Page 54 of Carnal

“I have to go. My sister’s probably freaking out right now.”

I smirk. “But I like you impaled on my cock, flower,” I say.

Her dark brown eyes turn molten at the use of her nickname. She’s heard it plenty of times before, but not fromme.

“It will take me a long time to get used to this,” she admits with a cute, shy little smile.

I lean in and rub the tip of my nose against hers. “I’m sure. But it’s okay. We have forever together now, so you’ll have time to get adjusted.”

Her eyes get wet with tears again. “Forever?” she whispers, running her fingers across my five o’clock shadow.

“Forever, baby.”

CHAPTER 33

ESSENCE

I laymy head on Dante’s chest as he carries me out of the carnival. Here with him, I feel warm and safe and content for the first time in forever. Listening to the steady beat of his heart, and feeling the peaceful energy radiating from him?—

“Essence!”

Well, that feeling was short-lived.

“Shit,” I hiss as Ebony comes storming up to Dante and me when we reach the main entrance. I push against his chest until he lets me down.

“Are you kidding me?” she seethes, looking between the two of us. I really hope I don’t look like I’ve just had sex. “Where the hell have you been?”

I clear my throat and look down at my feet to buy myself some time to think up an excuse.

“I, uhh, was just talking to… umm…”

My face flames from shame and embarrassment; I hate lying to my sister.

“We were just catching up,” Dante says from beside me. “I’m sorry we kept you waiting for so long.”

My sister eyes him warily, and it’s then that I remember his mask. I sneak a glance at him out of the corner of my eye and seethat one of his hands is behind his back, but Ebony doesn’t even seem to notice.

Thank fuck.

“I bumped into him at the ring toss, and he helped me find my phone,” I say a bit breathlessly.

She lifts an eyebrow and reaches out to smooth my hair down. “Uh huh.”

Fuck.

“Essence, I understand you’re going through a lot right now, but keeping me and Matthew waiting just so you can get laid is fucked up,” she scolds me, then she eyes Dante up and down. She makes a sound of disappointment at the sight of his pants, which are still unbuttoned.

My face is on fire now.

“I don’t even know you and this is my first impression of you,” she says to him coldly.

“Ebony, you do know him. This is Leo’s dad, remember?”

To be fair, she’s only met him once; when Leo and Matthew would have playdates, she would bring him to my house so he could see Lunchbox, and she could have a few hours to herself.

“Let’s go.” Without acknowledging what I’ve just said or waiting for me to move, she grips my hand and drags me along behind her.

I look over my shoulder at Dante and mouth an apology. He smiles and waves a dismissive hand.