34. Little Secrets
Little Secrets
CARTER
The view of the city skyline from the floor to ceiling windows in the Vandenbergh building was incredible, but as I waited for my appointment, I hardly noticed it.
I couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t hardly remember why I was even here.
I jiggled my leg as the images from last night replayed through my mind over and over. Sara’s hair fanned out underneath her as she writhed on the sheets beneath me, begging, moaning my name. Her head thrown back, cheeks flushed while she let me do things to her that a man could only dream about.
The sight of her, face down, swollen and wet, taking that fucking unicorn horn, the mattress useless to muffle the beautiful sounds she was making—my leg bounced faster, all while I wished it were my cock buried in her, all while she had begged me, for exactly that.
I was the energizer bunny, and I was practically drunk off her. Desperate for more. Fucking obsessed with waking up and remembering she was still in my bed.
I’d wanted to wake her up so badly this morning, laid there holding her for as long as humanly possible, until I was actually running late, and when I’d finally dragged myself away, I’ d been dying to wake her up and kiss her goodbye, but how could I? Not when she looked so peaceful and perfect.
I wanted that feeling every morning.
Forever.
Minus the slightly panicked feeling that she’d unlocked inside me. Minus the realization that I should have jacked off one more time before I left the house this morning because I was already aching for her again.
I hadn’t though, because my dumb shoulder was acting up after last night. Nothing could have been more worthwhile, though.
A buzz vibrated in my pocket, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw it was a text from her.
My breath turned more thin than it already was as I clicked on the selfie she’d just sent me—stared at it, zoomed in on it, quickly looked around to make sure no one else could see, and zoomed in on it some more.
I dragged a hand over my face and stifled a groan. She was the sun in my world, and everything revolved around her.
Fucked.
She was in my shirt from last night, with far too many buttons undone for me to think straight.
So I started in on a response that was something to the effect of You won’t be able to walk straight when I’m done with you tonight and then I immediately decided that was way too intense, since I was determined to slow things down with her.
So, I erased that and started over. You look beautiful .
True, but what a stupid, completely inadequate response.
I immediately erased that too. Beautiful didn’t even begin to cover it.
Fuck it. I started in again.
You look sexy enough to take a bite out of and I had to jack off multiple times this morning wishing it was you I was pumping into because I couldn’t stop picturing the way your pussy swallowed up that goddamned unicorn horn.
I wish you could have seen it. It was hot as fuck.
YOU were hot as fuck. And I know I said I wanted to take things slow, but honestly, I’m a simple man.
All I want to do is bend you into a million and one shapes, and fuck you in every single one of them…
until you can’t speak, or walk, or do anything at all, and baby, I’ll do it all for you.
I’ll be every damn thing you need. Forever.
It was way too much, but just for kicks, I kept going.
I want to give you the world on a string.
I want to worship you, devour you, explore you, Sarafina.
And it’s not just your body, it’s your laugh, your spirit, your kindness, your softness.
You make everything better. You make me want to be better, and right now, like the single brain cell man that I am, all I can think about is how desperate I am to fuck those gorgeous tits of yours. Respectfully, of course.
And then I erased the entire message.
Fuuuuuuuuck me.
I stared at the photo again and zoomed in on that sliver of soft, perfect cleavage, all while my cock jumped like an untrained dog.
Someone cleared their throat, and I looked up, breathless. The receptionist had clearly been talking to me. “Theodore will see you now.” She repeated.
“Thanks.” I stood and stuffed my phone into my pocket, using the opportunity to discreetly adjust myself after she went back to her computer. I needed to get a grip. I was in public, for Christ’s sake .
I headed through the massive doors into the large, dimly lit office and found Theo inside, looking broody as usual, sitting behind several glowing screens. Behind him were even more screens with live video feeds.
“Kensington,” he said, and didn’t bother standing. “To what do I owe the honor of this impromptu visit?”
I grimaced and gripped the back of the chair across from his desk. “I need a favor.”
His brows raised, and he motioned, inviting me to sit. “I owe you.” He settled back into his chair and cocked his head. “But you already knew that, so what exactly can I do for you?”
I settled into the high-back chair, wondering how long it’d been since I bailed him out of prison and hired a damn good lawyer to get the charges dropped.
