by Pamela Ann
I could smell the beer from his breath mixed with his own personal scent. He was bold tonight. From the second I had arrived, his eyes never left me. Yeah, I noticed how hungry they looked. And to be honest, I was a little scared what that look completely entailed.
“I thought you said you were letting me go.” My eyes searched his dark depths nervously.
He smirked, making him look dangerously sexily sinful. “I did, didn’t I?” Carter licked his lips again. “After I found out about Mr. Hollywood getting his little Russian pregnant, that promise obviously went to shitters, Em. You know that’s a sign, right?”
Whoever brings up Nikki being pregnant, it never fails to always—and I mean always—fuck with my head. I. Hated. It. “I don’t believe in those things, Carter. Seriously, is that the best you could do?”
Carter held the side of my hip, whispering into my ear, “You and I are meant to be together, baby. You and Hollywood hooking up was my punishment and I have accepted that. But don’t you think it’s time to really see the bigger picture here, Em?”
This was so messed up, however why was my blood getting filled with excitement… and my body getting aroused? Damn it.
Chapter 4
Carter
Some say it was wrong to hang on to someone who was obviously moving on, but you know what I think? I think it’s all bullshit. All these sayings were made up because this person went through shit and shit. Who was to say that I wasn’t going to end up with the girl?
Knowing Emma very well, she was going to fight until she was fed up from all the drama. The moment she folded—and she was going to—I would be there to soothe her wounds, love her how I was supposed to from the start, and hopefully, start over.
From where I’m standing, Bass Cole made a major doodoo by not taking all the damn precaution to save himself from some sticky situation like this one. He was a well-known actor; he should’ve known that a woman—even if she was also a successful actress—was going to do everything to keep her man. A woman was a woman; no matter the skin, sexual orientation, beliefs or origin, they were all the same.
If a man broke a woman’s heart, they become a hard-ass bitch; vindictive, calling the man all kinds of names that they could think of. Break a crazy woman’s heart, though, and then you’re in for a whole rollercoaster ride. I was almost one hundred percent sure that an experienced man like Bass himself would’ve known crazy-ass, mental women from a glance, but then again, I’m sure he wasn’t himself because, from what I’ve heard, he was all messed up then from his break-up with Emma.
Like any man, we all sympathized because that crap would be terrifying for any guy to go through. Yet his stupidity was my gain, and I was going to grab that opportunity like it was my lifesaver. In some ways, it was going to be. I wanted one thing.
And this precious thing was now in my arms…and I knew that my close proximity affected her.
“Carter…”
I groaned, pulling her harder against my chest. I loved how Emma said my name. It was like half whisper and half moan; it was the sexiest thing. Ever.
“Do you remember how I would touch you with my fingers and you would moan my name?” My lips brushed her ear while I felt her body tense. “You sounded like that just now. And I’m telling you, I’m having such a hard time resisting making those memories come to life again.”
My body was in charge of my brain. Damn. Why did she have to come to my house dressed like this anyway? It was an unbelievably sexy dress that left little to my imagination—because I knew her body well—and her skin-tight dress made me reminisce how much I loved it naked. Underneath me.
Emma swiftly spun around and glared at me. Instead of taking her seriously, I was more consumed by her beauty. You see, she was one of those women who only became sexier when she was angered. It made her look even more beautiful… hotter in my eyes.
“You need to stop it with the seduction moves, Carter. You’re not being fair. I’m with Bass! I’m taken. So stop. This isn’t funny anymore.”
Of course it wasn’t. I was going to say that, but my wandering eyes landed on her panting cleavage. And shit…I had been celibate for far too long, so when you put Emma before me, I became such a horny idiot.
“Getting all worked up, huh?” My tongue licked my dry lips, half-daydreaming about her already.
I knew my game was getting old, yet fuck, she looked so good…and I’d been missing her entirely too much. How long must I endure until I got her back? My lascivious thoughts got axed when I glanced at her. Emma seemed and looked like she wanted to hurt my balls. Bad.
