Kimberly grabbed at his bathrobe, pulling it down to reveal that dark chocolate body and those perfect muscles. She felt herself quivering all over as she lowered her head to kiss him on the neck.
“Kimberly,” he moaned as he reached back and removed her bra. He tossed it aside and smothered his face between her warm, firm breasts. His need was urgent and the fire in him was about to explode into an inferno.
Kimberly moaned with pleasure as he teased her left nipple with his wet tongue before taking her breast in his mouth. He reached under her Juicy Couture high-waisted skirt and ripped at her panties. They came apart and immediately Michael thrust his fingers inside of her. She made a sound that told him how good it felt. There was something about it that made him feel powerful; that told him she was all his.
Her hips moved as she felt the stimulation reach every inch of her body. Only he could make her feel this way.
“Now,” she ordered.
Michael heeded her call and knelt up to move his underwear down his legs.
“Come here,” he said, grabbing her thighs, squeezing them tight and pulling her closer. He could . . .
“Wait!” Kimberly stopped just as she was about to come down on him.
“Baby, please.” Michael couldn’t wait one more second.
She could see he was hard. Large and hard, but she had to set the record straight.
“You need to know,” she said, speaking with the intensity of her feelings, “this means nothing. I still hate you.”
Michael yelled out as Kimberly lowered herself onto him with full force. The pain, the ecstasy, combined for the perfect storm inside of him. He looked up at her as she took hold of his shoulders. He could feel her throbbing around him as she moved up and down at a steady pace.
Michael gripped her tight, making her stop. When she looked at him with surprise, he could see she was just as lit as he was.
“Don’t stop,” she whispered between heavy breaths.
“I’m not going to stop,” he said. “I’m just warning you.”
“Warning me?”
Michael smiled wickedly. “To hold onto something.”
Kimberly moved forward, pressing herself against him as she reached for the headboard. She gripped the top just as Michael began to thrust faster and faster.
She was screaming now because she was gone. He was grunting wildly with every move. He would do this until she climaxed and she loved it.
But she still hated him.
“What are you doing?” was the first question Avery asked Carter after he opened the front door to his downtown L.A. penthouse.
“You want to come in, don’t you?” Carter stepped aside to let them in. As they passed, he reached out and pinched Connor’s fat cheek. “How’s my little spoiled princess?”
“You shouldn’t be up, Carter.” Avery made her way down the rose-red-colored walls of the hallway to the living room.
She looked around the apartment, noticing that her little touches were gone, and that Julia had already begun leaving her scent around the home. It was difficult for Avery, being there. They’d shared so much in the short time she’d lived here. And when he touched her . . . They had christened each of the six rooms in this home as well as the hallway several times over. And every time she came here, Avery remembered every moment. That was why she was always so eager to get out.
“Where is Julia?” she asked. “She should be here taking care of you.”
Carter held his hands out to Connor, but she didn’t move from her mother. He could tell she was getting tired. When that happened, she didn’t want anyone but Avery. “What about Julia gave you the impression she was the nurturing kind?”
She turned to him with a smile. For once, Avery had actually hoped that Julia would be there. She needed the buffer. “I’m surprised Janet even let you both go home. I would have assumed she would make you come back to Chase Mansion so she could fuss over you.”
“Don’t think she didn’t try.”
Carter knew what Avery was doing. She was engaging in small talk to avoid an awkward moment or a silence. She didn’t want to do anything to bring up the kiss they shared yesterday. But there was no avoiding it. He had tasted the sweet nectar of those lips he had known were his from the first moment he touched them. He had been unable to sleep or concentrate at all, unable to think of anything since that moment and he knew Avery was in the same boat.
“Mom has put Julia on double time, planning the Museum Ball.” Carter tried again to get his daughter’s attention. This time she responded and held her arms out. “That’s my girl.” He looked at Avery. “At least sit down.”
Avery gave up her baby, although she didn’t want to. She felt too vulnerable without Connor in her arms.
