Gage, Ronna - Send Her To Me (Siren Publishing Classic) (4 page)

Carter couldn’t stand to see her discomfort. The need to set her mind at ease overcame him. He set his right hand over hers and silently groaned at the heat radiating between her thighs.

“It’s okay, sweetie. I’m not sure I want you showing off what I want to indulge in myself.”

Kelli looked at him for long seconds, curiosity glistening in her eyes. At last, her lips broke into a shaky smile. The expression changed from curiousness to understanding, and then to bashful realization. The semi-silent rumbling in her throat turned into a bout of nervous giggles.

Carter took her seat belt and buckled her in with great care. He noticed how she watched him.

“I can buckle my own seat belt,” she whispered in his ear.

When he looked up into her eyes, the desire reflecting in them was undeniable. Excitement coursed up his arms. “Yeah, but where’s the fun for me?”

The silence between them filled with the sounds of music from one of the nearby apartments. The indefinable lyrics didn’t deter his involuntary reaction to take her right hand and kiss her palm, and then down her wrist. Her breathing stilled for a fraction of a second, the pulse rate in her wrist jumped a notch and tapped his lips. Her attempts to swallow the lump in her throat echoed in the darkness. His gaze captured hers again. Her buckle fastened, he couldn’t find one particular reason to leave her, not even the urge to take the few seconds to go around the car. “If we’re going, we’d better leave,” he stated a few seconds later when awareness refocused his mind on the evening plans.

She cleared her throat. “Is there anywhere special planned for tonight?”

“Heaven,” he answered without missing a beat, and then shut the door.

* * * *

“Carter Banks is the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen,” Kelli whispered to herself in the quiet confines of the car. The second she saw him across the pool had piqued that interest. Now, watching him walk around the car, she admired the sight of round, taut ass cheeks in loose-fitted jeans. The mint green polo-style shirt enhanced his handsome features and highlighted his spectacular body for her hungry gaze. His soft brown eyes reminded her of chocolate, the same rich, decadent color of European chocolate. She longed to feel his strong, corded arms around her.

“Thank you, God, for creating such a fine specimen of a man,” she whispered a split second before he opened the door and got inside with her.

The enclosed space of the car filled with his tantalizing scent. Woods, clean soap, and spice aroused her senses. Her mouth watered with hunger.
Play it safe,
she told herself. Staring at her, he conveyed his desire for her. A blind person couldn’t have missed it. She wanted to lean forward and sample the taste of his lips.

“How is your butt?” Carter asked, breaking the erotic spell she was under.

She laughed. A floodgate of nerves released and flooded her with warm emotions. She didn’t know if it was the endorphins releasing their magical hormonal balance to the somewhat stressful situation or if it was Carter’s playful teasing. Either way, the ice was broken. In reality, there was nothing more embarrassing than falling into a car on her ass.

“I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”

Carter looked at her with a wicked wolfish smile. “Yes, you are.” He started the Corvette and pulled out of the parking lot.

Kelli sat in the quiet of the car. She and Carter passed the better part of an hour with small talk. Simple things—favorite colors, he liked blue. Their mothers’ maiden names, family goals, and of course career goals they planned. He earned an MBA, and she had a Bachelor in Education.

She didn’t mind the quiet background music on the stereo or the lulls in conversation. This was a first date and lulls in conversation were normal, but the long drive it took to get to their destination did have her at odds. Looking around, she asked the inevitable question.

Where are we going?

Kelli felt him take her hand and give it a little squeeze. She looked at him. “That’s comforting.” The heat of his hand felt good on hers, so good, in fact, that the comment slipped out of her mouth.

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it.

Her stomach fluttered. She’d never had this kind of date before, and she adored him for being such a gentleman. The sight of him grazed over tight heartstrings and strummed a wonderful melody chord. She looked out the window to avoid any further music analogies and getting more tongue-tied. This night was the luckiest one of her life. Here she was on a date with this gorgeous man going God knows where. She wanted to pinch herself and make sure she wasn’t dreaming. Out of the window, her eyes caught the words on the sign as the car passed it.

You are now entering Oklahoma.

Surprised, she looked at Carter. “Where are we going again?”

“To Heaven.”

A nervous pang formed in Kelli’s stomach again.

This was no ordinary date
.

Chapter Four

Kelli never suspected Carter would take her to Heaven, Oklahoma on their first date. Nevertheless, true to his word, they were going gambling.

The tiny casino town on the state line had nothing more than a large gaming hotel, a gas station, bank, and a small police station. Various cars, from small, compact Toyotas to a massive Hummer, crowded the casino parking lot. Carter pulled the Corvette into the spot between the Hummer and a Lexus. The second he turned off the engine, Kelli heard the dinging sounds of bells and the hoots of whistles in the distance.

“It sounds like someone is winning inside.”

“Yep.”

She doubted it was a good idea to waste money on a luxurious game of chance.

He wasn’t a rich man. His investment business was just starting to make a profit, so he said on the drive up. She felt guilty that he considered spending money on her. However, to lose it to gambling bothered her even more. She looked at him. “Carter, can you afford this?” Kelli asked without thinking. She did that a lot lately, speaking without processing it in her mind first. It became a habit she knew she should break. The intention wasn’t to make him angry about her concerns or to impugn his spending habits. She didn’t want to be the blame for his bankruptcy.

“What?” Carter didn’t seem upset. He seemed curious that she would inquire at all.

“Please forgive me, it’s just...” She fiddled with the hem of her dress and wished she could let the subject drop before it came up. She shouldn’t have put him on the spot like that. “I know you’re still trying to get your business off the ground. If this is too much of an expense for you, we don’t have to gamble.”