“If you’re not going to cut it out, I’m leaving,” she spoke, dead serious.
Now she wasn’t playing fair. She knew how much I wanted to be around her. “Okay, I’ll make you a deal.” I was smiling as I murmured it into her ear. “Wanna hear it?”
Emma tried to push me off, but she was far too weak to manage to do so. “If it makes you quit being a pervert, then yes, I’d love to hear it.”
“You have to promise me one thing, that’s all I’m asking.”
“Yeah?” her breath caught as she waited for me to finish speaking.
Here goes my future plans, fuck it. “The second you break it off with Bass, if this doesn’t work out, you’re going to be mine. I want you to go straight to me and be with me. We’ve been dancing around each other for almost two years now, it’s about time we put this right.”
“I’m not breaking it off with him. What the fuck!”
Not yet, however it was going to happen. I knew it. I felt it deep down. It was going to be very soon. The tabloids weren’t even taking this seriously because most people thought that he was with the other woman.
“Just promise me. You never know what the future holds.” I delivered the words succinctly, so she didn’t miss any of them. “I’m staking my claim here, baby. After Hollywood, you know there’s no other man out there that will love you like crazy as I do.” She knew it, too. I was fucking crazy nuts about her.
“You’re acting like a true loony, seriously.” She tried to move again, but I caged her in with the use of my body.
Emma wasn’t going anywhere without giving me a yes. I was putting my foot down. The last time, I had given her all the time to think and have fun, hoping that the space I gave her would enlighten her to how serious I was about her, but still, the second Bass came back, she went straight into his arms. I was deep-shit, balling my eyes out for the first fucking time because my heart was breaking so badly, yet now, there’s this fat chance and I wasn’t going to let this opportunity pass by like the last time. Fuck that.
“Give me that promise, Em, or I won’t leave you alone until you do.”
She was eyeing me like I had lost my mind. “Carter—”
Emma loved me, deep down, she did, but she just loved him more. Right now, her love was enough.
Grinning down on her ready-to-combust face, I told her, “Love you, Emma.” I bent down to kiss her on the cheek. “Thank you!”
She gasped, aggravated to no end. “Wait—what the—I never said anything!”
“No, but you’re thinking it,” I goaded her, hoping she’d smile back. “Come on, say it already! I’m dying with suspense here.”
She gave me an eye roll before finally conceding to my crazy scheme. “If, and that’s a massive, major IF, then I promise.”
Best news I’ve heard in a long time. I was lighting up. I couldn’t help it, I was seriously happy. “That’s good enough…”
“God, you’re terrible!” Those words came with a sexy groan.
Damn, she was so sexy. Cute. Funny. What more could a man ask? “Hey, don’t hate on the guy that loves you.” I looked down at her, hoping for a quick kiss, but I held off, scared that she might take her promise back. “Let’s take that cute frown off your pretty face and make it into a big smile.” So instead of a kiss, I settled for a soft caress on her cheek. “No body shots allowed unless it’s between you and me.” Those kissab
le puckers made a big O, giving me more ideas…“I’d even let you lick the salt off my abs if you like.” I winked at her, much to her annoyance.
“Oh, shut up.”
God, she was way too cute when angry. If things were any different…“Come on, you know you want to.” …I’d have her in the nearest room, push her dress up and taste her honeypot. If only…
Her cheeks were bright red as she fervently denied it.
I should’ve backed off, but shit, she was too damn hard to resist. Knowing how desperate I was already, I’d jump on any chance merely to get close to her nowadays. “Don’t lie, baby.” My eyes twinkled, teasing. “You know if I dip my finger in, I’d know you’re lying.” My voice dropped a crescendo, making our conversation much more intimate. “But since I can’t, you don’t have to pretend when it comes to me, okay?” Our eyes connected as the vibe between us charged. “I know what we have, Emma, so there’s no point in masking things because I know you.”
She licked her lips, curling her hair behind her ear before she looked away, whispering, “You’re awful.”
