“Try me.”
With a growl, Carter stole me from the club, dragging me through the crowd with ease as it parted like the Red Sea. My anxiety was gone. My fear was gone. My worries were gone. I was completely and utterly consumed by this man and I didn’t want reality to find me.
Ten
Carter’s apartment was impressive. Even through the drunken haze I noted the starkness of his home. White everywhere. Chrome and black made it feel sterile and I kicked my shoes off the second he stepped inside.
“I’m a neat-freak,” he said, noting my action. “Sometimes.”
Sometimes? I was sure neat-freaks were neat-freaks every day of the week. I shrugged, crossing the space without his permission until my bare feet found a thick grey rug with silver threads. I squished my toes and smiled.
“Why are you smiling?” he asked as his hands cupped my shoulders. “I wouldn’t be smiling if I were you.”
“Why not?” I turned to face him. “You think I’m afraid of you?”
“Maybe you should be.”
“Because maybe you’re a serial killer, or a rapist, or something equally as heinous?” When he said nothing, I reached forward and opened the first button on his shirt. “I wouldn’t be afraid if you were.”
“No?” One eyebrow, the one above his blue eye, quirked and he looked down at me with curiosity. “Why’s that?”
“Because I’m more than aware that monsters don’t hide under the bed and wait until you’re ready. I’ve met enough monsters to become desensitised to the danger.”
I clamped my mouth shut, snagging both lips between my teeth to stop anymore bullshit escaping.
“Time to stop talking, Harley.”
I nodded, grateful for the instruction. He didn’t want to hear any more, and I didn’t want to say any more. We’d both be satisfied if I kept my mouth shut and-
I jumped him. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I fused my lips to his, desperate to taste him like he’d tried to allow me to downstairs. When he growled and parted his lips, his firm tongue slipping into my mouth, I moaned. Squeezing my ass, he pulled me tight against him and slinked his hands into my hair.
“I need you to beg, Harley,” he said, edging me back against the floor to ceiling window that exposed the city and invited its visitors to watch us.
“I don’t beg,” I said, remembering a time not so long ago when I’d begged for my life.
“I can make you.”
“You can’t.”
“Challenge accepted.”
I shrieked when he forced his hands beneath my dress and tore at my underwear. I didn’t care when he stuffed them in his pocket. I didn’t care when he shoved the dress up higher and managed to tangle my arms in it to hold me captive. I did, however, care when he dropped to his knees and thrust his face between my legs. I quivered when he took a deep breath.
“You smell like a queen,” he said. “Like the queen of the villains.”
Visions of a woman dressed like a harlequin with pigtails dyed pink and blue tried to steal me from the moment, but Carter took me right back when he threw one of my legs over his shoulder and closed his mouth over my pussy.
“Such a sweet little cunt,” he mused with a gentle lick that made me mewl. “All mine…for one night only?”
“Yes,” I moaned.
“And you won’t beg me? Just once?”
Shaking my head, I whispered, “No.”
“Then you’ve sealed the deal for a second night.” A finger slid between my lips and sunk into my pussy. I threw my head back against the glass. “We’ll have to go again and again and again until you beg.”
“Why?” I asked, fisting his hair and riding his hand to rub my clit against his palm. “Why do you need me to beg?”
“Because we both like to win, babe. I win when you beg, and you win because you’ll get rid of me.”
I wanted to beg, not because I was prepared to give in, but because I needed some relief. My body was coiled up tight and I needed him to set me free.
“Carter…”
“Don’t do it now,” he whispered, swirling his tongue over my clit as a second finger eased inside me. “Don’t let me win so easily.”
“You’re a bastard.”
“Better believe it, babe.” Looking up at me, he shook his head from side to side, stimulating every one of my senses until I shook with an impending orgasm. “Now…do you want it against the wall, or in my bed?”
“Bed.”
