Page 92 of Catch Me When I Fall

Carrie slid down from the counter to her feet and made her way to me, her head tilting back to keep our gaze. Slowly, she lifted her hand and put it against the scarred side of my face. “Yeah,” she whispered, stroking her thumb over the damaged skin of my cheek. Her face softened, reminding me of the first time I’d kissed her, giving into the temptation I’d been feeling for weeks.

So much time had passed since then, and yet she and I had barely even begun.

In an instant, one of my arms were banded around her waist as I pulled her against me, my free hand cupping her face. “Told you to stop looking at me like that,” I warned, staring back into her bright blue pools shining with gratitude.

“I owe you my life,” she croaked, her sweet voice filled with emotion.

“Also told you that you don’t owe me anything,” I growled. Killing that bastard was a great pleasure and, as I said, I wouldn’t be losing any fucking sleep over it. Her eyes dropped to my lips, and when they flicked back up to mine once more, I was barely holding on.

“I didn’t wait for you,” she breathed, her words unsteady.

I brought my forehead down to hers. “Carrie, so help me God,” I said through clenched teeth. “We aren’t having this conversation now.”

“We need to,” she shot back, stepping away from me, tears in her eyes. “We have to talk about it. I didn’t…You made me a promise and I—” She cut herself off, looking away from me and putting her hands against her soft belly.

My eyes scanned her movements, noting the way she was swaying. In a flash, she was in my arms, and she yelped my name as I carried her to the counter again. “Sit your ass down. Don’t move from this spot until the food is done. Understood?” I commanded, glaring at her. The last thing I needed was for her to faint. Jake said that after he did his tests, she would need food. Now, I was beginning to kick myself for making her a home cooked meal instead of shoving a protein bar down her throat.

“But—”

“—no.”

She jerked back as my jaw tensed. “We need to talk about last night,” she challenged.

I folded my arms over my chest. “And we will—after you eat.”

My sunshine shook her head, getting ready to argue. “Grayson—”

“I’m going to make that sweet ass of yours so fucking red, baby,” I said darkly, stepping closer. “I’ll take you over my lap and enjoy every fucking spank I give you. I’ll love watching that ass jiggle for me. I’ll love the way my handprint stays on your skin. I’ll love your whimpers and cries. They’ll be my new favorite sounds.” I dropped my arms and braced my hands on either side of her hips. Hers shot up to my chest, her eyes wide once more. “You’ll be begging for mercy, Carrie,” I continued softly, studying her lips as I imagined how she would beg for me—plead for me. “Crying out my name with your little pussy dripping onto my jeans, begging for me to stop.”

A sound came from her then, and it went straight to my cock.

My eyes met hers. “I’m not in the business of mercy, Sunshine. I’ll stop when I think you’ve had enough and not a moment before. Remember that the next time you want to give me that attitude of yours.”

She was panting now; her fingers curling into my shirt.

Jesus, she was going to be the death of me.

“You going to be a good girl and let me feed you? Or do you want a red ass?”

Before she could answer, my phone rang in my pocket. “Stay,” I ordered as I pushed off the counter and pulled out my phone.

“Grayson,” I answered, returning to the food.

“Just checking in,” Ash greeted, his voice dark. “Is Carrie okay?”

The boys must’ve called and told him what was going on. Now, despite everything Ash had been through and the pain he was in, he was calling to check on my woman.

I looked at her, noting her flushed skin and desire shining in her eyes. She wasn’t afraid of me and thank fuck for that. “She’s perfect,” I assured.

“You need anything from me?” he asked.

“Yeah, I need you to rest and heal,” I firmly stated, looking back to the food. “The vote was made, and when Jake gets back, he’ll start looking.”

Ash was silent.

I closed my eyes and bent my head. “We’re going to find her, Doss. You have my fucking word on that. Clear?”

“Clear.”

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