Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
CARTER
A soft tap on the door catches my attention.
Why are these people waking me up? Then I remember last night.
The truths Corinne and I whispered to each other in the cover of darkness.
The truth of how I made her feel, and it was never my intention.
Hurting her isn't something I wanted to do, and I did without even really knowing.
The pillows she put between us last night are gone. Her back is to my chest, where she belongs, and my arm wrapped tight around her. The knob turns, and I yank my hand back. Shit. This isn't going to look good to anyone on the other side. I hope like hell it's Tiffany.
My hopes are dashed. The door swings wide open and Justin comes into view. "What the fuck?"
Corinne jumps up, wide awake at the sound of her brother's voice. "What are you doing here?"
He blinks twice, opens his mouth, closes it, and opens it again.
"What am I doing here? You didn't answer your phone when I called.
I was coming to ask if you needed anything from the store.
But this? I told both of you to stay away from each other.
Just because you had a few drinks last night doesn't excuse this. "
Corinne jumps out of the bed and points a finger in Justin's face.
"I'm a grown fucking woman. I know you don't think I can handle myself, but I'm capable of making decisions on my own.
And nothing happened. The air mattress made noises every time he moved and I told him he could sleep in the bed. And if you-"
I cut her off. She doesn't need to go to battle for me sleeping in the bed.
I can also take care of myself. "She's right.
Nothing happened. At least, not last night.
" Corinne glances at me eyes wide. She shakes her head slightly, a warning to keep me from saying what I'm about to say.
But I don't care. She was right last night when we were talking.
I never should have kept our relationship a secret. I should have had the guts to tell her brother the way I feel about her.
"What do you mean not last night?" Justin's nostrils are flaring and his hands are balled into fists. There's a good chance he's going to hit me, I know it.
Deep breath. Here goes nothing. I only hope this is enough to show Corinne I'm serious this time.
"I dated Corinne for a few months until about six months ago.
The whole reason I came on this trip is so I can try to win her back.
I love her, and you being pissed about it isn't going to stop how I feel about her. "
He laughs, but it's not full of joy. It's dark and scary. I've never seen this side of my friend. "You? You love my sister? You flirt with anything that walks by. There's no way in hell I'm taking that declaration seriously."
Well, now I know what my best friend truly thinks about me. I'm good enough to hang out with him and his family, but not good enough to possibly be his brother-in-law. Talk about kicking me when I'm down.
"You can think whatever you want. I don't really care. The only person whose opinion I value is hers." I point toward Corinne. Her mouth is hanging wide open. "If she'll take me back, I'll go gladly. With or without your approval."
Justin opens his mouth to speak, but Corinne cuts him off. "You love me?"
My heart sinks because her words are wrapped in disbelief.
Before I stuck my foot in my mouth last time, I was sure she knew exactly how I felt about her.
I'm such a dumb ass. If only I'd done as she asked the first go around, we wouldn't be having this showdown now.
Maybe then Justin wouldn't be so mad about it now.
So much heartache and anger could have been avoided.
"Of course, I do. I did then. Even more now since you told me how you really felt.
It was wrong keeping our relationship from him," I wave my hand in Justin's direction "you're it for me.
I've known for years before anything ever happened between us.
Why do you think I pursued you so hard?"
She climbs over the bed and into my arms. Her arms fly around my neck, and I have to fight to keep my balance. That was unexpected. "I guess there's no way to really hide our relationship now, is there?"
"Pretty sure that ship sailed," I whisper in her ear.
"Really," Justin grunts, and we both turn toward him. "You're going to act like I'm not even here? Just because you two seem okay with this. I don't think I am. But I can't stay in this room any longer. When I get back, the three of us are going to have a talk."
"Why?" Corinne asks before he leaves the room. "What Carter and I do isn't really any of your business."
Without another word, Justin turns and leaves the room. The door slams hard enough behind him to rattle the frames on the wall. He's not going to let this go. If anything, he's going to be even more pissed that we had a relationship before and didn't tell him about it.
"I think you made him madder than he was." I laugh and rest my forehead against Corinne's.
She laughs, and the pure joy in the sound makes me happier than I ever thought I could be.
"Do you honestly think I care? This was all I wanted six months ago.
Why the hell would I push the issue so hard if I didn't love you?
I can't share every aspect of my life with you if I was hidden like a dirty little secret.
Do you have any idea how hard it was to know we were together and have to act like we weren't all those months? "
"That part I understand. I think it may have been just as hard for me not making eye contact with you in case Justin noticed." I pull her as close to me as possible. "Luckily, that's something we don't have to worry about anymore."
The door downstairs closes and a car starts before pulling away. "What are the odds everyone went but us?"
"Probably not great." I mutter. "Why?"
She lets go of me and walks to the door, locking it. Then she goes to the window and closes the blinds. "Because now that everything's out in the open, we can do this."
She pulls her shirt over her head and takes her shorts off, throwing them on the floor. She can't be serious. "What if other people are still here?"
"I guess we'll just have to be quiet." She climbs on the bed and makes her way to me. Within seconds she has my shorts pushed down and pulls me toward her. "You have no idea how torturous the last six months have been."
Leaning her back until she's lying on the bed, I hover over her. "I guess I have some time to make up for."
"Yes, you do." She pulls me down and her lips meet mine. The kiss is straight passion and hunger. Her tongue mingles with mine before she pulls away from the kiss, and pushes me down. "A lot of making up to do."
I know when to do what I'm told. I press a trail of kisses down her chest, stomach, and stop when I get to her pussy. "God, I've missed this."
She laughs, and my tongue dances over her clit until she stops.
Her breathing is already heavy and she's squirming.
It's good to know after all this time she wasn't with anyone else.
Neither was I, which makes this all the sweeter.
We don't have a lot of time before people come looking for us, and I'll have to take my time with her when we're home.
Her fingers tangle in my hair and she pulls hard.
As much as I want her to come with my mouth, I understand the need she feels.
The need to be inside her and have her wrapped around me.
I move over her and slide inside of her.
Her breath hitches and I lean down until our bodies are flush.
Her arms hooked under my shoulders and I have one hand wrapped around her.
I don't know what I was thinking before because this.
..this feels right. Feels like home and exactly where I should be.
Before long she's coming, and it takes everything in me to hold off.
It hits me then that I didn't even bother with a condom.
She's on birth control, but it's still not worth the risk when we're rekindling our relationship.
I pull out and finish. Before rolling off her and lying beside her. "That was incredible."
"Just think what we could do with more time." She laughs and sits up. "I'm going to go get cleaned up and take a shower before they get back."
"I could always take one with you."
"Let's not press our luck. We still have to smooth things over with Justin."
"You're right." I sit up and kiss her. "I'll clean up in here before I get my shower in."
I watch her get dressed, gather her things, and slip out. I'm not ready for Justin to get back, and I know she thinks it'll be an easy task. I know him and it's going to be anything but.