by Pamela Ann
Waking up without Bass after spending the weekend with him was a total mood killer. Then, living in a house with two people hating on each other was another downer.
Lindsey and Amber still weren’t talking after their major showdown. Was I shocked? Shit, my mouth had hung open. I mean, Amber giving her v-card to one of her best friend’s love interests was a massive deal. Both girls I heart hardcore, but I wasn’t going to take sides. Who was I to judge when it came to irrational decision-making where love was concerned? I would be a poor judge of it. Lindsey’s case—I understood her anger because she broadcasted to the world at a young age that she was in love with Brody. For her to learn about Amber’s indiscretion possibly brought out all the ugly memories that she had to deal with before.
As for Amber, the poor woman probably fought off her feelings for Lindsey’s sake, but we all know that the more you fight it off, the worse it gets. She fell for a man she wasn’t supposed to love—yet it happened anyway. If at all, I felt bad for her. I mean she kept it hidden for so long…I bet seeing Lindsey and Brody get together before probably almost killed her inside. And yet she never said a word…until it all blew up.
From Carter and Trista’s updates, Brody was now trying to avoid seeing Lindsey or Amber by staying busy doing his own thing. Since all these folks grew up together and were used to being all in each other’s business, I wondered how long it would take for all three to really have a full-on confrontation. Seriously, they needed to clear the air, but only when they felt ready to do so. For now, though, my home had become a stale, awkward environment.
“What are your plans for your birthday, babe?” Trista asked the second I entered the kitchen.
Eat a cake and blow Bass’s candle? Ha! “Nothing comes to mind,” I lied, shrugging.
I just came back from school, trying to figure out how to approach my teachers with the fact that I got a new gig that needed me to be in a different state. Chicago to be precise. Trying to go to school and still act, seriously, it was difficult. I now fully understood why a lot of people didn’t even bother getting degrees while they were busy making movies.
However, I had made a promise to my parents that, no matter what, I was going to get a degree. So I was going to keep that promise, even if I had to work extra hard doing both. I knew it was going to be well worth it in the end.
“Well, I’ll figure it out, so don’t you worry.”
“You going to Coop’s goodbye bonfire party tonight?”
The boys had graduated from college, and now Cooper was moving to LA. It’s an hour away. I don’t see the point of a goodbye party. Hell, I’d be seeing him all the freaking time, anyway.
“Sure, if you’re all going.”
“Well…since you’re here and all. It’s silly, but I just thought we should ask anyway, you know?”
I hated when Trista came out with lines like these…it usually held motives. “Okay…yeah. Sure.” But what could it be? I was piqued.
Clearing her throat, she used a serious tone. “Amber and I are booking dates for Carter.” Her face was all business.
Seriously. What the shit? “Booking dates? Can you elaborate?”
“Carter’s a hot piece of munchkin, and we’re getting sick and tired of being asked if he’s dating so and so…” She was smiling like she’d come out with the most brilliant idea to date. “We came up with an idea that we should get all their names down, interview them, then Amber and I discuss the pros and cons before we introduce the girl to him.”
Huh? I swallowed what little saliva I had before biting down my bottom lip. Huh? “So, Carter is okay with this?” I asked with a frown.
“No, he doesn’t know.” She shrugged. “But since you and Bass are all gooey-gooey, I thought it’s time for our baby hot stud to start moving on, ‘cause that dude doesn’t look like he can stay away from your boobs.” She released a long sigh. “He needs to get laid. Stat.”
Sex. Carter. With other women…um…fucking hell—was I ready to see him get his groove back again? “Uh-huh…right.” I nodded, lying through my teeth. “Understandable.”
She flung her finger back and forth with her eyebrow raised, questioning. “You two didn’t tango, right?”
Still acting stupid here… “Like…?”
“Push and pull, produce people kinda thing?”
“No.” but…a lot of times…I almost begged him to. Thinking about it now made me feel all sorts of weird. It was bad to be reacting this way at the thought of Carter intimately, but I was with him, on and off, for eight months. Close calls had been a constant occurrence.
