Emergence (Awakening Series Book 2)

by Hayes, Olivia

  "Carson!" she whined, twisting her hands through my hair.

  I ran my tongue over her again and then inserted two fingers into her again, feeling the wetness gathered there for me.

  "Any other time I would worship your body the way you deserve, but tonight I'm impatient," I growled. "I need to be inside you right now."

  "Yes," she whispered as I rose to my full height, grabbing the backs of her thighs and lifting her until her long legs easily wrapped around my waist. The feeling of her hot core rubbing the underside of my dick was threatening to push me over the edge.

  I pulled back, positioning myself at her entrance and then plunging forward into her in one quick thrust. The warmth of her enveloping me combined with the heat of the shower made my blood run even hotter.

  I gripped her ass tightly in my hands, squeezing and releasing as I tried to control my impulse to pound into her relentlessly.

  "Don't hold back," she said as if sensing my distress. "I can handle it. Take me. Make me yours."

  I was blinded by lust as I started to move against her roughly. I leaned down, pulling one of her dusty pink nipples into my mouth and her head lolled back against the wall as she moaned.

  "Do you like that, baby?" I asked, moving to the other crest.

  "More," she sobbed as I felt her core beginning to clench around me.

  I raised my head, crashing my mouth down on hers to absorb her sounds. My tongue invaded her, filling her with her own essence as I continued to push into her aggressively.

  When her eyes flew open to meet mine as she shattered around me crying out my name I thrust harder, wanting to get as close and deep as possible. I wanted to possess every cry, every smile, every second, every breath, every last bit of her.

  Mine.

  "You. Are. Mine," I said, punctuating each word with a rotation of my hips. I could feel the white hot sensation of my release burning down my spine. "You've always been mine." I shouted, coming long and hard inside her tight channel.

  My pace slowed against her and I rested my forehead on her shoulder, trying to catch my breath. After a few moments I lifted my head.

  "Are you okay?" I asked, searching her eyes.

  Her smile met my question immediately. "I feel amazing, but I imagine I'll be a little sore in the morning. Well worth it though," she said, giggling and kissing me on the end of my nose.

  "You're incredible, you know that?" I asked her, smiling while wiping her damp hair from her forehead. Searching her eyes, my smile faded and I felt something foreign tug at my heart. Adoration, devotion, maybe love. I cleared my throat as the thought came to me. "Come on, let's rinse off and get in bed. I'm beat," I said, trying to disguise the emotion in my voice with exhaustion.

  Once we were rinsed and dried, we both got dressed, me in my boxers and her just her panties, forgoing the borrowed sleep shorts and tank. I pulled the covers back for her and she slid underneath, cozying up to my side. Her head rested on my shoulder and her hand laid over my heart, just as it had the last time we fell asleep together. But this time, I knew she'd be there when I woke, and it comforted me like nothing ever had before.

  Chapter 17

  Lou

  When I woke I was incredibly warm. I peeked open one eye to find myself wrapped halfway around Carson's incredible body.

  The sheets were pulled down to his waist, revealing the tops of his trim hips and the sandy dusting of hair leading away from his navel. My nipples hardened against his warm chest as I surveyed him in the morning light.

  Yummy.

  Memories of the night before flooded my mind as I recalled the ways he made my body hum. You. Are. Mine. You've always been mine.

  His words reverberated in my bones as I slowly slipped from the bed, trying not to wake him. After padding lightly into the bathroom to relieve myself, I stretched my deliciously achy body and then found my bag and dug out my phone. Slipping a shirt over my head and creeping into the hallway, I dialed Kelly's number as I made my way down to the kitchen.

  "Hello?"

  "Hey, it's me," I said when she answered. "How's Carly?"

  "Baby girl's doing just fine, aren't you sweetheart?" she cooed. "How's Mama?"

  "A little worn out, but overall, really good. I'm just thankful that everything worked out so well and that Caroline is safe. For a while I thought Carson was going to lose it. Thank you for helping me out so I could be there for him. You know I don't know what I'd do without you."

