Dangerous Beauty: Part One: Destiny

by Michelle Hardin

  “I love you, Nathan,” she said kissing his chest.

  Nathan smiled. “You do huh? Then tell me why you didn’t tell me about your troubled days in St. Louis?”

  Carter sighed. “Because it wasn’t fun, and I was seriously in a dark place, Nathan. I did a lot of things I’m not proud of. I think I killed a guy that tried to rape me. I tried drugs hoping that it would take the pain away but nothing helped. I was dying and I didn’t get my shit together until I met Henry.”

  “Henry?”

  Carter smiled. “Yes, Henry. The Christian boy I met when I fell asleep in a church. I only went in the church to get some sleep and feel safe, but he woke me up. He was so cute and shy he could barely speak to me. I told him I was only sleeping there because I had nowhere to go and he took pity on me. He was so nice and I got to pretend to be someone else with him, someone I’d never actually be. I never told him anything true about myself except that my parents were dead, which was half true. We eventually started dating. He was my first and only boyfriend before you.” Carter smiled at the memory and laughed softly. “He was my first time and I was his, it was both horrible and wonderful. We were together for almost two years just until I saved up money to leave St. Louis. It was hard, but I knew I had to leave him.”

  Nathan frowned. “Did you love him?” he asked.

  Carter sat up on top of Nathan straddling his body. “Yes, I loved him for what he did for me, but I couldn’t fall in love with him like he fell in love with me because I knew he didn’t know me, and if he did he would never have accepted me. Henry and I come from two different worlds, and mine was absolutely no place for sweet Henry, he wasn’t the one I was meant to be with. But it was my time with Henry that brought me here. That makes me want to find him and give him a big kiss and thank him for helping me straighten up because if he didn’t help me, I never would have seen you again.” Carter leaned forward and kissed Nathan on the lips softly. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about any of this. I just didn’t want what my father said to be true, and I didn’t want you to look at me differently if you found out about how stupid I was in St. Louis.”

  “You were not stupid, Carter, you were seventeen years old and you had just lost everything. None of it was your fault baby.” Nathan kissed her then looked in her eyes. “I love you, my beautiful Carterina. There isn’t anything you can do or say to change that,” Nathan said,

  Carter smiled. “I love that.”

  Nathan’s brows furrowed in question. “Love what?” he asked.

  Carter placed a lingering kiss on his jaw. “I love the way you say my name. Your accent is very beautiful Nathan Salerno.”

  “I don’t have an accent.”

  Carter laughed softly. “Yes, you do. When your guard is down, when you’re mad…” she kissed and nipped at his lips “…when you’re horny,” she whispered shyly.

  Nathan’s erection came back full force.

  “It’s very distinct. What I assume is a mixture of your mother and father’s accents. It’s sexy.”

  No longer able to be this close to her without kissing her, Nathan captured her lips in a passionate kiss. He wanted to take it further, but he couldn’t yet. They weren’t finished talking.

  He broke their kiss then lay in each other’s arms listening to the rain beat against the windows, and the thunder roar in the sky. Nathan ran his hands over Carter’s silky skin and through her long hair thinking about how he was going to approach this next subject. It was something he’d been thinking about, and he was ready for it but he didn’t know if she was. Since Nathan was never one for beating around the bush he figured he would just go for it. “It’s time for me to get back to my responsibilities in Manhattan, Carter. I may have to get back sooner than I thought.” Nathan felt Carter tense, and he hoped what he said next would put her at ease. “I don’t think I’ll be able to function with you here and me all the way in Manhattan, baby. Not to mention the life I live is time consuming. This time that I get away is rare and soon it will be non-existent since my father has given me more responsibility.”

  “So what are we going to do?” Carter asked in a soft voice.

  Nathan sat up on the side of the bed with her still straddling his body and looked into her eyes. “We’re going to go home, in Manhattan. We can’t be apart, baby. I need you with me.” Nathan tucked a strand of her long hair behind her ear, and his eyes went to her lips as he ran his thumbs across her bottom lip. “You’re mine, Carter, you belong where I am. Where I can take care of you, protect you. You will never want for another thing. You’re going to have everything you desire. Whatever it is, whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.”

