Precious Lace(9)

"No thanks. I don't have much of an appetite these days. My brain has been consumed by this whole situation. Even when I do eat I feel nauseous. I think I'm going to have a breakdown." I gave her a small smile.

"I saw on the news that there's a nasty strain of the flu going around. Maybe you're getting sick."

"Maybe. My immune system is probably out of whack from all the stress."

"You should take a nap."

"I can't do that either. I'm exhausted but when I finally lie down I can't sleep. My brain races."

"I have some sleeping pills. Maybe you should take one and get a good night's rest. You need it. You look exhausted."

"I am." I heaved a tired sigh.

"Here, I'll go get one and bring you some water." She jumped up and headed for the kitchen.

"No, it's okay. Sleeping pills scare me. I'll be fine, Carter and I just need to work this out." I pulled my laptop back into my lap.

"Are you sure? If you're getting sick sleep is the best thing for you." Cate stood at the doorway with a hand on her hip.

"I'm sure." I gave her my best reassuring smile.

"Okay. If you need anything let me know."

"Will do, mom." I smiled before she rolled her eyes and left the room.





Five





- I made reservations for dinner tonight. Be ready in twenty minutes. Carter's text flashed across my screen the following evening.

- You are unbelievably demanding. Maybe I have plans tonight. I grinned as I texted back.

- Do you like to make me angry?

- Maybe :)

- Be ready, MRS. Morgan.

- Yes dear. I rolled my eyes at the phone.

We hadn't seen each other since I’d left his house Wednesday morning. We'd left on good terms, and I wasn’t mad at him. I knew he didn't understand that, despite the number of times I'd tried to tell him we both needed time if we wanted this to work. I wished we could avoid talking and live purely in the moment. I just wanted to be with Carter, without having monumental discussions about us, although I knew it was something we needed to do.

I gazed down at the ring I was now wearing on my right hand and twisted it thoughtfully. On second thought, maybe we'd done more than enough living in the moment and were paying the consequences for it now. The all-consuming lust we had for each other was what had landed this ring on my finger in the first place.





"Is there a special occasion, Mr. Morgan?" I slid into the back of the Bentley. I wore a plain black top tucked into a leather and lace knee-length skirt and black leather booties. I knew the juxtaposition of sweet and sexy would not go unnoticed by Carter. He hauled me across the seat and into his lap, pressing my lips to his roughly.

"Del Frisco's." Carter pulled away from my lips and instructed Parker before the privacy screen went up. His hands went up my thighs and squeezed tightly. He fingered the lace of my panties and I wondered if he'd rip them off right here in the back of the car. He palmed the cheeks of my ass and squeezed as he kissed me so hard he left my lips tender.

"Do I need an excuse to see my wife?" he mumbled against my lips.

"No," I croaked in response.

"Don't you look tempting tonight, Mrs. Morgan?" He continued to knead the flesh of my upper thighs with his fingers.

"Why do you keep calling me that?" I whispered against his lips as I fisted my fingers in his hair and pulled.

"Because that's your name." He kissed and nipped at my lips.

"Not technically." I rocked my body into his.

"We'll have to remedy that. I've already got the paperwork started." He held my head firmly with his hand as he kissed me.

"What?" My breathing came out in pants, my brain hazy with lust.

"Your name change. I started the paperwork. Just need you to sign it," he informed me between heady kisses.

"I don't know that I want to change my name." I continued to grind into him.

"What?" His lips pulled away from mine in a flash.

"I hadn't thought about it, but professionally, I’m Eva Austin. I don't know if I want to change that."

"So don't change it professionally, but you're doing it personally."

I heaved a sigh in exasperation. "I’ll think about it."

"You'll do it. You're mine and I want the entire world to know it. Speaking of which, are you wearing your ring?" He lifted my left hand to find it empty. His eyes flashed in fury to mine.

"It's over here." I lifted my right hand.

His jaw clenched. "Not good enough." He continued to glare.

"I’m wearing it, aren't I?"

"On the wrong fucking finger. It means nothing on that finger. It should be on your left hand, Evangeline."

I bit my lip as my brain processed his words.