by Linda Verji
As soon as the older woman suggested that Benisio supervise the fresh lab tests, Eve realized what was going on. There would probably be fraud involved in those tests, and Sharon wanted only someone she trusted to oversee it. Smart move.
“Okay.” Hiding a smile, Eve asked, “So what do you want me to do?”
“Send out a statement saying that that Nina Wu is lying but we’re willing to do fresh lab tests just to confirm it. We will announce the results via a press conference.” Sharon added, “Start the lawsuit against that tart too. Make sure that our lawyers take her for everything she’s got. I want you to step on her. Stomp on her. Make sure that she never dares to write anything about us again.”
Eve nodded. “Will do.”
“Get out,” Sharon commanded and of course Eve obeyed. However, she did not miss the fact that Benisio stayed behind. Obviously, he was staying back so that they could scheme further. Eve hurried to her office so that she could hear all of it.
CHAPTER 8
No, Carter hadn’t forgotten what had happened that morning. To be honest, he’d woken up way, way before Eve and had just been enjoying having her in his arms. Imagine his surprise when she’d started grinding on him. At first he’d thought that he was imagining things but moments later, it became clear that he was not.
The only reason he hadn’t brought it up was because Eve was obviously spooked by what had happened. The way she’d raced out of the bed, anyone would’ve thought that she was being chased by hellhounds. So he’d decided to give her a little time. However, that didn’t mean that they were done. His lips lifted in a half smile. No, they were not done. Far from it.
“What’s funny?” Eve cut into his thoughts.
He immediately sat up straighter. “Huh?”
They were both in the bathroom. Eve had gone in first to get rid of her makeup and Carter had followed her in on the pretense that he wanted to brush his teeth. However, even after he was done brushing his teeth, he’d stayed to watch her. Why? He just liked being around her.
“What’s funny?” she repeated while watching him through the mirror. “You were smiling.”
“Was I?” Still smiling, he hedged. “I was just thinking about something from work.”
She watched him for a second as if to judge the honesty of his words before turning back to what she was doing. As she scrubbed her face, she said, “Speaking of work… what will you guys do about the documentary? I heard that the Colombian government is protesting about it being aired.”
Folding his arms over his chest, Carter scoffed. “They haven’t even seen it so I don’t know why they’re so worried.”
“From what you’ve told me about it… it looks like they have something to be worried about.” Her eyes met his through the mirror. “No one likes to have their dirty laundry aired out in public.”
He shrugged. “It’s dirty laundry that needs to be aired.”
“Why do you have to be the one to do it though?” Concern filled her expression as she turned to face him. “The people you’re talking about in the film are dangerous. What if they come after you?”
“What’s that?” Her concern was enough to make him smile. “Are you worried about me?”
Her frown deepened. “Of course I’m worried about you.”
“You don’t need to be. Nobody’s coming after me,” he reassured her. Then to get her mind off him, he changed the subject. “What about your job? That conditioner thing has been trending online all day.”
“Has it?” Eve asked. Though her tone was nonchalant, he didn’t miss the way her shoulders stiffened. As if to avoid further discussion of the topic, she spun back to face the mirror, turned the tap on and bent to wash her face.
Carter waited until she straightened back to dry her face before prodding, “Is this something I need to be worried about?”
“No.” She shook her head. “Your mother and I are handling it.”
That should’ve been a good enough answer for him but the way Eve’s expression had become blank left him feeling oddly unsettled. Studying her keenly, he asked, “Is any of what they’re saying true?”
“Your mother says that none of it is true,” she responded.
Someone else would’ve taken that response at face value and let it go but he couldn’t. His instincts told him there was more to the story. “What about you? What do you say?”
“I say nothing.” Avoiding his eyes, she grabbed a bottle and sprayed some kind of liquid on her face. “I wasn’t there when they were creating the formula for the conditioner so I don’t know if it has any of the stuff they’re claiming it has.” Before he could push for more answers, she asked, “Can we talk about something else? I’ve been at work all day… I don’t feel like talking about it.”
