Chapter Eight
One moment they were talking, the next, Caver sealed his hungry mouth over hers and tugged her close. Enough talking. This was what she came for—wanting to know if the spark between them was real—and Lucy wasn ’ t disappointed one bit.
Their clothes came off as they moved to Carver ’ s bedroom. She found herself naked and lying on her back. Lucy crooked a finger at him, an invitation to join her. Carver stood at the edge of the bed, simply gazing at her for a few moments. The intense hunger in his eyes made her shiver, made her want him even more.
He climbed into bed, straddling her. Carver began spoiling her with kisses and she couldn ’ t have enough of him or his possessive touches. He skimmed his hands down her body, moving his mouth from her lips to her breasts.
Carver paid the utmost attention to each nipple, making her cry out when he marked both breasts. Her pussy was drenched by the time he hefted her legs over his broad shoulders, then entered her without warning.
Lucy gasped, raking her nails over his shoulders. It seemed Carver knew exactly what she wanted without her telling him and that thrilled her. He pumped in and out of her, each thrust getting deeper and faster. Sweat coated both their bodies as Carver reduced them to needy animals.
She met him for every push, while the pressure inside her intensified. The next time he entered her, she climaxed. Lucy came, screaming out his name. Several minutes later, Carver followed, emptying his seed inside her.
Carver slipped next to Lucy in bed, his strong arms wrapping around her, pulling her close. The warmth of his body against hers was comforting, despite the tumultuous thoughts still swirling in her mind.
“I’m glad you came over tonight,” he murmured, kissing her softly.
“Me too,” she admitted. “Were you truly surprised?”
“Yeah,” he said. “You giving me a chance was the last thing I ever expected.”
Lucy smiled, nestling closer to him, feeling the steady beat of his heart against her cheek. They lay there for a while, enjoying the closeness. Carver stroked her hair gently, and she found herself relaxing more and more in his embrace.
After a while, her stomach growled, breaking the silence with an unexpected rumble. Carver chuckled, the sound deep and rich.
“I guess we should eat before your lasagna gets cold,” he said.
“Good idea,” she agreed, laughing softly.
They reluctantly untangled themselves and made their way to the kitchen. Carver had already reheated the lasagna, and the rich aroma filled the room, making Lucy’s mouth water. She felt a bit self-conscious as they sat down at the small table, but Carver’s easy smile put her at ease.
He served generous portions of the lasagna, and they dug in. Lucy watched him take his first bite, her heart pounding in anticipation. His eyes widened slightly, and a slow smile spread across his face.
“This is amazing,” he said, his voice filled with genuine appreciation.
Lucy blushed, pleased. “I’m glad you like it.”
They ate in companionable silence, the tension of the earlier events slowly melting away. As they shared the meal, Lucy couldn’t help but steal glances at Carver.
She noticed the way his jaw clenched when he was deep in thought, the way his eyes softened whenever he looked at her. She was starting to see the man behind the monster and was satisfied by what she found.
When they finished eating, Carver leaned back in his chair.
“That was the best meal I’ve had in a long time,” he said.
Lucy smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. “I’m glad to hear that,” she told him.
He reached across the table and took her hand, his thumb brushing gently over her knuckles.
“You do more than that, Lucy. You make me feel … human,” he admitted.
Her breath caught in her throat at his words. She squeezed his hand, the intensity of the moment making her heart race.
“Carver, I…” she began.
Before she could finish, he stood and pulled her to her feet, wrapping his arms around her once more.
“Let’s just enjoy tonight,” he whispered in her ear. “No more talking about what if’s and should’s.”
Lucy nodded, resting her head against his chest. They stood there for a long moment, holding each other, savoring the simple pleasure of being together.
In that moment, all the doubts and fears faded away. Eventually, they moved back to the bedroom, the lasagna forgotten as they focused on each other again.
