Page 100 of Bloodstained Wings

“I think Tristan mentioned Sam wanting to check in with you. I’ll see if she wants to come over.” Carter gives me another kiss before pulling on the rest of his clothes. I watch him leave the room and then hear the front door close.

I am pulling on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt when the doorbell rings. In the peephole, I see Paul standing guard outside, and when he shifts to the side, I see Sam holding a shopping bag and looking uneasy.

I throw the door open and draw her in for a hug. “I’m really glad you’re here.”

“I didn’t want to push, and I wanted to give you your space.” Sam’s arms come up around me, and she relaxes. “I’m so sorry about your dad, Isabella.”

I sniff and pull back to look at her. “It’s okay. At least he’s not suffering anymore.”

Sam steps into the house and kicks the door shut behind her. “Yeah, but you can still miss him.”

I lead her into the kitchen and open the refrigerator to hide my tears. “I do, but I know he’s better off.”

Sam sighs. “You don’t have to hide how you’re feeling around me, Isabella. I know I haven’t been a good friend to you, but this is all just… a lot, you know.”

I reach for a bottle of wine and a container with cheese and salami. When I spin back around to face Sam, she is leaning against the kitchen counter, an apologetic look on her face. “Water under the bridge. Don’t worry about it.”

Sam’s expression turns relieved. “Good. Um… Carter handed me this on my way out. He said to help you get ready for the celebration tonight.”

I give her a small smile and pry the container open. “I’d like that.”

Hours later, I am twisting to and fro and looking at myself in the full-length mirror in my bedroom. The blue dress shimmers and glides over my skin with every movement. It has a plunging V-neck that shows off my cleavage, and I’ve paired it with a simple gold necklace and a bracelet Carter left out for me. After helping me with my hair and makeup, Sam is back at Anita’s, changing into her own outfit for the night.

Butterflies form in the center of my stomach when Carter materializes in the doorway to the bedroom, a handsome vision in his black suit, with the sleeves of his white button-down shirt featuring the black-rose cufflinks. With a lazy smile, he saunters into the room and pulls me to him. I tilt my head back to meet his gaze and give him a breathless smile.

“We have a problem, dove.”

I frown. “What’s wrong?”

“You look fucking amazing.” Carter’s eyes are moving steadily over me, leaving me feeling hot and bothered. “I don’t think we can go out like this.”

“Your family is waiting for us,” I point out with a chuckle. “We can’t be late to our own engagement celebration.”

“Like hell, we can’t.” Carter hoists me up and sets me down on the dresser. He pushes the dress up so it’s around my waist, revealing the lacy black underwear underneath. Carter palms me over the material, and I melt, turning into putty in his hands. I reach between us and cup him over the fabric of his trousers. He growls and pushes my hand away. I barely have time to register the zipper being undone and the familiar sound of cloth ripping before Carter is positioned at my entrance.

One hand grips the dresser underneath me, and the other flutters at my side.

I feel a strange sensation in my arm where the birth control implant is meant to be, but I ignore it.

Carter buries himself inside me, and my fingers dart underneath his shirt, moving over his bare skin.

An hour later, Carter and I walk into the restaurant holding hands. The restaurant is empty, except for the Blackthorne family, who are already eating and talking among themselves. As soon as she sees us, Anita lets out a whoop of approval and raises her glass to us. They all break out into applause, and color creeps up my neck and cheeks.

Tears prick the back of my eyes as Carter sits down first and pulls me into his lap.

I shift, the toy he placed between my legs making me feel particularly sensitive.

“Thank you all so much for coming tonight. We’re sorry we’re late.”

Carter pushes my hair forward and presses a kiss to the back of my neck. “We had some unfinished business to take care of.”

Underneath the table, he places his hand on my thigh and squeezes. I already miss him inside of me.

Throughout dinner, Carter doesn’t stop finding excuses to touch me. Thankfully, the toy between my legs doesn’t do anything, but I’m all too aware of how it feels against my bare skin and the feeling of Carter’s erection through the bulge in his trousers.

I keep trying to focus on Carter’s family, the glittering chandelier, and the soft strings of jazz music playing, but I can’t.

All night, Carter is the only thing I can think about, and the fact that, someday soon, I’m going to become his wife.

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