  Kelly laughed. "It's no problem at all. I love her as if she were my own. But listen, Reece is picking me up around two o'clock today. We have tickets to see Dave Matthews this evening in Jacksonville, so I have to get a move on. What time do you think you're heading home?"

  "That sounds like a blast! I think Carson and I are going to take Carly to the beach today. He suggested it, and I haven't taken her yet, so I hope she likes it. I'll be back before too long okay?"

  "Sounds good. See you soon."

  As I hung up the phone I glanced around the kitchen. The granite island was nice and big and the refrigerator was one of those French door types, with the fruit drawer in the middle and the freezer on the bottom. The kind I'd always wanted.

  The cabinets were dark wood with brushed nickel handles and drawer pulls. The appliances were stainless steel to match the fridge and as I looked around I realized how beautiful the space was with all the natural light.

  I opened the fridge, taking a quick inventory as I set out to make breakfast for Carson and myself. Thick sliced French raisin toast with brown sugar rum butter sauce and orange marmalade. One of my mother's specialties.

  As I turned a piece of toast on the griddle a hand snuck around my waist.

  "I thought you'd left again," Carson said, nuzzling my neck. "Why aren't you in bed? I woke up wanting to have my wicked way with you again just to find you gone."

  I put the spatula down and turned around to face him, resting my hands on his thick shoulders.

  "I needed to use the bathroom and check on Carly. Kelly has somewhere to be this afternoon, so I told her I'd be home in a little while. Then I got distracted by your gorgeous kitchen and I kind of helped myself to whatever I could find. Hope you're hungry."

  "I'm starved. It smells almost as delicious as you," he growled into my ear, setting my blood on fire. "I think I'd rather have you for breakfast."

  I squealed as he nipped at my shoulder.

  "Go sit, I'll have your breakfast ready in just a minute," I said trying not to get any more distracted by his proximity. I picked up a dish cloth to wipe my hands and swatted at his butt as he tried to pinch me on the way to the table.

  "A guy could get used to this kind of treatment," he said, sliding onto a stool on the other side of the island.

  "I'd make breakfast every Saturday and Sunday if I had a kitchen like this to work in."

  "A fisherwoman, a football fan, funny, beautiful, sexy as sin, and an incredible cook? I haven't asked you in a while, but are you free for the rest of your life?"

  My stomach clenched at the question he'd asked me the night we'd met. I laughed it off then, but I wasn't sure what to make of it now. We'd only just run back into each other, but the connection I felt to him the night we met was just as strong, if not stronger, and I wondered if he felt the same.

  I didn't want to push him away, but I didn't want him to think I was rushing into anything serious yet either. I decided to go the easy route and take the lighthearted way out.

  As I plated his breakfast I turned to him. "I'll have to check my calendar to make sure, but so far, it's looking good," I said, winking at him and then kissing him on the cheek as I set his plate down.

  **

  "Do you mind if we hit Starbucks on the way to the marina? I'm kind of a fiend."

  He laughed as we pulled away from my house. "Sure we can stop at the one on the island. I could use some coffee myself."

  I looked in the rear view mirror to make sure Carly was alright. She was facing the rear, but I co
uld see her little fists and feet going as she tried to grab the rattles and noise makers hanging from the handle of her car seat.

  As I pulled into the Starbucks drive thru I looked over at Carson. "Do you know what you want?"

  "I'll take a tall dark roast with two creams and one sugar."

  I nodded before repeating his order to the barista and spouting off mine as well.

  "Wow. That was a mouthful," Carson said, poking fun at my coffee order.

  "What?" I asked, looking over at him in the passenger seat.

  "Nothing. But how am I ever supposed to bring you coffee if I can't even figure out what you just ordered?"

  "It was a grande soy mocha frappuccino with one less pump of coffee and one extra pump of mocha, no whip," I smiled.

  "Yeah, I'll try to remember that, but don't be surprised if I have to ask you to write it down."

  By the time we made it to the marina it was close to ten in the morning. The sun was getting higher in the sky and I could tell it was going to be a beautiful day for the beach.

