Black Hart

by L. J. Swartz

  My phone rings making me jump. I look to my side. Carmen is still fast asleep next to me. She sighs then snuggles into my side wrapping her arm around me. I smile then place a kiss to her forehead. I reach out for my phone. It stopped ringing. I hold it up and see that I don't have a clue who it was that was calling. I'm off today, so I turn my phone off and turn wrapping my arms around her holding her tightly. She mumbles something then nuzzles her face into my neck. I close my eyes and just let myself enjoy this. I don't know for sure what is going to happen with us. I know for a fact, I will do everything within my power not to hurt her. She won't leave, and if I'm being honest I never REALLY wanted her to, so I need to prove to her she made the right choice. That she's not wasting her time on a piece of shit. I kiss her forehead. I feel her move in my arms then look down to see her beautiful green eyes open. She smiles at me. I press my lips to hers for a slow kiss. When I go to pull away she slides her hand up holding me to her. I kiss her more. I'm not much of a kisser, usually, but I never want to stop kissing Carmen. Especially if she doesn't want me to. I don't know how long we lay there JUST kissing. That's a first for me. There's a knock at the door. I sigh against her lips then take my lips from hers. She giggles then pushes on my chest sliding from the bed. "Carmen...." She holds her hand up then grabs my hoodie off the floor slipping it on. She looks fucking incredible. It goes to her knees. I smile as she walks to the door opening it a crack. I hear her say, "Oh hey." I hear another voice, but can't tell who it is. Female is all I know for sure. I sit up. She looks over her shoulder at me giving me a look. I smirk then slide back sitting against the head board. She looks back to whoever it is. "He's fine. And I would really appreciate if you would quit coming here. He's not available for whatever you two used to do together anymore." I chuckle then cross my arms over my chest. She is something else. She shuts the door then looks to my with a raised eye brow. "That was the woman from last night. She was worried about you." I nod then let my eyes follow her movements as she takes my hoodie back off revealing every inch of her gorgeous caramel skin. She smiles as he crawls into the bed. "I informed her your no longer available for her pleasure." I chuckle as she moves up my legs straddling me through the bed spread. I uncross my arms sliding my hands up her hips with a smile on my face. "I heard. So that makes me your..." She cuts me off whispering, "Everything." My smile falls. I'm not good enough to be anyone's everything." I start to take my hands from her. She slides her hands to my face. "Don't do that. I only want everything you can give. I'm not trying to make you uncomfortable Dalton, but I know what I want. Stop putting pressure on yourself and just let this happen. I want what you are. Not what you think I deserve." I search her face. It's like everything I've ever wanted to hear has been said to me in the last month or so. I've been forgiven for killing Gretchen. I've been told I'm loved. Now I'm being told I'm good enough as is. I don't say a word I just lean forward kissing her. I'm not a very good words man, but I'm good with actions. I'll show her what she means to me until I can tell her.

  "What do you think?" She has a huge smile on her face as she motions around the room we're in. We've been in three apartments, so far this one is by far my favorite especially for her. This is a better part of town. I'd feel better with her being here. Not that she'll be here much without me or anything, but if she ever is... "Dalton?" I look to her. "I love this one." I nod my agreement. She steps to me grabbing my shirt in her hands. "Will you sign the lease with me?" I raise my eye brow. We've been over this a couple times since she decided she hated the hotel and wanted to get an apartment. I don't want that kind of pressure on us. "Please just so you can be here without hassle." I'm not comfortable with being on a lease with her. Damn she hasn't even been my "girlfriend" for a week yet. "Carmen." I warn then step back looking off to the side. She holds her hands up. "Ok but then Luke is moving in with me." I give her a look. She has yet to mention that until now. "Why would Luke move in with you? He has a place." She gives me a look. "He has been staying with a friend of ours sleeping on his couch. If we share rent, it will be cheaper, and this place is two bedroom so it's perfect." She steps to me wrapping her arms around my waist. I don't like the idea of someone else being here when we're fucking and shit. "I don't like it." I state. It's her turn to get pissy. "You don't want to live here, so there is no reason he can't." She steps back crossing her arms over her chest. I feel like I'm being set up. I huff then turn and walk out. "Dalton where are you going?" She calls out as she follows me. "I'm not getting pushed into moving in with you." I mumble. She grabs my hand tugging hard. I look to her. God those eyes make me want to just say yes. She opens her mouth. I press my finger tips to it. "You're right I'm sorry. I'm not ready to move in with you, so if you want Luke here I get