“So we’re good, right? You won’t drop BC like a hot potato? Or cause some crazy jealous rampage when you see Carter getting cozy with another chick? I know you totes loved him, too, but you have to see him move on. I think he needs to see it, too.”
I knew this day would come, I just hoped that I was ready for it. “Go for it, Tris.” I nodded while giving her an encouraging smile. “Carter will be happy that you guys are setting him up with girls. He’ll jump for joy.”
She stuck her tongue at me before leaving me all alone in the kitchen.
One thing we knew was that Carter hated for anyone to get into his business. I’m not going to lie—a part of me hoped that he’d tell them to leave him alone.
I knew it was bad, but shit…
I needed to let him go—yet Carter was making it difficult for me.
~E~
That evening…
I didn’t even have to look for him because I simply knew that he had already spotted me.
“Well, you look—” he paused before licking his lips, “good enough…to eat.”
Oh please, seriously. “Still holding out, huh?” I raised my brow, challenging him. Mild banters were always shared each time we saw each other as of late.
“Always.” He inched closer, eyes locked on mine. “When it comes to you, it goes without saying, Emma.”
I could smell the beer from his breath mixed with his own personal scent. He was bold tonight. From the second I had arrived, his eyes never left me. Yeah, I noticed how hungry they looked. And to be honest, I was a little scared what that look completely entailed.
“I thought you said you were letting me go.” My eyes searched his dark depths nervously.
He smirked, making him look dangerously sexily sinful. “I did, didn’t I?” Carter licked his lips again. “After I found out about Mr. Hollywood getting his little Russian pregnant, that promise obviously went to shitters, Em. You know that’s a sign, right?”
Whoever brings up Nikki being pregnant, it never fails to always—and I mean always—fuck with my head. I. Hated. It. “I don’t believe in those things, Carter. Seriously, is that the best you could do?”
Carter held the side of my hip, whispering into my ear, “You and I are meant to be together, baby. You and Hollywood hooking up was my punishment and I have accepted that. But don’t you think it’s time to really see the bigger picture here, Em?”
This was so messed up, however why was my blood getting filled with excitement… and my body getting aroused? Damn it.
Chapter 4
Carter
Some say it was wrong to hang on to someone who was obviously moving on, but you know what I think? I think it’s all bullshit. All these sayings were made up because this person went through shit and shit. Who was to say that I wasn’t going to end up with the girl?
Knowing Emma very well, she was going to fight until she was fed up from all the drama. The moment she folded—and she was going to—I would be there to soothe her wounds, love her how I was supposed to from the start, and hopefully, start over.
From where I’m standing, Bass Cole made a major doodoo by not taking all the damn precaution to save himself from some sticky situation like this one. He was a well-known actor; he should’ve known that a woman—even if she was also a successful actress—was going to do everything to keep her man. A woman was a woman; no matter the skin, sexual orie
ntation, beliefs or origin, they were all the same.
If a man broke a woman’s heart, they become a hard-ass bitch; vindictive, calling the man all kinds of names that they could think of. Break a crazy woman’s heart, though, and then you’re in for a whole rollercoaster ride. I was almost one hundred percent sure that an experienced man like Bass himself would’ve known crazy-ass, mental women from a glance, but then again, I’m sure he wasn’t himself because, from what I’ve heard, he was all messed up then from his break-up with Emma.
Like any man, we all sympathized because that crap would be terrifying for any guy to go through. Yet his stupidity was my gain, and I was going to grab that opportunity like it was my lifesaver. In some ways, it was going to be. I wanted one thing.
And this precious thing was now in my arms…and I knew that my close proximity affected her.
“Carter…”
I groaned, pulling her harder against my chest. I loved how Emma said my name. It was like half whisper and half moan; it was the sexiest thing. Ever.
