The last chapter for this story! I thank you for all your reviews, I love hearing from you. I write, because I love to write, but knowning you are all there, makes me happy, inspires me!

As you noticed, this story was shorter than Words of Betrayal ( that became such a long story without planning it, but I loved every part, I loved writing every chapter). I have lots of new ideas for new stories. New stories to explore, new emotions, new situations. I will work on those soon. So, the stories will be a bit shorter, but I have a lot of new ideas and stories waiting for me!

It was almost midnight. Bass was enjoying a whiskey, the dark fluid swirling in his glass. Connor was sitting next to him at the town bar.

They both had dinner at the Porter house with the old men, Miles and Rachel. And for the first time in two weeks, Charlie had joined them at the table in a simple jeans and a cotton blue shirt with short sleeves, a woollen vest on top of that.

She had gotten most of her strength back and was already making plans to get home as fast as she could. Bass was glad she was back to her stubborn ways, but her returning home also meant an end to spending time with her the way he could now. He would stop by, to see Miles, check in on her and spent an hour, or two, three, or damn it, most of the evening or afternoon with her.

After druggy Charlie, a Charlie that had thanked him and a Charlie that had finally told the story that meant Miles could finally understand he had indeed not hurt her on their way back, Charlie had slowly returned to herself. Both him and Miles had been around her, after she had broken down to tears. She had not talked that much, and they had shared an evening in front of the fire. He wanted to be there, Miles wanted to be there.

She did not need any more painkillers and her cough was almost gone. But what had changed was the fact that things between him and her felt more familiar and yet so sizzling new at the same time. A look, an accidental touch. Her laughing, an honest laugh, at stories he and Miles had shared with her from years long ago. He had enjoyed the past few weeks and before Charlie left the kitchen to find her room upstairs for the night, their eyes had met. And he swore, he saw things in her look he had never saw before.

In short, Bass was frustrated out of his damn mind.

He took another swig of his whiskey when he met with his son's grin, that was plastered all over the kids face, when Connor had gotten into his line of vision. Connor finished his drink and got up. He looked at Bass, his dark eyes a little bit narrowed.

'What?' Bass grunted.

'Oh nothing dad, I was just thinking,' Connor put his now empty glass on the wood of the bar before him. He had been observing his dad with a certain Matheson in particular the past few weeks, and before that, ' since when do you not go after what you want?'

Bass looked at Connor, his mouth open. Before he could say anything back Connor already on his way back to the doors, one more quick grin at his dad before he was out and on his way home.

Charlie walked in the kitchen. The sun had gained more strength over the past weeks, and clear light was streaming in. Spring was showing its first signs, she could feel it.

The world outside was going from grey into a more vibrant blue in the sky and nature had woken up again, with green around and bright colours. Her legs felt like they had more of the strength they once had in them, and her lunges felt fine. She was fine. And if Gene cleared her with one last health check, she was on her way home soon.

The house was silent. A little too silent for Charlie's taste. Miles and Bass were headed to Austin and would return in a couple of days. She missed her uncle. But what shocked her, was that she realised she missed a pair of deep blue eyes and a particular black jacket and scruff too. Bass. She did not remember a lot from those first days after she should have left with him to Austin. She had a fever, was sick and her system had been filled with medicine. Apparently she had been quite entertaining, if she had to trust her uncle and grandfather's opinion. A smirk on Bass' face when they had told her, yet again, had irritated her beyond anything.

Here is what she did remember.

She remembered Bass' hand on her forehead. She remembered she had been so sure, she was going to be all right the moment he had found her in that room. She remembered hours with Miles and Bass in the living room, hours of sleep. She remembered gentle eyes, and Bass' large hands over hers when she had told Miles, finally told him, one of her darkest memories. She remembered feeling good and relieved afterwards, most of all because Miles knew now what Bass did for her. What a difference he had made. And how she felt it was a good and important things for Miles to know that.

She remembered long hours in front of the fire, hearing almost forgotten stories about Bass and Miles. Bass, Miles and her father growing up, and it had been the first time neither of the men sitting with her had been afraid to mention him. Her father came alive in their stories about growing up in Jasper. For the first time she had been ready to listen to those memories.

