by J. D. Rivera
She twisted her mouth up as she thought it over. “Bed. That way we won’t have to move again.”
Pulling her up from the seat, I dropped my voice. “And what makes you think we won’t be moving? I plan on keeping that hot body of yours moving all night long.”
She snorted. “We both know all night long is stretching it.”
“Oh really?” I cocked my head to the side. “Wanna bet on that?”
“Absolutely.”
I began walking toward the bedroom, letting her trail behind me. “Fine. I win, you have to give me foot massages for a week. If you win, I have to—”
“No, no, no! I get to pick what I get when I win.” She walked into the bedroom and kicked her shoes off before flopping onto the bed. “I want…back massages for two weeks.”
“Deal. I’ll totally rub your backside for two weeks.” I lay down beside her, brushing a couple strands of hair away from her gorgeous eyes.
“No. I said back massages, not backside. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“You drive a hard bargain, but it’s a deal.”
I leaned down and planted a kiss on her lips, letting my hand find her hip to pull her closer to me. She moaned and her lips parted, giving me easy access to her mouth. She tasted good for someone who just ate a burger and fries, and the scent of her perfume invaded my senses, causing me to ache for her.
“Carson,” she mumbled as I let my lips trail down her jaw to her neck.
“Hmmm.”
“I…I…never mind.” She grabbed my t-shirt and yanked it over my head. “You are so fucking sexy.”
“I know.” I smirked and moved my head closer so I could nip her ear.
“Mmm,” she moaned, then I kissed the spot just below her lobe. She made another noise and tossed her head back, letting her hands travel over my chest.
I removed her shirt and bra, then the rest of her clothes. “Fuck, you are gorgeous,” I stated, hovering over her.
“Well, I’m all yours.”
And with that simple statement, I yanked my jeans off and made sure she knew just how correct her words were.
***
We were lying under the comforter with our legs tangled, looking at each other. I was stroking her cheek with my thumb when I just happened to glance at her nightstand. She had a book with a half-naked guy on the cover and a bookmark sticking out of it. “What kind of books do you read?”
“Huh?” She looked puzzled at my random question.
I gestured toward the nightstand. “You like to read naughty things?”
She turned and grabbed the book. “I love romance with a little dirty.”
I read the title and author, Lessons of the Past by Chloe Maxx. “And what exactly is this dirty book of yours about?”
“A cheating professor and his student.”
“Hmmm.” I grabbed the book from her hand. “I’m not sure I like you reading about other guys.”
“Because you know you can’t compete?”
I pinched her ass. “After how we just spent the last few hours, we both know I can compete and win—even with fictional men.”
“Whatever you want to believe.” She grinned and I tossed the book to the side, rolling on top of her.
“Do you need me to remind you just how naughty I can be?”
Her big, brown eyes flared with lust. “Maybe. Actually, I think we’ll have to wait until later. I’m kinda tired.”
“Thank God,” I sighed, relieved. “Because I wasn’t really sure I could give it my all.” I rolled back over, moving her to lay her head on my chest. “Give me a few hours of sleep.”
She yawned. “Okay.”
We both stayed quiet for a few minutes. I was staring at the white, popcorn ceiling, thanking my lucky stars that the night had turned out so perfectly when she whispered, “Carson?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“I loved the song tonight. You know, the trouble you went to to prove you wanted me. The lyrics were perfect.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
“I’m sorry I left with a note. I was just scared.”
I hugged her closer. “I know. I understand. I haven’t ever given you a reason to think this is what I want. But I do.” I took her chin between my finger and thumb, guiding her to look at me. “I want this more than I have ever wanted anything.”
She smiled and her eyes were glassy. “Me, too.”
Chapter Fifteen
Kristin
Sunday, Carson and I lounged around the apartment together. Mainly in bed, but we did make it to the couch for a couple hours. It was strange, Carson and I being a couple. It was as if nothing had really changed and it felt completely natural. I did love the part where I was now free to touch his sculpted, tattooed body anytime I felt like it. And I did, often. He reciprocated, of course, only he seemed to focus on my ass.