“Do you remember how I would touch you with my fingers and you would moan my name?” My lips brushed her ear while I felt her body tense. “You sounded like that just now. And I’m telling you, I’m having such a hard time resisting making those memories come to life again.”
My body was in charge of my brain. Damn. Why did she have to come to my house dressed like this anyway? It was an unbelievably sexy dress that left little to my imagination—because I knew her body well—and her skin-tight dress made me reminisce how much I loved it naked. Underneath me.
Emma swiftly spun around and glared at me. Instead of taking her seriously, I was more consumed by her beauty. You see, she was one of those women who only became sexier when she was angered. It made her look even more beautiful… hotter in my eyes.
“You need to stop it with the seduction moves, Carter. You’re not being fair. I’m with Bass! I’m taken. So stop. This isn’t funny anymore.”
Of course it wasn’t. I was going to say that, but my wandering eyes landed on her panting cleavage. And shit…I had been celibate for far too long, so when you put Emma before me, I became such a horny idiot.
“Getting all worked up, huh?” My tongue licked my dry lips, half-daydreaming about her already.
I knew my game was getting old, yet fuck, she looked so good…and I’d been missing her entirely too much. How long must I endure until I got her back? My lascivious thoughts got axed when I glanced at her. Emma seemed and looked like she wanted to hurt my balls. Bad.
“If you’re not going to cut it out, I’m leaving,” she spoke, dead serious.
Now she wasn’t playing fair. She knew how much I wanted to be around her. “Okay, I’ll make you a deal.” I was smiling as I murmured it into her ear. “Wanna hear it?”
Emma tried to push me off, but she was far too weak to manage to do so. “If it makes you quit being a pervert, then yes, I’d love to hear it.”
“You have to promise me one thing, that’s all I’m asking.”
“Yeah?” her breath caught as she waited for me to finish speaking.
Here goes my future plans, fuck it. “The second you break it off with Bass, if this doesn’t work out, you’re going to be mine. I want you to go straight to me and be with me. We’ve been dancing around each other for almost two years now, it’s about time we put this right.”
“I’m not breaking it off with him. What the fuck!”
Not yet, however it was going to happen. I knew it. I felt it deep down. It was going to be very soon. The tabloids weren’t even taking this seriously because most people thought that he was with the other woman.
“Just promise me. You never know what the future holds.” I delivered the words succinctly, so she didn’t miss any of them. “I’m staking my claim here, baby. After Hollywood, you know there’s no other man out there that will love you like crazy as I do.” She knew it, too. I was fucking crazy nuts about her.
“You’re acting like a true loony, seriously.” She tried to move again, but I caged her in with the use of my body.
Emma wasn’t going anywhere without giving me a yes. I was putting my foot down. The last time, I had given her all the time to think and have fun, hoping that the space I gave her would enlighten her to how serious I was about her, but still, the second Bass came back, she went straight into his arms. I was deep-shit, balling my eyes out for the first fucking time because my heart was breaking so badly, yet now, there’s this fat chance and I wasn’t going to let this opportunity pass by like the last time. Fuck that.
“Give me that promise, Em, or I won’t leave you alone until you do.”
She was eyeing me like I had lost my mind. “Carter—”
Emma loved me, deep down, she did, but she just loved him more. Right now, her love was enough.
Grinning down on her ready-to-combust face, I told her, “Love you, Emma.” I bent down to kiss her on the cheek. “Thank you!”
She gasped, aggravated to no end. “Wait—what the—I never said anything!”
“No, but you’re thinking it,” I goaded her, hoping she’d smile back. “Come on, say it already! I’m dying with suspense here.”
She gave me an eye roll before finally conceding to my crazy scheme. “If, and that’s a massive, major IF, then I promise.”
Best news I’ve heard in a long time. I was lighting up. I couldn’t help it, I was seriously happy. “That’s good enough…”
“God, you’re terrible!” Those words came with a sexy groan.
