The Undercover Playboy (Captured by Love Book 3)

by Miranda P. Charles

  Carter continued to saunter towards her.

  “It was just an idea that I had,” she said weakly.

  He narrowed his eyes and moved closer still.

  She felt the wall on her back. Damn it! “What are you doing, Carter?” she asked, breathless.

  “Trying to have a conversation with you. What are you doing?”

  “You’re standing too close.”

  “Who else is on your list?”

  She blinked, her mind blank. “What are you talking about?”

  “The list of guys you planned to have one-night stands with.”

  She shut her eyes. “Carter, I don’t really feel like talking about this.”

  Carter lifted her head with a finger under her chin to force her to look at him, and her breathing stopped at the intense look in his eyes.

  “I want to know who else is on that list,” he said.

  “Why?”

  “So I could deck them.”

  Her lips tugged upwards. “You’re sweet. But I’m fine.”

  “I didn’t come here to make you feel better, Cassie,” he said insistently. “Well, I did, but not in the way you’re thinking.”

  She exhaled loudly, rolling her eyes upwards to lighten the situation even as her heart constricted. “I can take rejection, Carter. It’s not a big deal.”

  “It isn’t?”

  “No. Did you think I was teary earlier today because of you? It was about something else,” she said with a laugh. Did that sound forced?

  Carter braced himself against the wall, his arms on either side of her. He was scowling, and she was trapped.

  Damn him. Why was he crowding her? And why did his body have to emanate that searing heat that was making her weak at the knees? Damn it!

  “Was I the first one you asked?” he rumbled.

  “Um... yeah.” Was that relief that crossed his face?

  “The only one?”

  She nodded, unable to look away from his earnest gaze.

  “Good. ’Cause you won’t have to ask anyone else.”

  A gush of air escaped her lungs, her heart galloping in her chest. Thank God she had the wall behind her for support. “What are you saying?” she asked feebly.

  Carter smiled—a tender, sweet smile that robbed her of more oxygen.

  “If you insist on having a one-night stand right now, then I’m your man,” he said softly. “All that was keeping me from asking you out before were my work commitments and the thought that you weren’t into casual.”

  She stared at him, his words taking a few seconds to sink in. “Why was your work stopping you?” she croaked.

  “Because I have other jobs on the side and I’m working towards deadlines. I get too busy and my hours get too unpredictable. It’s similar to you saying you don’t have time to date seriously when you have your studies and a new job to juggle.”

  She couldn’t stop gawking. Was he serious? Should she believe him and open herself up to more hurt and humiliation later?

  Carter cupped her face. “Cassandra Stephens, do you know how long I’ve wanted you?”

  “How long?” she asked dumbly.

  “Too damned long,” he murmured, caressing her cheeks with his thumbs.

  “Why me?” she asked, her brows furrowing.

  “Why you?” he asked with a laugh. “Because you’re so hot and you make me so fucking horny,” he said, snaking his arm around her waist and pulling her flush to his body.

  She gasped. Was he... hard already?

  Carter ran a knuckle on her jaw. “Do you know why I come here a lot when I could just as easily spend time with Tash when we go see our parents?”

  She shook her head, mesmerised by the heat in his eyes.

  “Because it’s you I want to see, that’s why. Because I enjoy flirting with you, then go home and fantasise about you when I’m lying in my bed.”

  Cassie blushed. Not just her face but her whole body.

  “Cass, I know we both have other things we want to achieve before wanting to be in a relationship. But will you be okay with taking it one date at a time? Just have fun with each other with no promises or commitments until we’re both ready for it?”

  She gulped. Her voice had deserted her. Or maybe she was in shock.

  “And I won’t let you have one-night stands with other guys,” Carter said in a harder tone, frowning.

  “Are you serious?”

  “Yes. I am.”

  The look in Carter’s eyes forced her to let her guard down, and instantly, delight and relief filled her. She gave in to her emotions and curved her arms around his neck, unable to smother the wide grin that formed on her face.

