Falling for Carrick (Working Class Billionaires Book 1)

by Erica Breyer

  “Oh!” she gasped, momentarily surprised. “Oh…Oh…Oh…Oh, fuck!” She felt Carrick’s hands on her hips, holding her…watching, waiting. She wasn’t ashamed. The heat of his eyes told her that he wasn’t far behind. But this was her moment. “Ohhhh…” She exhaled, collapsing against him, her stomach muscles still clenching and spasming. Aftershocks. “Wow.” His hands were in her hair, cradling her head against his neck.

  He was rock-hard inside her, and she clenched her core muscles, slowly…deliberately. He sucked in a breath, his fingers tightening into her golden curls, almost painfully. But nothing was painful right now. She clenched again and was met with an answering thrust. He didn’t release his grip on her hair, tightening more and pulling her back a little. Her back was arched, and he leaned forward to take a nipple into his mouth. That hot mouth. That swirling tongue. She ran her fingers behind his head and held his face against her chest as he thrust into her. That earlier wave was building again, and Kelly felt her eyes flash open. Her breath caught, shuddered slightly, and he lifted a hand to slide between where their bodies were pressed together…sliding together, sought out the tingling nub… Just there! She jerked forward against him as another orgasm rippled through her.

  He looked up at her face as she twisted and writhed. It didn’t bother her at all. She was about to return the favor.

  “God, you’re killing me,” she murmured huskily against his lips as she came down from her second high. He chuckled. The movement shivered through to where their bodies joined, and he tensed. She could see ripples of gooseflesh raising the skin up his throat. She licked it, tasting salt.

  “Your turn,” she murmured and tightened those devilish core muscles again.

  “My turn?” he asked. Their foreheads were pressed together, their eyes locked. She raised and lowered her hips, slowly…excruciatingly slowly. She nodded, gave a smile. Then clenched. Tightened. He groaned, and she thanked heaven for Kegel. And somehow… ‘What the hell?’ Somehow…that spasm of pleasure was building again. When Carrick rocked into her to finally find release, she met him with her own, riding the wave with him.

  ∞∞∞

  Later…it seemed like so much later…Carrick shifted. Their bodies were still locked together. Although not rigid, there was enough there for him to be buried deep. Kelly wasn’t going anywhere.

  “So…about lunch…” he said. Kelly raised her head from his shoulder. Her hair clung damply to her forehead.

  “Are you hungry?” she asked.

  “I could eat,” Carrick replied.

  “May I make a suggestion?” Kelly said, bobbing her eyebrows. Carrick chuckled as she slid up his chest and pressed his face between her thighs, supporting herself on the back of the couch. Insatiable. He brought it out in her.

  It was even later when they eventually untangled themselves for long enough to catch a breath.

  “I invited you here for lunch!” Carrick objected as Kelly nibbled her way up his ribcage.

  “And I’ve eaten,” she answered, licking her lips.

  “That’s not what I meant,” Carrick answered, tugging her up to meet his eyes. “We need food.”

  “If you don’t get it, will you die?” she asked, dropping her hand to a place she’d discovered would turn him to jelly. He jerked at her touch.

  “Well…if you make sure I have oxygen…and water…I might last…days…” She released him abruptly, and he sagged. “Witch!”

  Kelly wrinkled her nose at him and stretched across the bed. They’d finally found their way there after turning the living room couch into their personal sex playground. And then the kitchen, where he’d plowed into her on the granite island. At this rate, it would take a week for her to see the rest of the apartment. Kelly had no objections.

  Her silver shoes were abandoned at the foot of the bed. She’d kicked them off, afraid of ripping the sheets when his head had dropped between her legs. Carrick made her atone by sucking her toes into his mouth.

  “Stop!” she’d shrieked. “My feet are filthy!”

  “They look fine to me,” Carrick replied, examining her pink-tipped toes. He held her ankle and grazed the stubble of his jawline along her sensitive instep. Her shrieks and squirms turned into something else when he lowered his hand between her thighs to a spot that was quickly becoming his favorite place in the world. Kelly clenched the sheets in one hand and grasped her hair with the other, back arching. He didn’t think he had it in him for another round, but he couldn’t get enough of her. Would never get enough of her.

