Chapter Twenty
SOPHIE
It’s been a week since the night in the back of Carter’s truck and things have been going… surprisingly well. We’ve spent the last seven days re-learning everything there is to know about each other, both in the bedroom and in our everyday lives. Carter hangs out with Jake or helps his mom with some home remodeling while I’m at work, and more than once, I’ve watched him on the ice with Jordan and his friends.
We haven’t seen each other yet today, and I had planned to go over to his place for dinner. Then, I got his text an hour ago, and I thought I read it wrong. Silk scarves? What on earth could he want to do with those?
“He wants you to bring what? ” The excitement in Abbie’s voice coming through my phone makes me chuckle as I search the back of the closet.
“Silk scarves.” I nearly blush at Abbie’s squeal on the other line.
“Damn. Maybe Carter needs to give Jake some ideas because that is hot .”
Chuckling, I grab a small stool from my room to stand on to reach the top shelf. “Oh? I thought things were still exciting between you two.”
“It’s just sex,” Abbie says almost defensively. “As long as I get a decent amount of orgasms at least two times a week, I’d say it’s going fantastic.”
Rolling my eyes, I grab the box from the back and nearly shout in victory. After pulling it down, I settle on the floor to pull out a few options.
“Uh uh. You’re not fooling me. Don’t forget I’ve known you since kindergarten and know all about your long-standing crush on Jake Ashford.”
“No way, that was years ago,” Abbie protests. “He hardly noticed me back then, and we even hung out in the same group of friends. Now, it’s his turn to wish he had my heart.”
Running the material through my fingers, I nearly shudder at the sensation of the fabric against my skin. Maybe Carter was onto something after all. “Well, if you guys ever decide to make it more than just sex, you could up that to five nights a week. Maybe Carter can give these to Jake next.”
“You lucky bitch,” Abbie mumbles. “Did you find any?”
My mouth goes dry, and all I think about is him binding my wrists together while I’m completely naked, utterly at his mercy.
“Uh huh,” I choke out, licking my lips.
“Okay, call me tomorrow with all the dirty details!” She hangs up the phone, and I pull myself together enough to head to Carter’s.
I feel almost ridiculous as I let myself into Carter’s hotel room, a bag full of silk scarves on my arm.
“There you are.” He wraps me in arms, kissing me breathless before the door shuts fully behind me. “Let me see what you brought. My cock’s been hard since I texted you earlier.” His eyes are like fire, burning straight through me.
Biting my lip, I step back and hand him the bag. “Will they…” I swallow as his face lights up looking through my bag. “Will they work?”
“Oh, they’ll work just fine, Angel.” His eyes darken as he looks from the bag to me. “I’ve been imagining you naked on my bed, wearing nothing but these wrapped around your pretty little wrists.”
My thighs clench at his words. I’ve never been tied up before. Doing that with Carter sends a thrill through me.
Before I know it, I’m naked on the bed, one hand tied to each of the two top bed posts, and a scarf wrapped around my eyes like a blindfold.
“You look good enough to eat,” he murmurs as the bed shifts, his weight coming next to me. “I might just have to have you for dinner.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” Carter has a dominant streak, and I know my words will taunt him, but I can’t help it. The thought of having him lose control is too irresistible to ignore.
He releases a throaty chuckle near my ear before he takes my earlobe between his teeth. “Oh, Angel, I keep every promise I make.”
His words have a shiver of anticipation running through me, and I let out a breathy moan. “Please, Carter.”
His lips move down to my peaked nipples, kissing and laving attention on both of them, making me a panting mess. Without my sight, every sensation is heightened tenfold. That I’m at his mercy, his to use as he sees fit, lights fire in my veins.
“One day I’m going to fuck these perfect tits,” he growls, gently dragging his teeth over my nipple. I cry out, the sensation of them scraping my skin sending me into overdrive.
His hand finds its way to my already soaking folds, running through them with deft fingers. They circle around my clit with precision, never quite touching where I need them most.
“Shit, Carter!” My voice rings out in the room, and he groans into my skin as he moves his mouth back up to my neck.
