“You’re kind of turning me on right now, Carter,” Mickey said, biting his bottom lip.
She saw the way he was looking at her, scrunched up her nose, and giggled. “Ewww, Mickey, stop!” She hit his arm playfully, grabbed her plate of heaven, and was about to go eat when she remembered something.
She took a good look at Mickey. She hadn’t noticed it outside, but he was walking with a cane. She remembered he had been shot twice in the leg and was instantly happy she had been the one to kill the bastard who’d done it. “How’s your leg, my Mickey?” she asked sweetly as she stood on tiptoes to kiss the side of his mouth.
He smiled. “It’s healing, my sexy little protector. I just can’t wait to get rid of this fucking cane.” He grasped her chin and their eyes locked. “You keep killing men for me, and you’re going to make me fall for my Russian brother’s girl. So stop it,” he said. He leaned forward and kissed the tip of her nose.
Carter smiled shyly.
Mickey’s wounds were being tended to the day of the incident, so they had never had the chance to speak before Carter was hurt. This was the first time she’d seen Mickey since he was shot. “You would’ve done the same for me, Mickey. You’re my bestie, and I love you. I’ll kill anyone that hurts you, so deal with it,” she said playfully— but she wasn’t playing, not in the slightest. “Plus, the fucker had it coming,” she muttered with a shrug.
Mickey took Carter’s plate from her hands and set it on a small table next to them. He snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her to him in a tight hug, letting his cane fall to the side. Carter had to stand on her tiptoes, but she wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him back. The warmth and love in Mickey’s hug was surprising and almost opened the flood gates. “Awww, Mickey.” She was used to the bad boy flirt, Mikilo, but now he was getting all sentimental on her, and he knew she was a damn crybaby.
“Thank you,” he whispered. “Sei un angelo, ti amo con una Bella Carterina,” he whispered in her ear.
Carter smiled. “You know I love it when you speak Italian, Mikilo.” Carter said, teasing.
And just like that, her bad boy was back.
Mickey’s low laughter against her ear nearly made Carter’s body shiver. “You do, huh?” She felt him smile, and he whispered again, “Well, you know I aim to please, E chi sono io per negare il piacere di ascoltare me parlare la mia lingua madre.”
Carter almost gasped. She had no time to play with these boys today. Her body was still running on hot because of Nathan. Nathan. Oh shit, why did she have to think of that sexy ass blonde again? Carter shook her head. It was torture!
She pushed on his big shoulders and left his embrace “Stop it, Mickey. You’re going to make me flirt with you. I’m engaged, dammit. I have to be a good girl now,” she said with a wink. Mickey pasted on a sexy smile. Carter groaned. “Get away from me, Mikilo. You look like your father.”
Mickey thought for a second, wondering if he was okay with looking like his father. He shrugged. “I’ll take it,” he said.
Carter rolled her eyes and retrieved her plate— complete with Doritos— from the table. With a parting wink to Mickey, she walked to the coffee table in the middle of the living room and sat on the floor to eat the masterpiece.
As she was immersed in her own world enjoying her delectable meal, she felt a familiar pair of hands on her waist. Before she knew it, Nathan had joined her on the floor, and she was in his lap. She tried to stay focused on the food and not her body’s need for him. Picking up a sandwich from the plate, she put it over her shoulder, and when she brought it back, a big bite was missing. She continued eating in this fashion, sharing her food with him and all the while trying to ignore the way her body was responding to his presence— to the way his hands touched her and his long arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her back against his hard, muscular body.
There was no way she could ignore him when he pushed her hair to the side, and began kissing the area of her neck he knew for a fact elicited amazing sensations between her thighs.
Carter gasped as quietly as she could, hoping not to attract the attention of everyone in the living room. But everyone was pretty much involved in separate conversations, and the Originals were talking about business.
“Nathan, stop,” she whispered, trying to hit him away from her neck, but he was relentless. “Nathan, please,” she whispered.
He nipped at her neck. “I love it when you say please, Carterina,” he said against her neck. “Mmm … You smell so good, baby.”
His voice sent chills down her spine, and Carter bit her bottom lip hard, trying with all her might to resist him. She pressed her thighs together, desperately trying to relieve the pressure building between them.
