~ Chapter Seven ~
Carter
Is it possible to be attracted to the way someone eats? I hadn’t realized it was until I sat across from Michelle at that Japanese restaurant and watched her expertly use her chopsticks for her sushi. The only regret I had was that I wasn’t what she was devouring. I’d have to fix that. The last thing I wanted, as I sat across from her, was the food on the table. All my thoughts, wants, and needs in that moment centered solely around her. I got absorbed in the sound of her voice when she discussed how she came to be an event planner. She’d stumbled upon it by accident, having worked as a caterer while attending Williamsport Community College.
“I planned on transferring to Williamsport U since I had the grades to get my four-year degree, but one night, I met Nancy at an event I was catering for and ended up becoming her assistant and then moved to becoming one of her event planners.”
“I’m sure she appreciates how good of an employee you are.”
She shrugged. “I hope so. I’m not sure she’s over what happened last Friday, to be honest.” Her frown and the look of uncertainty in those brown eyes punched me in the gut.
I sat up, reaching my hand across the table. “I thought that was all sorted out.” I’ll kick Aaron’s ass for real this time if it wasn’t.
“It is. I mean, I’m back at work and she hasn’t mentioned it again, but I still hate that it happened. It was completely unprofessional of me,” she sighed.
“Hey,” I tugged her hand across the table, squeezing it, “what happened was on me. If you need me to tell your boss that, I will.”
She was already shaking her head before I could finish. “Definitely not. I just want to forget it ever happened.”
My body went completely erect and she glanced up with regretful eyes. “You want to forget all of it?”
“No. I didn’t mean that,” she sighed. “Friday night was …” She paused, eyes circling the room, searching for something I knew was indescribable. “There aren’t any words for what Friday night was. It’s just … there are things I can’t get into that make this messy. And obviously your brother had a problem with what happened.”
“My brother’s a prick.”
A small smile creased her face. “Don’t say that.”
“It’s true. Want to know what else is true?”
“What?”
“That none of it matters.” I stood, moving closer to her until I stood over her. “None of it matters because I’ve already decided you’re mine. Friday night before you let me slip in between your legs was the time you had to run in the opposite direction. But I’ve had you now, and I’ve decided I’m not giving you up.” I pulled her by the hand to stand, pulling out her chair with my free hand. “You have circumstances you think will keep us apart. That’s fine. Because I’m not someone who backs down easily … hell, not at all.”
I planted a quick kiss to her parted mouth. “Come with me.”
“Where’re we going?” she asked, carefully watching me toss a few bills for the check on the table, and taking her hand.
“Remember what I said Friday night?”
“You said a lot Friday night.”
I smirked at the same time I pulled the door open of my car for her to get in. “The part about wanting you to know everything about me.”
“I think I recall something like that.”
I nodded, my eyes lingering on the exposed skin of her thighs when the fabric of her dress parted as she adjusted herself in the passenger seat. My mouth watered. She inhaled sharply when I reached across her lap for the seatbelt.
“I can buckle myself in,” she murmured, voice hitched.
“Just making sure you don’t go anywhere.” I stared into those brown pools of hers. “We’re going someplace so you can get to know more about me.” I closed the door on her suspicious gaze and rounded the front of my Denali.
“As long as you don’t keep me out too late,” she responded once I got in behind the wheel.
“What’s too late? You have a curfew?” I teased.
I laughed when she rolled her eyes and said, “Just drive.”
“Anything you say, sugar. Anything you say.”
****
“What’s this place?” Michelle questioned, looking around at the seemingly abandoned brick building. I followed her eyes as they roamed up the metal staircase that ran the ten stories up to the roof of the building. It was the perfect spring night. Not a cloud in the sky. Great for viewing the rest of the city from the roof.
“Come with me.” I took her hand in mine, pulling her toward the latched staircase.
“What are you doing? What is this place?”
“This,” I paused, while pulling down the lever that released the unfolding staircase as well as the open-air lift, “is the place where I became a firefighter.”
Her nose wrinkled a bit as she looked around and then back at me.
“This is the building the fire department uses for trainees during the academy. We have to make it up the staircase, carrying all our equipment on our back, plus a hose, in under two minutes, flat.”
