Page 25 of Practice Makes Perfect

“Her commentary is funnier,” I confess, my shoulder bobbing lightly. It is, but the real reason I like watching it is because it allows me to spend more time with Billie. From the look Maya shoots me, she’s not really buying my commentary excuse either. Luckily, JJ runs up to me and hugs my legs before she gets a chance to say anything more about it, though I know she will eventually.

As it turns out, eventually comes right after our shared meal when I offer to do the dishes. Dinner conversation mostly revolved around Maya and Jake’s wedding happening in a few months, and even though it is going to be a small affair taking place in the town square, there were a lot of details that Maya wanted to discuss with us. Well, mostly Billie to get her opinion, but occasionally she would ask for mine as well. JJ had been bored through most of the meal, so it wasn’t surprising that he finished his food in record time, eventually climbing out of his booster seat and going over to Billie to ask her to play with him in his room. Of course, she immediately agreed, looking so excited that he was warming up to her that I didn’t have the heart to intrude on their time, even though I’ve been missing hanging out with my nephew too. Jake accompanied her, and I assumed Maya did as well, but the minute I am elbow deep in soapy water, she appears from the dining room and pounces.

“So, you and Billie?” she asks again. When I hazard a glance in her direction, I see that her expression isn’t accusatory, but there is definitely an edge to her voice that I hadn’t expected. She’s made hints about the two of us together before, but she always seemed happy about it in the past, so this new tone is surprising.

Suddenly the casserole dish is my highest priority, and I focus my attention on getting it as clean as possible. “What about us?” My stomach sinks as I realize that I’m a little worried about what my sister will have to say. I may be older, but between losing our parents and raising a kid mostly on her own, Maya had to mature a lot more quickly than other women her age, and she doesn’t beat around the bush.

Maya sighs as she leans against the counter near the sink. “You know what I’m asking Carter,” she scolds. Her mom voice is in full effect and it works like a charm. Guilt blooms in my chest, but over what I have no idea. “While I fully support the idea of the two of you having fun, I can tell that it’s getting a lot more serious than that, at least for you.” She pauses to lightly touch my shoulder. “I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“I won’t.” My voice is insistent, but the conviction I hoped to feel isn’t quite there. It might be if I had more evidence that the woman I’m in love with felt the same way about me, but I don’t. And you won’t anytime soon if you don’t talk to her.

Maya sighs heavily. “Carter, you don’t even know if she’s staying in town. Would you be willing to do a long distance relationship? Or move if she wanted to be back in Denver?”

Both are scenarios I hadn’t thought were even a remote possibility. Billie fit into my life so naturally that I hadn’t even considered if I would fit into hers. From what she’s told me, she wouldn’t want to go back to clubbing and fancy parties, but maybe she just needed a break from it and will want that again eventually. Would she really want some wannabe lumberjack on her arm as she waltzed into a club looking like a million dollars? The possibility of that is remote at best. While I want to be with her more than anything, the idea that she would eventually tire of me and my more reclusive ways as me hesitating again. I can make furniture anywhere, but I love my family, the shop, and the small town I currently live in. Being with Billie in Denver would mean sacrificing all that, and that’s if she even wanted me there with her to begin with.

Maya must sense me spiraling, because she shakes my shoulder and forces me to look at her. “I’m not saying that will happen, but maybe don’t fall so hard until you know for sure what her plans are.”

I nod and Maya leaves me to finish the dishes and stew in my uncertainty. As I do, I realize that what she’s asked of me isn’t possible. I can’t prevent myself from falling hard for Billie because I already have.

Chapter Eighteen

Billie

Carter has been quieter than normal ever since the dinner we had at Jake and Maya’s a few days ago. He’s still the same caring, thoughtful individual, but he’s been a little more withdrawn. He’s also been spending a lot more time working in the workshop, so I’ve barely seen him over the last three evenings, and when I do he’s so tired he gives me a peck on the lips before heading off to bed. For a moment, I thought that he might have regretted what we did while we were camping, but he was so happy that I can’t believe that’s it. I was happy too. How can you not be after a fantastic orgasm with someone you care about? Now, though, Carter’s distance has me climbing the walls, but fortunately, I still have my wily ways about me and came up with a way to fix it. At least, I hope it will fix it.

While Carter has been occupied in his workshop with orders and whatever else he’s been working on to avoid me, I’ve been busy making plans for the perfect date for the two of us, and by date I mean sex. Carter is so selfless and caring that I want to be that for him too, and while I could make us dinner or take us out to a fancy restaurant, I think this will be better. During the few hours that Maya has been at the shop so far this week, I’ve gone out shopping as both therapy and as a means to get things ready for the big night tonight. A few candles from the shop downstairs, a discreet purchase from the local pharmacy, and a trip to the local lingerie store means everything is ready to go. Now all I need is the man himself to come upstairs.

If left to his own devices, I am sure that Carter would spend another late night in his workshop, but I can’t let that happen. Grabbing my phone from the bathroom counter, I fire off a text asking him to come home. No excuse will be needed because I know that if I ask something of him, he’ll do it. Not in a blindly obedient way, but in an “I care about you and want you to be happy” way. Instead of examining the floaty feeling I get in my chest when I consider that, I give myself one last once over in the mirror.

My hair is down and curled into chunky waves, but I ditched any attempt to do make-up, knowing that I will be sweating it all off anyway. Or at least, I hope I will. With one final adjustment to the dark pink, mesh bustier, I stride over to the door to wait for my man. My feet stumble as the thought crosses my mind. My man? It sure feels an awful lot like Carter belongs to me, but maybe that’s because I want to belong to him. This was supposed to just be an exercise in boosting his confidence, and maybe it still is for him, but it’s definitely become a lot more than that to me.

