Friends with Benefits: A Steamy College Romance (Beta Brothers #2)
Page 22
“Is that an official rule?”
“It is,” he said, scooting up to sit back against the headboard. “Besides, it's important that I have opportunities to practice not groping you in public.”
“Is it really that hard to keep your hands to yourself?”
“It's getting harder all the time,” he said, pulling my legs across his lap. “Plus, I want to show you off.”
“What are you, a caveman? Are you going to hit me over the head and drag me around the frat house like I'm your property now?”
He studied the ceiling before looking back at me. “It's either that, or I’ll have to mark you with my teeth like I did last night.”
“No on both counts,” I said. “I have to draw the line somewhere.”
He sighed. “Fine. I won't even bother trying to impose a uniform then.”
“Please tell me you're kidding.”
“Yeah, totally kidding,” he said. “There is definitely nothing in my Amazon shopping cart that would suggest otherwise.”
I shook my head. “You know the difference between a doll and a girlfriend, right?”
“Hmmm.” He squeezed his jaw in one hand. “Remind me again? I know one of them is poseable and comes alive at night, I'm just not sure which it is.”
“Very funny.”
“Thanks,” he said. “Seriously, though, I'm joking about the rules for the most part. Except the Tinder thing. And the dinner thing. And the frolfing.”
“So you're not really joking at all?”
“Would you feel better if you got to make one?” he asked.
“You mean like no more rules?”
His lips turned down at the corners. “That's a shame.”
“Why?”
“’Cause I just thought of a really good one.”
I cocked my head. “I doubt it.”
“Are you sure you can't handle any more?”
“I'm sure,” I said. “Absolutely no more rules.”
He hung his head dramatically, as if it were heavy with disappointment.
I groaned. “What were you going to say?”
“Forget it,” he said. “It's not important.”
“No, come on. Let's hear it.”
“Are you sure?”
“No, but if you're going to sulk, I at least want to know why.”
“It's cool,” he said. “You're right. That's enough.”
“Okay, seriously, tell me.”
He scratched the back of his head.
“Carter.”
“I was just going to say that, now that you're my girlfriend, you have to come to Cancún with me for spring break.”
My face fell. “What?”
“But it's fine if you're not interested. I'm sure I can get someone to buy your ticket.”
“Are you fucking with me right now?”
“No. I mean, I was going to fuck with you in Cancún, but if you really don't want to go…”
I leaned an ear towards him. “Are you seriously asking me to go to Mexico with you?”
“Only if you'll let me have the window seat.”
“Oh my god, you're serious.”
“Only about Cancún,” he said smiling. “Not about the window seat. I don't really care where I si-”
I threw my arms around him and hugged him tight. “I would love to spend spring break with you!”
He laughed and squeezed me back. “I guess it's a rule then.”
“Definitely a rule!” I said, leaning back to look at him.
“Good. Should be awesome.”
I fell sideways against the headboard, feeling even more ridiculous than I did when I woke up.
“Why are you making that face?”
“I feel crazy.”
“Crazy good?” he asked.
“Are you kidding?” I brought my hands to my temples to keep my head from exploding. “Two days ago, I had a broken heart, and now I have the sexiest boyfriend ever and a ticket to Cancún?! I feel like I might smile forever.”
“That's all part of the plan, babe.”
“I mean, I know you said you were going to start spoiling me rotten, but I figured you'd wait until we got back to campus.”
“Do you really think that little of me?”
“That wasn't a complaint.”
“Good,” he said. “’Cause you know I wouldn't hesitate to make a rule about complaining.”
“I think the rule-making has gone to your head,” I said, crawling over him and pinning his morning wood between my legs. “Both your heads, apparently.”
“I was hoping you'd notice.”
“I’m worried you’ve become power hungry,” I said, grinding against him.
“I'm all kinds of hungry right now,” he said, his eyes flashing as he swelled beneath me. “But don't you worry. I'm not too hungry to propose a sex before breakfast rule.”
“See, that just makes good sense,” I said. “You can't be expected to go down to breakfast in this state.”
“No.”
“Unless you never want my family to invite you anywhere again, which wouldn't be the worst.”
“Nina.”
I met his gaze.
“Orange Reese’s sit on it already.”
I swallowed and reached for him. “Like I said, you're on a total power trip.”
“Of course I'm on a power trip. The most beautiful woman on earth is dripping down my dick right now, and not only that, she's madly in love with me and doesn't even know it yet.”
I pretended to scowl at him, but privately, I wondered if he was right, if that's what this wild lunacy coursing through my mind and body was.
He fixed his eyes on mine as I sank slowly down his shaft, and it felt like he must've seen everything in my heart as he filled me.
But for the first time, that didn't scare me.
Quite the opposite. I wanted him to see and know and feel everything that I was, everything that I hoped to be.
So perhaps I did know the depth of my affection for him after all.
Maybe I knew all along.
Maybe I'd just been too cautious to admit it.
Regardless, he would know the truth soon enough, and I hoped it would make him smile.
Or better yet, smile forever.