that." I take my hand from her mouth holding it out. She takes it searching my face. "I was NOT trying to push you into moving in with me. I just wanted a roommate is all." I smile pulling her to me. "I know babe. And don't worry I will be here all the time. So that bitch knows your mine." She smiles up at me. "I like that you called me that." I lean forward grazing my lips along hers. "You are my babe." She nips my bottom lip whispering, "Good." I sigh then plunge my tongue into her mouth. She grabs me behind my neck. I kiss her until she stops me. I smile at her. "You better call Luke so you guys can sign a damn lease. I like this one." She giggles then takes my hand in hers leading me back into the apartment. The realtor was out back giving us a chance to look it over. She meets us at the front door. "Oh I thought you two left." I smile weakly as Carmen shakes her head no saying, "I like this one." The realtor smiles then pulls out a small stack of papers stapled together. I feel weird all the sudden. Carmen is moving here for me. I didn't ask her too. Then again I would have if I wasn't such a pussy. She squeezes my hand. I look to her. "Dalton you ok?" I nod then take the papers. "How much do you need for a down payment?" The realtor looks from me to Carmen. "I thought you were signing alone?" I look to Carmen then back to miss realtor lady. "Does it matter?" She shakes her head back and forth then gets her professional pants on. "I had Carmen do a back ground check it's uh...." I hold my hand up cutting her off. "It's not me, but her friend works with me. We'll get him here to fill it out for you today." She smiles then nods. "Rent?" I ask again waiting for her to fucking answer me. "Uh first and last months rent so 900." I nod then walk over to the counter. I swallow hard. Carmen steps up next to me. I look to her. She has a huge smile on her face. I'll do anything to make sure that never goes away. I look up as the realtor walks over. "Ok Carmen sign by all the blue tabs and as long as your friend gets the check done and it comes back good, we can meet later for money and key exchange." Carmen signs and they make an appointment to get the keys later today. She smiles at me then walks off to call Luke. I'm not stoked he'll be living here, but there is just no way I am ready to move in here with her.

  "Alright back it up." I call out waving Luke back. He slowly backs the U-Haul with all of Carmen's things into the driveway. She left yesterday morning to go home and pack with Luke. I seriously felt like such a loser last night. I was bored and didn't know what to do without her, so I went to bed early. I only had a few appointments this morning so I talked to Steve about being here the rest of the day unless we get loads of walk-ins then he told me he'll call me back in. Her car pulls in behind Luke in the U-Haul. I smile as she jumps out and runs to me. I catch her lifting her up as she wraps herself around me. "I feel so stupid, but I missed you so much and it was only one night." She mumbles into my neck as she holds me close. I smile over her shoulder. "I went to bed early." I admit so only she can hear. She busts up laughing then presses her lips to mine. I slip my tongue into her mouth wishing Luke wasn't here. I hear the driver door to the U-Haul slam shut. I take my lips from hers smiling. She rolls her eyes whispering, "Remind me to tell you something later." I sit her on her feet asking, "Why can't you tell me now?" Luke walks up next to us. "Ready to unload this beast?" I nod giving him a get the fuck away look. He huffs then walks to the back of the truck. I l
ook to Carmen expectantly. She pushes on my chest. I hold onto her hips tightly. She sighs then meets my gaze. "You promise not to get mad?" I search her face. "No." She shakes her head then grabs onto my shirt. "He tried to kiss me last night." I raise my eye brows. That little shit seemed a little to eager to take her back home. Truth is I didn't want to get into that death trap or have to meet her mom, so I didn't put up a fight to go. Her mom has made it known that she is not super stoked she's moving here to be with a 30 something tattoo artist. Even if it is the kid her husband helped back in the day. Now that she just told me this little piece of information, I'm thinking the stress would have been worth it to keep him away from her. I turn and walk toward him. "Wait Dalton." She calls out as I get to him. He looks to me then sits down the box he has in his hands. "Look man I've always had feelings for her. I just needed to try." He explains looking at me trying to figure out how pissed I am. I nod. "I can respect that, but you showed me no respect kissing my girl." He nods. "I know. It was wrong of me." Carmen touches my arm. I look to her shooting her a smile. She nods then lets go of my arm. I look to Luke. "Good. I hope you understand this." I punch him in the face one time. "Fuck Dalton." Carmen hisses then tries to get around me to him. I grab her arm stopping her. She looks to me. I raise my eye brow. She huffs then walks off into the apartment. He stumbles back but regains his footing quickly. I point at him. "Do it again. I'll kick your ass." He nods holding his hands up. I load up with boxes and walk into the apartment. Carmen is slamming shit