CHAPTER 18
DELLA
We both stand for a while, watching our little girl sleep.
The party was a huge success. She had so much fun. The guys went out of their way to make her feel special.
Carter takes my hand and pulls me from the room. I’m surprised when he leads me to my room. He closes the door behind us and locks it which makes my stomach flutter with nerves.
“I’ve been thinking,” he whispers. He places a kiss to my forehead and I close my eyes, just breathing him in.
“Yeah? What have you been thinking?”
His eyes caress my face in a way that makes my heart expand.
“We should go look for a house. I want a garden Danny can play in. “
I smile at him, liking that idea very much. “She would love that.”
“Four years ago you gave birth to our daughter,” he whispers while looking at me with such wonder it makes me feel emotional. “The first time I saw you, you took my breath away. I knew you were strong but I had no idea just how strong. All I know of my mother is that she walked away from me.”
I place my hand against his cheek wishing I could erase that memory from him.
He kisses my palm and takes a chain from his pocket. My mouth drops open at the sight of the broken heart hanging from it.
My eyes dart up to his and when I see all the emotion on his face it makes tears well in my eyes.
“I swore I would never trust a woman after my mother broke my heart.” I can’t keep the tears from rolling over my cheeks and I don’t even bother wiping them again. “I’m giving you my broken heart, Della. I can only trust you with it.”
I wait for him to clip it around my neck before I throw my arms around him. I press a kiss to his lips and whisper, “I’ll keep it safe. I promise.”
He crushes my mouth under his and the kiss quickly turns heated.
He reaches behind him, and breaks the kiss long enough to pull his shirt over his head. I catch sight of his muscled chest and I struggle to keep my mouth from dropping open.
He’s always been the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen, but now he’s pure perfection. He’s all hard muscle, not an ounce of fat on him. I have a sudden urge to lick his golden skin.
"Carter, you're…" I whisper, unable to tear my eyes from his perfect chest.
He leans down, and, placing a hand on either side of my head, he kisses me, a warm and tender kiss that turns my bones to rubber.
He reaches behind me and unzips the dress. It falls to the floor, pooling around my feet.
This moment is perfect. We can finally be together with nothing between us.
My eyes dart up to his and I feel the spark of heat between us.
I feel a little self-conscious about standing in front of him in only my bra and panties. Just like any other woman that’s given birth, I have stretch marks. I definitely don’t have the same body I did when he last saw me naked.
My first instinct is to cover myself, but the scorching look in his eyes makes me stand still.
“You’re even more beautiful than I remember.” There’s so much lust in his voice, it settles like a bolt of fire between my legs.
Heat spreads through my body and tiny tongues of desire lick at my skin.
He quickly strips out of the rest of his clothes. I take in his naked perfection, so exquisitely male in every way.
I reach behind me and unhook my bra, never taking my eyes from his. I let the material fall to the floor and immediately Carter's eyes drop down to my breasts. He makes a sound of pure pleasure which gives me the guts to step out of my panties.
“Fuck, babe. The sight of you leaves me breathless.”
I can’t remember a time when I wanted something as much as I want his hands on me right this second.
Carter is mine.
I’m his.
Shivers rush over my skin at the thought that we’re finally together.
He reaches for my face and brushes his fingers down my cheek.
I let my eyes drink in his features, his dark lashes and those deep brown eyes that never miss a thing. My eyes keep trailing down his face to his straight nose and then they land on his full lips.
I lift my hand to his face and brush the tips of my fingers over his skin, just enjoying the feel of him.
I stand on my toes at the same moment that he leans down, and our mouths find each other’s. At first, the kiss is slow, but then our tongues meet, and I can’t help but moan in delight.
Carter thrusts his tongue deeper and he takes a step closer, crushing our bodies together.
Sparks shoot through me and go straight to my abdomen. Damn, he tastes so good. How have I lived without him the past four years?
He makes me burn up until all that remains of me are smoldering ashes. I press my breasts harder against his chest wanting to feel more of him.
