Page 48 of Above All Else

“I won’t.”

“You better not.” I held out my hand. “Give me your cell.”

David reached into his back pocket with pained groans, his face grimacing. He plopped it into my hand, his rough callouses brushing against my soft but scraped palm.

“Step one, get help.” I punched in 911 on the phone and brought it to my ear.

Carter’s brows furrowed, and he cocked his head as he stared at me.

“I need an ambulance. My neighbor has fallen and can’t get up.” My throat clenched as I feigned worry. “555 Cordelia Lane.” I pressed the button, ending the phone call, and tossed it into his lap. “No mention of us.” I shrugged. “Not that it matters.”

David coughed as though his were ready to fall out.

“Remember what I said.” I spun on my heel, Carter in tow, and exited the house.

David’s yells penetrated the brick-and-mortar home.

“That was...” Hands gripped the back of my neck, and my momentum shifted backward, my back hitting the side of the home. “Amazing.” Carter pressed into me, his hips grinding against my lower belly, his cock hard.

“I only did what needed to be done.”

He raised a brow, his gaze bouncing between mine. “And that turns me on so much.” His lips slammed into mine, taking what he needed and leaving the rest. His tongue licked the seam, and I opened, allowing him to plunge into my mouth with fervor.

I groaned, his hand slipping around the front of my throat, giving a little squeeze, sending a titillating shock between my legs.

Police sirens wailed in the distance, and our intemperate breaths blended in a wicked potion of desire and thrill. I broke away, his warmth leaving my body like severe hypothermia. “We have to go.”

“Dammit.” His forehead pressed against mine, his hand releasing my neck and sliding into my hand, his fingers interweaving with mine.

Blue and red lights bounced off the trees, the sirens disturbing the morning serenity. “We need to go.” A striking vibration hit my chest as I pushed away from the house and away from him—my feet racing toward the car.

It’ll be okay.

Caroline will be fine, the police will see.

Slamming the passenger door, Carter slipped into the driver’s side, started the vehicle, and took off the opposite way of police traffic. “Do you think he’ll comply?”

“He has to. Once the police go in there and see the deplorable environment with a child, they’ll call CPS.”

Like I should’ve done from the beginning.

My stomach clenched, and nausea sat in my belly like a ton of rocks.

“You were great back there.” He reached for my hand, and I pulled it away, disgust roiling through my system like a viral disease.

My arms clenched over my belly, and I leaned into the door, nausea bubbling like a cauldron.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

We pulled onto I-70 and chased the sun toward the east.

So what now?

I leave everything behind, move in with him, and pretend like this horror show never happened?

Is that what he wanted?

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