  Carter’s reply was a dazzling smile. And slowly—ever so slowly—he leaned down to capture her mouth.

  Electricity zinged through her at that first touch of their lips. Carter’s kiss was soft yet insistent, his tongue seeking hers and exploring her mouth. She couldn’t help but tighten her arms around his neck. And, oh God, yes, he was already hard.

  Carter let out a groan. “Do you want to know exactly what I’ve fantasised about, Cassie?” he asked, palming her ass and pressing her closer to him.

  More moisture pooled between her legs. “Yes.”

  “I’ve fantasised about touching your bare skin,” Carter murmured against her lips as his hands snaked under her shirt and roamed her back.

  Her breath hitched and, mindless, she lifted her right leg to give his hips more access between her thighs.

  “Cassie,” Carter grunted, grinding his pelvis against hers as he recaptured her mouth for the most searing kiss she’d ever had.

  She was lost. All memories of her horny Carter dreams were rushing in, but they paled in comparison to what was happening in the here and now. And they’d barely just begun.

  Carter fumbled with her bra fastenings, unclasping them in a couple of seconds. She gasped when his warm hand cupped a breast, the roughness in his palm exciting her even more.

  “I’ve been wanting to touch you like this for so long, Cassie,” he rasped as his thumbs made circular motions on her already hardened nipples.

  “Carter,” she whimpered, throwing her head back against the wall in pleasure.

  Carter was quick to capitalise. His mouth travelled to her neck, kissing, laving and nipping.

  She didn’t know whether she’d jumped up or whether Carter had lifted her—or whether they’d both moved in unspoken accord. But both her legs were now wrapped around his waist and he was carrying her to her bedroom, their lips fusing once again.

  Carter put her down by the foot of the bed. She clung to him, her knees feeling like jello. Was this really happening? Or was she having another dream?

  “Talk to me,” she whispered, placing a palm on his face. In her dreams, Carter had never spoken a word.

  Carter lifted an eyebrow as he gently brushed a strand of hair off her face. “Talk? What do you want to talk about?”

  She shrugged. “Maybe you can continue telling me about your fantasies?” she asked shyly.

  Carter grinned. “Ahh, so dirty talk turns you on, huh?” he said, nuzzling her cheek.

  “That’s not the reason,” she said in giggly protest.

  “No?” he said, grasping the hem of her shirt and lifting it off her. “So if I say I can’t wait to take your nipple in my mouth and flick it with my tongue, that doesn’t do anything?” he asked in a sexy voice.

  She gulped. Damn, that sounded good. Real good. Not just what he’d said but how he’d said it.

  “Or,” Carter said, pulling her to him and leaning to speak in her ear. “What if I say I can’t wait to lick your pussy and make you come with my mouth?”

  “Carter...” she said, meaning for his name to sound like a protest, but it came out like a breathless swoon.

  “I want to see how wet you are, baby,” Carter murmured as he tugged her leggings down.

  “I’m soaked,” she answered. What was the point of acting coy? Never before had
she felt lust this strong. And it had thrown modesty out the window. “Touch me and find out for yourself.”

  “Argh, Cassie,” Carter groaned, his movements much quicker as he divested her of her remaining clothing before lifting her and dropping her on the bed.

  She laughed, thrilled by his obvious excitement.

  Carter stared at her, his eyes sweeping her naked form from head to toe with an expression filled with... awe?

  Her eyes misted. This man, who could have anyone he wanted, was adoring her with his eyes. If this were but a dream, she definitely didn’t want to wake up.

  Her gaze went to his crotch just as Carter climbed on the bed, his look pleasingly predatory.

  “Wait,” she said, scrambling to sit up. “I need to have you naked,” she said, reaching for his jeans button.

  Carter didn’t say anything. He just kneeled on the bed so she could work on his fly, his breathing heavy.

  She took her time, wanting to savour this moment of finally seeing that part of Carter’s anatomy that had given her many a horny night. She felt it jerk when her hand brushed it.

  “Are you getting bigger?” she teased as she pulled down his zipper.