  As we loaded into Carson's boat, I breathed in the salty air and lathered Carly and myself with sunscreen before putting on her infant life vest.

  We left the Yacht Club and headed for Williamson Island, where we were supposed to meet up with some of Carson's friends. I was a little worried about hanging out with a bunch of early twenty something guys with coolers full of beer, but as soon as we arrived and I met them, I was able to relax.

  "Max!" Carson called out to an overly fit dark headed guy wearing khaki cutoffs and a pair of Ray Ban's.

  "Hey man," Max said, running over to the edge of the water. "Drop anchor between Donald and me," he said, gesturing between two boats that were already anchored.

  Once the anchor was secure Max waded out to us.

  "Lou, this is my buddy Max. Max, this is Lou Evans and her daughter, Carly," Carson said.

  "It's nice to meet you both," Max said. "My girlfriend Rebecca is up on the beach with Donald and his wife Misty. Head on up and say hello, and I'll help Carson get your bags and cooler."

  "Thank you," I said, handing Carly to Carson and then climbing over the side of the boat. When Carly was back in my arms, I headed up to introduce myself.

  "Oh my gosh! Look at that sweet baby! What's her name?" a blonde in a red one piece asked me.

  "This is Carly, and I'm Lou Evans," I said, stopping just in front of the trio.

  "I'm Misty and this is my husband Donald," red suit told me. "Can I hold Carly?"

  As I passed Carly to Misty, I nodded at Donald. He was a good looking guy with light brown hair and a nice smile, and I could tell he was in love with his wife by the way his eyes lit up when he watched her.

  "Hi Lou, I'm Rebecca," a red head in a tiny black bikini said to me. "I'm here with Max."

  "We have a son who's about Carly's age. He's with my parents today, though. Now I kind of wish I'd brought him along!" Misty said. "I'll have to get your number and we can get the kids together for a play date."

  "That would be great," I said, smiling.

  "What would be great?" Carson asked walking up to set down my bag, and then threw his arm around my shoulders.

  "Misty was saying she and I should get together with the kids for a play date."

  "Sounds interesting," Carson said. "Do kids that young play?"

  "Well, it's more of Mommy play time. There's usually wine involved," Misty said, smiling.

  Carson laughed. "So, you met everyone then?"

  "Yes, we met," Misty started. "But the question of the day is: how did you reel in the great Carson Foster?"

  It seemed that every time I was around people who had known Carson for a while they were insinuating that he'd been with a lot of women in the past. I didn't care what he'd done in the past, I had my own that I wasn't incredibly proud of, but it kind of rubbed me the wrong way. I wasn't really sure how to answer her because I didn't necessarily feel like I'd done anything special. We had a crazy connection and he had pursued me mostly.

  "She didn't catch me, Misty. I caught her. It was her great sense of humor, her smarts, her love of boats, fishing and all things Georgia Bulldogs that hooked me. What can I say? We have a lot in common and we share a wicked connection with each other. Not to mention, she's fucking gorgeous," Carson said, nuzzling into my neck and sending shivers across my arms.

  Just then Carly started to fuss. "Hey sweet girl, are you getting hungry?" I asked.

  I reached for my bag where Carson had set it down and began mixing a bottle for her. Carson went to work quickly setting up the blanket and umbrella for Carly so she could enjoy her meal out of the rays of the hot midday sun. Usually I was the one taking care of everything Carly needed, unless Kelly was around. It was nice to have an extra set of hands.

  After she was done Carson sat in the sand with her and showed her how to use a shovel and a bucket as a drum set. Every time he would start tapping out a beat on the bucket, Carly would give him her gummy two-tooth smile. And every time he returned her smile I fell a little harder.

  Chapter 18

  Carson

  "Hey man," Max said walking over to me as I was readjusting the anchor. "I like Lou, she seems really cool, but are you sure you want to get into all that?"

  I sucked in a deep breath and narrowed my eyes at him. "What do you mean by 'all that'?"