“Not now, Nathan! You’re killing me,” she whined quietly. This was getting painful.
Nathan let out a low growl and kissed her neck. “One kiss. Just one, then I promise I’ll be good…maybe.”
Liar!
Carter made a small sound of protest before he turned her face toward him and captured her lips in a kiss that was way too hot for where they were right at the particular moment. Carter couldn’t help it— she wrapped her arms around his neck and surrendered. Heat spread rapidly throughout her body. She wanted nothing more than to pin Nathan to the floor right then and there and ride him hard.
But no. They weren’t alone, and Carter knew they needed to put a stop to this. Unlike her, though, she knew that Nathan couldn’t give a shit if these guys were present or not. He would be fine sitting there on the floor, making out like teenagers.
Okay. Carter had to focus in order to put a stop to this. Only problem was, she was kind of having a hard time doing that at the moment. Nathan had a serious erection pressing up against her ass, and his tongue had a taste reminiscent of Doritos as it slid over every inch of her mouth. It was kind of strange, and don’t judge, but this only fueled her desire for him even more.
She knew she had a problem.
Nathan’s hands gripped her waist tightly as he turned her sideways in his lap and deepened their kiss. As if it could get any deeper.
Carter knew he was fighting to keep his hands away from her breasts. He loved to squeeze and caress them every time they made out like this. It always led to sex— earth-shattering, multiple-orgasm-inducing sex. Sex. She really wanted it right now. She couldn’t tell if she was moaning. The kiss was definitely “moan-worthy”. Oh, shit! She was moaning!
The sound of a throat being cleared in an exaggerated fashion cut through the thick fog of lust surrounding Carter and Nathan. They slowly broke their kiss and locked eyes while trying to catch their breath.
“Damn, that was hot,” Mickey said.
Deep chuckles filled the room.
“Do we need a bucket of ice water for you two?” Angelo joked.
“Or you could just find a room and … uhhh … handle whatever’s happening there?” Lucca threw in, much to the amusement of the others in the room.
Carter stared into Nathan’s desire-filled eyes, reading every dirty thought flashing through his sexy, stormy grays. She smiled, shaking her head. “Jesus Christ, Nathan,” she said through a laugh. A mischievous smile spread across Nathan’s gorgeous face, revealing those two sexy dimples Carter loved so much.
She knew that smile. He was either going to tickle her, attack her with hot kisses, or pin her down and fuck her till she screamed his name, begging him to let her come. Carter knew the latter wasn’t happening today— even though she desperately wanted it to— so it had to be either one or two, neither of which Carter wanted happening here. “No, Nathan,” she said firmly and attempted to stand from his lap. Nathan growled and pulled her back against his body.
Carter let out a surprise squeal and giggled. “You’re a caveman! Ahhh!” Carter’s high-pitched scream filled the room when Nathan attacked.
“Angelo! Get the bucket of ice water … Quick!” she screamed, laughing loudly.
Angelo rolled his eyes and
shook his head at their antics and directed his focus back to his work.
“Payback’s a bitch, baby,” Nathan said as he tickled her senseless.
“I was nice to you, asshole!”
“That was not nice, Carter. It was torture. Really good torture, but torture nonetheless …”
“That’s … how … I … deal … with … rejection … jerk!”
Nathan laughed and stilled his hands. “I didn’t reject you, crazy woman!”
Carter was out of breath— and tired as hell. “You’re so mean to me, Nathan,” she pouted breathlessly, then laid across Nathan’s lap. “And to think, I was so nice to you,” she said with a shrug and a sly smile. Carter was proud of her confidence in the bedroom. She was never really the one to initiate sex, even if she was in the mood, but there was something about being Nathan’s fiancée and not just his girlfriend that gave her a surge of confidence, and she liked it.
Carter yawned and stretched across his lap. She made sure to arch her back and let her hair fall back so that her breasts would be directly in Nathan’s line of sight. She smiled to herself when his eyes locked on them.
“Keep it up, Carter,” he warned, and Carter giggled. He muttered something in Russian, never taking his eyes off Carter’s breasts.
