Into You (12 page)

Burying his face in my hair, he whispered, “I’m sorry. Oh God, Elizabeth, I'm so sorry.”

He seemed reasonable so I stopped fighting. “Let me go.”

“I didn’t mean it.” He stroked my hair. “Please don’t go. Don't leave. I missed yo
u so much I'm losing my mind.”

“I’m not a yo-yo. You want me, you don’t want me.  Make up your mind.”

Carter brushed his fingertips along the side of my face, lost somewhere in his mind. I shuddered from his touch, angry at myself for reacting to him like that. He brought his fingers down to my mouth and ran his thumb against my bottom lip.

“Did
he touch you?”

“What?”

“In his office did he touch you?”

Carter’s words along with his inebriated state frightened me. I took a deep breath, unsure of what to say since I had no idea of what the hell he was referring to. The question sent me reeling. I couldn’t fathom he even recognized it was me he was speaking to.

Carter brought his head down and gently met my lips with his own. I was careful not to respond.

“Did he kiss you?
In his office Monday?”

I pulled away, realizing he was speaking about the meeting with his father. “How do you know?”

I hadn’t mentioned it. I didn’t want to tell him over the phone. I planned on telling him when I saw him, but the way he kept blowing me off I didn't have the chance to. Was he watching me? Following me?

“I came t
o the office to surprise you.”

“S
urprise me? Or check up on me?”

“I had free time. And it was a rough morning. I just wanted to see you.”  He explained, “I thought we could have lunch together.” He paused and looked away before continuing. “I was told you were in a private meeting with Dr.
Penbrook and you were not to be disturbed.”

“Nobody told me . . .”

“The receptionist didn’t know who I was. I left no message.”

“Why didn’t you ask me about it?”

He looked at me, his eyes sad, hurt. “I hoped you would’ve told me.” He shook his head, “but you didn’t.”

I didn't know what to say but I did owe him an explanation. “You’re drunk, Carter. We’ll talk about this in the morning.” I took a step away from him.

Carter wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me back, “I’m not drunk. I’ve tried. Believe me. I’ve tried to drink so much it would make me forget all about you.” He shook his head, “But I can’t. No matter how much I try to numb the pain, it's there, like a huge, gaping hole in my heart, so tell me. Because I need to know.”

My eyes glossed over as I entertained for the first time the possibility Carter was right. Maybe things were too difficult, and the situation too strenuous for us to make it work. He’d never trust me and I'd always feel as if there were an accusation
in everything he said or did.

“Nothing happened, Carter.” I wiped at my eyes with my fingertips, “I swear.”

He stared silently, waiting.

“Your father gave me my Christmas bonus.”

Resigned, Carter let his arms fall. He turned and walked away, running his hand through his hair. “You didn’t need to meet behind closed doors for that, Liz. He could’ve simply handed you the envelope. Better yet, Sandy could’ve given it to you.”

Sandy.
Great. He had to mention the wicked witch. Emotionally overwrought from the week’s events I thought about just walking away from the whole awkward situation. Turning my back and leaving him for good. I wanted to, but I couldn't.

“
He wanted to talk. That’s all.”

I could see he didn't believe me. It was writte
n all over his face.

"He asked me to bring a letter to you, and I said ‘No.’ I explained I wasn't about to risk what we have for him."

We sat in silence each waiting for the other to speak. I didn't know if he believed me, and even if he did, was it something he could live with and accept? As I stood to leave, Carter cleared his throat.

“Come here,” he outstretched his hand for mine. "Please."

I hesitated. The door was closer. But I knew if I walked out this wasn't the end. He knew where to find me. Where I worked, where I shopped, and where I lived. Better to hash this out and see where we stood.

I didn't take his hand, but stepped toward him. Carter sat on the couch a
nd pulled me down onto his lap.

“Look at me." His eyes held a well of emotion. I'd never seen them so intense. "Until last week I had no idea how I felt about you.” With his hand he brushed my hair away from my face, and trailed his fingers down my shoulder. “What I mean to say is, until last week, I didn’t realize how much I love you.”

I nodded. “I love you, too.”

He smiled, “You must or you would’ve dumped me by now.”   

I smirked. "Don't be so sure that's not what's happening right now."

“I don’t mean to make things hard, I really don’t.
But we need complete honesty.”

“You weren’t exactly the poster boy for honesty this week either. If you would've just asked . . .”

He cut me off with a kiss.

“I know,” he nodded. “That’s going to change. We need to tell each other the truth no matter what. Even if we think it might upset the other. Because the only other choice we have is to walk away, and I don't think I can handle that. ”

“Agreed.”

“And where my father is concerned that means giving me the slightest detail of every interaction with him. Elizabeth, I’m not good at this. It's been a long time since I've been in a real
relationship. But I’m trying.”

"And by real relationship you mean?"

"Something more than just sex."

That's what I was afraid of since we met. "What if trying isn't good enough."

"It's all I can do. I hope you can believe I don't want to hurt you. Please. Just give me another chance." Carter’s lips again covered mine. First, it was his lips, then his body, and then I knew I was lost.

Chapter 32

Carter

I didn't bother carrying Elizabeth to my room. I didn't need a bed. I needed to be inside her.
To feel her skin heat up against mine. I remembered the broken glass on the floor I'd yet to clean up. The couch would do.

I leaned he
r back, climbing on top of her.

"I need you.
Now." I whispered. Her breath caught, but she didn't protest. Good. I didn't think I had enough control to deal with a protest.