  “I want a family,” Carter whispered.

  “A family?” Nathan asked making sure he heard her correctly.

  Carter nodded and lowered her eyes nervously. “A family,” she said softly her eyes still lowered. “I’ve never wanted anything more than I want a family, Nathan. Someday, not yet, but someday I want to be what I never had. I want to be a mother. I want to be your wife and I want a family, that’s what you will give me, that’s the dream I thought would always be impossible for me.” She looked into his eyes, and touched his face lovingly. “But for now, we’ll just go home, because I’m yours, and I belong where you are,” Carter said.

  Nathan inhaled a deep breath and hugged Carter close to him. He couldn’t understand why, but hearing Carter say that she belonged to him, that she wanted to be his wife, have his children stirred something deep within him. He couldn’t explain the sudden rush of emotions, all he knew was that out of all of the possessiveness was front and center, and he suddenly had a primitive urge to claim.

  Carter gasped when Nathan suddenly cupped her between her thighs.

  Nathan placed one hand against her back to hold her in place as he thrust two fingers inside her. Nathan watched as Carter’s eyes rolled to the back of her head and her head fell back. “Nathan,” she moaned.

  He leaned forward and pressed his lips against her ear. “Lei sarà mia moglie, Carterina,” he whispered against her ear. Carter began to grind against his palm. “Si appartiene ame per sempre.” He sped up his rhythm. “Lei sarà una madre per i miei figli,” he whispered to her, and he meant every word. He wouldn’t say these things to her in English, not yet, but he would, very soon.

  Nathan watched as Carter became lost. He felt himself harden in response to her pleasure. He could tell she was getting close as her walls pulsed around his fingers, but he wanted to be inside her when she came.

  Nathan flipped Carter onto the bed and settled between her legs. He removed his fingers from that heavenly space between her thighs and brought them to his mouth enjoying the sweet taste of his beautiful rose.

  Carter moved beneath him panting and arching her body, pressing her hips against him trying to get closer to the part of his body he knew she needed right about now.

  Nathan smiled to himself. He fucking owned her sexy little body, and he knew it. He loved seeing that he drove her as crazy as she drove him. He had pleased her in every way imaginable. In this bed, on the floor, in the shower, Jacuzzi tub, the pool, the beach, the ocean, the living room, the kitchen, the car, and he knew what she wanted. But instead of giving it to her, tonight he would make her tell him what she wants.

  Nathan pushed down his boxers and kicked them to the side. Once he settled back between her legs he positioned himself at her opening but he didn’t push himself inside her, not yet. Instead he focused his attention on her beautiful breasts driving her crazy with his mouth in all the ways he knew she liked.

  Carter writhed beneath him as he continued to torture her with pleasure and deny her the release her body was begging for.

  ***

  Carter was sure that Nathan was doing this on purpose. She was near the point of violence if he didn’t give her what he knew she wanted. “Nathan, please,” she begged desperately. She was so passed the point of caring how she sounded she just needed him in the worst way or
she was sure she’d die.

  Carter felt Nathan’s smile against her breast. Arrogant bastard.

  “Please what…baby,” he asked against her breast.

  “You know what, Nathan, stop teasing me,” she whined breathlessly.

  She heard the jerk chuckle. “I’m not teasing,” he replied right before he turned his attention back to her breast.

  Carter arched closer to his mouth.

  “Yes you are,” she moaned and panted. “Nathan, please,” she begged again. She didn’t care if she sounded needy.

  “Please, what?”

  “You know what, Nathan.”

  “I want to hear you say it, Carterina. Tell me what you want and I’ll give you what you need.”

  She knew what he wanted her to say, but she told him it made her sound like a damn hoe, and she refused to sound like the thing her and Jenna detest the most.

  “Nathan,” Carter whined.

  “Say it, baby.”