It was bad enough that she had been unable to sleep or eat, thinking of coming here today. She’d found herself alone in the bathroom last night, daydreaming and softly touching her lips. And then again that morning in the shower.
“I’m fine.” He sat down on the sofa with Connor on his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck as far as they could go and leaned into him. “Is she okay?”
“She had a bottle earlier and was sleeping in the car on the way over here.” Avery turned away from him, focusing her attention on the bookcase against the wall. The way she felt whenever she saw Carter playing with Connor scared her. She enjoyed it too much. It made her think things, imagine things that she shouldn’t.
Carter looked in the baby bag Avery had placed on the coffee table. “A lot of bottles in there. Have you stopped breastfeeding?”
Avery shook her head. “I’m mixing it up. The doctor said it was okay that I do some breast milk and some formula.”
“But you’re expressing it,” Carter said. “You’re not breastfeeding her anymore.”
“Sometimes. Are you questioning me? I know what’s healthy for my own baby.”
“Take it easy,” Carter said. “I know you’re a great mother. I was just curious. You know I like breastfeeding because . . . well, your breasts are pretty huge.”
Avery couldn’t help laughing, but she still kept her back to him. “Shut up.”
“I heard you laugh,” Carter said. “You can’t hide it from me.”
“I see Julia has already started redecorating.” Avery walked over to the bookcase, needing to keep her distance from him. With every passing second, she was becoming more and more alert, aware of her body’s reaction.
Carter leaned back, cradling his baby in his arms. “Is that what you want to talk about, Avery?”
Avery turned back to him, knowing now that ten feet wasn’t nearly enough distance. “What do you mean?”
Carter had thought long and hard about what he would say when he saw her again. He didn’t want to risk all the work he had put into the last six months, but hadn’t everything changed? A few days ago, he’d felt invincible. He was the great Carter Chase. He was gifted and privileged, smart and a winner. He was special by blood and lucky by chance and he had a plan to win back the woman he loved. That was a few days ago.
“We should probably talk about that kiss.”
“No,” she said. “It didn’t mean anything.”
He stood up. “You know me to be a lot of things, Avery. But stupid isn’t one of them.”
“Fine,” she agreed, repeating the assurance she had given herself over and over again. “It was a product of the moment. I was only happy to see you alive. You’re Connor’s father and . . .”
“I’m going to put her down.” Carter started for the bedrooms. “Then we’ll really talk.”
“Carter, don’t make it more than it is.” Avery knew now she was going to have to leave. She would come back for Connor after a few hours, but she couldn’t stay. She was feeling all the hair on her arms stand up straight, just from the idea that they might have to talk about that kiss.
There were three bedrooms in the condo. Carter’s master bedroom, one he had converted to a home office, and a third guest
room generally kept empty except for Michael’s occasional drop-ins. Six months ago, to Michael’s disappointment, Carter had the room transformed into a baby’s room. He and Avery had agreed that he would have her every other weekend and Carter wanted everything to be perfect. The truth be told, Connor had spent more nights at his parents’ house when he had Connor than here, because Carter needed the help. Babies were a handful.
“Here we go, sweetie.” Carter gently lowered her into the bassinet.
When her body softly hit the sheets, she let out a yawn that was bigger than she was. Her arms and legs stretched out in four directions as her mouth opened wide.
“You take a little nap while Daddy . . .”
Carter felt the buildup just one second before the bright lights flashed in his eyes and his head began to pound. His hands went to each side of his head as he felt like something was trying to push his eyes out from inside. The pain was unbearable and he didn’t even notice that he was making so much noise.
Avery panicked at the sound of Carter yelling. The first thing that entered her mind was Connor. She reached the room in less than a second to find Carter leaning away from the bassinet, letting out a pain-filled moan as his hands gripped the sides of his head.