Carter smiled. “Don’t worry about it.” He raised his fingers to her cheek and stroked it. “Dex gave me a comp card. He said to enjoy and play as long as we want.”

Kelli sighed with relief. “Let’s not disappoint him then and enjoy his hospitality.”

Carter got out of the car, walked around to her side, and then opened the door. He offered Kelli his hand, which she happily took.

He hoisted her out of the seat and into his hard chest. The feel of his heated breath on her ear and his strong arms around her waist drove the reckless urges of desire to race her heart. Unsure of herself, she slowly lifted her gaze to his. He looked at her with a pleasure that mirrored the need and desire her body vibrated with deep inside.

Her throat became thick. “I’m beginning to hate that seat,” she murmured for lack of a better comment.

Carter laughed. “Yeah? I kind of like it myself.” He lowered his head to hers.

She wanted to kiss him, or better yet, wanted him to want to kiss her.
Don’t ask, just do it and be done with it.
To her disappointment, he didn’t kiss her. He brushed his lips along her cheek to her ear.

The warmth of his body gave her a feeling of security and safety, cocooning her in more tingly feelings. She never felt that before. It both scared and delighted her.

“Why do you like the car?” she asked.

Why did I ask such a question at a moment like this?
So close.
Damn.

“So I can do this.”

He lifted her off the ground. Kelli lightly punched him on the shoulder. His lips pressed on hers. Her fist hung in midair for a second before coming down to grab his shoulders where her other hand already attached itself. He lowered her to the ground. Her fingers splayed, and then smoothed over his pecs. Under her examining palms, his muscles trembled. Slowly, he stopped the kiss.

Still enthralled by the moment, Kelli asked, “I…what…do you like about the seats again?” His hold tightened a bit around her waist.

“I like having you close to me.” He loosened his arms and sniffed the air around them. “I like smelling your scent as it fills the car’s interior. Hearing you breathe next to me.” His tongue licked her earlobe. Her breath caught. “Yes, precisely like that.”

Her body begged to give in to desire and brushed up against his. The reaction alarmed her. She wasn’t ready for this step. This whirlwind of emotions in her head must stop before it got out of hand. “Carter.” She knew her reply sounded desperate. “We…”

“Hey, the hotel has several vacancies, and the rooms are worth the price,” a voice announced.

Kelli screamed at the intrusion. Out of habit, she usually looked around the immediate area. Being brought up by a law enforcement father and three older brothers taught her to be constantly aware of her surroundings.

Her father warned her of stranger danger and to always be prepared. Somewhere in his wisdom he forgot to mention the hell she would have as the only girl within a household of alpha men. The tricks and scare tactics never ceased while she grew up. Telling your dates you had family in law enforcement didn’t guarantee many repeat outings.

In spite of all her dad’s advice and her brother’s hellish tricks, she missed the person that sneaked up on them. She let herself be distracted to the point that she didn’t hear him coming. If this had been one of her brothers, they would be unmerciful in their attack.

She turned; the casino’s pudgy security guard stood before them, leaned against a golf cart, and looked at them with kindness. Kelli suspected he meant what he said and stood by it firmly. He didn’t want public displays of affection in the full view of the parking lot. He stepped away from the vehicle and walked to them. His height matched Carter’s and by the looks of him, just as dark. Kelli imagined he and Carter could have possible lineage to the Native American people.

“Yes sir. We may take you up on that.” Carter pulled her close to him.

Kelli took the possessive gesture favorably. Carter claimed her as his in front of the other man. Her heart soared.

“Well, I’ll let you two go on. But next time do me a favor.”

“What’s that?” Carter asked.

“Don’t make out in my parking lot.”

“Will do.”

Carter took Kelli’s hand. They walked toward the hotel’s entrance. Kelli wasn’t giving anyone another chance to sneak up on her. She looked over her shoulder several times on the way to the casino’s entrance.

Carter looked around. “What are you looking for?”

“Nothing. Just making sure,” Kelli replied.

“Of what?”

“That no one lurks in the shadows and tries to take advantage of us.” He stopped. Kelli didn’t make the connection that he stopped until she almost jerked her arm out of socket. “What?”

Carter pulled her to him, clutched her upper arms, and gave a wolfishly beautiful smile. “Kelli.” His lips were mere inches from hers. “I’m the only thing you need to concern yourself with tonight.”

Her eyes darted to his. There, that wicked, seductive look in his gaze glimmered again. Just like magic, the tensions of being in an unfamiliar place eased from her mind. Carter would protect her from anyone who tried to harm them, of that she had no doubt.
But who will save us from each other?
That thought rambled in her head when she stepped inside the casino.

Lights and sounds of various game machines excited Kelli when she and Carter entered the establishment. She watched people play while Carter led her through the gaming area. Groups of people played slots, roulette, poker, and video poker.
Where to begin?
She’d never gambled before in her life. Chills of excitement brought goose bumps to break out over her skin. “Where do you want to go?”

Carter closed some distance between them. “I think we should take advantage of the buffet.”

Kelli hadn’t thought about food until Carter said something. Now, her stomach rumbled. Her eyes followed the direction to where he gestured. Banquet tables lined a wall in the area marked “Dining Room.” The closer they got, the bigger the variety of foods offered. A two-tiered chocolate iced cake sat in the middle of one of the tables. Her mouth watered. “That sounds like a great idea.” With
so
many foods to choose from, Kelli felt a little overwhelmed. She watched Carter pile chicken nuggets, meatballs, and pizza rolls onto his plate. Following his lead, she filled her plate with similar selections but in smaller portions.

“I think that will do for the first plate,” Carter whispered in her ear.

Kelli looked at the food that overflowed his plate. “You’re going to eat all that?”