30. Don’t Poke The Fucking Bear Either #2
I glance up at her as my punishment is handed to me over the speakers: five minutes each for me and Daley. Olivia’s anxious gaze is set on me, both knees bouncing, the tip of her thumb in her mouth like she’s gnawing on her nail.
Cara looks a lot like she just watched the best movie while she shovels popcorn into her mouth. She hits me with two thumbs up and an oversized grin. “Fucking right, Beckett! Knock ’em dead, baby!”
I sink to the bench in the penalty box with a sigh, running my fingers through my drenched hair, pushing it off my face when our trainer joins me to clean my lip.
Chris dabs at the blood that’s caked in the corner of my mouth. “Never thought I’d see the day where Carter Beckett fought over a girl.”
“First time for everything.” I hiss at the sting of the antiseptic.
“Was it worth it?”
“She’ll always be worth it.”
“Whatever it takes to keep your girl safe?”
“Whatever it takes.” A promise I intend to keep.
* * *
“You sure she’s staying the whole weekend?” Garrett picks up the backpack in the backseat of the limo, examining it. “Doesn’t seem like she brought much.”
Olivia’s a minimalist, I think, so that’s probably why. But instead I say, “Because she’s not gonna need any clothes while we’re at home.”
Adam huffs a laugh, popping the button on his coat as he stretches out. “I miss those good old days.”
Emmett arches a brow. “If the days aren’t good, Woody, then you gotta do something about it. That’s not right, bud.”
“I don’t know what else to do. I feel like I’ve tried everything. I managed to convince her to meet us at the bar, at least.”
First time in, like, four months , I say in my head. The looks on Emmett and Garrett’s faces tell me they’re thinking the same thing. I don’t know what the hell is going on with Adam and Courtney, but something sure as hell isn’t right.
I spot my gorgeous brunette the second we step through the door. She’s leaning over the bar, chin propped up in her hand, eyes on the TV above as it plays a highlight of my goal. I ditch my coat in the booth Cara’s set up at, drop a kiss to her cheek, and make a beeline for Olivia.
“Your ass is out of this fucking world,” I murmur, dropping my chin to her shoulder as my arms come around her.
“Mmm.” She reaches back, threading her fingers through my hair as she tips her head to the side, letting my lips meet the soft, warm skin on her neck. “You’re so romantic.”
“I’ll show you romantic.” I slip a hand under the front of her shirt, covering her belly, enjoying the way her muscles jump at my touch, and dip the tips of my free fingers beneath the waistband of her jeans. “I’m gonna shred these jeans when we get home. Burn ’em in the fire.”
“What will I wear?”
“My naked body, draped over yours, while I fuck your brains out.”
“All weekend?” My favorite ass rubs against the bulge in my slacks, Olivia’s fingers tightening around my hair, her other hand covering mine on her stomach.
“All. Damn. Weekend.” I nip the edge of her jaw. “You’re gonna beg me to stop.”
“Why would I do that?”
I hum a laugh, turning her toward me. “If you wanna get a head start, we can sneak off right now to the bathroom.”
“You’d never fit in the stalls.”
“I love when you talk about how massive I am. It only pumps my ego.”
“You know damn well I’m not talking about your dick.”
“You love my monster dick,” I tease, squeezing her ass and pressing her body against mine as my tongue sweeps her mouth.
“I do,” she agrees, fingers curling around the hair hanging down my neck. Her thumb brushes against the cut on the corner of my mouth. “But you know what I don’t love?”
I drop my head backward with a deep belly groan, eyes squeezing shut at the sudden sternness lacing her tone. “You tricked me. I thought I was gonna get away with it.”
Olivia lifts one perfect brow and draws her touch back, pinning her arms across her chest. “You’re in trouble, Carter Beckett.”
My gaze hoods. “I love it when you talk teacher to me, baby.”
“Don’t sweet-talk me. It won’t work.”
“It won’t?” Tugging her back onto me, I kiss her neck, wet slides and nipping teeth until I find her ear. “What about kisses? Will those work?”
“No.” It’s more gasp than word so I’m calling bullshit on that answer.
“Carter.” A whimper, probably due to the way my tongue flicks out, tasting the skin below her ear.
Her fingers dig in, squeezing my biceps as she leans into me like she needs my body to keep her upright. It’s cool; I’ll always support her.
Olivia groans, melting into me.
“Impossible not to give in to me, right?”
“I hate you,” she mutters without any heat.
“Nah. You love me.” Against my lips, I feel the heat of my accusation creeping up her neck, and I hide my smile in her hair when I crush her to me for a hug.
Lacing my fingers through hers, I scoop her beer up off the bar when the bartender slides it over, and tug on her hand.
“Come on, pumpkin. I want everyone to see me with the gorgeous girl from the jumbotron tonight.”
“And that’s another thing!” She throws her free hand in the air. I love her little temper tantrums. “You embarrassed me again tonight.”
I shove her into the booth and slide in next to her. “You call it embarrassing you; I call it showing you off. How else would the world know you’re mine?”
Cara lifts an amused brow as she watches us. “You’re still mad at him? Even knowing now why he fought? I think he deserves a big ol’ BJ for what he did.”
I clear my throat and tap Cara’s shin with my foot before slicing my hand across my neck twice. Ex-fucking-nay , I mentally scream at her.