  “That’s it! I can’t take anymore!” she’d moaned, minutes later.

  “But it looked like you were having such a good time,” he murmured, sliding up onto the bed beside her and brushing her lips with his. “So, can we eat now?” The sun was setting outside. Lunch was about to become dinner.

  “Food again? Is that all you ever think about?” she teased.

  “Clearly not.” He stroked a hand down her chest.

  “I don’t know where my clothes are.” She frowned, glancing around. He was pretty sure her dress was still on the floor near the couch. It was anyone’s guess where her panties were. Although her fragrance was so wired into his senses at this stage, he could probably sniff them out like a scent hound.

  “I’ll order in,” he said, sliding off the bed and looking around for something to put on. He’d left a pair of gym pants over a chair earlier and reached for them.

  “Nuh-uh-uh,” Kelly said from behind him. He glanced over his shoulder. She was wagging a finger at him. “I like you just like that. Buck-nekkid!” He dropped the pants and headed out of the bedroom to find his phone, chuckling as she wolf-whistled after him.

  Chapter 14

  They ate pizza naked and cross-legged on the plush carpet in the living room. Kelly had relented and allowed him to don a pair of shorts to answer the delivery guy but yanked them right off again when he returned with the box.

  “A body like this should never be covered,” she announced, trailing her eyes over him shamelessly.

  Carrick loved how natural and confident she was with her sexuality, her body. His own hard physique was probably born from a sense of inadequacy. Too much of what he did was about proving something to the world. He didn’t think about it too much; ultimately, his issues had served him well. He knew he was in great shape. Somehow, though, he envied Kelly’s attitude more. She had such balance to her. He sensed it had something to do with the people she was surrounded by. Her tight family unit. It didn’t seem strange that she still lived with her mother. He almost felt jealous of it.

  “Nice place,” she said now, interrupting his thoughts. “Where’s your friend gone to?”

  “Hmmm?” Carrick responded, slightly confused for a second.

  “Your friend? The one whose apartment you’re looking after? What’s his name?”

  “Oh. Ummm...Lester. He’s gone on a business trip,” he improvised. Shit.

  “Yeah? Where to?” She’d finished a slice of pizza, was licking greasy fingers. Such beautiful lips…

  “Dunno. Didn’t ask.” Shit shit shit.

  “You guys must be close? For him to let you stay here like this?” She wasn’t letting up.

  “Sure. Old college buddy. He doesn’t like to leave his place empty.” His lies were going to get him into trouble. He could just feel it.

  “Looks like he did pretty well for himself. This apartment must be worth a fortune.” She took a sip of chilled wine from a coffee mug. He’d had a bottle in the refrigerator. She’d refused to use a wine glass, convinced she was going to knock it over and ruin the carpet. Carrick could care less.

  “Yup.” He didn’t comment further. He owned the entire block. “Hey,” he changed the subject, “we should probably move your car to the inside parking bay. I assume you parked outside?”

  “Good thinking,” she agreed, finally reaching for her crumpled sundress. He knew now why she’d objected to him putting his shorts on. Such a pity to cover up all that
loveliness. She was looking around, searching for her panties. Carrick had found them when he called for dinner. They were tucked into his shorts pocket. He wasn’t giving them back. Kelly headed to the bedroom to retrieve her shoes, still looking around the sitting room as she returned and slipped them on. Carrick dressed quickly and reached for her hand, tugging her towards the elevator.

  “But my—"

  “Leave them.” He grinned devilishly. It made him harden a little, knowing she was bare beneath the skirt. She grinned back.

  It only took a couple of minutes to pull her car into the private parking area and ease it into a bay beside his old pickup.

  “You brought an overnight bag?” he asked as she reached into the trunk. She nodded. “Cheeky wench.”

  “Says the man who had a strip of condoms in his back pocket,” she shot back.

  “Hey! Are you complaining?”

  “Oh, hell no!” she laughed. He racked his brain, wondering if he’d left another stash of the things somewhere in his apartment. He didn’t have women over often. And never like this. Never with this level of intimacy or ease. It was something he’d never understood or appreciated before. Relationships had never been a priority.

