Page 56 of Hidden

“Someone is following us. We’re at the super store two exits up from your place. I want to switch cars and come crash at your house.” It was obvious Carrie couldn’t hear his conversation, because she didn’t react. Instead, her tongue poked between her lips and slid languidly across them as she stroked the entire length of the cucumber. It was the most arousing thing he’d ever watched. And that was saying something, considering the things he’d witnessed at Gage’s parties.

It was a struggle, but he forced himself to break eye contact and turn his back to her so he could focus on hatching a plan. When they had their plan in place, he ended the call and whirled around to face Carrie who had discarded the cucumber.

“Are you trying to kill me, little one?” He stalked in her direction, backing her further against the produce case so she was forced to tilt her head back to stare up at him as he towered over her.

The pace at which her chest rose and fell meant she’d gotten herself just as worked up as she’d gotten him, and that thought made his dick throb even harder. Putting both hands on the rim of the case on either side of her, he leaned down and pressed a feather soft kiss to her lips before whispering, “Naughty girl. Teasing me like that. Just remember, payback’s a bitch.”

“Who did you call?” He let her get away with changing the subject, but he trailed a finger down her bare neck and she shuddered.

“Gage. We’re close to his house, so he’s going to pick us up around back, and we’ll crash at his place.”

“You really think we were being followed?”

He nodded. “I’ve been at this awhile, sweetheart. I know a tail when I see one.”

“How did they know where we were to follow us?”

“If I had to guess, they followed you and Darci to the bar and were following us home to find out where you’re staying since you haven’t been at your place.”

“Fuck. I’m an idiot.”

He cupped her cheek. “Not an idiot. You’re just not used to this. Trust me to keep you safe, and listen when I tell you not to leave a god damned building, and you’ll be fine.”

“I trust you.” Her voice was small, and he wanted to scoop her up and hold her tight.

“Good girl. We’ll get groceries later. Though I do think I’ll take that cucumber.” He winked and set it in the cart.

“Since we’re here, I should pick up some more energy drinks..”

Peter tried his best not to scowl. She drank too much of that stuff. But he knew it wasn’t his place to police her diet.

He dutifully followed her to the beverage aisle and waited for her to pick the one she wanted. It took biting his tongue to keep from protesting when she chose a twelve-pack of the stuff.

“I can actually feel your disapproval all the way over here.” She lifted the box off the shelf and carried it to the cart.

“Sorry, little one. I hate seeing people put that stuff in their bodies. Especially people I care about.”

His phone buzzed before either could say anything else. It a text from Gage letting Peter know he was parked at the back of the building.

The garden center was still open and would put them closest to Gage and farthest from the people watching them, so he pushed the cart in that direction. After paying for their items, he led them through the plants and potting soil to the side exit. He told Carrie to wait just inside the door while he stepped out. Sneaking to the corner of the building, he scanned the parking lot. A man stood against the car that had been following them, but Peter couldn’t make out any details from his vantage point. The man’s back was to him because he was watching the front entrance.

Peter wondered how long the man would wait and smirked at the thought of him spending the entire night in the parking lot. Stepping back inside, he gripped Carrie’s hand and led her out and to the opposite corner of the building where Gage sat waiting.

“Carrie, how you doing gorgeous?” Gage asked.

“I’m OK, Gage. A little spooked but OK.”

“You sure do know how to show a girl a good time, don’t you Mercer?” Gage teased as Peter slid into the backseat next to Carrie.

“Oh, bite me Gage. Where’s your play date?”

Gage turned back and grinned. “Left her standing in the corner with a vibrator strapped to her cunt for sassing me.”

Carrie squirmed next to him and he looked down at her with a grin. She blushed and turned her head away.

At Peter’s request, Gage drove around the front of the building and past the suspicious. They didn’t recognize the man leaning against the car, but Peter wrote down the license plate number and Carrie snapped a photo with her phone.

A few minutes later, they were turning on to Gage’s street. Once inside, Gage pointed to a guest bedroom. “Condoms and lube are in the nightstand. You kids have fun.” Then he was off to check on his girl.

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