Low laughter sounded from across the room, “Jesus, son. Do you not remember your papa can understand you? Or do you just not care that I’ll never be able to un-hear that?” he said through soft laughter, never looking up from the work in his lap.
Nathan shrugged.
“I don’t even want to ask you what you said,” Carter muttered.
“No, you don’t,” Angelo said.
Carter hit Nathan’s arm, then wrapped her arms around his waist. “Hold me, Bubby,” she whispered.
He brought her closer to him. She looked up at him and smiled. He leaned forward and kissed her softly while hugging her close. They remained on the floor, cuddling while speaking to each other softly. Carter felt safe and relaxed in her fiancé’s arms.
She had been resting for only a moment before another person entered the living room.
“Good afternoon, everyone.”
Everyone in the room tensed visibly at the sound of the French-accented, female voice— everyone except Carter. She turned to her side on Nathan’s lap, and a sly smile appeared on her face.
Don’t say it, Carter. She saved your and Nathan’s lives. Don’t be a bitch!
But she was a bitch …
“Oh, my! Anastacia Stone? In my living room?” Carter exclaimed, feigning awe.
Shit! It’s okay. Just quit while you’re ahead.
She didn’t stop.
“Well, I personally like to call you ‘the mother I never knew’ … or ‘the bitch who abandoned me’, but those are just the little nicknames I like to use when talking about my mama,” Carter said with a little extra bite.
Shit! That’s not what she had planned to say! Carter shrugged. Oh well, I guess we’ll just see what happens now.
Anastacia’s soft chuckle filled the room.
5
Her Mother’s Daughter
Anastacia entered the living room and set down a large purse. “You are very funny, my little Carterina,” she spoke in French. “I am ready for whatever you have for me. Call me what you want, I’m here to stay,” Anastacia said softly as she turned and locked eyes with Carter.
Carter raised an eyebrow and met her mother’s stare head on. Here to stay? Yea, fucking right. “Are you now? Well, what if I don’t want you here?” Carter asked, speaking in French as well.
Anastacia shrugged. “I didn’t expect sudden acceptance into your life, Carterina.”
Carter snorted. “You needn’t expect any acceptance, Anastacia Stone,” she said dismissively. “I have no room nor desire for you to be in my life.” It may or may not have been a lie. Carter didn’t know what she wanted when it came to this woman. She still couldn’t believe she was here. Carter straightened her posture and became serious. “I appreciate what you did for me and my fiancé. You saved our lives, and for that I’m grateful,” she said genuinely. “But if you’re looking to ease your guilt for abandoning your only child—assuming I am your only child—or for not being there for me when I was seventeen years old and fatherless, then fine.” Carter shrugged tiredly. “Guilt lifted. You needn’t feel guilty that you weren’t present in my life before or after my father’s death. I can give you that much, but I can’t forgive you.”
Anastacia’s jaw clenched, and she frowned as an unreadable emotion flashed through her eyes. “I am not here to ask you to lift any guilt I may feel, Carterina. I did not abandon you, and you are indeed my only child . . .”
Carter’s mouth dropped open, and she drew in a deep, shaky breath as a wave of emotion suddenly hit her. “Didn’t abandon me?” Carter exclaimed in wounded outrage.
“No, Carterina,” Anastacia said in a pained voice. “I could never abandon you. I was always there. I wish you could understand how I feel, but I know you can’t,” her voice shook with suppressed emotion. “You are my child, my baby. I know everything about you. I watched you grow. I love you . . .”
“Stop,” Carter whispered in English. She didn’t want to hear more lest she be on the verge of doing something she shouldn’t do . . . couldn’t do . . . Or could she? She reminded herself that this was bullshit. This woman didn’t know her, didn’t love her, and would only abandon her again if she let her guard down. Carter needed to steel herself, and Anastacia needed to stop talking.
But she didn’t stop.
“I can’t stop.” She shook her head and her expression was pained. “I need to make you understand that I was there, always there. I wish it hadn’t been necessary for me to stay away from you, but I promise you that I had always planned to come back. Your father and I had plans, but he . . .” She only paused for a second, but the pain was obvious in her voice. “I am here because you’ve been missing for five years . . . That’s how long I’ve been looking for you, and now that I’ve found you, I will not lose you again. I love you too much,” she said firmly.