I watched Michelle’s profile as her head shifted up the building, eyes widening. “Good thing you did,” she finally stated before turning toward me. “I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t made it up those steps.”
I swallowed, my hand tightening around hers.
“Think you can make it up?” I nudged my head toward the building.
“Are you out of your mind?”
“Maybe a little.”
She shook her head and giggled. “I’ve noticed.”
“I’ll let you have more than two minutes.” I tugged her arm in the direction of the staircase.
“Carter, I am not going up those stairs! Not in these heels.”
I ran my eyes down the length of her legs, noting the outline of her legs in the thigh-high boot, with the four inch heels.
“I’ll carry you.” I pulled her to me.
“You really are insane.”
I laughed some more and planted a kiss on her ear because I couldn’t help myself.
“We can take the lift.” I stepped back from her and opened the half door of the metal lift that ran up the length of the building. I held out my hand to her.
“Ahh!” she screamed when I pulled her to me once she took my hand. I shut the door and let the lift carry us up to the roof of the building, helping her off once we arrived.
“How much does all your gear weigh in total?” she questioned, looking around the flattop of the roof.
“Close to eighty pounds. The hose adds another fifty pounds.”
Those honey eyes bulged when she turned back to me. “You had to carry a hundred and thirty pounds up ten stories in under two minutes?”
I gave a half shrug. “Yeah.”
“Williamsport really does have the best of the best.”
“And we don’t let anyone forget it either. Especially us guys in the rescue squad.”
“So I’ve heard.”
I tilted my head to the side at her comment. “What else have you heard about us?”
She shrugged, arms crossed at her chest. My eyes dipped to the way her position made her cleavage swell just enough to cause a stirring in my pants.
“I’ve heard rescue squad guys are all macho men.”
“Oh yeah.”
She nodded. “Seen it in action when I was down at the firehouse, too.”
I took a step closer to the ledge, and sat against the raised part of the roof.
“You’re too close to the edge,” she gasped.
I turned, looking over my shoulder, noticing there was nothing supporting my back. “I’m fine. Come here.” My voice deepened. A sense of satisfaction engulfed me when she moved toward me like a moth to a flame. I opened my arms, pulling her by the waist to me. She placed her arms on my shoulders and lowered her forehead to mine.
“Are you some kind of adrenaline junkie?” she questioned.
I moved my head back an inch to be able to stare at her more clearly. “What made you ask that?”
“I Googled you.”
A smirk I couldn’t hide released on my lips.
She smiled back. “I couldn’t help it. You don’t take a lot of pictures with your family. But I did learn you were in the Army for eight years, special forces, before becoming a firefighter. You drive an expensive motorcycle. All signs point to you being some kind of adrenaline junkie.”
She attempted to pull away, but my hands held firm. I didn’t answer for a long while, instead staring up at her. Assessing the uncertainty in her eyes and the pout of her full lips.
“You’re wondering if this is some type of adrenaline high for me?”
She pushed out a breath and stared off into the dark sky behind me. “You know they say that people who hook up after enduring some type of traumatic event together are often just romanticizing the circumstances. They eventually fizzle out because the only thing that held them together was the trauma of their experience. There’s no real connection.” Her eyes lingered over my shoulder for a while before she turned back to me.
“You think that’s what’s happening here?”
“I don’t know.” She sighed.
“I do know,” I stated firmly, rising to stand over her. “I’ve been in enough traumatic circumstances, as you say, to know the difference between real and make believe when it comes to what I’m feeling.” I began walking her backwards to the nearest wall, loving the feeling of her body acquiescing to my movements. “I’ve rescued more people than I can count and not one of them has been up here on this roof with me. Not one of them has spent the night on my family’s estate with me and left me hungry for more. These experiences belong to you. So, to answer your question, no. You are not some type of adrenaline rush for me.”
She sighed, looking up at me when her back hit the brick wall at the other side of the roof. I pressed my full bodyweight into hers, moving my leg in between her thick thighs, parting them ever so slightly.
“Anything else you want to know?”
She nodded. “Everything. I want to know everything about you.” Her voice was breathless, just above a whisper. But I heard the begging in it. The need that matched my own.