Carter didn’t respond. He just studied her while trying to figure out why she was being so evasive. The one thing he was sure about was that his mother wasn’t involved in the scandal that was currently hovering over La Belle. Sharon was too upright for that. However, it was possible that someone else in the company was involved in funny business and Eve didn’t want to talk about it. Okay then. He’d let her tell him in her own time.
“Jackson’s teacher called me today,” he said.
“Oh.” Eve immediately became more attentive. “Why?”
“She wanted to check up on him and see if we’d talked to him about the fight.” Frowning, he added, “I didn’t even know that he’d been a fight. Did you?”
“Yeah, I did,” she admitted as she slathered on moisturizer. “He told me about it. It wasn’t anything serious, and no one got hurt. He and Keith-”
“Keith?”
“Keith is his best friend,” Eve explained. “He and Keith were texting in class and the teacher took their phones. Keith wanted to break into the teacher’s desk to get the phones and Jackson didn’t so they got into a brawl. The teacher caught them scuffling outside the door but neither of them wanted to explain why they were fighting so they got detention.”
Carter arched his eyebrows. “Jackson told you all this?”
“He trusts me,” she returned simply. “Anyway, I sorted it out with him and Keith so you don’t need to worry about it.”
Carter wasn’t sure how to feel. On one hand, he was disappointed that Jackson hadn’t come to him first. However, he could understand why. In the last five years while he was running around the world, Eve was taking care of his nephew and bonding with him. They were now closer than some mothers and sons. As much as their tight relationship sometimes made him feel left out and jealous, it also left him with an undeniable sense of gratefulness. It wasn’t every day that one found a woman willing to take care of a child with no blood relation to them. Eve was a special woman, and he was glad that she was his.
Smiling, he straightened from the edge of the tub and crossed the room to her. When he wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his chest to her back, she stiffened and nervousness flashed in her gaze. Ignoring it, he leaned to kiss her cheek. “Thank you.”
Her voice was husky as she asked, “For what?”
“For taking care of Jackson.” Smiling to soften the sting of his next words, he added, “But I wish you’d include me sometimes. I don’t want you doing it alone.”
She watched him through the mirror for a second before nodding. “Okay.”
“Okay,” he mimicked with a grin before turning her in his arms so that he could touch his lips to hers.
It was supposed to be a short kiss, just a little something to tide him over. However, once he tasted her, he wanted more. If Eve had tried to stop him for going any further, maybe he would’ve taken a step back. But the way her lips softened beneath his and her body melted against his left him weak. Despite all his good intentions, he slanted his lips over hers to deepen the kiss.
An innocent ‘thank you’ kiss turned into a raging wildfire in the blink of an eye. Like a rope, desire twirled itself around them until it felt like was walking on a tightrope and
if he didn’t do something soon, he’d fall off. Still plundering her mouth like it was water and he was a thirsty man, he curved his fingers around her waist and lifted her to sit on the counter. Unfortunately, the red pencil skirt she was wearing was so tight that he couldn’t stand in between her legs like he wanted. Solution? He reached behind her for the zip.
Maybe she was too wrapped up in their kiss. However, the fact was that she didn’t protest when he drew the zip down. She didn’t say anything when he lifted her off the counter with one arm so that he could use his other hand to jerk her skirt down. And she certainly didn’t stop him when he dragged the fabric down her thick thighs. All she did was whimper and wrap her arms around his shoulders as they kissed.
When he sat her back down on the counter, she was just in her black camisole and panties. Eager to be closer to her, he fit his body between the v of her thighs. A groan of pleasure escaped his lips when his body finally came into intimate contact with hers. Her lush breasts were pressing into his chest and his erection was pushed right up against her crotch.
It felt wonderful, but it wasn’t nearly enough.
