He leaned down to kiss me and we stopped moving. We stood there, in the middle of the dance floor, just kissing each other until the song ended.
The DJ came on and announced that was the last slow song of the night and the dance party was starting. It immediately changed into a fast song. I had no idea what to do so I started watching the people around me. They were all grinding with each other. I looked up at him and he brought his mouth down to my ear. “I completely understand if you are not up for that. We could always go sit down somewhere.”
“No. I’m done letting what happened to me in the past affect my present. I don’t really know what to do, though, so you’ll have to be patient with me.”
“Okay, baby, come here then.” He pulls me against him so I am standing with my back to him. He then puts his hands on my hips and slowly starts to move side to side. This was actually really nice. Where am I supposed to put my hands?
I rest my hands on Carter’s and I feel him start to get hard behind me. He stiffens and I know he is unsure of how I am going to react. I have to show him that this is okay.
I lean my body back into him and turn my head to the side to see him. I smile at him while wrapping my arms around his neck. He leans down and kisses me, but it isn’t sweet like before. I can feel his desperation and need in this kiss. I start moving my hips in little circles against him and he groans in my ear.
“Maddy, I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.” His voice is deep and rough, sending chills through my body.
I start watching the girls around me and taking ideas from them. I decide to try one of their moves. I lean forward, putting my hands on my knees and pushing my ass into Carter’s bulge. I start moving it in little circles. I could tell he liked it from the way he gripped my hips tighter.
Chapter Nineteen
Carter
She is driving me crazy. At first I could tell she needed me to guide her but after she wraps her hands around the back of my neck, she seems to take over from there. When she bent over, I was a goner.
This felt so damn good and, after consistently getting worked up these past couple days with no relief, it wasn’t going to take me long to get there. We couldn’t do this in the middle of the club though, could we?
I pull her up so I can whisper in her ear. “Maddy, baby, this feels so good. But unless you want me to come right on this dance floor, I think we need to take a break.”
She laughs at me and then resumes grinding her sexy ass against my throbbing dick. This can’t really be happening. She reaches around my neck again and starts to play with my hair. Then, she turns her head to the side and starts to kiss up and down my neck. “Baby, listen-”
“Carter, it’s okay. I know you need this and it’s kind of exciting.” She kissed me and when she took my bottom lip in between her teeth and pulled, I lost it.
I knew I was close. Between her rubbing up against me and how forward she was being, it would be any minute. She did the thing where she bent over again and I couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Fuck, Maddy!” I can’t believe I just did that. I feel like a fucking teenager all over again. This is going to be an uncomfortable drive home.
She turned to me with the biggest smile on her face. She is enjoying this! “You ready to go home?”
“Yeah, let’s get out of here.”
When we get back home, Anthony and my dad are sitting on the couch. Dad took one look at me and could tell something was up. “What the hell are you walking like that for?”
I hear Maddy giggling behind me. I am gonna get her for this later. “Someone spilled a drink on me at the club. I’m gonna go take a shower.” Maddy sits down in the living room. “You gonna stay out here?”
“Yeah, just let me know when you’re done. I could use a shower too.”
Anthony butts in. “Just take a shower with the poor guy! He did work hard on your birthday, you know!” I walk over and punch him hard in the arm. “OW! Dude, I was just trying to help you out!” I look over at Maddy and she is blushing. “Whatever. I’m gonna head out. Paul is having a party tonight. Have fun not showering together. I always knew you were gay!”
All I could do was shake my head. “I’ll see you in a couple minutes, okay?”
“Okay.”
Madison
I am sitting in the living room, watching TV with Carter’s dad and thinking about how perfect today had been. “So, how was your birthday?”
“It was perfect. I can’t believe he did all of this for me. You really raised an amazing man.”
Carter’s dad smiles at me. “Thank you. I was worried when his mom first passed away, but all of them have turned out really well. Even Anthony, although sometimes I wanna duct tape his mouth closed.” I couldn’t help but laugh at that. “He really cares a lot about you.”
“I care about him a lot, too, probably more than you know.”
“That’s good to hear.”
I hear the bathroom door and Carter yell out to me that he is done. “Well, I’m going to go get in the shower. Thank you again for everything, I really had a great time here.”
“You’re welcome here anytime, honey.”
I couldn’t resist it. I walk over and give his dad a hug. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, sweetheart, and Happy Birthday again.”
“Thank you.”
When I get out of the shower and go into the room, Carter is already in bed. I climb in and snuggle up to him. “Did you have a good birthday?”
“I had the best birthday I’ve ever had. Truthfully, it’s probably been the best day of my life.”
“Good, I’m glad.” He leans down and gives me a kiss.
A few minutes pass and I thought maybe now might be a good time to talk about Chris. I didn’t want to do it at dinner earlier. I still wasn’t ready to tell Carter everything, but I had to let him in, he deserved it. “Carter, did you still want to talk?”
No answer.
