Now, Carter loved Nathan Salerno with her entire heart— and her fiancé was hot as all hell. She wanted to marry him and have adorable Salerno babies with her dangerously sexy, blonde, Italian-Russian Zeus of a man. But there was no way in hell he could ever have expected her to be immune to the charms of Cesare Valente. She was only a woman, for Christ’s sake. Even when Cesare wasn’t flirting, he was still flirting. It was the tone of his voice. Carter was convinced that the man couldn’t help it. He was a victim of his own sexiness. Women constantly hung all over him, and he had literally thousands of girlfriends. The poor guy couldn’t get a moments rest, but Carter had always made herself available to him whenever he needed a hug or a kiss— and sometimes both.
Carter ran her hands through her hair and shook it out in a way that rivaled the models in Pantene commercials. Cesare smiled, biting his bottom lip. Carter knew it was just another one of the sexy reflexes he couldn’t control, but she liked to imagine he did it for different reasons. God, he looked so freaking hot sitting back on the couch like that.
“Lovely Carterina, I thought we had already had the discussion in which I explained to you why I cannot be your sugar daddy.”
Carter’s jaw clenched as she fought back a shiver at the sound of his sexy, accented voice. She sauntered over to him and sat in front of him on the coffee table.
“I have absolutely no idea to what discussion you’re referring, Cesare.” Carter crossed her legs and continued her flirtation. “I don’t think that particular memory has returned,” she lied. God, how she loved teasing Kyle and Mickey’s dad. “But there’s no need to repeat the discussion. Let’s just move forward from here.”
Cesare let out a low, sexy chuckle and leaned further back. One of his long arms extended over the back of the couch— she both loved and hated these sexy reflexes of his. He was confusing! Did he find her sexy, or did he find her annoying, Carter would never know! He brought a hand up to his face, running it over his five o’clock shadow, and then licked his lips. Ugh! This was pure torture for Carter.
“You remember the discussion, Carterina.”
Carter shook her head vehemently. “No, I don’t, Cesare,” Carter said with a mischievous smile on her face.
“You do. But you’re going to pretend you don’t because you’re a very naughty girl, aren’t you?”
Carter groaned. She was positive he had no idea that everything he said to her sounded suggestive. “You really don’t make this easy for me, Cesare. It’s all your fault that I’ve chosen to repress that dreadful conversation,” Carter whined.
Cesare laughed. “How is it my fault, Carterina?”
“You keep being …you know …yourself …and stuff,” Carter stammered, playfully tugging at his pant leg.
Cesare laughed and moved his leg. The men in the room were thoroughly enjoying watching Cesare sweat. They thought little Anastacia’s crush on Cesare was hilarious. If the real Anastacia had been as enamored with him back in their younger days, Cesare probably wouldn’t hate her so much now.
“I’m happy to see you are feeling better,” Cesare said. Carter hoped her brown skin would hide her blush. “Come here and give me a hug.”
Carter climbed onto the couch next to him and hugged him. He smelled amazing and his body was so incredibly strong. Sweet Lord in Heaven— Jesus! She could feel every one of his muscles through his shirt. Carter sighed.
Then Cesare did something that he knew would make Carter faint like some fan girl seeing her favorite boy band for the first time. He gripped her chin, turned her face to the side, and pressed his lips to her cheek. When Cesare chuckled at the look on her face and the way her body tensed, she was positive her complexion didn’t hide the furious blush that spread across her face.
“Oh, hell no!” a deep voice boomed from the entrance to the living room. Carter knew exactly who it was, too.
She gripped Cesare’s shirt frantically. “Oh no, Cesare! He’s coming to pull us apart again!” she cried frantically.
Cesare laughed.
“Carterina Stone! Hell, no!” he yelled. She felt big hands grip her waist and yank her up from the couch. She had no choice but to let go of Cesare’s shirt. But that didn’t stop her from reaching for him, much to his amusement and everyone else’s in the room. Well, everyone except the bastard who had pulled her out of the arms of her sugar daddy.
The man put Carter’s feet on the floor. Carter turned and stepped up to stand on top of the coffee table so she could be face to face with this jerk. She was relieved he was a few inches shorter than Nathan so they could be eye to eye.
