An Inconvenient Bet

Chapter Six

I could feel the warmth of the early morning sunshine hitting my face, and as I slowly opened my eyes I realised I wasn't in my own bed. My eyes snapped open and I sat up quickly, it was only when I looked to the right that I noticed Carter's warm body next to mine.

My brain scrambled for the puzzle pieces and as the memories came flooding back, I did a clothes check and yes, I wasn't naked, which was always a relief. I knew I didn't have sex with Carter, but why was he here, that was more concerning that the actual sex.

I shook him hoping to wake him up so he could answer my questions, "earth to Carter!" I said.

His skin was warm, and it was then that I realised he wasn't wearing a top, why was he not wearing a top? Oh god, oh god. Maybe I didn't go straight to sleep after all.

"Saf, would you quit shaking me I'm trying to sleep here," he murmured in a sexy morning voice.

"This is important Carter!" I half shouted.

He rolled over and I noticed a few scars on his chest, no bigger than my fingertip, but I couldn't help but realise they resembled a cigarette butt end, but maybe I had watched too many crime shows.

His hair was scruffy, and it fell over his face, when usually it was spiked up. I could see the outline of stubble growing on his chin and when his eyes met mine, I couldn't stop myself from smiling. Had he always been this good looking or was I still drunk?

"Take a picture, it'll last longer," he winked as he sat himself up.

When I envisioned myself in bed with Carter, because there had been times when I had wondered what would happen if we actually did the deed, I never once thought we'd both be wearing clothes and sober. I had pictured two horny and messy people falling over each other, not this.

"Please tell me we didn't have sex last night?" I half begged.

He smirked and I wanted to smack him, now was not the time for Carter's ego to take off.

"I don't have sex with unconscious women Saf," he half laughed.

"I was unconscious?!" I said, in a shocked voice. Although I wasn't that surprised because things have gotten pretty blurry very quickly.

He nodded, "as much as you begged me to," he added and I cringed, because I did remember asking him for sex, which would be entirely embarrassing if he wasn't a complete man-whore.

"First and last time that's going to happen," I said rolling my eyes. "So why are you still here if you didn't get lucky?" I asked.

He shrugged his shoulders and his hand moved to my thigh running slowly up and down my leg. I thought about stopping him, but I knew Carter wouldn't do anything and it didn't feel terrible. He looked at me and I couldn't help but look back, his eyes had flickers of different colours in as the light caught them at different angles.

"There were loads of drunk guys here and I didn't want you to be left here unattended, some guys can be arseholes," he said, and my heart twisted at his words.

He stayed to protect me.

I didn't know what I was expecting, but it hadn't been that. I knew Carter was a nice guy, but I had never really thought he would do something like that for me.

"Noah would have killed me if he found out I left you passed out," he added before I could say anything.

I placed my hand above his, "thank you, Carter."

"Don't sweat it," he said as he removed his hand from my thigh.

I rolled over half lying on him. I ran my hand over his chest without thinking as if it was the most natural thing in the world and I'd done it hundreds of times before. I knew I had taken him by surprise, but I had always felt instantly comfortable around Carter.

My eyes were drawn to the scars on his chest again and my fingers brushed gently over them; I was scared I might hurt him somehow. I looked up at him to check it was ok and noticed he was already staring at me.

"Sorry, do you mind?" I asked and he shook his head ever so slightly. "Did someone burn you?" I asked and I was afraid he was going to say yes.

He cleared his throat, "it was an accident," he said.

I nodded, pretending I believed his lie. Who would do something like that to Carter? I didn't want to question him anymore, in case I stepped over a line.

"Do you want me to take you home?" he asked, changing the subject.

"Sure," I said, pushing myself off him so he could get up.

My eyes fixated on his back and shoulders as he pulled his t-shirt over his head. A part of me wanted him to take his top back off, but the other part of me wanted to know why someone had hurt him and I couldn't bear to look at his scars without feeling a wave of sadness hit me.

He turned around and put his hand out to me, "come on trouble," he smirked and just like that he had burst the bubble and instead his signature grin took its place.

The ride in Carter's car back home seemed to stretch out forever and I was beginning to wonder if we had even moved at all had it not been for all the trees we had passed. My head was beginning to pound and I knew the inevitable hungover had already begun. It was completely self-inflicted though and I had nobody to blame but myself.

"Urgh," I groaned looking around for anything that wasn't alcohol to drink.

Carter laughed before handing me a bottle of water and gratefully took it, downing half the contents in a matter of seconds. It felt like holy water going down my throat and I could have sworn my headache had already somewhat eased.

"God, you're a lifesaver," I half moaned as I wiped the spilt water from my lips.

"It has been said," he replied, the cockiness rolling off his tongue.

I rolled my eyes not having the energy to either smack him or reply sarcastically. All I wanted was to crawl into my bed and forget that I firstly lost a bet to Carter and secondly begged him for sex. The shame was creeping up my back like a slow breeze and if I didn't get some fresh air soon, I think I was going to puke.

"Why do you always let yourself get so drunk, you should be more careful," Carter announced as he turned the radio down to a quiet hum.

"If I'm not mistaken somebody challenged me to a game of beer pong, what did you expect," I replied, and I knew my voice sounded defensive.

"You had already been drinking before that," he challenged back.

I scoffed, "so you took advantage of the fact that I had been drinking, how interesting," I joked back, so he knew that I wasn't being serious.

"I was the one who stayed to protect you, and don't you forget it," he replied with a smirk.

"As if you would let me," I sighed as my head began to pound again. "Can we please get some food; I need a fizzy drink to ease this hangover. It feels like there are mini people playing an entire orchestra very out of tune in my head," I groaned and put my head into my hands.

Carter roared with laughter beside me and the fact that he seemed to find my agonising headache hilarious, only made me want to hit him again.

"Two good deeds for you in twenty-four hours, you're getting greedy now Wilson," he teased, but I could see that he had changed lanes and was heading in the direction of the nearest drive thru. "Anything you fancy in particular?" he asked.

I sighed, "anything that I can manage swallow preferably," I said, and I saw his eyebrows raise in my direction. "A milkshake and a burger," I clarified after I realised not only what I had said, but also that my present company couldn't keep his head from wandering into perverted thoughts.

"Coming right up," he laughed, and I knew he was fishing for a sexual innuendo in there somewhere.