The Evil Stepsister (Fairytale Killers #2)

It's Also Why We Can't Have Sex

Carmela couldn't help but feel drawn to Oz, wondering if he was guarding her door by watching it on his screens, letting him know she'd be heading his way before she even opened her door. It was the only thing that stopped her. 

I'm coming over to talk, a draft message she'd been working on for the last hour.

Next to her, trying not to give away she was also awake, Caterina was also on her phone, weird lights dashing out of from under her cover. Probably still expecting a reaction on their matchmaking chat group, abandoned since the tape had surfaced. Guilt ate more of Carmela's heart, she’d managed to ruin her sister's plans, too.

“Cat,” she whispered, then pressed Send. Her sister pretended to be asleep. Carmela got out of her bed.

The night loomed cold, the pool trembled in unwelcoming waves spread by the wind. Leaves always found it, minutes after being cleaned. 

Door number four was unlocked, the key had nowhere to go further. It opened to reveal Oz, who pulled her inside.

“So, which one of you is negotiating now?” 

Carmela had expected anger, but not him looking tired, on top of it. The bed was made, waiting for him to stop staring at those monitors. Maybe she could also find a place in it.

“It's me,” she smiled in her practiced way, “Ibiza Twin.”

His eyes thinned on her, unamused by her hinting at their first night together.

“The night must be really slow if you're here,” he said, then looked over her nightdress, a cotton one, thick enough so that underwear wasn't required. He was wearing black sweatpants, he kept his hands in their pockets. Carmela took one and pulled it to her body, impressed by how easily he followed her lead. Only when she tried to guide it under her dress, he pulled away, taking a step back.

“This is you talking?” 

“Are you upset with me? I should be upset with you! You threw me out of your bed,” she provoked him.

“Well I'm sorry for those minutes you wasted finding a replacement. Maybe you should go to him. If you don't remember who, there's a video!”

He was upset, which completely derailed Carmela, who came mostly to take her mind off The Rawlings dinner.

“It didn't mean anything,” Carmela said. “It's just something I do: seedy one night stands. I didn't think you'd care.”

“I don't,” he said, harsh.

“Good.” Carmela got closer, “I was angry. Let me make it up to you,” she grabbed the front of his pants, his hand stopping her before she could move the other one up his back, under the shirt. Pushed away, she crossed her arms.

“Carmela,” he said, as an apology. “There's some things that are gonna come out about me--”

Drugs, probably, Carmela was unfazed, he had that addict personality that took things too far. She hoped it wasn't murder, but she didn't think it possible, with Oz. “Whatever it is, you can tell me.”

“I can't tell you yet, but give me a few days.”

Carmela made a gesture with her hand, to her the matter was irrelevant. Whatever it was, she would decide when facing it, like with everything else in her life.

“It's also why we can't have sex,” he poked at her with his stare.

“Is it an STD?” Carmela immediately saw an opportunity to play with fire.

“No, but I kinda like that it's a non-problem,” his teeth shone so bright that they were the most visible thing about him, except for the wavy beard that kept growing. She smiled back, unsure if it was the compliment the impressed tone implied, careful to make her grin warm enough to distract him from her step towards him.

“I… can't sleep,” she admitted. “Can I stay with you?”

One more step and he couldn't say no, he was trapped in her arms, not really fighting to get away. When he did, he took her by surprise by pushing her on the bed. 

“Fine, but no sex,” he accepted, taking his shirt off, as if not hearing his own words. It was how he slept. While he got in the bed, Carmela dropped all her clothes in under five seconds. Before he knew what was happening, her naked body followed him under the covers. 

“I like feeling your skin,” she said, pushing against him to make herself comfortable. “We don't have to do anything.”

Part of the reason she took longer to recognize the man in her Max video was that his new tattoos had replaced the ones she knew so well. It made his arms look like they were moved by steam engines. Pipes and bolts, screw gears were not covered with the black robe of Death, a white skeleton face threatening to kill her.

“This is where you want Franco to find you in the morning?” he laughed, his big hands reacquainting themselves with her. All over her back, cupping her breasts, holding her inside his grip. She responded by pulsing against him, her palms exploring his back.

Abstinence while naked in bed and so close to each other was a lot easier said than done. Carmela found a way to stay still somewhere under his arm, glued to his left side. His hands caressed every inch of skin available, positioning her in his arms so that he could reach better. It didn't take long for his fingers to enter her, Carmela pushing herself into his hand faster and faster. The other hand took control of her ass, finding a way inside her from the back. She crawled higher on him to help him reach better.