Before I could explain myself, or think the decision through, Carter stood and hoisted me up to wrap my legs around him. He walked me through the apartment with his lips on mine and his mouth devouring me. I could taste myself on his tongue and I ground against him when his hard cock barely contained by his trousers nudged against my bare pussy.
I landed on the bed with a muted thud as Carter crawled over me and dragged my dress up to expose me to him. I stopped him before he could expose my breasts and he looked at me questionably.
“You can see the only part you’ll need,” I said, battling against him as he tried to take the dress off. “Take your clothes off and fuck me already.”
“If that’s how you want to play it.”
Leaning back, he did the button I’d undone back up, and took his belt off. I watched as he undid his belt and pulled it out of the loops. I winced, remembering what leather felt like against my flesh, but before he could ask about my reaction, I reared up and shoved my hand into the opening he’d created, pushing my way past trousers and boxers.
“Fuck,” he hissed, dropping his chin to the top of my head. “What the fuck?”
“No affection, remember?” I said, fisting him in a firm grip.
He was hot, searing. He was so hard, I could feel every ridge and vein in his cock and my mouth watered. It had been months, an entire year since…
Carter pushed me back to the mattress with his hand around my throat. He was gentle, unlike the last time he’d taken hold of my neck. His actions were no less powerful. He was unknowingly wiping thoughts of Michael from my mind, stopping me every time my thoughts edged towards my ex, and replacing them with himself.
“Foreplay is half the fun, babe,” he said, reaching over to grab a condom from his bedside cabinet.
“Foreplay is overrated,” I lied.
“Who are you?”
“Your match,” I said, before taking the condom from him and tearing the packet with my teeth. “You’ve met it, babe.”
Carter shook his head before a hiss left him when I tugged him free and rolled the condom down his impressive length.
“Don’t unman me,” he said, forcing me back into the mattress, his alpha aggression leaking through when he realised I’d taken control. “It’ll end badly for both of us.”
“Maybe that’s what I’m bargaining on.”
Was I? I had a death wish, I knew that; I had done since everything that made me who I was had been stolen from me. But did I want to die in the throes of passion, never to have another orgasm since Michael had-
“Forget him,” Carter growled. I gasped when he fisted the base of his cock, and I wrapped my legs around him when he eased into me. “Don’t think of another fucking man when I’m balls deep inside you.”
“How did you-”
“Shh…” He silenced me with a kiss that was neither loving nor hateful. It just tore me up inside when I realised he was replacing Michael--again. "Just do as you’re told, Harley."
Nodding, I closed my mouth and allowed myself to just feel. Carter was so thick, so hard and unforgiving as he stretched me and filled me and made me cry out in unrestrained pleasure. My nails clawed into his back, my feet dug into his ass, and I rocked against him as he picked up a rhythm that set my heart beating erratically. He sat back on his heels, gripping my hips to pull my body onto his as the angle stroked my g-spot and set my soul on fire.
"Are you thinking of anyone but me?" he grunted, glimmering sweat trickling from his temples.
&
nbsp; "No."
"Are you thinking of anything besides my cock inside you until you forget your own name, let alone his?"
"No."
Why the sudden possessiveness? Why the sudden jealousy for something he'd only assumed, with no evidence to confirm his assumptions? Fuck, I didn't know, but I felt like he was screwing with me. Why? Why was he doing this? Why had he chosen me when he could have any pick of women who would bow to his whim?
"Harley," he growled, leaning over me to squeeze my breast through my clothing.
"What?" I bit, reaching to caress his pecs, digging into them until crescent shapes creased his shirt.
"Snap out of it."
"Then fuck me, Carter. Fuck me as if you hate me like I know you do." My hands slid around him to squeeze his ass. "Shut up and make me come."
Jesus, he was an animal, spurred on by me bruising his ego. He pounded into me again and again, until my head hit the headboard and my body built to a crescendo that would tear me apart.
"I'm coming!" I cried, throwing my head back into the pillow as my back arched. "God, Carter."
