Chapter 6
Six
VALENTINA
F or the first week and a half, things felt a bit like I was trying to squeeze into a new pair of jeans. A bit stiff, too clean, and without much room for relaxation. But now, I feel like I’m home . Perhaps even in the first place I’ve truly belonged.
I’ve found peace.
That’s all because of my boyfriend and his wife. The care and warmth they both have given me makes me want to loosen up and relax. I’ve never felt this way in my life. It’s making the hope of having a child to bring into our relationship a delight, instead of some worried fear. Now that we feel more like a unit of parents instead of giving them someone new, I am mentally preparing to take on a new role as mother.
“No, you need a healthy breakfast. I’m telling you: eat .” Tossing a smile to Juliet, I shove the plate of eggs and fruit at her. She rolls her eyes in response, but smirks her plush lips.
A disgusted expression crosses her face as she peers at the food. “You know I don’t like to until mid-morning. It has nothing to do with your amazing cooking skills and everything to do with some pit of nausea when I think about eggs this early.”
“It’s ten o’clock already, Jules. Your morning break. Still not feeling up for it?”
She gives me a helpless look and shakes her head.
“Fine. Hey, I’m going to Carson’s office to bring him lunch today.”
Despite a long look at my creation, she grips it and carries it to her downstairs study. “Okay, Mom . I’ll eat.” As she turns to bump the door open with her bum, she gives me a broad grin and a wink. “Enjoy your visit with Carson.”
I give her a fake gasp at her dirty insinuation. With a flick of the dish towel at her, my cheeks heat thinking about what we’ll do together. Juliet said she has no issues with him and I being together separately. Wholeheartedly, I feel the same about them. I mean, they are married. And they have a long history together. For some reason, I’m not jealous at all of what the two of them have. Everything they do makes me feel so included.
But none of us have been together separately yet. Other than last week with Juliet, which we had to tell Carson about in sordid detail later while he enjoyed us both.
If I admit it to myself, I haven’t been alone with Carson because the intensity of his blue eyes makes me tingle all over. Some pit in my stomach tells me that I’m not good enough for him. Either of them. That my past has damaged me irreparably. Why does a good man like Carson want me? His wife is perfect, yet he still wants me as his girlfriend. It doesn’t make sense.
It’s good that I haven’t heard a word from Malik and he seems to have forgotten me. Or hasn’t found me. I hope I never have to see him again.
When I head up to our room, I find a cute winter dress. It has a fold-over top and a very short skirt, but I pair it with knitted thigh highs and calf boots. It’ll drive my boyfriend wild. Especially when I forgo panties. Just the way he likes me, he said.
In the kitchen, I gather up the picnic basket I packed with his supposed favorites. Homemade Margherita pizza, chicken wings, and a garden salad, because I’m going to force him to eat some vegetables with the junk food.
Juliet tosses me the keys to her BMW when I go to tell her goodbye. Once in the heated car, I edge my way toward downtown Crystal Frond. It’s a small town, and the little area along Main Street hasn’t changed much since the mid-century. Everything is quaint, even cozy, with steam billowing out of restaurant and cafe doors as they open.
A gust of cold wind bites at my skin as I step from the car. The lining of my coat feels like ice when I grip it tight around my middle, then grab my basket and lug it toward the office building in front of me.
When I reach the front desk, an attendant seems to know my name and instructs me on where to go. The building is industrial, but everything appears newer. Exposed brick and glass walls line most of the halls, but Carson has a corner office with a blue frosted-glass door that’s slightly ajar.
As I approach, angry voices seep through the crack.
“She’s a whore that you bought and paid for. She’ll always be a slut, and I’m taking her home. Her real home. Getting her away from degenerates like you.” Oddly, the gruff man sounds like Malik. What is he doing here?
A loud boom comes as the wall to the hall rattles, and I press my back against it, then slide into a darkened alcove nearby.
“If you ever come near my girlfriend again, I’ll end you. Do you understand me? She’s mine . If you disappear, no one will miss you.”
“Fuck you. I’ll get her one way or another. All I have to do is find out where you live and she’ll be gone. She’s not some breeding cow for rich folks. Besides, if she’s pregnant, it’s probably mine, anyway.”
The wall vibrates again as Carson’s voice lowers. “Don’t come near our place or you’ll regret it. Now, get the fuck out of here or I’m calling the cops.”
I shirk back as the door flips open and a disgruntled Malik storms out, running a hand through his hair. His neck has red marks encircling it, like someone held it in a tight grip. Fortunately, he doesn’t see me.
After a moment, I slip toward the open door and tap on it gently.
My clit pulses when I catch Carson standing behind a large desk in his navy blue pinstripe suit. A gorgeous smile crosses his face, showcasing a set of dimples as his blue eyes sparkle at me. It almost takes my breath away.
