29. Strawberry Taste Test
Strawberry Taste Test
SARAFINA
Twenty minutes later, Carter and I were either the cutest or most annoying dinner guests they’d ever served.
Carter had his crisp white sleeves rolled up to his elbows. I know. I was in my plunging red silk gown, and we both wore matching plastic bibs to protect our evening wear.
We shared longing glances over our pile of seafood dumped on newspaper, and while the candlelight flickered between us, we giggled and hammered the shit out of our crab legs, fighting for every last bite. It might have been the most romantic thing I’d ever done.
“Everybody’s looking.” I laughed, dipping another piece of crab into the ramekin of herby melted butter.
“They’re just admiring how beautiful you look,” Carter said, eyes pouring over every facet of my face.
I quickly looked away and laughed again. I couldn’t help it. “They’re looking at the mess we’re making.”
“Let ‘em. Ethan wouldn’t serve this shit if he didn’t want us making a mess.”
Just then, a scrap of something flew into the air, emphasizing my point. We shared a guilty look, and our shoulders shook silently as we stifled our laughs, trying not to disturb the live performers, whose music still tinkled softly in the background.
“They don’t serve this shit.” I reminded him with a chuckle while I worked on freeing another piece of meat from one of the smaller crab claws.
If I was being honest, I was actually surprised at how few of the massive pieces there had been.
Not that I minded the extra time it took to crack open the smaller pieces, it prolonged our date .
When I looked up, Carter was still watching me, a devious smirk on his face that made me blush. Again.
I wondered what exactly he was thinking, wondered if it was similar to what I had been thinking all night. “Are you going to eat, or just watch me eat?” I finally teased.
Carter leaned forward on his forearms, voice lowering. “Oh, don’t you worry, I’ll get my fill tonight.” His eyes dragged over me. “One way or another.”
I sucked in a quiet breath while Carter started back in on his meal so casually, I wondered if I just had an abnormally dirty mind.
We’d been shamelessly flirting all night, but I wondered if Carter understood that it was so much more for me.
It always had been. I’d never admit it, of course, because I’d nearly done that once, and we’d almost lost our friendship over it.
If I lost him again, I didn’t know if I could survive it. Not after the year I’d had. I realized as I stared down at my plate how badly I needed him. His friendship.
I’d rather settle for friendship than nothing at all, I decided. That’s probably what this was to him—a friend date.
Carter was thoughtful and kind, and this was my debut as an artist. The more I thought about it, of course, he’d take me out to celebrate . This wasn’t anything special, this was just Carter being who he was. Thoughtful and generous.
As if he could read my mind, Carter asked, “What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?”
“I’m just thinking.”
“About what? ”
“About how Sloane sold me out.” I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the empty pit that had formed in my stomach over the last thirty seconds.
“Ah, well, if she hadn’t, you wouldn’t be eating this delicious meal.” Carter drawled.
“So I guess I have Sloane to thank for this?”
“I guess we both do.” Carter pulled off his gloves and bib before setting his napkin on the table. “It’s a good thing, too. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to give you your real birthday gift.”
Carter reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a flat, square box. “I’m sorry it’s late. It’s bespoke, and it wasn’t ready in time.” He cleared his throat. “I know I could have mailed it, but I wanted to give it to you in person.”
With trembling hands, I slowly pulled off my plastic gloves as he slid the beautifully wrapped box across the table. “What is this?” I asked quietly, admiring the beautiful hand-painted gift wrapping.
“Open it, and you’ll find out.” He mused.
Starting at the tape seams, I carefully peeled the paper off because it was far too pretty to rip.
“Live a little.” He chuckled, egging me on. “Rip the paper.”
“I want to keep it.” I said, fluttering my lashes to keep the water in my eyes from escaping down my cheeks.
“Not to worry, that’s the second part of your gift—a whole box of this wrapping paper, because I knew you wouldn’t want to ruin it.”
“Really?” I asked, as he went blurry through my watery eyes.
“Obviously.”
“You know me so well.” I didn’t dare blink.
“I’d like to think so.” He crossed his arms and ran a thumb over his lower lip, concealing his smile.
I swallowed down the lump in my throat and ripped the wrapping off, reveling at how freeing it felt. It was a flat, square box, navy blue leather with gold detailing around the edges, and my fingers trembled as I hesitated to open it. My heart thundered realizing he’d bought me jewelry.