"That's it, babe," he whispered on a grunt as his thumb found my clit. "Come for me."
I screamed as I detonated, my entire body trying to fuse to his and push him away as my orgasm seized me. He held me still as I trembled with aftershocks, until he found his own release, threw his head back, and I felt every jerk of his cock as he came with a loud growl.
Carter fell asleep. Not long after he'd torn the condom off and tossed it into the bin without even needing to look at where it was, he laid next to me and passed out. I ached. My core felt bruised with the aggression of my first fuck in over a year, but it was the ache in my soul that had me climbing out of bed before he could escort me out. I let myself out of his apartment, calculated exactly how much time I'd need to be able to summon the lift and get in before it descended without me, and I stepped out into the silent street. Taking my phone out of my bag, I texted Evan and Ben and told them I was alive, thoroughly fucked (with a winky face so they wouldn't jump into aftercare-mode), and that I was going home.
And then I hailed a taxi.
When I woke in the morning, it was to a faint tapping on the door. I got out of bed and pulled my dressing gown on, headed downstairs one blurry step at a time, and opened the door expecting to see Evan with a coffee.
There was coffee held out in front of me, but not in the hands of either of my best friends. Instead, the should have been one-night-stand Carter held out a Starbucks cup. Inhaling the scent told me he'd brought me a caramel macchiato—my favourite.
"Heavy night?" he asked with a smirk.
I closed the door slightly to look in the mirror behind it. I looked like shit. I'd crawled into bed last night—early this morning—without taking my makeup off, and it was streaked down my face. My hair was up in a knot but sweat-matted clumps were evident.
"What do you want?" I asked, taking the coffee and closing the door around me so he couldn't burst in. "I thought we agreed one night."
"We did?"
"I didn't agree to your terms. I told you one night. I didn't buy into your 'let's see who wins' bullshit."
"My what?" He frowned, then it turned upside down into a shit-eating grin. "Ohh, I see. I'll win, Harley. I always do."
"Whatever. What do you want? I'm game to pretend it never happened if you'd prefer. In fact, I've forgotten it already, but I don't know why you're here."
"I thought we'd go for a run."
I snorted a laugh. "You don't know much about hangovers, huh?"
"So you were drunk last night?"
"Anyone would assume I'd been underneath someone else last night."
He chuckled and ran his hand through his hair. "Yeah. Well, drunk chicks aren't usually my thing. I made an exception for you." He winked. "So. Run. You've got coffee, I'm ready to go. Go and put that tight little arse in some running gear and we'll go."
I didn't want to go. Yes, I did. Carter in training gear was almost as hot as watching his face contort as he pumped into me. I pouted, knowing I would give in, but wondering if I'd made a mistake in going to bed with him last night. My mind was reeling, calling for something more than a run, but I wasn't sure Carter would take kindly to me calling my dealer and getting high in front of him. He hadn't earned my trust and I didn't need a lecture. I knew what I was doing.
"I'll be five minutes," I said, stepping back and closing the door.
"Can't I come in?" he called through it.
I didn't answer him. No, he couldn't come in. He was in far enough and I had to find a way to get him out of my system. I had to be patient and wait for him to fade, just like Cloud did whenever we had a session.
It was only a matter of time.
Eleven
The run helped to clear my head. I wouldn’t let Carter know that though. I admitted—to myself—that I ran behind him to watch his tight arse move perfectly in the silky material of his shorts, although I called out at some point that I didn’t want him to think a woman could outrun him. God forbid I bruised his ego more than I had last night.
The arousal at being so close to him again poured adrenaline into my muscles as sweat beaded on my brow. My calves tightened, my lungs ached, and just as I hit my stride, Carter veered off to the side into an alleyway.
I frowned, but followed, not wanting to break off now that my body had accepted it was time to exercise. Tall grass and nettles battered my legs but I kept up with him, my eyes scanning the isolated area for danger. My ears pricked at the only sound, our heavy footfalls on the gravelly path.
