“I don’t care,” Leigh said. She kept looking back as she saw that some of Max’s group were heading out to the bus they were told would be taking them to the hotel. Then she finally spotted Max and an unexpected smile came across her face as she noticed he was looking for someone, and she was certain it was her.
“It is the nicest hotel in all of Nairobi,” Bem added. “Your reservation at the Hilton has been canceled. Your bags have been removed from the group. We should go.”
Leigh had already started walking toward the group when she heard Bem call her name. Max had indeed been looking for her, because when he saw her, he smiled and stopped looking.
“Where did you go?” he asked, shooing away staffers who wanted to prep him for the press outside.
“My father.” Leigh sighed. “I’m sorry. He’s moved me to the Serena Hotel.”
“Nice.” Max seemed a little disappointed but was laughing it off. “Upgrade most definitely.”
“I want to be with everyone else,” Leigh said. “I don’t want to—”
“Dr. Chase!” Bem caught up with her, and the expression on his face was very serious. “You cannot run away from me like this. I cannot protect you if—”
“Stop,” she said. “I wasn’t running. I thought you were with me. Can I at least talk to the senator?”
Bem nodded, looking Max up and down before taking a couple of steps back.
“You have your own security?” Max asked.
She could see the sarcastic smirk on his face, and it made her angry. “It isn’t my choice. It’s the only way my parents would allow me to come.”
“Allow you?” His brows centered in confusion. “Aren’t you almost thirty?”
“You don’t know my father.”
“You’re right,” he answered. “I never got the chance, considering he never supported my camp—”
“This isn’t about you,” Leigh said. “Look, I just want to know what the schedule is so I don’t miss anything.”
“We’re taking it easy tonight. We’re all meeting for dinner at Traveller’s.” He looked at Bem. “That is in the hotel. She can make it, right? We have a private dining room.”
Bem nodded.
“I haven’t introduced myself,” Max said as he stretched his hand out to Bem. “I’m Senator Max Cody.”
“I know who you are, sir,” Bem said. “Mr. Chase told me to keep a particular eye on his daughter when she is with you.”
Max turned to Leigh before they both busted out laughing.
Avery was filled with joy the second the double doors of Chase Mansion opened, and Connor, in Maya’s arms, screamed with excitement at the sight of her mommy. Avery held her arms out, and Connor practically leaped into them.
“Someone is certainly happy to see you,” Maya said with a warm smile.
“That just made my day,” Avery said, and couldn’t have meant it more. She hugged her baby tight, tighter than usual considering the situation.
“Where is Carter?” Avery asked.
She hated to admit it, but she wanted to see him. After news of Evan’s coma, Avery first thought of Kimberly. Then she thought of Carter, who she knew loved those boys very much. And because Carter and Michael were so incredibly close, Carter had to be feeling pain for his brother as well.
“He’s upstairs.” Maya stepped aside so Avery could enter. “I’m not sure why he didn’t just drop her off at your place instead of here.”
“He probably doesn’t want to see me,” Avery said. There was no point in keeping secrets from Maya. She knew more of everything that went on in this house and with this family than anyone else.
“They’re in the process of transferring Evan to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.”
“Transfer?” Avery asked. “I thought UCLA had the best children’s wing.”
Maya shrugged. “They said this is the best for children with his condition. Carter dropped her off here for you to come pick up, and he was heading over to the new hospital. I think he just wanted to rest a bit.”
Avery looked up the stairs, unable to come to terms with her own emotions when thinking of Carter exhausted and worried.
“Here,” Maya said, opening her arms. “Give her to me and go talk to him. We’ll go back out by the pool, and you can come get her when you’re ready to leave.”
Avery hesitated for a moment but knew she was going to do it, so she handed a very disappointed Connor over to Maya and headed upstairs.
Carter’s back was to the door as he looked out the window of the baby room his parents put together for Connor. He had watched as Avery drove up the large, black, half-circle driveway to the front of the house, where some of the family’s other cars were parked.
He had hoped to avoid this, which was why he brought Connor here instead of to Avery’s. He expected to be gone before she got here. After kissing Avery the other day, Carter was livid with himself. He had built up such a wall against this woman, convincing himself that he detested her, but all of that was blown apart when he kissed her. Yes, he recovered as best he could, but there was no ignoring that he still wanted her, wanted her badly.
He could feel her now. She wasn’t in the room yet but was just standing at the doorway. There was an energy between them that aroused him whenever she was in the same room, and he hated it.
“I didn’t expect you to come up,” he said, keeping his back to her. His head was so messed up right now; he didn’t even trust himself to look at her.
Avery took small, cautious steps into the room. “Did you think I would ignore you?”
“I was hoping you would.”
“I don’t care what you say to me, Carter. I’m just here to say that I’m sorry that Evan is sick, and I’m praying for him.”
“You know I don’t believe in that,” Carter said. He took a deep breath before adding, “But thank you.”
“I’ve had a hard time reaching Kimberly,” she said.
“They don’t let you use cell phones where she is.” Carter finally found the courage to turn around and face her, knowing that she was only a few feet from him now.