Obviously, Eve was affected by their closeness too because she crossed her feet behind him and pulled inwards, dragging him even tighter to her. Her hands slid over his hair and back feverishly as the dance of her tongue inside his mouth became more frantic. Her passion was like gasoline to the fire already raging within him. Even if he wanted to, there was no way he would’ve been able to keep himself from sliding his hands from her knees and up the silky soft skin of her thighs.
Up he went until he reached the hem of her camisole. Without missing a beat, he slid his fingers beneath the fabric to smooth over her torso and straight to her breasts. Unfortunately, her bra was in his way. Still kissing her like his life depended on it, he reached behind her and unclasped the annoying item of clothing.
There was no denying the satisfaction that swept through him when he could finally touch her. Her breasts filled his hands perfectly and the moan that tore past her lips when he squeezed sent heat careening through him. Eager to see her in all her glory, he tore his lips from her so he could peel her top off her. There were no protests from Eve. If anything her rushed breathing and the wild light in her eyes as she stared at him were a silent encouragement.
First went her camisole. Next was her bra. Then she was revealed to him.
“Beautiful,” he whispered roughly.
If his heart wasn’t already pounding madly, the sight of her naked breasts would’ve sent it galloping. Seeing those fleshy orbs topped by chocolate tips left him licking his lips in anticipation. He got hard… so hard it felt like he was about to burst out of his pants. Instinct guiding him, he lowered his mouth to one breast while his hand reached for the other one.
Her sounds went from pants to cries in the blink of an eye. Carter kept his hold on her breasts, teasing and savoring her to his satisfaction. When that still wasn’t enough, he dropped his hands to the waistband of her panties. It was almost as if she could read his mind because she wrapped her arms around his neck. He lifted her off the counter slightly so that he could yank off her panties. Seconds later, she was back on the marble counter and naked as the day she was born.
He pushed her to lean back against the mirror, hooked her thighs over his shoulders then dove into her pussy.
“AAH! AH! OH… my… Car… Carter…” Eve’s words were as broken as her breaths. Her lungs were burning and her whole body was so hot, it felt like she was standing in the middle of a furnace. However, the only thing that mattered was the insane pressure between her thighs and the man who was causing it.
“Ah!” She gave a sharp cry when his tongue flicked her clit sending a pleasurable ache through her. When his tongue slicked down her valley to jut into her entrance, her grip on the back of his head tightened.
She knew that she was wrong for enjoying what he was doing to her so much, but her body was on a completely different wavelength from her brain. It did not care whose son he was. It did not care that this would intensify how much they both got hurt when the end came. All that mattered to her traitorous body was the crazy, amazing sensations that he was creating with his mouth and hands.
Goodness gracious! It had been so long since she’d had any intimate contact that she’d forgotten just how great sex could be. And Carter was doing a great job at reminding her. Lord! The things he was doing with his mouth…
When his wicked tongue slipped back up to her clit and twirled it around in slow figure eights, her toes curled with the pleasure. When he added his finger into the already volatile hurricane and pressed it into her, she jerked wildly almost coming off the counter.
Her awareness of the surroundings completely faded. The fact that she was buck naked while he was fully dressed didn’t even register. The marble should’ve been cold beneath her but all she could feel was the wildfire razing through her as he played with her body. Still, nothing could’ve prepared her for the sharp almost painful yet sweet ache that stung at her when he forced a second finger into her. Soon, he had her quivering like a leaf being whipped around by the wind.
“Ca… Ca… Carter…” Her pants filled the bathroom. Every part of her was shaking; her voice, her legs, her tummy, the walls that gripped his fingers… Hell, even her nerves were having a stroke. “Oh… oh… aah!”
When her orgasm hit her, it was like a hurricane. It whipped her around violently, tossed her every which way until all she saw was bright stars like fireworks lighting her sight. It left her reeling with its intensity and crying out with pleasure. And when it was over, she flopped back into the mirror with a shaky gasp.