I planted a kiss to her lips, taking my fill of her mouth when she opened up for me. Our tongues touched and teased one another, tasting, licking, and savoring our flavors. She tasted of the sake we’d had with dinner and sweetness, just like the pet name I’d given her. I moved lower, letting my lips trail down her neck, biting at the soft flesh there.
“Carter,” she whispered my name into the night air.
My hands moved lower to her waist, and I held firm as I lowered myself to my knees. I moved my hands down, underneath the slit of her dress and up her bare thighs until I reached the lace panties she wore. Driven by irresistible need, I tugged at the waistband of her panties, lowering them before pressing my nose against the short, curly hairs of her mound. I inhaled the scent of her arousal, already familiar with her unique smell from the previous Friday night. I heard my name again fall from her mouth, filled with such an intense need that I knew I had to satisfy the both of us. My mouth watered, lips itching to kiss her second pair of lips.
I parted her thighs with my hands, lifting one leg over my shoulder, and dipped my head, licking her where I desired most. Her hips jolted against my face, egging me on. I licked, touched, and devoured every inch I could reach before literally spelling out my name in her pussy. It was the last and only name this part of her body would ever need to know from here on out.
I moved both my arms under her thighs, placing her second leg over my shoulder. Holding her tightly against my face, I stood up fully, moving her entire body even higher against the wall.
“Carter!” She yelled my name out of ecstasy and fear.
I didn’t bother answering, as my mouth was otherwise occupied. Nor did I bother to let her down when both her hands went to the back of my head, keeping me right where I was. I wasn’t sure if she did so out of fear that I’d drop her, but she needn’t have worried about that. Right then, I knew I’d spent my entire adult life preparing to carry this woman in any way, shape, or form that she needed me. And when her mouth parted and she screamed out her orgasm, a sense of satisfaction I’d never known pelted my entire body. Only when she finished screaming and I’d had my fill of her, did I lower myself so her feet were on the ground. Even then, her drunkenness from my mouth was apparent when she lost her footing in her heels. I caught her, pressing her back against the wall and using my body to hold her upright.
“Easy, sugar,” I crooned in her ear.
“What’re you doing to me?” she whispered against my mouth.
“Nothing you haven’t already done to me.” I kissed the corner of her mouth, and then again on the other side. This was the best first date I’d been on in a long time… no, ever.
~ Chapter Eight ~
Michelle
“You’ve been rather bubbly these last few days,” Natoi noted, watching me as we returned from lunch. I breezed past her through the glass doors of the office, giving her a half smile.
“You think so?”
“I know so. And there’s only one thing that puts a smile like that on my face. A man. And not just any man. For me, it’s David Beckham. But I know you don’t have any celebrity crushes like that, so it must be someone in your private life. Spill!” she demanded, following closely behind me as I moved inside my office.
I glanced up. “Why are you shutting my door?”
“Because you’re about to spill the tea. And we need some privacy.” Natoi giggled, her dark brown eyes gleaming in anticipation.
I frowned. “I’m not about to spill anything. Open my door and bring me that Hayes file. We need to double check their guest list.”
Natoi stood with her hands on her hips, staring down at me as if what I’d just said to her made no sense at all.
“The Hayes file can wait.” She tapped her foot against the carpeted floor. “What really cannot wait is what’s going on with you. You’re taking off last Monday and then coming in here this week, looking all cheery and smiling and shit. You’ve got a man.”
My eyebrows rose and I bit the inside of my cheek. I turned toward the computer screen on my desk, avoiding eye contact with my assistant, who’d become a good friend over the last few years. Despite the truth that Natoi and I were friends, I didn’t tell her all my business. She nor anyone else in the office knew that the real reason I’d taken off the previous Monday was actually because I’d been suspended. As far as everyone in the office knew, I’d had a little family emergency and had to take the day off. I appreciated Nancy for being tight lipped about the situation. I truly valued my professional reputation, and didn’t want it tarnished in front of my coworkers. Not even Natoi.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I insisted.
She pivoted her head to the side, giving me a side-eye that screamed her skepticism. I sighed.
“I don’t know what you’re trying to hide. It’s not like you’re seeing David Beckham. Now that would be a secret worth holding onto.”
