Touched by You

by Elle Wright

  Ouch.

  “I didn’t mean that the way it came out.” He squeezed her leg. “I meant that your last name didn’t matter to me. I’m sure it matters to most people, but not to me.”

  “It’s when you say things like that . . . I want to jump on your lap or something.” Her eyes widened and she slapped her hand over her mouth.

  Carter laughed, pulling her hand from her face. “It’s okay.”

  “Oh my God, did I just put it out there like that?”

  Yes, she was attracted to him. That much was obvious. She liked being with him, hanging out talking about nothing in particular. She liked the way he stared at her, the way his eyes followed her every movement. It could have been a side effect of being so close to him. They lived next door, seemed to always run into each other. But she didn’t think so.

  Plain and simple, she wanted to be with him. But more importantly, she wanted him to do her. Hard. All night.

  He scratched the back of his neck. “I’m not complaining.”

  His gaze dropped to her mouth, sending a thrill through her body. She wondered what she could say, what it would take to propel him forward the last few inches.

  “What’s your magic word?” she asked.

  He raised a brow. “My magic word?” he repeated.

  She finished her wine in one gulp and set the glass down on the table. “You like control. We’ve already established that. But what is that one word that will get you to lose it with me? What do I have to say to get you to do what you described to me this morning?”

  The smirk that played across his face was downright adorable. And she melted. He reached out and traced her lips with his thumb. She licked the tip of his thumb, enjoying the way his eyes narrowed on her.

  He feathered his fingers down her cheek. His touch was warm, warmer than the wine that slid down her throat. Will I ever grow tired of his hand on my skin? She loved the way it felt when he touched her. Her body loved it, too, because every inch of her responded to him like she was metal to his magnet.

  Deciding to take the initiative, Brooklyn climbed on his lap. Hell, she didn’t have to work in the morning. All she had was time to explore Mr. Carter Marshall. And she would.

  His grip was tight on her hips, holding her in place, keeping her from making intimate contact. But she still felt him, though—his hard length pressed against her inner thigh. “Brooklyn, I—”

  Bending down, she licked his neck, bit down hard on his shoulder. “Tell me to stop.”

  * * *

  With one move, Carter tossed Brooklyn on her back and settled between her legs. They fit. He had tried hard not to react, because he knew that if he let go even a little bit, he would be lost. But she was determined to make this hard for him.

  Wrapping her legs around his waist, she rolled her hips.

  He groaned, pushing forward. “Brooklyn,” he murmured against her mouth.

  She slipped her hands under his shirt, dragged her nails across his back, digging in. It was her fault he’d lost every shred of control he had. She moved her hips, sliding herself against his hardness.

  “The magic word”—he nuzzled her nose with his, before he brushed his lips against hers—“is please. Say please.”

  “Please,” she whispered, her breath catching in her throat when he pushed against her.

  “You’re so damn beautiful.” He reached between them, palming her in his hand. “And you’re so damn wet.” He rubbed her clit through her thin panties. “You want me to taste you.”

  Brooklyn nodded.

  “I can’t hear you.” He slipped her shirt up and off. “Say it.”

  Carter grinned when she growled out a tense yes. He nipped at her chin and made his way lower, kissing her as he descended. He took his time, sucking each of her nipples until she cried out his name. He dipped his tongue into her belly button, then pulled her shorts off.

  Tracing the line of her panties with his tongue, he pushed down on her clit through the thin cotton. She arched off the couch. “Carter, please.”

  Carter slid onto his knees and peered up at her. “Say it again.”

  “Please,” she whimpered, biting down on her lip.

  He gripped her panties and ripped them off of her, flinging them across the room. His heart pounded in his ears as he buried his face in her core, licking and sucking until she begged for mercy. But he couldn’t stop. He wouldn’t stop. He continued, taking pleasure from her moans, from the way she held him to her, from the way she rolled her hips against his tongue. She came on a hoarse scream, her body shaking wildly as her orgasm rolled through her.