  Carter gripped Nathan’s back and dug her nails deep until she was positive it would leave marks on his tanned back. Nathan grunted and bit his bottom lip. “Fuck me, Nathan, please— Oh!” Carter screamed when Nathan thrust into her body hard.

  “Carter…Sei così serrate” Nathan grunted right before he pulled back and drove into her again. They both cried out from the incredible feeling of their bodies joining.

  After that, both Carter and Nathan lost control.

  The room filled with their loud groans and cries of pleasure. Nathan plunged hard and deep into her and she met each of his thrust eagerly. She released a loud cry as Nathan repeatedly hit a spot that had her desperately grabbing at anything she could grasp.

  “Oh my god. Oh my god…don’t stop,” Carter chanted it over and over again as Nathan continued to move in and out of her at a devastatingly quick pace.

  Nathan kissed and sucked on her neck, moved to her collar bone then made his way back down to her breasts, still maintaining his pace. Carter was lost in a sea of ecstasy, biting her lip she looked up at the ceiling as he continued pumping into her body while his mouth continued its exploration of her breasts. She couldn’t seem to keep her eyes from rolling to the back of her head. She couldn’t stop the loud cries that escaped her lips. She was so close, and it was so good, she never want the feeling to end.

  “Oh my God,” she screamed.

  Carter’s entire body tensed and she gripped the bed sheets tight. With a gasp she arched her back and she screamed his name at the top of her lungs as an intense powerful orgasm caught her by surprise. She faintly heard Nathan say something unintelligible before he bit down on her shoulder grunting his own release as he continued to thrust into her. Surprisingly, the pain from his bite sent Carter over the edge a second time. She clawed at the bed sheets crying out her pleasure, not giving a damn if anyone heard.

  ***

  Once they both came down, Nathan rolled over and collapsed on his back next to her panting. “Holy shit,” he muttered trying to catch his breath. He looked over to Carter and saw she was out of breath too. Her long hair splayed out everywhere. She turned her body and curled next him, resting her head on his chest. Nathan wrapped his arms around her and stroked her hair as he whispered his love for her in Russian. Her eyes were heavy, he could see that she was about to fall asleep, which was understandable. It had been a long fucking day, but it had a good ending. Carter was moving in with him, and Nathan couldn’t think of a better end to his time away. He wasn’t worried about whether or not Carter would be able to fit into his lifestyle, he knew in his gut that she would, effortlessly. He just needed to reorganize a few things to ensure he would be able to go home to Carter most nights, instead of spending his nights on an airplane.

  Nathan looked over at Carter again. She was sleep, and snoring softly like she did every night.

  Nathan stared at her and swallowed. Sometimes he still couldn’t believe it. Carterina Anastacia Stone. Spook Steele’s fucking daughter.

  He couldn’t shake the feeling that he probably should have informed his father about who he found in Hope Beach a few weeks ago.

  13

  Leaving Hope Beach

  “You bitch! I can’t believe you’re leaving me and moving to New York. I hate you! How dare you fall in love with that sexy ass Blond Zeus like man that’s so sweet and has very exceptional table manners, you whore!”

  Carter laughed as Jenna made a fool out of herself in Madison’s Café. “I didn’t say you had to act like a psycho, I just said I thought you would react more to the news,” Carter said through a laugh.

  Jenna smiled and threw her arm around Carter. “That wasn’t the more you wanted? Cause I can try again, you of all people know I’m always ready to snap on a bitch,” she said with a smirk.

  Carter laughed. “No, that was acceptable. Thank you.” Carter poked out her lip into a pout. “I’m going to miss you like crazy, Jen,” she said as tears glistened her eyes.

  Jenna smiled. “Jesus girl, look at you. In the two years I’ve known you I haven’t seen you cry once and now you’ve gone all girly on me. Stop it, before I cry too. You know I don’t stop once I start, you remember Titanic,” Jenna said dabbing Carter’s tears with her cloth napkin.

  Carter chuckled through her tears. “I know, but Nathan spoils me with hugs and constant cuddling sessions. It’s his fault that I’m such a crybaby now,” Carter pouted wiping her tears.

