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“Aight. I’ll see you when you get here.”
Carter ended the call and clutched the device in his hand. He was getting what he wanted—McKenna—but not how he planned for it to happen. One thing Carter thrived on was control, to move and navigate how he wanted and someone had just taken that away. That someone had better count their days, time was officially moving.
Chapter
Three
“This is our unit.” Carter pointed to the sleek black door in front of them, then turned, motioning to an identical one across the hall. “Brooks lives in this one and the other two are empty, but I own them so they’ll remain empty.”
“You own them?”
“This entire floor belongs to me,” Carter stated casually, before adjusting McKenna’s bags. He switched her duffle from one hand to the other and began keying a security code.
Once they were inside, he lingered by the door, locking them in while she moved further into his space. As she looked around, McKenna realized how little she knew about the man who had branded her in ways she’d never experienced before. Those three days only scratched the surface. They hadn’t discussed his life or hers in depth. So seeing how Carter lived felt like peeling back a layer she hadn’t been exposed to.
“It’s late. If you don’t mind, I’d like to lay down for a while. It’s been a really long day.” She felt overwhelmed and needed space.
“Come on, let's get you settled.” Carter’s eyes darted from McKenna to the living room before he turned, moving toward the back of his apartment. As they navigated, she admired how exquisite everything was.
Multiple shades of gray, wood-plank tiled floors, and simple but pricey furniture. The place was clean, masculine with simple decorations. Not barren, but definitely minimalistic.
They traveled through the open floor plan down a long hallway where he stepped around McKenna and opened a door. “You can take this room. It’s larger than the other two and has a private entrance to the balcony just in case you need fresh air,” he said, motioning for her to enter.
“And which room will you be in?” She arched a brow and Carter smirked but didn’t hesitate.
“Mine, the first door on the right. If you prefer, you can stay in there with me. I was trying to be respectful.”
Her eyes bounced between Carter and the doorway but she kept her thoughts to herself as she entered the room. He stepped into the doorway behind her. “If you need anything at all, let me know. Feel free to explore the rest of the place.”
“You don’t mind?”
Carter smiled handsomely. “I’m a much better host than you are, Kenni. You’re my guest. I want you as comfortable as possible. My place is yours.”
She glanced at him and nodded. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
He placed her things by the door and backed into the hallway. “I’m going to get the rest of your stuff.”
McKenna nodded and looked around again. “I knew I was right.”
“About?”
“Me not meeting your standards.” He smirked, remembering the conversation they’d had over breakfast while he was at her place. Carter closed the space between them, locking his arms over his chest before edging closer to crowd her space. She sucked in a deep breath, which granted an overdose of him.
He bent his head, lowering his mouth close to McKenna’s ear. “You are my standard, Kenni. I’ll take you, however and wherever I can have you. I don’t give a fuck about any of this. It’s just things.”
Carter delivered a chaste kiss just below her earlobe then allowed her space. Space she desperately needed. This man was a lot.
“Now, does this meet your standard?” His eyes circled the room and hers remained on him.
“It does but maybe I should figure out something else. Like not staying here.”
“Why?”
“This isn’t supposed to be happening. Isn’t that what you said was best? Us keeping our distance?”
“You’re staying. Things are different now.”