“Carter, how many times do I have to tell you this? This sick thing you have for Cesare has to end. I won’t put up with it anymore. Absolutely not. It’s over. Do you hear me, woman? I have spoken, dammit!” he said, wagging a finger in her face.
Carter glared at Kyle. “How many times do I have to tell you that there’s nothing you can do about us, Kyle!” She looked at Cesare and smiled at him longingly. “Our bond is unbreakable.” Carter sighed softly.
Cesare laughed and shook his head. “Jesus Christ,” he muttered as he ran his hand down his face.
Kyle made a sound of disgust and then placed his hands softly on both sides of Carter’s face, turning her to face him.
“No,” he said firmly.
Carter whimpered and tried to glance at Cesare, but Kyle wouldn’t let her. God, he could be such an ass. It wasn’t her fault that she had a crippling crush on his dad.
“No, Carter.”
“Kyle,” she whined.
“No!”
“Kyle, you’re not the only guy in the world with a hot dad. People who have a hot parent just need to suck it up and deal with it when their friends have a connection with said hot parent. So deal with it!”
“You do not have a connection with him, you crazy woman!”
“Yes, I do,” Carter pouted.
A smile pulled at Kyle’s lips, “You’re nuts. You know that, right?” he asked.
Carter bit her lip and nodded yes. “It’s not my fault, Kyle,” she said, trying not to laugh.
“Yes, it is,” Kyle said, battling his laughter as well.
Carter shook her head innocently. “It’s not my fault that your dad is …” Fuckable, incredibly fuckable was what she wanted to say out loud, but she sent the message to Kyle with her eyes instead.
Kyle lost the battle and laughed. “You’re so fucking nasty, Carter.”
Carter shrugged, “Yeah, well, I’ve been hanging around some very naughty boys. You guys are starting to rub off on me,” she teased. She grabbed his shirt and pulled him closer before wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him. She kissed his cheek and looked into his eyes. “Thank you for what you did outside, Kyle.” She wiped the lip gloss print of her lips from his face and continued talking. “I was …” She leaned in close so no one could hear her. This was not going to be easy to admit. Carter cleared her throat uncomfortably. “I was … afraid,” she whispered, and then rolled her eyes when Kyle chuckled at her uneasiness with showing fear, but it wasn’t her fault. She had been taught never to show it.
Carter ran her hands down her pants again. “Anyway … I needed you,” she said, remembering how terrified she had been when she had first woken up. If Kyle hadn’t come, she didn’t know what she might have done. “Thank you, Kyle,” she said, genuinely grateful for him.
Kyle kissed her hand. “Anytime, angel. I’m just glad you didn’t forget me. You probably would have popped a cap in everybody’s ass,” he teased.
Carter chuckled and hit his arm. “As if you would let me forget about little ol’ you,” Carter teased, remembering how Kyle had said she’d forgotten about him when she found Nathan.
Kyle smiled his father’s crooked smile, “You’re right. I’m unforgettable.”
Carter nodded, “You are.”
“Where’s Nathan? I’m surprised he let you out of his sight,” Kyle asked, eyeing her with suspicious curiosity.<
br />
Carter smiled innocently. “He’ll be down soon,” she said, trying to keep her cool. Just the thought of Nathan had her right back where she had been in the bedroom with him.
Dammit! Why hadn’t he just given her what she wanted? Then she wouldn’t be suffering right now. Every time she replayed Nathan coming under her touch in her head, her body burst into flames, and it was a fire only Nathan could put out. If he would only stop being so damn stubborn, pin her against a wall, and thrust his big hard—
“Carter!”
Carter snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Kyle. What the hell had gotten into her? She shouldn’t have been thinking about sex in here— with the Originals and Kyle in the same room. She really needed to get her shit together before she embarrassed herself again. After yesterday, she refused to have any more embarrassing moments.
“Carter, are you …” He squinted his eyes and looked at her face closely. “Are you blushing?” he asked with amusement.
Carter’s eyes widened and locked with Kyle’s. Blushing? Shit!
“What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?” Kyle teased.
“Nothing. I’m not blushing. Shut up,” Carter said defensively with a frown.
