposed as she stood there, unsure of what to do. For a moment, she panicked, thinking she should throw something at him, tell him to get out, but she quickly reminded herself that this was Liam. And despite the shock of the moment, she found herself trusting him more than anyone.

Still, the situation was far from comfortable.

“I-It’s okay,” Charlie stammered, her voice shaking slightly as she looked around the room for something to cover herself with. Her gaze landed on one of Luther’s t-shirts lying across the bed, and she quickly grabbed it, pulling it over her head. The fabric was soft and worn, and it draped over her body like a comforting blanket. She inhaled deeply, the familiar scent of Luther wrapping around her, bringing her a sense of calm.

When she was finally covered, she cleared her throat softly. “You can turn around now.”

Liam hesitated for a second, as though giving her one final moment of privacy, before slowly turning to face her. His eyes locked onto hers instantly, but it was impossible to miss the heat that still lingered in his gaze. The unmistakable hunger in his eyes sent a spark of something electric through Charlie’s veins, and she felt her pulse quicken in response.

Liam’s lips parted slightly, his gaze drifting for just a second down the length of her body before he forced himself to look back up at her face. His breath hitched, and Charlie could feel the tension in the air between them—a tension that hadn’t been there before. It was palpable, heavy, and it made her skin tingle with an unfamiliar mix of desire and nerves.

Her cheeks flushed again, but this time it wasn’t just embarrassment. There was something else—a warmth that spread from her chest down to her belly, pooling low in her abdomen. It was new, foreign, and yet thrilling all the same. She wasn’t used to feeling this way—wasn’t used to being looked at the way Liam was looking at her now. But she couldn’t deny that there was an answering flare of desire beginning to simmer beneath her skin, making her breath come just a little faster.

Liam cleared his throat, his eyes darkening as he tried to regain control of himself. “I didn’t mean to—” He stopped, exhaling a slow breath as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sorry, Charlie.”

Charlie shook her head quickly, trying to ease the tension with a small smile. “It’s okay,” she said softly. “It was an accident.”

But the words hung between them, neither of them moving to break the tension that still lingered in the air. Charlie felt her body warm under his gaze, and though she knew she should look away, she found herself drawn to him instead. The way his eyes flickered with desire made her heart race in a way that both scared and excited her. The bond between them hummed with an energy she had never felt before, and for the first time, Charlie wondered what it would feel like to truly embrace it—to let herself surrender to the connection they shared.

Liam took a small step forward, his eyes never leaving hers. His voice was low, thick with the tension between them. “Charlie…”

Her heart skipped a beat at the way he said her name, the warmth in his voice making her shiver. She swallowed hard, her body reacting to him in ways she hadn’t expected. She wasn’t ready for this—wasn’t ready to let herself fully fall into the bond—but the desire coursing through her was undeniable.

Liam seemed to sense her hesitation, and he quickly stopped himself, his gaze softening as he took a step back. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” he said, his voice gentle and sincere. “I’ll… I’ll give you some space.”

He moved toward the door, but Charlie found herself calling out to him before he could leave. “Liam, wait.”

Liam paused, his hand resting on the door handle as he turned back to face her. His eyes searched hers, the intensity of the moment fading slightly as concern replaced the hunger in his gaze.

Charlie took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to explain the way she was feeling. But she knew she didn’t want him to leave—not yet. “You don’t have to go,” she said quietly, her voice trembling slightly.

Liam’s eyes softened, and a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “Are you sure?” he asked, his voice gentle.

Charlie nodded, though her pulse was still racing. She wasn’t entirely sure of what she wanted, but she knew she didn’t want to be alone.

Liam slowly released his grip on the door and took a cautious step toward her, his eyes never leaving hers. “I’ll stay,” he said softly, his voice low and soothing.