by Pamela Ann
SCORNFULLY HERS
(TORN SERIES NOVELLA)
Pamela Ann
Acknowledgements
To the ladies at Chasing BASSphemous and The Mighty Knightly (Cami & Kimberly’s Baby) Facebook Forum: Toni and to the rest of Team Carter Mason, thank you for the idea. YOU. LADIES. ROCK.
Tia-Marie, Cami Hesnault, Beck Sewell, Melissa Gabbard-Gill, Kimberly Harris and to Kirstie Hicks, I’m forever grateful for the honest feedbacks and the ever-growing friendship we’re all building. I can’t thank you ladies enough.
Debbie Diprima, Ashley Suzanne, Josie Melendez, love the input and opinions :)
To my family and friends, thank you.
Do you believe a man can truly love a woman and constantly betray
her? Never mind physically but betray her in his mind, in the very
poetry of his soul? Well, it's not easy but men do it all the time.
- Mario Puzo
Lust At First Glance
“Carter! Wait up.”
I saw a familiar looking girl coming towards me. What was her name? Brenda? Bailey? I knew it started with a B. “Hey, what’s up?” I gave the somewhat nameless woman a nod, still walking towards the parking lot.
“It’s Bess, in case you forgot, we met at Russo’s hot tub party a couple months back? I heard you’re throwing a party tonight. Can my gals and I come along?” The dirty blonde with blue-green eyes and an easy smile asked with an annoying giggle.
Bess… of course, didn’t I spend the night making out with her?
“Yeah, it’s cool. It starts at ten. It should be posted online.” I quickly glanced at her, but when I saw that she looked like she wanted to say more, I cut her off. “Listen, I gotta go. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Okay. It’s nice to see you again!” Bess waved at me. I barely nodded in her direction before rushing towards my truck.
Turning on the engine and the air conditioning, I leaned against the headrest and shut my lids, trying to calm myself. Today I had woken up with a heavy emptiness inside; maybe it was from the heavy, back-to-back partying on a daily basis for the last few months. Top that with soccer and I guess I could only pin it down as fatigue. It’d been happening a lot lately. Feeling that way wasn’t something I dwelled on, but when I did, like right now, I wanted to smash something.
Taking my phone out of my pocket, I called my sister. After the first ring, she instantly picked up. “Hey.”
Releasing a small sigh, I started talking. “How’s your day going? Thought I should just call and say hello.”
“I’m good. You okay, big bro? You sound off.”
“I’m tired, but I’m good. Haven’t seen you around. Where have you been?” Okay, the last time I saw Lindsey was what? Two days ago? I always called my sister when I felt down, even though she wasn’t the easiest kind of person to deal with, but listening to her voice helped.
“Maybe you should think about taking a night off from partying? Also, get your head checked? Oh, and while you’re at it, why don’t you get a full physical exam. Hanging out with the likes of Cece might have contaminated you big time.”
Cece was Lindsey’s former best friend; one who would follow me everywhere and would do anything I asked of her. “Your main issue is with Cece. Don’t bring that on me. Besides, you don’t like a lot of women outside of Amber and Trista anyway.”
“That’s not true. I’m super close with my roommate, Emma. Oh, I might bring her around tonight. You have to make a promise that you won’t hit on her, yeah? She’s a good friend and I want it to stay that way. Emma’s a good girl, not like the rest of us.”
Damaged and packed with issues, that’s what she meant.
“Why do you automatically think that I would? Heck, I don’t just come up to every woman I meet, Lindsey. For all I know, she might even be ugly. So we’re good.”
“Trust me, big bro. I know you. This is why I’m issuing a warning.”
I didn’t know why she was making a big deal out of it. It wasn’t like I had bad hang-ups when it came to dating. I just wasn’t interested in long term. Short-terms, I did perfectly well. Usually it was a month or two in an exclusive relationship, though, past that, it got difficult. Women… they always fall in love quickly and I didn’t need to tangle myself in some stupid feeling that was merely a sweeter way of being in lust.