It was now Monday night.
“I’m going to take a quick shower, babe, before everyone gets here,” Carson informed me, kissing me on the cheek as I poured a bag of chips into a bowl. We had invited his cousin Ryder, and his girlfriend, Megan, Mark and his girlfriend, Hollis, and Holly and Darkness over for a night of drinking. I snorted at the thought of his name. It wouldn’t get old.
“Okay.”
“Wanna join me?” he asked, letting his mouth trail kisses down my neck.
“I would,” I said as a shiver raced down my spine, “but everyone will be getting here soon.”
He bit the tip of my earlobe. “Fine.”
“Oh, I forgot to tell you Holly and Darkness are coming over, too.”
He straightened and spun me around. “I’m sorry, who?”
I tried to hold in my laugh. “That’s what her boyfriend likes people to call him,” I replied, shrugging, trying my best to seem unaffected while dying from laughter on the inside.
Tossing his head back, he let out a belly laugh. “You’re going to have to find out his real name or I’m just going to call him assface.”
“Don’t be a jerk.”
“I’m not. Only a tool would have people refer to him as Darkness.”
“I’ll try. Now, go take that shower. You stink.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Carson left the kitchen and trotted down the hallway as I admired his ass. I’m a lucky girl, I thought as a knock sounded on the door.
I rounded the counter and stepped toward the door before opening it. “Hey,” I said, staring at Ryder and Megan. I assumed the couple behind them was Mark and Hollis. “Come in.”
“Hi,” Megan greeted as she and Ryder made their way inside.
“I’m Hollis. It’s nice to meet you,” the gorgeous blonde girl said, introducing herself. The guy beside her smiled. “And I’m Mark.”
“Hi. It’s nice to meet you both. I’m Kristin.” I shut the door after everyone was inside. “Carson’s in the shower.”
“Thank God,” Ryder hollered as he sat down in the chair and pulled Megan on top of him.
“Ain’t that the truth.” I grinned and walked into the kitchen. “Drinks and chips are in here. Just make yourself at home.”
“No worries,” one of the guys replied.
The doorbell rang and I made my way back over to the door. Yanking it open, I expected it to be Holly, but it wasn’t. It was a gorgeous—and when I say gorgeous, I mean breathtaking—girl standing at the door. Her black hair was long and shiny, makeup flawless, along with her red lips, and her short trench coat left nothing to the imagination.
My lips twitched upward as I really took in the whole look. A trench coat, really? How many cheap pornos has this girl watched?
“Can I help you?” I asked, though I already knew why she was here.
“I’m here to see Carson.” Of fucking course she was. It had only been a few days since we became a couple, and it would have been hard for everyone to know that bit of news, but I couldn’t help feeling a little angry at Carson.
“Sure,” I said, “follow me.” I had no
idea why I was leading this skank to our bedroom—I guess I wanted to see his reaction.
I knocked on the bedroom door, and hollered, “You decent?”
“Yeah.”
I opened the door to see Carson with only a towel wrapped around his waist. His eyes snapped to mine, then to the girl behind me. It was the look in his eyes that told me exactly who the girl was. She wasn’t a random slut—she was Sam.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Carson seethed.
Sam stepped in front of me, then turned to look at me, a conniving smile on her face. “I can take it from here, honey.”
My eyes found Carson’s, but he wasn’t looking at me. He was still staring Sam down. “Why are you here?”
“For you, of course.”
He finally made eye contact with me. “Give me a minute.”
Anger began coursing through my body at a rapid pace. He was standing there in only a towel with his ex-girlfriend in the same room asking me to give him a minute. “You’ve got it,” I bit out, then turned and left, knowing exactly how much she meant to him. I heard the door slam behind me as I walked into the living room. Everyone in the room was staring at me, completely silent. I could see the confusion on Hollis’ face, but Megan had nothing but pity on hers. She had either been filled in by Ryder or actually knew Sam. I didn’t care, I only cared about the bottle of tequila in the cabinet.
