by C. M. Albert
“I get it. You had to do things your own way. I respect you for how you’ve turned that company around.”
“Thanks. It’s an adventure every single day, but I love it.”
I set Baby down and let her join her park friends for the last few minutes before we headed back. I needed to go pick up Presley, and Dex had to get back for a meeting.
“Hey, I have a question for you. Didn’t Bianca interview you when you first met?”
Dex chuckled. “Yeah. It’s how we met actually.” He shook his head. “Never met a woman who asked me to hold her balls before.”
“What?” I nearly choked out.
“Stress balls. They broke the ice. We were stuck in an elevator.”
“Stress balls.” I nodded. “So, how did you get from that to dating? Did she interview you before or after you started hooking up?”
Dex narrowed his gaze at me. “This is about Presley, isn’t it?”
I glanced out over the dog park, acting like I was searching for Baby. But really, I couldn’t look Dex in the eyes yet. How could I explain how much had happened, so fast. And why I was freaking the fuck out, because I knew right away that Presley wasn’t the kind of girl you got over.
“Yeah,” I admitted. I scuffed my sneakers in the dirt, watching a cloud of dust kick up. “Did Bianca tell you what happened at the wedding?”
“Something happened with you and Bianca?”
“No! God—no. I meant, regarding Presley. Apparently, Lauren got this big idea in her head as a way to say thank you to me, an ‘old family friend.’ So, she threw my name in the ring for the Finance Times’s “Thirty Under Thirty” list. And get this—she somehow convinced Sylvia to consider me for the featured article online.”
“That’s great news, Carter!”
“No, it’s not,” I muttered.
“How come?”
“Because I don’t want everyone to know my business model. It only works because of the fact that no one knows I’m hired unless the person wants them to know. I don’t want to come across as an escort, and then embarrass any past clients. Not to mention, I just don’t want everyone in my business, man.”
“I hear you, Carter. I really do. But I’ve got no clout when it comes to axing an article. I couldn’t even do that when I was pursuing Bianca. She was going to publish the article regardless of whether I filled in the blanks for her or not. And I wanted to do it my way, on my terms. So, I did.”
“Did you hook up while she was writing it?”
“Why? You thinking of hooking up with Presley?”
I shrugged but couldn’t stop the smirk. Just the sound of her name brought up so many memories from the past week.
“Shit, Carter.”
“What?”
“You already have, haven’t you?”
I shrugged again. I wasn’t one to kiss and tell.
“I can’t speak to the ethics part of the article if you’ve already done the deed. That’ll be between her and her editor. But I can say this. The more you’re involved in the story, the more you shape your own narrative. Period. And you have to be okay with that, even if things between you and Presley don’t outlive the article. You feel me?”
“Yeah, man. Thanks.” We gathered up the dogs and were walking back to the shelter when I remembered something I wanted to tell him. “Oh, hey, I meant to tell you, my dad’s not doing so great. He’s getting some precancerous polyps removed tomorrow.”
“Oh man,” Dex said. “I’m really sorry to hear that. Is there anything I can do?”
“I don’t think so. He said it’s pretty common. I’m hoping that’s true.”
Dex nodded. “If it changes, just let me know.”
“Definitely,” I said. “Presley and I are actually heading down this afternoon. I had a job there this week anyway, and we’re gonna use the time together to bang out the article.”
“I have no doubt you’ll be banging something out,” he said, smirking.
“Funny,” I said. But honestly, it took my mind off my dad and I needed that.
“You want to stay at my place while you’re there?”
“You mean at the big house?”
“Sure,” Dex said. “Why not? Bianca and I were just down there, so it’s still fully staffed, clean, and has a ton of food. I can have them get some rooms ready for you.”
“Today? Just like that?”
Dex nodded. “It’s better than the resort. I promise. No matter how much money was dumped into that place, you’re still sharing walls. And if you and Presley do end up banging something out, you’ll love the extra room and private amenities at the house.”
Damn. In all my years, I’d never been in the big house. It was in a gated part of the island and was just for the Truitt family. I’d snuck back there when I was a kid, of course. But we’d never had the balls to sneak into the house itself—or any of the other private family “cottages.”
“Sure, man. If you’re cool with that.”
“No problem. You can let me know how everything’s looking while you’re there.”
I couldn’t wait to tell Presley where we were now staying. Maybe I’d let it be a surprise. I wondered if she’d ever been back there in all her years on the island.
We’d soon find out.
THE FLIGHT WAS short, but the drive to the island would take about forty-five minutes. Everything was connected by old coastal highways, forcing us through other small beach towns before getting to the bridge that went over to The Grove. All this slowed the speed limit down, which I didn’t mind since I had Presley all to myself in the back of the limousine I’d hired to pick us up from the airport. If it had been just me, I’d have rented a Jeep and been done with it. But Dex told me the house was stocked with fun cars to drive and not to waste my money on a rental.
That, and Presley deserved to arrive in style. I don’t know why it felt important to me. Maybe because the last time we’d been on the island together, it hadn’t ended so well. I wanted to erase any bad memories she had left of The Grove.