But Carter didn’t even give her time to rest. He straightened to his full height then leaned forward to kiss her. She tasted herself on his lips. That taste was so intoxicating that she didn’t even resist when he gathered her into his arms then lifted her off the counter.
Eve had always assumed that she was heavy but given how effortlessly Carter carried her out of the bathroom, one would’ve thought that she was all feathers. And when he gently set her on the bed, it was almost as if she was the most precious crystal and he was trying not to break her.
Eve should’ve stopped it there. She should’ve told him that it was enough for tonight. But when he stood then took off his white shirt and khaki pants, any remnants of rationality evaporated. The man was all rippling, delicious muscles and smooth skin. When he shoved his boxer briefs down his trunk-like thighs, her jaw dropped. Greek gods had nothing on the man. If Michelangelo had seen Carter, he would’ve been too embarrassed to sculpt David.
She couldn’t take her eyes off his raging erection as lowered himself to her. It was so beautiful; thick, long and oh so hard. Her small teeth bit into her lower lip even as her body awakened again, stirring with renewed need. His body came over hers; chest to breast, thighs to thighs, and his cock riding her mound. She parted her legs so he could fit his lower body into hers. A sigh of pleasure escaped her lips, but he quickly swallowed it in a kiss that set her pulse racing.
Her body was already readying itself for his possession but when he pressed his fingers into her pussy to test her, all of her melted and became wetter. Need driving her, she reached between them and wrapped her fist around her cock.
“Eve!” He groaned at her touch. That groan turned into a sharp inhale when she ran her fingers down then up his shaft before pointing it to her entrance.
Carter got the message loud and clear. He let her guide him until he made contact with her moist nether lips then he took control. The man wasn’t in a hurry. Instead of putting it in like she wanted, he teased her by rubbing the head between her lips then brushing it against her clit. The electric need that zapped through her at that illicit touch was enough to draw a whimper from her. She rocked her hips upwards in an attempt to draw him where she wanted him. When he finally found her, she was wetter than she’d ever been.
First, just the head entered. It had been so long for her t
hat even though she was drenched, that initial intrusion caused a little pull. Frowning, she met Carter’s eyes.
Immediately, he stopped all movement. Though his face was a harsh mask of desire, there was no missing the concern in his eyes. He murmured, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I think so.” She shifted a little to adjust herself but the burn was still there. Wincing slightly, she said, “It’s just a little…”
“Tight?”
She nodded.
“I’ll go slowly,” he promised before lowering his lips to hers again.
He didn’t move for a while, just kissed her. However, when her walls relaxed around him, he pushed in another inch then paused to let her get used to that. When she adjusted to it, he pushed in a little more. On and on the pattern continued… hard, steady, slow, until all of him was deep, deep inside her.
“Fuck!” Carter grunted as he pressed his forehead to hers and closed his eyes tightly.
Eve had never been filled this completely. It felt like he was in her throat and she couldn’t get enough of it. She squeezed her walls around him, milking him. Her reward was guttural groan that filled the room. This time when his mouth met hers, the kiss was beyond frantic; it was fierce and wild enough to leave her breathless. But it was when he slowly pulled out then thrust back in that she completely lost her ability to breathe.
He thrust so deep into her that every cell in her body screamed with delight. When his shaft scraped against the nerve endings inside her, her body automatically tightened around him. Her legs around his flanks, her fingers around his upper arms, her pussy around his cock.
His strokes were long and measured. His in and out movements were rhythmic and unrelenting. They drove her closer and closer to the edge of the cliff then mercilessly shoved her right off. When she tumbled, it was with a keening cry. He followed her soon after with a groan and one last pump to empty his seed into her.
For just a brief second, Eve wished that she wasn’t on birth control. After all the pleasure he’d given her today and all the care he gave her daily, he deserved the child he wanted so much. However, even as she basked in the last rays of her orgasm, Eve knew that bringing into a child into their mess was too cruel. Her actions were already going to hurt too many people. She couldn’t bear to bring another person into this world then hurt them too.