by Iris Morland
Anthony whispered something in her ear that made her blush before he said, “Bye, Lucy. Good luck with whatever it is.”
“Okay, he’s gone. Now, tell me what happened,” said Thea firmly.
“Anthony’s not listening to this?”
Thea shook her head. “Spill.”
It took a while, but Lucy managed to tell the entire sordid tale to Thea without sobbing too much. She told Thea about her crush on Hayden; how Carter had made a bargain with her to make Hayden jealous; and how things with Carter had turned into something that felt way too real for comfort.
“And now Hayden hates me, and Carter hates me, and I want to go home,” she cried. She sounded like a child, but she didn’t care. Sometimes you needed to cry your eyes out until you exhausted the angry child inside you.
“Oh, Luce. You’ve gotten yourself into quite a pickle.” Thea sighed. “But I can’t judge you, because God knows I’ve done some stupid things. What do you want to do?”
“That’s just it: I don’t know.” Lucy wrapped her arm around her knees, shivering now against the cold. She hadn’t felt it after her walk. “But even if I’m attracted to Carter, I know he’s not the right one for me. I’ve heard all these things about him—”
“What things?” This was from Anthony, who had returned.
Lucy flushed to her hairline. “Thea, you said he wasn’t listening!”
“He wasn’t. But he must’ve been eavesdropping.” Thea scowled at her boyfriend. “Stop upsetting my sister!”
“I’m not. But I know Carter better than anyone else. I can tell you if what you’ve heard is true or not.” Anthony narrowed his eyes at Lucy. “Did you seriously agree to be his fake girlfriend?”
“Stop being judgy, Tony-Bunches-of-Oats. It’s not a good look on you,” said Thea.
“Will you stop calling me stupid nicknames?”
Thea batted her lashes. “Sorry, Tony-kins.”
There was a brief tussle that made Lucy roll her eyes. Finally, both returned to the phone, Thea out of breath and Anthony’s hair rumpled.
“If you guys want me to call later…” said Lucy.
“No, no, I want to hear the dirt. Then Anthony can confirm or deny,” said Thea.
Lucy told the story that Hayden had relayed to her, regarding Carter and his ex-girlfriend Rosie. How Carter had not only cheated on Rosie, but he’d harassed her, too. As Lucy recounted the story, though, every word she uttered caused a pang inside her.
A second after Lucy had finished speaking, Anthony said bluntly, “That’s a load of horseshit.”
Lucy flushed, like she’d been the one to make up the story. “How do you know for sure?”
“Because I can tell you that Rosie cheated on him. She left him for that slimy son of a bitch—whatever his name is—and he was a total dick about it.” Anthony scowled. “Look, I’m not going to tell you Carter is a saint. He isn’t, and he’d agree with the assessment. But anything Kayden or Jayden or whatever says about him is bullshit.”
Lucy didn’t know if she wanted to cry or dance. Cry, because she’d been stupid enough not to see through Hayden in the first place; dance, because maybe her fears about Carter had nothing to substantiate them.
“What are you doing out here?” said a voice only yards away from her.
Lucy’s breath caught in her throat as Carter approached her. The moon shone behind him, making him seem like some kind of mythical creature.
“Who is that?” said Thea.
“I’ll talk to you guys later. Thanks for the help.” Lucy hung up right as Thea was protesting, and she knew she’d hear an earful tomorrow from her sister.
Lucy got up, closing the distance between her and Carter. “What are you doing here?” she whispered.
“I could ask you the same question.” He took in her appearance, with her sandy dress and bare feet. His expression turned grim. “Is Hayden here?”
She let out a startled laugh, tears springing to her eyes. “No. God, no. I was at his place tonight, but I left. That’s why I’m here.”
“At the beach, at night. Wearing barely anything.” Carter’s eyes narrowed. “Did that asshole do something to you?”
When Lucy didn’t reply for a long moment, Carter swore colorfully. He took her hand and began to stalk toward the road.
“What?” said Lucy. “Where are we going?”