And now, he was more in her thoughts than she would admit to anyone. Bass.

Her grandfather was on his way to the practice for a patient and would return soon, but he had gotten her attention by telling her something arrived for her.

Something arrived for her. Something never arrived. Not for her.

When she walked into the kitchen, her eyes fell on a bouquet in the middle of the kitchen table. It was small and simple, with pastel coloured flowers. She smiled with a frown around her eyes.

'What's this?' she said to herself.

There was a small card hidden away between two white flowers. Faded paper that had been formed into a small card. She held the cart between her fingers, her eyes going over the handwriting.

See you soon, Charlie.

Take it Easy.

Jimmy K.

Her heart was beating a bit faster than it should when her eyes fell over the last words on the small paper card. Her lips moved into a smile with a will on their own. She read the short message again. And again.

'Who's Jimmy?' Her grandfather's voice was behind her all of a sudden when he walked into the kitchen, an empty coffee mug in his hands. His eyes fell over her shoulder, and he had seen the card in her hands.

'Jesus, grandpa...' Charlie swallowed, getting her breathing under control. When she spoke again, her voice sounded more under control. At least. That was what she hoped for. 'Just some guy I know.'

'Anybody I know?' Gene put his mug on the kitchen counter.

'Nah, don't think so..' Charlie answered, when she saw his name on the card again.

The smug asshole had actually send her flowers. Flowers. And used the alias he had used in Vegas for the card.

She loved them.

The first thing Charlie had done when she came home, was open the windows to get some fresh air in. The second thing was enjoying the fact that her mother and grandpa were not asking her five times an hour if she needed anything.

She stretched her arms over her head. She really appreciated everyone's concerns, but she was happy to be home. She was happy she could enjoy a glass of whiskey again, although Gene had recommended to limit down the alcohol for now. But one glass, or maybe two, would not hurt. She was sick of water and just water. And tea. Lots of tea.

When she was unpacking her stuff in her bedroom, her eyes fell on the part of the floor where she had fainted. Memories of feverish panic came back to her. She pushed them way. She was doing fine. Fine.

She walked back into the living room. And on the fireplace, was the small bouquet of flowers that had arrived for her yesterday. They looked wonderful in the soft afternoon light of spring. She had decided to keep them. Sweet air from outside was casting away the stuffy air from the past few weeks.

Of course, keeping the flowers and brining them with them had earned her questions from her mom and endless joking around from Miles. Her grandfather had kept quiet, understanding that his granddaughter had some life on her own. She had been thankful for that, she had ignored her mother's questions and just grinned at Miles joking around.

And Bass was on her mind again. It was quickly becoming a new habit.

The next day, Charlie had a fire going for herself. She had made a simple dinner and had a book ready for the night. She had just sat down on the couch when there was a soft knock on the door.

When she opened the door she looked directly into the eyes that had been occupying a lot of her thoughts the past few days.

'Good evening Charlie,' her name rolled of his lips in pure goodness, low and slow.

'Bass,' she nodded slowly, a smile playing around her lips. She could see how his eyes fired up at using his name. It did something stupid to her stomach.

Bass watched Charlie. Sending her those flowers had been a gamble, but hey, he was not the kind of guy that dealt well with ignoring impulses. She looked good. Her hair was flowing over one shoulder and brushed her left breasts. Hips in thight pants, long legs and a part of her stomach was showing, right under the hem of her simple blue tank.

Her eyes fell on the bottle in his hands.

'Want to share?' Bass eyes did not even move away from her eyes, when he held out the bottle in front of him, one hand casually on the wood of the doorway.

Charlie nodded at him to come in. A drink. She could use a drink. She walked into the kitchen to get two glasses.

Bass walked in to her living room, and he had not even gotten out of his jacket when he saw them. His flowers. She had kept them. Holy hell. One hell of a grin spread around his face. God, he missed her. And after what Connor had said to him, he was determined to not be an idiot and do something about how he felt. Because there was no way around it anymore. He wanted her.

With another woman, he would say, yes. There were signals. Mixed signals. A lot of them. But this was Charlie. There were many reasons why he had waited for so long. But he was done waiting.