“My sweetheart… What brings you here? I’m so happy you came by.” He waves for me to come closer, and I do, closing the door behind me. As soon as I set the basket on a club chair in front of his desk, his hip skirts around the edge as he gathers me into his arms and presses his lips against mine in a warm embrace.
“I thought I’d bring you lunch today,” I say.
Leaning his forehead against mine, he sways me gently with him as if we’re dancing to some unheard music. “Fuck. I’m even more happy to hear that. I get sick of the stuff around here.”
“Are you busy?”
When he breaks away, he lets his hand slide down my arm and helps me out of my coat, which he tosses on a sofa along the far wall. “I have a meeting in a bit with a client, but nothing you need to leave for.”
“Um, I just heard…” I let my voice trail off as I point toward the hall.
Carson’s bright eyes grow dark as his lids narrow, but he grips me into a tight hug. “I wish you hadn’t heard that.” His long finger tilts my chin up. “Sweetheart, you don’t have to worry about him again. You’re mine, and I take care of my girls. You’re safe.”
It’s a completely new experience, but when he tells me, I feel it. A deep warmth surrounds my soul, and I know I’m okay now. Some of the tension relaxes in my neck as I ease into his grasp, then his kiss takes away my breath.
My skin tingles when his palms grip the top of my bare thighs and set me on his desk. One of his hands shoves my dress up as he quickly undoes his belt while his lips never depart from mine other than to gasp for air. His intoxicating manly scent fills my nose as I let my fingers slide through his brown hair, latching on the back of his neck.
“Fuck! No panties? Sweetheart, you did good, bringing me lunch.” Carson’s smile trails to his eyes as they crinkle at the corners, showing some of his age. With a devilish grin, he bends in front of me and dips his head between my thighs as I squeal.
Almost bruising my lip, I bite hard when I clamp my mouth shut so no one hears us. His tongue ventures up the edges of my labia and my legs quiver from his touch. “Carson… That feels amazing.” It gets even better as his blue eyes find mine and he delves his nose into my clit while dipping his lips toward my hole. Between flicks and sucks and strokes, I feel myself pummeling toward an orgasm.
“You better be quiet, sweetheart. Or I’ll have to stop.”
“No, no! Don’t stop!” I huff out the words, breathless, while shoving his face back toward my core. He laughs, which only makes me wetter as the heated puffs of air make my back arch into him.
It doesn’t take much longer as he slides in a few fingers and pumps me full of them while tugging on my clit for me to explode. Silently, though, as I blow out a long breath and grip his ears with my thighs.
In one second, he’s standing and pulling his hard dick out, then thrusting inside of me, while gripping the back of my neck until we join our foreheads. “Damn, sweetheart. You feel so fucking good. Lick my lips and taste yourself. Get a taste of your amazing flavor.”
I do, gathering his lips into mine, still coated in my muskiness. His hips jut forcefully, and one of his hands slides to my ass to pull me closer to him until he gets the angle just right. Groaning into my shoulder, he works fast and hard, then suddenly freezes.
Straightening up, he grabs an earbud from behind me and puts it in. “Yeah, I’m here. Sorry, can you repeat that?”
His meeting! I forgot. Gritting my teeth, I give him a sorrowful look, but he just holds up a finger to his lips and scoops his thick cock in me again until I’m panting with pleasure.
“No. No issues here. Haha, just got done working out. So, our numbers are good, right?” Carson’s lips tighten as he lets his head drop back and keeps shoving inside of me while holding my hips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he takes a long swallow. “You mean, video conference? Yeah. Let me do that. Just a minute.”
Our widened eyes meet as he gathers me in his arms and goes mad, all over my body. “Yep, yeah. I can do that. Just one… Just one minute. I’m coming… Are you coming?”
My heels dig into his ass as I pull him closer and feel myself rising toward another orgasm. I nod, tears almost pouring out of my squinted eyes as the ecstasy hits me full force. “Yes!” I whisper-yell.
“Good… Yes. I’m almost there. Right there. Here I come!” With another forceful swivel of his hips, he explodes deep within me and drops his head to my neck. A small chuckle huffs onto the skin before he peels back from me and kisses my nose. Then he sits in his office chair and opens a laptop while I fix my dress.
“Sorry, Bob. My girlfriend is here. Say hi, Valentina!”
I smile broadly and wave to the man on the screen, who seems to give us a knowing look. “Hi.”
Slowly, I try to sneak toward the basket and gather my things, but Carson stops me. “No, she’s not going anywhere. She brought me lunch, and we’re going to eat it while I talk with you, if that’s okay.”
He snaps his fingers and points to the chair across from him with a big smile.
“Yeah… she’s very special to me and Juliet.” His eyes grow serious as he scans my face. And at his next words, my belly flips with the emotions they give me. “I’m starting to think I can’t live without her.”