CARLI
Circe is getting married, and Wyatt is beaming. She’s insanely happy, and I missed it all. Fuck. I wanted to be in LA to see and experience her joy firsthand. Nothing is worse than watching the best shot during the playoffs on replay. I just watched the rerun. You can’t imagine the pain of being late to the party.
Awful.
I never thought it would affect me so much, but it did. It actually screwed up my appetite. I mean, shit! The kitchen made our favorite foods and I only nibbled. And on top of that, I knew that Jamieson was eyeballing me every chance he got. He was damn near silent eating his Kobe steak. And even my sister, Miori, after her verbal toss up with China, didn’t try to stir up anything further during dinner. Thankfully, the conversations were minimal as we filled our bellies.
Well, I guess I’m filling two.
I haven’t started to feel like I’m carrying another human being, but I can’t deny it. The doctor’s checked at least three times because I made them, so it’s obviously true. And seeing the cause of my current situation sitting across from me at dinner, didn’t do anything for my sexual urges. My overdrive button has been stuck on rabbit speed. I’d love nothing more than to reach across the table, plant my hands in that dusky hair of his, and make him break me. I’d lay in the middle of his Kobe steak and grin gleefully as everyone watched.
But, I’m getting ahead of myself. He’s only here because I’m pregnant. I’m sure he wanted to see it for himself. He’s probably thinking of how to clear out of here and hit a mountain to find free pussy. Someone who’s not carrying his child.
The big surprise of the night was Kato, offering up evil eye shots to almost every Crown in attendance, except for China. Color me confused. For some reason, he hung from her words, gave acknowledgements to her questions, and even smiled the odd time. Actually smiled. I thought Kato had only intense scowls, even more intense gazes, and dark glares in his facial expressions. Huh.
Thing is, I don’t have enough energy to fight my sister’s, figure out Kato, and deal with Jamieson. I’m damn tired.
Pushing my plate aside, I announce quite loudly, “I’m bushed, guys. I need to sleep.” Rising to leave, giving Circe a hug goodnight, I start toward the hallway, in the hopes I’m not followed. I don’t have the power to explain, argue, or accept apologies right now.
Clearing the room in less strides than it takes to get to the front of a Starbucks line, I hit the stone floor of the hall. Only, I’m not the only one.
“Carli,” his deep manly voice calls out.
“Ya know, I was hoping to sleep. I wanted to avoid all the treacherous conversation that’s brewing in that head of yours for at least…oh, say, six hours? What do ya say, big fella? Give a girl a break for a bit of shut eye?” I don’t turn his way. In fact, I’ve kept walking the whole time toward my suite.
“Carli, look, we need to talk. You can’t avoid me in a hotel with no guests. Sooner or later, we have to see each other and talk about this.”
“Oh, I’m sure there’s ways I can, but I doubt you’ll let me. I have this feeling you’ll be camped outside my door, like you’re waiting to buy tickets to a Justin Bieber concert.” Stepping up my game, I speed up a touch quicker to distance myself. “You loved his last show, didn’t you? Come on, admit it. His rendition of “Stairway to Heaven” with only a flute and a paperclip brought you to tears.”
“Where do you come up with this shit?” Moving up beside me, he gently takes my arm. “Jesus, Carli, slow down.” Stopping, I don’t dare turn to face him. I do that, and I might as well kiss my sleep bye-bye. I won’t get to sleep, he won’t get to sleep, and the only thing that might is the bean in my body.
“Carli, we have to talk at some point.”
I laugh. “I swear I saw this moment a hundred times over the past few months. You’d say something like, ‘Are you sure it’s mine?’ or ‘Did you consider an abortion?’ And the ever popular, ‘Ah, well, um and oh’ conversation.” I turn to face him, because I think my sarcasm is strong right now, and I can probably win this battle. Shit. Nope, shouldn’t have done that. It’s like looking the tiger in the eye., I should have just ran instead. That was dumb, Carli.
Thumbing his fingers along my jaw, holding my gaze with his, he smiles. “It’s good to see you, Katana.”
“Not like it matters, but why don’t you just tell me all the things I’m expecting and get it over with? I’ll return to my room, cry a tiny bit because of these freakin’ hormones and the stressful day, then you can sit in yours and jerk off or fuck a cleaning girl. The choice is yours, and think of it as Vegas. What happens in Japan, stays in Japan.”
Staying quiet, listening to my verbal diarrhea, Jamieson just watches me without a sound. Moving a few stray hairs from my face, he tucks them behind my ear, then lightly pulls on my hair. I moan. It sounds awful that I fall for his moves so easily, and even to my own ears, it’s silly, but my body is easily swayed.
“Carli, I missed you. I have no intention of taking anything to bed but you, and I’ve jerked off so much lately, my left hand has strengthened considerably. Wanna see?” he jokes. Really? He jokes?
As his hands roams through my hair, across my shoulder and down my arm, I’m finding it hard to keep a clear head. I’m falling prey to him, and he more or less blinked. I try to gather the last shreds of my strength. “You don’t have to pretend. I get it, you have needs. Go play with something adorable. Tap the shit out of someone other than my sisters. You don’t need permission from me, Crown. Have at it.”
His once kidding look is strong, serious, and hard. “Katana, you don’t get it. It’s been a long few months without you. I haven’t been with anyone else. And all I’ve tried to figure out is how to get here, and get you into my bed.”
I’m listening, but not. It’s like the words he’s saying are being spoken under water. “Don’t let me stop you from hunting someone down.”
He scowls, which is something he does so well. “You’re not listening, are you, Carli?”
“If you mean, I hear the wah wah wah of the Peanuts teacher, then yeah. But if you mean actual syllables and consonants, no.”
Jamieson stares at me, not speaking. No grunting or growling, no awkward expressions that tell me what he’s thinking. Nothing at all.
