Chapter 43

Carter has been acting weird all week. We’ve barely spoken in the last couple of months, but I thought things would mostly go back to normal once he was back here. Instead, he’s just been avoiding me. It’s like I don’t even exist. I should’ve told him about Landon, but it never came up. All our conversations are a variation of ‘hey how’re you doing, I’m fine and you?’

Meanwhile, he kept being tagged in photos with girls, though in most of them he’s with the same blonde. I’ve purposely avoided asking him who she is because I have a feeling I might not like the answer. One of the main reasons I started dating Landon is because of those photos, because of all the evidence that he’s moving on. That still doesn’t mean I’d ever want to confront him with Landon though.

I don’t know what to do to make things better between us. I don’t want us to be estranged — I want to at least be friends with Carter. I rummage through my wardrobe and take out my prank box. Eventually, I find what I’m looking for and grin. No matter how bad our arguments get, a good prank usually fixes things. I’m hoping that’ll be the case now too.

I sneak into his bedroom with a handful of fake cockroaches. I know he hates them, but I have some fond memories of the last time I pulled this trick. I can hear his shower running and grin. He’ll get the shock of his life when he gets into bed later. If I’m lucky, he’ll keep his curtains open and I’ll get to witness his horror for myself. I place the cockroaches on his bed strategically. He’ll feel them before he sees them.

The shower cuts off abruptly and I freeze. The door opens, and I jump behind his curtain to hide. I never would’ve made it to the door. I stand as still as I can. Usually he takes really long showers, so why the hell is he already out of there?

I peek at him from behind the curtain and bite down on my lip when I spot him. He’s wearing nothing but a towel that’s hanging low on his hips. Just one tug would have the whole thing unravelling. I’m instantly wet and needy. His body looks even better than it did when he left. I guess he wasn’t lying about the training being tough. He’s all muscle. His pecs and his abs look good enough to lick, and I regret never having done that before.

Carter drops the towel and a small gasp escapes my lips. He freezes and I hide, standing dead still. Eventually I hear his footsteps moving away and I take another peek. Damn, his ass is fucking magnificent. I blush and take my time admiring his body.

I’ll need to find a way to get out of here. Carter has been in a weird mood lately and I’m dead if he catches me now. He’ll make me freaking eat the cockroaches. I pat myself down and close my eyes in despair. I left my damn phone in the living room, so Kate can’t even come to the rescue.

Carter walks back towards me and my heart hammers in my chest. He pulls the curtains aside, exposing me. I stare at him with wide eyes and a guilty expression on my face. He looks at me intensely, his expression wavering between lust and anger. It’s not often that I can’t read him, but tonight I truly don’t know what he’s thinking.

My eyes involuntarily wander down his body, and I bite down on my lip. He’s put on boxer shorts, but nothing else. He’s hard and his boxers aren’t hiding it well at all. He sees me staring and places a finger underneath my chin to lift my gaze back up.

“My eyes are up here, Minx,” he says, his voice low and dangerous. I’m breathing hard and barely manage to hold his gaze.

“What are you doing here, Emilia?”

I hesitate and glance at his bed. His eyes follow my gaze and he chuckles.

“Hmm, here for a sleepover maybe? I wonder what your little boyfriend will think of that…”

I blink, startled. Landon. How the hell did I completely forget about Landon? I look away. Ever since Carter came back, he’s been all I can think about. I’ve barely even spoken to Landon in days now.

“What kind of mischief did you get up to, huh? We’re not kids anymore, Emilia. Enough with this now.”

I stare at him, speechless. Enough? Pulling pranks on each other has always been our thing. I can’t imagine a world in which we didn’t do that. Carter closes the distance between us and my hands find their way around his neck. They move entirely of their own volition.

I feel something poking me in my stomach, but I don’t dare look down. He’s hard. It feels like a steel pipe is pushed up against me, and I instantly remember what it’s like to have him inside me. Landon and I haven’t done much more than make out. He’s been pushing for more and his hands have started to wander, but I’m not ready — I’m not comfortable enough with him. Having Carter this close to me feels entirely different though. My entire body tenses with anticipation. I’m trembling and getting wet just from having him close.

“Tell me, Minx. Why did you sneak into my room? Looking for something your boyfriend can’t give you?”

Carter pushes his hips against me and my lips fall open. He grins when I fail to hide the lust I’m feeling. His forehead drops to mine and his hands wrap around my waist. He pulls me into him roughly, my breasts crashing against his chest.

I automatically arch my back, my eyes dropping to his lips. Carter grins, but there’s no amusement in his eyes. His eyes trail down my body and he hooks my leg up. I automatically wrap it around his hip. My skirt rides up and he runs a finger over my soaking wet panties.

“Hmm, you’re still getting so wet for me, Minx. Tell me, do you get this wet for Landon? Does he fuck you the way I do? Has he had you in your bed? In our treehouse?”

His finger slips past my underwear and into me. I moan when he rubs against my clit and my entire body trembles with need. I’m seconds away from coming already. It’s been too long. This is exactly why things never went any further with Landon, because I don’t feel the same desperation to be with him.

Carter chuckles and pushes me further and further until I’m about to burst. Right before I come, he pulls away, leaving me hanging. I whimper and look up at him pleadingly, but his expression hardens.

“No more petty little games, Minx. We’re done. We’re not children anymore, Emilia. Enough now. You’re dating someone. How would Landon feel if he knew you were sneaking into my bedroom at night? How would he feel if he saw us right now?”

I gulp. I know he’s right, but I don’t know if I could stop if I tried. Messing with Carter comes so naturally to me… it’s the way we communicate. If he were to stop, it’d feel like he stopped caring about me.

“You’re my little sister’s best friend, Emilia. I’m merely your neighbor and perhaps a family friend. Let’s start acting like it.”

Carter pulls away and walks to his bedroom door. He holds it open for me and closes it as soon as I walk out.