Page 41 of Carrick
“Then we talk about it,” he said. “Like adults.”
“And if I said I wanted it again?”
His mouth quirked. “I’d ask if you wanted the flogger first, or if you were ready for the wand.”
I laughed. Fully laughed.
And God, I needed that.
Before I could say anything else, footsteps echoed on the stairs—calm, controlled, and heavy.
Carrick didn’t even blink. “That’s Niko.”
I gave him a look. “You always this good at guessing footsteps?”
“Only when they sound like they outrank the building.”
Two short knocks followed—sharp and expectant. Carrick exhaled through his nose and stood. “Let’s get this over with.”
He rolled out of bed with the grace of a jungle cat and the enthusiasm of a man about to walk into a meeting without coffee. He pulled on a pair of sweats, ran a hand through his hair, and tossed me a look over his shoulder.
“You decent?”
“Emotionally? Never.”
He huffed a soft laugh, and I watched his back flex as he crossed the room. His body was a map of ink and scars and strength… and something else—stillness. Like everything about him had been built to absorb impact and not break.
The door creaked open, and Niko’s voice spilled into the space.
“Hey, sorry, don’t mean to cockblock the cuddles?—”
Carrick grunted. “Jesus, Niko.”
“—but I need a minute. With her.”
There was a beat. Not long, but long enough to feel Carrick’s hesitation. He glanced back at me, something unreadable in his eyes. I gave him a nod. It was fine. I could handle Niko.
Carrick stepped aside. “Five minutes.”
“Take ten,” I said, sitting up and reaching for the throw blanket at the end of the bed. He nodded and stepped out, probably off to get coffee. I felt his absence like a hole in my chest.
You’re going to have to address that at some point, Bellamy.
Niko walked in like he owned the place. Shirtless, tattoos on display, hair a charming disaster. He looked like he’d just come from a fight—or a flirt—or both. But his eyes were focused. Wary. He leaned a shoulder against the wall and crossed his arms.
“Didn’t think you’d be up for company after last night’s rodeo.”
I lifted a brow. “News travels fast.”
“Walls are thin. And you moan like you mean it.”
I opened my mouth, then closed it.
He smirked. “That was a compliment.”
I gave him a deadpan stare. “So what, this is your way of making small talk before you ask if I’m hiding state secrets?”
He didn’t smile this time. That’s when I knew it wasn’t small talk. “I want to talk about your brother, Rayden. I need to know anything you can tell me about him and the Dom Krovi.”
