Chapter 12 #2
“Yes. I’ve imagined this very thing.” My pace picks up. “I had a sex dream about you.”
“Fuck. When?” He’s growing as breathless as me.
The pleasure builds so damn fast.
“Last night,” I confess. “I’ve been wound up all day because of it. I woke up wet, horny, and mad that it wasn’t real.”
The kisses grow messy, and it’s everything I need.
“Guess I’m proof dreams come true.”
“Smart-ass.”
He grips my ass, and the rhythm has my muscles clenching in anticipation as every thick inch of him strains through the material of his sweatpants. He’s thick and hard and pressed exactly where I need.
“You made me beg,” I manage, and my voice is barely there. The sensation nearly overtakes me. “And I did.”
“Fuck, Wendy. Don’t stop.”
Our noses brush, and our mouths hover close. I watch the pleasure in his eyes while I grind on him.
I’m so close. Every muscle in my body tightens as heat rolls through me. I tremble, knowing what’s coming. Stopping isn’t an option, not with how he’s working me. The last wave rolls through me, and as if he snapped his fingers, the orgasm nearly rips me to shreds.
I gasp for air, feeling like I’m floating out of my body. When I sit upright, his pupils are blown wide. I let him stare, enjoying how he looks at me like I’m everything. My nipples are hard.
What the hell just happened?
I run my fingers down his stomach and reach into his sweatpants, grabbing him. I gulp, pulling him free. Carter stares at me, wearing a smile.
“You’re going to break me,” I whisper.
“Scared?” he asks.
“A little.” Laughter falls from my swollen lips. “I’ve never been with a man whose cock has identified as an anaconda.”
He chuckles.
“I want you, Carter.” I press my lips to his stomach, and his muscles flex. “I really want you.”
I wrap my hand around the base of him and stroke. I take my time memorizing his reactions as I touch him. He sucks in shallow breaths. I move off of him so I have better access.
Closing my eyes, I lick along the underside from the base to the tip.
The sound he makes is low, almost pained, and I’ve barely started. I close my mouth over the head of him, tasting his clean skin. His hand slides into my hair, not pushing, just holding on.
I take more of him, relaxing my throat, and my eyes water. He’s bigger than anyone I’ve been with, and I can only manage halfway before I have to ease back.
“Your mouth feels so good.”
I circle the tip, then take him deeper. His muscles tighten as I hollow my cheeks. I use my hand where my mouth can’t reach, finding a pace that leaves him wrecked.
He watches me like nothing outside this room exists, and I moan around him. Pleasing him, knowing I’m the reason he’s losing control, only encourages me to keep going. I pull a groan from him, and it sends more heat between my thighs.
I don’t ease off. I want him to be just as desperate as I was two minutes ago. I took what I needed with zero shame. His stomach tenses, and each breath he takes is shorter than the last. I take him as deep as I can and swallow around him.
Moments later, he comes with my name on his perfect lips. I take all of him, swallowing him down with ease.
I sit back, and he drags his thumb across my bottom lip. They’re swollen. Carter looks wrecked, like I just took him apart. His hand moves to my neck.
“Come here.” He pulls me into him, sliding the blankets over us.
“How was it?” I ask, giving him a soft smile.
Carter kisses me, but this time it’s slower. He’s still rock-hard, his cock pressing into my stomach. “Unforgettable.”
His mouth finds my temple, then my jaw, then the corner of my lips, each one slower than the last.
“Stay tonight,” he says against my skin.
“Carter …”
“Don’t eat and run.”
I snicker, but then I sigh. “We shouldn’t do couple things.”
“Why?” he asks. “Scared you might fall in love with me?”
“Scared you might. I’m broken, Carter.”
“Guess I have until August third to put you back together,” he whispers against my ear.
His arm settles around my waist, and I press my face into his neck, breathing him in. Sleep, which refused to come an hour ago, pulls me under in minutes. All it took was being close to him.
Around three in the morning, I wake up disoriented.
I realize I’m in the Captain’s Room. I stay for a few more minutes, enjoying the heat of his body pressed against mine.
Then I slide out from his arms and leave his room without saying a word.
I take the stairs back to my room, understanding we can never uncross that line.
The early sun warms up the place, and I grow concerned the central air is going out.
I turn every fan on high, hoping to circumvent the heat.
I’m going through invoices when Carter waltzes down the stairs.
He’s in shorts and a white T-shirt. His hair is still damp from a shower, and he smells like his soap.
“Morning,” he says, and I realize how good of an actor he is. His poker face is spectacular.
“Good morning.” I bring my eyes back to the invoice. “Rose made her cinnamon rolls today. Enjoy.”
The professional distance I keep is harder to maintain than I expected.
Carter moves past me and goes to the carafe of coffee, pouring himself a steaming cup. Rose speaks to him, and they hold a small conversation before he lets her get back to it. On the way through the lobby, he stops at the front counter.
This time, when our eyes meet, he smirks. “I thought you were going to deliver breakfast this morning.”
He sips from the mug and watches me over the rim.
I remember what he said last night about wanting me for breakfast.
“I overslept,” I admit in a hushed tone, keeping my expression neutral. “Stop that.”
“Stop what?”
I tuck my lip into my mouth and look over my shoulder toward the kitchen, where Rose is frying something. “I can see straight through you, Carter.”
