Chapter Eighteen
Carina
The moment Carina had told Mia about Eric, how he had cheated and how he continued to taunt her, she knew she had made a mistake in not confiding in her friend earlier. It was like a huge weight had been lifted off her chest. Mia just listened while Carina unloaded, as she gave her a more in-depth description of the man she had almost married as opposed to the short and heavily-censored version she had shared at the barbeque. Carina couldn’t imagine professional therapy providing such relief.
“I want to see Eric Ross suffer.” Mia scowled with disgust.
Oh, he will.
Carina smiled. “Let’s not waste another second on Eric. We have more important things to discuss, like your wedding, for one.”
Mia’s gaze drifted over Carina’s shoulder. “Hey, I didn’t know you were working tonight. Line ’em up, bartender!”
Carina looked to see who Mia was talking to and almost let out a gasp. Wearing jeans and a black polo shirt with the words “Irish Pub” written in kelly green, Josh leaned across the bar and kissed Mia on the cheek. “It’s ginger ale for you, little miss.”
Over the past four years Carina had frequented many bars and restaurants, jogged in the park, walked Philadelphia’s streets while she shopped and took in the sights, and had never once crossed paths with Josh. But now, in a city that was home to over a million people, she couldn’t get away from him. He was everywhere she turned.
“Make it a double.” Mia beamed as she gave her belly a pat. Until meeting Erin, Carina wasn’t completely convinced that pregnant women actually glowed. But the way Mia also radiated such happiness as she caressed the little peanut within, she was now a firm believer.
“And what can I get you, Carina?” Josh’s focus shifted from his pregnant friend to her and she momentarily lost the ability to speak.
“Oh no. You’re not going to be one of those,” Mia said, shaking her head.
Confused but grateful for the distraction, she looked at Mia. “One of those?”
“One of those friends who won’t have a drink because the pregnant girl can’t. She’ll take a glass of Pinot Gris, Josh.” Carina nodded in agreement, not because she wanted a drink at the moment, but because she needed him to leave…so she could breathe.
“Not a problem. I’ll get your drinks. Are you staying for dinner?” he asked, his attention back on Mia.
“Yep. We placed two orders of fish and chips with…” Mia looked around and pointed to a petite brunette who was waiting on two guys on the other side of the bar. “Her,” Mia said.
“Alright. I’ll check with Nicole about your entrées. Be right back with your drinks.” Josh smiled and left.
Carina bit her lip so hard she thought she drew blood. Pangs of jealousy did a number on her gut and she immediately had the ridiculous desire to go over to Nicole and punch her cute little face in. Carina couldn’t help but wonder if Nicole was one of those women who had accepted his terms.
Josh returned a minute later with a pint of ginger ale and a glass of wine. “Nicole said your dinner should be out soon.” Again, Carina pictured herself doing unpleasant things to pretty, compact Nicole. Josh walked over to a group of guys who had just filed in and took their drink order.
“Perfect. When I get back, we’ll talk weddings over drinks! But for now the bathroom is calling…again,” Mia said, hopping off her bar stool.
“One of the many joys of pregnancy,” Carina said, right before Mia rounded the corner to a corridor that led to the restrooms.
Mia was out of sight for all of two seconds when Carina felt someone staring at her. She looked around and locked eyes with a very attractive man wearing a perfectly tailored suit. He smiled at her and before she knew it or had the opportunity to give him a signal that she wasn’t at all interested, the suit walked over and introduced himself.
He had barely gotten his name out when she felt someone grab her arm and lead her away. She was hustled into some back room or office. Josh slammed the door behind him, leaving the two of them completely alone.
“Do you know that guy?” he asked between gritted teeth. His hands were clenched at his sides.
“Um…Alex? Maybe Adam?” Carina shrugged her shoulders. “I’m not sure, since you dragged me away before I could reciprocate the greeting.”
“Are you aware that Aaron is a regular here and leaves with a different girl every night? Tonight apparently was your turn.”
Why the hell did Josh look so angry? And why the fuck did he have to be so goddamn sexy?
“I’m too sweet to fall for a guy like Aaron, remember?” Carina met his gaze. His breathing hitched and she took that moment to move past him and attempt to leave a room that was closing in on her.
But he was too quick. He pinned her hands above her head against the door and pressed his hard body into hers. Even through his jeans, she could feel his erection, the need, that ache to release, to fall apart. He ravaged her mouth with his tongue and she heard herself moan. “God, your taste,” he said, breathless.
Carina melted into him as he gathered her into his arms and carried her over to the desk at the far side of the room. With a swipe of his hand, the items on the desk flew to the ground and he enveloped her completely. His mouth sealed over hers as his hands lifted her black flowing skirt to her waist. He brushed her clit through her panties with the pad of his thumb.