Carver’s touch was tender, his kisses slow and deliberate, as if he was memorizing every inch of her. Lucy responded with equal passion, her hands exploring the hard planes of his body, reveling in the feeling of his skin against hers.
Much later, they lay together, tangled in the sheets. Lucy couldn’t help but wonder what the future held for them. It was a dangerous, uncertain path, but she felt a spark of hope. Maybe, just maybe, they could find a way to make it work.
****
That morning, Lucy went to work as if everything was normal. Carver had insisted on driving her, and although she had told him she was fine, she could see the worry etched on his face.
He gave her an update on Emmet, explaining that while he couldn ’ t share all the details of his occupation, he wanted her to know what was necessary.
Emmet was still at large, and Carver feared that Emmet might target those he cared about. His brothers were beyond Emmet ’ s reach, so Carver reasoned Emmet might come after Lucy instead. She brushed off his concerns with a light-hearted laugh.
“In the grand scheme of things, I ’ m not important,” she had said, trying to ease the tension. But Carver didn ’ t leave until he had kissed her, a lingering, tender kiss that made her heart race.
As she walked into the diner, she couldn ’ t miss Burt ’ s irritated glare or Cindy ’ s concerned look. She sighed, preparing herself for the inevitable questions. During their break, Cindy pulled her aside.
“You’re still seeing him?” Cindy asked, her voice a mix of worry and disbelief.
“I am,” Lucy admitted, meeting her friend ’ s gaze steadily. “Carver ’ s a good man underneath it all.”
“I hope you don ’ t regret it,” Cindy said, her tone laced with concern.
“I won ’ t,” Lucy promised, though the words felt heavy on her tongue. She hoped with all her heart that she was making the right choice.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Lucy found it hard to focus, her mind drifting back to Carver and the danger that seemed to loom over them. Burt ’ s constant grumbling didn ’ t help, but she managed to keep her composure, determined not to let her personal life affect her work.
During a lull in the afternoon, Lucy stepped outside for a breath of fresh air. The city was alive with its usual hustle and bustle, but she felt a strange sense of detachment, as if she was watching everything from a distance.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden noise—a car door slamming shut. She turned to see a figure disappearing around the corner, her heart skipping a beat. Was she being paranoid, or was Carver right to be worried?
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She had to stay focused, keep her guard up. Carver ’ s words echoed in her mind, a constant reminder of the potential danger. But she refused to live in fear. She would face whatever came her way, just as she always had.
Returning to the diner, she was greeted by the familiar sights and sounds of her workplace. It was comforting, in a way, to be surrounded by something so ordinary amidst the chaos her life had become. She threw herself into her work, determined to keep her mind occupied.
As her shift neared its end, Lucy felt a strange mix of relief and anxiety. She wondered what awaited her at home. Carver had promised to be there when she finished work, but she couldn ’ t shake the feeling that something was about to happen. She had to trust him, trust that he would keep her safe.
Just as Lucy was about to leave, Burt yelled at her, his voice grating. “Hey, Lucy! Take the garbage out before you go.”
Irritated but not wanting to make things worse with her boss, Lucy grabbed the trash bags and headed to the alleyway behind the diner.
The dimly lit alley was quiet, the sound of the bustling city muted by the surrounding buildings. She tossed the trash into the dumpster, wiping her hands on her apron.
A car rolled into the alley, its headlights cutting through the dusk. Lucy glanced at it, thinking nothing of it until she felt a rough hand clamp over her mouth. Panic surged through her as she struggled, twisting around to see who had grabbed her. Her heart dropped. It was Emmet.
“Shhh, sweetheart,” he hissed, his grip tightening. “Don’t make a sound.”
Lucy’s mind raced, trying to remember what Carver had told her. Emmet was dangerous, unpredictable. She had to think quickly. Emmet’s eyes were wild, a mixture of fear and anger. He wasn’t just desperate; he was on the edge.
“You’re gonna help me send a message to your boyfriend,” he whispered, his breath hot against her ear. “Understand?”