He had taken a place on her couch, relaxing into the back of the couch, with his boots on the floor, his legs a little wide.

They were halfway the bottle, Charlie had made a fire. He had known better to suggest he would do that for her. It was dark and midnight was close. They had talked about many things. About his trip with Miles to Austin, how she was doing.

'So, what's that?' Bass moved his hand, glass in it, towards the flowers on the fire place.

Charlie watched Bass. She knew very well he had noticed them before, and she had been waiting for the moment he would bring it up. He was just too smug not too. She took another sip of whiskey, raising her eyebrow.

'Oh, I got them from some guy,' she grinned at him.

'Some guy, huh?'

He was so close now, she could feel the breath on her face.

Charlie was only able to ask herself when he had moved closer to her, or when she had moved closer to him on her couch...or...

She let her lip go over her bottom lip. Her mouth felt dry.

And then, her eyes closed without she could help herself, while he moved his hand to her cheek. The contact was smooth, but it left her with a shiver going through her body and breath.

Bass smirked, when he felt what his touch did to Charlie. God, she looked so fucking good. She felt so fucking good close to him.

He moved her head towards his, her eyelashes resting on the soft tanned skin of her cheeks. His lips brushed hers. She tasted like the whiskey they had just shared, she tasted sweet. Her lips were soft. He kissed her and moved back.

Charlie opened her eyes. Placed her hand slowly on the skin of his muscled neck, a piece of him she had been thinking a lot about lately, how it would feel to touch.

Her fingers moving over his skin. She felt how he swallowed, the movement inside his neck palpable under her fingers.

Her eyes locked with him.

Charlie needed to feel that again. His lips, his taste, the feel of his scruff of his beard against the sensitive skin of her lips. So this time, she kissed him. The kiss was slow and explorative. She moved back.

His eyes fired into hers, his blue eyes intense and focussed on just her. Just her. Only her. She was suddenly out of breath and a small moan escaped her mouth.

And then, she moved to him, Bass moved to her. Their mouths met, hungry. He claimed her mouth and their third kiss was rough and filled with the need for more. Tongues met. Another moan from the back of her throat met with a deep growl of his.

Bass grabbed Charlie, pulled her close and at the same time moved her on the couch before him. her back landed on the fabric of the couch, her head against the back of the couch. His hands started to roam over her body. Her neck. The bare skin above her shirt, just above her breasts. Under her shirt. Over her ass, his hand between the couch and her ass. Her back, legs.

Charlie finally touched his chest, craving to know what he would feel like. He was hard, trained.

Battles, fights and long days had turned his body into a long, tall, muscled world she had to explore.

She felt the muscles move under her touch.

She pushed her centre against his groin. He was hard. Another moan, this time harder and longer, filled the room. Bass pushed up her shirt, taking in her breasts. Fuck, she was hot. Her nipples hardened between his lips. He had to have her.

'Bass...take me...' Her voice was a raspy whisper in his ear.

It broke the last bit of his self control.

And with Charlie under him, her tank pushed over over her breasts , he crashed his mouth on her again. She was working on his pants, while he followed her soon after.

Charlie was breathing harshly, when she felt his hand move over her upper leg and to the inside of her leg. And then, she felt the head of his hardness, pressing against the sensitive skin around her clit. She kissed him again.

His lustful eyes met hers. He kissed her. Hard.

She grabbed his curls in her hand, one hand on his lower back. She met his eyes straight on.

'Take...me..' it was the last thing she was able to think or say, because when he pushed himself deep inside of her, her world was only him. Just him. Bass.

He growled when he felt how warm she was around him. And fuck. She was tight. So fucking tight.

He placed his weight on his arms, one hand next to her breast, to other on the back of the couch next to her head.

'Fuck..so thight...' he growled, while his eyes were almost black now. His harsh breathing close to her ear. Her body responded to his low voice with more want and need.

Charlie felt herself between Bass and the couch, his muscles at work above her. It was intense and good. More than good. Nobody ever took her the way he did. His focus on her, only on her, like he already knew her body.

Bass felt the urge to move faster, to push inside of her deeper, rougher. He moved his body closer to her, removing all the space that was between their bodies. He watched her face change, and when she came, when she let go and he could feel her spasm around his cock, she screamed his name. His name, one hot scream. His name from her, made him burry his head in the hollow of her neck. His whole body moved in one last powerful wave and he came with the taste of her skin on his lips. Charlie.