  Carter’s grin was salacious. “I can’t wait for you to hold it your hand, babe.”

  “And put it my mouth?” she asked with a sultry smile.

  Carter shut his eyes as if pained. “Yes,” he hissed.

  With heart hammering, she pulled down his pants. His cock sprung out, pointing at her.

  Oh God. He was magnificent.

  She touched it, running her fingers lightly on the velvety skin and trying hard to remember if his hard-as-steel erection was just as it had been in her dream. Frankly, she couldn’t recall how it had looked in her unconscious imaginings. What had stayed with her was how good he’d felt. And she couldn’t wait to feel him for real.

  “Can I tell you a secret?” she asked, looking up at him shyly.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  “Secret? Yes, I’d love to know your secrets,” Carter said as he tried to stay still while Cassie inspected his cock. He wanted much more than just the feather-like touch of her fingers, but seeing her enthralled was so erotic he didn’t dare break the mood.

  “I’ve dreamt about you,” Cassie murmured, wrapping her whole hand around his erection.

  Fuck. “What did you dream about?” he asked, breathless.

  “You naked...” Cassie answered, tugging as her other hand cupped his balls. “And me naked...”

  He grinned, stifling a moan. “Really? What exactly were we doing?”

  “Well, the picture is hazy in my head, but I’m sure I did this.” She ran her tongue on his length before putting it in her mouth.

  “Cassie,” he groaned, threading his fingers through her hair. “I’ve fantasised about this, too.”

  Cassie made a noise of approval as she explored his hardness with her mouth and hands.

  God, he’d known it would be good once they got together. But he hadn’t expected it to be this good. If he didn’t stop her, he was going to explode in no time.

  He moved back so Cassie didn’t have a choice but to let go. He gave her a swift kiss before hastening to pull his jeans and boxer briefs off his legs. Then he fished the condom out of his pocket and dropped it on the bedside table before turning back to Cassie and gently pushing her down on the bed. “What else did you dream about?” he asked.

  “I’m sure you can guess,” she said, biting her lower lip.

  “Yes, let’s see if I can.” He swept his tongue on that lip she was biting, before kissing her passionately when she opened her mouth to him. Ah, even her kisses were more intoxicating than he’d imagined. He couldn’t wait to be inside her. But first, he wanted to elicit more of Cassie’s lusty responses. She was so freaking hot.

  He kissed her face and neck, then he cupped her heavy breasts, staring at the erect peaks. How many times had he imagined licking these?

  Cassie arched her back, wordlessly telling him what she wanted.

  “You’ve dreamt about this, haven’t you?” he murmured, before capturing a nipple in his mouth and flicking it with his tongue.

  Cassie’s answer was a soft moan.

  “And this?” He ran a hand up her thigh and groaned when he reached the apex between her legs. “God, baby, you’re so wet.”

  “I told you,” she gasped out.

  Hell, he wasn’t satisfied with just touching. He crawled down her body, placing hungry kisses on her skin as he went. Finally, he was where he wanted to be. He gave her legs a little nudge and Cassie spread them wider for him. “You’re so fucking hot, Cassie,” he breathed, giving her inner thigh several pecks before running his tongue around her pussy lips.

  “Carter...”

  “Did you dream about this too?” he asked, teasing her by bringing his attention back to her thigh.

  “Yes, but...”

  “But what, sweetheart?” He tasted her wet core.

  “Oh, yes, that...”

  He chuckled before he licked her swollen nub.

  Cassie’s hips bucked as she moaned lustily. Oh yes, that was exactly what he wanted to hear. But he was greedy, and he craved for more. He closed his mouth on her clit and sucked lightly, then swirled his tongue on that tiny bundle of sensitised nerves. When Cassie’s cries got louder, he inserted a finger in her as his tongue continued its ministrations.

  “Carter!” Cassie cried.

  Next thing he knew, she was pushing him away. He looked up in surprise.

  “Inside me, Carter,” she pleaded with hooded eyes.

  He smiled. “We have plenty of time, baby,” he said, before bending down again and flicking his tongue fast on her nub. He was determined to make her come a few times tonight.