Before I can ponder that any further, I hear footsteps on the landing and the knob jiggle as it starts to turn. Arranging myself as sexily as possibly while trying to not look like I’m trying too hard, I rest a hand on my hip while the other plays at the swell of my breasts, wanting his attention there even though the lingerie I am in puts just about everything on display.

When Carter strides in and sees me, his steps halt and his jaw literally drops open. His eyes move up and down my body like a caress that is causing me to shiver before he’s even had a chance to touch me. As I continue to run my finger over the tops of my breasts and along my collarbone, I walk over to him, my bare feet padding on the hardwood. I thought about wearing heels, but that would be just one more thing to take off and I want to get down to business as soon as possible. He was so happy after we had sex the other day and I want him to be happy again, but more than that, I want to show him how much he’s come to mean to me. I’m not ready to say it with words just yet, so this is what I have to use for now.

“What’s this all about?” he asks. His voice is raspy, and one look down at the growing bulge in his jeans lets me know it’s from lust, and when I gaze up into his eyes, the fire I see burning behind the forest green confirms it.

When I’m right in front of him, I push him against the door, closing it and flicking the lock. Nothing is going to interrupt us tonight. No nephews or surprise visits from family, no overtime at the job. Nothing. Sliding my hands up and down the thin material of his work tee, I stop and rub at his nipples for a moment before heading south to cup his bulge, pressing down on the hardness. When he hisses through his teeth and bucks into my hand, I know I’ve got him right where I want him, aching for me. “This is about you working too hard,” I explain. My hand squeezes him through his jeans, eliciting another deeper groan from his throat. “I missed you.” The confession is followed up with more stroking.

Carter’s head has dropped back against the door and his eyes are closed, but he reaches over to me and cups my face, stroking the skin of my cheek with his thumb. When his eyes open again, I see a lot more than need and desire. I’m pretty sure I see love, and while it feels scary, it also feels so wonderful that I can’t stop myself from continuing. Emotions can be examined later. Right now, I want to make him feel good. “I missed you too,” he breathes out.

Drawing me closer to him, he lowers himself to me and plants a kiss on my lips. It’s not slow and languid like I thought it might be after seeing all of that affection in his gaze. Instead it is hard and desperate, like he’s not sure if he’ll get more opportunities like this in the future. He will, he just doesn’t know it yet. I want him to know it, want Carter to feel assured that I will always be here for him like he’s been here for me ever since I arrived. He was there for me before that too. His smiling face on social media was the little bit of levity I needed when I was missing my friend and working a job I didn’t love. But can I really give him that when I’m not sure what I’m doing yet? I may not be able to give him the words or a solid sense of the future, but I can give him this.

Pressing my hands against his chest, I break our kiss. My hands reach down and start to undo the buckle of his belt, the clinking sound and our ragged breaths the only things that can be heard in the apartment. As I slowly unzip his pants, I arch a brow at him. “Tell me you don’t want this, and I’ll stop.”

Carter’s head moves side to side slowly, his mouth quirking to one side. “I don’t think I’ve wanted anything more in my entire life.” The words weaken my knees, but I manage to stay standing as I reach into his pants and grab ahold of him. I knew he went commando, but having such easy access to him is still just as thrilling as if it had been a pleasant surprise. My hand continues to stroke him as his hands begin to explore my breasts. His thumbs tease at my nipples while my hand works him harder. Squeezing my legs together to relieve the pressure, I reach my free hand up and drag his mouth back to mine. Our lips collide seconds before his tongue darts out and I suck it into my mouth.

I work his tongue like I work his cock, faster and harder until he’s so stiff and swollen in my hand that I know he’s going to come any second. “Okay, Viking,” I whisper in his ear. “Come for me.”

With a grunt, Carter spills over my hand, a little getting on his pants, but from the look of absolute euphoria on his face, he doesn’t care at all. I bring my hand to my lips to taste him, loving the salty sweet flavor as it travels over my tongue. Carter watches me, his eyes darkening as I lick one finger clean and then the other. “God, you are amazing,” He reaches up and grabs the back of his shirt, swiftly pulling it off and using it to wipe the rest of my hand clean.

“I wasn’t done you know,” I remark as he tosses his soiled shirt to the side. He steps out of his jeans and shoes before kicking those away as well.

When he steps towards me, a smirk plays at his mouth. “Don’t worry. Plenty more where that came from.” Carter winks and leans down to scoop me up into his arms before striding over to his bedroom.

My head dips back and I chuckle at him. “That’s the kind of attitude I like to see, Viking.” Carter tosses me onto my bed, and I get my first full look of him completely naked. He is hard muscle and soft skin, and I love every inch of him. He comes to the bed and prowls over me, leaning down to kiss me briefly before he moves south. His kisses move over my chest and then he pulls one of my nipples into his mouth, mesh material and all, before working to the other side. He unbuttons my corset and tosses it away, leaning back down and dipping his head, moving from one breast to the other for what feels like forever until I am writhing beneath him. “Please,” I beg.

Carter chuckles, the warm air from his mouth skating over my wet nipple, making another part of me even wetter than it was before. “I’ll always give you what you ask for, Elskling.” After he said the word again the other day, I looked up the translation. It means darling, and when I’m with him, that’s what I feel like.

---