“Pretty swanky,” she said, climbing into the back of the black stretch Lincoln sedan. The interior was two different tones of beige, and the seats were as soft as melted butter. “You didn’t do this on my account, did you, Carter?”
I slid in beside her and closed the door behind us, grateful for two cold waters already waiting for us. I always forget how hell has nothing on the south’s level of heat and humidity. I guzzled gratefully, handing the other to Presley.
“Of course I did. I couldn’t let the princess return in a broken-down pumpkin, now could I?”
She grinned. “Very funny.”
“Look, it’s a forty-five-minute drive. I wanted us to be comfortable.”
She glanced shyly at the darkened window separating us from the driver. “Any other reason?”
“Why, Presley, are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?”
She ran her hand up the thigh of my distressed jeans, and I could feel the soft brush of her skin as it slid over the ripped parts of the material. She squeezed my upper thigh, then dipped her hand lower, nestling it in the heated crevasse between my legs.
“It’s such a cliché, I know. But it’s on my short list of places I’ve always wanted to make love.”
I sputtered on the bottle of water I’d been downing. “You—have a list?” God, my cock was growing rock hard just thinking about crossing off every single place on that list with Presley.
“Yeah, doesn’t everyone?”
“For a woman who was a virgin just a few days ago, you sure have a lot of surprises up your sleeve.”
“You have no idea, Carter.”
My dick kicked, already revving to go.
“So, tell me a few,” I said. I ran my fingers up her bare legs until I found the hem of her short, lemon-
printed wrap dress. How Presley managed to make a sundress full of large, bright yellow lemons look sinful as fuck was beyond me. But I’d never seen anything sexier as she leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes under the soft featherlight strokes of my fingers on her bare thighs.
She swallowed as my hand roamed farther under her skirt and brushed the hem of her panties. Lace. They were fucking lace.
“Well, a limo to start with. A hot tub. Another cliché, I know. Outdoors, like maybe while on a hike. Maybe at an overlook. The Eiffel Tower, though that one may be harder with security and cameras. The beach, of course.”
“Of course,” I groaned, imagining her naked on the beach now. “Anywhere else, little Miss Adventurous?”
“Ooh, I like that better than Moneybags.”
“Don’t get used to it. You’ll always be Miss Moneybags to me,” I teased. I slid my fingers past the hem of her panties and leaned over, sprinkling her neck with soft kisses. “Go on.”
“How am I supposed to concentrate when you’re doing that?”
“You’re supposed to get out of your head this week, remember?” I teased, running my finger up and down her opening. The bottom of her dress was hiked up high on her thighs now, and I could see her fighting the war between keeping her knees together for some level of modesty, and letting them splay apart so I could get better access. I wiggled the tip of my finger in to get it wet, then circled her clit with it a few times.
Her legs parted for me, her need winning out.
“While camping,” she continued, my fingers catching speed as I rubbed her clit. “In an office building. An elevator. On a desk,” she said, blushing. Her breathing started getting heavy, turning into a half pant, half whimper as I scooped a finger between her wet folds. “Uh, on an airplane.”
“You should’ve told me,” I said, peppering her ears and neck with warm kisses. “I would’ve flown us down on a private jet.”
“You have one?” she squeaked out, now pressing her pussy against my hand.
“No, but I know a guy,” I said as I slid my second finger all the way in.
“Oh, fuck,” she cried out, raising her hips to meet my palm.
“Where else, princess?”
I sucked her earlobe between my lips as I slowly slid my fingers back and forth now, fucking her with them. She gripped my wrist, her eyes rolling back as I increased the pace. Her hips were jerking in small, short spasms now.
“I—fuck, Carter. I can’t think when you’re doing this to me.”
“Good, that’s the point.”
I slid from my seat, kneeling on the carpet in front of her, my fingers still pressed deep inside her. Her nostrils flared, her breathing hitching when she realized what was coming. I bowed my head, inhaling her fresh, clean scent of oranges and vanilla, mixed with the musky scent of her excitement.
“I’m gonna fuck you in all those places, Presley. Every last one, if you’ll let me.”
I flicked my tongue over her clit and she gasped, arching off the limo’s seat.
“I have a few of my own I’m gonna add, though . . . because I’ve always wanted to fuck on a poker table,” I said, then closed my lips around her swollen nub and sucked harder. “In Vegas.”
I was rewarded with a moan as her fingers sought out my hair. I buried my face in her pussy and sucked on the outer lips as my fingers worked her over inside. She lifted her mons, pressing it against my warm mouth as I worshiped her with my tongue and brought her closer to release.
When she was almost there, I kneeled back, letting my fingers continue to slowly scoop back and forth inside her. I glanced up and was met with the most intense, passion-filled gaze. I wanted to draw out her release, though.
“At the movie theater,” I said, adding to my ever-growing list as I grinned up at her. “In a lake, on a floating dock. On a tractor. In a pool.”
“Fuck, Carter! A tractor? Really?” she cried out as I used my tongue to flick her swollen clit again.
“On a boat, too,” I said, pulling it in and gently sucking on it to ease the building tension. “In a backyard looking up at the stars. On a balcony with people partying below, none the wiser.”