His touch finally lands on my clit, and the few small circles he rubs is all it takes before I’m screaming my release.
“That’s it, Angel,” he says into my neck. “I know you have more in you, and I want every single one. They’re mine.” His voice is sultry and possessive, sending a thrill through me. When I only moan in response, the bed shifts, then his weight settles over me as he puts his mouth right next to my ear.
“Say it. Tell me that every delicious orgasm that tears through this fucking perfect body belongs to me.”
“They’re yours,” I pant, my heart hammering in my chest. “All of them.”
“Good girl,” he rumbles, dragging my earlobe through his teeth again and causing me to cry out. His weight moves back towards the bottom of the bed as he devours my pussy with the fervor of a starved man. My wrists pull at the silken scarfs binding them, and a sense of peace comes over me at the fact that I can’t move, even if I wanted to.
I should feel trapped.
Instead, all I feel is… safety. Carter has me, and he’s going to take care of everything.
My orgasm shatters me into a thousand pieces as he pulls my clit into his mouth and sucks.
Hard.
Before I’ve finished coming down from my high, he’s untying the scarves from the bedpost, pulling me off the bed and to my knees. When I lick my lips in anticipation, still blindfolded, he chuckles lowly. “You want my cock, Angel?”
“Yes,” I whisper, leaning forward.
He tsks at me, gripping the hair at the back of my neck. “Not so fast, you’ll take what I give you like a good girl, won’t you?”
Doing my best to nod, I let out a moan when he guides his tip to my mouth. Salty precum meets my tongue, and I swallow him down eagerly. “Tap my thigh if it’s too much,” he says, before drawing out and thrusting in, holding my head in place. He’s not rough, withdrawing as soon as his head tickles the back of my throat.
“I can take more,” I tell him when he withdraws again, earning a rumble from his chest as he slides back in, this time holding himself in place for a few seconds before sliding out. Then he looses control and fucks my face, hard. Tears stream down my cheeks. I feel myself dripping down my thighs as he uses my mouth. The obscene sounds he makes only turn me on more, knowing that I’m the one causing him to act this way.
Suddenly, he pulls out of my mouth with a pop and pulls me to my feet, turning me around and bending me over the side of the bed. Grabbing my long hair in a tight grip, he drives into me in one hard thrust, causing me to see stars as white-hot pleasure fills me. My fists grip the sheets tightly, and a wanton cry escapes me.
Everything is heightened since I can’t see what’s happening. Before long, I’m screaming his name as I clench and cum around him yet again, sending him to his own release as well.
He nearly collapses on top of me, but moves so he lands on the bed and removes my blindfold. Blinking at the light in the room, my focus is immediately drawn to Carter, who moves to kiss me gently.
“Thank you,” he says softly, wrapping me in his arms. “For trusting me enough to let go.”
It would be dangerously easy to get used to waking up like this. Slowly, with the soft rays of morning light peeking through the hotel room curtains and strong, warm arms wrapped around me. My arms aren’t even sore from the restraints, and Carter’s steady breathing tells me he’s still asleep, so I close my eyes, basking in the feeling of being in his arms.
What we did last night flashes through my mind. I’m not sure I could ever let go like that with anyone else. With Carter, it feels so good to let him be in control. It’s amazing, it’s like he knows my body better than I do and can always give me just what I need in order to let go.
Plus, the man is amazing at aftercare. He washed my hair and body in the shower, then gave me a full body massage before feeding me Chinese food from my favorite restaurant.
It’s clear that he never stopped caring about me, even if he had been powerless to do anything about it. Every time we’re together, whether we’re skating at the rink together, grabbing a bite to eat, or tumbling in bed, it’s like a mix of apology and desperate need. Like he’s trying to make up for every year we spent apart.
I can’t afford to get too used to it. Before long, hockey season will start again and it’s possible he’ll sign with a team nowhere near here. He said he wanted to stay close to home, but I’m trying to be realistic. What are the chances of that actually happening?
But you know what? It doesn’t even matter. Because we’re not in a relationship. We’re just two old friends reconnecting.
In every possible way.
As amazing as this week’s been, this morning I’m stressed, anxiety turning in my gut.
