Chapter 19
Chapter nineteen
Kelsey
The tingling feeling of my hand going numb pulls me from sleep.
I stretch my back, pushing into the warmth behind me, only to encounter a hard wall.
A wall with a…hard penis lining up with the center of my ass.
Without thinking, I wiggle slightly, still asleep enough to enjoy the sensation without giving it more thought.
Carter lets out a quiet groan, and I—oh, shit. Carter.
I stop moving, knowing I shouldn’t keep going down this path with my unconscious colleague, but also really wanting to continue down this path. Maybe with a conscious Carter, though.
Suddenly, the conversation back in the office in Wild Bluffs comes back to me, JT reminding me that I’m so single, it’s painful.
The sexual tension between Carter and me the past two days has also been painful.
Walking in on him in a towel last night did nothing to help that, at least on my part.
The cold shower blessedly cooled me down enough to be able to fall asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
Moving slowly so I don’t disturb Carter, I reach over to the bedside table, grabbing my phone to find out what time it is.
Early. I still have an hour—two if I forgo my run today.
That’s enough time for a little fun…if that’s what I want to do.
No, I know I want to. The heat growing in my core at Carter’s proximity is enough of a reminder of that. I just don’t know if I should.
“Kels?” Carter’s gravelly morning voice is soft against my back, and fuck if that nickname doesn’t make up my mind for me.
I roll over slowly, my T-shirt and shorts bunching up as I turn within his arms.
“Morning,” I whisper as I take in his bronze skin and the long, black eyelashes resting on his cheeks.
“Mmmm,” he replies, pulling me tight against him.
Holy crap. The combination of his warmth, his clean scent, and his hard length pressing into my stomach makes me moan, an embarrassing noise I try to cover with a light cough.
“Shit. You’ve never made that noise before,” Carter whispers, his eyes still closed.
I pause, staring at him. He’s…does he think he’s dreaming?
I’m glad his eyes are closed, because I am fully incapable of keeping the amused smile off my face, though it does present a bit of a conundrum for me.
On one hand, I’m pleased to know I’m not the only one who’s been having dirty dreams about us; on the other, I’m not sure how to turn this dream into reality without making it awkward.
I bite my lip, taking a moment to nuzzle into his chest, when suddenly his arms go rigid around me.
I look up without moving from my new favorite location to find Carter’s head angled down just enough that I can see his wide eyes past his jaw.
Offering a tentative smile, I say, “Morning” again before snuggling deeper into him.
He hesitates, his body still tense, before bringing his cheek down onto the top of my head.
A small sigh escapes me, and we stay like that for a minute, ignoring the world, the questions, and the morning wood that are trying to force themselves into our moment of peace.
“So, I have a proposition,” I say when his cock twitches against my stomach and my body rebels, telling me it’s had enough cuddling.
Carter chuckles, his warm breath moving the hairs on the top of my head. “A proposition, huh? So formal.”
“Do you want to hear it or not?” I tease.
“Oh, there is nothing I’d like more.”
How does one propose sex to the man who’s currently wrapped around them? It feels like it should be easier. Do I use the word fuck? Do people still say bang? Do I just run my fingers along his dick and see what happens?
“I think we should hook up.”
Carter goes still, only his heartbeat letting me know he’s still alive. “You…you…what?” he asks.
“It can just be a one-time thing if that would make you more comfortable, but we’re here.
I mean, it’s almost like the universe wants this to happen, and everything has just been so stressful lately, and I really enjoy hanging out with you…
though maybe that’s something that should go in the con column…
Anyway, can you please just say something? ”
What in the world was that? Since when do I ramble? I am not a rambler. Has my sister infected my mind with her constant rambling in uncomfortable situations?
The warmth of Carter’s body presses into me as he uses his weight to roll me onto my back.
Looking down into my eyes as if searching for something, Carter’s hand comes to my face, his thumb stroking my cheek lightly.
He leans in, lightly pressing a kiss to my lips, his eyes fluttering closed with the movement.
I let my eyes fall closed too as I lean up into the warmth of his kiss.
Wanting more—needing more—I pull him over me, lacing my hand through the soft strands of his hair. I flick my tongue along the seam of his mouth, silently requesting entry, but he pulls away, hovering over me.
“I’m not interested in a one-time thing,” he says, and my heart curls in around itself, the pain of the rejection pulsing through my soul.
