An Inconvenient Bet

Chapter Twenty Four

"What he tried to do," Carter said angrily, "I mean I could kill him!"

I gave him a weak smile as I noticed my hands had somewhat stopped shaking. I was at Carter's house and had only just woken up about ten minutes earlier. Carter hadn't stopped pacing his room in frustration and I had never seen him this angry. Noah had called to check I was ok and apart from being shaken up; I was extremely grateful that nothing had happened. Jayden had called the cops and they had taken Justin in, but I didn't have the energy to give them a statement right now.

Carter noticed I was still shaking and sat down next to me, pulling me onto his lap like I was a child. I burrowed my head into his shoulder for comfort, feeling his heartbeat against my temple.

"I'm never going to let anything happen to you Saf, I promise," he said and his voice was so soft and sincere that I could feel myself relaxing.

I could only manage to nod ever so slightly against his chest. I felt overwhelmed with emotions, that I didn't know what to think or how to feel; all I knew was how thankful I was of Carter. I didn't even want to think about what might have happened, if he hadn't saved me.

"This is all my fault," I said in short breaths trying my best to let the panic that was rising inside of me subside.

I felt his grip on me tighten and felt his lips press against my forehead.

"Don't say that, it's not your fault," he whispered.

Except it was. If I had never asked Carter to leave, then maybe Justin wouldn't have wandered into the room. I shut my eyes not wanting to think about it what could have happened, how much worse it could have been.

"Thank you, Carter," I said, moving my head so I could look at him.

He tucked the loose strands of hair off my face and behind my ear, something he'd done so many times, it felt natural. His hand stayed there and I found myself locked in a trance with him.

"I told you, I would always protect you, even if I am a complete idiot sometimes," he half laughed.

A smile tugged at my lips. It was true that he could be an idiot sometimes, but when he wanted to be, he was the Carter that I always remembered as a child. He was this sweet and amazing guy and I couldn't understand why he couldn't always be like that.

"This may be the wrong time to say this, considering what just happened, but I meant what I said the other day, you really aren't like anybody else," he whispered against my skin.

"Then don't treat me like I am," I said back.

Our faces were inches apart, his arm wrapped around my back supporting me, while his other hand held my face. This felt the most intimate Carter and I had ever been, this felt romantic.

"I know and I'm sorry, truly," he whispered and I saw his eyes flick to my lips. "Something about you makes me behave differently and I can't describe it," he replied and I could have sworn our faces had become even closer.

"You mean when you sleep with me and then tell everyone that I'm a notch on your bedpost, all in the same day," I smirked.

He shook his head, "I don't mean when I'm being a dick," he said, his voice sounded like a gentle grunt. He wanted to say something but was trying not to and all I could do was gaze at his lips as they opened and closed.

"Tell me what you want, Carter," I whispered, placing my hand against his cheek. I could feel the stubble coming through across his jawline as I ran my fingers against his skin.

I was supposed to ask him what he meant as opposed to what he wanted but being this close to Carter was distracting and I knew he felt the same. The energy between us was electric and I could feel the heat rising every second we spent talking, rather than kissing.

I wanted him with every fibre of my being, it wasn't just a need anymore. It was more than sex, more than a crush. I wanted him and only him and after everything that had happened, that feeling had only magnetised.

His thumb ran over my lips gently pulling my bottom lip down and I felt my stomach flip in anticipation.

"I want to kiss you, I want to taste you," he said and his eyes met mine, they were wild with excitement.

"Then do it," I said with a smile on my face.

Carter didn't even blink before his lips were on mine and suddenly, he was all I could taste, all I could feel and everything I wanted.

His hand knotted in my hair as it had done earlier and I swung my legs either side of his thighs, straddling him.

I let myself fall into him as his hands held my face, our chests touching as our lips parted eagerly for one another. My body was burning with his touch and I wanted everything he was giving me over and over again.

His hands found the bottom of my top and he broke the kiss as he pulled the material over my head. The cold air hit my bare back instantly, but my eyes were drawn immediately to his chest as he removed his top.

I let out a noise that was somewhere between a moan and a sigh, making him look at me with his devilish grin.

"I love-" I started and Carter ever so slightly froze, "your body," I added.

His eyes locked on mine again and then they roamed down my body, his fingers following his train of vision. They trailed agonisingly slowly down my neck, between my breasts and down my stomach, stopping at the waistband of my skirt.

"You are so beautiful," he said and with one swift movement my back was lying on the bed and Carter was between my thighs. He trailed kisses down my neck as I closed my eyes enjoying the way his lips felt on my skin.

"So are you," I replied, too busy enjoying the ecstasy that I felt.

He half laughed as he placed a kiss on my lips and as I opened my eyes to look at him, my heart skipped a beat. I had never felt this way before, in fact Carter had never looked at me like that or at least if he had, I hadn't noticed.

"Saf, I think I'm--" but he cut himself out and shook his head. "You're beautiful," he said again and his lips crashed against mine.

As we kissed and Carter slowly peeled the clothes off my body, our skin moulding together as one. As all that happened all I could think was I might never know what he was going to say, but a part of me knew or at least suspected and that part was scared shitless.