  The silence of the room was drowned out by the turmoil in his head. He pulled back, took in the way her body looked after receiving pleasure. It was lithe, ready to be taken fully. But he was hesitant about taking it too far.

  Carter recognized the need in her eyes when she’d asked him what his magic word was. And he wanted to give her what she wanted. Damn, he wanted it more than he’d ever wanted anything.

  “Carter?”

  He met her curious stare. “Yes?” He kissed his way back up her body to her lips. Settling between her thighs, he deepened the kiss and let her taste herself on his tongue.

  Reaching between them, she stroked him through his sweats. “Take these off,” she ordered. “You have on too many clothes.”

  She pushed his pants down, and he kicked them off the rest of the way. He reached back and pulled his T-shirt off. “Better?” he asked.

  Smiling up at him, she bit down on his chin. She was spicy, unafraid to show him just how much she wanted him. “Much.”

  “I can’t get enough of you, spicy.” He kissed her. “I want this. Do you believe me?”

  She searched his face. “I do.”

  He rested his forehead against hers. Carter knew himself. Being with Brooklyn like this meant something to him. And he needed her to know that. “But I need you to be sure.”

  “I’m sure. Carter, stop thinking so hard. You can be free with me, I won’t break. What do you want?”

  To bend you over this couch and take you hard and fast. “You,” he answered.

  She studied him, almost as if she could see right through him, to his soul. “Then take me to bed.”

  It was a silent dare. Rocking her hips, she snapped the waist band of his boxer briefs. “I think you still have on too many clothes.”

  He stood then, pushing his underwear down to the ground. He gripped her wrist and yanked her to her feet, her body crashing into his. Skin to skin, he took her mouth in a kiss, lifted her in his arms and walked her back to his bedroom.

  * * *

  Take me to bed is a figure of speech. Brooklyn didn’t mean it literally, because she would have given it to him right there on his couch. The short walk to his room was too long. She was on fire for this man, wanted to do everything with him.

  He stopped in the hallway, pressed her back against the wall. Yes, right here. He buried his face in her neck. “Brooklyn, you’re driving me crazy.” He gently bit down on her neck, before soothing the area with his tongue.

  “It’s okay,” she whispered. “I’m already crazy, so . . .”

  He chuckled. “Damn, you make me want to do things to you.”

  She sucked his earlobe into her mouth and scraped her teeth against it. “Freaky things? Tell me.”

  There was nothing sexier to Brooklyn than a man that knew how to articulate exactly how he wanted her. She loved dirty talk, and it drove her wild to know how she affected a man.

  They moved again, finally stepping into his room. He tossed her on the bed, and she burst out laughing. He’s playful. I love it. Scrambling to her knees, she scooted toward him. Brooklyn trailed her fingers over his sculpted chest, tracing his hard muscles.

  Gripping him in her hand, she squeezed, smiling when his eyes rolled into the back of his head. She kissed his neck as she stroked him. His hand on her wrist stopped her. “Problem?” she asked.

  “I want inside you.
Now.”

  She fell back against the mattress. “Come here, then.” He climbed over her, taking her nipple in his mouth, sucking it and pinching the other. He brushed his fingers over her clit, circling it until she let out a frustrated groan. “Carter, please.”

  “You’re not ready yet.” He pushed one finger inside her, then two, pumping slowly. She rode his fingers hard, chasing the release that had been building since they’d started the trip to his bedroom. His thumb was replaced by his tongue, lapping at her like she was his favorite meal. And when he sucked her clit into his mouth, she came. Loudly.

  He kissed her down to earth again, resting his body against hers. “Tell me to stop,” he said. He’d used her own words on her.

  Shaking her head, she said, “No, because I don’t want you to stop.”

  Then he pushed inside her. Her mouth fell open on a wordless sigh. This is really happening. Brooklyn was making love to Carter. Just the feel of him against her, of him inside her, was enough to trip her right over the edge. They stayed like that for a minute as she adjusted to his size.