Carter stopped abruptly and my feet skidded on the small stones as I tried to stop myself from running into the back of him. Bending and holding my knees, I panted, trying to catch my breath.
“Why have we stopped?” I asked, looking up at him.
He didn’t appear to be out of breath and I was more than impressed with his stamina. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small square of foil.
My mouth fell open and I narrowed my eyes on the condom he flicked between his fingers. “Presumptuous, Carter.”
He grinned, stepping into me and guiding me back against the wall. “I’m calling it the Harley effect, babe.”
My chest was still heaving as I pulled much needed air into my lungs. One of his large hands circled my throat, making an inhale near-impossible.
“Sweat and sex,” he murmured as he drew his nose up the side of my neck, the tip of his tongue following the trail and causing goose bumps to break out over my hot skin. “My favourite combination. Especially on your sweet, tight body.”
“Carter.” It was supposed to be a warning but his name came out breathy and, mortifyingly, with a small needy moan.
Taking that as some sort of validation, Carter grabbed the tops of my arms and spun me around, slamming the front of my body against the harsh brickwork. His hard cock dug into the base of my spine as his teeth grazed up the side of my neck. “Hard. Fast. Blunt and brutal,” he declared as he yanked down my shorts.
I wanted to stop him. I wanted to fight him and tell him no. Yet, I couldn’t. Not one part of me didn’t want this as much as Carter.
The sound of the quick rip of foil filled the narrow space and he was balls deep inside me within seconds, my pussy stretched to its limit the further he pushed inside me.
We both growled and my teeth sank into my lower lip at the sound of my own animalistic groan.
“Shit,” he hissed.
His forehead dropped to my shoulder and he started to fuck me with a raw power that left my legs shaking, my bones melting, and my lungs grappling for oxygen.
“Hot and so… Fucking… Tight,” Carter murmured between thrusts as he snatched my hands and held them to the wall, the flat of my palms scraping over the rough stone.
Words left me as he pummelled me, his cock driving so deep and fast that every part of me felt the friction he created.
My breasts squashed against the wall the harde
r Carter pressed into me and I turned my face to the side to stop him from breaking my nose with the force of his thrusts. Bliss slipped into my body as each stroke in and out of me pushed me higher and higher.
“I need you to coat my cock in cum, Harley. Don’t disappoint me.”
Releasing one of my wrists, he slid his hand down and pinched my clit. My cry was loud and feral as ecstasy slammed into me, my body bucking wildly as my orgasm tore through me.
Carter snarled in my ear and forced himself so far inside me I swear I no longer existed as an individual. His pelvis pinned me to the wall as he came as hard as me, his breaths in my ear sharp and quick as he rode his climax.
I used the wall to hold me up as Carter used me, both of us fighting to level out our breathing and come back down to earth.
“You didn’t beg,” he finally whispered in my ear once his lungs had refuelled. “You know what that means.”
I rolled my eyes, pushing him back so I could yank my shorts back up. “You want me to get on my knees and beg? Here? Now?”
He chuckled, “Now where’s the fun in that?”
I tutted when he whipped off the condom and threw it into the tall grass that ran along the edge of the path. “I thought you were a neat-freak.”
He looked perplexed for a moment but then shrugged my comment off. Grabbing my hand, he started to jog, pulling me behind him as my trembling legs struggled to keep up with him.
“Coffee.”
“Home,” I argued.
He looked over his shoulder, finally letting my hand go when I tugged at it. “Sure.”
We ran in silence all the way back and when we finally ran up the path to my front door, Carter snatched the keys out of my hand and let me in.
He grinned when I pushed past him and glared.
“When I said home,” I grumbled, “I meant alone.”
“Such a drama queen.” He sighed dramatically as he followed me into the kitchen, the deep frown on his face as he took in most of the broken furniture making my teeth clench. “What the fuck happened here?”
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