How did the saying go? Oh yeah, liar, liar, pants on fire, right? “Aww, come on, you know you love me.”
She gasped, outraged. She was trying to find the words to say to me, though she couldn’t form a damn word.
I laughed, pulling her close before kissing her neck. Darn, she was too cute sometimes. Emma… Emma… I so wish you’d be mine tonight…“It’s fine. Don’t say anything, babe.” Letting her go, I tried to bring some sense into my messed up brain. Teasing was fine—however taking action was a different matter. Knowing how my body was reacting to her now, I knew we needed to mingle amongst friends because she was in danger of cheating on her boyfriend, and I wouldn’t let that happen. Because the next time they broke it off, I didn’t want Emma to have any regrets or any thoughts of ‘what if’s’ like the last time, no. The next time would all be on Bass. That was the only way Emma could move forward and get over him.
“What do you want me to get you?” I asked her.
“A knife, so I can gut you with it,” she hissed, although it came with a smile.
There’s my fiery girl, I thought as I held her from the back, leading us towards the bar. “You just know how to get my insides hot and burning for you, don’t you?” Kissing her head, I released a happy sigh. Being together, even just for a short while, made me hopeful.
Tick. Tock.
Chapter 5
Emma
“What the hell was I thinking?” I groaned into my pillow as I recalled the events of last night. Waking up the next morning with a major jackhammer-like hangover was not fun.
As for last night’s events… Well, it wasn’t all that bad… Carter only did a body shot on me, yet still, it rattled me a little bit. There was no doubt in my mind, heart and the rest of the universe that I was in love with Bass. It just left me unsettled was all; especially since everyone seemed to think this relationship wasn’t going to last long.
The tabloids were a bit unforgiving since they saw Nikki as a sweetheart and I was more of the home-wrecker. Nikki hadn’t officially said that Bass was the father of her unborn child, but everyone was assuming that it was his since Nikki hadn’t dated anyone after him. Only a small amount of people knew what she did; that man’s identity still remained a big mystery to me. Bass never said anything about the subject, so I didn’t press on it any further.
And speaking of the devil, my boyfriend was calling me.
“Baby,” I whispered into the phone, guilt assaulting me like I was the world’s greatest sinner. Should I even mention it? It was harmless fun. Knowing how he’d react because it was done by Carter, he’d cause hell. Shit.
“Had a rough night last night? You sound stuffy.” His voice was deep, raspy and already had my insides worked up.
Closing my eyes, I pictured him in my head, imagining him close to me. “Yeah, something like that.” Needing to change the topic stat, I immediately shifted the subject about him. “What did you guys end up doing last night?”
“Went to the bar and came home about two in the morning.” He cleared his throat as I listened to him drink something. “I thought about calling you, but didn’t want to interfere with your evening out.” He made a lengthy pause before he got down to business. “So, about last night, how was Carter? He wasn’t giving you a hard time was he?”
Describe “a hard time” precisely? I thought with a frown. Shitcakes. “He was being, you know, just like Carter.” It was the safest answer I could come up with.
“Uh-huh…well, I just thought I should ask is all.” He let his words hang in the air, as if he wanted me to say something, however there was nothing I wanted to dish out.
“Hmmm, yeah.” I scratched my nose, needing something to do other than blurt out about my interesting tequila night.
Taking the clue, he delved into safer subject. “So when do you start filming?”
Compromise, it was a beautiful thing. We were working on it. Big. Time. “I’m meeting Barbara tomorrow. She’ll give me all the important details then.”
I was going to say something funny, but the bitch came out of my mouth. “Have you heard from Nikki lately?” Was it nerves? It probably was. The whole waiting game was taking a toll on the both of us. It was like waiting for an execution. I just hoped that when that day came, I could handle it how I pictured myself in my head—calm, composed and all-out supportive, only giving love, not hatred or spite.
Bass released a long, heavy sigh. Not a good sign, if you asked me.
