CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Indiana
Words cannot express what tonight has meant to me. It’s the perfect distraction. I didn’t think it was possible to love him more than I do, but the more he lets his guard down, showing me his vulnerable, sweet side, the harder I fall.
“Okay, you two lovebirds,” Jax says when he gets back. “You do realise you’re in a public place.” Carter and I pull away from each other. We made out the whole time he was gone. I’m so frustrated and turned on like you wouldn’t believe. Carter’s hands have not moved passed my face. I need his hands all over me, desperately. Why can’t he see that?
I clench my thighs together when he looks at me with hooded eyes. I can tell he wants me as bad as I want him. When Jax clears his throat from beside us, I tear my eyes from Carter, looking up at him. I feel my face flush when I see he’s smiling. “Get a room you two.”
“You’re just jealous, arsehole,” Carter says with a chuckle, making my blush deepen.
“Nope. I’m happy with my balls being exactly where they are, thank you.” Jax’s comment makes me laugh. I love the banter between these two. I’m glad Carter has a good friend like him. He was such a loner when he was young.
Jax places the box in his hands on the side of the table, opening the flaps. I have to hold in my giggle when I see what’s inside. With the elegant setup of the table and the location, I was kind of expecting something a little more than burgers and fries, but that appears to be what we’re having. It’s very Carter, and very us, I guess. Since that’s what we always seem to eat when we’re out together.
“Thank you,” I say when he places it on my plate.
“My mate owns a restaurant not far from here, so they’re not just any burgers, they’re his speciality. You won’t find better,” Jax explains as he places Carter’s food in front of him. They smell delicious. Next, he pulls out a metal thermos and passes it to Carter. “Since this is an alcohol free zone, Carter insisted on chocolate milkshakes as the beverage of choice.” I let out a small laugh. I think it’s very sweet.
“It’s perfect,” I say as my eyes meet Carter. He’s smiling as he watches me.
“Yes, it’s a perfect choice for a five year old,” Jax replies sarcastically. I burst out laughing when Carter growls at him. Ignoring his torments, Carter pours the chocolate milk into the wine glasses that are sitting on the table.
“I’m out of here,” Jax says as he picks up the empty box. “I’ll be back later to pack everything up. About ten?” he asks, looking at Carter.
“Sure. Thanks, mate,” he replies, fist pumping him.
“It was nice meeting you, Indiana,” Jax says shaking my hand.
“You too. Thank you for everything you’ve done tonight,” I reply.
“It was no trouble. I’m glad you two finally got your shit together.” My gaze moves back to Carter when he says that. I’m glad we did too. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Jax adds with a wink as he turns to leave.
“Well that means we can do pretty much anything,” Carter retorts to his retreating back. Jax laughs, flipping him off over his shoulder.
Once he’s gone and we’re alone again, Carter picks up his wine glass filled with chocolate milkshake and raises it in the air. “Cheers to good times ahead,” he says with a sweet smile.
“Cheers,” I reply clinking my glass against his. I have to fight the tears that threaten to come. I hope we have many more years ahead. I take a sip before placing the glass back on the table. “So how long have you known Jax?” I ask, trying to block all the uncertainty out.
“Five years. He helped me a lot when you know … I left. He gave me a job and a place to stay until I got on my feet. I owe him a lot.”
“He seems like a good guy. I’m glad you had him. I used to worry about you being alone,” I confess reaching for his hand.
“Well I’m back now, and I’m no longer alone. Now, let’s eat before it gets cold. As you can see I’ve gone to a lot of effort organising this gourmet meal.”
“Yes you did,” I reply, popping a fry in my mouth. “It’s perfect. Just like you.”
••••
After we eat, we talk and laugh. I’m having a great time. If only he’d touch me, it would be perfect. He caresses my hand, my arm, my face, but his hands go nowhere near where I want them to. I’m not sure if he’s purposely trying to drive me insane with anticipation, but knowing him, I’m sure that’s his plan.