Love was lust. I think the society made it sound all gushy because it would be accepted, but I didn’t buy the bull. If you stripped all the chocolates, flowers, butterflies and the sweet words, then all you’re left with was lust.
Sex. Why cover it with romance and the fake notions of love?
The party was at ten, but at nine-thirty, the house was almost packed. I lived on the shore and it was a prime location for parties. My best friends, Brody and Cooper, roomed with me as well. So the parties were usually hosted by us, and since no one had a girlfriend, we were always chased around by women.
Parties usually got me going, and around this time, I should be about on my fifth beer, but I wasn’t even tempted tonight.
When I strolled over to the deck, I could see Brody attempting to avoid women who were trying to convince him to join the tub. Looking at his face, it was obvious that he wasn’t interested… but the girls? Man, they could be so relentless. They didn’t care how many times a man said no. They thought when a man declined an offer that we were playing hard to get. Fuck, what’s so hard to understand with I’m. Not. Interested? If a man wanted you, he’d do everything in his power to be with you. That was it. There were no if’s and maybe’s. If a guy wanted you, he’d tell you. If he didn’t, he’d tell you. It was easy, right?
“Baby, here you are!” Someone tugged me and immediately clung onto my neck before releasing me. “You’ve been ignoring my calls, Carter.” Sarah pouted, trying to look sad, sultry and cute at the same time.
Did she know that most women used that trick? Shaking my head, I played it cool and managed to put on an easy smile, even though I didn’t want to. “I’ve been busy with practice and playing the field.”
“I know. When are you going to play on my field? I’ve been on the waiting list for far too long.” Sarah leaned over and whispered in my ear, “If you have a special preference, I’m pretty open about everything, and I mean, everything.”
Okay, my sex life was pretty much school gossip. It had always been like that, so I wasn’t even bothered about it. It was old news that I liked ménages when I felt like it, but lately, the offers had been constant.
Frankly, for the first time, I was getting sick of women who were throwing themselves at me, always easy to please. What happened to regular females?
I was momentarily distracted when I saw Trista and Amber laughing at some joke they shared.
“Party in the hooouuuuse!” Amber screamed at the people on my living room-turned-dance floor for the night.
I smirked at the sight of my sister’s crazy friends, seeing familiar faces that I’d grown up with definitely made me feel much better. “My sister just got here. I’ll speak to you later.” I gave Sarah a light squeeze on her arm before walking away.
Sarah was hot, but she wasn’t doing it for me.
No one had been on my radar lately. Well, I guess after that ugly break-up with Heather five days ago, it was understandable that I’d been staying away from females. I was already edgy when she confessed that she was in love with me three weeks ago, but what really pissed me off was when she started to demand that I should ask my friends to leave my house so that she could move in with me. A little less than a minute later, I told her to get the fuck out. No one tells me what to do. Brody’s been my best man since before I even started to crawl as a baby. Heather thought just because she was spreading her legs for me that she coul
d demand crap? She should’ve known better.
I was walking towards my sister and her friends when I instantly paused. My eyes were glued to the woman who was smiling at something Lindsey was telling her. My heart skipped a beat. There was something about those eyes and that combination of the right amount of shyness and sexiness in her smile that got to me.
All of a sudden, I became nervous, which was rare. Women never made me feel nervous. What the hell was going on?
I almost growled when Lindsey directed them towards where I was standing, stuck in time, wondering what the fuck was happening with my brain and body.
“This is my big bother I was telling you about.” Lindsey gently tapped my shoulder before introducing us. “Emma, my roommate and this is my brother, Carter.”
“Hey Linds! Got a minute? Got to show you something,” Cooper interrupted us. It was all hazy, but basically Lindsey left with him while I merely stayed rooted to the spot, blinking and studying the gorgeous woman before me.
