Page 41

CARSON

She’s holding on to me like she’s definitely not okay, and I make sure she’s secure in my arms as I scan the room, trying to figure out which bed is hers.

The one in the corner is neatly made, a pink Piglet stuffed animal resting against the pillow next to a porcupine soft toy.

O-kay.

I dart my eyes to the other bed and spot the open laptop, Back to the Future paused on Michael J. Fox’s confused expression and a Raiders of the Lost Ark duvet cover crumpled beneath it.

There’s my girl.

My lips twitch as she shifts in my arms, still clinging to me like a spider monkey.

It’s only then that I fully register what I just walked into.

Holy shit.

“Are you here all by yourself? Where’s your roommate?” My tone is snappy, irritation coursing through me as I think about the fact that she’s been dealing with this fucking storm alone.

Nylah leans back to check my face, her eyebrows dipping as she licks a tear off the side of her mouth and murmurs, “She’s staying with her boyfriend tonight.”

“I hate the idea of you being alone like this.” I gently place Nylah down, swiping her tears away with my thumb.

Her lips tremble, then rise into a closed-mouth smile. “Thanks for coming.”

Her eyes are so big and vulnerable right now.

Shit, I don’t know what to do with the emotion pulsing out of her.

With a swallow, I glance at her bed and point to the laptop. “ Back to the Future , huh? Is that your go-to on a stormy night?”

She snickers and rests against me, tucking her forehead into the crook of my neck. My arm automatically moves around her. I like the way she fits against me. I love that she’s wearing my hoodie. Damn, this feeling in my chest is?—

“I’ll watch anything to distract me on a night like this.” She tenses against me as the window lights up, her fingers curling into my wet jacket when the thunder follows.

“It’s okay,” I murmur, cupping her cheek and nudging her head off my shoulder. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Promise?” she whispers.

“Yeah.” It’s all I can say, because like hell I’m walking out that door when she’s looking like this. “Come on, let’s watch the rest of the movie. I’ll hold you tight until this storm passes.”

She nods, glancing at her bed and biting her bottom lip. I steady her as she walks back to her bed, then frown when she slaps her laptop closed and pops it up on the shelf before looking over her shoulder at me.

Oh shit.

Those eyes of hers are changing.

That glint I love so much is coming back into them, and then she gives me an offer I will never be able to refuse.

“We could watch a movie…” She turns back to face me, running her fingers from the bottom of her ear down to her neckline. Lightly tugging on the zipper, she lowers it a few clicks and gives me a hooded smile. “Or we could do other stuff. More… distracting stuff.”

Oh fuck.

There’s no resisting this girl.

So why even try?

Lunging toward her with a hungry growl, I enjoy her giggle when I lift her off her feet and start kissing her like I wanted to the other night. She sinks against me with a happy sigh, fisting the back of my wet hair and drinking me in.

For the first time in what feels like ever, we’re actually alone. Like completely alone. Our bodies somehow know this and start acting of their own accord.

Before I know it, my wet clothes are hitting the floor with sloppy slaps, her dry ones softly thumping down next to them.

She’s not wearing a bra, and the second I see those luscious tits, I’m mesmerized. Cupping them gently, I give them a squeeze, brushing my thumbs over those puckered nipples.

Her breath catches and I enjoy her shudder, grinning and then doing it again.

“Oh,” she gasps, tipping her head back and sending my cock into an impatient frenzy.

Wait your turn, buddy. Your time will come.

Pitching a tent in my boxer briefs, he starts tapping his proverbial foot while I take my sweet time, kissing Nylah’s neck and capturing her around the waist again.

Lifting her off her feet, I lay her down, sucking and licking my way back to those perfect tits. Shit, they are divine. Curling my lips around her nipple, I’m fueled by her whimpering moan and suck a little harder, loving the way her body arches toward me. Shit, she’s fire.

