Finding Carson Lee (Oh Captan, My Captain #3) (17 page)

I’m about to cuss him out, but he walks away.

“
Am I missing something?”

“
Yep,” I growl. “I need a fucking drink.”

I begin slamming everything into my bag and head back to the hotel. I don’t even bother with going upstairs. I go right into the bar and order a strong drink. And then another. And then one more. By the time Cassie gets there, I’m feeling a little tipsy.

“
Well, it’s not even seven o’clock and you’re drunk. Good job.” She pats my shoulder.

“
I’m not drunk. Yet.” I sip my drink some more.

“
Care to tell me what’s going on?”

I sigh and down the rest of the glass. “Carson and I kissed.”

“
That’s great,” Cassie squeals with delight.

“
No, no, no,” I keep repeating, shaking my head. “It’s not.”

“
Why? You two really like each other.”

“
I’m a bitch. That’s why. I’m an evil bitch.” I wave at the bartender for another drink.

“
Um, okay, I see that Crazy-Kinley is here with us tonight.” She tells the bartender that I need water, and I want to tell her ‘no’, but I don’t see the point in arguing. “Do you want to tell me what’s going on?”

“
Fine.” I turn my stool so I’m looking right at her. “Carson kissed me, and it was the best kiss ever. So, what do I do? I call him an ass, accuse him of leading me on, and that he’s fucking one of the models. Wait, it gets better. Then I yell at him and pretty much call him a man-whore, and he walks out. But not before I yell at him, telling him that I like him.”

Cassie stares at me for a second. She probably thinks I’m going to continue on my rant. “So, what is going on now with you two?”

I give her a look of disgust. “Nothing. Because I’m a bitch and when Carson walked out last night, I’m pretty sure he has no desire to talk to me ever again.”

“
I don’t think that’s true. I mean, maybe if you talk to Carson, without shouting or name calling, he’ll listen to you.”

I peel the label off of the water bottle.

“
Kinley, stop overthinking every move and go talk to the guy.”

Cassie’s right. I need to get over all this petty crap and be an adult. I’m twenty-seven, and I know what I want.

And it’s Carson Lee.

“
Take care of the tab and my bags.” I jump off the stool, stumble for a second, and head up to his room. I stand at his door and steady myself before pounding on it.

“
Yes?” His brown eyes make me wobble a little.

I give myself a quick pep talk, telling me to be strong and say what I came to say. “We need to talk.”

“
We do?” He looks confused. “I thought we already did that.”

“
Okay, let’s cut the shit.” He’s jerking me around, and I don’t have time for all of that silliness. “I’m a little tipsy and you know that I know we both like each other. So, I’m here to say I’m sorry for being a bitch and all that other stuff I said yesterday.”

Carson stares at me for a second before his smirk appears. “I accept your apology for you being a total bitch to me.”

“
Okay.” I grab his neck and jerk him to me, kissing his lips hard.

Carson pulls me into the room, kicking the door shut, and not letting go of me. “Wow.” He releases my lips. “You’ve had a lot to drink.”

“
Who cares? Don’t stop.” I reach for him again.

“
Are you trying to have sex with me?”

I drop my hands. “Well, yeah.”

“
Not going to happen, sweetheart.” He laughs.

“
What? Why?”

“
You really think the first time I have sex with you is when your drunk?” Carson looks at me as if I should know the answer.

“
Um.” I’m not sure if in my alcohol induced state I know the answer to that question.

Carson softly kisses my lips. “I want you to be aware of what I’m doing to you and not pass out on me.”

“
Are you saying that you don’t have the skills to keep me awake?” I giggle at him.

“
Oh, I can do a lot of things to keep you awake without going all the way.” He narrows his eyes at me.

“
Prove it.” I challenge him.

Carson picks me up fireman style and carries me to the bed. His lips are on me before I can comprehend what is happening. I let go of everything and enjoy his lips. He’s on his side, and I feel his hand on my hip. I roll myself on my back, making him hover over me. I wrap my legs around his hips and smile, breaking our kiss.

“
We’re not having sex,” he growls at me, leaning down to my neck.

I moan from his tender touch and the swirl of his tongue. I arch my back, and his fingers trace the waistband of my jeans. “If you don’t stop right now, I’m going to make you fuck me,” I breathe out. He laughs again and rolls off of me. I instantly curl up against his chest and close my eyes.

Carson

Kinley passed out in seconds. Once again, she’s left me wondering what has happened. She’s like this whirlwind that comes in, turns you around so many times you lose count, and then leaves you in her wake. I really like kissing her too. It seems like she gives into me, like she lets go of everything holding her back, so I can take over.

And now, she’s curled against me, sound asleep. I almost wish she wasn’t, so I could turn the lights off because I don’t want to get up and accidentally wake her. Looks like the lights are staying on. As I start to relax and as my eyes get heavier, I wonder how Kinley will be in the morning when she’s completely sober. How will the rest of our time here go? What’s going to happen once we go home?

