Page 46 of Carter

“Rome, I don’t want it. Relax, alright? Forcing me to take your cash is only going to make me feel guilty, and then I’m going to be walking around, kissing your ass for a very long time, and I don’t want to do that.”

He ran a hand through his black hair and dropped his arm. I didn’t like how conflicted he looked. “I know you’re being sweet,” I added. “I appreciate it, too.”

“I don’t want you to go hungry.”

“I know, but I’m alright.”

Sighing, he muttered, “Fine. Well, look, I’m gonna be waiting on Carter. I’ll see you around, and you better have a decent explanation for what’s going on between you two, alright? Friends, remember? I’m not a stranger, so don’t treat me like one. You need to open up to me.”

“I know.”

“Promise me.”

“I promise.”

“Then I’ll be waiting.”

I forced a nod and watched him leave down the side of the house. Before he made it out, he bumped into Carter, and they stopped for a moment and just stared at each other. They spoke for a bit, but I couldn’t hear what was said. Then Carter nodded and they crossed each other, walking in opposite directions.

Carter’s gaze cut to me just then as he made it to the door, and he looked down my body with a frown and said, “You answered the door to Rome in nothing but a towel on? What the fuck, Leah?”

Oh, for God’s sake. “I thought it was you at the door.”

He shook his head and stepped into the apartment, setting the brown paper bag on the kitchen counter as he peeled out of his jacket. “What did he want?”

“Just to see how I am after last night.”

He glanced at me briefly before he dug out two plates. “And?”

I slowly made my way into the kitchen and rested my elbows on the counter. “And… I told him I was great.”

He nodded. “He give you any money?”

“No.”

He put a hash brown down on the plate and looked up at me. “Did heofferyou some?”

How the hell did he know? “Yeah, and I didn’t take it.”

His face relaxed just then and he smiled softly at me. “Good, because you know I’ll look after us, right?”

I carefully nodded. “I know.”

“Good.”

“How did you know?”

“He kept asking me whether you were eating fine last night. Like I was fucking starving you or something.” He sneered bitterly. “He’s looking for ways to hate me, I swear.”

He handed me my plate and I took a few bites, watching him carefully as he served himself.

“Don’t take it to heart,” I told him. “He’s just protective of me.”

He paused then and turned to me. Casting me a sharp look, he leaned over and said, “Babe, he never took a punch for you. He didn’t smuggle you out of your place because he was scared for your safety. He didn’t fuck your brains out last night and this morning, and make you come three times in the process. As far as I’m concerned, his protectiveness over you is as effective as a poodle defending his owner in an attack.”

I stifled a smile and whispered, “And what kind of dog are you then, Carter?”

He sniffed and returned to his food. “I’m the fucking wolf, Angel.”

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