by Lila Kane
“No. No way.”
We get our room and the woman at the desk promises to send up champagne soon. I almost can’t believe this is me. Walking up the stairs, all carefree, with Carson’s hand warm on my back. It’s like he does this all the time.
I check those thoughts immediately. They’re what got me into this mess in the first place.
“I like these chandeliers,” I say.
Carson glances up with a smile. “Me too.”
“And those sconces.”
We reach the second floor and he turns me to face him. “Everything okay?”
“Yes. Why?”
“You seem…nervous.”
Oh, God. Is it that easy to tell? Carson is built like a god—a sex god—and I don’t know if I’m going to be able to keep up.
“I’m trying not to be,” I murmur.
He leans in and traces his tongue across my lower lip. “No stress. No pressure. Just be you, and that’s all. You’re so sexy just being you.”
Those words give me a boost, and so does the fact he wants his hands all over me, because we’re still standing at the top of the stairs but it feels like we’re lost in our own world.
He backs me up against the wall and presses his body against mine. His dick is hard and ready, pressing into my hip.
I release a sigh and hang onto his neck as his mouth devours mine.
“I’m so, so…not nervous now,” I whisper.
Just really turned on.
“Where’s our room?” he asks, barely pulling away.
“It’s just over…oh, God, Carson…” I can’t speak. His hands slide down my sides, just grazing my breasts, and his breath on my ear is giving me the chills.
He takes the key from my hand and wraps his arm around my waist to pull me to the door. It’s open in a matter of seconds, and I step inside.
The room is so nice and cool, and the bed is so welcoming, I walk straight over and lay down. I curl onto my side, amused when Carson traces one hand down the trim by the door and then walks to the window.
“They really did preserve the integrity of this place,” he says.
I grin. “It’s hard not to see every feature of every place you go now, isn’t it?”
“It’s always been hard.” He turns. “You look really good right there.”
“On a real bed?” I sigh and stretch out. “I know. I feel almost like a human being again.”
He answers the door when there’s a knock. He brings in the champagne and sets it on the table by the window. Carson pours us both a glass and carries it over. I sit up and take mine.
“I’ve gotten so used to sleeping on the floor, I’ve forgotten what a bed feels like,” Carson says.
I scoot over so he can sit next to me. He stretches his legs out and closes his eyes briefly. “Oh yeah, this is it. I remember now.”
My mind flashes back to the bed I just put upstairs in my room. How I’ve wanted to have him in it more than once. How I almost just made the offer to let him. We can share from now on.
Carson opens his eyes and looks at me. “You’re thinking about something, I can tell.”
I set aside my champagne and crawl over to straddle him, letting go of my inhibitions.
“And now I can’t think at all,” he murmurs.
I blow out a breath of laughter before locking my lips on his. He responds immediately, his hands gripping my hips and holding me to him. He gets harder underneath me, and I sigh at the feel of it.
“You sure this time?” he asks, voice husky.
“I’m sure.”
He pulls off my tank top and tosses it aside. In the dim lighting of the room, his eyes feast on the swell of my breasts in my lacy bra. His hands come up, brushing the nipples through the fabric. It shoots a jolt straight to my core.
“Take your hair down,” Carson demands.
I undo the knot at the top of my head and shake out my hair, then run my hands through it. Suddenly impatient, Carson shoves his hands into my hair and fuses his mouth to mine.
In a flash, there’s no more hesitancy, just heat. He lifts me off of him and lays me down on the bed so he can remove his clothes. He tugs off my skirt before I have a chance, so I’m only in my underwear.
When he pulls off his boxers, my eyes go straight to his dick.
“You’ve already seen me naked,” he says with a grin.
“Not like this—not how bad I want you right now.”
With a growl, he pulls down my panties and unlatches my bra before climbing on top of me. He pins my hands to the bed, and then slows down again.
“Carson,” I pant, already wet for him. Needing to get my hands on him before he thrusts inside of me. “Please.”
He keeps my hands shackled, but lowers his mouth for a soft kiss. One on my lips, and the more trailing down to my breasts. He sucks one nipple, and then moves to the other while my back arches.
“I’m pretty sure this is against the rules,” he murmurs.
“No more rules.”
His eyes lock on mine, a silent confirmation. No more rules. Just us. Joined together in this bed. With that, he slides into me, pressing in hard and deep so I’m full of Carson.
When he releases my wrists, I grip his hips and shove mine to his to feel the fullness of him. He exhales, a sound that tells me he feels as good as I do.
Then he begins pumping, thrusting in and out, and the friction alone nearly drives me mad.
“God, yes,” I say. “Just like that.”
But he doesn’t stop there. He palms my breast with one hand, teasing the nipple while he fucks me. I close my eyes, letting myself feel. Releasing all the tension of the last few days while my body fills with delicious pressure. Building toward the ultimate explosion.
Carson’s body tenses between my thighs but he keeps thrusting. A moment later, he pushes his hand between us, brushing my clit with strong, callused fingers. My body jerks, and then I come long and hard, my legs clutching his hips.
“That’s right,” Carson murmurs, “come for me.”
