Chapter Fifteen
Josh
First, do no harm.
That was the guiding principle that as a doctor he would be expected to uphold. But he wasn’t a doctor yet, and the piece of filth that he had knocked on his ass deserved a fate worse than death. Josh looked through the rearview mirror and caught a tender moment between Carina and Morgan. Morgan had fallen asleep just ten minutes into the drive. Carina had rested Morgan’s head in her lap and was currently brushing the wisps of blonde hair away from her face. Josh returned his gaze to the road. His right hand throbbed as he clenched the steering wheel, but the pain was worth it.
“Gabe’s cottage is the last one on the right.” Carina’s voice sliced through the stillness. With the exception of her giving him Gabe’s address when he had ushered them into the back seat of his vehicle, she had ignored him. Josh had been thankful for her silence. He was so angry that he was afraid of what may come out of his mouth. Josh drove for another block before pulling into the blue bayside cottage’s small driveway.
Josh turned off the ignition and exited the vehicle. When he opened the back passenger side door he found Carina trying to wake her friend, but Morgan was in a sound, and from the looks of it, much-needed sleep. “I got her,” he said. Josh lifted Morgan from Carina’s lap and followed Carina into Gabe’s home. Once inside, Carina led him into what appeared to be a guest bedroom. He was in the process of placing her on the bed when Morgan whispered from the other side of consciousness, “Jake.”
“Boyfriend?” he asked Carina.
“Not quite. More like the other half of her soul.”
Carina worked quickly to make her friend comfortable. She removed her shoes and all her jewelry. Josh turned around in order to give Morgan some privacy. Josh heard rustling and then the distinct sound of a pill bottle being popped open. He kept his eyes on the bedroom wall. A moment later, he heard water pouring from a faucet from an adjoining bathroom.
“It’s safe,” Carina said.
Josh turned around and found Morgan tucked in bed, no longer adorned in high heels and the silver dress. In just under five minutes Carina had peeled away the club attire, changed her into pajamas and placed two Motrin and a glass of water on her nightstand in hopes that if she awoke, she would down the pills and prevent the massive hangover that was destined to ensue.
But there was nothing safe about what Carina had said. She had just confirmed what he had suspected all along. Carina McGinnis believed in love and soul mates and other halves. She was that girl. The kind of girl he needed to avoid.
Josh retreated to the living room, closer to the front door. He heard Carina gently shut the door to the guest bedroom, careful not to wake her friend, not that anything could right now. Josh predicted that a Mack truck could slam into the cottage right now and Morgan would not even stir.
Josh turned and stared into eyes that seemed to probe him, eyes that demanded more, always more. Moonlight poured through the windows, providing the room’s sole source of light. But it was enough to see her clearly and to remind him how he got here tonight. He let the anger take center stage. “Why do you always put yourself in this position?”
Her jaw dropped somewhat and then she regrouped. She hadn’t expected his question. Good.
“Excuse me?” Carina walked over to him. Josh silently urged her to stay put. He wouldn’t be able to do this if she came too close.
“First, Eric Ross and now the shithead at the club. Does trouble always find you?” His subliminal begging was not heeded and she was now within inches of him. Those fucking heels, the way that black dress she wore screamed to be ripped clear off her body, the way her eyes studied him, fucked with his head. Because underneath that dress was that sweet, adorable…and innocent woman he had lunch with at the Terminal.
She wasn’t the one-night-stand type.
She wasn’t his type.
“You always seem to find me. Are you trouble, Josh Graham?” she asked, her eyes heated.
His last thread of control snapped. He gave into the ultimate temptation and took her mouth…hard. Her hands flew to his shoulders and clamped down. She urged him closer.
He couldn’t think about anything but bare skin against bare skin.
Her fingers clawing his back as he slid in and out of her.
That last image made him frantic…feral. He switched positions, so her back was to the front door. He cupped her cheek with one hand and grabbed her ass with the other. The sudden friction, the feel of her body grinding against his, felt so fucking good. He was losing it. Josh drowned out her whimpers with a groan that came from deep within his chest. He needed her right now. Josh scooped her up and carried her over to the couch. He laid her out and stared at her. Carina grabbed him by the shirt and forced his mouth to hers. Between kisses and pants, he distinctly heard her whisper, “I want you, Josh.”
He could have come on the spot. She was hot and writhing beneath his touch. Josh left a trail of kisses from her neck to one needy nipple. The material of her dress was more than accommodating and he was able to pull it aside and suck greedily. Her back bowed and she moaned.
“More, Josh…please.”
Hearing her beg was the most sensual, the most arousing three words he had ever heard. Yes, he had made other women scream while they begged him to fuck them, to give it to them harder, but it never sounded as sweet as when Carina said it.
Sweet.
Carina was sweet…and nothing like those other women. She never would be. This had to end before it was too late.
He let her taut, rosy nipple escape his lips and sat next to her. The sudden release caused her body to still and she stared at him, most likely wondering what the hell just happened. God, he wanted to kiss her one last time, to always remember what she tasted like, how it felt when her body rose to meet his kiss. But he would never be able to stop. He would have her stripped naked and be deep inside her heat within moments if given a second chance. “I am trouble, Carina.” He brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. “And this…just can’t happen.”
He needed to leave. Josh stood and started to walk toward the front door, but she didn’t allow him to get far. She was on her feet quicker than he thought was humanly possible and in his face. She was beyond pissed and had every right to feel that way. He was an asshole. A cold, pathetic asshole who wasn’t willing to take the risk of letting someone in.
“And why is that, Josh?”
She wasn’t making this easy, nor should she. He had created this particular shitstorm. He had allowed himself to indulge, to take a taste of that forbidden fruit. And now he was going to pay dearly for it. “You’re so sweet…and I don’t do sweet, Carina.”
The furrow between her brow deepened as she digested what he had said. It didn’t take long for Josh to gather that his compliment was not taken as such. She was insulted and maybe that was for the best.
“So you insist that the women you make love to are bitches and sluts?” She crossed her arms against her chest. Her fingers started to tremble. She was livid. And it was about time for her to see him for what he truly was.
“That’s just it, Carina. I don’t make love. I fuck and fuck often.” The declaration made her take a step back. And now for the hammer. “I look for women who understand and accept my terms.”
She swallowed…hard. “Terms?” Her voice was barely audible.
“I promise the women I am with pleasure, nothing more. I’m not built for love and romance. Because I’m not emotionally available and I never will be.” Josh watched as she processed that information, but she didn’t reveal much, just peered up at him with a faraway look in her eyes.
“What makes you think that I might not want that? A night of incredible sex with no strings attached?”
He so wanted to believe that she was capable of that, but he knew she wasn’t. She may be the sexiest, most tempting woman he had ever met, but she could not mask her sweet nature.
“The one and only time you’ve had sex in your life was with your college boyfriend. Which means you’ve never had a one-night stand.” Her eyes narrowed and her fists clenched at her sides. She was fuming. “Can you honestly stand there and tell me that you still want me? Could you be with me knowing that tonight would only be about sex?”
Her mouth opened, but no words escaped. Her silence was all the answer he needed.
“Like I said before. You’re sweet.”
She suddenly found her voice and let him have it. “Yeah, I got that.” Carina opened the front door. “Now get the hell out of this house.” Her icy stare made his cock shrivel. “What? Not sweet enough for you?”
Josh just shook his head and left. A rush of air brushed against the back of his neck as she slammed the door behind him.