Kyle chuckled. “Are you sure it’s Cesare you have a crush on? I think it may be Nathan who gets you all hot and bothered, angel,” he teased.
“Kyle!” Carter hit his chest. “Shut up and leave me alone, jackass.” She turned to walk away from him.
He pulled her back. “Aww, come on. Stop pouting,” he said in his best baby voice. He pulled her to him, and she wrapped her arms around him, resting her head on his chest while he patted her back. “Kyle will leave the baby alone,” he joked.
“I hate you,” Carter whispered.
Kyle chuckled. “Mm-hmm. Me too, angel,” he soothed. “So where’s my best friend?” he asked again.
Carter shrugged. “Maybe he decided to take a nap,” she said, inwardly laughing at the possibility that he actually did.
“Mmm-hmm.” Still hugging her close, Kyle pressed his lips against her. “Well, when I talked to him on the phone, he said that he had been assaulted by a very naughty girl.”
Carter could feel his smile against her ear, and it pissed her off. Kyle and Nathan got on her nerves with this shit. They were too damn close. Nothing was private or off limits for a topic of conversation between the two. Carter’s nails began digging into Kyle’s back, and she heard him groan. She lifted her head from his chest and smiled smugly. She let her nails slide slowly down his back.
“Carter,” Kyle said through clenched teeth.
She knew it hurt, but she didn’t give a shit. Kyle had called out her inner bitch just like Nathan had earlier. They would both have to deal with the consequences of fucking with her.
Carter smiled sweetly. “Remember when you asked me if our relationship would annoy Nathan?” she asked him. “Isn’t it ironic that you and Nathan are the ones annoying the hell out of me?”
“Nathan and Kyle pissed you off again, I see,” a deep voice said behind her. Lucca chuckled. “They are annoying, aren’t they? Like two gossiping little girls. We all wish they’d shut the fuck up, too,” he joked.
Carter turned around, and her eyes brightened at the sight of Lucca and Dante.
“Fuck you, Lucca,” Kyle said through clenched teeth.
An evil smile appeared on Lucca’s face. “Make sure you kick him where it hurts, Sweetheart.” He winked at Carter.
Carter raked her nails down Kyle’s back quickly, just enough to leave a few marks, then kneed him in the balls and went over to hug Lucca and Dante.
“Fuck!” Kyle exclaimed, falling on the couch in the middle of Cesare and Bruno, holding his balls. “Shit! Cesare … shoot her! I think she broke my dick!” he whined. “She fucking broke my dick. Somebody do something.” His voice was a breathless, high soprano. Carter turned to look at him and laughed loudly.
Cesare slapped Kyle in the back of the head, and he looked at his father in outrage. “She told you to stop teasing her, didn’t she?” He ruffed up Kyle’s hair. “Maybe now you can give your little wee-wee a rest, eh, son?” Cesare teased, mimicking the baby voice Kyle had just used to taunt Carter.
Kyle gasped in shock and outrage. “Little wee-wee?” he yelled.
Carter nearly fell over laughing, but Dante caught her. He looked down at her grinning widely “You’re having fun, aren’t you?” he asked.
Carter nodded, unable to stop laughing. He laughed gave her a big smooch right on the lips, as he always did. Carter loved Dante. He was the big brother she’d always wanted. Unlike the rest of guys, excluding Nathan, he was the one she could cuddle with, hug, give a kiss to, sit on his lap— and not worry about him making it sexual in any way. She could do this because, like her, Dante was in a committed relationship.
“Don’t be nice to her, Dante! You saw what she did!” Kyle yelled.
“Don’t be a pussy, Kyle.” Lucca jabbed him as he fell back on the large couch. “Take your beating like a man.”
“Kiss my ass, Lucca. I fucking hate you,” Kyle said, falling back on the couch next to his father. “I should kick your fat Salerno ass.”
Lucca roared with laughter.
Kyle peeked from the hand covering his eyes with a sly smile. He looked over to Carter and stuck his tongue out.
Carter stuck her tongue out back at him and turned back to Dante. “I miss you. Cuddle with me,” she ordered, like a bratty sister.