“God—oh, God, that feels good.”
I lift my hips, urging him to take his own release. Carson pumps one more time and then goes over the edge. He clasps me to him as his body quakes, and I hold on tight, forgetting about everything else in the world but us.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CARSON
When I wake, she’s still sleeping. But I always wake up earlier than her. Normally, I’d already be working, a half a cup of coffee at my side while I tackle my next project.
But it’s nice to wake up like this. Peaceful. In a real bed.
With a sexy woman curled against my side. Her hand flexes against my chest, and I rub her arm, soothing her from whatever dream she’s having.
I turned me on how she’d taken control yesterday. I’d gone from working like a maniac, trying to get her off my mind to being consumed by her. And I liked it.
Too much maybe because I want her again. I fit so perfect inside of her, all I want is to feel her clenching tight around me, wet and hot because she wants me so bad.
I roll over, easing between her legs so I can feel the short hairs above her pussy brushing my cock. She rolls her head on the pillow and mumbles something.
“Libby,” I whisper.
Her eyelids flicker. Her lips curve.
And then I slide into her.
She pulls in a breath and her eyes go wide. Then she spreads her legs further, allowing me to go deeper, to fill her full. I can’t believe she’s so wet—almost like she had a build-up already.
“I was having a good dream,” she says, gripping my arms.
“Oh yeah?” That must be it.
“Yeah. About you.”
I pump in and out of her slowly. “Was I doing this?”
She nods. “But a little harder.”
“Shit.” She makes me so hard, and I can’t stop myself now.
Libby gives as much as I do, her hips rocking in time with mine, breasts bouncing wi
th the motion and almost making me come far too early.
“Let me,” she breathes, pushing me back.
I lie on the bed and watch her crawl between my legs. She slides her hands up my thighs, and brushes my sack, giving me the chills. She licks her lips, practically making me come before her mouth is even on me.
“Libby,” I say, my voice husky.
“What do you want?” she asks, though I already know what she has in mind.
“I want your mouth on me.”
She smiles, obliging by leaning down. Her lips are soft on the head of my dick, just a brush of pressure that nearly drives me wild. Then her mouth opens and she takes me in, so far and so fast, I squeeze my fists on the comforter to hold back. Her mouth is hot, the perfect size to accommodate me.
Her hands rub my thighs while she fucks me with her mouth, sliding up and down and flicking her tongue against my most sensitive parts.
“Shit—Libby—” I reach for her shoulders. “Come here.”
She straddles me, exhaling in bliss when she takes my entire cock inside again. Then she starts riding me, her hips swiveling, barely giving me a moment of reprieve. Making it nearly impossible for me to hold back. She seems to want it rough and fast, because she reaches down and rubs her own clit, finger sliding over her nub with each rocking motion.
“Fuck, Libby,” I hiss.
It’s too much. Her breasts in my line of sight, her touching herself, mouth open in ecstasy. I shove my hips against her and we both come at the same time. Her body bows over mine as we shudder together, my cock pumping her full of my cum.
“Carson,” she gasps.
I hold her tighter in response, until our heartbeats slow down and we’re both sated.
“Fuck,” I say again. “If I would have known that was such a good way to wake you up in the morning, I would have tried it a long time ago.”
She rests on my chest with a smile. “New morning ritual.”
“It’s worth a try. Worked better than coffee.”
She looks up at me. “Oooh, coffee. Let’s order room service.”
“You don’t want to get back? Get started at the house?”
“Just a few more hours,” she says. “Like you said, we deserve it.”
So we shower together and share breakfast, naked, on the rumpled bed. I haven’t seen this side of Libby before. The relaxed side.
The vulnerable side.
She’s letting me in, letting me get to know her without hesitation. I like it. I want more of it.
And then my buzz is killed with the next thing she says.
“I got a call from that guy yesterday,” she says. “The contractor who was supposed to work on the house.”
I swallow my bite of egg and glance at her. “Yeah? What did he say?”
“Nothing. I didn’t answer. He didn’t leave a message either. Maybe he was just checking in? I mean, yeah he was supposed to be out at the house weeks ago, but we never actually broke off our agreement. Not that I want to have an agreement with him still,” she says quickly, shooting me a look.
I force a smile at her. “I know. I think things are working out well so far.”
“They are.”
So well, in fact, I’d forgotten about Kyle’s offer. Even though he’s texted me more than once over the last few days. Make a decision yet? You’ll love this place—perfect for the business.
Yeah, he was laying it on thick, really trying to get me back. I hate that I almost considered it. But now…no way.
I like where I’m at. Which is another reason not to say anything to Libby. If she knows I am—was—Kyle’s partner, she won’t be happy. Not after Kyle screwed her over the way he did. I’ll tell her later. Maybe even when the project is finished. That way she won’t doubt where my loyalty lies.
We made an agreement, and unlike Kyle, I stick to my agreements.
“You okay?” Libby asks.
“Yes. Fine.”
And I would be. Kyle wouldn’t hear from Libby or me, he’d stew a little and then get over it. As much as I wanted to get Kyle back for how he treated me and Libby, now I just want him to stay out of the picture so I can keep things going as smoothly as they are right now.