Avery rushed toward him, taking a second to look in the bassinet. Connor was already sleeping peacefully. It wasn’t her. It was Carter. She grabbed him just before he almost fell over. He was heavy and she almost fell under the pressure, but managed to lift him upright.
“What is it?” She grabbed his face with her hands and lifted it to hers. His eyes were shut. “Carter, tell me.”
When he opened his eyes, the suffering she saw in them ripped her to shreds inside. She was helpless and felt as if she was going to panic if she didn’t do something soon.
“Migraines,” Carter was finally able to say, feeling as if someone was punching him in the head. His vision was blurry as he looked at her. “In my bedroom. My pills.”
“Come on.” Avery manufactured enough strength to help him down the hall into the master bedroom.
She sat him on the bed and ordered him to lie down. He wasn’t moaning anymore, but he was still holding his head.
“Where are the pills?” Avery asked, looking around. She felt her heart beating madly in her chest. “I don’t see anything.”
Carter pointed at the dresser near the door and Avery rushed to it and grabbed the bottle. She ran into the bathroom to fill a cup with water. Carter had already sat up when she returned to the bed, and he swallowed the pills quickly. The pain, which had seemed as if it would kill him, had lessened to just terrible at the moment.
“Lie back down.” Avery sat on the bed and tried to physically make him lie back, but he refused. “Carter, please.”
“No, I’m fine.” Carter squeezed his eyes shut and opened them a few times until his blurry vision began to clear up. “I need to sit up.”
“You need to lie down,” Avery said. “This is horrible. It’s because of the accident, isn’t it?”
Carter wanted to nod, but he didn’t dare move his head. “It feels like someone is jabbing me with a pick all over. Shit.”
“I’ll call Dr. Adams,” Avery said. “He’s still your doctor, right? Or should I call Leigh?”
“Neither.” Carter could feel the pain subsiding, but he was still a little dizzy. “I’ll be fine in a moment.”
Avery didn’t take her eyes off him, for what seemed like a full ten minutes before he lifted his head again.
Carter finally looked up at her and was touched by her concern. “Really, it’s not as bad as the last two times.”
“The last two times?” Avery was angry now. “Why didn’t you tell me you were having migraines?”
“Why would I tell you?”
“I have a right to know if you’re in pain,” she argued, unable to catch herself before letting it all out.
Carter knew from her expression she hadn’t meant to say that. “You’re not my girlfriend anymore. I don’t have to tell you anything.”
Avery tried to swallow the pain with a diversion. “But if you had been holding Connor, I . . .”
“I would never hurt her!” Carter’s own voice ended up ringing in his head. He knelt forward, placing his face in his hands.
“Carter!” Avery leaned over to him, placing one arm around his back and the other hand to caress his head. “I’m sorry. I know you would never let anything happen to her. I’m just . . . What do I need to do?”
“I’m going to be all right,” he said. “I’m sorry I snapped at you. It’s just these migraines hurt like hell. I never thought the most pain I would ever experience would be in my head.”
“Is this permanent?” she asked.
He was just beginning to realize that she was holding him. Her arm around his back, her hand on his head. As the pain subsided, it was being replaced with something more dangerous.
“No,” he answered. “Just for a while.”
“What’s a while?”
He shrugged, realizing how close she was to him, her face only inches from his. Her loving, caring eyes stung him. There was such a softness, tenderness in every inch of her face that just looking at her made him feel better. “A few more days. Maybe a week.”
“What can I do?” she asked. “Please, Carter.”
He smiled at her tender plea. There was no way he could refuse her anything. And he didn’t even want to. “Can you rub my temples? It helps.”
Avery didn’t hesitate, ignoring all those distractions she had trained herself to feel and do to avoid being close to him. She positioned herself behind him and he leaned into her. As her fingers gently massaged his temples, she found herself loving the way his heavy body pressed against hers. She loved the way he smelled.