  “No. In my dream, I didn’t come this way the first time.”

  A different kind of warmth filled him. How could he say no when Cassie was asking him to make her dreams come true? He moved back up to look into her eyes. “So I already made you come, huh?” he said with a cheeky grin.

  She giggled. “The Carter in my dreams did.”

  “Well, this Carter is dying to do just that,” he murmured, grabbing the condom from the bedside table and putting it on.

  He settled himself on top of Cassie, holding her gaze as he guided his eager dick to her soaked entrance. “You’ve made me come many times already,” he said as he pushed in.

  Cassie gasped. “How many?”

  “I’ve lost count,” he said through gritted teeth as pleasure swamped him from the feel of Cassie’s inner walls sheathing him. He thrust slowly, over and over, again and again, wanting to savour the feel of moving in and out of her. “Sweetheart, this is better than I imagined,” he groaned, moving a hand to her breast and lightly pinching her nipple.

  “Yes,” she whimpered, her head thrown back.

  Seeing Cassie in ecstasy—because of him—spurred him further. He drove in... and out... his rocking getting faster, his breath getting more laboured, and he knew he was at the point of no return. He wanted to make this last, but he was too far gone. He put his thumb in Cassie’s mouth and she sucked dutifully, her beautiful, hooded eyes on his. Then he moved that hand and reached down for her clit, rubbing it in circles with his wet thumb.

  “Carter... oh God...”

  “Yessss. Come for me, Cassie,” he grunted, driving into her faster, her passionate gasps bringing him ever closer to the edge.

  With a high-pitched cry, Cassie trembled violently, her body clamping hard on his thrusting cock.

  “Cassie,” he roared, as he erupted inside her. Loud and long.

  *

  Carter collapsed on top of Cassie, spent and mindless from the incredible pleasure he’d just experienced. How could he, a guy who’d been with many women, not have experienced this kind of sex before? And the weird thing was they hadn’t done anything extraordinarily different—just some oral sex and the plain old missionary position. Nothing special.

  E
xcept that the woman he’d just made love to was special. And he was only starting to realise just how much.

  He angled his head to kiss her cheek. “You’re incredible.”

  “So are you,” she answered with a smile in her voice.

  He reared up to look at her. “Was that as good as you’ve dreamt?”

  “Better,” she whispered, cupping his face. “Much, much better.”

  He grinned, thrilled by her response. “We better do it again, then. And see if we could replicate the magic.”

  And they did.

  *****

  “I better go,” Carter said, although he wasn’t ready to get out of Cassie’s bed.

  “Carter, are we... um... gonna tell Tash? And our friends?”

  He lay on his side, facing her. This was the tricky part, and he hated that he couldn’t be fully open with her.

  If Cassie weren’t working at Tellman Galleries, he wouldn’t have any hesitation in telling her right now that he was an undercover detective in the middle of a case. But she did work there, and one or several of her colleagues might be criminals. If the perps got a sniff that Cassie knew something, no matter how small, her life would be at risk.

  Besides, it was still possible that none of her workmates were involved in underhanded activities. Therefore, he didn’t want Cassie to get nervous about working at the gallery. It was obviously her dream job. He wouldn’t want to take away her enjoyment for her work because of unproven suspicions.

  “You don’t want anyone to know,” Cassie observed.

  “It’s not that,” he answered, hating to see the disappointment on her face. “My parents already put a lot of pressure on me about finding a steady girlfriend. Since we’re still in the non-committed stage, I can already imagine them not letting up on us moving to the next level. I’d rather we move at our own pace since we both have demanding work commitments. Wouldn’t it be better if we don’t have outside pressures as we figure out if we want something more serious down the track?”

  “Of course,” Cassie said, blushing. “I didn’t mean for you to think I’m in a hurry. It’s just that Tash lives here and she’s bound to notice something.”

  He smiled, caressing her arm. If he had a choice, everyone would know Cassie was his. But he just needed to be patient. That time would come.