Rapture and Lace(12)

"I haven’t heard from him since, he never tried to find me. That's why I don’t let many people in—if I care too much—I have this ridiculous fear that it's inevitable that they'll leave. It keeps me up at night sometimes. Believe me, I’ve had a lot of sleepless nights since we've been together. So there it is, my life story." He gave me a wry smile.

"From day one I’ve gone after the things I’ve wanted, and since then it's always worked out for me, in business and pleasure." He grinned at me out of the corner of his eye. I sloshed some water at him with a grin.

"Wait a minute." I narrowed my eyes at him. "Did you know I was at the coffee shop that day after the party? You didn't just happen to wander in for coffee did you?"

He arched an amused eyebrow at me. "No, Evangeline. There's an espresso bar on the main floor of The Hancock. I don't need to leave the building to get my coffee." A smirk flirted on his lips.

"So, how did you know? If you were watching me, that's seriously creepy, Carter. Like full-on stalker, creepy." I gave him a pointed look.

"No, I wasn't staked out outside your apartment." He laughed and then brought his hand out of the water and touched it to my bottom lip.

I closed my eyes as my body shivered at his touch.

"I did go to your apartment, though. I wanted to take you to lunch. I was going to insist you go out with me in repayment for staining my favorite suit." He gave me a gorgeous grin. "But you weren't there. And Cate was happy to tell me that you were at the coffee shop down the street." I had no doubt he'd charmed that information out of her, and I knew it wouldn't have taken much considering Cate was just as affected by him as every other female.

"How did you know where I lived?" I breathed softly.

"Research, Evangeline." He traced his thumb around the curve of my lips. "When I saw you that night at the party, something hit me. When I looked in your eyes, my whole world froze. You were beautiful. Your smile lit the room. And when you laughed your eyes crinkled." He tenderly traced his thumb across my cheekbone and over my eyelids. "And when our eyes met across the room it was like I was hit straight in the chest. Your eyes were so soft and genuine. You captivated me." He leaned in and skimmed my lips with a featherlight kiss. "I knew I had to have you."

My head swirled with emotion and it felt like my body would melt into a pool of liquid love at the bottom of the hot tub. "You affected me too," I whispered.

"I know. I could see it. I could feel it." He ran his hands around my neck and twisted in my hair. "I knew I could never get you out of my head until I had you." He brushed his nose along mine lightly. "And then after that night at the club, you made me so angry, but I think I fell for you right there. No matter what I said you refused to listen to me. My beautiful, stubborn girl. You make me feel so out of control, but I couldn't stay away from you. You're exciting and intoxicating and infuriating and unlike anyone else I've ever met. I can't control you, and I like that you're sassy and sweet and loving. I told you, Evangeline, you're my drug, I can't get enough of you." He slid one hand up my thigh suggestively.

I smiled at him. "I don't think so, Mr. Morgan. We're being chaste until our impending nuptials, remember?" I gave a soft tug on his hair.

"Right." He worked his fingers up to snap the leg of my bathing suit.

"Thank you for telling me." I set my wine down and crawled up into his lap to wrap my arms around his neck. "It helps knowing why you're a crazy stalker." I kissed him on the nose. "I’m sorry things were so rough when you were little." I ran my thumbs along his cheekbones softly. "I’m glad you had such a great mom." I played with the hair at the nape of his neck.

"Me too," he whispered. "I can't wait for you to meet her."

"I can't wait to meet her either, and thank her for raising such an amazing loving son that's stolen my heart." I kissed his lips lovingly.

His arms wrapped around my waist and his palms spread out on my lower back. I could feel him harden against my thighs and smiled. I curled a hand around his neck and nibbled along his ear as I rocked my hips into him slowly.

"Evangeline," Carter groaned.

"I know, I know. Chivalry and all that." I grinned, giving him one last kiss and then slipping off his lap. I reached for my wine glass and slipped further down into the warm water and sighed deeply, my head swirling from the wine and all of the new information Carter had just shared. If this was what my life with Carter was going to be like, I had no doubt that it would be beautiful.