Page 75 of Craving Carla

I look up at him, taking in the perfect angles of his face and the way his eyes shine with warmth. His beauty still startles me. I push myself up and move closer, pressing my lips against his. His touch is gentle—fingers trailing up and down my back,tangling in my curls, his gaze locked on mine, filled with something that looks suspiciously like adoration.

“How do you feel, baby?” he asks as I sit up and he follows, his hand gently stroking my cheek.

“I feel fine,” I say, and he smiles at me, that maddening beautiful smile, his fangs flashing. He tucks a finger under my chin and leans in for another kiss. I don’t deny him. His kiss is tender, his touch sweet and gentle. I break away for a moment to breathe, but Amari moves closer, cupping my face and pressing his lips against my cheek, trailing kisses down to my neck, making my skin tingle.

“I want to take you out on a date tonight,” he murmurs against my skin. He pulls back and looks into my eyes, searching for an answer.

I don’t know how to respond. This vampire has me in a chokehold, making me want to say yes to anything he suggests. He smiles, his thumb gently tracing over my bottom lip, leaving a trail of warmth in its wake.

“O-okay,” I manage, and he rewards me with another kiss. “But there isn’t much to do here. We’d have to?—”

He places a finger over my lips, hushing me. “Don’t worry about that. Just show up and let me lead the way. I promise I’ll make it enjoyable.”

I smile, then climb into his lap, straddling him. His hands automatically move to my hips, steadying me.

“We need to go see the king today, Carla,” he says, his expression turning serious.

I frown and look away, but he cups my face, forcing me to meet those mesmerizing golden eyes again.

“Let me ask you this. Do you want to be with me?” His tone is earnest, almost vulnerable.

“Yes,” I whisper, the word escaping before I can overthink it.

He presses his forehead against mine, and I place my hand against him, feeling the flutter of his heart beneath my palm. The sensation still amazes me—a heart that beats for me after a millennium of silence.

“That means so much, Carla. You have no idea.” His voice drops lower, caressing my senses. “I don’t want you to be afraid of standing before the king to hear his confirmation that you’re fated. I need you to trust me. Can you do that?”

I nod, unable to form words under the intensity of his gaze.

Amari slides out of bed, stretching his arms above his head. The movement causes the muscles in his back to flex and shift beneath his skin. He walks around the bed and holds out his hand to me.

“Come, let’s get cleaned up. Then I’ll feed you before we leave.”

I take his hand and let him pull me out of bed, my eyes trailing over him as he leads me into the bathroom. I don’t know how he does it, but whenever I’m around him, my brain short-circuits, making me forget all my carefully constructed arguments.

After we’ve showered—which consisted of a good thirty minutes of making out, steam rising around us as his hands explored my body, nearly turning into a full-on fucking session before he pulled back with a groan—he helps me get dressed, then dresses himself. He takes me downstairs and makes me a light breakfast of fried eggs and toast.

While I eat, he puts on his tie and jacket, then pulls a cellphone from his pocket, scrolling through it thoughtfully. This is the first time I’ve seen him use his phone, and I wonder what’s holding his attention. Watching him in his tailored suit while I sit here in my simple fitted t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers, the contrast between us is striking—like night and day.

“What are you doing with your phone?” I ask, then cringe, knowing I’m being nosy.

He looks up and grins, approaching the table and holding the phone out to me. “Here, baby. Have a look.”

I nervously shake my head, and he chuckles, pulling the phone back.

“I’m catching up on intel Bobby’s gathered for me. I want to know what Alexis plans to do with the blood sample she stole from you.”

I clean my face with a napkin, then push my plate away, leaning back in my seat. “How well do you know Alexis?” The question feels loaded as it leaves my lips.

He doesn’t look up as he answers. “We’ve encountered each other before.”

I groan at that. “You mean you fucked her?”

His head snaps up, and he shoves his phone into his pocket, frowning. “No, Carla. I did not fuck Alexis.”

“But you wanted to,” I snap back, hating how insecure I sound.

Amari sighs and pulls out the chair across from me, sitting down. “Yes, I found her attractive for a split second. But the moment I caught the radical scent on her, I was completely turned off.”