“Most people can’t. Use your superpower wisely.”
I bite the inside of my cheek and look back down at the invoice. He reaches forward, his finger brushing against mine. The contact is brief, and it sends heat straight up my neck.
“Carter,” I warn.
“All it takes is a look or a simple touch,” he says. “Meet me upstairs.”
I’m about to respond when the front door bangs open and Josie’s voice cuts through the lobby.
She storms in, wearing a tie-dye sundress and flip-flops. A tote bag, covered in iron-on patches, is slung over her shoulder. Behind her is Mia, who’s wearing the purple version of Josie’s dress. They spot us, and the two of them instantly start grinning at one another.
“Grandma told me Rose made cinnamon rolls. Thought we’d stop by and snag a few,” she explains, but she’s already piecing a story together.
Mia’s blond hair is down today, and her wrists are stacked with her usual collection of bangles and beaded bracelets. She’s holding a to-go mug in one hand and a manila folder in the other.
“Oh, it’s so nice to see you again,” Josie says to Carter.
Mia is grinning widely, and both of their eyes go straight to the gap between us. Mia’s gaze bounces from Carter to me.
“Hi, sis,” Josie says. “So, what’s happening here? Are the two of you secretly dating?”
“No,” I say. “He was getting coffee. Clearly.”
“At the front counter?” Josie tilts her head. “That’s weird.”
“No, it’s not. It’s called being polite and speaking to the help since I’m on the way to his destination.”
Carter is amused by the conversation.
“I was just heading out,” Carter says.
“Without a cinnamon roll?” Mia asks him like he’s grown a third head. “I don’t think you understand. Those things are world famous.”
“I don’t eat a lot of sugar,” Carter explains.
Mia gasps, and Josie grabs him by the arm, leading him into the kitchen area.
I hear her telling him that he’s on vacation and he’s eating one.
Josie is the epitome of peer pressure. Once he has a fat one on his plate, that’s dripping with icing, she returns to me.
Carter lingers behind and refills his coffee.
“Have a great day,” he says, walking behind them and going up the stairs.
Mia turns her head and watches him go, then glares at me.
“What the fuck was that?” Josie asks.
“Nothing,” I tell them both. “You’re imagining things.”
“If that’s nothing,” Mia says, “I’d like some of that.”
“Oh, please,” I say, focusing back on the invoices.
“I’m just saying, the man looked at you like you were the only thing on his mind.” Mia takes a sip of her coffee.
“Aren’t you here for cinnamon rolls?” I grab my coffee and take a sip.
“Yes, but we also have business to discuss.”
Josie drops her tote bag on the counter and pulls out a notebook covered in stickers. Along the sides are bright, color-coded tabs. While she does that, Mia helps herself to the kitchen, then returns with two fluffy cinnamon rolls for her and Josie.
My sister flips to a page marked with a hot-pink tab. At the top, it says Seaside Summer Celebration in bubble letters. She spins the binder around. Her ideas are clearly laid out with bullet points and to-do lists.
“Wow,” I say. “You’ve thought of everything.”
“Mia helped.”
We both glance at her, and she’s mid-bite, but she smiles. “Mm-hmm.”
“I know you’re doing so much to keep this place running.
If there is one thing I’m good at, it’s throwing a party,” Josie explains.
“Mia agreed to help with social media. Fallon’s in.
Preston is going to talk to the owner about doing a drink special at Sips other than we’re doing an open-house celebration.
I was thinking about having free hot dogs, coupons for bookings, and the entire works.
It will look like a summer party, but the intent is to increase business.
Grandma’s pride stays intact. It’s a win-win situation. ”
I’m living for my sister’s excitement.
“I just need you to say yes, Wen.”
Mia shrugs. “She’s in.”
“I have to hear it from her mouth,” Josie says.
I laugh because she’s doing the thing I couldn’t bring myself to do, asking for help in a way that doesn’t feel like begging. “Yes. I think this is going to be incredible. Thank you so much. Do you need me to do anything?”
“Nope. Just be yourself and have fun. I’ve got this all taken care of. This is going to be the best community celebration we’ve ever had.”
I walk around the counter and give her a tight hug. “Thank you.”
“We’re in this together,” she says, packing up her stuff.
She and Mia eat and drink coffee at the dining room table. The two of them laugh and chat about a book they’re reading.
When they’re done eating, Josie stops at the counter before leaving.
“You look different today,” she says.
“I got some quality sleep last night,” I explain. It’s not a lie.
She narrows her eyes. “It’s suspicious.”
“Bye, Josie.”
“What do you think?” she asks Mia, who studies me.
“She looks like she had a good night.” Mia waggles her brows.
“Out,” I say, pointing at the door. “Both of you.”
“See you tomorrow! Heard Rose is making waffles. Have a good day, sis!” Josie calls as the door swings shut behind them.
I lean on the counter and can’t stop smiling. Maybe everything will work out.
I pull my phone from my pocket and type in Carter’s cell number from his booking.
Wendy
Mr. Banks?
Three dots appear immediately.
Banks
Wendy Winslow?
Wendy
Banks
Why aren’t you in my room?
Wendy
My sister just left. I can only stay ten minutes.
Banks
It will only take me five.
Adrenaline rushes through me as I think about what could happen when I walk into his room. I place a sign on the counter, stating I’ll be back in ten minutes, just in case Gran searches for me.