around in the kitchen. I walk over sitting boxes in front of the island on the floor. She doesn't look at me. I walk around and catch her arm pulling her to me. She looks off to the side still not looking at me. I slide my hand to her face. She huffs, but I can tell she's not as mad as she wants to be. "Baby?" I smile knowing she likes when I call her that. She starts to smile then stops. I chuckle. "I saw that. Might as well go ahead and smile." She looks to me then lets me have it. That gorgeous full watt smile I can't seem to say no to. I search her face. "I had to let him know that wasn't ok." She raises her eye brow. "So what though? You don't trust me?" Oh shit here we go. I punch a guy for trying to kiss her and that means I don't trust her? "That's not it Car, and you know it. Don't pull this shit on me. He needed to know I'm not ok with it." She huffs then walks out around me to him as he comes through the door carrying boxes. She steps to him touching his eye. "Are you ok?" He nods then sits down the boxes he has. I clench my jaw as he touches her arm telling her it's ok. Damn straight it's fucking ok. She's mine. I start to walk over to tell him to quit touching her then stop myself. She'll just think I don't trust her. I walk out around them to the truck. There. Now she knows I do trust her to be alone with him and keep him in check. I come back in with another arm full. Carmen is back in the kitchen unloading boxes, and Luke is no where to be seen. "Where's Luke?" He comes from back the hall. "Hey man let's get this truck unloaded." I call out. He nods then follows me out. We get everything moved in. Luke leaves to go drop the U-Haul off and get his things. Before he leaves he apologizes for trying to kiss her. I accept but don't apologize for punching him. She's my girl. I will not let him think it's ok to make a move on her. Whether I trust her or not.

  I roll over to her gorgeous smile. I'm exhausted after yesterday, but she's getting that look in her eyes. I can't tell her no. I physically cannot make myself say the word. I don't have any appointments until later in the day so until then I'm hers to do with as she wants. "I need food." I whine playfully holding my hands up as she moves straddling me. She busts up laughing, "Oh no. Has big bad Dalton met his match?" I swallow hard as her words mean more than I'm willing to acknowledge right now. I grab her ass grinding myself against her. "I'm fine." I whisper then sit up pressing my lips to hers. I am starving, but as soon as she gives me the look she just did, it changes from wanting food to wanting her. She pushes on my chest. "We can go eat." I smile as I roll us over pushing her to the bed. "Oh I'll eat alright." She giggles but stops abruptly as I slide down her body placing kisses to her stomach, out to her hip, down between her legs. I push her legs open as I dip my tongue between her lips. She moans loudly then runs her hands up her stomach to her breasts twisting her nipples. I think I'm just as turned on as she is watching her touch herself as I taste her. She's tastes sweet. I love it. She moves against my mouth as I tease her avoiding what I know she wants the most. We may have only started our little relationship, but this woman is not afraid to tell you what she wants. Just when I didn't think she could get any sexier she moans what she wants and how she wants it. I finally suck her clit into my mouth. She groans loudly then slams her hands into my hair tugging hard. I almost moan myself. She starts to tremble beneath me. I place a kiss to her then crawl up her body. A chill runs through her. Once I'm eye level she opens her eyes. "Hi." She whispers then giggles. "You ready for food now?" She nods her head then pushes on my chest. I stand and am about to go get dressed when she catches my hand in hers. "I don't want to go anywhere for food." I smile giving her hand a squeeze. "Ok I'll order in." She smiles deviously. "That's not necessary." She licks her lips then leans forward wrapping them around my tip. I groan then take my hand from hers to rest it to her cheek as she takes me in further circling her tongue around before pushing me into her mouth as far as she can. I swallow hard as she slides her hands to my ass. I don't know why, but her lips feel better on me than anyone else's ever have. And I've had my fair share of blow jobs, not that I should be proud of that or anything. She adds a hand pumping up and down me as she moves her mouth around my tip. I slide both hands into her hair being sure to just rest them there not applying any pressure. I haven't always been so considerate. She does this amazing swirly thing with her tongue. I can't take it much longer. Each swipe of her tongue literally almost makes me lose it. Do I just come in her mouth? I don't usually care, but I care with her. I don't want to gross her out, or push her into something she's not comfortable with. She nibbles my tip. "Carmen shit," I call out as I release into her mouth. She pushes me back her throat swallowing. I moan tugging on her hair slightly. She pulls from me making a crazy pop noise with her mouth. I bust up laughing then move sitting on the edge of the bed. She straddles my lap. I sigh as I slide my hands to her thighs. This woman is crazy. I kind of love it.