“Oh,” I say, forcing myself to meet his eyes. “Okay. Sorry, I shouldn’t have assumed…”
I trail off as I notice the slight smile tugging on his lips.
“Kels, I’m not interested in a one-time thing. Once I get a taste of you—of us—there is no way I’m going to be able to stop. So, if this is just a one-time hookup in your mind, I’m out, as physically painful as it’ll be.”
I bite my lip to hide my grin. However, I know I need to ask a follow-up question. “But we’re not dating, right? Like, we aren’t going to hold hands in front of the team or anything?”
“Is that what you want?” he asks, his eyes searching mine.
“I don’t want people knowing my business. I don’t want people congratulating you for hooking up with me while judging me for sleeping with you. And I especially don’t want us sleeping together to somehow make it so neither of us gets the contract with Jaxon.”
Carter’s weight shifts, and he places a soft kiss on my cheek.
“I don’t think Jaxon would do that.”
“Are you willing to risk it?” I ask, daring him to make a bold choice for both of us.
His face is contemplative, his lower lip tucked beneath his teeth as he thinks. Finally, he says, “I’m willing to risk a lot of things for this—for you, Kels. But no, I can’t risk losing my job when my mom is going to need me more than ever.”
I can’t help but smile at the admission, and a far less selfish part of me wonders if maybe I should call this off right now before it can turn into something that would ruin his life. Unfortunately for him, the selfish part of me is used to getting its way.
“So we won’t do anything that would put either of our jobs at risk. We’ll just keep doing what we’ve been doing, but maybe have a sleepover every so often,” I suggest.
“Every night,” he counters.
I snort a laugh. “Yeah, because none of our highly trained security personnel will pick up on that.”
“We’ll play it by ear.”
“Okay.” I nod like I’m conceding to him, when in reality, he’s agreed to all my demands.
“Fuck, I love it when you smile like you’re the smartest damn woman in the room,” he says before dropping his mouth back to mine.
Keeping our mouths locked, I push into him, forcing him onto his back. If we’re doing this, we’re doing it my way. I’ve learned the hard way not to let the man take the lead, even if Carter’s kisses suggest he knows what he’s doing.
I straddle his hips, the length of him pressing into the heat between my legs. Sighing at the contact I’ve been dying for since I woke up with his morning wood pressed into me, I lift myself off him slightly so I can rub against him.
More. I need more.
Placing my hands on Carter’s broad shoulders, I start to slowly rock back and forth, my hair covering my face and hiding me from sight.
“Hands up,” Carter says, helping me sit up straight before pulling my black T-shirt off and throwing it across the room.
“Now it’s—” I start before letting out a yelp as Carter flips me onto my back.
“I like to be on top,” I say.
Taking my nipple into his mouth, Carter hums his response, making my entire body seize with pleasure. After tormenting the sensitive area, he lifts his head, offering me a smug smile.
“That doesn’t surprise me. And you can be for round two. Come once on my fingers, and then I’ll let you ride me until we both get what we want.”
My body shudders at the dominance in his tone.
“Fine,” I say, “but you need less clothing. Don’t hide those pretty muscles you work so hard on.”
Reaching behind his back to grab the neck of his white undershirt, Carter’s arm muscles tense as he pulls the offending garment off. “Better?”
“Much,” I say on a groan as he turns his attention to my other nipple.
His movements are soft, slow, as he brings his calloused fingers up to squeeze and stroke both of my breasts.
I wiggle, lifting my hips in the air in search of friction and the release he promised.
Carter moves down my body, kissing my stomach before sliding his hand to my waistband and pulling my sleep shorts and underwear off in one tug.
“Fuck,” he whispers before slipping a hand between my thighs and splitting me open. I let out a soft moan as he presses a soft kiss to me before burying his face between my legs.
Pleasure pings through me at the contact, and my hips start moving, out of my control.
He places an arm across my body, pinning me in place as I continue to squirm beneath him.
“Fuck, you taste good,” he mumbles against me, the vibrations of his words a torturous sensation.
“I need,” I moan softly, not sure what comes next. “More.”
Carter doesn’t question the demand, pressing two fingers into me as his tongue moves against my clit.
He curls his fingers once, then again, and my hips lift off the bed, his arm no longer holding me down.
A groan slips from his lips before my hips drop back down, and he gently sucks my clit as he moves his fingers.
I shatter.