Page 12 of Castle's Cards

The house glows with golden warmth and it looks so much more approachable now that we’re getting closer to it. With wings that fan out on each side and stones stacked to form high towers, it almost looks like a castle. I swallow hard as I look up at it.

The door opens immediately, and someone who must be a housekeeper or something answers the door.

“Good evening, Mr. Castle. Would you like a pot of coffee put on for you and your friend?”

“That sounds perfect, thank you,” he tells the young woman easily, giving her a kind smile. I like this soft side of him. The one that treats people with kindness and doesn’t start fights at poker clubs.

“Are we going to your room?” I ask and Carter glances back at me, grinning.

“I’ll give you a tour later, I guess.” Carter leads me up the dark wood stairs to the second floor.

Time seems to freeze for a moment as if I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop and realize that this is just a dream. But that probably won’t happen, because I’m really with Carter Castle in his house. He protected me earlier and I want to show him how I feel. I want him to hold me through the night and I want his body molded to mine.

“Wow, this room is as big as my entire apartment,” I breathe as Carter leads me into his room.

The ceilings are high, with a glass chandelier hanging from the center. The huge four-poster king bed is neatly made up with a velvet green comforter the same shade of green as Carter’s eyes. His silver-touched hair glitters in the moonlight streaming from the window. Being here is so much better than being in that little alcove behind the club, but I would have been fine there, too. I want this man so badly that I don’t even care where we are as long as we’re together.

“Looks very comfortable,” I murmur, heading for his bed. I splay out on the bed, looking at Carter seductively.

“It’s too big for just me. And too cold.”

Carter climbs in next to me. He reaches out, gently unbuttoning the silky shirt I’m wearing and tossing it to the floor.

He lets out a sharp breath and moves a hand onto my breast, squeezing softly through my bra. I know it doesn’t make much sense. We hardly know each other, but I’m so tired of waiting -- I feel as if I have been waiting my whole life to be with Carter. Something has been building since the moment we met and I want to set it free between us. I know he feels it, too.

He presses a kiss to my ear and rubs his smooth thumb gently over my nipple, slow and soft at first, but then harder against my skin. I let out a small moan.

“Carter, please,” I whisper and even I can hear the want in my own voice. “Please.”

The rush and smoothness of fabric against bare skin makes me aware of the movement of his body as he slides his muscled arm from beneath my neck to tuck my dark hair behind my ear, clearing the way for his open-mouthed kisses that begin to feel more and more frantic. Being with him feels like getting air again after holding my breath for a long time. I need this man and he seems to need me just as much.

“You’re so damn beautiful.” Carter murmurs.

I feel myself growing more and more needy, and I ache for his fingers and whatever else he will give me. I feel him suck a mark into my shoulder and I gasp out loud.

With a bit of quick-moving and agile hands, Carter pulls my bra off, where I’m completely happy to let it just fall onto the expensive rug that waits on the polished floorboards. The small skirt I’m wearing is pulled tight against my legs and I want to take it off. My fingers tremble with my excitement as I try to pull down my black tights. Carter grins against my neck when he feels me trying, rubbing his hand over my hip. His hand smoothes down my thigh, scraping the soft fabric of the sheer tights.

“I’ve got you,” he murmurs, bringing his hand under my skirt and tugging my tights down and away. His fingers brush against my lacy panties and he groans in my ear.

He rubs a hand over my belly and I shiver at the gentle press of his touch. I push my body against him once again and he groans, the deep growl of his voice making me feel hot and feverish all over. Carter slides his hand down my body to tuck it inside of my tight skirt, touching me gently and letting me move against his hand. I can’t help but moan at his touch. He uses his other hand to pull my panties down.

“Carter—” I start, but I’m cut off by a little whine of pleasure and surprise as he presses two fingers inside me.

“What is it?”

“I’m not sure what to do,” I tell him, a little embarrassed but too aroused to care very much at all. I have only ever been with one man, and it was clumsy and forgettable. We were young and inexperienced, which didn’t make for an enjoyable time for either of us. The pleasure building in my belly indicates that Carter is neither of those things, and I don’t know how to reciprocate.

“Don’t worry. I’ll show you everything you need to know. Just let me take care of you first,” Carter’s green eyes shine with excitement.

Carter pumps his fingers in and out gently, slick with my wet heat, curling his body against mine on the smooth, soft sheets. He is warm and heavy against me, holding me close to him.

With my other hand, I move to pull down my tight, black skirt, but Carter stops me with a gentle touch. I’m bare under the skirt and his fingers touch me. My modest breasts bounce gently as I move and he watches them, looking completely aroused.

“I want to have you with the skirt on,” he murmurs in a low voice, rubbing a hand over my bare ass under the skirt. He squeezes and holds me like I belong to him completely.

I suck in a breath, overwhelmed and aching with want for this man. I’m addicted to him like he’s a drug I can’t get enough of. Every moment with him is like torture in the best possible sense.

Carter props himself up with one arm and seals his mouth over mine as he holds himself over me, swallowing my gasps and moans of pleasure until I can barely take it anymore. I press my head back against his strong shoulder, crying out in a wave of aching pleasure. He feels so strong and capable behind me, holding me close.

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