Today is the press conference announcing the new plans for Twin Rinks. First, I’ll need to present the new programs I thought of and list of ways to bring in business once the rebuild is done. Then, Carter will present the 3D model of the building he had the developers create as a sort of grand finale. The exact model I approved of. Not the one in the second proposal.
I remember how Carter had stormed into the last council meeting, demanding to know who had requested that proposal for an NHL arena. After exchanging glances and murmuring their ignorance, the entire table looked to Oscar, who was the only one who hadn’t said anything. If his pale-as-a-sheet complexion was anything to go by, he hadn’t told a single soul what he was doing.
“It was just… I was just curious,” Oscar had stammered, looking to his fellow council members for support.
When none came, Oscar had blanched further, and we received an apology from Abbie’s dad, Michael, about the confusion.
Sadly, the memory of that moment where Carter stood up for me does little to stifle my nerves about the presentation.
I’ve never been great at public speaking, and I’m nervous about talking in front of so many people. Addressing the board during a meeting while I’m in the audience? Not a big deal.
Being the one at the front of the room, addressing hundreds of people? In front of reporters and cameras. Very big deal.
Everything that could possibly go wrong runs through my head. What if everyone hates it and the town convinced the board the rinks are a lost cause after all? What if everyone loves it and it doesn’t turn out how it’s supposed to? What if I get up there and puke in front of everyone?—
I almost stiffen as Carter’s arms tighten around me, throwing me from my panicking thoughts. “Good morning, Angel,” he rumbles into my ear.
“Hey, you.” I try to sound unfazed by the scenarios running through my head. Or so I think.
He immediately senses something is off. Using his hands to roll me over, Cart scoots back and brings us face to face. He looks so beautiful like this. Mussed hair, sleepy smile, and an imprint on his cheek from the pillow.
“What are you thinking about?” he asks, his eyes searching my face.
“How do you know I’m thinking about anything?” I arch a brow, fighting the smile that wants to appear despite of my worries. I love that he reads me so well. When he first came back to town, it really pissed me off. Now though, I realize that it’s a testament to how much he’s always cared about me.
“Your voice did that thing it does when you’re nervous about something. Like a little breathy twitch at the end of the word.” His brows are furrowed like he’s trying to figure something out. “What’s making you anxious?”
There’s no point in trying to hide it from him. “It’s just… the press conference today. It has me a little on edge.”
“It’s going to go great,” he reassures me, running his hand up and down my arm. “You’re going to kick ass, and everyone’s going to love it.”
“Yeah, but what if—” My question is cut off by him pulling me closer and pressing a kiss to my lips.
“We can’t have you attending the press conference all stressed,” he murmurs against my lips, skimming his fingers down my collarbone and across my breasts, leaving goosebumps in his wake. “Let me take your mind off things.”
I barely nod before his lips are on mine again, his hands trailing up and down my naked body until every touch has my nerve endings lighting up. His fingers skim over my thighs, coming over my ass and dangerously close to where I want him. Every second of his featherlight touch has me more aware of every sensation. When he comes around to my breasts again, he gently pinches my nipples, causing me to gasp into his mouth and press my legs together, desperate for friction.
Chest rumbling, he pushes me to my back and puts a knee between my legs. The feeling of his mouth on my neck as he lovingly massages and tweaks my nipples is pure heaven. When his hand moves down towards my aching pussy, I’m sure that one touch will have me falling over the edge.
He starts slowly though, his fingers moving languid circles, but they never move to my clit. His tongue laves at my nipples, his teeth teasing the flesh. My hips lift unconsciously, trying to push him in the right direction. When I grunt in frustration, he clicks his tongue at me.
“Patience, Soph,” he says teasingly, torturing me a little longer. Everything is becoming too much, too sensitive.
“Touch me like you mean it,” I whimper. “Please, Carter.”
He moves his face back to mine and kisses me, catching my bottom lip between his teeth. “Okay,” he breathes out, moving his fingers to my clit as his tongue licks a path up my neck.
Fuck yes.
