Chapter 11
An unexpected evening
As Carter carried me the short distance to the back stairs that led to our condos, my conservative mind fought with my fiery body.
I wanted this man more than I ever wanted anyone.
His strength in easily holding me in his arms only intensified my desire for him.
I didn’t want to be a virgin anymore, and he more than fit what I’d envisioned as my first time.
A man who would always be the main character in anyone’s romance.
The handsome, charming, and wealthy football player who had more layers than I believed.
A man who loved his family and had self-doubts about his career.
Carter St. Patrick had a chink in his armor, and he’d willingly shared it with me.
When we approached the bottom of the stairs, Carter only held tighter. “Scared if I let you go right here, you’ll leave me.”
His vulnerability melted my heart and ended my internal battle. We will become lovers tonight, and I’ll deal with whatever consequences tomorrow. I kissed his neck before I snuggled deeper against him, ready for him.
“Why the fuck are you carrying this bitch?” A woman suddenly screeched.
Carter quickly swung me around to take the hits the woman delivered meant for me, and he placed me down on the ground.
I had to promptly balance myself, or I would’ve fallen back onto the beach sand.
He stood between her and me and fought to grab her swinging arms. “Selena, have you lost your mind?”
“You son of a bitch. You’re a fucking liar. Told me you weren’t seeing anyone else,” she screamed, still trying to get to me.
“Told you I didn’t have a girlfriend. There’s a difference, crazy woman. Get the fuck on. I didn’t ask you to come here.” Carter insisted while using his football skills to block her from her goal: me.
I folded my arms on his other side, refusing to budge. I recognized Selena as one of the cheerleaders. How fucking cliché can he be? Peering at her over Carter’s shoulder, I taunted, “Are you trying to get at me?”
Selena’s long, brown, and blonde weave whipped around as she tried to duck around an angry Carter. “Yes, you motherfucking bitch.”
“So, you’re not trying to hit him at all, though he’s the one who lied to you, and you don’t know me?” I rolled my neck.
Carter looked back at me with a deeply furrowed brow, and that was enough for her to rush me.
Fortunately, I predicted her move and simply stepped out of the way, and she fell in the sand.
Now embarrassed, Selena tried to stand back up, and in her stilettos and maxi dress, she sank back down, screaming, “You better run.”
Carter turned an annoyed back to the comedy scene behind him as I stomped toward the stairs. Tired of the drama, I declared, “I’m done.”
“Hey, I didn’t lie to her. We’re not together. I don’t owe her shit.” He tried to move in front of me, and I pressed my hand against his chest.
“I don’t know if you’re lying or not, but I’m not fighting women over you.”
He touched my hand lightly. “Wait upstairs for me and let me handle her.”
“I can’t, Carter. This is too much.” I started up the stairs, and he grabbed my elbow, causing another fit of anger from Selena. I jerked my arm free. “Go deal with her before someone calls the cops.”
“I didn’t ask her to come over here. I planned to be by myself tonight. You saw me out there. Did I look like I wanted company?” He pleaded quietly, “Go upstairs. My code is 318.”
“I might as well go home because nothing is happening between us tonight, and I know that’s all you wanted from me anyway,” I retorted, hoping he would deny it.
He blew out a frustrated breath. “Whatever you want to do is okay with me. Please, I just want to hang with you a little longer. Make sure you did a good job on my cornrows. Get to know you better.”
His intense, apologetic gaze never faltered from mine, and I relented. “Okay.”
I trudged up the stairs and could hear him telling her to leave. She cursed him, but from the gist of their back and forth, she was someone he was seeing, but not exclusively. He sounded more annoyed than pissed as he reminded her that he was free to see who the fuck he wanted.
When I reached our floor, I almost walked through the doors of my drama-free life, where peace and quiet would be.
But that decision was the old Darren. If I wanted new experiences, I had to do the opposite of what I would typically do.
I used his code and went inside his condo.
The first time I was here, he had me so consumed with his kisses and touch that I ignored my surroundings.
Now, I moved around his living area, which had a woman’s touch.