“Okay, so we’re playing the concentration game now? I won’t blink. I should tell you, I’m amazing at this, Jamieson.”
Still nothing.
Nine.
Eight.
Seven, six, and all the way to two, I count before giving in and saying something. “Are you kidding me? Come on!” I push on his chest, which, of course, doesn’t even make him budge. I’m totally annoyed he’s being silent.
“Will you listen now, Carli?”
Exasperated, I slouch as I blow out a heavy breath. “Fine. Tell me what you want to. But don’t think my attention will be any better than it was before. You’re still clothed.”
“And so are you. Putting a red mark on your ass would be perfect right now. Give me a touch more sass, Carli, and you’ll learn how bad I’m holding off.”
I’m sure my eyes are bugging out, but it’s hard to deny I wouldn’t love that. “Okay, you got me there.”
Encroaching my space, causing me to back up, I hit the wall beside my door. “I missed you. Let’s not talk of babies and such. Not because I don’t care, but because I’ve thought of nothing but stripping you down and licking you dry for months straight. Awake and asleep, you’ve arrested my thoughts.”
With shallow breaths, I think of all the times I needed Jai, or the new toy, of which I nicknamed Whiskey for clarity, so that I could clear him out of my overexcited, erotic dream state of mind.
“Did you think of me?” Bending, kissing my jaw, the heated trails he leaves entices my skin to shiver.
“Yes,” I pant.
With his bulk blocking me, creating a warm core to wrap myself up in, I lean into his touch. “Did you come and imagine it being me? My tongue licking you, my fingers deep inside of you, my cock aching to fill you up? Are you wet now?”
Fuck yes! “More than I should be.”
Running a hand down my side, he grasps me in a way that is rough, but amazing. My body is betraying me, falling into him like putty. Gathering my strength, ignoring his well-placed hands, I croak, “We have to talk. This is great…like, so great.” I’m trying to think as he plies my sexual urges to the forefront. “Jamieson, we have to talk.”
“Not now, Carli. Right now, you need to push the keycard in and open this door so I can open your legs.”
“Jamieson.”
“Carli,” he growls. I can’t focus when he growls.
Fuck it. “Come here.” Tunneling my fingers through the hair at the back of his neck, I drag him down to me. I’m starved. And as his tongue touches mine, electricity shoots out of every nerve in my body. I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than this. After months of thinking of Jamieson, him being here, me mad he’s here, and thinking he only came for a child, I don’t care. I’m taking what I want because I’m allowed.
Grabbing my card out and slipping it through the slot, the green light flashes. Pulling the door open, backing me through the door, Jamieson closes it behind us. And as we fall into each other like we have before—hot, heavy, and so intense that it’s hard to see straight—he pulls away long enough to say, “Do you care about this outfit?”
“What?”
“Did a so and some shit design it for you? ’Cause I’m about to tear it to shreds. And if you don’t want me to, you best say it now.” Lifting his shirt above his head, he then unbuckles his belt. Jamieson stands in front of me, naked, with his proud as a peacock—no pun intended—staring me in the face.
Drawing my eyes up to his and away from the instrument of my destruction, I say, “No, it’s not special in the least.”
“Good.” Pulling the edge, the threads shriek their disapproval as it comes apart.
Once I step out of the leg holes, Jamieson tosses it to the side, inspecting me. Honestly, not much was left to the imagination once the jumper was gone.
Now I’m standing with only my dignity and 3M tape tit holders.
Looking at me sideways, grinning like a fool, I smile, knowing why he’s paused. “What is it now, Mr. Crown?”
“You’ve been naked under this the whole time?”
“Of course. Lines would look silly.”
Without invitation, reaching down to my awaiting pussy, he deftly moves to my core. Touching the edge of my joy toy, Jamieson smirks.
Hitting the button on the top of it, starting the little fucker up, Jamieson grins. “This is interesting. You weren’t lying, were you?”
“Would it gain me any points if I lied? And by the way, I got off as you sat across from me at the table. I’m getting better at hiding my release in public.”
“I’ll have to try that out later. But,” he presses the button to increase the vibration, “if you don’t scream, I wasn’t doing it right. And a fucking toy is no replacement for the real thing.”
“Damn straight, Mr. Crown.” I shudder at a particularly joyous contact moment. “I ah…I need you to show me your talents again. I seem to have forgotten how good you are.”
Dragging a finger past lil’ Whiskey causes deeper pressure within. “What about the baby?”
And that’s when shit shut down in the factory of love. Stepping back from Jamieson, I flick the button on my lil’ J to halt its procession before grabbing Jamieson’s discarded clothing.
“Carli?”
Tsking him with a waved finger, a talk to the hand move, and a tilted gaze, I am most definitely disappointed now. Traipsing to the patio door where it’s wide open, I smile evilly. “Happiness is about to be found in your hand again, Mr. Crown.” I toss his clothes into the breeze. “Fetch.”
“Carli. Why’d you—”
“Nope. Nope. No.”
“But what’d—”
“Nope. Not happening, Jamieson.”
Striding to the hallway door, holding it open and standing behind it, I wait for Jamieson to get the hint.
“You want me to leave here naked?”
“Yep.”
“You sure? Because you know my keycard went with my pants, so at some point, I have to ask staff to open my door for me as they check out my junk.”
“Yep. I’m good with that.”
Jamieson straightens his spine. With a wink, he walks right past me, proud and perfect. “I’ll see you in the morning, Katana. And we’ll have that talk.”
As I’m closing the door, I laugh at the circumstances. “Goodbye, Felicia.”
With a resounding click, and the echo of his feet walking slowly down the hall, the best part of tonight is the sound of a screaming maid.
My day is fulfilled. Chaos has done its job once more.