My thoughts immediately strayed to the previous Thursday night. Heat rose in my belly when I thought about the way Carter handled me. I squeezed my thighs together. David Beckham has absolutely nothing on Carter Townsend. I straightened in my chair, tugging the sides of the white blazer I wore. I hoped my thoughts weren’t visible on my face.
“There’s nothing to tell. It’s dry as a bell in the love department.” I cleared my throat and shuffled some files on my desk, hoping my assistant would drop the subject altogether. I didn’t date, as far as she knew. As far as everybody knew. I’d told everyone in my life that raising my son was my main priority because it was. But then one day on my way to work, fate stepped in. And I found myself unable to deny the irresistible ruggedness of one of Williamsport Fire Department’s very own.
“Saved by the bell.”
I blinked in realization that Natoi was referring to the phone ringing. She rose and darted out of my office to answer the call. I went back to the guest list I was working on for one of our events, doing my best to forget about the dilemma I’d found myself in. A few minutes passed as I looked through the open file I had on my desk. Regrettably, I was soon to find that my problem had decided to walk right in my office door.
“Michelle, there’s a Gabriel Garcia here to see you.”
My heart rate quickened. Does he know? An image of a smiling Diego popped in my head and my heart sank.
“Ms. Clarke and I already know each other.”
It was hard, but I managed to keep the frown from forming on my face when I heard his voice. Soon enough, Gabriel stepped from behind Natoi, a cocky smirk on his attractive face. I slowly lowered and opened my eyelids to keep from rolling my eyes. The glint in his hazelnut eyes showed that he got off on my discomfort.
“Oh, were we working on an event for you already, Mr. Garcia?” Natoi questioned, confused.
Gabriel shook his dark head. “Not as of yet, but my firm is looking to host our annual charity event for the homeless and we wanted to go with a different event planner this time around. I thought, just my luck, I happen to know one of the best event planners in the city.” He smiled down at Natoi, giving her a wink. Much to my chagrin, she giggled at his charms. “Ms. Clarke and I met a long time ago while she was serving as a caterer for a small catering company.”
“Thank you, Natoi.” I stood from my chair, smoothing down the front of the blouse I wore. Thankfully, she got the dismissal and nodded, just before leaving. Gabriel took the initiative to close the door behind her.
“What are you doing here?”
“Mi vida, is that anyway to greet your first love?” He strolled over to the chair in front of my desk, unbuttoned the buttons of his suit jacket, and casually took a seat. I let my eyes peruse the cocky expression he wore. Gabriel was undoubtedly an attractive man with his warm, toffee-colored skin, deep brown eyes, and thick, dark hair that was greying at the temples. He wore an air of confidence but I knew it was more like arrogance. “Mi vida” had been the Spanish term of endearment he began calling me when we first met, a decade ago. At nineteen, and desperate for any attention, let alone that of a successful attorney, I found it cute. I fell head-over-heels in love. Gabriel had wooed me with his stories of moving from Mexico City to pursue the American dream after his parents had died. Now, as I looked down on the man that was in his early fifties, I felt nothing but disgust and regret.
“Don’t call me that. And what are you doing here?”
“I told your assistant. My firm is having an event and I need an event planner.”
“There are least two dozen event planning companies in this city. You could’ve easily found another one. I’m sure a firm of your size works exclusively with an agency already.”
He nodded. “Si, mi vida. We do, but I thought, why not do things a little differently this year. Seeing you again last Friday night after so many months apart, reminded me that I know a very competent event planner, who also happens to be the mother of my youngest son.” Sitting forward, he grabbed the picture of me and Diego that I kept on my desk. It was my favorite picture of the two of us, taken when Diego was just three years old. In it, his little mouth is wide open, laughing as I tickle his belly.
I reached over my desk and snatched the picture frame from Gabriel, hating for him to even see one of those special moments between my son and I.
Gabriel frowned, his eyes darkening.
“You want Save the Date to do an event for your firm?” I questioned, my voice tight.
He began shaking his head. “No. I want you to do an event for me.”
“Your firm.”
“Me. My firm. Same difference.” He shrugged.
“You don’t own the firm,” I reminded, and was satisfied when a small grimace passed over his face.
“I’m a partner.”
“I don’t freelance.”
“Save the Date will be the official event planner but you will take the lead on this event. You will be working directly with me to ensure Williams & Brodsky puts on a spectacular event.”