Carter didn’t think to hold back as her fingers went to work. He let out a moan of pleasure, feeling his own arousal from the feeling of her breasts against his back. He closed his eyes, ignoring the training he had given himself over the last six months to avoid these moments for fear of giving away his feelings for her and scaring her away. He didn’t care anymore. Being near her felt good and he was going to enjoy it.
“Are those pills addictive?” Avery asked, unable to stand just the sound of Carter’s quiet moans. Part of her enjoyed making him feel good while the rest of her knew she was in danger.
“Of course,” Carter finally answered. “That’s what makes them so good.”
“Stop joking,” she ordered. “I don’t want you to become addicted to them.”
Carter let out a quick laugh. “You don’t have to worry about me, Avery.”
“But I do,” she said. Avery stopped massaging his temples as she sat back on the bed with a sigh that gave away the overwhelming emotion she was feeling. “I can’t help it.”
Carter turned around to look at her and he could see she was about to cry. “It’s okay, really.”
“I thought you were dead!” She felt a rage engulf her and without thinking, she punched him in the chest. “Dammit, Carter.”
Carter grabbed her arm and pulled her to him. He wrapped his arms around her and she laid her head on his chest. “I know you were scared. I was too, but I’m fine, Connor is fine and you’re fine.”
When she looked up at him, Avery opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but she was feeling too much to even begin to express it. She knew he was going to kiss her and there was nothing in this world she wanted more.
To hell with his plan, Carter thought to himself as his lips came down on hers. This was his woman and he needed her. She needed him and there was nothing that would stop him from making love to her now.
When his lips met hers, Avery felt the electricity of one thousand volts jolt through her system. The shock made her shiver in his arms as he pulled her closer. His lips pressed harder and she opened her mouth. When she felt his tongue enter her mouth, she responded as her body told her to. She grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him to her as she fell bac
k on the bed. Her hunger could not be satiated fast enough.
The lust that Carter felt for Avery exploded inside of him as he lowered himself on top of her. He only wanted more and more as he kissed harder and deeper. The taste of her mouth intoxicated him and he could not control himself. He had waited so long for this. His hands greedily ran up and down her body, pulling at the clothes that were in his way.
Their lips separated only because neither could breathe, but Carter didn’t hesitate to taste her again. His mouth sizzled down her neck as he reached down and unbuttoned her silk blouse. Her skin was as he remembered it, soft and firm. And warm.
Avery felt his hands stroking her and her body began to writhe back and forth. The mastery with which he did everything to her made her insane. She wanted him desperately and had never stopped, but feeling so clearly his desperate desire for her only stoked her fire more.
She began to moan in response to every kiss he placed on her body and as she felt his tongue trail the space in between her breasts, Avery felt a fire rush through her veins and into her soul. The combination of the urgency of his movements and the intimacy of his mouth was drugging her with pleasure. Nothing in this world existed but her body molding into his.
Carter loved the taste of her, and the way her body was moving in response to his demanding caresses made him crazy with wanton lust. It had been awhile, but he had never forgotten the way Avery made him feel. He heard her call his name softly and he could barely breathe. He grabbed the top of her jeans and slid them down with her panties, tossing them off the side of the bed.
Looking down at her while he hastily removed his clothes, Carter admired this body that he had come to know so well. He had tasted, delighted and ravished it many times and it had never been enough. Having Connor had made her breasts fuller, but nothing else had changed. She was perfectly curvy and feminine everywhere, and Carter could no longer wait for the reward of being inside of her.
Avery’s body had never stopped moving, but when she felt Carter touch her again, his tantalizing mouth teasing her flat stomach, traveling to her belly button, she was again overcome with the need to possess every bit of him. The anticipation built inside of her as she felt him grip her thighs and move lower. When his lips gently kissed the top of her sweet center, Avery’s head began to spin. When his tongue entered her, searching deeper and deeper inside of her, Avery began to moan louder and louder. Her hands went to her own breasts, cupping them roughly as everything inside of her was focused on her growing desire.
A Price to Pay Page 13