  "Hey, I'm just looking out for you. Going from blowing through chicks like water to dating someone seriously is one thing, but some chick with a kid? That's a whole different level of responsibility, man."

  I sighed, exasperated.

  "Look Max, I don't expect you to understand, but yeah, I'm kind of taken with both of them, and I plan to keep them around. Forever, if you know what I'm saying."

  "It's cool man, I just wanted to make sure you know what you're doing. You're only twenty-two, that's awfully young to be saddling yourself with a kid."

  "You're my buddy Max, and I know you're just trying to look out for me, but I promise you, this is what I want. Okay? End of discussion."

  Max scratched the back of his head, squinting at me over his sunglasses before shrugging his shoulders and saying, "Whatever you say, Carson."

  I knew that Max didn't get it, but I had been waiting for Lou my whole life and didn't realize it until I met her. And then after she disappeared I rearranged all my priorities so I could feel worthy of someone like her. Little did I know she would waltz back into my world and turn it upside down, but with her there, I couldn't see any way that I could ever let her go.

  Did Carly come as a surprise? I'll admit it, I was a little shocked at first. But she's part of Lou, she's adorable, and they're obviously a package deal. There wasn't ever a question in my mind as to whether I would accept Carly. I just did.

  As I walked back up the beach I spotted Carly sleeping on the blanket under the umbrella. She looked so peaceful, her chubby cheeks slightly pinkened from the heat, her tiny hands curled up by her face with dimpled knuckles, and my heart swelled.

  Love at first sight had always been a fairy tale to me. I never believed in it. The night I met Lou we definitely had an instant connection, but I knew from the second I met Carly that she would hold my heart forever. From the first time her tiny fist held my finger I was hooked.

  "Hey," Lou said walking up to me and wrapping her arms around my waist. I settled my arms over hers, and leaned my cheek down on top of her head, still watching Carly sleep.

  "She's so beautiful babe. Thank you for letting me be a part of her life," I said softly.

  Lou moved around in front of me, her sunglasses covering her blue gaze, but I knew she was looking directly at me. "Carson, you are so amazing. It's incredible how you're so accepting of her, and it means so much to me. I should be the one thanking you for not walking away the moment you found out about her."

  I could tell from the tone of her voice how serious she was in her statement. It was like she was used to people not accepting Carly. I couldn't imagine it. That
little girl was like a piece of heaven, and I hoped to keep her and her mother around for as long as possible.

  "Hey," I said, pulling her into my arms. "I can't even imagine walking away from her, or you for that matter. I was a goner from the first moment she drooled on me."

  Lou laughed while I hugged her close and leaned back to lift her off her feet momentarily.

  "You want to swim?" she asked me after I set her down, pulling her t-shirt over her head to reveal a modest two piece that showed off her ample chest and slender waist.

  As she walked toward the water I felt a twitch in my pants. My eyes roamed over her flat stomach and the length of her firm legs before she turned away from me, gracing me with a view of her toned back and perfect ass. Heat unfurled inside me.

  I watched her until she was knee deep in the water before I ran full speed down the beach, high stepping through the surf and diving in next to her, splashing water all over her.

  When I emerged from the water her hair was soaked. Salty droplets dripped from the ends and ran down her chest, disappearing into her swimsuit top as she laughed.

  "Ass," she said, pushing me back under the murky water.

  A moment later I sprung off the bottom, catching her around the waist, lifting her off her feet and plunging both of us back under the waves. When we came up for air she wrapped her long legs around my waist and her arms around my shoulders as I took us deep enough that the water was just below her breasts.

  "What was that for?" she asked, shaking her hair out.

  "For calling me an ass."

  "Oh yeah? Well what's this for?" she asked, sliding one of her hands between us and underneath the waistband of my shorts, wrapping her long fingers around my erection.

  "That," I said, punctuating the word with a kiss, "is a result of being in close proximity to you."

  "Really," she stated. "So, what should we do about it?"

  She leaned in and kissed me open mouthed, running her tongue along the seam of my lips until I opened them for her, and then she plunged inside. I could feel myself grow in her palm as our tongues tangled together.