Chapter 29
Twenty-Nine
River
Passing by the bouncers at the door, I tug on Carter’s hand, leading the way as we walk into the Sapphire Lounge.
I planned this little shindig to celebrate the best game of his career.
Security follows behind us, and I have to admit, I do feel safer with them here.
There’s no urge to hide. I’m not scoping out the place.
And it doesn’t feel like there’s a panic attack on the horizon. I can focus my attention on Carter.
His face lights up when he sees all of our friends in the VIP section, and he tugs on my hand, spinning me to him. My chest bumps against his, and he leans down so I can hear him over the music.
“You did this?”
“I’m proud of you. You deserve to be celebrated.”
Carter presses his fist to his mouth and turns his head to look away for a few seconds. Then, as he tries to collect himself, tilts his head back and releases a deep breath. Seeing him this overwhelmed with emotion brings tears to my eyes.
His hand tangles through my hair, and he kisses me deeply.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
He clears his throat and leads me up the stairs. Evie races over and wraps me up in a hug swaying us back and forth. “I missed you, girl,” she says.
Guilt eats at me. My life has been so hectic that I haven’t been able to make time for my friends.
“I missed you too,” I say to her, then turn to give Aspen a hug as she slides in beside us, throwing her arm around my shoulder.
The VIP section is draped in dim lighting, and everything is sleek black.
A blue LED light glows under the private bar.
Several black sofas rest along the wall, and a round booth sits in the back corner.
Resting in the middle of the area are two black velvet sofas facing each other with a black coffee table; an LED light glows underneath to match the bar.
Hannah chats with Aiden next to a booth while the other guys gather in a circle a few feet from the bar.
“Be right back,” Carter says, dropping a kiss on my forehead before heading over to the guys.
This place brings back so many memories.
Like the night Carter took me home. I’ll admit, I had a crush on him back then, but I was too scared and stubborn to give him a chance.
It didn’t stop him from trying everything he could think of to date me.
I smile to myself. Things worked out exactly how they were supposed to.
Hannah lifts her head and spots me. She and Aiden make their way over as Evie, Aspen, and I sit down on the velvet covered sofa.
“Thank you all for helping me get everyone together,” I tell them.
Hannah takes a sip from her cocktail then sets it down on the table. “You’re welcome,” she says.
“Yeah, it was nothing,” Aspen chimes in.
Carter walks over with his phone in his hands as his fingers fly across the screen.
He hands the device to me. “Can you put this in your purse? Gianna’s been blowing up my phone over this endorsement deal, and it keeps vibrating in my pocket.
If I hang onto it, I’ll continue to work. I want to enjoy my evening.”
I take it from his hands, and he saunters over to the bar to order both of us a drink.
“So, Evie. How’s the boutique? Have you put Ivan to work yet?” I ask.
“I think he works more than I do now that he’s staying home with the kids.” She laughs.
As we catch up, Carter’s phone begins to vibrate; it’s Cammie.
“Hold that thought.”
I answer the FaceTime call, and her smiling face pops up on the screen.
“Hi, Cammie! Sorry, it’s loud in here. We’re out celebrating.”
“Oh. That sounds fun! Where’s Carter?”
“He went to the bar to get us a drink. He’ll be back in a sec. So, what’s been going on with you? Did you have a good Thanksgiving?”
Aiden waves his hand trying to garner my attention. “D-Did you say Cammie? As . . . as in Cameron?” he asks.
I nod at him, trying to hear her, but he hops over the table and plucks the phone out of my hand.
“Camisole!” He beams into the phone as Carter makes his way over with a beer in one hand and a fruity cocktail in another. “So, tell me, when are you coming to New York to see me?”
Carter frowns when he hears his sister’s voice.
“If she comes here, it won’t be to see you. Now hand it over,” Carter growls, passing my drink to me.
He reaches for his phone, but Aiden jerks away and holds up one finger.
“Just a sec. I’m on a very important phone call with my future wife, and I think we’re making progress . . . she likes me already, dude.” He wiggles his eyebrows.
“You’re an idiot, and I hate to break it to you, but you don’t stand a chance with my sister. Now hand it over.”
“No.” Aiden turns away from Carter. “She thinks I’m adorable. Don’t you, Camisole?”
I hear her giggle.
“You nicknamed her after a tank top, dumbass. I doubt she thinks you’re adorable. Now hand. Me. My. Phone.”
Carter moves toward Aiden, but he ducks around behind the sofa. “Your brother might kill me, but you’re worth the torture.”
Carter looks at me for help, and I smirk.
“Not too fun when someone won’t give your phone back, is it?”
“This is different. That’s my baby sister.”
“By what? Two minutes?” I laugh.
We all watch in amusement as Aiden moves around tables, holding Carter’s phone up in the air and continuing his flirtatious conversation. Carter stalks behind him, trying to steal his phone back.
I hear him say, “What’s age but a number, Cupcake?”
“Nothing wrong with a little cougar action, Cammie,” I call out to further irritate my husband.
He spins around, shooting me a glare. Crossing my arms, I smirk. This is what he gets.
“Ooh, now there’s a story here,” Aspen says to me. “I can see it written all over your face.”
“That’s a story I’ll have to tell you another time. Let’s go dance,” I say, tugging her up. “But first, I need another drink.”