Lucy nodded, the reality of her situation sinking in. She had to find a way out, but Emmet’s grip was ironclad. He dragged her toward the car, every muscle in her body screaming to fight back. But she remembered Carver’s words, the warning about Emmet’s desperation.
She needed to stay calm, look for an opening. As they neared the car, Lucy felt Emmet’s grip loosen just a fraction. It was now or never. Summoning all her strength, she stomped on his foot and elbowed him in the stomach. Emmet grunted in pain, his grip faltering just enough for her to break free.
She ran, her heart pounding in her chest. The alley seemed to stretch forever, the end just out of reach. Emmet’s footsteps thundered behind her, closing in fast. She had to reach the street, find help. Her lungs burned, her legs felt like lead, but she pushed on.
Just as she neared the mouth of the alley, Emmet lunged, grabbing her by the arm. She screamed, hoping someone would hear, anyone. But the alley was deserted, the city sounds distant.
“You’re not getting away that easy,” Emmet growled, pulling her back toward the car.
Lucy struggled, clawing at his hands, her mind racing for any escape. As they wrestled, she spotted a piece of broken glass on the ground. Desperation fueled her actions. She reached for it, her fingers just grazing the sharp edge.
Emmet yanked her harder, and in one swift motion, Lucy grabbed the glass and slashed at his arm. He howled in pain, but managed to recover quickly. He yanked at her shirt, placing his hands around her neck. Her eyes watered, and the lack of air made her gasp. She clawed at his hands, her vision starting to blur.
“You’re not getting away that easy,” he snarled again, his grip tightening.
With a surge of desperation, she tried to kick him, but his hold was too strong. He dragged her toward his car, her feet scraping against the pavement. Panic surged through her, her heart pounding wildly.
As he shoved her into the back seat, Lucy caught sight of Cindy emerging through the back door of the diner. Cindy’s eyes went wide with fright as she took in the scene.
“Get Carver,” Lucy mouthed, hoping her friend understood.
Emmet slammed the car door shut, cutting off Lucy’s view of Cindy. Her heart raced even faster, fear coursing through her veins.
She tried to fight back, kicking at the door and struggling against her captor. Emmet cursed, reaching back to strike her. The blow sent stars dancing across her vision, and darkness began to close in.
The last thing she saw before blacking out was Emmet’s furious face, the alleyway spinning around her, and a faint glimpse of Cindy running back into the diner.
When Lucy came to, she was groggy and disoriented. The car was moving, the world outside a blur of passing lights and shadows. Her head throbbed where Emmet had struck her, and her neck ached from his grip.
“Welcome back,” Emmet said coldly, glancing at her in the rearview mirror. “Don’t get any ideas. We’re far from done.”
Fear gripped her again, but Lucy forced herself to think. She had to stay calm, find a way out of this. She scanned the car, looking for anything she could use as a weapon, any way to escape.
“Why are you doing this?” she managed to ask, her voice hoarse.
“Shut up,” Emmet snapped. “This is between me and Carver. You’re just leverage.”
Leverage. The word sent a chill down her spine. She had to get out of this before Emmet could use her against Carver. Her thoughts raced, formulating a plan, any plan that might give her a chance.
As they sped through the city, she tried to focus, tried to keep her wits about her. The car eventually slowed, turning into a secluded industrial area. Emmet parked and got out, dragging Lucy with him.
“Move,” he ordered, shoving her toward an abandoned warehouse.
Her heart pounded in her chest, but she walked forward, her mind racing with possibilities. She needed a way to signal for help, to let Carver know where she was. If Cindy had gotten to him, maybe he was already looking for her.
Emmet pushed her inside the dark, musty building, his grip like iron.
“Stay quiet, and maybe you’ll get out of this alive,” Emmet said.
Lucy nodded, her mind still working furiously. She needed to buy time, find a way to get free. As Emmet pulled out his phone, probably to contact Carver, she took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever came next.