Damn, she was so sexy. Cute. Funny. What more could a man ask? “Hey, don’t hate on the guy that loves you.” I looked down at her, hoping for a quick kiss, but I held off, scared that she might take her promise back. “Let’s take that cute frown off your pretty face and make it into a big smile.” So instead of a kiss, I settled for a soft caress on her cheek. “No body shots allowed unless it’s between you and me.” Those kissable puckers made a big O, giving me more ideas…“I’d even let you lick the salt off my abs if you like.” I winked at her, much to her annoyance.
“Oh, shut up.”
God, she was way too cute when angry. If things were any different…“Come on, you know you want to.” …I’d have her in the nearest room, push her dress up and taste her honeypot. If only…
Her cheeks were bright red as she fervently denied it.
I should’ve backed off, but shit, she was too damn hard to resist. Knowing how desperate I was already, I’d jump on any chance merely to get close to her nowadays. “Don’t lie, baby.” My eyes twinkled, teasing. “You know if I dip my finger in, I’d know you’re lying.” My voice dropped a crescendo, making our conversation much more intimate. “But since I can’t, you don’t have to pretend when it comes to me, okay?” Our eyes connected as the vibe between us charged. “I know what we have, Emma, so there’s no point in masking things because I know you.”
She licked her lips, curling her hair behind her ear before she looked away, whispering, “You’re awful.”
How did the saying go? Oh yeah, liar, liar, pants on fire, right? “Aww, come on, you know you love me.”
She gasped, outraged. She was trying to find the words to say to me, though she couldn’t form a damn word.
I laughed, pulling her close before kissing her neck. Darn, she was too cute sometimes. Emma… Emma… I so wish you’d be mine tonight…“It’s fine. Don’t say anything, babe.” Letting her go, I tried to bring some sense into my messed up brain. Teasing was fine—however taking action was a different matter. Knowing how my body was reacting to her now, I knew we needed to mingle amongst friends because she was in danger of cheating on her boyfriend, and I wouldn’t let that happen. Because the next time they broke it off, I didn’t want Emma to have any regrets or any thoughts of ‘what if’s’ like the last time, no. The next time would all be on Bass. That was the only way Emma could move forward and get over him.
“What do you want me to get you?” I asked her.
&n
bsp; “A knife, so I can gut you with it,” she hissed, although it came with a smile.
There’s my fiery girl, I thought as I held her from the back, leading us towards the bar. “You just know how to get my insides hot and burning for you, don’t you?” Kissing her head, I released a happy sigh. Being together, even just for a short while, made me hopeful.
Tick. Tock.
Chapter 5
Emma
“What the hell was I thinking?” I groaned into my pillow as I recalled the events of last night. Waking up the next morning with a major jackhammer-like hangover was not fun.
As for last night’s events… Well, it wasn’t all that bad… Carter only did a body shot on me, yet still, it rattled me a little bit. There was no doubt in my mind, heart and the rest of the universe that I was in love with Bass. It just left me unsettled was all; especially since everyone seemed to think this relationship wasn’t going to last long.
The tabloids were a bit unforgiving since they saw Nikki as a sweetheart and I was more of the home-wrecker. Nikki hadn’t officially said that Bass was the father of her unborn child, but everyone was assuming that it was his since Nikki hadn’t dated anyone after him. Only a small amount of people knew what she did; that man’s identity still remained a big mystery to me. Bass never said anything about the subject, so I didn’t press on it any further.
And speaking of the devil, my boyfriend was calling me.
“Baby,” I whispered into the phone, guilt assaulting me like I was the world’s greatest sinner. Should I even mention it? It was harmless fun. Knowing how he’d react because it was done by Carter, he’d cause hell. Shit.
“Had a rough night last night? You sound stuffy.” His voice was deep, raspy and already had my insides worked up.
Closing my eyes, I pictured him in my head, imagining him close to me. “Yeah, something like that.” Needing to change the topic stat, I immediately shifted the subject about him. “What did you guys end up doing last night?”