I pay for a round of drinks for Hannah, Evie, and myself, since Aspen is still nursing whatever she’s drinking, then we dance our way down the stairs.
Cages stand in the four corners of the dance floor, and I watch as scantily clad women move their bodies to the beat.
It’s not long until I’m blanketed in Carter’s woodsy scent, the heat of his body pressing against my back.
“Goddamn, baby. The way you move is hypnotizing. Makes me want to drag you off to a dark corner somewhere and do the most despicable things to you.”
“Is that right?”
I roll my hips in tune with the beat, pressing my ass against him.
His hands tighten on my waist as he groans into my ear, “Fuck. You’re driving me out of my goddamn mind, Kitten. Let’s just go.”
His lips brush my neck, and I arch into him. Reaching back, I tangle my fingers into his hair. My lips brush against the scruff on his jaw.
“You can’t leave your own party.”
“Watch me,” he growls, capturing my mouth.
His hand skims down to my thigh, and his fingers dust along the hem of my dress. There’s an insistent ache between my thighs.
“You keep moving like that, and I’ll be forced to fuck you right here in front of everyone,” he says, trailing a line of kisses along my shoulder.
Without warning, I spin out of his arms and disappear into the crowd.
When I peek back, Carter catches my eye through the crowd, and I toss him a teasing wink.
His lips lift into a dark smirk, then he starts after me, weaving around the mass of bodies like a predator.
My heart beats faster as I try to lose him through the sea of people dancing, knowing exactly how this game will end.
Just when I’ve thought that I lost him, arms circle my waist, and I giggle.
“I caught you.”
“Yeah? And what are you gonna do with me now?”
“Fuck you,” he rasps in my ear.
My breaths come fast. A delicious chill runs through my body as he drags me to the back of the club and pushes me into a dark hidden alcove.
Carter spins me around, and my back slams against the cold, brick wall, then his mouth crashes to mine.
His hands are everywhere, skimming over my hips and under my dress.
I can barely think or breathe. He hikes up my dress and lifts my thigh, running his fingers along my pussy.
“Fuck, baby. You’re soaked.”
Unbuckling his pants with one hand, he strokes himself once, then twice, and in one swift movement, lifts me up. I knock his hand out of the way and guide him into my pussy. The second he thrusts into me, a sharp breath leaves my lungs.
My back hits the wall with each stroke as he fucks me deep and hard. His hand covers my mouth, muffling my cries as he holds nothing back.
“Mmm,” he moans, his forehead pressed against mine. “I fucking love you.”
His hips snap faster, his moans filling the small space, and those sexy sounds he makes send me right to the edge. His hand slips between us, and his thumb comes down on my clit, massaging it in tight circles. My body tightens up, and my pussy contracts around him.
I scream out as an orgasm rips through me.
He thrusts a few more times and curses under his breath as he spills into me with a guttural moan. I bury my face in his neck, dizzy from the high. We breathe each other in for a few minutes before he sets me back to my feet.
“I may never walk straight again.”
He chuckles, tucking himself back into his pants and pulling my dress down. “That’s the goal.”
As we leave the room, two of the security guards are standing watch right outside the door. They give us a smirk as Carter and I slip back into the club, our hands laced together.
“We may have to fire them,” he says, leading me to the ladies’ room.
I roll my eyes and chuckle. A minute ago, he was willing to fuck me in front of everyone, and now he threatens firing security because they heard us having sex. Jesus.
After I clean up, we make our way to the VIP Section.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” Aspen says as we approach the bar.
I take the drink from her hand. “What is this?”
It’s pink with a cherry on top. I take a drink, and a smile plays on my lips as she says, “Cal and I would like to have y’all over for dinner soon.”
“Yeah,” I nod. “I think we can manage that.”
Carter wraps his arms around me from behind.
“You got a little . . . lipstick on your chin there, buddy.” She points then gives me a curious look. “Where were you two . . . you know what? Never mind. I don’t want to know. I’m going to go find my husband.”
Laughing, she sneaks off to find Cal while I turn in Carter’s arms. I wipe the lipstick from his chin, then link my arms around his waist and rest my head on his chest.
“What are you thinking about?” he asks, stroking my hair.
“This time last year, you brought me home from this very place.” I lift my chin and look up into his eyes as he smiles back at me. “Cal and Aspen got into that huge fight and left us. Remember?”
“How could I forget? I was so fucking happy to finally be alone with you.” He sways me back and forth with a huge grin on his face.
“You walked me to my door like a gentleman, then told me I should just stop fighting it because one day I would be yours.”
“Wow. I said that?” He looks at me in mock astonishment. “What a cocky bastard I must have been.”
My eyes widen in surprise. “You remember that?”
“Baby, I pay attention. I remember everything you say. You kinda leave a lasting impression. I believe your exact words were . . .” He clears his throat. “‘When are you gonna get it through your thick skull that I don’t want you? God! You are such a cocky bastard,’” he mocks in a feminine voice.
An unattractive snort escapes me as I laugh.
“I lied. I wanted you . . . bad.”
He kisses the top of my head. “I know.”
Obviously, he’s still a cocky bastard.
But I wouldn’t change a damn thing about him.