The corners of her mouth curl. “Oh. You didn’t tell her.”
“Tell me what?” Olivia looks between us. “What didn’t you tell me?”
“Uh…” I scratch my head, searching for something to tell Olivia, anything other than what she’s asking. “That you’re…my…I…looove you?” Huh. Kinda feels like I just satisfied an urge to say words that are 1000 percent too early to actually say. Weird.
The frown that tips her mouth tells me she doesn’t find it particularly funny. “Carter.”
“Ollie girl.” I take a sip of her beer, holding her gaze.
“He fought for you,” Cara blurts, then slaps both hands over her mouth like the urge was uncontrollable. “Sorry. So sorry.”
Sighing, I sink back in the booth, gaze narrowing in on Emmett, who happens to be actively looking anywhere but at me.
“Carter?” Olivia touches my arm. “What does she mean you fought for me?”
I lift a shoulder and let it fall. “It’s nothing, really. Daley just said some shit I didn’t like.”
“Said he wanted to split you in half with his dick,” Cara blurts again.
“ Care !” Emmett holds his hands up in a what the fuck kinda way, eyes wide, while Garrett and Adam choke on their drinks. “Babe, come on.”
“I’m sorry! I can’t help it!” She looks at Olivia. “Isn’t it hot, though? He defended your honor! There was blood everywhere! It was a war, and you were the prize.”
“She was never up for grabs.” I squeeze Olivia’s knee beneath the table. She’s exceptionally quiet, staring up at me. “You okay?”
“Looks like she’s thinking about that BJ you deserve,” Cara murmurs around her glass.
“I’m bored, Adam,” a familiar voice cuts in. A redhead appears at Adam’s side, blue eyes glazing over Olivia before landing on me. She smirks before looking to Adam. “Let’s go.”
“Already? It’s only—we just—I mean, we only just got here.” Adam frowns, reaching for his girlfriend’s hand. She pulls it away before he can take it. “You haven’t met Carter’s girlfriend yet. Olivia.” He gestures at Olivia, who glues on a bright beam and holds her hand out. “This is Courtney.”
Courtney’s eyes move down Olivia’s body and back up before sliding my way again. “Hi,” she tosses out half-assed, ignoring her hand. “Girlfriend, huh?”
“Yes.” My jaw ticks. The dislike I feel for this girl is off the charts. I don’t know why Adam is still with her.
“Court,” he urges under his breath. “Come on.”
Courtney rolls her eyes before taking Olivia’s hand and giving it a quick, flimsy shake, then dropping it like she’s a disease she doesn’t want to touch. “I’m gonna go get another drink with my friends then.”
“Sorry, Ollie,” Adam whispers, scratching a hand through his hair. “She’s not usually so…she’s normally, um…I’m sorry.”
Olivia gives his hand a squeeze. “Don’t worry, Adam.”
The night’s kinda fucked from there. Adam’s in a sour mood and everyone’s quiet and tired. Olivia’s tucked into my side, her hand on my thigh when her head hits my shoulder only forty-five minutes later.
I press a kiss to the crown of her head. “Wanna go home so I can worship your body?”
“That sounds nice,” she says with a soft, happy sigh.
She takes off to the bathroom after we say good-bye, and I gather our coats and head down the hallway to wait for her. I learned my lesson after the last time she went to the bathroom in this bar.
The skin on the back of my neck pebbles, and a moment later Courtney saunters into the dark hall.
“Carter,” she drawls, sidling up next to me. “How long’s this girlfriend thing gonna last?”
I shift on my feet, ignoring the booze oozing off her. She hasn’t set foot back in our booth since she disappeared after her stellar performance earlier tonight. “As long as she keeps me.”
“Come on. You and I both know that’s not you.” The tips of her fingernails land on my neck, drawing a slow path up, and I turn on her, crowding her space.
“What the fuck are you doing?”
“What?” Her tongue flicks across her lower lip as her hand sinks into my hair.
“Get your hands off me. You’re dating one of my best friends. I have a girlfriend.”
Her eyes gleam as she winds my tie around her fist. “Poor Carter. No fun for you anymore now that you’ve got your balls in a vice. Is your girlfriend not up for sharing? What a drag.”
I lower my face until the tips of our noses nearly touch. “Walk. The fuck. Away.”
With a wink, she strides off with a little too much swing in her step, and I run an agitated palm down my chest.
I don’t know what the fuck has gotten into her in the last six months.
I’ve never had an issue with her until a pool party at their place last summer when she followed me inside the house and slipped her hand up my shirt.
When I asked her what she was doing, she said she saw the way I looked at her.
I still don’t have a clue what she was talking about, but I turned around and left without the beer I’d gone in for.
The longer I stand here, the more restless I become.
My shoulders feel tight and rigid, and I’ve got a headache brewing behind my eyes.
I don’t know if I need sleep, caffeine, or simply Olivia, but I decide a quick glass of ice water will do while I wait, so I guzzle one down at the bar before heading back toward the bathrooms.
A leggy brunette straightens from her spot on the wall when she sees me. She’s mildly familiar, but I can’t place her.
“There you are.”
Exhaustion tingles my spine. “Do I know you?”
She bites her lip. “You showed me the view from your penthouse while I was pressed up against your bedroom window.” Slinging her arms around my neck, she murmurs, “I hear you’re ready for seconds.”