  “Wow,” she breathed, stopping behind a low, dark beast parked next to his truck. “Nice car. What is it?” She was examining the crest. Not a car person.

  “Bugatti,” he answered, pulling her away.

  “Lester’s?” she asked.

  “Uhhh, yeah,” he said quickly.

  “Sheesh...aren’t those things expensive? Like…millions?”

  Around twelve before taxes, but who was counting? “No idea, never thought to ask,” Carrick answered.

  “Lester must be doing really well for himself,” she carried on as they waited for the elevator to arrive.

  “Mmmhmmm,” he replied. Maybe moving her car wasn’t such a good idea after all.

  “What does he do? For a living, I mean?”

  “Law.” Dammit, this was getting out of hand!

  “Like your dad?” Could she just quit it already?

  “No.” The doors slid open, and Carrick pushed her into the small space, running a hand under her dress, meeting bare flesh.

  Kelly made a sharp little sound. “Oh!”

  All thoughts of ‘Lester’ vanished without a trace.

  Chapter 15

  A persistent noise dragged Kelly from sleep the next morning. She scowled, not wanting to move from where she was lying, curled against Carrick’s side, one arm draped over his chest. His face was beautiful in rest, and she wanted to watch him for a while. Wanted to trace the straight line of his nose. Stroke the stubble on his jaw. Touch the little cleft in his chin…

  The noise continued. It was her phone, and it wasn’t going to let up. Thankfully she’d left it on the bedside table with her watch the night before. She picked it up, recognizing the caller ID.

  “Jarrod?” she said. “What’s up?”

  “Kelly... It’s Mom.”

  ∞∞∞

  Kelly was showered and dressed within minutes.

  “Let me take you through,” Carrick urged, carrying her bag towards her car as they hurried through the parking area.

  She shook her head. “It’s fine, it’ll be easier if Jarrod and I sort this out together,” she answered him. Bonnie had complained of a headache that morning. It must have been bad because she seldom said anything about her attacks. Shortly afterward, she’d collapsed. Jarrod had called an ambulance to take her to the hospital where Dr. Harrison was waiting. He’d stayed behind to pack a bag for her and was about to head over there. She would meet him on arrival. They’d get feedback from Dr. Harrison together.

  “I don’t want you to go through this alone,” Carrick murmured into her hair as he held her before she left. “Promise you’ll call me if there’s anything I can do. Promise you’ll call me anyway.”

  “Okay,” she answered, taking a shuddering breath. “I can’t believe I wasn’t there for her. I should’ve—”

  “Don’t beat yourself up, Kelly,” he stopped her. “Bonnie would never want you to do that.”

  Kelly knew he was right, but it didn’t make her feel any better. “I know,” she acknowledged. “I have to go.”

  He tightened his arms for a moment, brushing his lips against her forehead then watching her climb into her car. “Take care. I…”

  She gave a tight smile, then glanced over her shoulder as she reversed out of the parking lot. Carrick stood watching as she left. He raked a hand through his hair and inhaled deeply.

  He had to tell her. The timing was terrible, but if the very worst happened and he came clean then… He didn’t know how she’d handle his confession if she was dealing with grief. It was selfish…but not entirely.

  ‘Fuck, I’m such a dick.’

  He had to tell her as soon as possible.

  ∞∞∞

  Kelly was fighting back tears when she ran into the foyer of the hospital. Jarrod’s last message said that he’d meet her at the oncology unit, and she skimmed through the list of departments on the board beside the Reception desk to find the right floor.

  They’d always been to Mom’s treatments at Dr. Harrison’s medical suite, and it felt overwhelming to be navigating the maze of hospital corridors. It made the reality of the situation seem harsher somehow. She spotted Jarrod moments before he turned and saw her. She reached out and hugged him briefly, then stepped back. His blue eyes were dark with anxiety.

  “I just got here,” he said, raising the small overnight bag he’d brought for their mother. “Mom’s in room B9.” They quickly made their way down the corridor, glancing at room numbers until they reached the right door. A nurse was coming out wheeling a trolley laden with monitors and equipment.