I shook my head and took a step back, holding up my hands. “I cannot do that.”
“And why not?” He truly seemed perplexed but I knew it was just a front. Gabriel was great at convincing you he was one way but was the complete opposite. He knew exactly why this proposal of his made me uncomfortable.
“Gabriel, this is ridiculous. There are seven other event planners in this office who can take on this project. I’m swamped as it is, and–”
“And what? You’re busy outside of work?” His eyes narrowed.
I placed my palms on my desk, feeling truly exhausted by this conversation already. I slowly closed my eyes, inhaling before speaking again. “As a matter of fact, I am.” I opened my eyes, staring directly at his now angered face. “In case you forgot, I have a son to raise. A very precocious six-year-old son who needs his mother’s attention when she’s home. Taking on an additional event will mean less time for him.” I snapped my mouth shut when the thought of Carter came to mind. There was no way I was going to reveal to Gabriel that I was also seeing someone.
“You have a son?” Gabriel remained seated, but the steely nature in his voice gave way to his anger. “My son. My son whose private school I pay for. My son who is receiving a quality education because of me. Don’t you fucking forget that.” He pointed at me, seething.
A son you haven’t seen in more than six months either. I knew that thought was better left unsaid.
“Remember our little agreement, mi vida. As long as you abide by my terms, I will allow you to continue raising our son in peace.”
“Your terms. Do you even hear yourself?” I whispered the words even though the door was closed. I didn’t want to take the chance of someone outside hearing this part of the conversation.
“I hear myself loud and clear. You were the one who wanted to break things off without my agreement, so this is how it must be.” He held out his hands in the air.
I stood, folding my arms across my chest and rolling my eyes. This was Gabriel’s thing. He loved being in charge. It’s why he went after nineteen-year-old me, when he was a man in his forties, with an unsuspecting wife at home. He sought out power and control in every aspect of his life. When I stripped him of that control, even just a little bit by breaking things off, he fought to maintain it. He couldn’t make me be with him but, through our son, he definitely could pull my strings.
“Fine!” I hissed at him. “You want me to fucking do your event. No problem,” I snarled, pulling my chair underneath me to sit back down.
“I’m glad you finally see things my way.”
I ignored the satisfied note in his tone. Ignored the way the corners of his mouth turned upwards in a contented grin. And I paid no attention to the way his eyes roved over my body, stopping at my breasts. But the nausea that rolled through my belly, I couldn’t disregard. It reminded me of how much I despised this man I once loved. Made me even angrier at the young woman I once was―who felt so lost and alone in this world that I missed all the warning signs―because now I was still paying for it a decade later.
****
“What’re you doing?”
I paused, pushed my back against the wall in the hallway, and closed my eyes, allowing the rumble of his voice to roll over me. It felt dangerous and soothing at the same time. After my day at work, I needed that, the calmness he afforded me.
“Giving Diego a bath,” I responded, finally opening my eyes and sticking my head around the corner to see into the bathroom. I smiled as my son played with a few of his action figures, splashing water everywhere.
“You sound … drained.”
I stood erect, Carter’s voice drawing my attention back to our conversation. “How can you read me so well through the phone?” He had an uncanny way of knowing what I was feeling, no matter how much I tried to hide it. That intrigued and scared me.
“I’ve learned to read people.”
“Did you learn that in the army?” I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling foolish.
My body tensed when his chuckle moved across the phone line.
“What else did you learn about me during your Google search?”
“Not a whole lot. You’re a Townsend, went into the army right after high school, and now you’re a firefighter.”
“That pretty much sums me up.”
“That doesn’t even begin to scrape the surface of who you are.”
Another laugh.
“Were you really in the special forces?”
“Yeah.”
“I hear those guys are pretty badass.”
“We got shit done.”
The confidence in his voice actually caused a small flood in my panties. I put my head against the wall, remembering the serious expression on his face as he hovered above me, bringing me to one climax after another.
“You definitely get shit done alright.” My voice was filled with lust.
“There’s a lot more where that came from.”
“I bet there is.” I opened my eyes and again, checked to make sure Diego was doing okay. “Don’t forget to wash behind your ears, baby,” I called.