Carter smiled to himself, just waiting for me to discover what was inside. When I tipped the lid up, I was speechless. I knew what it was right away.
Inside, was a delicate filigree chain that shimmered as it caught the candlelight, and in the center was a small gemstone pendant. It was bespoke, understated, elegant, and the pendant…
“Carter.” My lower lip wobbled. “This is beautiful.”
“It’s opal.” He said softly. “Your mom’s birthstone.” I fluttered my eyes rapidly. “It’s kind of fitting that your piece is releasing the same month as her birthday, isn’t it?”
I tried, I really tried to hold it in, but warm tears streamed down my face as I looked between him and the necklace. “Will you put it on me?” I whispered.
“Of course.” He rounded the table, and I laughed, wiping away my tears as I ripped my plastic bib off, exposing my neck.
Carter’s hands were warm and steady on my skin as he swept my hair to the side, and a moment later, he’d deftly clasped the delicate chain.
I leaned in breathlessly when his thumb swept up the column of my neck, just once, and heat cascaded all the way down to the tips of my toes. “This means so much.” I breathed.
“I’m glad you like it.” He hummed, returning to his seat.
“Thank you, Carter.” I touched the pendant as it warmed to my skin. “I’m never going to take this off.”
He looked pleased as he nodded, eyes warm and soft, and then asked, “Got room for dessert?”
I sniffled with a laugh. “I honestly don’t think I could take another bite.” This was more than I’d eaten in one sitting in—well, I wasn’t sure how long.
“Maybe not a bite, then.” Carter mused slowly. “Maybe just a lick or two.” He smirked, letting that sit for a beat while everything in me sparked awake. “How about some ice cream?”
I bit my lip as I met his gaze, it was laced with something wild. “Ice cream? ”
“I dare you.” He said with a glimmer in his eyes. “To make room for dessert.”
My heart started racing. Oh, we were back to this. Our dares.
Ice cream in hand, we strolled along the moonlit waterfront, hand in hand. I was now draped in Carter’s suit jacket, shyly licking my strawberry ice cream cone, brazenly aware that he watched my tongue sweep across it every single time.
“Truth or dare.” I uttered, casting him a glance out of the corner of my eye.
Under the moonlight, he glanced back at me, something unspoken humming between us. “Truth.”
My heart started pounding. “Why are you wearing my hair tie every time I see you?”
“I like it.” He said rather cryptically, looking down at the hair tie in question.
“Why?” I breathed, as his thumb grazed over the back of my hand.
“I just do.” His eyes settled on my mouth and then away, his hand warm and steady around mine as we walked side-by-side. “Your turn. Truth or dare.”
“Truth.”
“Why didn’t you tell your dad or Liam about your exhibition?”
“Carter.” I sighed, not wanting to get into the long list of reasons that I wasn’t sure I could even vocalize if I tried.
“Why?” He pressed gently, and I threw the rest of my ice cream cone in the trash can as we walked past it.
I shrugged. “I was scared, I guess.” I licked my hand where the ice cream had dripped. He nodded, eyes tracking the movement. “Truth or dare?” I quickly asked him before he pressed for more details I didn’t have.
“ Truth. ” He said with a low chuckle as the tension built between us, and I wondered how many truths we’d divulge before one of us caved and picked a dare .
I shook myself out of the lusty haze I was in. “Was the salted buttercream actually better than strawberry?” I asked smugly, referring to our vehement debate back at the ice cream shop.
He stopped again, facing me. “I’d say we should do a taste test, but somebody just threw away their cone.” He teased. “So I guess I can’t taste the strawberry now.” His eyes dropped to my lips again, and he swallowed hard as if he were considering getting a taste straight from the source.
“Too bad.” I breathed.
“I guess you’ll have to be the judge for the both of us.” He rasped and lifted his ice cream cone to my lips. “Though I think you’re probably a little biased, if we’re being honest here.”
“I promise to be as unbiased as humanly possible.” I looked up at him through my lashes and slowly licked his ice cream cone. As my tongue dragged across it, I watched his eyes turn feral.