Avery’s breath caught at the look on his face. His light eyes were red, and he had dark circles around them with large bags. He looked tired and sad. She hated this and she hated that it affected her so much.
“Carter, I’m so sorry.” Avery had a hard time fighting the urge to walk closer to him. “What can I do? I’ll do anything.”
Carter kept still despite the emotion her plea evoked within him. “For who? Kimberly?”
“For you,” she answered.
“Why?” Carter asked. “After everything I’ve—”
“I love you,” Avery said, feeling the tears well in her throat. “I know you hate me, but I love you and I love Evan.”
Carter didn’t have the strength to control his reaction to those words, and he didn’t want to. Too many times he had returned her words of affection with hateful words of his own. He had done it not because he didn’t want to believe she loved him, but because when she said it, it made him feel so weak and vulnerable.
Carter lowered his head, feeling so ashamed of his inability to respond the way he knew he wanted to. There was just so much pain that surfaced when he tried to face his real feelings for Avery, and right now he just didn’t have the desire to worry about that.
“I thought of…I thought of Connor,” he said.
Avery felt the tears stream down her cheeks as she watched his shoulders slump and his body lean back against the wall. She placed her purse down on the sofa as she rushed over to him. She wanted to touch him but didn’t.
“I know,” she whispered. “I thought of her too. Everything changes when you have a baby, and…you feel so helpless.”
“I look at her and…” Carter looked up and his eyes caught Avery’s. Her tears touched him and choked him up inside. “What is the point of having all you have if you can’t save the one thing you love most in the world?”
“Carter.�
� The skip in his throat as he spoke grasped hold of Avery’s emotions, and she forgot all those times she had reached out to him and was burned. His pain over Connor was her pain, and it compelled her to reach out to him.
When her hand came gently to his chest, Carter felt tormented by conflicting emotions. He was reminded of the tenderness in her eyes and how comforting her touch was. He was reminded of how far-reaching her compassion could be. He was reminded of how much he loved her once.
“He’ll be okay,” she said. “We have to have faith.”
“I don’t have your God, Avery. I need more than faith.”
“No, you don’t,” she answered. “And you do have Him whether you believe in Him or not. He loves you and He loves Evan.”
For several seconds, they stared into each other’s eyes, and the one thing that connected them no matter what the world did to them, no matter what they did to each other, was what they thought of: Connor. They didn’t grab each other in a desperate, sexually charged embrace that characterized so much of their encounters. They both simply leaned forward until their lips connected.
Unlike the hard, punishing kiss from days ago, this kiss was so tender and warm that it made Avery’s knees go weak. She pressed her lips against his, feeling a rage of fire sweep down her throat, into her chest, and through her entire body.
The salty taste of her tears mixed with the sweetness of her soft, full lips made Carter immediately want more. All of his senses exploded to life as his body began to pulse with need.
When their lips separated, Avery leaned away with a gasp. She wasn’t sure what had just happened, but she had to get out of there, so she started for the door.
“Avery,” Carter called after her. He didn’t care about anything but touching her again.
“I have to leave,” Avery said, but just as she reached the door, Carter stepped in front of her and closed the door behind him. Avery looked up at him, her mind not clear enough to decipher what he could be thinking.
“Move, please.”
“You say you have to leave,” Carter said, his eyes compelling and magnetic, “but do you want to leave?”
“How can you ask me that?” Avery knew he was aware of the answer to that question.
“Answer me!” he demanded angrily.
“Yes!” Avery pushed him aside. “I want to leave. Get out of my way.”
“Fine,” Carter said as he moved aside.
She wouldn’t leave. This was what happened between them. Once they got started, they couldn’t stop, and as much as his head told him that he was a fool to make love to this woman he claimed to hate so much, his body had taken over the second she placed her hand to his chest. Avery had that effect on him, and maybe it was his large ego, but Carter was certain he had the same effect on her.
Avery grabbed the door handle and opened the door. She tried to ignore the chaos raging inside of her so she could leave. She knew that this would only lead to pain, but her body wanted him so bad. His touch only brought back to mind how no one could ever satisfy her the way Carter did, and she wanted, needed, to be satisfied.
But how could she be such a fool for a man who was so cruel to her?
Carter smiled wickedly as he watched Avery close the door. She looked up at him, and he felt a surge of desire and power race through him. He leaned in and turned the lock on the door. His body pressed against hers as his hands slid up her hips, over her waist, and to her breasts. He watched as her eyes closed in response to his touch.
“Carter,” she whispered as his caress began to drive her wild.
Her heart was beating fast, and she felt her body begin to tingle all over. When she opened her eyes, she saw he was looking down at her, and the lustful look in his eyes melted all her resolve. She reached her arms up and pulled him to her, pressing her lips against his with a fervor that matched her body’s needs.
When his tongue entered her mouth, he explored her taste and heard himself groan. The potency of her body moving against his was enough to drive him crazy. He ignored every voice in his head except for the one that yelled for him to take her. Take her now.
