She was watching me with a sleepy expression, only, that’s when I noticed she was trembling.Was she afraid?Or was it something else entirely? I didn’t know what exactly was runningthrough that pretty little head of hers as she fidgeted in front of my bed.
So I stayed in the hallway, unsure if I should come in. I didn’t want to push her too far, too fast, and most of all—I needed to know that I wasn’t going to lose my best friend. I couldn’t afford it. I needed her. So fucking badly, and she had no idea.
I knew she’d had bad experiences with other guys. I didn’t know the specifics, but I knew enough to be worried. She’d been with people who’d taken when she didn’t want to give.
I knew Isaac from the gallery was one of them. He’d crossed some line with her, and it was completely evident by the way Sara had shrunk into herself the moment she’d heard his voice. The thought made my blood boil.
There was a reason she’d never been in a long-term relationship all these years, a pattern that seemed to be repeating itself in her love life. That night of the charity auction flashed through my mind, and I still didn’t know what exactly had happened in that car before Taggart had dumped her on the side of the road, covered in blood. She’d never confided the details of that night, even amongst all the secrets we’d shared over the last few months, but I did know one thing. In one way or another, he’d hurt her too, and after the way she’d responded at Thanksgiving, I didn’t dare ask her about it again. I knew she’d come to me when she was ready, but right now, I had no fucking idea what she was thinking. One minute she was mounting me with enough boldness that you’d think it was something she’d done a thousand times, and the next, she was visibly trembling as if she were trapped—I wondered if I was to blame for making her feel that way.
She had so much confidence one minute, and the next, it was like she’d forgotten all about it. Forgotten the strength, of who she was. That was what healing looked like, I supposed, but still, part of me was terrified that I was about to walk over a landmine that Sara didn’t even remember she’d buried.
I wanted to help her move forward, hopefully with me. I justdidn’t know how to do it without getting us both blown up. It was a terrifying prospect to consider.
Not to mention, Liam would lose his shit if he knew his little sister was standing here, like a merciless seductress in front of my bed—he was probably in his own bed, just across the street at this very moment, and he had the door code. In fact, if he saw me pull into the garage, he could come over at anytime.
“Are you coming in?” Sara asked nervously, her eyes lusty and skittish all at once.
I’d worry about Liam later. “Do you want me to?” I cautiously asked, wondering if Ishouldjust turn around and go downstairs.
“Maybe I dare you to,” Sara breathed, licking her lips.
Fuck me. This woman.
My eyes darted between hers as I processed that shedidwant me to come in, and everything shifted.
Fuck yeah. Internal fist pump.
“You dare me to, huh?” Something about the inviting way she retreated begged me to advance, and like a hypnotized man,I did.
“Mhmm.” She backed up a step, reeling me in with every one of hers.
I could practically see her pulse fluttering wildly in her neck, nipples peaked, hard against her gown, practically begging to be touched.
I gripped the top of the doorframe, staying at the threshold, not coming an inch closer until I got this wild feeling inside me contained. “Are we playing truth or dare now, pretty girl?”
“Yes, and Carter,” she batted her lashes. “I dare you to come in here.” In a flirtatious invitation to play, she pointed to the floor in front of her several times.
I realized my beautiful angel had intentions wicked as sin.
And who was I to deny her?
CHAPTER 31
The Dare
SARAFINA
Carter loomed in the wide doorway, looking sexier than any human should as the soft lamplight glittered against his dark, watchful eyes.
I was doing my very best not to disintegrate under his intense gaze, while he was busy looking at me, like I was the only thing that existed in the entire universe.
My heart was racing, my hands were trembling, I was fluttering with anticipation, dying to see what might follow the kiss of all kisses.
In a matter of hours,everythinghad changed.
Carter hesitated in the doorway. “Will he or won’t he accept the dare?” I mused as nonchalantly as I could muster, though I could hardly steady my voice. This was all such new territory for us.
Carter pushed off the doorframe and sauntered into the room without a word. My entire body vibrated with awareness as he gave me a simple look that had me on the precipice of begging. I retreated a step towards the bed as he softly closed the ornate door behind him,before he fucking locked it.