I licked my lips, aware of every cell in my body. “Strawberry was definitely better.” And then I added, against my better judgment, “It’s too bad you didn’t get to try it.”
Carter swallowed hard, and we stared at each other for the longest minute of my life.
“Ask me, it’s my turn.” I said, heart pounding in my ears.
Carter’s breath was coming in ragged sweeps as we stood hand in hand, silent except for the soft sound of water lapping against the pier. “Truth or dare?” He uttered.
“Dare.” My heart thundered. “I dare you to try the strawberry.”
“I’m supposed to dare you.” He rasped.
“I know.” I breathed exhilaration and panic simultaneously surging through me.
This was a mistake.
What the hell was I doing?
And then something in his gaze shifted, like a tether deep inside him had suddenly snapped. “I suppose I can make an exception.” Carter said, closing in. “Just this once.”
“You will?” I squeaked as he slowly backed me underneath a shadowy tree, gasping when my back hit the smooth bark behind me quicker than I’d anticipated.
Carter licked his lips, and I gasped again when he slipped his hand under the jacket I was wearing and slid that hand over my stomach and around my waist. His thumb dragged over my silken hip, slow enough to make me combust.
Date! Romantic date! This was a date-date!
Screaming inside.
Was he going to kiss me?
Please say yes.
Oh my God, it was happening. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t catch my breath, as his other hand threaded around the back of my neck, as he tilted my face up towards him—where his ice cream cone had gone, I had no idea.
“I’ve been thinking about doing this all night.” He murmured, his breath a caress across my fluttering eyelids.
“Yeah?” I hummed, unable to get more than a single word out.
“Yeah.” His thumb stroked down the column of my throat, and I nearly whimpered.
“I’ve been trying to convince myself why this is a terrible idea.
” His chest brushed against mine with every panting breath he took.
“And I just can’t find it in me to care anymore, but I do need to be clear about one thing. ”
“What’s that?” I trembled as his fingers curled tightly around my hip with promise.
“While I can think of one way, I’d love to taste that strawberry ice cream. I’m going to need you to be crystal clear with me.” His voice lowered. “Can you be a good girl and answer one question for me?”
Holy mother of God. “Yes,” I rasped, on the precipice of melting into a puddle of goo.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought—you are going to be a good girl for me, aren’t you?
” He chuckled deeply, his voice filled with approval and amusement, while I proceeded to melt into that aforementioned puddle.
“Sarafina, my darling, since you threw away your ice cream cone—tell me, where could I possibly go to get a taste of this delicious strawberry ice cream you keep going on about?” He practically purred, all raw male arrogance as the backs of his knuckles grazed over the bare skin between each plunging panel of my dress, so feather light.
Down his knuckles grazed between my breasts, leaving a wake of fire in their path.
“ Ohhh. ” I arched into his touch as his knuckles skimmed over my stomach and then disappeared before they drifted lower.
“Hmm?” His hand returned to my hip, anchoring me firmly between him and the tree.
The silk of my dress against my skin was nearly unbearable as I shifted, desperate for more.
“Tell me where I should go, Sarafina.” Carter hummed, reminding me of his question, eyes crinkling with amusement, lust, longing, and everything I’d ever wanted.
I lifted a shaky finger up to my lips and tapped them, my words coming out breathy and uneven, despite my best efforts. “One taste and you’ll know the strawberry is definitely better.” Carter groaned. “I dare you.” I whispered. “To prove me otherwise.”
As I pulled in each ragged breath, he shifted closer, and the clean, intoxicating scent of him seeped into my very skin. “I might burn in hell for this,” he murmured, leaning down.
“Then I’ll burn with you.” I breathed.
“Never.” His lips dusted over my cheek as he vibrated with restraint. “Angels don’t get a hall pass to hell.”
“Then let’s hope you’re my salvation.” I breathed, “Because I’m already burning.
” I’d been burning for him for as long as I could remember.
My hands rose and fell on his chest with each panting breath he pulled in as he hovered in front of me, hesitating, while my entire world threatened to fall out from beneath me.
I was a big dumb idiot for risking everything I’d grown to rely on these past few months, a reckless, desperate idiot, but with nothing left to lose, I begged. I’d been broken before, and I could survive it again, if I had to.
“Please.” I whimpered, hoping it was enough to break his resolve.
It was.