Avery let out a gasp as she felt Carter wrap his arms under her and lift her up. As he moved her from the door to the sofa, Avery buried her face in his neck and kissed him passionately everywhere. The growing anticipation was making her shiver with desire. As he laid her down on the sofa, Avery looked up at him. Everything was becoming a blur to her, but she delighted in the look of determined passion on his face as he joined her.
Carter could not think of anything but having her as he reached for her shirt and lifted it up. She raised her arms and he slid it over her head and tossed it aside. He was straddling her as his hands caressed her stomach and her breasts. He reached for the clip between her breasts and undid her bra. The sight of her bare, full, and firm breasts sent tremors through him. He immediately leaned down and kissed them both.
His hands were caressing her outstretched arms when Avery felt his tongue wrap around her left breast. She inhaled sharply at the warm touch of his tongue, and her body responded by moving back and forth. Then his mouth engulfed her breasts, one after the other, making Avery moan in pleasure and delight. She wanted him so badly it almost hurt. It was as if nothing had happened and they had always been here, making love and becoming one.
Carter’s patience was leaving him with every second he tasted her and touched her silky, creamy skin. His heart was booming in his ears as he trailed kisses down her flat stomach. The sound of Avery’s growing desire only made him harder and more famished for her. He unzipped her jeans and pulled them, along with her pink panties, down her legs. He tossed her clothes to the side and looked down at her body. She was as exquisite as he remembered her. Her breasts and hips were smaller than they had been after she had Connor, but she was still curvy and looked completely luscious.
Her body continued to move, urged by the lust growing inside of her. The way Carter was looking at Avery made her feel sexy and womanly. When he looked at her with ravenous eyes, she wanted to be ravaged. It wasn’t because she hadn’t made love in eight months, the last time she’d made love to Carter. It was because of him. No other man could make her feel this way.
He slightly lifted her right leg and leaned into it. He slowly kissed the inside of her thigh, and the touch was so torturously tender that Avery let out a cry. As his mouth traveled down her leg, she could barely breathe. She knew what was coming, and when his tongue gently teased her center by licking around it, she couldn’t hold it in. She was moaning out loud now as he explored the inside of her with his mouth.
He wrapped his arms around her legs and pulled her body into him so his mouth could reach farther. She was leaning forward now, and he loved the feel of her hands pulling at his shoulders and grabbing his head. The harder he savored her, the more her body moved and the louder she got. It was too much for him. He couldn’t take it anymore.
Avery was only able to enjoy the feel of his body on hers for a second. She opened her legs, and he entered her immediately, hard and forceful. They both let out a loud groan as she received him. Avery felt her entire body shudder in delight at the pressure of him completely filling her as far as he could go.
Waves of ecstasy shot through him as he moved inside of her. She was wet and warm and tight, and every thrust sent sensations through him that made him insane. She felt so good, and he told her so over and over again. It wasn’t long before he was moving faster and faster, losing complete control of his body. She was meeting him with every advance, her nails digging into his back and her voice screaming his name.
When Avery felt her body begin to shake, the rising storm coming closer and closer, she couldn’t take it. She reached up and grabbed the edge of the sofa, digging her fingers in as deep as she could. She wrapped her legs around him tight, her head falling back and her chest arching. Then she felt it and she screamed his name. Her head was thrashing left to right as the delirium took her over for several seconds. She w
as just coming down as she felt Carter’s body jerk in a way that told her he was coming, too, just before he buried his head into her neck and let out a bellowing growl.
All Avery could think of was that she wanted more.
6
Leigh was gazing down at the open suitcases on her bed in her garden-style hotel room overlooking the Indian Ocean. She’d hoped she made the right choices. Packing for Africa’s heat while keeping in mind some of the female customs in certain areas could be complicated, but she hadn’t had enough time to really think it all through. Downtown Nairobi was a modern city, so she felt confident she could get there anything she had forgotten. After all, they would be there for only a short time.
She contemplated leaving her clothes in the suitcases but then thought that her mother would kill her for something Janet considered low class. Even if one was just staying overnight, she should always unpack her appropriately overpacked suitcase.
As she unpacked her clothes immediately, as her mother had taught her when she was a little girl, Leigh realized that she hadn’t spoken to anyone in her family since arriving. She had promised to call her mother as soon as she reached Nairobi and was curious as to why no one had called her at the hotel. She looked around, forgetting where she had laid her purse, but was distracted by a knock on the door.
“Who is it?” she asked, walking to the door.
“Dr. Chase.” It was Bem’s voice. “It’s the senator to see you.”
Leigh froze just before she reached the door. What was he doing here, and why was her first thought to look in the mirror covering the closet door to see what she looked like?
When she opened the door, Leigh first thought that the look on Max’s face was annoyance because of Bem’s reluctance to let him enter the room, but she realized that it was more than that. He was very upset about something.
“I tried to reach you,” Max said. “The phones in the hotel, on the whole block, aren’t working.”
“Let him in,” Leigh ordered, and Bem stepped aside so Max could enter.
Gone Too Far Page 9