“Yes, ma’am.”
I burst out laughing into the phone.
“I was talking to Diego.”
“Got it. But I’ll still wash behind my ears.”
“Must be a slow night at the station.”
“Not too busy. Why were you sounding so drained when you first answered?”
I hesitated, not wanting to go into the details about Gabriel. “Just a demanding client of ours.”
“What’d they want?”
“A big event for a law firm and they expect us to drop everything and cater to their every whim.” Tension filled my voice. “Nothing worth discussing right now.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, of course.”
There was nothing from the other end of the phone. I knew he was mulling over my words in his head. That was what he did. He watched and listened intently. He was keen on details I’d never notice.
“Stop doing that,” I finally said.
“Doing what?”
“Measuring everything I say. Every intonation. It’s just a work thing.”
“Okay. Then let’s discuss something else.”
“Like what?”
“The next time I can see you.”
I smiled in spite of myself. My body warmed at just the idea of seeing him face-to-face again. But I had to control myself, for my sake and for my son’s sake. I was no longer the shy, hungry for attention, nineteen-year-old girl I once was. I needed to be smart about things this time around. Especially given Carter’s background. He may not work for the family business but he was still a Townsend and that gave him immeasurable power and influence.
“I think … I think we need to slow down a little bit.”
“Slow down.” He repeated the words, as if rolling them around in his mouth to see how they tasted. Obviously, he didn’t like the flavor because he soon came back with, “No.”
I sighed, rolling my eyes. “What do you mean no?”
“I mean, when it comes to you, I’m going as slow as I possibly can.”
My shoulders slumped a little. Somehow I knew what he meant. He’d been insistent from the very beginning but I could tell he’d been showing restraint. I suspected if he had things his way, we’d be living together by now. He was that damn intense, but he sensed my hesitation and didn’t want to scare me off.
“I’m not saying we should totally stop seeing each other. I’m just saying we need to take things a little slower.”
“Go out with me this Friday and we’ll discuss it some more.”
I lowered my head and giggled. When I caught my breath, I stood all the way up, releasing a breath. “Fine. This Friday.” My mother was actually taking Diego Friday night, per one of their traditions, so I’d have the evening to myself anyway.
“Friday night! Whoop! Carter, you got a date.”
I pulled the phone away from my ear, eyeing it suspiciously upon hearing the unfamiliar man’s voice.
“Hello?” I squealed into the phone.
“Gimme the fucking phone you dipshit!” Carter’s growl came across the line loud and clear.
“Hey, Michelle, is it? How about you bring us some more of those donuts? They were delicious!”
“She’s not bringing you dickwads shit! I’m going to break both of your fucking legs!”
I bent over at the waist, holding my hand against my knee while my phone was in the other, laughing hysterically. I heard the scuffle of Carter with one of the guys from his squad. I had a guess as to which one.
“Is this Don?” I questioned between laughs.
“The one and only, dollface. Ouch, shit! Your boyfriend just smacked the back of my head.”
“I’m going to do a lot worse once I hang up the phone,” Carter yelled in the background.
Don was breathless when he said, “Michelle, I know Carter’s rich and all that bullshit. And I get how that’d be attractive to a woman, but you and I both know, I’m the better looking one out of the two of us. What do you say, dump that loser and hang out with me Friday night instead?” Don proposed. By the panting in his voice and the background noise I could tell he was running, most likely being chased by Carter.
“Ah shit!” I heard loudly through the phone.
A second later, Carter’s voice was back on the line. “I’m going to kill that fucker,” he growled. “He’s not funny,” he said to my continued bout of laughter.
“Are you all always this way?”
“He is.”
“Something tells me he’s not the only one.”
Carter just grunted which I found completely endearing.
“Friday night,” he insisted.
“Friday.”
“Be ready by six.”
“Okay. I have to get back to Diego now.” For the first time, I hated to hang up the phone, even if it was to get back to my son.
“I’ll see you Friday, sugar.” Gone was the anger his voice held when he lashed out at Don. It was replaced by a promise, the deep assurance his voice always seemed to possess when he spoke directly to me. A shiver ran down my spine as I pressed the button to end the call.
I still had no idea what I was getting into with this thing with Carter, but at that point, it felt completely unstoppable.