Precious Lace(5)

"Here, let's get you some water and then we can talk. Or we don't have to; we can do whatever you want. Just let me take care of you, Eva." He held me tight to him and placed a kiss on my forehead before picking me up in his arms. I wrapped my body around his and nuzzled into his chest as he carried me up the stairs. He laid me in his bed and then passed me a bottle of water. I took long sips from it and then curled up in his arms and slept the rest of the night.





Three





"Wake up, beautiful girl." Carter nuzzled into my neck and placed sweet kisses on my sensitive flesh. I released a happy sigh and rolled into him, curling my arms around his neck.

"As much as I’d like to stay wrapped in your arms all day, we have lots to do." He continued to place kisses on my neck, my nose and my lips. A smile curled up at the corners of my mouth as I pecked him back.

I stretched my arms above my head and heaved a sigh before my eyes fluttered open.

"You are beautiful first thing in the morning." His handsome smile came into my vision. I rolled my eyes. They felt swollen and heavy from crying so much the last few days.

"You slept like a rock. I think I heard snoring coming from your side of the bed," he smirked.

"I definitely do not snore." I grinned at him.

"Sawing logs. Kept me up last night."

"No way!" I tossed a pillow at his head.

"You're right. That wasn’t what kept me up." He slid his hands up my torso suggestively. I relished his touch after the last few days worrying about what our future held.

"I would love to stay here all morning with you, Mrs. Morgan, but I’ve got calls to make. First line of business is getting you moved in." His eyes gleamed with happiness.

I heaved a heavy sigh as his words rattled around in my brain.

"I also want that ring back on your finger, like, yesterday." He grabbed my hand and placed a kiss on my naked left ring finger.

"Carter." My eyes pooled with emotion. I dreaded bursting his blissful bubble. "We need to talk."

"We will. But we can still get you moved in here."

"No."

"What do you mean no?" He pulled away from me and narrowed his eyes in what looked like hurt and confusion.

"I want to talk first."

"I told you, we will talk. But we can talk while you go to bed with me every night and wake up with me every morning." One of his hands rested on my hip and held me firmly. I bit my bottom lip dreading where this conversation may lead. After I expressed doubts in Aspen at the wine festival, he didn't have a very good track record for taking them well. But he would just have to get over that.

"I don't want to move in first. Our relationship has been a whirlwind—from meeting, to dating, to proposing, to marriage—it makes my head spin. And with the most recent situation..." I trailed off quietly. After the emotional shitstorm of the last few days I was wary of bringing this up again. "I just want to get to know you better," I finished.

"You know me better than anyone," he said frankly.

"Well, I want to know you better," I shot back. He stared at me for a few breathless moments. I held his gaze, refusing to back down.

"We're married, Evangeline. We'll get to know each other as man and wife."

"Don't even pull that Neanderthal bullshit on me, Carter Morgan. We got caught up in the moment when we got married. It was beautiful, and the time we spent in Aspen was perfect, but we have a ton of shit to work through. I love you. I want to stay married to you. But I want to move a little slower than what we're used to. I want to talk, a lot. I don't even know your middle name; there's so much we need to figure out." I crossed my arms and glared at him.

"Jonathan."

"What?"

"My middle name. Carter Jonathan Morgan. Mom calls me Carter Jon when she's mad." He crossed his arms and watched me. I rolled my eyes at the mock faceoff we were having.

"I'm not moving in yet, Carter Jon." A small smile played on my lips.

"This discussion is not over." He grinned as he backed off the bed. "Coffee's in the kitchen." He sauntered out the door. I narrowed my eyes at his retreating form. If his ass didn't look so delectable in those jeans I still might very well be mad at him.





"Are you going to work today?" I stepped into the kitchen a few minutes later and poured coffee into a mug. I walked to the fridge and found the creamer I liked. He must have noticed the flavor I'd used in Aspen. A smile lifted my cheeks that he'd noticed something so small, but that was Carter, oblivious was never his style. I drizzled creamer into my coffee and then joined him at the small kitchen table.