“You’re going back to the bed-and-breakfast. I’m going to kill that piece of shit. I should’ve done it ages ago.”
By the time they got to Carter’s car, Lucy tugged on his hand to make him stop moving. “You’re not going to kill anyone.” When Carter ignored her, she dug her nails into his palm to get his attention.
“Carter,” she said more firmly.
He winced. “Your claws are sharp, little spitfire. You’re gonna draw blood if you’re not careful.”
She let his hand go, not the least bit sorry. “Like I said: you’re not killing anyone. Hayden didn’t do anything to me. I wanted to leave.”
“And why did you want to leave?” Carter’s voice was like velvet. He closed the smidge of distance between them until his hip brushed her belly. “Why did you leave your date with your Prince Charming?”
She licked her suddenly dry lips. “He’s not my Prince Charming.”
“You sure made a good show of it.”
“He kissed me tonight.” When Carter scowled, she caught his hand. “Don’t freak out. I needed him to kiss me.”
“Now I don’t know who to be pissed off at,” he said dryly.
“I realized that he wasn’t the one I wanted to be kissing.” She struggled to catch her breath, her heart fluttering like mad. Carter’s gaze seemed endless, heated, a caress that she could almost feel.
He reached out and caressed her jaw. “Then who did you want to kiss?” His voice was rough.
“It was you. You, Carter,” she burst out. “I don’t even like you! This whole thing we started, it’s gotten so complicated—”
“Little spitfire, do me a favor.” He cupped her neck.
“What?”
“Shut up.”
He swooped in and kissed her, and in that moment, Lucy knew. She knew. Moaning, she clung to him, practically melting at his feet. Her bones turned to liquid. Carter consumed every sense: smell, taste, touch, sight, sound. He was the center of her universe.
It terrified her.
“Baby, I need you,” he groaned, and she could feel the evidence of his arousal against her belly. “Tell me you’ll come back with me. I don’t give a rat’s ass if this is a shit idea. You’ve been driving me crazy since the second you insulted me that first day.”
In response, she stood on her tiptoes and licked at the pulse in his neck. “I want you,” she whispered.
Carter swore. “I was going to take you nice and slow in a bed like a good guy, but fuck it, I’m not driving even two miles and waiting that long.” His smile was slow and heated. “Get in the backseat, little spitfire.”
Chapter Thirteen
The last time Carter had made out with a woman in the backseat of his car, he had been fifteen, a virgin, and had come in his jeans within five minutes. It hadn’t been his greatest shining moment.
Now, though, he wanted to savor Lucy. She made the most delicious little sounds in the back of her throat, like she couldn’t get enough of him. He was infinitely glad that he’d sprung for a sports car that had a roomy backseat.
A tiny part of his mind whispered he should tell her the truth, but he pushed the thought away. It would only hurt her, and besides, things had changed. It was no longer about getting revenge on Hayden: it was all about Lucy and how she’d taken over his entire world in such a short time.
It was dim inside, but there was enough light from the distant streetlamps to let him see what he was doing. A small part of him wished he could see every inch of Lucy in vivid detail, but there would be other times for that. Right now, he needed to be inside her, to feel her shake and moan his name.<
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“Carter,” she whispered, her hands pressing against his chest like a cat’s paws. “What are we doing?”
He licked at the pulse point in her throat. “Do I have to explain the birds and the bees to you?” he teased.
“You’re annoying. No, I mean—” She whimpered when he touched her breast through her dress. “I mean, where is this going?”
“Lucy.” Carter practically growled the word. “Do you remember what I said to you earlier?” Before she could answer, he said, “Shut up and enjoy.”
She hissed, offended, but any protests she might’ve been coming up with melted away when he reached under the hem of her silky dress to touch her even silkier inner thighs. She clenched her thighs around his hand even as she clung more tightly to him. She was like a vine trying to wrap around him, her need so obvious that it only stoked his own further.
When he got to the panel of her lace panties and found her already soaked, he groaned. “You need me that much, babe?”