The redness on her cheeks deepened when she noticed that I was just being an idiot. Carter, fucking think with your brain for a second, will you? My brain finally kicked me out of my shady haze. “Welcome to my home. Can I get you something to drink?”
Emma shot me a quick glance before blushing delightfully. “Sure.”
Grinning, I glanced at her. “Lemme guess, you’re not a beer kinda girl, huh?”
Emma shook her head, trying to hide her smile. “No, not really. Not if I can help it.”
“Red, full-bodied, potent with just a tinge of berries?” I asked. I couldn’t hold back the excitement in my voice as I placed my hands in my pockets.
Her blue eyes glittered, her face radiant. “My kind. How’d you guess?”
“I just know these things. Come on, I’ll show you and you can pick whatever you want.” I nodded towards where we’re going.
I lead her to the basement and keyed my passcode before entering it then took her inside to the place we had set-up for poker nights, which we did once in awhile.
“It’s right over here.” I gestured towards the far corner that had a wall-to-wall compressed temperature fridge. Opening it, I ushered her inside. “Go take your pick.” My eyes trained on her, watching in fascination as to how her face suddenly lit up.
Biting her lip, I saw her eyes rove over the labels and the expanse of my wine collection. When her top teeth released it, I fought back the urge to see how those lips tasted against mine.
She chose a vintage French. “Is this okay?”
Emma was blushing. I was crazy lusting after this woman who I had barely met fifteen minutes ago. Crazy didn’t even cover it, but fuck she looked delicious. “You can have whatever you want, Emma.” Myself included, if you ask right out, I silently told her with my eyes as I penetrated those baby blues.
We exited the cellar and headed towards the bar on the side, close to the card tables. I opened the bottle and poured her a glass. Emma seemed nervous as she looked around. I even caught her staring at me before looking away with a blush on her cheeks. She was gorgeous and I couldn’t hold back eyeing her from head to toe as I moved around the bar and stood close to her. Handing her the ruby-filled glass, I felt another surge of wanting to kiss her. “Your boyfriend’s okay that you party without him?”
She took a small sip, looking at me before she placed the glass down. “It’s excellent wine, thank you. To answer your question, my boyfriend and I broke up a few months back.”
Thank God! Because either way, she wasn’t leaving my house without a kiss from me, I was sure of that.
Openly staring at her as she savored her drink, I wasn’t even abashed at my blatant interest in her. When she gazed at me through her lashes, I was almost sure I made a small growl before closing the gap between us. “Can I take you out tomorrow night?” I whispered against her. Her heartbeat was vibrating against my chest. The heat from her breasts was toying with my body.
She wanted me. Her body gave her away easily.
“Wow, you work fast.” Her plump puckers made a big O, which didn’t help the uncomfortable state of my groin.
I’ve done this so many times, but for a second, I contemplated if I should go with my usual lines. Shaking my head as if not understanding the need to change my tactic, I went ahead. “When I want something, I go for it… and I want you in my bed, Emma.”
Her blue depths widened, almost like saucers at my frankness. “That’s all you’re after, sex?”
That and then some. “It’s all I can give you. I don’t do any of the hearts and butterflies shit, Em. I don’t do love or the happily ever after shit, either, but I can definitely satisfy you…” I murmured, my eyes lingered on her cleavage before making their way back to her face. “Think about it.”
She bit her lip before releasing it, making it look scarlet red from the new fusion of blood. “I’ve heard about you and I actually saw you two weeks ago with your girlfriend. Are you even single right now, Carter?”
Heather was long gone. “I am, Emma. Why? What have you heard?” I lightly inquired, piqued, hoping my past wouldn’t hinder her decision.
She cleared her throat and took another lengthy sip of her wine without breaking eye contact; she then licked her lips before placing the wine glass on the granite countertop delicately. “Your sister told me to stay away from you.”
Shit, Lindsey. Way to go, cock-blocker. “Are you going to?” I asked cautiously. It really would piss me off if she took Lindsey’s advice; I had never been this interested in a woman since… well… ever.
