Page 113 of Beauty Beneath the Sorrow
“Why is it a problem?” she counters.
“I don’t know.”
“It shouldn’t matter.”
“And we’ve been spending so much time together. Things havebecome complicated. My emotions have taken on a mindof their own. I think about him. I dream about him. I crave to be with him all the time. And when I’m not, I’m mentally counting down the hours until I am once again.”
“Ahh. That’s so sweet. For a while, I thought you’d be single forever,” she says playfully.
“Avery called me an Ice Queen,” I say.
Piper laughs. “I love her.”
“I’ve never thought seriously about being with anyone.” I smile for a moment, living in the fantasy of being with Carter. I’m not the marrying type, though. “It won’t happen. I can’t let my imagination go there.”
“I think you’re the only one who can make that decision.” She audibly sighs. “I know how hard it is to be vulnerable. But your vulnerability will be safe with the right person.”
“I am safe with him, Piper, but is he the right person for me?” I elevate my voice, making sure I hear those words too.
“Does he make you happy?”
“More than anything.” I flip onto my stomach with my feet in the air. “I don’t think I ever told you that I was thinking about getting my pilot’s license.”
“No. Lina, that’s awesome!”
“Thanks. Well, I told Carter just in a casual conversation, and he made me apply to schools one night.”
“That’s so sweet. He believes in you, babe,” she points out. I hear rustling sounds in the background. “Jack is up. I’m going to go back to bed and cuddle with him.”
I expected my eyes to roll on their own, but when they didn’t, I was surprised that envy was the emotion that popped up. “Okay. Thanks for the little chat.”
“Trust yourself,” she tells me before we end our call.
I thought talking it out with Piper would make me feel better, but it didn’t. I now doubt myself even more. I’m falling in love with Carter. The emotions come at me like a freight train, and as soon as it screeches to a halt upon impact, I’m going to be more damaged than I was before getting hit.
After a quick shower, I throw on little shorts and a tank top to sleep in. Lying on my back on top of the comforter with the music down low, I doze in and out. I’m restless because I already miss him. Something very real is going on. I’m anxious because he’s not with me. When I can’t talk to him, I feel out of place and even a little uneasy. It’s overwhelming to be borderline obsessed with another person.
Suddenly, I hear my bedroom door squeak open. I open my eyes to see a tall, dark figure enter the room. The lamp on my nightstand is on the lowest dimmer, only illuminating a small amount of light in the dark shadows of my room. I sigh in relief, seeing him standing at the door.
“Hi, baby,” I say, opening my arms to him. The relief and joy that washes over me is terrifying.
He doesn’t say anything. Instead, I watch as he removes his shoes, pants, and shirt. He climbs onto the bed and into my arms, resting his head on my chest.
“I was starting to get worried that you weren’t going to come.” I wrap my arms around him tightly and pepper his forehead with kisses.
He lifts his head to look at me. “I’ll always come to you.”
My heart aches while my pussy throbs—a full-body response to his words. Why does this man turn me on so fuckingmuch? God, it’s unbelievable how I can’t get enough of him.
“And I’ll always be here waiting,” I say, threading my fingers through his hair.
Carter rests his head back on the bare skin peeking out from my tank top. His warm breath causes my nipples to harden. He must have noticed because his tongue slips under the hem of my arm to give my nipple a lick.
I gasp.
He moves his face over, pushing my tank top aside and exposing one of my tits. He licks a slow circle before capturing the whole thing into his mouth. Squeezing tighter, I hold his head in place while he sucks and flicks the pebbled surface.
“Mmm,” I moan, bowing my chest to give him more.
