Chapter 15 - Veronica
Lacie took her headphones off when I sat down.
“Everything okay?” She asked, frowning. “You were gone a long time.”
“Fine,” I said, cleaning my throat. “Just flight jitters, I guess.”
“Did you see Seth anywhere on the flight?”
“What? Oh, no,” I answered. After my entry into the mile high club, I hadn’t even thought of my ex-boyfriend, or the weird sightings I’d had of him in the past couple days. I had better things to think about, like the feeling of Carter’s cock inside me, or his hands on my ass, or his cum inside me.
Thank goodness I was on the pill. I knew I should be using a condom, but it just felt too good to be around him. It felt too right.
Lacie narrowed her eyes, but let me be. I turned back to my screen and closed my eyes as my heart thumped against my ribs.
When we landed, I grabbed my bag at the carousel. Lacie disappeared with Maddox. I needed to check in to the hotel and call Morgan, and after that I’d find Carter.
By the time I was checked in, showered, and caught up on the plan with Morgan for the next three days, the memory of what Carter and I had done on the plane was still sending a thrill through my spine. He’d told me I’d be sleeping at the Ritz, and excitement could in my stomach. I’d never been to a five-star hotel before.
My phone buzzed with a text from Carter telling me he’d be picking me up in fifteen minutes. I smiled, checking my makeup for the hundredth time and taking a deep breath.
Why was I so nervous? I’d spent time with Carter before. I’d slept with him! So how was this different? Maybe it was the fact that he was picking me up, or the thought of spending the night with him, or just the thought of how he made me feel. I always got butterflies when he was close.
Whatever the reason, I took a deep breath and texted him back, saying I’d meet him at the hotel bar. I couldn’t stay cooped up in my room for any longer waiting for him. I made my way down and ordered a drink, trying not to watch the clock.
As the bartender dropped the vodka soda in front of me, I got the prickly feeling on the back of my neck again. I frowned, trying to resist the temptation to look around.
There was no way Seth was here. He couldn’t be! It made no sense. I was just all messed up because of the sex and the trip and the fact that somewhere at the back of my mind, I knew I was starting to really, really like Carter. It was probably just self-sabotage.
But when Seth’s voice sounded in my ear, I stiffened and turned around, my eyes wide.
“What do you think you’re doing, you little slut,” he spat. I turned to see him standing right behind me. His tee-shirt was dirty, with stains all down the front. His hair was disheveled and his eyes were unfocused. He was leaning on one foot, swaying slightly.
My heart started beating as the fear clawed up my throat.
He was here!
A small part of me was relieved that I wasn’t crazy. I had seen him. He had been following me. I wasn’t just a paranoid mess.
But a much, much bigger part of me was completely, utterly terrified.
“Seth,” I stammered. “What are you doing here?”
“I know what you’re doing, slut,” he spat. “I know that you’re going after that musician. What, you think he’s rich? Is that it?”
“What? No, we work together.”
Seth laughed, and a couple other patrons at the bar looked over. I clutched my purse, trying to catch someone’s eye, or look for something to defend myself with, or anything. I felt frozen.
“I saw you, Vee. I saw you kissing him, and I saw you in the airplane.”
“Did you… did you follow me here from Los Angeles?”
“I’m here to take you home. We’re meant to be together. This is wrong, and I’m not going to let you whore yourself out to the first guy who gives you attention.”
The outrage started competing with the terror in my stomach. How dare he talk to me that way! I hadn’t realized how verbally and emotionally abusive he’d been to me until after we broke up, and it was all rushing back to me now. The anger boiled in my veins as I thought of all the times he called me worthless, or ugly, or stupid.
I shook my head. “Please leave, Seth.” My voice was hard.
He just laughed.
“You need to go.”
“I don’t need to do anything. He doesn’t even have any money, did you know that? He’s as broke as you are.”
“I’m calling the police,” I said, trying to keep my voice from trembling.
Why wasn’t anyone doing anything? Surely they could see how scared I was? But as I glanced around, no one was even paying attention to us. The bartender was at the other end of the bar, and there were only a couple other people that were busy reading or looking at their phones or talking to each other.
Even with all these people around, I was completely alone.
“No, you’re not calling anyone. You’re coming with me.” He reached out and grabbed my arm above the elbow. His grip was like a vise and I cried out in pain.
Then, it happened like a flash. Seth let go of my arm and went flying off into a chair. It tumbled over as he fell on top of it, and he rolled over as he crashed, landing on his face. I screamed, and then strong, warm arms wrapped themselves around me.
Carter.
He smelled like masculinity and safety and home. I was shaking, and he held me tight, saying soothing words to me as he slowly moved between me and Seth.
“Carter,” I breathed. “I… Oh my God,” I said, as the tears started running down my cheeks. I couldn’t process what had just happened. I looked at Seth on the ground as he tried to stand up, and then up at Carter. His eyes were blazing, staring at Seth as he shielded me from my ex. He looked about seven feet tall, propped up by the anger inside him.
Seth looked him up and down, snarling but crouching away.
The bartender was yelling, and security appeared in the doorway. My ears were ringing, and I grabbed onto the bar for support. My head was spinning. I couldn’t see straight. Carter was saying something, but I couldn’t understand. He put his arm around my shoulder and lowered me onto a chair as the security team surrounded us.
“Morgan’s going to be so mad,” I said as my vision went blurry. Carter said something, but I didn’t understand. “Morgan’s going to kill me,” I told him. “You’re supposed to stay out of bad press and now I’ve ruined it.”
I was crying, and finally Carter just wrapped me in his arms and held me. He said something to the security team, and I vaguely realized Seth was being hauled off out of the hotel.
Carter helped me up, grabbed my bag, and led me to the waiting black sedan.
“I’m taking you to my hotel,” he said. I melted into his arms and closed my eyes. This had to be a bad dream. I’d fallen asleep while I was getting ready at my hotel, and I would wake up and everything would be okay.
But as the car started moving, I knew it wasn’t a dream. I inhaled into Carter’s chest, smelling his scent and trying to stop my hands from shaking. Finally, I pulled myself away and looked at his face.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
The concern was etched all over his face. He cupped my cheek in his hand and kissed me tenderly.
“I told you, Veronica, you’re my woman now,” he said. “I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”
My eyes filled with tears and I nodded. “Thank you.”
“Was that you ex?”
I nodded as my throat closed with emotion. I didn’t want to think about Seth, or think about what had just happened, or think about what would happen if anyone got a photo or a video of Carter knocking him off me. I just leaned against Carter’s broad chest and took a deep breath.
“It’ll be okay,” Carter said. “You’re safe now.” And his arms squeezed around me until I stopped shaking and I believed him. I was safe.