This is what I need, the pads of his fingers brushing against my sensitive nub, sending jolts of electricity through me. A high pitched moan escapes me as his touch brings me higher and higher. Just when I’m about to fall over the edge… he stops.
“I—what?” I sputter, reaching for his hand. What the hell? I was so close.
He chuckles. “If I let you come, it’s all over, and you’ll go right back to worrying about the press conference.” ”
My mouth gapes open. “You’re going to make me wait?”
“Just imagine,” he says, bringing his hand back to my pussy and once again rubbing in agonizingly slow circles. “Being brought close to the edge, again and again, but never getting to come. And then,” he nips my ear, “hours later, when you finally do get to, all that pleasure,” his pace increases slightly, “that buildup that you went through, finally reaching it’s peak and throwing you into the greatest fucking orgasm of your life.”
His words are downright sinful. I keen, my back arching off the bed, and a cry escapes me. What would that be like, to have an orgasm like that?
His fingers still again.
“Carter!” I whine, nearly panting for release. I want to have what he talked about later, but holy shit, I need to come right now too.
But Carter’s in control. He always seems to know exactly what I need.
“I think one more time will keep your mind off things long enough to get through the press conference” He grins wickedly at me, his fingers returning to my clit.
This time, when he stops, he kisses me tenderly before I can protest. “Later, when I have you falling apart all over my tongue, that can be your reward for kicking ass at the press conference.”
Then he carries me to the shower and continues torturing me with his meticulous care as he washes my body and hair and gets me ready for the press conference.
By the time I’m fully dressed and ready to go, one thing is abundantly clear—he certainly did get my mind off things, and if his distraction is just a taste of what reward awaits me, I’m going to blow this press conference out of the fucking water.
I’m nearly blinded by the flashing of cameras, and I suddenly wonder how Carter hasn’t permanently lost his vision after dealing with things like this for years. We’re standing in front of the Twin Rinks on a raised platform while reporters, the local TV news, and citizens of the town gather around. A text from my mom helped calm my nerves somewhat before we went in front of the cameras, but now the anxiety is back in full force.
Mom: You’re gonna knock ‘em dead! BOTH of you! :)
The memory of her little emoji makes me smile though. It took her forever to learn how to do that.
Carter is currently standing at the podium, giving a speech about how we’re going to restore the rec center to its “deserved glory”, and showing the 3D model on the display screen behind him. He has his charming smile on, and the crowd is eating it up.
Thank goodness.
I had been decidedly less eloquent than Carter, but got through my notecards outlining our new rewards program and how we’ll draw in customers from outside towns with recreational ice skating events on holiday weekends.
“And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what the jewel of Ivy Glen will look like.” He smiles at the cameras, posing next to the screen as the area explodes in flashes of light, photographers taking the opportunity for the perfect shot.
“We are now open for questions,” Carter announces.
“Mr. Williams, Mr Williams!” The reporters all call over one another, vying for his attention. Carter points to a reporter with a microphone that reads Channel 6 News.
The reporter, a man who looks to be in his early thirties, clears his throat before speaking. “Mr. Williams, is there any word on who you’re going to be playing for this upcoming season?” He points the mic toward Carter, awaiting an answer.
Fucking hell.
We’re here about the rec center, not Carter’s hockey career. I know he can’t control what questions they ask him, but shit. Can we please focus on what’s important ?
“Not yet, but hopefully, I’ll be staying close to home so I can continue to support the rinks. Reviving the rec center has been a team effort, but Sophie Hartwell,” he lifts a hand in my direction, “has really been the driving force behind the whole thing. Without her vision, love for the town, and commitment to keeping the heart of the rec center intact, we never would have gotten this far.”
He turns his head towards me and smiles that brilliant smile, winking at me. At the motion, the cameras flash like crazy again, momentarily stunning me. My cheeks flush pink at the attention, and I do my best to not look like a love struck teenager.
My heart pounds and thighs clench at his public declaration. He’s all but claiming me, in front of everyone.
I’m his.
This presentation needs to wrap the fuck up so I climb that man like a tree.
Six hours later, when I’m coming apart on his tongue in his hotel room, I realize one very important thing.
This reward was so worth the wait.