She gasped when he pushed her panties to the side and slicked a finger through her wet folds. Her nails dug into his skin, and the bite of pain only egged him on.
“If I’d known you were that desperate for me,” he said into her ear as he played with her, “I would’ve made you come with my hands and my mouth weeks ago. Maybe it would’ve made you less grumpy around me.”
“No, it wouldn’t have.” Her continued gasping belied her words. “Oh my God, Carter, I’m so close.” She bucked against his hand as he began to rub her clit in firm circles. God, he wished he could see her right now, pink and pretty and wet for him. But the sounds she made along with the feeling of her were erotic enough. His cock was already so hard it bordered on pain.
He slipped a finger inside her, rubbing her faster, until she let out a screech and convulsed against him. Growling, he captured her mouth in a hard kiss as he worked her through her release.
She was loose-limbed and happy after that, almost purring like a cat. “I want to feel you,” she whispered as her hot little hands unbuckled his belt and dove inside his jeans. When she freed his cock and squeezed him at the base, he gritted his teeth to keep from coming right then and there like he had when he was fifteen years old.
This woman made him feel like he’d never slept with anyone else. It was only her, with her sweet mouth kissing his chest and her hands working his cock. Sweat beaded on his brow.
When he couldn’t take it any longer, he reached for his wallet in his back pocket, pulling out a condom. He could feel Lucy’s smile even in the dim light.
“So prepared,” she said with a giggle. “Should I be offended?”
“You should be flattered. I never carry condoms in my wallet like some desperate loser.” He rolled the latex on before lying down, pulling Lucy on top of him.
She pushed his shirt up and kissed his belly. “I’m not sure that’s any better.”
“What’s any better?” He’d already forgotten what they were talking about.
Lucy nipped at the skin at his hip. “I’ll explain later.”
“You’re a fucking brat.” The words came out in a tone of amazement, especially as Lucy sank down on his cock, sheathing him in her tightness. He dug his fingers into her hips, forcing himself not to pound into her and taking control.
“You’re an asshole,” she countered as she began to ride him. Carter reached up and freed her breasts. Watching them bounce as she bounced on his cock almost made him lose it right then and there.
“Yet you’re fucking me anyway.” He leaned up and bit her bottom lip lightly. “So what does that say about you?”
“That I have low standards?” Her voice was breathless.
He bucked up into her, and she squealed. Grabbing her ass, he decided to take control. Lucy didn’t protest as he thrust inside her, harder and harder, their bodies slapping against the leather seats. The windows even steamed up, and Carter would’ve cracked a joke about it if he weren’t so close to his own release.
“You’re gonna come for me again, because no matter your standards, I’m the only man who’s ever made you feel like this,” he rasped.
She opened her mouth to protest, but he reached down and began to rub her clit again. He felt her clench around him; she tipped her head back, completely surrendering to him.
When she came a second time, she screamed, so loudly that he had to cover her mouth with his hand. He chuckled darkly before groaning as his own orgasm hit him like a tidal wave. Emptying himself inside her, he was pretty sure he’d died, and he wasn’t the least bit bothered by that fact.
Lucy collapsed on top of him even as she kissed him. His heart caught in his throat, but he pushed the feeling aside. This was just sex and nothing else.
Eventually, they cleaned themselves up as much as they could in the confines of a car. It took a while, only because Carter kept kissing Lucy, making her giggle and playfully push him away.
“Man, we pulled a Titanic,” said Lucy, looking at the still-steamed windows. She drew a smiley face with her finger. “I’m seriously impressed.”
“Probably a good thing. These windows aren’t tinted, so anyone could’ve seen us.”
She whirled on him. “What? Oh God, I didn’t even notice. What if someone walked past—?”
Carter snaked an arm around her. “We’re in the middle of nowhere at…what time is it? Midnight?” He kissed her ear. “Come back to my room with me.”
He waited for her answer with bated breath. The last time he’d let a woman stay the night was eons ago. He preferred a quick fuck followed by an equally quick exit.