She took a good, long look at me, her eyes locked on mine. My chest, along with other body parts swelled. I couldn't wait, I missed her. I missed kissing her, and touching her. And after spending the weekend together, my
body yearned to be inside her.

I pulled her shirt off, not taking care to be gentle. I just wanted it off so I could look at her. Next, I moved to her pants. God, I was losing control. It was such delicious torture wanting her, knowing she was mine, and that
in only minutes I'd claim her.

She ran her hands under my shirt and splayed them across my stomach just above my waistband. They singed a burning trail on my skin as they moved up and pulled it off me. I braced myself with my hands on either side of her head, lean
ing over her, my arms straight.

Elizabeth's back arched to me as my eyes grazed over her black lace bra trimmed with pink ribbon and panties to match. Her swollen breasts and hard nipples were spilling out of the cups. I wasn't going to make it. I closed my eyes.
Maybe if I didn't look, but I couldn't keep my eyes off her.

I don't know what she was thinking at that moment. I wanted to ask. I wanted to hear her say how much she wanted
me, only to reassure myself, but it didn't matter. I threw my clothes off as fast as I could, her eyes filled with heat and longing, moved up and down my body.

Elizabeth reached behind her to unclasp her bra. I grabbed her hands and held them together in one of mine, o
ver her head.

"No. I want you just like this."

"My pocketbook," Her voice was as breathless as I felt.

"What?"

"Condoms. I have some in my pocketbook."

I reached over, grabbed it, and handed it to her. Elizabeth fumbled through it for a few seconds, handed me the squar
e packet, then tossed it aside.

She watched with interest as I rolled it on. She didn't say anything, but those brown eyes burned. They reached into my chest and branded my heart.

Taking her hands in mine and raising her arms up again, I stroked her face with my free hand, moving it slowly down, down her exposed neck, all the way down. I bent her leg, pulling it up close to her chest, making room for myself. I thought of taking her right through her panties, but decided not this time. I didn't want another barrier between us. The need I felt was primal. I needed her. I had to have her.

I moved the material over and pressed myself inside, inch by inch, watching pleasure spread over her face as I continued to push slowly inside her. Passion filled her eyes. I knew I wouldn't last long. Not with her soft throaty moans and her writhing hips. I didn't want to try and block her out of my thoughts. I wanted to savor her heavy lidded eyes and open mouth. Wha
t I'd like to do to that mouth.

As that thought made its way into my mind, I knew I reached my limit, I wanted to hold on just a little longer, just long enough to bring her over the edge with me. As I heard her cry out, I knew she was there, too. I held her tight, her skin, like mine, damp with sweat. I met her stare as together we reached a climax unlike any I'd ever felt before.

Chapter 33

Elizabeth

Carter held me against his chest, his fingers stroking my arm. I didn't mind the silence between us. It finally felt like I had a handle on the tension building inside me all week. I nuzzled against him, feeling his hold on me tighten.

"What was he like?"

"Huh?" His comment took me by surprise. I hoped he wasn't still hung up on the meeting with his father, I didn't think I had the energy to hash that out any more.

"I told you nothing happened."

He shook his head, "No. I mean the guy that broke your heart. What was he like?"

I pulled away. "What makes you think someone broke my heart?"

His chest moved and vibrated as he chuckled. "Let's see. When we first met, just a simple touch would make you blush and you were extremely suspicious of me."

"I'm not following."

"Elizabeth, I know you don't sleep around. You made that clear from the beginning. And I know I wasn't your first.

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean . . ."

"C'mon, I told you about Jamie. That wasn't just painful, it was humiliating."

"Fine." I had no choice. He was right, it was only fair. I had to tell him about Mason; I'd just keep a few minor details to myself. "We met in college during my freshman year. I hadn't dated much before him, so I was a little naive. Really, really naive."

I tried to pull away from Carter, but he wouldn't let me. "Don't. I can hear you fine from right here. I went
too long without holding you."

He made me feel so loved and cherished, I thought for a moment of telling him the whole story. But I knew better.

"He was a lot more experienced. He saw how taken I was with him, and he played on that."

"That's where your mistrust comes from, your cynicism."

I shrugged. "Maybe, I don't know. The thing is, I believed him when he said he loved me. I wanted to believe him."

"Were you together long?"

I nodded. "Almost two years."

"Why did it end?"

"While he was the only one I was with, he couldn't say the same. After I found out, he promised he'd end things with her. But he never did, so I ended things with him."

Carter kissed my cheek and squeezed me in his arms. "I'm sorry."

I shook my head. "Don't be. It was my own fault. I was stupid enough to believe what he said. He'd write me beautiful poems and whisper sweet nothings to me. He made me feel like I was special."

"While I don't consider myself poetic, I can tell you, I don't say sweet things unless I mean them. So when I say I've never seen anyone more beautiful, it's not something practiced and rehearsed. It's not insincere. It's because you
are
the most beautiful woman in the world to me.

Chapter 34

Carter

I stood at the sink rinsing the dishes. It was only fair after Elizabeth went through the trouble of putting together such a feast. Besides, after how I treated her, I did
n’t want her to lift a finger.

The problem wasn’t in her lifting a finger; it was her whole hand, rubbing the bulge in my pants. I closed my eyes, hoping
not to drop, or break anything.

“If you don’t stop, I’m
going to take you right here.”

“Is that supposed to frighten me?” she teased, looki
ng up at me through her lashes.