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“A solution for what?” I try but fail to sound airy and unaffected, but I can tell by the tightness of Carter’s eyes that he doesn’t believe me.
Why would he?
Carter places two fingers underneath my chin, and I twist so I’m facing him directly. “For you disobeying me. For questioning my decisions. Over and over. Now, I wasn’t going to cause a scene in the hospital, but you know the rules.”
I search his face. “Is that really all you care about? Your stupid punishment?”
Carter’s eyes flash, and he pulls me onto his lap. “Don’t ever ask me that question again, dove. You know what you mean to me, and you know what I’ve done and what I’ll continue to do to keep you safe.”
I squirm against him. “I don’t want you to do that anymore.”
Carter places both hands on my waist and raises an eyebrow. “So, you’d rather I let Lilian kill you and the baby?”
I sputter. “No, of course not.”
Carter gives my ass a light slap. “Then stop fighting me on this.”
I bring my head to rest against his chest and go quiet. Carter holds onto me for the duration of the ride, and I don’t resist. A part of me feels guilty for not coming clean, but the other part of me can’t bear the thought of what it’ll do to Carter.
To us.
When we pull up outside Anita’s house, Carter sweeps me into his arms and carries me up the driveway. Instead of turning to our own house, we step through Anita’s front door. She offers me a wave and a grim smile on the way past, but I avoid her gaze. Carter doesn’t stop until he reaches the top of the stairs and sets me down on my feet. Slowly, he places a hand on my waist and leads me to the room we’ve used before.
All my things have already been set up, including the supplies I was using to prepare for Carter’s project. I let my gaze sweep over the room, taking in the fresh sheets and the smell of lemon lingering in the air. Carter pulls me to him when Tristan brings my bag up and leaves it in the doorway.
Tristan looks directly at me, a strange gleam in his eyes. “I never got the chance to thank you.”
I blink. “What for?”
“For coming back for me,” Tristan replies, the words pouring out of him in a rush. “I have no idea how you got away from Rich. At this point, it doesn’t really matter. I’m sorry I put you and the baby in danger.”
I step out of Carter’s arms and offer Tristan the barest hint of a smile. “I’m the one who should be apologizing to you. I never should’ve left you.”
Tristan shrugs and looks away. “You didn’t have a choice. Rich was very persuasive.”
Silence settles between us.
Carter clears his throat and places both hands around my waist. “Isabella needs to rest.”
Tristan nods, and another look passes between them.
Then Carter reaches into the pocket of his pants and pulls out a set of keys. He hands them over to Trista, who grips them in the palm of his hands. As quickly as he came, Tristan heads back downstairs, leaving Carter and me alone for the first time in days. Carter’s fingers are still laced through mine as he walks over to the bed and pulls me onto his lap.
This time, when he kisses me, I’m all too aware of the desperation, of the yearning. Of Carter’s need to re-establish control.
But when he spins us around and lowers me onto the bed, I know I can’t give it to him. Carter rubs his hands up and down my arms, sending shivers racing through my body. He hovers over me, his lean and powerful body keeping some of my demons at bay. However, when he lifts the dress up so it pools around my waist, I freeze.
Suddenly, I can’t think of how good it feels to kiss Carter. Or how badly I want to feel his skin against mine.
When Carter draws back to look at me, all I can see is all the ways I’ve failed him. I make a low noise in the back of my throat and let my arms fall to my sides. Frowning, Carter tries to kiss me again, but I turn my head to the side so his lips touch my cheek instead. Sighing, Carter draws back to look at me, but I don’t meet his gaze.
“Dove?”
“Mercy,” I whisper, hating how my voice cracks on the last letter.
For the longest time, Carter doesn’t move. So long, in fact, that I wonder if he didn’t hear me.
When he does finally move, shame and guilt have settled in the center of my stomach as I pull my dress back down. I fold my arms over my chest and curl onto my side. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot a flash of movement, and Carter materializes with his shirt on. He brushes my hair out of my face and presses a kiss to my forehead.