Lush green plants hung near the balcony to catch the rays.
Tall live plants, beautiful African pieces, and colorful artwork made the room cozier.
Probably his mother’s hand, more than a girlfriend.
His place reeked of expensive design and décor.
I sat on his soft walnut brown leather sofa and reached for my phone before realizing I’d forgotten it.
Shit. What if Chelsea were trying to contact me?
It had been more than an hour, maybe longer, since I left our condo.
In my rush to get to Carter, I didn’t tell her where I was going.
I jumped back up and headed to the door as Carter walked in, his lips curving into a relieved smile upon seeing me.
“Glad you’re here. I’m sorry about that.
I wouldn’t have blamed or stopped you if you punched her. ”
I shrugged. “Her falling on her own two feet was better than any punch. A girl like that hates being embarrassed more than physical pain.”
He lightly chuckled. “A fact.”
I tilted my head. “A cheerleader who loves drama, really, Carter?”
Carter, to his credit, looked sheepish and rubbed the back of his head. “She’s my past.”
“Looks like she’s still present and hoping for the future,” I wryly commented.
We both still stood by the door. “She can hope, but what I want for my future is standing in front of me.”
His words and the way he gazed into my eyes charmed me. Still, I had to call him on his bullshit. “Okay, even I can tell that’s a line.”
“Part cheesy line and part true.” He chuckled, touching his abs, reminding me he was shirtless. And incredibly fine. “You want something to drink? I have water, apple juice, and might have a grape freeze pop.”
At my hesitation, which had more to do with his distracting body than my decision to leave, his hands encircled my waist, trapping me.
And the heat that had cooled during the almost fight returned hotter than on the beach.
“I could tell you were about to leave, and I really don’t want you to.
Thinking that maybe Selena was supposed to stop us before we did something we both might regret. ”
“Why would you regret it?” I asked, trying to ignore the way his hands scorched my waist. Or the way his lips were dangerously close to mine. If I tiptoed, our lips would meet.
“Because I like you.”
His simple answer stirred the butterflies in my heart. “If you like me, why would you regret us doing the do?”
“’ Doing the do? Wait, can you say sex or fuck around me? What about boning or getting dicked down?” He snickered. “Laying pipe? Oh...oh, what about being drilled or pounded the fuck out?”
“I’m not scared to say any of that.” I mean, I could and have said those words around Grey and Chelsea in everyday conversation. I would be saying it in front of a man who was more than capable of doing just that, and suddenly, I was prudish.
Carter grinned. “I don’t believe you, but it’s cool because none of that is happening tonight.” He took my hand and led me to his glass kitchen table. “Uno or regular cards?”
“You play Uno?” Definitely didn’t picture Mr. Future Sports Illustrated playing a child’s game.
“Hands down, the undefeatable champion of Oakdale Drive.” He bragged as he pulled a chair out for me to sit.
“Until you played the unbeatable queen of Sherwood Lane.” I flexed both of my muscles.
“Is that a challenge?” He rubbed his hands together, making his biceps flex. “Three out of five. If I win, you owe me a date.”
“Um...that sounds more like a prize for me.” I quirked a brow.
“You’re the one with a man. I can’t, and I won’t make assumptions that I can have a date with you anytime I want. Win or lose, you owe me a date. Deal?” Carter held his fist for me to bump.
“Yeah.” Guilt pricked my soul. I needed to tell him the truth. We could go anywhere at any time. We were both single and free. Yet, I couldn’t. At least not now. “Deal. Now, go put on a shirt. I need to focus.”
“And I’m bringing you one of my hoodies because I need to focus too.” His eyes traveled up and down my body. “This dress...this dress, Darren Brown.”
Blushing at his attention, I eased down in the chair. Carter pushed me under the table and placed a sexy kiss on my shoulder. “I would’ve regretted tonight because whenever I make love to you, I want it to mean more than just sex.”
Numbly, I nodded as he strolled out of the room, whistling. Unexpectedly, Carter St. Patrick was giving me exactly what I asked for. A real chance for love.