“What Ineed is a good, God damn fucking.” I snapped, and Carter’s eyes flared with surprise. “My thighs are literally a slip-and-slide right now because—to answer your question from earlier,no,I’m not wearing any underwear! It would have given me panty lines, and because ofyou.” I motioned up and down his body, and Carter could hardly suppress his laughter as he hid a wildly amused smile behind his fist. “Well, you know why.” I stuttered out ineloquently. “I know you do. You gave me the kiss of all kisses, and you showed up for me tonight, and you always show up for me when it matters most, and this,” I touched the necklace breathlessly. “You’re so incredibly thoughtful, and you’re worried about hurting me? Sometimes you’re too damn protective. You know that? Maybe I don’t want to be protected. Maybe I want to be fucked.” I said incredulously, and his eyes heated at that. “You’re worried you’re going to break me, but sometimes it feels like you’re the only thing putting me back together—truth.” I quickly stopped myself before I confessed the most brutal thing of all.
“Don’t stop.” Amber-flecked eyes begged. “Please don’t stop.”
“Truth.” I admitted, eyes shuttering because I couldn’t bear to look at him when I said it. “I’m terrified.”
“What are you so afraid of, pretty girl?” Carter’s eyes darted between mine, trying to decipher.
“Ofgettingwhat I want.” I shrugged. “Ofnotgetting what I want.” I let my gaze drag over his tall, imposing figureveryslowly.
Carter licked his lips, his mouth parting as each breath came a little faster. “What exactly is it that you want?”
I smiled deviously, trying to hide my nerves. “I think it’s your turn, Casanova. I’ve had enough truth-telling for now.” I leaned back on my forearms, dangling my feet off the edge of his bed.
He gave me a long look and shook his head. “I see how it is.”
“Truth or dare.” I asked sweetly, my heart still thrumming a mile a minute from my word vomit.
“Truth.” He smirked, shaking his head.
“Why did you take my hair tie that day?” I was desperate for the answer.
His brown eyes shimmered like molten caramel, and he considered for a long while before he finally answered. “To replace the one I took—the night before I left for basic.”
I sat straight up. “What?”
“I wanted something to keep you close while I was gone.” He admitted. “That flimsy little thing survived through some of the shittiest days I’ve had, and you know when it finally broke?” He shook his head. “I had it on that morning, Thanksgiving, and I was so nervous to come up to your room and talk to you,that’swhen it finally broke.” He looked away. “I was trying to figure out what I was going to say because I was terrified that you never wanted to speak to me again.” His voice was hardly above a whisper. “This one was a replacement. Just in case you decided you were done with me for good.”
My pulse thrummed, realizing what he’d just admitted.
He looked devastated as he gazed at me, eyes sofull of yearning. “You’re my best friend too, Sara, and I’m terrified of losing you. I don’t want to screw up what we have because I need you more than you even realize, and fuck.” He gripped the back of his neck, looking distraught. “I’ve tried not to cross the line with you,I really have, but then you show up here, looking likethat, and you’re sleeping inmybed withthatfucking thing.” He motioned to the dildo, still buried in the sheets. “And I can’t help but hope that maybe you feel the same—truth.” He added, desperation drenching his beautiful eyes.
I could hardly breathe. “Carter.”
“Not to mention, seducing me with strawberry everything.” He added wildly, with a dramatic roll of his eyes and then more quietly, “Why do you smell so fucking good.All the fucking time.” His eyes shuttered. “And taste so fucking good.” I smiled quietly as a fluttering swell filled my chest. “Feel so good.” His shoulders caved slightly at the admittance.
“Carter.” I whispered.
He swallowed hard, and kept going, eyes glued to the dildo in the sheets. “Truth or dare. Are you going to use that thing when I leave?” He rasped.
“That’s not how truth or dare works. I have to pick first.” I whispered.
He took a step towards me. “Then pick truth.”
“You’re going to leave?” I asked, teetering between the thrill of him coming closer and the confusion that he was going to leave. Why? After everything we’d each just said.
“Answer. The. Question.”
“Yes,” I answered breathily even as heat flushed my cheeks at the admittance. “I’m definitely going to need to dosomethingafter that kiss.” I’d been hoping it would be with him though.
He smirked.
Oh. My. God.
What was I even saying?
Shut your goddamn mouth, Sara!
I didn’t know if I’d ever been this honest in my life, and what a terrible time to start.