In the morning, I wake up before Kinley and find her on the other side of the bed. Luckily, I woke up before my alarm went off. After quietly changing, I slip out for a morning workout. Since our trip is winding down, there’s a lot to pack in these last few days. If I’m not mistaken, we have a couple more shoots and a commercial to do, with the latter happening today. The treadmill is my first target.

Before long, I’ve been here an hour. When I open my door, Kinley is still sleeping. I slip into the shower, surprising myself with the fact that I’m a little concerned over the different scenarios that could unfold once she wakes up. I step out of the shower with a towel wrapped around my waist to find her sitting up in bed. She lifts her head as I walk to the dresser. I don’t get a chance to say anything before my phone rings.

“
Hey,” I answer in my cheeriest voice. “How are you doing today?”

“
Good,” Gracie says. “Mommy said you’re all the way in Utah and really busy, but I wanted to call you.”

“
I’m never too busy for you, Gracie. What have the
Looney Tunes
been up to?”

With that, she tells me step by step the details of the last episode she watched, giggling at every funny part. I avoid looking at the mirror on the wall to keep from seeing if Kinley is watching me, still not comfortable with sharing this with anyone. Once Gracie is finished, I tell her I’ll visit soon and hang up.

“
Hey, you’re awake,” I state the obvious, setting my phone back on the dresser, finally getting my clothes.

“
Ugh, fuck off.” Through the mirror, I can see her as she wipes her eyes and runs a hand through her hair, and I laugh. “I’m not a morning person five minutes after leaving my peaceful sleep. I can’t believe you’re up and showered already,” she adds. Thanks to the mirror atop the dresser and the lights still on from last night, I can see her eyes moving over the muscles in my back and lower to the towel that’s covering me up.

“
I’ve been up for over an hour, sweetheart. Already been to the gym and back.”

“
Are you always up this early?” she questions with a glance at the clock. “Why would someone call you at this time of the morning?”

With my clothes in hand, I walk over to the chair by the door and toss them onto it before turning to face her and nodding, avoiding her last question. “I don’t need a lot of sleep to function, so I’m awake before the sun rises. It works out because that’s usually a great time to go to the gym or go for a run or something.”

Kinley nods but something seems off as she stands and says, “I should probably go to my room now and get ready myself. Thanks for letting me sleep over.”

“
No problem.”

She walks past me, but I reach for her elbow and pull her back so she’s flush against me. Her hands are flat on my chest, her eyes slightly widen, and her lips part. I realize what I’ve done five seconds later, like I’m operating on a delay.

Clearing my throat, I try to speak. “Um...before you go…”

“
Yes, Carson?” she questions softly, urging me forward when I lose all thought. Yes, Carson? I don’t know what it is about those two words coming from her mouth, but it’s enough to sway my world.

Talking isn’t what I wanted to do when I stopped her from leaving. Dipping my head, I lean down to press my lips against hers. Mmm. This is what I wanted. Her lips are soft and follow mine eagerly, a low moan spills from her as I slip my tongue into her mouth. Before she has the chance to feel me through the towel, I pull away.

“
Do you have patience?” The words tumble out, confusing us both, even though I asked.

“
What?”

Swallowing hard, I repeat, “Are you a patient person, Kinley?”

She grins as she backs away towards the door again. “I manage to put up with you, don’t I?”

I laugh. “Good point.”

Kinley watches me for a half a second before she’s out the door. Why did I ask her that? Where did that even come from? See, she’s a fucking whirlwind. Shaking my head at myself, I get dressed and ready for the busy day.

Every time my gaze finds her, she’s looking at me with a glimpse of a smile. Today is probably the first time since we’ve been here that things are running smoothly without so many bumps. Between takes, I make my way over to Kinley where she sits behind her laptop, watching replays. Standing directly behind her, I’m close enough that the fabric of my t-shirt lightly brushes against her back.

“
What are you doing?” she asks.

I lean down as if I’m getting a better look with my head next to hers and reply, “Checking to see if I’m doing a good job.” Everyone is busy getting ready for the next take and not paying any attention to us. I drag my fingers over her lower back before slipping them underneath her shirt. “Am I?”

“
You’re doing okay, Carson Lee.” She shrugs.

“
What are we doing later?”

“
Well, I had hoped that you would be
doing
me later, but I’ll have to be patient for that.”

“
What’s that saying? Good things come to those who wait? Maybe you won’t have to wait for too much longer.” Hell, I don’t want to wait.

“
For your information, that saying was meant for small children, not a twenty-something horny female.” Her breath catches as I trail my fingers over the fabric of her bra on her side.

“
As long as you stay sober, then we shouldn’t have any problems later.”

“
I’m curious on how many ‘sober’ girls you’ve had in your bed. I would think drinking was a requirement.”

I tilt my head and brush my lips over her ear. “Pretty much all of them because they don’t want to chance not remembering all the things I do to them come morning.”

“
So, should I prepare myself for the Morning-After-Carson?” Kinley briefly leans against me.

“
Most definitely. I don’t have a reputation because I’m average, you know.”