Carter stared at her mother. Angry tears sprung to her eyes. “You do not love me. Stop saying that!” she said sharply in English.
“Yes, I do, Carterina. I am your mother!” she argued. “You are my baby . . .”
“You are not my mother!” Carter screamed.
Anastacia flinched as if Carter had slapped her.
She felt Nathan lay a calming hand on her back, but Carter couldn’t be calmed. She pointed at Anastacia. “You are not my mother,” she said in a shaky voice as tears spilled from her eyes. “I don’t have a mother, and I don’t want one!” She was sure she had just lied, but she couldn’t relent. She pressed forward, determined to protect herself from further heartbreak caused by Anastacia Stone.
“You don’t mean that. I can see it in your eyes,” Anastacia whispered softly.
“I do mean it!” Carter lied again. She didn’t care what she secretly wanted. She would not let this woman bulldoze her way into her life just so she could hurt her all over again.
Anastacia frowned. “Carterina, you need to give me a chance to explain. There are a lot of things you don’t understand about why I couldn’t be visible in your life. You didn’t see me, but I was there. I’ve always been there. I won’t let you push me away. So stop with your lies! I already can see you don’t want me to leave, and I don’t want to leave you, either. We will figure this out,” she said, never taking her eyes from Carter’s.
Rage surged through Carter, and in a sudden rush of energy, she shot up from the floor. Nathan called her name, worried, but was calmed when Anastacia assured him she wouldn’t allow Carter to hurt herself.
Carter stormed closer to her mother, her face blanketed in hurt and anger. “We won’t be figuring out shit! You were not there! You’re a fucking liar!”
Anastacia’s jaw tightened. “I am not a liar, Carterina. I have no reason to lie to you.”
> “Bullshit!” Carter screamed. “If you were there, then where were you when those men came to my house? Where were you when they killed my father? And where the fuck were you when I was all alone for five years?”
Guilt and sadness flashed through Anastacia’s eyes. “I’m sorry, baby girl. You have no idea how badly I wished I could have been there, but we had to pull back . . . I . . . just need you to let me explain.”
Carter shook her head vigorously. “No. I don’t want you here.”
“Yes, you do. I can tell.”
“I don’t know what the fuck you think you see, but I don’t want you here!” she spat. “I’ve already thanked you for what you did, so just leave!”
Anastacia shook her head. “I’m not leaving you. Not again,” she said calmly.
“Just go!” Carter yelled in frustration, tears pouring from her eyes. “I didn’t need you then, and I don’t need you now!”
“Yes, you do! You need me just as much as I need you. I’m your mother.”
“Stop saying that!”
“Carterina,” she said her name in a pleading tone. “Please, sweetheart, just let me explain. You have to understand—”
“Stop!” Carter screamed. “I don’t want to hear any more! I don’t want to know the reason you abandoned me! I want you to leave! Get the hell out of my house!”
“Carter, I can’t go!” Anastacia yelled. “I can’t,” she said firmly. “I can’t leave you again. I can’t be a ghost in your life anymore. You’re my daughter! My only child! The only precious thing God has ever given me.” Anastacia’s voice began to shake with emotion as she spoke more quickly. “I never wanted to leave you. My plan was to disappear and raise you somewhere—far away from my fucked up life. Just us. But I couldn’t. My sins caught up with me, and I had no choice but to separate from you. I didn’t want to! I’ve lived in agony, wishing I could hold you, kiss away your tears, tell you how much I love you, and just . . .be your mother . . .” She took one step closer to Carter, who had gone silent. “I was young and stupid. I had gotten into some serious trouble, and I had no one to turn to but your father. You were just a baby, Carterina, and I did what I had to do to ensure your safety. I couldn’t be in your life, and you couldn’t know the truth about how much I loved you.” She took another step forward. “Your father had to pry you from my arms. It felt he was ripping my heart from my chest. It changed me—you changed me. I carried you inside my body. You’re a part of me . . . You’re all I have . . .” she whispered.
Dangerous Beauty: Part Two: A Mafia Princess Page 8