Page 55 of Carved Obsession

“I’ll speak to you soon, Scarlet,” my ex says.

“You’re not getting what you want, Bernard. And it would be prudent to return what you stole,” I say.

His brows knit together in a menacing promise that makes me uneasy. If he truly goes to Anders, the former owner of the Levain pendant and a major player in the West Coast mafia, Dad and Carmen are dead.

The fact that he’s threatening them, not me, pisses me off even more. He knows I care more for their safety than mine. But if he thinks he can do that and still get what he wants, then he truly is an idiot.

Bernard turns around, dragging Ariana with him, and walks away. Slowly. Sneaking angry looks behind him.

In one swift motion, Carter turns, crushing me against his front as I gasp and grab onto his waist. I don’t need to steady myself; he holds me tight enough with just that one hand splayed over the small of my back. So tight. And so very close.

I can’t help but acknowledge every single part of me pressed against each part of him. His strong abdomen against the butterflies in my stomach. My perked nipples against his taut torso. His hardening cock against my belly and the fire growing there.

“You know, I can stand up for myself,” I all but whisper, growing hotter under his intense gaze.

He tilts his head, throwing a brief, nonchalant look toward Bernard and Ariana. A faint trace of a smirk wrinkles his cheek as he dips down. “I thought I did a much better job.”

The world grows silent as his soft, warm lips brush against my cheek. So close to my ear, lightning bursts down the side of my neck and straight between my thighs like liquid thunder.

“You’re a great actor, killer-boy. But the gig has ended.”

My voice was supposed to sound antagonistic. Sarcastic, even. Instead, it’s breathy, drowned in lust and desperate desire.

His lips burn a path across my cheek, and I suck in a wanton breath as he reaches dangerously close to the corner of my mouth.

“Has it?” he says. “They’re still watching.”

Then, I hope they never stop.

Carter presses a soft, almost sensual, uncharacteristic kiss to that spot not quite at the corner of my lips, and nothing could have fucking stopped the moan that spilled from between them.

A rumbling growl vibrates through his throat in response, and a breath catches in mine when his hand grabs it, holding me firmly in place. It’s as if he’s simultaneously keeping me from running away and from moving any closer. And I oblige, relaxing into the possessiveness of his grip.

“Since they’re watching . . .” I whisper.

I run my hands over his back, one going between the shoulder blades, but the other... Well, we have to make it believable, right? I slide it right down over his ass, and swallow down a groan at the tight mass I’m met with there.

His grip on my throat tightens, and pressure grows at the back of it. But fuck me, because it pools right between my thighs.

This isamazing!

“What do you think you’re doing?” He brushes his lips against my cheek one last time before he rises, his eyes regarding me with cold curiosity.

“Making it believable.” I give his ass cheek a good squeeze and a playful tap, a grin pulling at my cheeks when he cocks his brow.

He throws another look Bernard’s way, then, just as quickly as he came onto me, he lets go and takes a step back.

My body already misses the feel of his.

But his absence makes way for that cold-stoned anger brought on by Bernard and Ariana to come back. The reckless kind I learned to harness and focus.

Bernard crossed a line today. I could have handled his attempted blackmail when it was directed at me only, but what he just pulled is one step too fucking far.

He will pay for his goddamn sin.

But I need to clear my head so I can plan this retribution. And I have something prepared just perfect for the job.

“See you later, killer-boy.” I turn, rushing toward my car.