E P I L O G U E
- Nina -
I startled when the phone rang, remembering where I was when I saw the light teal wallpaper and the exotic orange flowers by the door.
I reached towards the nightstand, desperate to make the horrible ringing stop, and picked up the receiver.
“Hello,” I said, my first word of the day scratching out my throat.
“Rise and shine!” Zoey said.
“What time is it?” I turned onto my back and scooted up against the pillows behind me, noticing my clothes from the night before were strewn across the floor in a trail from the balcony to the bed.
“It's almost 9:30,” she said. “Logan and I are heading down to the pool.”
I wiped my eyes and admired Carter's strong back, which looked tanner than ever surrounded by our crisp white sheets.
“We'll save some chairs for you guys.”
“Cool.”
“How's loverboy?”
“How's loverboy?” I repeated to see if he was awake.
He lifted a lazy thumb up to let me know he was alive.
I smiled. “Loverboy is alive and well.”
“Oh good. Logan was worried he might've burned out like a shooting star in last night's bucket-filled mayhem.”
“Are you kidding?” I asked. “He invented bucket-filled mayhem.”
“Think you guys will make it down before eleven today?”
“It’s hard to say.”
Carter lifted his sheet-creased face in my direction.
I searched his sleepy eyes. “Think we'll make it down to the pool before eleven today?”
He reached over and pulled my hips across the bed. “Absolutely not,” he said, reaching up to fondle my breast
s. “Not unless I can do this poolside.”
I swatted his wandering hand away and answered Zoey. “We'll try, but it's not looking good.”
“Whatever. Come find us when you're done being gross.”
“Will do,” I said, hanging up the phone.
Carter groaned and stretched before rolling onto his side to face me, his blue eyes looking extra intense with the ocean view behind him.
“What am I going to do with you?” I asked, shaking my head and scooting under the sheets again.
“That's the wrong question, babe.” He hugged me close, squeezing a bronzed arm around my waist and snuggling his face into one of my boobs.
I raised my eyebrows.
“The question you should be asking is, what aren't you going to do with me?” His cheek dimple deepened with his smile. “’Cause I have yet to think of anything you haven't been up for.”
I sighed. “What can I say? You make me happy and stupid. It's a dangerous combination.”
“Well, for what it’s worth,” he said, throwing a leg over mine, “I think I look great on you.”
“Do you now?”
“See what I did there?” he asked, closing his smiling eyes.
“I did actually. As brilliantly subtle as it was.” I stared out at the beautiful view, admiring the bands of blue sea sparkling in the sun. “I can't believe we only have two more days here,” I said, trailing my nails across the top of his back. “I wish we could stay forever.”
“No you don't.”
“Sure I do. Between the sea and the sunshine and the tasty umbrella drinks… Not to mention all the time with you.”
“I'm going to take you places a lot nicer than this, Nina. Don't you worry.”
I almost asked where he had in mind, but it didn't matter. All that mattered was that I believed him. Besides, I didn't want to wish today away when we were having such a perfect time together.
“What do you want for breakfast?” he asked.
“Reese's and Bloodys?”
He laughed.
“What's so funny?”
“We finished all the Reese's last night.”
I furrowed my brow. “Did we?”
His head popped up. “Don't tell me you don't remember?”
I scrunched my face. “Remind me?”
“The last one was orange,” he said, studying my face. “I dared you to do a sexy striptease.”
“Oh god.” I covered my face. “I do remember.” I got really into it, as would be expected with the amount of Malibu I had coursing through me.
“That makes two of us then.”
My hands slid down my face. “Was it totally cringe?”
“No,” he said. “It was perfect…until you banged your knee on the coffee table and burst into tears.”
“Shit. I'm sorry.”
“Don't be.”
“I didn't ruin your night, did I?”
“Not at all,” he said. “You passed out before I even got back from the ice machine.”
“Classy.”
“It really was until the table attacked you.” He made a face like he was remembering every detail of my amateur striptease.
I rolled my eyes. “Thanks for not making me feel bad about it.”
“Are you kidding?” he asked, sitting up against the pillows. “It was a great night.”
I pulled my knee out from under the covers, revealing a sizeable purple bruise.
Carter ran his thumb over it gently. “Does it hurt?”
“Not as much as my ego.”
He leaned down and kissed it.
“My hero,” I said, my heart swelling at his kindness and patience and tangible affection for me. “I love you, Carter.”
“I know,” he said, pulling my legs across his lap. “I love that about you.”
“Seriously. I really do.”
He cradled my cheek in his hand and lowered his head to meet my gaze. “Seriously, babe, I know.”
I scoffed at his teasing but froze when he dropped his thumb to my bottom lip and dragged it slowly across my mouth.
My pulse quickened at his attention, and my breath shallowed as I watched him admire my lips before lifting his deep blue eyes.
“You're my fucking world, Nina,” he said, the soft sound of crashing waves in the distance. “And my world has never looked more beautiful.”
N O T E F R O M T H E A U T H O R
Thank you for taking the time to read this story.
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Xo Hazel
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