  “Carter, I’m rich all I have to do is snap my fingers and we can see each other, have sleepovers, chat about our boyfriends. It’s going to be fine. We’re just a plane ride away from each other,” Jenna said reassuringly.

  Carter nodded. Jenna was right, but she was still going to miss her.

  Carter had waited till after Jenna met Nathan at breakfast to tell her about her moving to Manhattan with Nathan, and surprisingly Jenna screamed and hugged her in excitement. Carter had been prepared for a fight, and maybe some Jenna tears, but it turns out the only person that cried was her, she was really turning into a sap.

  They all had an excellent breakfast this morning. All the guys were nice to Jenna, including Kyle. He even held his peace when Jenna threw a few jabs his way. Carter was both surprised, and pleased. But the star of the breakfast this morning was her amazing boyfriend.

  Nathan was absolutely amazing today.

  This morning when she woke up he was already dressed and he had a yellow rose lying on the bed next to her. Carter was touched by the rose alone, but Nathan told her to kiss the rose and wish for something pretty, then look under her pillow. Carter kissed the rose, closed her eyes and wished for the prettiest thing that popped in her mind. Diamonds.

  When she looked under her pillow she almost passed out when she saw the two boxes from Tiffany’s. She screamed with excitement, much to Nathan’s amusement, and when she opened the first box she lost her breath. It contained a beautiful platinum diamond necklace from Tiffany’s Victoria collection. Carter had never seen anything more beautiful in her life. Carter almost fainted when Jenna told her the necklace was worth over $50,000. The smaller box had an equally stunning pair of diamond earrings from Tiffany’s Legacy Collection. She didn’t let Jenna tell her the cost of those.

  Carter was so touched by the gifts Nathan had given her that she spent a nice chunk of the morning showing exactly how much she appreciated him.

  After she finished appreciating him, she got dressed so they could go down stairs. Much to her pleasure Kyle had already started the guilt breakfast, which was absolutely delicious, and the guys where already up making fun of him. Carter was happy to see everything was normal.

  When Jenna arrived she met the guys and then Carter introduced her to Nathan. Much to Carter’s amusement, Jenna was not at all silent about her admiration for Nathan’s beauty. Carter saw Nathan blush a few times as Jenna made it known to everyone how handsome she thought he was. It was definitely the funniest thing Carter had ever seen.

  Jenna absolutely loved Nathan. Carter was surprised he was
so amazing after he assured her that he would fail at impressing Jenna. He was funny, charming, sweet and a gentleman the entire time. If Carter didn’t already love him like crazy she would have definitely fallen for him today.

  After breakfast, Nathan had another surprise for both Carter and Jenna. He reserved them both spots at the most exclusive luxury spa in Hope Beach. Jenna freaked out. She begged Nathan to tell her how he got the reservations she had been trying to get for a year. He just laughed and told her to enjoy herself.

  When Carter thanked him with a kiss Nathan returned her kiss and placed a black card in her hand with her name on it. She looked at him both shock and confused. He just gave her a quick kiss and told her to go have a good day with Jenna and shut the department stores of Hope Beach down. Carter gave him a big kiss and didn’t argue. Why the hell would she? She was moving to Manhattan in two days! She desperately needed a new wardrobe.

  Carter and Jenna had an incredible day. The spa was relaxing, and Carter felt fantastic. She and Jenna had incredible massages. They also got manicures, pedicures, skin treatments that had their skin feeling like silk, and facials. They pretty much did everything.

  After the spa they went to the salon because Carter decided she wanted something new done to her hair. She always wore it straight so she decided to get some loose curls. She usually got her hair trimmed around this time because her hair grows quickly, but she decided to keep it at its new length because she knew how much Nathan loved it.

  She went to a new hair dresser that did a fantastic job taming her wild hair and turning the thick tangled mess into shiny, silky curls. Carter decided to go for a half up half down pinned back look so her new necklace and earrings wouldn’t be cover by all of her hair, which her hair dresser loved. She couldn’t get him to shut up about it.