  I walk into work holding onto her hand tightly. Sunny looks up at us with a raised eye brow. "Hey guys." She calls out giving me a look. I roll my eyes as I lead Carmen over to my station. Luke walks over to her pulling her into a hug. "I feel like we haven't seen each other much. And we live together." He comments over her shoulder. She smiles giving him a playful shove. "That's because you're always here." He glances at me. "Yeah well I'm still the newbie. I have to come whether anyone else does or not." He shoots me a cold look then turns and walks off. I raise my eye brow at her then nod in his direction. She shrugs as she steps to me running her hands up and down my stomach under my shirt. She groans. I chuckle as I look around. I'm not some big ol muscly man, but I try to keep fit. Whatever I am or am not must be working because she slides her hands out from under my shirt then slides them into my hair pulling my lips to hers. I step to her holding her to me. I know none of my coworkers have ever seen me be like this with a woman. I step back feeling a bit weird about that. I search her face. This isn't me. Dalton Hartwell doesn't kiss girls unless I'm fucking them. "Hey are you ok?" She asks sliding her hand to my face. I nod then let go of her. I feel.... I'm not sure. "I need to get set up." I walk over to my station. She steps behind me wrapping her arms around my waist. "I'm gonna head to Mabel's. You want anything?" I automatically want to turn to her and pull her into my arms. That scares the shit out of. This is the first time we've been in public since we became "official." She was busy finding an apartment and job hunting. I liked our little bubble. This makes me feel exposed. Maybe a bit weak. I unwrap her arms as I mumble, "No I'm good." I'm not good. This shit is getting serious, fast. What did I expect though. I just helped her fucking move here. I even gave her the money for her security
deposit. She steps back slowly. I don't look to her. I just keep at setting up. "Ok be right back." She comments hesitantly. I nod. Hell if we keep up this pace we'll be married with a baby on the way by the end of next week. I need to chill out. I like her, so I need to just let this do it's thing like she asked. If it gets outta hand I'll tell her. "Dalton." Sunny calls out. I spin around barking, "What?" I didn't mean to snap at her just all the sudden I feel like all this shit with Carmen is making me crazy. I hold my hand up. "Sorry. What's up Sunny?" She looks shocked that I apologized. That makes me feel like shit. I know I've mistreated her in the past and there is no excuse for it. "Uh your 5 is gonna be late. More like 530. I told him it was ok since your next one isn't coming til 8." I hate that she didn't ask me first, but it's fine and exactly what I would have done so, I just nod then turn back to what I was doing. I don't technically need to be doing this now, but fuck I need to keep busy so my mind stops. Carmen comes back a bit later with a coffee in one hand and a muffin in the other. I watch her walk toward me. She is so gorgeous. I should tell her. I look to the side. I shake my head then look back to her. She raises her eye brow at me. "Don't look at me like that Carmen I'm fine." She holds her hands up in surrender. She looks adorable since she's still holding her items. "My appointment should be here soon though then I'll be busy so..." I'm trying to get rid of her with out being a total dick about it. She steps next to me whispering, "If you want to me go, just say it." I step to her sliding my hands to her hips. I feel better immediately. I smile at her searching her face. Maybe I just need to make sure I'm touching her at all times. She moves to her tip toes pressing her lips to mine. Muffin, Carmen, and coffee, my favorite flavor. I take my lips from hers. I look to the floor then back to her face. "I don't really need you to go. I don't......." I feel bad. I don't know how or if I should tell her how I'm feeling. I don't want to hurt her. I smile. "I just have a hard time concentrating when your around." She smiles then presses another kiss to my lips. "I understand. I'll leave." She starts to step back. I pull her back to me. "Not yet." I press my lips to hers again. I need to keep kissing her. Reminding myself how lucky I am to have what I have in front of me.