I feel his erection pressing into my lower belly and the thought of him being so close to me is a heady one.
He devours me with wild and hungry kisses until our breaths are racing into each other.
I love the look on his face. It’s one of pure adoration and lust. I could get addicted to it.
***
CARTER
I pull her right against me and soak in the pure pleasure of feeling her naked body pressing against mine before I push her back to where the bed is.
I follow her onto the bed kissing her hungrily, like the starving man I am. I want to lose myself in her. I kiss her with every ounce of love I have in my heart.
Finally, Della’s naked under me again. It’s nothing short of a miracle that’s kept me from fucking her sooner. I needed to win her trust first before taking our relationship to the next level. It’s been the longest month of my life.
I pull slightly away from her and look down at her lust filled eyes. I need to drink in every inch of her.
My heart feels light for the first time. I feel relieved and at peace. I have my daughter and the woman I love. Damn, I’m a lucky man.
Right now, I just want to lose myself in Della. Her long, silky brown hair is spread over the cover. Her cheeks are flushed with desire.
Once again, a fierce protectiveness fills my chest to the point where it feels like I might explode. We belong together. I knew it the first time I laid eyes on her. She was mine that day. She’ll be mine for all eternity.
I close the distance between us and trail gentle kisses over her skin.
“Carter,” she sighs blissfully.
Fuck, I can listen to her saying my name all night long. She makes it sound like a prayer.
I’m so hard for her. My cock throbs against her stomach. Once I’m inside of her, it will only take a matter of seconds for me. It’s been too long.
I’ll make it up to her right through the night, but right now I have no control. I can’t hold myself back anymore.
I close my mouth over her breast and groan at the taste of her skin. She still tastes like crushed apples. I take my time licking and sucking until she starts to roll her hips against me.
I brush my hand over her toned stomach and then over her pussy. She’s so fucking wet.
“You’re so ready, babe,” I groan against her silky skin.
“Please, Carter. I need you now. Please.”
What my woman wants, my woman gets.
I quickly get off the bed and grab a condom from my pocket. I roll it on before I crawl back onto the bed.
She opens her legs wider to accommodate my shoulders. I press a kiss to her pussy before I start to devour it.
I alternate between licking her clit roughly and desperately sucking at her pussy. Her arousal is addictive making me lose all control.
When her body starts to tense, I know she’ll be coming soon.
“You taste so fucking sweet,” I growl against her pussy and it makes her moan.
I push two fingers inside her so I can feel when her orgasm hits.
“Carter,” she breathlessly moans, lost in ecstasy and rubbing her pussy all over my face.
When her pussy starts to greedily suck at my fingers I pull away and crawl over her body. I line my cock up with her pussy and surge into her tight, wet heat with one powerful thrust.
“Fuck … fuck, it’s heaven,” I growl at the perfect feel of her around my cock.
Her muscles ripple and her pussy grips me tightly, making my hips surge forward.
Our mouths meet in a frenzy, and I start to drive my cock into her, thrusting and grinding until moan after moan escapes her.
Every nerve-ending is on fire as I watch her orgasm beneath me.
“Carter,” she breathes, and the pure pleasure in that one word sends me over the edge.
A tingling starts in my abdomen, making me move faster. Just as the world explodes around me and my cock starts to jerk inside of Della, she cries my name. Her pussy spasms around my cock, milking every last drop from me.
I can’t bring myself to move yet. I remain still for a few seconds, just absorbing the feel of Della.
When strength returns to my body, I push my upper body up and look down into her eyes, filled with love and satisfaction.
I place a quick kiss to her lips. “I’ll be right back.”
As I get rid of the condom, I remember the last time we were together. I quickly finish up and sigh with relief when I walk into the room and she’s still lying on the bed.
We crawl under the covers and I pull her naked body into mine. I stare at her beautiful face until her eyes fall shut with sleep.
I pull the cover away from her body and look at every mark that was left by the pregnancy. This woman carried my child and the proof will forever be marked on her skin. I smile at the thought that I’ve branded her in a way that no other man can. Della is mine.