Page 141 of Craving Carla

“That was...” I begin, struggling to find the right words.

“Intense,” Amari suggests with a grin.

I shake my head. “No... it was beautiful.”

Amari smiles, his expression softening. “You’re getting more confident and comfortable with me,” he says, burying his face in my neck and smoothing his hands over my skin. “I love watching you grow into yourself.”

I wrap my arms around him, his words hitting me with unexpected force. Maybe Amari is the key to helping me come into myself, to be ready for when the veil is lifted. I start to wonder if I’ve been going about this all wrong—spending all this time with my children, trying day after day to convince them to lift the veil, when I should have been with Amari, letting him help me get more comfortable with who I am.

Amari pulls back and looks into my face, immediately sensing that I’m lost in thought. “What’s wrong, baby?”

“I hate that you can do that,” I say, pulling his lips to mine for another kiss.

When we part, I ask, “Are you satisfied?” wondering if the feeding was enough for him.

Amari gives me a knowing look. “You’re lying about what’s bothering you,” he says, seeing through me as always. “But yes, I am very satisfied. More than I thought I would be.”

I roll my eyes at him, then ask hopefully, “Can we do that again?”

Amari grins, his expression warming. “I love you, Carla.” He kisses me softly. “Just a little more. I don’t want to take too much from you.”

We begin again, and I wrap my arms around him, wanting to forget my troubles for a moment—the strange encounter with Anora, the mystery of the veil, being a guardian I don’t yet understand. With Amari, that’s easy to do. In his arms, I’m just Carla, and for now, that’s enough.

47

Amari

Three Days Later—The Tourist Island

Ihold Carla’s hand, our fingers intertwined as we make our way from the docks toward the sheriff’s station. There’s something different about her today—a confidence I haven’t seen before. The humans we pass avoid her, looking away as she approaches, but she doesn’t shy away or shrink herself like she usually does. She doesn’t even do her usual crossing to the other side of the street to avoid them. Instead, she keeps her head high and walks steadily.

The way she holds my hand—so sure, so certain—makes me wonder if this change has something to do with me feeding on her. Whatever the reason, I like this new Carla.

She looks back at me, her brow furrowed. “What?”

I just smile at her, taking in the sight of her. “Just admiring everything you do.”

She narrows her eyes at me, then sighs and turns back to the path ahead. “I want some fudge. I haven’t had it in a while.”

My smile widens. She glances back at me again, suspicion flickering in her gaze.

“You’re acting so weird today,” she says, but there’s no real concern in her voice.

I want so badly to tell her how confident and beautiful she is right now. I want to book a room in the tourist hotel and have a private moment with her. I realize with a jolt that I haven’t craved Carla in this way before. My mouth actually waters at the thought of running my tongue all over her body. And what the fuck, I just had her a couple of hours ago before we left, and it’s still not enough. Every little thing she does turns me on. And the way her ass is thickening in her jeans. Goddamn.

I adjust my tie as I open the door to the bakery for her, and she steps inside. The humans inside immediately notice her, shifting away like water parting around a stone, but she doesn’t even pay attention. It’s like she’s commanding the space.

Leah comes out from behind the kitchen, her face lighting up when she sees us. I smile, then bow my head to her in greeting. Carla smiles proudly beside me, still holding my hand. She has no idea how much it means to me that she claims me publicly with pride despite my reputation. I was afraid it would always affect her in some way. But she hasn’t brought it up, not once since the limbo incident.

“Look at you two, looking adorable as ever,” Leah says, her gaze flicking to the customers who have bunched up at the other side of the display cases. She frowns slightly, but Carla doesn’t even notice. Her focus is entirely on the different flavors of fudge stacked up neatly with their prices on display.

“I don’t get to see you much,” I say to Leah. “What a pity.”

Leah giggles. “It’s because Kade forbid me to go anywhere near you.”

I roll my eyes at that, noting how Carla giggles a little too as she searches for the flavor she wants, never letting go of my hand.

“But it’s silly, really,” Leah continues, leaning closer. “Because I can see it in his pretty gold eyes.” She nods toward me. “He’s smitten with her.”