“I’m still deciding...” Emma murmured, eyes dropping to my chest, to my thighs and then staying on my lips.
Fuck, she was so beautiful and she was attracted to me, yet was contemplating doing something about it.
For years, I had been used to women coming on to me, making the first move, and for me to take the initiative first was a novelty I liked very much. Inching my torso closer, I pressed against her as my gaze lingered on her face, and then slowly caressed every contour with admiration. “Do you need any help?” I asked, my nose almost touching her cheek, referring to her indecision.
“Uh, no, not really,” she managed to croak out before I sealed my lips against her sweet scented throat, right where her pulse was jackhammering madly.
My pants were getting beyond uncomfortable from my aroused manhood. Emma had definitely reawakened my insatiable libido. I let out a groan when I felt her body soften against mine, almost giving in. “Let me take you out tomorrow and you can tell me your answer then,” I said, voice filled with passion. I didn’t want to scare her away, but fuck, I hadn’t been this horny in a long time.
I tried to tell my body that Emma needed to think—even if it was only for a day—as my lips slowly kissed around her ears and my over-eager finger traced the outline of her neck, noting how her breathing hitched. “Does that sound good, Emma?”
She released a small moan, just enough for me to lose my shit and kiss her with a growl while pushing her against the bar. Fuck, the way she whimpered against me, writhing against my dick, made me want to feel if she was wet in between her thighs.
Emma tasted sweet and her soft moans were testing me, pushing my control, because I wanted to take her now, up against the bar—on it, off it—nothing mattered.
“Carter,” she breathed out, clutching onto my shirt as I pushed my hard-on against her hot pussy. “Tomorrow…”
Fuck. Tomorrow? Not right now? I wanted to ask, but told myself to stop being such a horny bastard.
Okay, so no sex, but that didn’t stop me from kissing her all night long.
Hours after Emma left, I was in bed, staring into the dark with a grin on my face. True enough, I was counting down the hours until I got to see her again.
Take My Breath Away
I felt like a teenager going on my first date again. I had to brush my teeth twice and felt like I was about to burst with energy. I had an hour to kill so I strode towards the deck, staring out
at the ocean, telling myself to take it easy. It was only dinner with a girl.
Yeah, a girl who I wanted to lick all over on sight, I thought with a smirk.
“Yo, bro! You coming with us to get some dinner before we head out to Russo’s?” Brody asked behind me.
Shaking my head, I called out. “Nah. I’m going to take someone out tonight. I’ll meet you guys there.”
“If you say so. Later, man.” Brody threw me a careless wave before I heard the front door being slammed.
After dinner, I was going to take her to the party. Together. I wanted to let everyone know that I was with someone… and also to blatantly announce to the rest of the guys that they needed to back off. It didn’t take a genius to guess that she might have men asking her out. Emma was stunning, beautiful and had the right amount of innocence in her—not something common around here. Damn straight, I was staking my claim.
Pushing myself off the rails, I decided to leave the house and head straight to see Emma. If she wasn’t ready, then I could wait. Whatever reason I could come up with simply so I could see her, right now.
In less than ten minutes, I was jumping out of my Cadillac SUV and headed towards Lindsey and Emma’s dorm. I heaved out a long breath before knocking on the door. My breath literally stopped when I saw her again. The short, sky blue dress was glued to her body like a second skin, and boy did that leave little to change my-ready-to-eat-you-on-the-spot state.
Emma’s face brightened at the sight of me. “Hey! You’re early.” She was holding the phone up, covering it.
She noticed as my eyes flickered towards the phone, then whispered, “I’ll be ready in a minute. Let me just finish this; is that okay?”
Nodding, I told her I was just going to wait outside until she was ready.
Walking back towards my SUV, I leaned against it as I checked my text messages. Bess. Cece. Monica. Ash. Leah. Sandra. Heather. That got my interest.
