Page 51 of Fate

Chapter Twelve

Carson

Warmth surroundsme from the tip of my toes to the top of my chest. The welcome weight of pure naked woman is sprawled over my body. I run my hands up the inches of bare flesh. My fingers encounter a few pebbled areas where I hug her across her back, my hands landing on her ribs. As I open my eyes, I’m greeted by deep amber pools of hot lava. In the morning light, her normally caramel-brown gaze has turned to a fiery crimson color.

God, I’ve missed this. Missedher.

“Morning, Sweetcheeks,” I grumble, my voice not quite awake.

She nuzzles her face right over my heart and kisses me there several times. My Kat was never a morning talker. More a doer. I can remember countless mornings when I’d wake with my girl’s lips firmly wrapped around my cock in greeting. Best way to wake up. Though having a Kathleen blanket wrapped around me is a close second.

“Hmm.” She sighs, her lashes fluttering closed as though she’s soaking in the moment. I know I am. With every damned breath Itake.

“Nothing like seeing the woman I love, naked and sated after a night of sensational fucking.” I embrace her warmth, wrapping my arms and legs around all the lusciousness that is my woman.

Kat chuckles and lifts her head, resting her chin on my chest. “I’ll concede to the great fucking,” she murmurs, a pretty flush pinking her cheeks. The woman let me fuck her six ways from Sunday last night, and she can still flush like an innocent schoolgirl. So many layers to myKat.

“I believe I said sensational.” I grip her ass with both hands and rub my hardening length againsther.

She groans. “No, stop it. You fiend!” She sits up, resting her bare flesh against my lower stomach instead of where I want her. “You broke my vagina last night. Poor thing needs a rest.” Her bare chest rises and falls, her coral-pink tips puckered tight in the morning chill.

In this light, I can see all of her. Everything she’s tried to hide since her injury. “Honey…” I whisper as I run my fingers over her right shoulder, down the side of her scarred ribcage and breast.

Instantly, she moves to cover it, but I grip her hands and bring them down. “Let me see. Let me love all of you.” I choke down the grit coating my words. She’s the only woman besides my mother I’ve ever loved. And now, more than ever, as she bites her lip, firms her chin, and drops her arms to her sides, I love her more than anything I can comprehend. Her strength, determination, and insecurities are glaring, but she’s breathing through it. Allowing me to see this side of her. The side she doesn’t want anyone tosee.

Slowly, I lift my hands again, wanting—no, needing—to make her understand she is no different to me. Is her skin marred? Yes. Does it disgust me? Not even close.

“Kathleen…these scars”—I run just my fingertips over her shoulder and down her side, where I curl my hand around her small ribcage—“they prove you’re alive.” I lean up and push us both back so she’s sitting in my lap and I’m leaning against the headboard. Moving with intent, I bring my face closer to her shoulder, the same one I used to lick, bite, and nibble during sex. Pulling her closer to me, I press my lips to the tortured flesh. She gasps and I close my eyes, allowing her the time she needs to get used to this touch.

With more purpose, I curl my left arm around her back and cup her nape, forcing her to look at me. Tears are dripping down her cheeks. I kiss them away as I take my right hand, place it on her shoulder, and with a firm grip run my hand down every inch of her scarred arm before I intertwine our fingers and bring her hand up between us. She opens her eyes. They are full of unshed tears and so filled with grief and sorrow I want to look away. But I can’t. She needs me to be strong during her moment of weakness.

I bring her hand to my lips. Her eyes narrow on me as I kiss each fingertip, the top of her puckered flesh, and the center of her palm. “I love every fucking one of these scars, Kat, because they mean you’re alive. You’re here with me. Right here, and you’re never fucking going anywhere.”

Her voice cracks as she opens her mouth and the tears fall. My God, how they fall. “I love you,” she says between sobs before kissing me. Both of her hands are in my hair, tugging me close. Her legs tighten against my sides as if she wants to burrow into me. “I’m sorry, Carson. I’m so sorry I pushed you away,” she chokes out between deep presses of her mouth tomine.

I take every kiss and lick every tear away. They’re mine now, just as sheis.

“Kathleen”—I cup her face and lift her chin with my thumbs—“it’s over. From here on out, it’s me and you. Everything else we’ll brave together.”

She swallows and licks her kiss-swollen lips. “Together.”

“Damn, woman, you can cook.”I’m stuffing my mouth full of another huge bite of waffles smothered in peaches. I’m already on my second waffle and feel like I could hammer back twomore.

Kat snickers, leaning against the counter on the other side of the kitchen, wearing nothing but a camisole and a pair of the tiniest sleep shorts known to man. I can’t say that I’m bothered by them, because every time she turns around and bends over just a hair, I can see a sweet slice of cheek. And I’ve always been an ass man when it comes to my woman.

“Would you like more?” she asks over the rim of her coffee.

I suck in a big breath, lift my arms to the sky, and stretch. Her eyes watch every movement with such intensity I can almost imagine her tracing every inch of my bare chest with her tongue.

“Keep looking at me like that and you’re gonna get yourself fucked on top of your kitchen counter.”

She pouts, but one sexy eyebrow lifts as if she’s thinking aboutit.

I rub my hand down my bare chest and slap my belly. “I think I could eat one more.” I grin. “Even though I was supposed to be making you breakfast in bed. Guess I’ll have to do that next weekend.”

She laughs and shakes her head before putting down her coffee mug and sashaying over to the waffle iron. With the skill only years of practice can manage, she sprays the iron, pours more batter, flicks the lid down, and gets another carb-loaded batch of heaven ready for herman.

“So, what’s your plan for the day?” sheasks.

---