Mother Hell.
“Yeah, about that…she wanted me to be there for the next ultrasound ‘cause that’s when we’ll know the baby’s sex,” he dropped the bomb. I had to give it to Nikki; she was getting creative with her antics.
I was simmering, so I remained silent, not wanting to rant and air out the ugliness that was on the tip of my tongue. At the end of the day, I loved him. I’d rather endure all the ugliness and pain now, knowing that I was in Bass’s heart, rather than have nothing of him at all.
My internal ranting was stopped when the love of my life voiced out his thoughts. “Well, I didn’t want to agree into anything until we discuss it.”
He truly was an amazing boyfriend. Still, all I wanted to do right this second was scream into the phone. It felt like all hope had been dashed from me. My mind kept repeating, This was supposed to be us. If there was a woman who should be carrying his baby, it should be me. Not Nikki or any other woman, BUT ME. No one knew because I hid it well, but I was jealous of Nikki because she was taking a piece of what was mine.
So instead of saying any of my thoughts, I declared rationality, “Do you want to go, Bass?”
“If it will cause an argument with you, I’d rather not.”
Damn it, why was he laying it all on me? “With all of that aside, would you want to go?”
“Of course, Emma. This could be my child.”
There. Those were the words of truth and they hurt like a bitch. Tears didn’t even get the opportunity to pool because they were so violent that they immediately started streaming off my face, soaking my pillow. “Then you should go. I’m not entirely okay with it, but if this is important to you, then I respect that.” Loving hurt. Compromising to this craziness was killing me. Slowly.
Bass’s sigh of relief made me ache even more. “Thank you; that means a lot to me, especially hearing you say that. It takes off a lot of worry. I mean—I was expecting you to flip or try to break it off with me. That’s why it took me a few days to bring the subject up.”
“Of course.” I reached for the tissue box on my side table, wiping my tears away. The last thing I needed was for Bass to hear my cry. I needed him to see that I was a strong woman because if he knew what I was feeling, he’d go into panic mode, and I didn’t want him to do anything drastic. As much as I wanted to be the only thing that ruled his world, I didn’t want him to regret anything. Yeah, I loved him enough that I was willing to endure all
this pain for his welfare.
“Thank you, agápe mou,” he murmured into the phone.
When he called me that, the hurt temporarily left my heart. For a few seconds, I basked in the feeling, reminding myself how good it was to be with him—to be around him, to be loved by him. Bass loved like no other man, I knew that pretty well. His love kept me floating. And in this very moment, his love transported me into that heaven.
“You know you have the huskiest bedroom voice?” Closing my eyes for the second time, I sighed into mouthpiece. “I miss you, every day, but when we talk, all I have to do is close my eyes and listen to you. Then I feel like you’re right here next to me.”
That made him laugh, which only delighted me even more. “The things I’ll do to you when I see you, Emma Anderson…” That sexy voice was out to murder my hungered body. It was so bad that I had to restrain my hand from reaching down below and begging Bass to continue that sentence.
“Baby…I love it when you pull my hair from behind while you kiss my ear,” I blurted out, breathless, as the images of us making love played in my mind.
“Emma…I’m on a break—” he came out hissing and groaning before releasing a curse. His reaction made me easily picture him taking a break, possibly eating a snack on the side with a hot coffee as he tried to calm his erection down.
Bass junior was so predictable. “Poor mini me,” I teased, rolling onto my stomach with my hand on the phone still stuck to my ear.
There were voices in the background, but I couldn’t make out what was being said because Bass cleared his throat and spoke over it. “So, what are your plans for the weekend?”
This weekend was my birthday, but Bass couldn’t come home until the week after. I wasn’t sure if he did know it was my birthday. Half of me wanted to announce it, just to make sure he knew, but a large part of me thought that it might sound like I might be hinting for him to get me a present. I didn’t want him to think that I was out to get as much baubles I could get while with him. It was never about that; I made sure that he knew it too, since the very beginning.