“You’re soaked. So wet for me,” he said. He applied more pressure, giving her clit his complete attention.
She was wound so tight. At that moment she would have given him anything he wanted. “Please don’t stop,” she begged.
He groaned and then tore her silk panties away. He spread her legs farther apart, sank to his knees, and pulled her rear to the edge of the desk. She felt the warmth of his breath against her throbbing clit. Carina shamelessly reached for his head to increase the friction where she ached, but he secured her wrists at her sides, right before he entered her. His tongue swirled, his teeth nipped, his lips sucked. She wanted to give in to the pleasure. She wanted this to last forever. She wanted more.
“I want to see you.” He released her wrists. “But keep your hands at your sides. Understand?”
Carina whimpered. The need to come, for him to make her come, was so strong.
Please let me come!
“That’s not an answer, Carina. Tell me you understand,” he said. His voice was gentle but his eyes were dark with untamed lust.
“Ye…yess,” she stammered. Tension coiled in her belly. Her breasts felt heavy. She was so close.
“I got you.” He sealed his mouth over her clit once more. His tongue slid over her folds as one finger slowly entered her. His hair brushed against her inner thighs as she clenched around him. “Come for me.”
A wave of pleasure so intense ripped through her, making her body feel weightless, as if she were floating. Her vision blurred, her mind wiped clean of everything but him. All she could see was Josh, how he had looked at her as he commanded her to come, like he was going to die if he didn’t get to taste her. She wanted to do that to him. She wanted him to let go. Because of her.
She rode out the last wave of her orgasm and then reached for the button of his jeans. But a knock at the door stilled her hands and cleared her head. Carina jumped off the desk and smoothed her skirt with trembling fingertips. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Josh kick something toward the shadows the desk provided.
Her panties.
Carina squeezed her thighs together to thwart the residual juices from flowing down her legs and exposing both of them to the man who had just walked through the door. He was wearing the same shirt as Josh and a smug grin that pissed Carina off with each passing second. A terrible feeling slithered up her spine and she suddenly felt…dirty.
“I’ll be right out, Bryce.” Josh looked at his coworker with contempt, as if daring him to engage in further conversation.
“Sorry, I didn’t realize you were on one of your breaks,” Bryce said, smiling.
Carina cringed and looked over at Josh. His eyes seemed to urge her to remain fixed on him and not on Bryce’s damaging remark.
“Get out of here, Bryce.” Josh shot him the look of death. Bryce’s smile faded. He seemed to finally get the picture that Josh wasn’t in the mood. Bryce held up his hands and left.
Carina felt sick to her stomach. She needed to get away from him, away from this room. Josh blocked the door with his body. “Don’t go, Carina. Tell me what you’re thinking,” he said, lifting her chin with two fingers. She gazed into his eyes. Concern seemed to replace the anger that had been there while Bryce was in their presence.
“You know what I think?” Carina felt her eyes well. “I think you were right.” Her eyes burned as a tear escaped and wandered down her cheek. “I’ll never be that girl. The girl you can take a break with. The kind that you seem to need.” Carina took a step back. This time when she went for the door he stepped aside, no longer prohibiting her exit. Her hand was on the doorknob, her back to him when she said, “I’ll always want more.”
“Carina, wait…”
“Listen. This is awkward enough. And that’s why I’m going to ask you not to tell our friends…about this. I don’t know how I would explain…”
“Carina, what we do…did…is private. It stays between us,” he said, his voice gravelly. “I promise.”
Carina nodded. She then stepped out into the hallway and air that no longer smelled of sex and desire. She quickly found the bathroom, cleaned up as best as she could and returned to Mia. Her friend took one look at her and knew something was terribly wrong. “Mind if we take our meals to go?” Carina asked, feeling like a complete shit.
“God no! Are you sick?”
“I was feeling a little lightheaded and went out back for some air. I must be getting that stomach bug that has wiped out half my classroom.”
Mia felt Carina’s head with the back of her hand. “You’re flushed and clammy. Let’s get you home.” Mia waved Nicole over and asked her for two to-go containers. The Styrofoam containers arrived and Mia transferred their meals in record speed. Carina was just about to throw her debit card on the bar for Nicole to retrieve when Mia whipped out a fifty. As Mia hustled Carina toward the front door, she shoved the fifty-dollar bill into Nicole’s hand and told her to keep the change.
“Oh, see ya, Josh. We’re heading out,” Mia shouted in the direction of the bar. Carina didn’t follow Mia’s gaze. She didn’t want him to see what reaction he was capable of causing, that her body still ached for him.