Whiskey and Lace (Lace Series) (2 page)

His eyes narrowed in confusion. "Why not?"

My heart felt like it would beat out of my chest and I clenched my teeth together in anger. "I can't have kids." I stared at the artwork above his mantle. When he didn't say anything I glanced back at him on the couch. His eyes had softened.

"You don't have to feel bad. I've known for a long time. I had to have surgery when I was a kid and there was a lot of scar tissue left behind. It's impossible for me to get pregnant." I sat down on the opposite end of the couch from him. "So, the shot isn't necessary. I'm only on pills to help regulate my cycle." I avoided his sympathetic gaze. 

"I'm sorry, Eva."

"Don't be. It was a long time ago. So do your parents live in Boston?" I was desperate to change the subject. 

"Yes." He slid closer to me on the couch and brushed my hand with his own. "My mom and dad live in Belmont." 

I knew it was one of the wealthier neighborhoods outside of the city. 

"Technically my stepdad, but they've been married since I was young, so he's like my dad."

"Do you have siblings?" 

"A younger half-brother and sister." His thumb worked circles in the palm of my hand soothingly. I got the impression that he was making an effort to open up to me since he had forced me to reveal a painful secret. 

"What about your real dad?" His hand froze in my own for a moment before he relaxed and started caressing it again. 

"I don't know him. He left when I was little."

I sensed it was a sore subject. "I'm sorry," I climbed up into his lap and whispered in his ear. His palms traveled up my denim-clad thighs and held my hips tightly. 

"It was a long time ago." His voice sounded gruff with pain or anger, I couldn't tell. 

I kissed his lips softly and then Carter pulled my body tight to his and consumed my lips in a passionate kiss.  He leaned me back on the couch and kissed me fiercely, then pressed the length of his body flush against mine, and I was lost to Carter Morgan again. 

When I went home Sunday Cate grilled me for all of the information about my night, and subsequent morning, spent with Carter. She bounced off the walls to hear that we'd spent time between his sheets, and on his counter top, and then died a little more when she found out I was spending the weekend with him in Aspen. 

-
How's your latte?
 A text from Carter came in while I was working at the corner table at the coffee shop Monday morning.

-
Delicious.
 I smiled to myself. 

-
I
miss the taste of your skin.
 I blushed and glanced around the busy tables. I felt sure that anyone around could tell I was exchanging sexy texts with one very hot CEO. 

-
I miss your lips on my skin… and other places…
 I smiled to myself, knowing it would drive him wild. 

-
Evangeline… I’m in a meeting.

-
Naughty you for texting when you should be paying attention
.

-
I can't stop thinking about laying you out on my kitchen counter again.
 My heart skipped a few beats.

-
Look forward to it
. A few seconds later my phone rang. 

"Parker will be there in 10 to pick you up," Carter's rough voice came over the speaker. 

"Where am I going?" 

"Lunch, with me in my office. I'm going to take you over my desk, Evangeline." My nerves tingled in anticipation.

"What if I have work to do?" I teased him. 

"Don't toy with me, Evangeline. Ten minutes." And with that he hung up. A smile spread across my face as I gathered my notes and shut down my laptop. 

A few minutes later Parker came into the coffee shop. 

"Ms. Austin." He nodded and picked up my bag. 

"Hi, Parker." I gave him a small smile. Was he used to picking up women to deliver to Carter for a lunchtime liaison? I didn't want to think about it. I couldn't think about it, or I wouldn't get into that car, and I really wanted to get into that car.

I slipped into the back seat of the Bentley. With the privacy window down I decided to probe Parker for some answers about his enigmatic boss. I imagined he would know things no one else did. I bit my bottom lip as Parker slid into the driver seat and glanced at me in the rear view mirror. 

"How long have you worked for Carter?" I smiled at Parker as if I were making casual conversation. This was anything but casual, I was on a fact-finding mission. 

"Eight years." Parker pulled away from the curb. 

"Does Carter do lunchtime meetings often?" I chewed my bottom lip, steeling myself for Parker's response. 

"No, Ms. Austin." My eyes darted to Parker's in the mirror. I wasn't expecting that. "He's good to work for; takes care of his employees." It felt like Parker was trying to tell me something more about Carter. That he had integrity and empathy. 