That was one thing I had learned from my mother, to always reach a hand out to help because eventually, you’d be the one needing that hand to reach back. She, of course, was right.
And right now, I desperately needed Theo to protect the one thing that mattered most to me. “I need a security detail.” I started, “Best team you have.”
“I see.” Theo nodded thoughtfully. “For whom?”
“Sara.”
His whole face shifted, his grin feline, and I didn’t know if I’d ever actually seen him smile. “I should have known.” He mused, more to himself than me. “How’d Liam take it?”
“We’re not together.” I swallowed hard, hating the words even as I said them. “Which is why she can’t know she’s being watched, and neither can he.”
Theo outright laughed at that, and it nearly knocked me out of the chair with surprise.
“Sure.” He chuckled and brushed a thumb thoughtfully over his lower lip. “Whatever you say, Kensington.”
He was always such a fucker. “Can you do it?” I asked, growing more irritated by the second .
“Of course I can do it.” He folded his arms across his chest. “It’s going to cost you, though.”
I rolled my eyes, so much for owing me. “You know price doesn’t matter.” I’d spend every dollar I had and more to keep her safe.
Theo nodded thoughtfully, his mind wandering elsewhere. “Yes, I do.”
He was still quiet when I finally asked, “How’s Ariana?”
His jaw clenched. “We’re not on speaking terms at the moment.”
“You haven’t spoken to her since?—”
“No,” Theo snapped, his eyes simmering with disdain. “She’s as stubborn as ever.”
I wandered over to the coffeepot. Sloane had invited Ariana to the club tonight, but I wondered if Theo already knew that.
Theo scrubbed a hand over his face. “She’s a massive pain in my ass, is what she is.”
I stirred my coffee, even though I’d added nothing to it. “Sure.” I parroted his words from earlier. “Whatever you say, Theodore. ”
Theo scowled at me. “Fuck you.”
“Likewise.” I took a satisfied sip of the steaming black brew and returned to my chair. “You could always assign someone else to her.”
“No, I can’t,” Theo said matter-of-factly.
I knew Theo would never forgive himself if something happened to Ariana.
The irony was, I’d feel the same about Sara.
I wondered when we’d become so similar. The only difference was Ariana wanted nothing to do with Theo—for reasons that weren’t entirely clear, because I knew exactly what had sent him to prison, and it was what he’d done for her.
In the same position, I couldn’t say I would have done differently either, but clearly there was more to the story, and now, they were like two magnets, doomed to have opposite polarity—never quite able to touch again, and I honestly felt bad for the guy .
“Well, it’s a good thing she has you to keep an eye on her.” I offered.
“Why do you think I got into this line of work?” Theo grumbled.
I chuckled softly, moving on. “When can you have the detail ready?”
If The Society’s threats were real, and I knew they were, then it was wise that the security team was placed as soon as possible, and even wiser that Sara and I kept things quiet between us, at least until this was all smoothed over.
“For you. I can have the team placed in less than twenty-four hours.” Theo said.
Perfect, she’d have someone watching over her the moment I left, with no gaps.
I pursed my lips, wondering when my life had gotten so complicated. “I’ll need a detail for Liam as well.” I grimaced as I reluctantly added, “and for Brad.” It was the right thing to do.
“Interesting.” Theo nodded. “Very interesting.”
“Don’t ask.” I warned, setting my coffee down on the side table.
“Wouldn’t dare.” He mused as a quiet alarm started beeping in the background.
Theo spun around in his chair and clicked through several video feeds before picking up his phone.
“You sure you want to involve Brad in this?” he asked, but didn’t look at me as his thumbs flew over the keyboard, composing a text.
“What do you know?” I searched his stoic face.
He continued typing. “I know enough.”
Bastard had his hand in everything, which was why he really was the best. “Theo, this is important.” I implored him.
“Yes, it is, so I would choose wisely if you’re going to get involved in Brad’s affairs.” He gave nothing away as he set the phone down and looked at me warily.
“I’m not going to leave him out to dry.” I blew out a breath. “Even if I wanted to, Sara would never forgive me.” I gripped my temples, supposing I owed him this, even if I was disappointed in him. For so many reasons.
Theo was quiet for a moment as he watched me, but finally he spoke. “Brad’s accumulating gambling debts at a rather alarming rate.”
My eyes snapped to his. “How much?”
“Too much.”