“He’s an ass, right?” I continue, pushing the tray back on the bed so I can turn to face her. “He had his chance and he fucked it up. His loss.”
“His loss. Besides.” She grins. “I like our arrangement.”
“Business and pleasure. Although now that we’ve added the pleasure part, I feel like you should start paying me more.”
She laughs. “You think you’re that good?”
“I know I’m that good.”
I tackle her on the bed and kiss her hard, trying to make her forget about Kyle. Trying to make myself forget about him, too.
Better for both of us if he’s out of our lives.
And, as Libby squirms beneath me, it’s easy to put him out of my mind and focus on something better.
CHAPTER TWELVE
LIBBY
It’s not finished but it looks like a dream. The kitchen has a shape, cabinets—and soon a countertop. The wide, deep farm sink is going in today with a little help of one of Carson’s friends at the hardware store, and we’ll have brand new appliances soon.
I’m almost sad I have to move out of this place once it’s finished.
But, I remind myself, it’s just a stepping stone to financial freedom. Once I’m on my feet, solid, and I’ve proven to my family I can do this just as well as them, I’ll invest in my own house. With a master bedroom and bath to die for a kitchen so spectacular it’ll make everyone drool.
When the doorbell rings, I angle my head. Carson’s friend? I didn’t even know the doorbell worked.
I walk to the front of the house, admiring our new floors. Dark wood, perfect for the house. And it matches the upstairs flooring, what we were able to salvage from underneath the carpet, perfectly.
I open the door, then squeal. “Cheyenne!” We come together in a hug. “What are you doing here?”
“Checking out your place. You are still planning on letting me sell it for you, right?” she asks, stepping inside.
“I thought you said this place was a money pit.”
“I changed my mind. I mean, sure, you need some curb appeal but I’m your friend, right?”
“You just want to snoop around and see what I’ve been up to.”
“I do.” She looks around and nods. “And I have to say, it’s a good thing I changed my mind. The place looks great so far. I love these floors!”
“Come see the kitchen.”
She follows me to the space at the back of the house, and then walks around the island and takes it all in. “Great layout—way better than how it was before. And I love that you took out the wall. It’s so much more open in here. And brighter. Good idea.”
“Not my idea.”
“No?”
I point out the window, where Carson’s working with the saw. “His.”
She walks closer, her eyes getting wider. “Holy hell, is that your new contractor?”
“Yes.”
“How do you get anything done with him walking around?”
I grin as we both watch him, muscles flexing as he runs a board under the circular saw. “I don’t sometimes. It’s a full-time job watching him. And…other things.”
“Wait—what?” She smacks my arm. “Are you holding out on me? What do you mean it’s a full-time job—watching other things or doing other things?”
“Yes and yes.”
“Oh my God! This is like a porno. You and the contractor and his big hammer.”
I laugh. “And think of all the puns.”
“Oh yes, screws and nails and all that. Damn.” Her eyes widen when Carson takes off his shirt. “Okay, yeah, I’ve died and gone to heaven. I definitely need to change my line of work—nobody does that when they’re trying to sell a house.”
“Maybe you’d sell more houses that way.”
She chuckles. “Never thought of that. But seriously…are you two—you know—a thing? What is this?”
“I don’t know. It’s…we’re enjoying each other right now. Nothing serious. But it’s nice. No pressure.”
She nods. “Okay. I can’t really see that about you, but okay.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, usually you take things more seriously. Not that this is a bad thing. You deserve to enjoy life.” She points out the window. “And the finer things in life.”
I follow the point of her finger and sigh. “He is fine.”
Carson looks up at the same time, sees us both, and waves before he starts into the house.
“Oh, God, here he comes,” Cheyenne says. She fluffs her hair. “Please tell me he has a brother.”
Carson walks in shirtless. “Sorry—I didn’t know we had company or I would have come in to say hi before I got sweaty.”
Cheyenne smiles at him. “It’s really no problem. It looks hot out there.”
He meets my eyes and chuckles. “It is. I was just going to grab another bottle of water.”
I walk to the refrigerator and do it for him so Cheyenne can have another minute to ogle Carson. But I don’t miss my chance to do a little ogling myself. He is a fine specimen of a man, and lucky me—I can look at him all day long if I choose.
Cheyenne is right. It’s a wonder I’m managing to get anything done at all.
Carson accepts his bottle of water, kisses me on the cheek, and walks back outside.
“Hot and sweet,” Cheyenne says when he’s gone. “What am I missing?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean he was a perfect gentleman and he’s a handyman god. I’m not lucky enough to land a guy like that. With my luck, there’d be something wrong with him.” She narrows her eyes out the window. “Though he does look familiar. He live in town?”
“Oh, uh…” This is the awkward part. “Actually, he sort of lives here.”
She turns to me. “Sort of?”
“He wanted to be on-site, which I get. He gave me a discount on labor because I let him stay here.”
“Eating, sleeping, and working together all under the same roof. This is more serious than I thought. You know much about him?”