My hands explore her smooth skin, drawing pictures over her waist, then back up and around her shoulders. She’s still in her pajama pants, and I’m gonna have to get those things off her soon, but I’m not in any particular hurry.

I’ve been wanting this for what feels like forever, and I don’t want to rush it.

Nylah’s fingers scrape up my back, her breaths growing frenetic as I play with her nipples, then inch my hand toward her waistband.

She flinches when I tuck my finger along the hemline and I go still, checking her expression to make sure she actually wants this.

Her smile is tentative, her gaze shooting away from me as she goes to reach for the light.

“Why?” I stop her, gently catching her wrist before she can plunge the room into darkness.

“I…” She shakes her head. “Well, let’s at least get under the covers.”

She continues to avoid my gaze, her lips pinching into a thin line as she tries to wrestle the duvet out from underneath us.

I don’t roll aside to help her because she’s hiding something right now, and I want to know why she’d want to keep any of this luscious body out of sight.

She’s fucking gorgeous. And I want to see every inch of this smooth dark skin.

I slow her frantic movements, capturing her wrist and pulling it over her head.

Trapped in my grasp, I chase her wandering gaze until she finally looks at me.

“What?” she snaps.

I study her, hoping my silent appraisal will be enough.

But she doesn’t give.

Her lips twitch, and she huffs out her nose. “Just let me get under the?—"

“Why? Are you cold?”

Her expression pinches, so I rub my thumb along the delicate skin of her wrist.

“What are you hiding, kitten?”

“Kitten?” She scoffs.

My lips twitch, but I refuse to be distracted from this. I instinctively know that it’s important. So I brush the tip of my nose across her cheek and lightly peck her lips. “Don’t change the subject. Why do you want to hide from me?”

She lets out a shuddering breath. Another strike of lightning illuminates the sky, and I let her arms go, covering her ears with my hands as the thunder rolls through. It’s moving away, less loud and dramatic, but she still looks scared.

Although now I’m not sure if she’s more scared because I’m making her show me something or?—

Her leg.

She’ll have scars on her leg.

As the realization dawns, my lips curve into a gentle smile. “I’m not afraid of scars, Nylah.”

Her expression crumples. “These aren’t just scars.” She shakes her head. “They’re so ugly, and you just really don’t need to see them. So let’s turn off the light and go under the covers and get busy. Come on, hot stuff. I just want you to do me in the dark.”

I snicker and shake my head. “Hot stuff?” I rise to my knees, hooking my fingers into the hem of her pants. “Lame.”

She snatches the fabric before I can pull them off her hips.

“Kitten,” I softly warn.

“Hot stuff,” she warns right back.

Tipping my head, I smile at her, coaxing her fingers to relax. “Trust me. Please.”

With a thick swallow, she releases her grip, and I tug her pajama pants down. Squeezing her eyes shut, she turns her head on the pillow while I inch the fabric off her gorgeous legs and spot those gnarly surgical scars.

They’re long and jagged, some of the scars obviously from the accident as well. Her leg must have been toast, trapped in that car for hours. Pain courses through me as I lightly run my finger over the worst of the scarring.

She pulls in a shaky breath, rising to her elbows so she can look down at me. “I know they’re gross. You don’t have to be nice about it. I won’t be offended.”

I can’t help a scoffing laugh. “They’re not gross. They’re scars. And they’re part of you, which makes them automatically beautiful.”

Her lips part, her eyes glassing with tears. With a sniff, she lifts her chin and shakes her head. “Don’t say shit like that to me or you’re gonna be having sex with a blubbering mess.”

Running my hand down her leg with a soft laugh, I brush my thumb over the worst of her scarring, then lean down and lick each line and rough curve.

Nibbling my way up her body, I get to that neatly maintained plume of black hair between her legs and look up at her.

Wriggling my eyebrows, I lick my lips and murmur, “You taste good, kitten. Let me have some more.”

With a nervous, kind of surprised giggle, she tips her head back and parts her legs for me.