When Charlie was in his arms, sated and sweaty, Bass pressed a kiss on her temple.

'So, that's you liking those flowers?' His voice was raspy and hoarse.

She smiled, looking up at him.

'Liked them, a lot.'

Bass watched something fall over her face. His eyes were now serious.

'What is it, Charlie?'

Charlie bit her bottom lip. She felt kind of childish to tell him this. Her voice was soft when she spoke.

'No one ever send me flowers.' She felt so stupid.

Bass looked at the beautiful woman in his arms, and his heart fucking broke for her. He knew she had never knew life the way Miles and he did, before the black out. He had realised it before. But it were little moments like these, that broke his damn heart for her. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her head against his chest, playing with locks of her hair.

And when his arms moved around hers, she did not feel so stupid after all. Maybe he understood. No, she knew he understood.

'I think I like people sending me flowers,' she said, this time with more light in her voice, an innocent mock smile on her face.

She heard Bass growl. 'Let's get one thing straight, Charlie. The only one who will send you flowers, will be me.'

'No flowers from other guys?' Charlie teased him.

'Maybe from Miles, but I would not hold your breath there.'

His eyes got dark.

'I will beat the fucking shit out of any guy that ever dares to send you flowers.'

And then he roughly put his firm lips over her lush still swollen lips.

Bass would see many more different sides from her. From Charlie.

He knew that this, what he had with Charlie was real. So he also knew he had to tell her about a night that happened in a city far away, a long time ago. A night that had meant nothing but regret for what he wished he could take back. He had seen an raw and vulnerable side of her.

After she had listened and walked over to him, he had seen the side of that was not able to let him go. That was able to move on. That understood. She once had a night too, in a city far away, that happened for the wrong reasons. He had picked her up in his arms and held her.

He would see the part of that made her eyes fill with thunder when they had their first stupid fights.

When that one dark day in the year arrived, the day he had lost his parents and sisters, he had seen the part of her that was filled by silent support and compassion.

When Miles and Rachel had found out, Willoughby had been too small a town after they broke the news, he had seen the part of Charlie that was filled with a determined Charlie. A fierce Charlie. A Charlie who told both Miles and Rachel that the world was far from perfect, that they all were far from perfect but that she loved him. She chose him.

When they would marry, a simple ceremony, the same bouquet would be in her hands that he gave her for the first time, he would see the part of her that showed him her side that was filled with love. Tears in her eyes. Tears that were in his as well.

When they would find out that they would be parents, he watched a part of her that was filled by joy.

When their first child was born, a boy that would have another sister and brother later, he met the part of Charlie that was full with more unconditional love.

She showed him the parts in her that were built by love, and loyalty and forgiveness.

And every time they would make love, sometimes slow, sometimes rough and deeply passionate, he would look at her face. And he would see the part of that was filled with fire, surrender and hunger for him.

But first, Bass would wake her up, with slow kisses and his want for her already hard and waiting for her against the soft curve of her ass.

He felt Charlie smile against his arm. He had wrapped her up in his arm before they had fallen asleep, and her lips were still resting against his lower arm. He teased her, pressing his hardness more into her skin.

'You want more?' his early morning voice was raspy against her ear.

She looked into his eyes. The lines around them were crinkling. She liked early morning Bass. Her eyes were soft and Bass let his eyes go all over her face. She looked serious all of a sudden.

'I want more,' she said softly.

They both knew that she was not talking about round three of their lovemaking.

More. They would be more.

She would see so much more of Bass. So much more. She would see the part of him that was protective, that was loving, that cared, the part of him that he reserved just for her. Only her. The part of her that made her realise that there could be more. More to this life.

But for now, Bass lowered his mouth on hers, he kissed her. First, slowly, deeply. And then, Charlie moved her hips towards what she ached now, while Bass protectively pulled the warm blankets over them both, hiding them the world.

The End

I absolutely love to know you are all out there to read my chapters. That is what inspires me, that is why I write and keep on writing my stories.

I thank you!

Love from Love