  “Hi,” she said with the voice of a professional caregiver. Warm, gentle, neutral. “Are you looking for Mrs. Hanson?” Jarrod nodded. “She’s asleep, but you can go in if you want to. Doctor has just left, but he’ll be back shortly. They’ve run a few tests, and he’ll want to go through the results with you.”

  Kelly and Jarrod tiptoed into the room. Bonnie was propped against crisp pillows, her face pale against the hospital linen. She’d been changed into a hospital gown, and the pale blue fabric made her lack of color seem worse.

  “She has her own room?” Kelly said to Jarrod as she began unpacking the little bag, using the cupboard beside the bed.

  “Yeah,” he said. “When I spoke to Dr. Harrison earlier, he said everything’s been covered. She’ll have whatever she needs.” Kelly gave a sigh of relief, feeling a rush of gratitude for the company funding. It would have been impossible to face the pressure of finding a way to pay for all this right now. Their mother hadn’t been able to afford high-end medical insurance, and her plan would never have stretched to this level of care.

  Kelly walked to the head of the bed and gazed down at the resting woman, stroking her forehead. She was still so beautiful, even after all she’d been through. Kelly felt a sob building and fought it down. She couldn’t imagine her life without her mother in it.

  “She’s going to be okay, sis,” Jarrod said from behind her. His hand was on her shoulder.

  “Yes, she is,” she said, praying it would be true. She turned quickly as the door opened and Dr. Harrison entered the room.

  “Hello, Kelly, Jarrod,” he said. His voice held the same combination of warmth and neutrality that the nurse’s had earlier. He got straight to the point. “I have the results of your mother’s latest tests, and I’d like to discuss them with you. Would you like to take a seat?”

  Kelly shook her head, reaching for Jarrod’s hand. “Hi, Dr. Harrison. I’d prefer to stand. What can you tell us? Is Mom...going to be okay?” She had to know the worst. Had to prepare herself.

  “Kelly, the results are troubling,” he answered. “As you know, the initial treatment hadn’t been as effective as expected. The subsequent protocol was a lot more proactive but also didn’t yie
ld the results we wanted. This tumor has become quite aggressive. It is now compromising brain health considerably. I had hoped that the treatment would buy us some time, but it seems that hasn’t happened. We need to operate as soon as possible. I’d say within a couple of days. Three at the very latest.”

  Jarrod’s fingers tightened on hers. “Will Dr. Schroeder be available?” Kelly asked anxiously. They’d anticipated the surgery, but at the last meeting, Dr. Harrison had planned to book it for Dr. Schroeder’s next scheduled trip to the States. That wasn’t for another two weeks.

  “I’m going to be honest with you, Kelly, this may be tricky. I’ve been in contact with Dr. Schroeder to discuss the matter with him. He has a full theatre schedule this week. The flights and surgery will require at least two days of his time – and that would be an optimistic estimate,” Dr. Harrison answered.

  Kelly’s mind raced. Flights? Time? The logistics were suddenly mind-boggling, but what worried her most was the cost. It hadn’t occurred to her that they might have to fly the surgeon in. How would that work? Dr. Harrison’s voice broke into her panicky thoughts.

  “I must also add that we are still looking at a risky surgery here. Dr. Schroeder is the best in his field, but there is still a chance of complications. We may be faced with permanent damage. Motor skills may be affected. Speech might be impaired. Vision. Be prepared for a possible rehabilitation period,” he advised. “And of course, all surgery carries a slight chance of mortality.”

  “And if she doesn’t have the surgery?” asked Jarrod. Kelly couldn’t find her voice at that moment.

  “That’s not an option right now,” Dr. Harrison said. He didn’t elaborate. He didn’t need to.

  “Okay.” Jarrod’s voice was a whisper.

  “We’ll need to finalize some paperwork for administration purposes. Consent forms and the like. We will be in touch with your employer, Kelly. As you know, they have undertaken to cover all costs. I’ve been given a 24-hour contact number to liaise with. Our financial department will be in touch with them to address these latest developments,” Dr. Harrison continued, crisply. He put his hand on Jarrod’s shoulder and met Kelly’s eyes. “I want you to know that we are going to take the best possible care of your mother.” His warm smile softened the tension in the room slightly. As he headed for the door, Kelly sagged into a chair beside the bed, resting her head in her hands.