I smiled as I passed by the couples and walked swiftly into the kitchen. I pulled the bottle down from the shelf, uncapped it, and immediately turned it up to my lips. It burned going down my throat, but I didn’t care. I took another swallow, followed by another, and another.
I heard footsteps, followed by Carson’s voice. “We’ll be right back.” I couldn’t see him from where I was standing in the corner of the kitchen, but I didn’t want to either. I was so embarrassed that I had a group of people in my living room witnessing this—witnessing my shame as my boyfriend dressed and then left with his ex.
I trusted Carson, I really did, but I also knew Sam had a certain hold over him. If she wanted him, she’d have him.
I drank two more swallows before I walked over to the counter and looked into the living room. “Do y’all want some margaritas? I have beer, too.”
“Um, sure,” Megan replied, standing. “Do you want some help?”
“I’m good.” I smiled sweetly before taking a couple beers from the fridge and placing them on the counter. “Here you go.”
I turned my back and walked toward the blender on the opposite counter, grateful I wouldn’t be able to see their stares. I wasn’t friends with them, so I was sure they were just as uncomfortable. I mixed the drinks and just as I was pouring the liquid into glasses, the front door banged open. My heart raced, then immediately broke when I heard Holly’s voice. “Hi.”
He’s still out there with her. Maybe he left with her? Maybe he wanted someplace a little more private to screw her? I shook my head at my own thoughts as tears began to form at the back of my eyes. I was being irrational and jumping to conclusions.
Holly rounded the corner and rushed toward me as our eyes met. “What’s wrong?” she whispered as her arms wrapped around me.
I shook my head. “It’s nothing.”
She released me and took a step back, looking into my eyes. “You better tell me.”
“Did you see Carson outside?”
“No, why?” Her eyebrows bunched in confusion as she waited for my reply.
I smiled the best I could, the tequila beginning to make its way into my system. “I made margaritas.” I turned, grabbed a glass, then gave it to her. I picked up the remaining three and made my way into the living room, handing Megan and Hollis each a glass. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll be right back.” I just needed a moment alone.
I walked down the hall and into my room before making my way into the bathroom and locking the door. I didn’t want Holly to follow me. As soon as I turned the lock, I knew I had made a mistake. The smell of Carson’s body wash still clung to the air. Tears began leaking down my face as I turned the glass up and gulped down the margarita.
What the hell is wrong with me? I need to calm the fuck down. I tried taking a few deep breaths, but that didn’t seem to help.
I stepped into the dark closet attached to the bathroom and closed the door. Sinking to the floor, I let my head fall back. I was hurt. So fucking hurt. I hated that he told me to leave the room, not Sam, and then left with her. Again, I trusted Carson, but his actions had hurt me.
I had no idea how long I had been in the closet, but my glass was empty when I heard, “Babe, let me in.”
It was Carson’s voice and it sounded muffled. He must’ve been in the bedroom knocking on the bathroom door. I hadn’t really thought about locking him out, I just hadn’t wanted to deal with Holly and her nosy questions.
“Let me in, baby. I need to explain—”
“Nothing to explain. I’ll be out in a minute.” I shook my head and sat there for a minute. I didn’t want him to see me like this. I wasn’t the crazy irrational girlfriend.
Even though I knew my glass was empty, I tipped it back and let my hand tap the bottom. When nothing came, I let my tongue snake out and began licking the inside of the glass. I was alone, so I didn’t care how bad—or desperate—I looked.
I faintly heard a rattle, followed a second later by pushing on the door behind me. My body rolled forward and I landed on my head. It didn’t really hurt, but it didn’t feel good either.
“Sorry,” Carson muttered before he kneeled down and rolled me over. “Are you okay?”
“Peachy,” I responded before a fit of giggles took over and I lost all the control I previously held.
“Why are you laughing?”