“Carter?”
I looked up at him and he was asleep.
“Goodnight, Carter...I love you.”
* * *
I wake up the next morning feeling out of it. This is just great. I am getting sick. I slept most of the ride back to campus. Carter walks me to my room, and only agrees to leave because Nicole is there.
I usually love the way Carter always wants to be around me, but not when I am sick. I knew he was waiting for me to bring up Chris too. He is getting back tomorrow afternoon, and I am dreading that conversation.
I barely make it through all of my classes on Monday. I am so sick, all I want to do is sleep. Chris called when he got back into town but once he knew I was sick, he said he was staying away from me. However, Carter was regularly dropping off tea and soup to me. He makes me so unbelievably happy. By Wednesday, I was feeling better and asked Chris if he’d come over to talk to me after my classes. Carter had work tonight and tomorrow night, and Nicole had gotten me a part time-job and my first shift was tomorrow.
Chris met me outside my last class and we walked to my room together. Nicole said she’d stay out till later tonight.
“So, what was so important that you needed me to come over, Madison?”
I am so scared. I wish Carter could have been here with me. I know that would have made it so much worse, though. “Chris, I…I just…I don’t want to do this anymore.” My voice is shaking the entire time.
His head snaps up and he glares at me. “Do what exactly?”
“Us. I want to break up.” There, I said it. For a moment I feel like a burden has been lifted.
He walks over to me and stands in front of me. “Does this have something to do with Carter James?”
“I’m sorry, Chris, but yes.” He slaps me across my face. I yelp in pain as I take a step away from him.
“You are not going to leave me, Madison.” He pushes me to the ground.
“This is not what’s going to happen!”
Kick in the ribs.
“Especia
lly not for someone like Carter.”
Kick in the back.
He leans down and wraps his hands around my throat. “I already told my parents you were coming home with me for winter break. You will not make a fool out of me. Do you understand?”
I could only nod my head. I am starting to get lightheaded and I feel like I am going to pass out. He took his hands off of my neck and I struggled to be able to breathe normally.
“Now, you’re going to talk to that asshole on Friday and tell him you chose me, right?” I nodded again. “If you think about trying to trick me, Madison, just remember that I now have a license to carry. In his case, that means I have a license to kill.”
No! I won’t let him hurt Carter. I’m not sure how I’m going to do this to him, but I have to.
* * *
Friday morning, Chris came with me to make sure I told Carter exactly what he said to. When he sees me coming he smiles, then he sees Chris behind me and his whole body stiffens. When we get closer, he reaches out his hand to me and Chris slaps it away. “Don’t you touch my girl.”
The look on Carter’s face is horrible. “What do you mean ‘your girl’? Maddy, what’s going on?”
I can’t look him in the eye because if I do, I won’t be able to do this. “Carter, I don’t want to be with you. You were just a way to pass the time. I want to be with Chris. We never had anything real between us.”
He leans down to look at me. “No, Maddy, I can see it in your eyes. What did he do? Don’t do this because of him!”
Chris just laughs. “You’re making yourself look pathetic. Oh, and here, take this.” He threw my birthday present at Carter. I hate that Chris took that from me too. I tried to tell him it was from Nicole, but he saw right through me.
The look on his face will haunt me in every dream I have from now on. “Maddy, please, wait! Talk to me, dammit!”
I swear, I think he has tears in his eyes. I am walking away from Carter, the only person I’ve ever loved and who loved me in return. Not only that, but I am doing it for someone who, I have no doubt, will eventually beat me so badly that I may never recover.
I had to do it, though. I love Carter so much. If being with Chris keeps him safe, then I’ll gladly do it.
I’d do anything for him.
Chapter Twenty
Carter
This can’t be happening! It doesn’t make any sense! I just saw her two days ago! I need to get to her when he isn’t there. She loves me, I know she does.
The fact that he had the nerve to throw my necklace at me made my blood boil. The person that I was talking to wasn’t Maddy. It was just a shell of her. I need to see if Nicole knows anything. I pull out my phone to text her, but I am so angry that my hands were shaking.
Me: What’s going on with Maddy? She just broke up with me for Chris and he was there through the whole thing.
Nicole: He’s been at our room since Wednesday, I swear he hasn’t left once.
Me: Are they really together?
Nicole: They say they are, but something is up.
Me: I think so too.
* * *
Maddy hasn’t been in classes all week and, apparently, she hasn’t been back to her room, either. She never showed up for the job Nicole got her, and she was so excited about it. I haven’t really slept since last Friday. I need to see her.
Tonight is the winter social and I know she is going to be there. Chris and his asshole fraternity brothers are the types who feel like they need to be seen there. This is my last chance to get through to her. Nicole texted me and said Chris came today and got all of her stuff.
Apparently, he is taking her home for winter break. I decided not to go home. I couldn’t face the questions my family would ask.
Being without her this past week was torture. I know that this isn’t her choice, but I don’t know if there is anything I can do to get her back.
