Page 39 of Craving Carla

“Amari...” His name comes out like a whisper. I don’t understand this vampire. He makes me hate his very existence one minute, then he does this...

He grins again at my amazement, then points at a particular box sitting on my porch swing. “I was hoping you’d open that one before I leave.”

I walk over to it, carefully stepping around the roses, and gently move some of the bouquets to the floor so I can reach the box. I look over at him, not sure whether to smile, cry, or both.

He adjusts his tie and clears his throat, almost as if he’s nervous. Actually nervous. Amari Al-Baqar, the arrogant vampire, nervous because of me.

I look away from him and back at the box, pulling at the red ribbon. It falls away easily, and I reach inside, pulling the lid open. I’m surprised to see a pair of brand-new shoes—what looks like very expensive high heels in sleek black leather. I pull one of them out, running my fingers over the smooth material, surprised to see that it’s my exact size.

He takes a finger to his nose, rubbing it in that elegant way he does. “I remember you said you needed shoes for your date.”

I just stare at him, my mouth hanging open. I’m so overwhelmed by this beautiful gesture that I don’t have any words for him. The shoes are gorgeous—real leather, with delicate straps and a heel that’s high but not impossible to walk in.

“I’ll leave you alone. If you want me to clean this up...” he starts, but I interrupt him.

“No... No, I don’t want you to clean this up, Amari. I’ve got it,” I tell him quickly. I place the shoe back in the box, then step over the roses to get to the stairs, clutching my robe tighter around me.

“Thank you, Amari. This...” I look around at all the roses and gifts scattered across my porch. “This is beautiful.”

He smiles at me, and it’s different from his usual smug grin. This one is softer, more genuine. “Could I have something from you before I leave?”

At this point, I’d pull my panties down for him if he asked. What he’s just done, this gesture of... I don’t even know what to call it. Apology? Courtship? I’m so close to just folding into this arrogant asshole completely.

“Yeah, sure,” I tell him, hoping I’m not going to regret my words.

“Could you smile for me? Not a forced smile. A genuine smile. Something I don’t get to see on you often. Just you, happy. That’s worth more than gold to me.”

“Amari...” I start, but he holds his hand up, then smiles at me.

“Just a smile, Carla. I want to see you happy.”

I step down from the porch until I’m just inches from him, staring right up into those eyes. And then I give him what he’s asking for. I smile—really smile—my heart fluttering as my stomach does little flips, genuine happiness gracing my face for the first time in longer than I can remember.

I swallow hard when his hand comes to my cheek, his cool fingers gently stroking my skin. The touch sends electricity shooting through my entire body.

“You are maddening, Amari. But the gentle side of you is difficult to ignore.” I take my hand and place it against him, feeling the expensive fabric of his shirt and the solid muscle beneath. “When you find her, when your heart’s beating, I hope she knows she’s going to be a very lucky woman.”

Amari grins and gently places his hand over mine, then leans in so close that I think he might kiss me. His lips are just inches from mine; his breath cool against my face. I don’t pull back or push him away—I just stay put, frozen in this moment. I can feel my children watching us from the shadows of the forest. Watching and waiting. It’s almost like they approve of what’s happening.

“Carla, I don’t give a shit if my heart never beats,” he says, his voice low and rough. “Being in this moment with you...”

I exhale a shaky breath, feeling entranced. The smell of him—expensive cologne mixed with something uniquely Amari—the beauty of his eyes, the way his thumb brushes over my cheek. Is he going to kiss me? I’d let him if he tried. God, I want him to.

“You are so beautiful, Carla. And what amazes me about that is you wear your beauty like it’s nothing. Like you don’t even know the effect you have.” His voice drops even lower. “I don’t know what it is about you, but you’ve captured me since the moment I first laid eyes on you.”

“You were staring at my ass,” I say, then immediately bite my lip nervously because I know I just ruined the moment.

He chuckles, the sound rumbling through him, and takes his thumb to move it under my bottom lip, gently pulling it free from my teeth. “Don’t bite your lip, beautiful.”

Oh god, will he just kiss me already? The tension between us is so thick I can barely breathe. Instead, he lets out a grunt, likeit’s physically painful for him, and pulls himself away from me, standing upright and putting distance between us.

I’m so flushed right now I think my knees might buckle. My entire body is humming with something I’ve never felt before—want, need, desire. All of it swirling together into a confusing mess of emotions.

He looks around the clearing for a moment, then into the forest, staring at the many eyes that seem to have started glowing in the moonlight. My children are watching us, and they’re not even trying to hide it.

“Your children are very sweet, Carla. Very sweet,” he announces, smiling at me. “Tofi, I believe her name is. She says that you are a very good mommy to them. And I believe her. I believe all of them.”

“Wait? You’ve talked to Tofi?” I ask, my brow furrowing at him. When did this happen? How did this happen?