I didn’t respond, just kept laughing until I finally snorted, followed by a sob. The tears I’d tried to hold back began falling and I could no longer control myself—and I fucking hated it. This wasn’t me. I wasn’t this girl. Carson was making me this girl. I was so fucking scared of the emotions he brought out in me and the thought of him hurting me, he was making me crazy.
I wiped my nose with the back of my hand and tried to calm myself down, thinking I drank way too much tequila. I was seriously a hot mess.
He gathered me into his arms and smoothed a few hairs away from my face. “Why are you in the closet crying?”
“I wasn’t crying until you came in here,” I said, trying to be funny, but it came out pissy.
Carson placed a hand on my cheek and began rubbing his thumb in small circles. “I’m sorry I left with Sam. I think she finally got the hint.”
“You were gone a while. Did you fuck her?” I slapped a hand over my mouth and my eyes widened. Whoa. Where did that come from?
He leaned down, our noses almost touching, and grated out, “Of course not! You really think I’d cheat on you?”
I shook my head. “No, I don’t. I really don’t. I don’t even know why I asked that. But why’d you kick me out of the room and then leave with her?”
“Because,” he sighed. “Because I didn’t want you to hear how heartless I can be.”
“Hmmm.” My brain was fuzzy from the alcohol and I really had no idea what to think of that statement. “Did she see you naked? When I left the room you were just wearing a towel.”
By the way he clenched his jaw, I could tell I was starting to irritate him—hell, I was starting to irritate myself. “I changed in the fucking bathroom then walked her to her car. I spent the last forty minutes explaining to her how much I want nothing to do with her and everything to do with you!”
Gasping, I sat up. “Really?”
“Really,” he replied as I placed my fingers on his scruff. He leaned into my touch and our eyes locked as he continued. “I’m sorry if I didn’t handle her being here well, but I didn’t do anything wrong. I told her how much you mean to me, how I have never wanted another woman, including her, as much as I want you. I told her she can go and take her kid with her,
because I wouldn’t be the one who helps her raise it.”
That stopped me. “She has a child? Is it yours?” I blurted, and then gasped. I was on a fucking roll with the word vomit.
He moved away from my touch. “Is that what you think of me? That I would walk away from my own child? That’s really nice, Kristin.”
“No,” I said, and I meant it. “That came out wrong. I’m sorry. It was just my initial reaction to ask.”
“No, it’s not mine. If it were, I’d take that kid and run far away from its mother.”
“You’ve never wanted anyone as much as you want me?”
He smirked. “Never.”
“Really?” I had no idea why this was so hard for me to grasp.
He sighed and cupped my face. “No. Once you’ve had perfection, you don’t go back to mediocre.”
“That was good,” I replied, lightening the mood.
“I thought so.” He leaned his forehead against mine. “I’m sorry I left. I just wanted to get her out of here. I promise I didn’t even touch her.”
“You changed in the bathroom?” I asked, letting my hands settle on his stomach.
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just…I know what Sam does to you. I know you loved her.”
He let his thumb rub over my cheek and down to my lip before kissing it. “That’s the thing, I’m positive I know what love is now, and that makes me positive I never loved her. I think it was more of being a stupid teenager.”
My breath caught and my heart slammed into my chest. Is he saying he loves me?
“I’m sorry for overreacting.”
“Yeah. We can talk more later, okay? We have a room full of guests.”
“Oh, shit. You go. I need to clean my face.”
“Okay,” he replied before giving me a hard, demanding kiss.
Fuck, I love him.
Chapter Sixteen
Carson
Well, this night was not turning out the way I had expected. When Kristin had opened the door with Sam behind her, rage began pumping through me immediately. I had completely forgotten I was only in a towel until Sam pointed it out while trying to come on to me. I had initially asked Kristin to leave so she wouldn’t see my hateful side, because I planned to give it to Sam in truckloads, but as soon as I realized what I was wearing, I closed the bathroom door and changed, thankful I had some clothes in Kristin’s closet.