"Here you go, Ms. Austin." The car pulled up to the curb in front of Hancock Tower. 

"Thank you, Parker." I smiled at him as I slid out of the car. I walked through the glass doors of the impressive building and made my way to the security desk.

"Straight up to the 60th floor, Ms. Austin." A security guard escorted me to the elevators. I stepped in and was whooshed to the top floor of the skyscraper in less than a minute. My heart began to pound in anticipation. The doors slid open to a brightly lit lobby with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city. 

The receptionist gave me a genuine smile. "Go right in, Ms. Austin." She nodded her head to a pair of dark mahogany doors with a smile. I felt instantly uncomfortable. Did she know what I was doing here? I suddenly felt like a high-class hooker. In that instant I wanted to turn and run, but I knew that I wouldn't. The pull Carter had on me was too strong. 

I paused for a moment before knocking softly on the door. 

"Come in," the clear and confident voice came from inside the office. I opened the door slowly and peered in. He sat behind a large, mahogany desk and I immediately felt nervous. What was I doing here? I had half a mind to turn on my heel and run as far away from Carter Morgan as my feet could carry me. In that instant I knew Carter wasn't just a good time and great sex, he was creeping into my heart and I wouldn't be able to stand it when he walked away and crushed it. 

"Evangeline." Carter stood and closed the space between us in a few quick strides. The energy sparked between us and my heart began to flutter in my chest. 

"You look beautiful." He nuzzled into my neck as he slid the jacket off of my shoulders. "Good enough to eat." He trailed his tongue up the curve of my neck, skimming my ear with his teeth. My heart began to pound and my stomach clenched in arousal. He guided me to the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city streets and the river beyond.

"You've got the best view in the building." I smiled.

"I should, considering I own the place." His arms tightened around my waist. 

"You own The Hancock?" I turned to glance at him over my shoulder. 

"Yes." He skimmed his hands along my rib cage and grazed his fingers under my breasts.

"It's breathtaking." I gazed out at Boston laid before us. 

"You're breathtaking." He lifted my shirt over my head. I stood looking out over the city in my jeans and bra as Carter's fingers trailed down the curve of my spine. He quickly unhooked the button of my jeans and slid the denim over my hips. 

"I love you in lace." Carter fingered the delicate fabric of my panties. I turned in his arms and began to loosen his tie and undo the buttons of his dress shirt. My eyes darted to his office door and I worried my bottom lip between my teeth.

"Soundproof walls, Evangeline. You can scream as loud as you want." A sexy lopsided smile played across his lips.

Carter traced circles on my shoulder as his eyes blazed into mine. Butterflies jumped in my stomach when his shirt hung open and his toned chest was revealed. I traced my fingers along the edge of his pants before I unhooked the button and slid the fabric over his narrow hips. They dropped to his ankles and I discovered that he once again wasn't wearing anything underneath. What was it with this man? He stood before me in a loose tie with his dress shirt hanging open and nothing else. I dusted my fingers along his hardened length and his hips jerked and he sucked in a quick breath. I dropped to my knees in front of the floor to ceiling windows and traced his length with my tongue. 

"Evangeline." His fingers slid into my hair and tightened. I looked up at him through my eyelashes as I worked his arousal. His eyes were trained on me as he panted and moved his hips slowly with my rhythm. 

"You're so fucking beautiful." He took his tie off and let his shirt pool on the floor and then he hauled me up his body. My nipples hardened instantly at the contact. He unhooked my bra in an instant and let the fabric slide down my arms. He wrapped one hand around my neck and pulled my lips to his. 

"I need to be inside you." He gripped the edge of my panties and ripped, then slammed me against the cold glass of the windows and hoisted my legs around his waist. His fingers dug into my bottom and the pain and pleasure of it had my core throbbing with need. He slammed into me in one hard jerk and pounded me against the windows overlooking the city. 

My fingernails dug into his back and he groaned and pounded into me with quick, measured strokes. I threw my head back and Carter attacked my neck, scraping the flesh with his teeth. One hand was planted firmly on the glass beside my head to support us and his other gripped the nape of my neck. He was pounding into me relentlessly and the heat from his body on my front and the cold panes of glass against my back was intensifying my arousal and causing my nerve endings to hum. 