Leaning towards me, he places his lips on mine. I’m not sure how much more I can take. I’m hot and ready for him. I’m so ready that I’m even tempted to touch myself if he doesn’t damn well hurry up and do it. I fist my hands in his jacket, pulling him even closer. “How much longer until we can get out of here? I need you.” I feel his lips curl up against my mouth. He’s driving me crazy on purpose. Arsehole. I slide my hand up his inner thigh, cupping his manhood. I’m pleased to find him as hard as a rock. I guess he’s driving himself crazy as well. I clench my thighs together as my fingers stroke over his thick length. I need him inside me. I wish we weren’t in a public place right now so I could straddle him. “Touch me, Carter.”
He hesitates at first, but then his hand moves to the back of my head, pulling me into him. He growls into my mouth as he deepens the kiss. Touch me with your hands, I want to scream. Finally, his other hand finds its way to my knee. I part my legs slightly, and the cool night air gushes in, hitting my centre. He forced me into wearing no panties, so why isn’t he taking advantage of it?
He slides his hands up the inside of my leg, but stops before it reaches where I need it. I continue to work him over, but still his hand doesn’t move up any further. I can’t take much more of this. The anticipation already has me on the edge. Using my other hand, I grasp his wrist and move it the rest of the way. He chuckles into my mouth. God he infuriates me sometimes. “Don’t make me beg.”
“Fuck. You’re so wet,” he groans as his fingers slide between my folds.
“What do you expect? You’ve been driving me crazy all night. Since when do you keep your hands to yourself?”
“Keeping my hands off you hasn’t been easy,” he breathes as his skilled fingers circle my clit.
“Oh God,” I moan. “I think I’m going to come already.” He pulls his hand away as soon as I say that. What the hell?
“I don’t want you to come yet,” he says. “Wait. It will be all the sweeter.” He’s fucking kidding me, right? By the look on his face, I can tell he isn’t. Me and my big mouth.
“I don’t want to wait,” I whine as I pull his mouth back to mine. “I need you, Carter. I need you now.”
“I need you too, but not here.” He pulls back and looks down at his watch. “Jax should be here in ten minutes. I’ll shoot him a text and make sure he’s on his way.” I sit back in my chair, folding my arms over my chest like a spoilt child while he types a message into his phone. I’ve never been one for public sex, but right now, I’d do just about anything. I’d sit on his lap and ride him with everything I had, even calling out giddy-up on the top of my lungs. I wouldn’t care who was watching. That’s how desperate I am.
He’s done this on purpose. The no underwear thing. Every look, every word, every touch. It’s all been part of his big stupid plan. I’ve heard of blue balls, but is there such a thing as blue flaps? Because seriously, if there is then I have them. I’ve never wanted something so bad in my life. I clench my thighs together again. Just thinking about it is driving me insane.
Mark never got me this worked up. Not even close. I never craved him the way I crave Carter. “Maybe I should pleasure myself then,” I say moving my hand under the table. He stops typing and grabs hold of my wrist.
“Like hell you will.” He lifts my hand back on top of the table, pinning it down with his. He uses his thumb on his other hand to finish his text. Once it’s sent he places his phone down and locks his eyes with mine. “Surely you can hold out for ten minutes,” he says with a cocky smirk on his face. I narrow my eyes at him.
“No, I can’t. I’m dying here,” I snap. His face drops and his free hand skims through his perfectly dishevelled hair. It was meant as a joke, but then what I said dawns on me. I’m dying. Fuck. Am I? I could be. I didn’t mean it like that. My stomach churns as he pulls me into his arms and practically squeezes the life out of me.
“Don’t say that,” he whispers against my hair. I can feel his body trembling against mine. He’s done a good job of distracting us both, until now. Uncertainty looms in the air. I refuse to die. Tomorrow we’ll find out exactly what we’re dealing with. I can do this, I tell myself. I’m tough. I’m gonna fight this illness with everything I have. I just hope I’m tough enough.
••••
Carter walks me to the car when Jax arrives. Once he gets me seated in the passenger seat, he moves around to the driver’s side and places the key in the ignition. The heater blasts to life. The warmth is heaven, just what I need. My jacket kept me reasonably warm, but my legs and my feet are frozen. He turns it up to high before smiling at me.
“I’ll just help Jax pack everything into his car. It won’t take long,” he says, kneeling on his seat and leaning across the centre console, brushing his lips against mine. “You stay here and warm up.” I smile when he pulls away from me. I’m so lucky to have him. I’m glad he came back. I’m also glad things didn’t work out with Mark. I need Carter in my life.
I need him more than he’ll ever know.