I couldn’t hold back any longer. I buried my face between her thighs, increasing the speed of my fingers and lapping at her sweet pussy with my tongue. She pressed her legs together, gripping the sides of my head as I sucked harder. It didn’t take long for them to begin shaking as her insides tightened.
“God, Carter! I’m so close.”
“Come for me baby,” I said, sitting up. I took her mouth in mine and crushed my lips to hers. She was so fucking pliable and soft. They parted for me, her tongue hungerly searching my own. I thought of the night she’d surprised me by taking me in her mouth in the bathtub. My cock was swelling to the point of erupting it was so hard.
Presley sucked my tongue in—it was a hard, demanding, needy kiss as she finally peaked. Her head dropped back, her chest arching forward as she pressed down against my hand and released. Her warmth flooded my fingers as her legs spasmed. A soft giggle escaped her lips when she was done climaxing.
I pulled my fingers out, cleaning the evidence of our sex play with my mouth. “Do you have any idea how hot you are?”
“Me? You did all the work,” she said, pulling her panties back into place and straightening the bottom of her dress. “Can you tell?”
“Tell what?” I asked, sitting back against the comfortable seat, fully pleased with myself.
“You know,” she said, looking directly into my eyes. “Will the driver be able to tell we did anything?”
A smile curled my lips to one side. “If we didn’t do anything, I think he’d be disappointed, princess.”
Her ears burned a bright pink and she looked adorable as hell. Yeah, the driver would know we fooled around. And I was all right with that. I wanted the whole damn world to know this woman was mine.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Presley
“UH . . . ” I SAID eloquently, “do you have more money than you’re letting on, Carter?” I looked up at the mammoth, three-story, dusky blue house with white colonial-style hurricane shutters. There was a two-car garage beneath the elevated beach house and a set of wooden stairs to a grand front porch. While pretty, I suspected it would pale in comparison to the back porch, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
“I wish,” he said, grabbing my suitcase and heading toward the elevator doors beneath the house.
“This doesn’t look like a Grove cottage,” I said, looking around and noticing jet skis, kayaks, and paddle boards lined up neatly under the porch. “And here,” I said, taking my suitcase back. “You have enough to carry, I can handle my own bag.”
“Of course you can,” he said. “I was just trying to be a gentleman.”
Oh. I smiled sheepishly.
“Okay, then,” I said, handing the suitcase back. “Thank you. Sorry, I’m just not used to guys doing something like that for me.”
“What kind of guys do you date, P?” he asked, arching a brow. “I’m not claiming to be the best thing out there, but you know you deserve better, right?”
I laughed as we stepped into the elevator and ascended to the main floor. It was sweet of Carter. Of course he didn’t know my dating history. Or lack thereof.
“You don’t have to worry about that with me, Carter. Lauren taught me well in that arena. I know the kind of man I’m worthy of. I just haven’t found him yet. So, I guess I can’t let someone be a little gentlemanly if there is no someone.”
He pressed his lips together while holding the elevator door open with his arm. “After you, princess,” he said. I exited the elevator and set my laptop bag onto the floor. Carter reached out, grabbing my elbow so he could turn me to face him. “By the way, you do now.”
I swallowed, my tongue inadvertently swiping over my upper
lip out of habit.
“Lord, woman, stop that. And get all the way inside. Otherwise, I’ll be tempted to fuck you right here in the entryway. And while that appeals to me—there are many better options on your Down and Dirty list that we can start crossing off,” I said, glancing back at the elevator suggestively.
I blushed, unused to how forward he was. So sure of what he wanted sexually from me—and would deliver, no doubt. It wasn’t that I’d been a prude just because I was a virgin. I’d just never found someone before Carter whom I wanted to give it all to.
The thing I loved about Carter was he didn’t treat me like some delicate flower he had to protect. In fact, just the opposite. He recognized the fire that burned deep in my belly, and he was more than happy to stoke it for me.
Any time I wanted.
And after the car ride from the airport, I wanted even more. Badly.
“Let’s start with the kitchen, then,” I said, sashaying in the general direction I suspected it would be in. It didn’t take long for Carter to drop our suitcases, chase after me, and make all my filthy countertop fantasies come true.
“SO DEX OWNS all this then?” I asked in awe. We’d had a chance to shower, and now we were eating dinner on the back deck. Our reclaimed wooden table sat ten and overlooked a bright blue pool that glowed warmly from the interior lights. Candles were set on the table, and in hurricane lamps around the pool, helping bring a little light to the area. It was pitch black out here, with a smattering of bright-white, far-off stars flung across the canvas of the night sky.
“Is that the Milky Way?” I asked, pointing.
“Yeah,” Carter said, sitting back in his chair and sipping a long-neck beer. “One of my favorite things to do as a kid was go lay out on the beach on a blanket and look up at the sky. It makes me feel more at home than almost anywhere else on this island.”
“I didn’t know that,” I said, twisting my napkin in my hands on my lap. But then, why would I? We were kids the last time we were here together, and he never spent much time with me then unless he was forced to. “What was it like growing up here?”