  When she was ready, she rocked her hips, taking him deeper. Carter pulled out almost completely before pushing back in, slowly. She threw her head back as his hard length impaled her, branded her as his.

  Soon, they settled into a rhythm. Brooklyn locked her ankles together around his back, holding him to her. He sucked her lip into his mouth, groaning when she dug her nails into his scalp.

  “Carter, please.”

  The bed creaked as his pace quickened. With each thrust, Brooklyn gave herself over to him, urged him to go faster, go harder, go longer. He buried his face in her neck, lightly scraping her skin with his teeth.

  “Beautiful, come for me. I need you.”

  Those were her magic words. He needs me. Her orgasm ripped through her like an explosion, stealing her breath away with its intensity. Carter stiffened, and then followed her over the edge, her name tumbling out of his lips over and over again.

  Carter fell against her, breathing hard against her sweaty skin. She rubbed his head, whispering nonsensical words to him. When his breathing evened out, he rolled over, taking her with him.

  “Damn,” he breathed.

  She tilted her head up and kissed his chin, sucking the skin there for a few seconds. “I know,” she agreed.

  He shot her a lazy grin, kissed her nose and then her lips. “You’re beautiful.”

  Brooklyn didn’t think she’d ever grow tired of hearing him call her beautiful. It made her feel treasured, safe. She dropped her head to his chest, giggling. “You make me feel that way.”

  When he said it, she actually believed it. She had never been told she was beautiful, not by any man. The one person that was supposed to make her feel that way, her father, had been more than eager to point out her shortcomings, often.

  “I haven’t been able to stop staring at you since I met you,” Carter said softly.

  She laughed. “I like that about you.”

  He ran a lazy finger over her back. “Not at first you didn’t.”

  “No, I actually did. I just didn’t know why you were staring. It was giving me a bit of a complex.”

  “You have nothing to be insecure about, beautiful.” He kissed her brow. “If you haven’t guessed, you had me once you landed on me out in that snow.”

  Brooklyn felt a blush creep up her neck and bloom on her cheeks. “Stop. You tried like hell to get away from me.”

  “I already told you it wasn’t you.”

  They’d never actually discussed why it was him, though. What was he running from? She hoped it wouldn’t come back to bite her in the ass later. They’d already slept together, and she was falling fast.

  “What do we do now?” she asked. “I mean, I did put out before our first real date.”

  He stared off behind her, as if he was thinking of the right answer. “I still have Friday reserved with you, beautiful. That hasn’t changed.”

  “What about Brook’s Pub tomorrow?”

  “I’m still planning to spank that ass on the pool table tomorrow night.”

  She snorted. “In your dreams.”

  Her stomach growled, and he lifted a brow. “Hungry, huh?”

  “Famished.”

  * * *

  A few hours later, Brooklyn slipped out of the bed. Carter was asleep after they’d finally christened his couch. There was so much going on with Brooklyn, and despite her earlier bravado about her father and not talking about it, she needed to talk to one person in particular.

  She pulled on the discarded T-shirt and tiptoed out of the room. Once in the living room, she grabbed her cell phone and walked out on the deck to make her call.

  Nicole’s groggy voice came over the receiver. “Are you okay, hun? It’s late,” her best friend asked.

  “I’m fine,” Brooklyn whispered. “Were you asleep?”

  “Not really. Why are you whispering?”

  “I’m sorry if I woke you.”

  “It’s hard to sleep in here.”

  Kyle had called Brooklyn earlier to let her know that Nicole had to stay in the hospital another day. The doctors wanted to be sure her blood pressure dropped down to a normal range before they released her.

  “We still haven’t established why you’re whispering,” Nicole continued. “What’s up?”

  “I slept with Carter,” Brooklyn blurted out.

  “That fast?” Nicole was the only one that could say that to her and get away with it. And only because she’d said something similar to Nicole when her best friend gave it up to Kyle on their first date.

  “I feel like we haven’t talked. Today was the day from hell. But it ended on a high note.”

