Whiskey and Lace(24)

"I have to, she's a part of my company. And we're friends, she's always been there for me." Carter's voice softened.

"I don't care. Your fucked up past keeps coming up to bite me, and you didn't even tell me she was your fiancé after she sharpened her claws on me that night at the ball," I spit out angrily.

"I’m sorry, I should have told you. But she means nothing to me; nothing more than a friend. I hardly see her anymore, she's dating someone else, we've both moved on. I've moved on with you." He dropped to his knees and lifted my chin to look him in the eye.

"So I’m supposed to accept that Madeleine is in your life, but you go all caveman about Sawyer?" I glared at him. His teeth clenched in anger.

"It's not the same, Evangeline. He still wants you." His eyes flashed angry fire at me.

"It is the same. You were engaged to her, Carter. You used to fuck her in your office, and I think she still has something for you." My eyes flashed at him.

"No, we've both moved on. She has someone else, and I have you." The pad of his thumb wiped a tear from my cheek tenderly.

"I’m telling you she still has feelings for you. The things she said that night at the ball…" I looked away from him.

"Well, I don't have feelings for her. You're it for me. And Sawyer had his hands all over you that night at the club. You're mine, Evangeline." He pulled me into his arms and spun me around to face the mirrors with his chest against my back. "I don't want some guys hands all over you. See this?" He pulled my hair back from my neck to reveal the bruise he'd left on me. "This is my mark on you, the one that says you're mine." He held my waist firmly to him and I could feel his length hard against my bottom. I knew I should be angry at his neanderthal ramblings, and I was, but I was mad with lust for him too. I squirmed against him and my eyes flicked to meet his in the reflection of the mirror.

He spun me around in an instant and pulled my lips to his in a fierce kiss. He lifted the short dress up over my hips and pushed his palm into my aching center. He rubbed in rough circles and pinched my sensitive bundle of nerves and I groaned into his mouth. He lifted me by the ass up onto the counter and undid his button and zipper quickly before shoving into me roughly.

He ground into me, holding one hand on the counter for leverage, and another tightly around my neck to hold my head in place as he kissed and nipped.

"I’m so out of control for you, Evangeline. You make me so mad," he ground between his teeth as he pounded into me. I arched my back and thrust my hips to meet his rhythm just as frantically.

"You're mine. I don't want anyone's hands on you, only mine."

"Yes," I panted.

"Say, it. Say you are fucking mine." Sweat glistened on his brow and I wrapped my fingers into the hair at the back of his neck.

"I’m yours, Carter."

"Forever. You're mine forever." He pounded harder. It felt like he was punishing me; reminding me that I was only his.

"Yes," I panted and Carter groaned and then pulsed within me as I arched and fell over the cliff in frantic pleasure. My body was quivering in passion and exertion; buzzing with erotic bliss. Carter leaned over my body and panted as his sweat-dampened hair tickled my forehead.

"Don't leave. I love you, Evangeline." My heart stopped and my fingers tightened around his shoulders. I sat silently, I couldn’t say a word. Carter had just given me a rough and dirty fuck in the bathroom of one of Boston’s most luxurious restaurants and now he was telling me he loved me?

He continued to pant and didn't seem to notice that I hadn't answered him. I held his body tight to mine as my mind buzzed in anxiety. Did I love Carter? Could we love each other? I didn't even know if we were good for each other.

I scooted away from him on the vanity to break the connection. There was too much to consider, and I needed to not be touching his delicious body when I considered it. He looked up into my eyes with a slow smile and kissed me tenderly on the lips. I smiled back to reassure him, then quietly hopped down from the counter and straightened my dress. Carter zipped his pants back up as I straightened myself out in the mirror to make it look like I hadn’t just been fucked within an inch of my life in the bathroom.

"Ready?" He smiled, wrapped an arm around my waist, and kissed my hair. I watched his tender gesture in the mirror and my anxiety doubled.





Twelve





"Home. Thanks, Parker." Carter and I ducked into the back of the Bentley.

"No, I need to go to my place." I looked at Carter. His eyes flashed in hurt and confusion. "Nothing bad, I just need to go home, I’ve been gone all week." I touched my hand to the stubble along his jaw with a reassuring smile. What I really needed to do was get away from Carter. We'd enjoyed our meal as if nothing had happened, but in my mind everything had happened.