Love Without End (8 page)

“Hannah, I just asked you a question, the same things you asked me about, so why are you upset right now?” He rests his head on the pillow, not taking his eyes from mine. I try to pull my hand back, but he holds tighter. “No, nowhere to go, why are you upset? Tell me,” he urges, but I don’t because I can’t tell him. I can’t tell him why I left in the first place. “Hannah Grace, it cannot be that bad. Baby please,” he pleads.

“It’s nothing, I’m just tired Carter,” I rush out the words and close my eyes pushing back the tears, but as soon as his palm cups my cheek my body betrays me and I weep. Within seconds, I am cocooned in his arms, shaking with regret and pain from all the damage I have caused him, my family, and his family. “I am so sorry Carter; it was never my intention to hurt you or any of them. I’m so fucking sorry.”

Pulling back the covers, he climbs beneath them, pulling me flush against him. “Hannah, you just did what you thought was right, what you needed to do. You needed space so you left. Everyone understands that, I never expected you to bounce back immediately after the accident and losing the baby; I shouldn’t have waited so long to come to you. But you have nothing to apologize for.” He continues to hold me, even after the tears stop and the only remnant of my outburst are my hiccupping breaths against his chest just as the sunlight starts to peek through the curtains.

Opening my eyes to the sound of a steady rainfall, I catch the time on her nightstand clock, 4:00 pm. Sighing, I pull her closer to me and plant a gentle kiss against her forehead, knowing I leave in a little over twelve hours is beginning to weigh heavily on my heart. Her eyes begin to flicker open and her small frame stretches against mine, and the minute her eyes find mine, she smiles a sad smile. I brush her cheek with my thumb and slowly lean in to kiss her.

“Carter, I don’t think I’m ready for you to go yet,” she whispers against my mouth and that sad smile turns playful.

I quirk a brow at her and grin, “Oh really, why’s that Miss James?” I ask jokingly and suck in her lower lip. She wiggles slightly against me and then pushes my shoulder forcefully and climbs on top of me breaking our kiss with a giggle.

“Because, then there is no more of these,” she says, placing feather-like kisses along my jaw then teases my mouth with hers. Every time I move to kiss her she pulls back slightly with a sparkle in her eyes. “And that sir, would be devastatingly terrible.” A smile tugs on the corners of my mouth and I pull her face to mine, crashing into her mouth. An hour passes before I see the time again, nothing better than a passionate make-out session like two horny teenagers to start your day, afternoon, fuck…evening.

She presses up off my shoulders, breathing heavy, and a faint smile dances across my lips in between kisses evoking my raspy voice. “Now this is the kind of wake up I miss, your tight, hot, little body straddling mine, all but giving yourself to me. Trying to seduce me with that pouty sexy ‘lil mouth of yours.”

“Not seducing, just making up for lost time,” she says in a pout before leaning down and taking my mouth again, rubbing her now wet sex against my straining erection. The knock at the door disrupts our moment; I pull the comforter up to cover her naked back as she calls out. “WHAT? I’m not awake!” The door handle is jiggled but the door doesn’t open, I chuckle softly remembering locking it last night to avoid someone making their uninvited way in, like now. I kiss her quickly then slide out from under her.

“This better be good.” I growl, pulling on my boxer briefs as I make my way to the door. We need to get up anyway; I was only trying to prolong the inevitable. I open the door to Brielle standing impatiently tapping her foot with a hand on her hip. Oh, this is going to be good. I can only imagine all the things she will have to say.

“Oh, I was um, only checking on Hannah,” she stops as she looks me up and down then back down to my not so well hidden hard on. “But by the looks of it, I’d say she isn’t having a bad day so far.” She giggles before she slowly backs away, red faced, bringing her hand up to cover her face. “Get ‘er done, Big Boy.” I cock my head to the side, close the door, and pivot to the bed to find Hannah doubled over in laughter.

“Ugh,” I say trying to collect my words. “Brielle needs boundaries, or you need to keep your lil nicknames to yourself.” I take long strides to the bed and rip the covers off her, smile down at her delectable body and proceed to ensure she has the good morning, or afternoon rather, that she deserves by worshiping every inch of her.