  “What happened?”

  Brooklyn explained the situation with her father to her bestie. “And so I knocked on Carter’s door to chill and now . . . I’m in his T-shirt on his balcony talking to you.”

  “Your father is a dirty bastard. I can’t believe . . . well, I can believe it. But damn. This is ridiculous.”

  “I know. I still haven’t been able to go to the credit union to get my money.”

  “I’m sorry, hun.”

  “When are you coming home?” Brooklyn asked, perching her feet up on the railing. “I miss you.”

  “Hopefully, tomorrow. I’ve had twelve straight hours of normal BPs. I just want to be at home, in my own bed, with my baby.”

  “I know you do.”

  “So, since I’m all stretched out and laid up, tell me about this night of hot sex. Was it good?”

  Brooklyn didn’t want to gush, but she couldn’t help thinking about it. “No details, Nic.”

  “Take pity on me since I’m laid up in the hospital.”

  “The only thing I will say is Carter is an amazing man.”

  “Seriously? That’s it?”

  “Well, I told you. There was something about him. He’s mysterious, but he’s compassionate. He stood in front of my father and my brother and dared them to disrespect me one more time. It was a sight to see.”

  Nicole grumbled, “It should have never happened in the first place. What are you going to do without a job?”

  Brooklyn wondered the same thing. “Nicole, I’m thinking about finally starting my nonprofit. I know I didn’t get all of the experience I wanted to have before I got fired, but I know people in the industry that would be interested in helping me. Once I get this off the ground, I’ll be working for myself.”

  “I always told you it was a good idea.”

  Nicole had always been her number one cheerleader. Brooklyn appreciated that in her friend. “You did. But I wanted to work for a while, network, so it wasn’t a priority—until now. I think I can do this. It will take some time, but I’m willing to put in the work.”

  “Well, you know I’m here to help you in any way I can.”

  Carter had said the same thing. And judging by the way he barely flinched when her father fired him, she trusted that he really wasn’t
worried about the job. “Thank you, Nic. I love you. Call when they release you. I’ll come and spend the day with you, cook dinner and help with my godson.”

  The two talked for a few more minutes, before Brooklyn hung up.

  “Everything okay?”

  Brooklyn turned to find Carter standing in the doorway. Smiling, she answered, “Yes. I was just talking to Nicole.”

  “You sure?”

  “Very sure.”

  He pulled her to her feet, kissed her thoroughly.

  When he pulled back, Brooklyn swayed on her feet. “Is that your way of asking me to come back to bed?”

  Chuckling, he leaned forward, brushing his lips over hers again. “Or we could just stay out here.”

  Chapter 15

  “How can we move forward from yesterday’s unpleasant conversation?”

  Carter shrugged, looking at Parker. “I don’t know. I do know that your sister is not going to be disrespected in front of me. I don’t care who is doing the disrespecting.”

  “I feel you on that,” Parker conceded. “I am the same way.”

  Carter narrowed his eyes on Brooklyn’s brother. The man in front of him obviously loved his sister, but Carter wasn’t sure Parker had done everything in his power to protect her. “Listen, I’m prepared to walk away from this job if I have to. I’m not going to beg anyone to do business with us. And it seems like your father is used to getting his way, so it will be doubly offensive to him if I stay after he fired me.”

  “I know who my father is. I’ve never had any illusions.”

  Carter scratched his head, looked at his watch. Brooklyn should be on her way to the credit union at that moment. They’d awakened that morning, tangled in each other’s arms. Spending the night, making love to a woman, had been the last thing on his agenda when he’d arrived in Wellspring. But Brooklyn Wells was not just any woman.

  “Good,” Carter said. “Then me and you won’t have any problems.”

  Parker sighed. “How is she?”

  “She’s good, on her way to the credit union.”

  Waking up with Brooklyn’s naked body pressed against his body was surreal. He’d immediately hardened at the feel of her. And it didn’t take long for him to wake her and show her just how she affected him.