"It's just you and me," Carter ground through his teeth. I felt a quickening in the pit of my stomach and I knew I was close.  "Say it." He moved his hand to my hip and held on to me tightly.

"You and me," I panted and I felt my core begin to clench. 

"Hold it, Evangeline. Wait for me." Carter pounded harder. My fingernails dug into his flesh and ran down his back. 

"I can't." I panted and thrust my hips into him harder. 

"Now, Evangeline." My orgasm ripped through me and I landed my teeth into his shoulder, blinded with the overwhelming sensation. Carter's hand dug into the flesh of my hip as he ground out the last few strokes of his orgasm. His head landed on my shoulder and I clung to his sweat-slicked skin waiting for my breathing to recover. We'd steamed up the windows and my body slid against the cool panes of glass. Carter stepped back, still inside me, and sat in his office chair with me straddling him. My heartbeat began to calm and I wiggled in his lap to reposition myself. 

"Do much of that and I'll take you again over my desk, Evangeline." 

My eyebrows arched in surprise and the corner of Carter's mouth lifted in a sexy smirk. I slowly stood up and found my jeans to get dressed. Carter slid his pants over his hips and pulled his shirt on and buttoned it. He reached for my bra and passed it to me and pocketed the tattered lace that was formerly my panties. I arched an eyebrow at him. 

"I won't have any panties left if you continue at this rate." I slid my bra over my arms and fastened it. 

"I'll buy you more." He grinned and sat down in his chair, adjusting his tie. 

I sat down on the desk in front of him and placed my feet on either side of his hips. He slid himself between my legs and ran his warm hands up my jean-clad thighs. 

"I like you like this." His fingertips played with the skin just above the waist of my jeans. I ran my fingers through his hair and pulled teasingly. 

"And I like you like this." Carter may be controlling in all aspects of his life, but at this moment I felt like I was in control. I sat perched above him and his eyes twinkled up at me through dark lashes. My heart thudded in my chest as the energy buzzed between us. He pulled me tighter into him and I dropped my head to press my lips to his.  I was falling for Carter Morgan and I had a sinking feeling he would trample all over my heart. 

"Join me for dinner tonight." Carter wrapped an arm around my waist and kissed the top of my head a few minutes later as I was leaving his office. 

"What's on the menu?" I smiled up at him. 

"I'll make something." Carter's arms wrapped around me. 

"You're cooking?"

"Of course, why the surprise, Miss Austin?" A crooked grin spread across his face. 

"Well, after breakfast…" I shuddered. 

"Breakfast doesn't happen to be my forte." He gave my bottom a playful squeeze. 

"So what is your forte, chef?"

"Just be at my house at seven." He smacked my bottom as I stepped into the elevator. I turned and smiled at the  sexy grin that was spread across his face. The elevator doors closed and I sighed happily. This man drove me insane with both anger and pleasure but I knew I didn't have a chance of walking away from him. 

"Mmm, smells delicious." I inhaled as Carter greeted me at his front door. He wore an apron over blue jeans that hung loose on his hips. I handed him the bottle of Merlot I'd brought and he he kissed me fully on the lips in greeting. I deepened the kiss and grabbed his ass and squeezed. "I can't wait for dinner," I said in a throaty whisper. 

"You are terrible, Evangeline." 

I winked and skirted by him into the foyer. 

"Spaghetti?" I headed for his kitchen where the delicious aroma was coming from. 

"Best in Boston." Carter opened the wine as I grabbed two wine glasses. 

"We'll see about that hotshot." I teased him. I dipped a wooden spoon into the bubbling tomato sauce and tasted it. "Oh, Carter," I moaned in pleasure. 

He arched one eyebrow at me and a flash of heat crossed his eyes. 

"You are a distraction, Evangeline. Dining room, go." He guided me out of the kitchen. I grinned and sashayed my hips, knowing his eyes were on me.

I sat down at the table and a minute later Carter sauntered out of the kitchen with two plates of spaghetti and garlic bread. He topped off our wine glasses and we dug into the pasta.