I have felt like a zombie all week. I was here, but my mind and heart were somewhere else. I don’t know how I am going to move on if it was really over. She is the only girl I’ve ever fallen for and I’m not ready to give up on her.
Madison
The night of the winter social is finally here, and I am dreading it. I want to be there with Carter. I needed to find him. I have to tell him that I love him, and that I need help.
Chris hasn’t let me out of his sight since that day. When he is in class, one of his friends is assigned to babysit me and keep me in the house.
He made me email all of my teachers, and arrange to do the rest of the work outside of class. I was a pretty good student and didn’t have any absences before now so they were understanding. I almost wanted them not to be, though, so I could go to campus and try to see him.
I tried to leave one day and Chris’ friend texted him. He came home and beat the shit out of me because he knew where I was trying to go. I haven’t even seen Carter since last Friday when I told him I wanted to be with Chris. The look on his face killed me and I can’t get it out of my mind. I have to find a way to get him alone tonight, I just have to.
When I come out of the bedroom, Chris is sitting on the couch. “You took all that time getting ready and that’s the best you could do? Come on, let’s go before I change my mind.” Getting a glimpse of what love was the few days I had with Carter has made coming back to this life unbearable. He grabs my hand and takes me to the car.
Once we are in the car, he turns to me, grabs my face hard with one hand, and my neck with the other so I have no choice but to look directly at him. “You better not try any shit tonight, Madison. You stay away from Carter James, or you’ll regret it. Do you understand me?” I nod my head, and fight the tears that want to come out. It only makes Chris madder when I cry.
As soon as we get to the winter social, I am looking for Carter. He has to come tonight. This is my only opportunity because Chris is making me leave with him tomorrow, but I want nothing more than to spend Christmas with Carter.
I feel him before I see him. It is like my body could sense him. Chris is talking to his fraternity brothers so I turn around. When my eyes catch his, I almost lose it.
He looks horrible, like he hasn’t slept or eaten at all. He is with Nicole. She looks at me like she wants to come up and knock some sense into me. I truthfully wouldn’t blame her for it, either. I should have gone to one of them for help. I should have asked someone to be with me that day.
We’ve already been here for about an hour and Chris said we aren’t staying long because he has to drive tomorrow. I nod my head toward the bathrooms, and Carter seems to understand what I am saying. I let him go before I say anything to Chris. He hasn’t noticed him yet, and I want to keep it that way.
I touch Chris’s arm to get his attention and he looks down at me, as if I am a child interrupting an adult conversation. “I need to go to the bathroom.”
“Okay, make sure you come right back.” I nod my head and walk away.
It takes all the control I have not to run because I know Carter is waiting for me. I see him and run right up to him, wrapping my arms around him.
“Maddy, what’s going on? Why haven’t you been in class for a week, and why did you move out of the dorms? I thought we had something, but then you went back to him. You told me that it was over and that I was the one you wanted and then, as soon as we get back, you leave me. You gave me my necklace back. You don’t know how bad that hurt me. I don’t know what’s going on, but I just need to tell you something I should have said two weeks ago. I love you, Madison Stevens.”
Oh my god. He just said he loved me! “Carter, I-”
I feel a hand grip me around my waist. FUCK! I look up and Chris is standing there. “I’m ready to leave. Let’s go.”
“Maddy, you don’t need to leave with him. He doesn’t own you. What were you about to say?” He is pleading with me once again, it’s just like last week.
Chris tugs me closer to him. “I told you to stay away from my girl, Carter. She doesn
’t want you anymore. She made that pretty clear last week. Tell him you don’t want him so we can go home.”
Chris’ hand that is on my back flexes and his nails start to dig into my skin. I just kept replaying his threats over and over in my head. I can’t let him hurt Carter. I’d rather he took his anger out on me. I’m used to it.
“Carter, I’m with Chris now. I don’t want to be with you.” I can’t believe I am able to get those words out. His face breaks my heart all over again. He just told me that he loved me and I am leaving...again.
Chris laughs. “See, I told you that you weren’t wanted.”
That was so far from the truth. Carter just looks at me. “I’m sorry I bothered you. You look beautiful tonight, Maddy.” Then he walks away, taking every piece of my heart with him.
Chris leans down to whisper in my ear, “I fucking warned you. Let’s go home now.” I don’t even care what he is going to do to me. Nothing could be worse than what just happened. I barely remember leaving. I am just going through the motions because nothing really matters anymore.
Chris doesn’t say anything the whole way home. When we get to the house, he goes straight for his bottle of tequila, pours a glass, leans against the counter, and stares at me. After a couple minutes, I mumble that I am going to go get dressed for bed. When I come back out fifteen minutes later, half of the bottle of tequila is gone.
“Did you fuck him, you little whore?”
“What?” I could smell the alcohol on his breath from across the room, and I know tonight is going to be bad.
Fall for Me Page 7