Chapter 7
A small (okay, not so small) twist.
After a late-night marathon of bingeing on recordings ofBreaking Bad, I’d crashed into my bed. A deep sleep that, even if Carter had brought someone home, I wouldn’t have heard it. A soft knock on my wall woke me up. I groggily opened my eyes. It wasn’t the knock of morning sex, more like someone trying to get in. Was Carter trying to communicate with me?
I picked up my cell.
Good morning. 10:21 am
I’m on the balcony. 10:40 am
Then I realized the knocking was rocks against my window, and I quickly replied.
Give me a sec. 10:45 am
No. Come out as you are. 10:45 am
I just woke up.10:46 am
Exactly. Want to see how you look when you first wake up. Don’t even look in the mirror. 10:47 am
I read his last text as I looked in the mirror attached to my bedroom door and frowned at my appearance. I wore an oversized Minnie Mouse t-shirt that barely covered my ass. Thankfully, I’d braided my hair into two neat French braids last night. At least I didn’t have white marks around my mouth or eyes.
I’m going inside if you're not out here in three seconds. 10:47 am
Shit, boy. I'm coming.10:48 am
On my way to the balcony, I noticed that Grey’s door was open, and his bed was empty. Good. I didn't want to explain going outside dressed like this because Carter asked me to. The hot air cooled by the water greeted me as I stepped through the sliding door and leaned over the railing to see a shirtless Carter lounging, wearing only his boxer briefs. His hair was still in a fro and not braided up.
Carter complimented, “Mm... Good morning.”
I resisted crossing my arms across my braless breasts that peaked from the beach air. “Are you trying to get me in trouble or break my window?”
“The windows are strong, and I saw him getting into his car. I know you’re alone.”
“How did you know I was asleep?”
“Because you didn’t respond when I first texted you.” He smiled without showing his teeth.
I retorted, “Maybe I didn’t see my phone.”
“Now that I have your number, I bet that phone is glued to your side. In fact, I suggest you keep it next to you. Wouldn’t want your man to see my texts.” Carter looked at me, gauging my reaction.
“You like that I have a man, don’t you?” How easily that lie slipped through my lips.
“Come ride me,” he said as if I hadn’t spoken, as his eyes leisurely swept my body. “It would be so simple in that t-shirt and panties. We can fuck right here, and the people on the beach won’t have a clue what we’re doing.”
“No,” I immediately answered, more from fear of losing my senses than the true longing I had to do as he suggested. “If I give you what you want, I don’t get what I want.”
Carter rose from the chair and faced me from his balcony. His well-defined pecs and abs captured my attention, and I hadto drag my eyes back to his face. “Why do you want more from me? I saw you with him last night. Hugged up and shit. He has star potential like me. You not trying to leave him for a nigga you don’t really know. So why not kick it with me and have the best of both worlds?”
Now would be a good time to confess. We could laugh about it, and Carter would be with me. And the three of us could be friends. I bit my lip, debating whether to tell him the truth.
“Shit,” he softly groaned and covered himself. “Got me hard again.”
I frowned before I realized that I’d been biting my lip. Carter thought I was teasing him instead of thinking about being truthful. I really did have power over him. Well, at least his body. I slowly raised my shirt to reveal my pink boy shorts that hugged my ass and the top of my thighs—stopping right below my breasts. Carter’s jaw tightened, and he removed his hand so I could see the tentpole in his shorts.
His stiff erection emboldened me, and I tilted my head. “You’re right. Not leaving him for a nigga I don’t know.”