“I probably shouldn’t,” she said finally, “but I don’t think this night is about making good decisions.”
He’d parse that response later. Kissing her one last time, he climbed out of the car, groaning as his muscles—particularly his shoulder—protested. God, he was too old for this shit.
The second Carter locked his room’s door at the bed-and-breakfast, he pulled Lucy into his arms, lifting her up until her feet dangled off the floor. She laughed and wrapped her legs around his waist.
“I should go change,” she whispered.
“Why? You’re just going to be naked again.”
He’d turned on a lamp, and he could finally see her face: her soft eyes, her kiss-bruised lips, the flush on her cheeks. Her hair was a mess, and his lips twitched when he saw that one of the straps on her dress was twisted up.
She looked absolutely beautiful.
“You’re so practical,” she said.
“When it comes to getting a woman naked, I’m always practical. Logical. All those things.”
She smiled, and he thought it was the first smile she’d given him that wasn’t tinged with annoyance. Her usual barbs had faded away, and he suddenly wanted to keep this side of Lucy completely to himself. The side of her that was sweet and giving and lovely.
When he took her mouth, he made the kiss slow and tender. She ran her fingers through his hair in gentle strokes. His heart slammed in his chest again even as his cock came back to attention.
Not wanting to think about all the strange emotions rolling through him, he promptly tossed her onto his bed and climbed over her, letting desire wash away everything but the feeling of being deep inside his little spitfire.
Despite her exhaustion and the fact that her body currently felt like mush, Lucy couldn’t sleep. Carter, for his part, was snoring softly next to her. He’d fallen asleep within minutes after the second time they’d had sex, but not before he’d thrown an arm over her and pulled her close.
Lucy sighed softly. It was still dark out, but it had to be close to dawn. Squinting at the alarm clock, she realized that she had three hours before she had to get ready for filming.
Her stomach rumbled, but it would be a few hours before she could get breakfast downstairs. She considered pilfering something from the kitchen and asking Gwen for forgiveness later.
Carter grunted in his sleep. Lucy bit her lip to keep from l
aughing.
There was some light coming through the curtains, which let her watch his face as he slept. He was more relaxed, the intensity that drove him having melted away. She reached up and brushed a lock of hair from his forehead.
Food. She needed food. Pushing Carter’s arm away and hoping she didn’t wake him, she dressed hastily, stuffing her panties and bra into her purse. She was only going down the hallway, and it was unlikely anyone was awake at this hour.
She tiptoed out of Carter’s room, purse and heels in her hand. When an indrawn gasp behind her made her start, she barely kept from dropping everything onto the floor in a loud clatter.
“Lucy!”
Lucy blushed to the roots of her hair as she turned to see Gwen standing only a few yards away on the stairs. Gwen cocked an eyebrow as she waited for Lucy’s explanation.
Not knowing what to say, Lucy shrugged. “It’s a long story.”
“I bet it is. And although I’m tempted to get you to spill it right now, I’m going back to bed.”
“Were you with someone, too?” Lucy asked hopefully.
Gwen snorted. “I was hungry, and I heard a door open. When I saw it was you coming out of Carter Roberts’s room…”
“Okay, okay. I need to go to my room.” Before Gwen turned to go, Lucy said, “Can I get some food from the kitchen? I’ll pay you back.”
“No need. Your payment will be telling me the dirty details of what happened tonight.” Gwen smiled like a cat and waved airily as she returned downstairs.
Lucy hurried to her room, where she washed her face, brushed her teeth, and put on a tank and yoga pants. After she brushed her hair, which was a tangled mess that somehow had sand in it, she put on her slippers to go downstairs. As the stairs creaked with each step, she winced, hoping she didn’t wake anyone up. She didn’t need anyone questioning her about why she was lurking around in the early-morning hours.
When she entered the kitchen, she flipped on the light over the oven and began to make herself a cup of tea. She found some leftover pastries and began to devour one before her tea was even finished brewing.