Chapter Thirty Seven
SOPHIE
“Cart, you missed the turn,” I tell him when he goes past the hotel. While dinner was amazing, it’s been a really long day and all I want to do now is snuggle up in bed. A detour was not in my plans.
“Nope,” he says, smirking at me. “I know exactly where we’re going.”
When I try to push for more information, he only makes a zipping motion across his lips. I recognize the area we’re in now, a new section of houses built in the last ten years.
“You may notice we’re still in the Ivy Glen school district,” he says lightly, glancing at me. “You also may notice we’re right in between my mom’s and your parent’s house.”
Now that he mentions it…
We pull up in front of a beautiful, white, two-story home with a wraparound porch, a trellis wrapped in ivy on the side, and sky blue shutters.
“Carter…” I ask slowly, looking at him. “Where are we?”
He only grins, and gets out of the car before opening my door and taking my hand.
He didn’t.
Did he?
“Carter…” I ask again, turning towards him when we reach the little stone walkway that leads to the porch. “Whose house is this?” My heart is pounding in my chest, and he shocks me by getting down on one knee.
“Sophie. I love you so much. You had every reason not to let me back in, but you did anyway. You gave me another chance, and I want to spend the rest of my life giving you everything my heart has to offer.” I gape. Is he…?
“Now,” he continues, fishing around his pocket. “I may not have a ring, but…” he pulls out a small keychain. “I have a key. Sophie Hartwell, will you make me the happiest man alive, and marry me?”
I can’t believe the one thing I’ve always wanted is right in front of me. Carter. The boy I fell in love with, and the man who made me love again. Both of them look back at me through the crystal blue eyes of the strong, loyal, protective man on his knees in front of me.
I let out a shocked laugh. “You never do things by halves, do you?” I sniff, and he smiles up at me, unshed tears in his eyes. “Of course. Of course I’ll marry you.”
He goes to stand, but before he’s even fully on his feet, I throw myself into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist as he catches me and kisses me breathless.
“Do you want to see inside?” he says against my lips.
I only nod, kissing him again as he walks us to the front door. He breaks the kiss to unlock it with the key, and carries me into the kitchen.
“Before the grand tour…” he rumbles, “there may not be a bedroom set up yet, but there is plenty of space on this counter for me to ravage you on, and I am starving .”
A shocked gasp leaves me as he places me on the kitchen island, and I don’t even get a good look at the interior of the house before he’s wiggling me out of my jeans and underwear, kissing down the exposed flesh as he goes.The granite is cold on my ass, but I forget all about it when Carter tosses my clothes to the side and steps between my open legs, devouring my mouth, his fingers teasing my entrance.
I shiver flows through me at the brush of calloused skin against my own, his mouth moving from mine down to my neck.“We’ll start in the kitchen, but after we move in, I want to fuck you on every single surface of this house.”
“Don’t threaten me with a good time.” I gasp as he bites my neck just how I like it— gently, not hard enough to hurt, but enough to keep me in place as he slips two fingers into me. The feel of his teeth on my skin has my pussy clenching in need and he chuckles darkly as he removes them and licks them clean.
“It’s a promise, Angel.” His voice is husky as his fingers plunge back inside me, this time in hard, determined thrusts. I moan at the sensation, and he keeps pumping in and out of me, curling his digits up to hit my g-spot. “
A keening sound leaves me, my hips trying to push upwards, wanting his fingers deeper. More. I need more . “Carter please!” I whine, clutching his shirt desperately.
“I’ve got you, beautiful. For the rest of our lives. I love you so damn much.” His fingers never leave my pussy as he uses his other hand to push against my shoulder, a ghost of kiss brushing over my lips before he lowers me until I’m laying flat on my back like his own personal buffet.
“I love you too, Carter,” my voice is breathless as he now towers over me, taking me in.
The heat of his gaze lights my body on fire, his thighs pushing my legs apart so I’m wide open for him.
Lowering himself to his knees, he presses a kiss to my mound. “Shit, you’re so perfect, Sophie. My Angel. My future wife . ” He then nips at my inner thigh before his tongue finds me, licking circles around my clit as he continues fucking me with his hand. Ice travels down to my toes as he lavishes my pussy in attention, licking and sucking and kissing, until I’m a needy, panting mess.
“Use my face, Angel,” he orders, pulling back slightly. “Fuck my mouth with this perfect pussy. I want to taste how desperate you are for me.” His words release something inside of me, and when he returns his mouth to my dripping center, my hands tangle in his hair, desperate to hold him close.
I’m under no illusion that I’m in charge. The only reason I’m able to hold him tightly, bucking up into his mouth, is because he’s letting me. And fuck, if that doesn’t turn me on even more.
“Please! Carter, I’m so close!” My words make him double down on his efforts, his tongue honing in on my clit as he licks in short, firm strokes, and his fingers curling up to hit my g-spot just right .
“I got you, Angel. I’ll always have you. Let go and come for me.” Then he pulls my clit into his mouth and sucks hard , I’m done for.
I come with his name on my lips, stars bursting across my vision as my pussy clenches around his fingers, my fingers tightening in his hair. He laves at my clit through the aftershocks of my orgasm, slowly removing his fingers, and when he sits up to kiss me, I wrap my arms around his neck, planning on never letting him go.
Years ago, I never would have thought I’d not only have Carter back by my side, but a baby on the way as well. This house that we’ll make a home in—with our family, friends, and love— is something I never knew I was missing. A place to raise Little Biscuit as well as any other children we might have. A sanctuary we can call our own. A place to build new memories together, for the rest of our lives. The gift Carter’s given me means more than he’ll ever know.
While I wish we never had to be apart to begin with, I now realize I wouldn’t have had it any other way. The struggles we went through to get here, the lessons we learned, and the people we have become, that’s what has made our love stronger than ever. And that love is… everything.
It’s Sophie and Carter. Forever.