Page 14 of Pearl
She grins, and shrugs. “It usually would be, but the shade wasn’t thrown at you. You’ve done nothing but help. I’m sorry we didn’t meet on such good terms.”
I smirk. “You have the good grace to look as guilty as you should and it’s adorable. Paybacks a bitch, baby. When you’re least expecting it.”
Her eyes glow mischievously. “Now that sounds interesting indeed. Don’t take too long with that food. I’m so hungry, and you strutting around with no shirt on, flexing those ab muscles and pipes for my benefit is working.”
I stride over to the bed and tilt her chin with a tip of my finger, kissing her on the lips. “I won’t be long. Finger yourself for me but don’t you dare come. I want your cream for dessert when I get back.”
Her cheeks turn pink.
“Who would think such a badass would blush so pretty?” I ask.
She tries to turn away, but I don’t allow it. “Don’t hide from me. Real emotions, real feelings, and no bullshit, okay?”
Chapter 11
Pearl
The minute he leaves all the fears I thought were in the past swirl in my mind. When I should be feeling blissful, old skeletons and memories creep in, robbing me of the time and space for happy. Anyone who works for the mob has connections, deep connections that can find out about my past. And when they do, they’re going to want their pound of flesh. They’re going to come knocking on my door one day, but not if I’m not with Carver.
Not if I walk away, chalk it up to a great time, an electric connection, repress those feelings that tell me this is so much more than a roll in the hay. That’s all fine and good until they find out, until he finds out, and then what, I run again, start all over again, and this time with a shattered heart?
Fuck…
I lay my head on his pillow, knowing it’s not really his, that it’s just a spot to crash for him, but his scent is permeated in its material, hell, the smell of him is all over my skin, buried deep inside of me and everywhere I turn. I inhale deeply and wipe a tear, and then another, and another until the flood is just too much to control. And that’s how I know this is more than real,more than anything I’ve ever experienced, or probably am likely to again.
This is the real deal. The one that I have to decide if I want to let get away. I already know the answer to that though, and it didn’t take as long as it should. Because only half of me is thinking rationally, the part of my brain that’s connected to my heart, and whether it’s the biggest safety mistake of my life, I’m not letting him go. Not for the bastards who tried to ruin me, tried to take what I didn’t want to give and deserved every fucking thing they got. They can come for me, but they’re not dealing with a scared little teenager anymore.
The racing of my blood begins to calm and my mind slowly sorts all the pieces into the compartments where they belong, what could happen, what probably will happen, what I’ll need to do, and what I’ll need to survive. I’ve taken care of myself for a long fucking time, and my ladies too. This is a blip in the road, a minor setback, but I’ll deal with it. I have to, because I’m not letting them take my happy.
I snuggle into his pillow, inhaling his scent deeply, basking in the calm that just the smell of his skin brings to my weary and tired mind. Carver kissing me like I’ve never been kissed before, making me tremble so hard I’m not going to be able to ride comfortably tomorrow or maybe even the day after that.
A smile graces my lips as I fall into a deep and blissful sleep, into a dream where Carver strokes that special little spot, right between my legs until I’m screaming his name.
Chapter 12
Carver
I’m only away from her for a few minutes, as long as it takes to make a couple sandwiches, grab a bag of chips and a couple cold beers. It feels like an eternity, thinking about the image of her sliding a delicate finger through that wet little pussy. All for me.
I push the door open with my foot, carrying our food into the room, only to find my little fantasy curled into my pillow, golden hair spread, and sleeping soundly. Something tightens in my chest, seeing her so relaxed, with her guard down, in my space. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I eat my sandwich without ever taking my eyes from the beauty who’s somehow managed to get under my skin, in the most unimaginable of ways.
The minute I slide into bed and curl her to me, she wakes slightly. A stroke to the side of her neck calms her. “Just me, baby. Go back to sleep.”
The rhythmic sound of her breathing calms me too. Just soaking in her nearness fills a void that’s been deep and wide open for so many years without ever before having a thought of filling it.
I wake a few hours later to the caress of her touch, her finger gently passing over ever feature of my face as though memorizing it for good. Maybe I’ve watched too many movies, but it feels like something that happens right before the girl says goodbye in a good movie, and I’m damn sure not ready for that.
My eyes meet hers in the dim light. “You trying to get to know me better or to say goodbye?”
“Real emotions, real feelings, and no bullshit?” she whispers.
I reach beneath her nape and kiss her soundly on the mouth. “Always.”
Her voice trembles. “A little scared of my feelings right now. Things are happening way too fast. I mean, it’s been a minute, a real long minute since I trusted anyone who wasn’t female or one of my crew. The stuff that happened today, I’m still trying to process it all. Do you work for the mob?”
My jaw tightens. “Not exactly, but I do some work for them.”
“You gonna tell me who those men were at the bar? I have been around the block. The two bikers clearly work for the Larussio crew.”