Dante chuckled, scooped Carter up in his arms, and carried her to the couch. Carter cuddled up on his lap and rested her head on his shoulder.
“Give me your phone,” she said to him. He reached in his pocket. Whenever the Originals where around, Dante and Carter had their conversations via text messaging, and since Carter didn’t have her phone, they just passed Dante’s back and forth.
Carter texted, “How’s Casey?”
Dante responded, “Fine. Keeps asking about you.”
“Were you honest?” Carter wrote. Then she looked at him, and Dante nodded. He took his phone.
“We promised we wouldn’t keep secrets. You know how it is,” Dante answered.
Carter nodded. She did. Secrets had no place in relationships. Carter knew that from experience. She grabbed his phone. “Was Casey hysterical?” Carter wrote.
Dante chuckled. “You know it. You know how much we love you,” he replied in a message.
Carter smiled warmly and kissed him on the cheek.
“I love you both, too. Don’t worry. I’ll call and we’ll set up a shopping day,” Carter responded on the cell.
“Like we have more room in our closets. You know Casey goes overboard.”
Carter giggled. “So what? You’re not going to say anything about it if Casey goes overboard. You love him too much,” Carter wrote with a smile.
Dante laughed softly and nodded.
“You’re right, I do,” he said out loud.
He kissed Carter lovingly on the forehead. Carter wrapped her arms around his waist and cuddled closer.
Carter had figured out that Dante was gay about fifteen seconds after she first met him. While the other guys were staring at her breasts and ass, he was staring at the menu and checking out the hot guy one table over, Casey Long. She would have introduced him right then because she knew Casey— he was a regular— but Nathan had interrupted her train of thought when he initiated a make-out session in the middle of the damn bar. Yes, Carter blamed him, even though she had wanted it, too. Anyway, it ended up a good thing she hadn’t said anything at the bar because when she had tried to make conversation with Dante the next morning, asking if he had thought the guy at the bar was sexy, he seemed shocked and upset. He asked if Nathan had told her about him, and she quickly said no. Her gaydar was right 99.9% of the time. Turned out Nathan and the rest of the guys were the only ones who knew Dante’s secret— and he wanted to keep it that way. Carter told him not to panic, that it wasn’t obvious, and s
he was just very perceptive.
Dante and Casey had been dating since Hope Beach, and Casey had moved in with him a month ago. Carter had quickly become friends with Casey. She and Nathan invited him and Dante over for dinner often. They were the only couple she could entertain without Nathan’s objections.
“Where you at, sweetheart?”
Carter looked up to see a concerned Dante.
“You okay?” he asked. “You zoned out for a second there.”
Carter smiled. “I was just thinking,” she said, and then frowned, noticing that someone was still missing from this reunion. “Where’s Mickey?” she asked.
Dante shrugged. “Yell for him. He’s somewhere around here.”
Feeling too tired to get up herself, Carter let Dante help her up while she glanced around the room. Pretty much everyone had started focusing on other things, and she knew where Nathan was … But where the hell was Mickey?
“Mikilo!” Carter yelled. Everyone looked at her, but she didn’t give a shit. She wanted her partner in crime. Walking toward the living room entrance, she shouted again, “Mickey! Get your sexy ass in here!”
“No! You bring your sexy ass in here!” he yelled back.
Carter grinned. Where the hell was he? “Mickey!”
“What?”
“Get in here!” Carter laughed.
He rounded the corner with a sly smile and….
Okay, Carter was seriously about to kiss Mickey because of what he had in his hands. A huge plate…of food! Not just any food. Her. First. Favorite. Lunch. Carter’s hunger came back with a vengeance when she saw the Doritos that were sure to give her back her figure.
“Oh, Mickey,” she moaned.
Mickey’s smile widened. “Finally,” he said with sigh. “I’ve been trying to get you to say my name like that since the day I met you.”
Carter floated forward, entranced by the heavenly smell of Doritos. She took one off the plate, slowly put it in her mouth, and couldn’t suppress the moan that escaped her lips. It felt like a lifetime since she’d eaten Doritos. It was orgasmic.
Dangerous Beauty: Part Two: A Mafia Princess Page 7