A buzzing noise coming from the dresser causes Hannah to crawl out of the bed we had jointly decided needed to be occupied all day. Her sigh was enough to tell me that it was time to join the real world and leave our solidarity. After a minute of tapping on her screen, she tosses the phone back onto the dresser and raises a brow with the nod of her head towards the master bathroom. I grin back at her lopsided smile as I make my way to her.

“Is everything okay?” I ask as we step under the hot spray.

“Mhmm, just my assistant,” she grumbles and rolls her eyes, “sending me next week’s calendar of appointments.”

Small moans and groans fill up our time in the shower as we take time washing each other, paying special attention to the reactions of each other’s touch. Once clean and thoroughly pleased again, I shut the water off and grab the towels, handing Hannah’s to her first then make quick work of drying off to run to my room and get some fresh clothes. Descending from the stairs at the same time that she opens the bedroom door, I take each step a little quicker.

“Beautiful, even in sweats and a ratty old Mizzou t-shirt,” I say into her as I fold her into my embrace.

“Go make me some dinner,” she laughs and squirms in my arms as my fingers start to wander.

“I cooked yesterday, it’s your turn,” I say then nip her neck and swat her ass before turning to the kitchen where both Braydon and Brielle are watching us intently.

“Looks like Big Boy finally had his fill,” Brielle chuckles and hides behind Braydon, dodging the banana launched at her head from Hannah.

“Nice arm babe, just need to work on your aim.” I laugh and grab two cold ones from the refrigerator handing one back to her.

“Eh, I’m outta practice.” She smarts back after taking a pull from the Corona. “Brielle what’s for dinner?” she has a touch of laughter in her voice prompting me to think that may be a loaded question.

“Banana, you know I don’t cook for free anymore, and I know you make bank, but bitch please, if you think you can afford my talent. Let’s order in!” she laughs and suggests all at once.

Braydon and I take a seat at the bar and watch the girls ramble back and forth before deciding on pizza. Once it is called in, Hannah leads us up to the media room and turns on the TV to the news before switching the sourcing feature to play a DVD. The room is filled with music and the play screen of ‘Pitch Perfect’ appears.

I can’t help but laugh at the look of disgust from both guys when ‘Pitch Perfect’ pops on the 72” flat screen and the soundtrack is filling the room through the surround sound system. I look to Brie who is overly excited, I mean this is our Friday night special when I don’t feel up to going out, and we are not breaking it just because Carter and Braydon are here.

“Listen boys, this house is a girly house, where Brie and I watch chick flicks and I will not be overruled by you two and your whining. Feel free to watch TV down stairs if you wish,” I gush out in one breath.

“Beautiful, precious, sweet and gracious Hannah, I would never dream of overruling you or your girly nights, but baby ‘Pitch Perfect’? Are there not any other less girly movies you own?” Carter grumbles while massaging my shoulders.

“No.” I say flatly and hit play with the remote just as Brie’s laughter subsides. Nearly 15 minutes into the movie, the doorbell rings. “Pizza’s here!” I exclaim and pause the movie. I hear Braydon and Carter both let out a breath, probably thinking we will just watch the movie later or forget altogether, but that’s not how this works, not with me and Brie.

“I’ll pay and meet you all in the kitchen,” Carter states and is up faster than I can protest.

“Carter, just bring up the pizza and more drinks. Pah pah please?” I titter and finish off my beer.

“Why, oh why, must you torture me on my last night with you, Hannah Banana?” he asks as he strolls back into the media room with four beers and three pizza boxes. The look of disappointment on his face alone makes me burst into laughter.

“Carter Grayson, get over yourself, it’s a great movie and the girls in it are hot. So calm your shit, bring me some pizza, and sit your sexy ass down!” I jokingly demand and pat the vacant seat next to me. Slowly he trudges over, places the pizza on the table, and passes around the cold Corona.

“Some things never change,” he mumbles as he plops into the seat and pushes out the footrest to the recliner smiling.

I lean up and pull a box of pizza to my lap, and Brie mimics my actions and we smile at each other simultaneously, inhaling the delicious, greasy, cheesy concoction. I press play on the remote to resume the movie, and pull a piece of pizza out of the box.

“Manners, much,” Carter laughs as he reaches his hand into my pizza box. His grubby fingers almost snatch a slice before I swat him away.

“There is a box on the table, you eat that one. THIS is mine.” I sass, returning to my scrumptious three meat and cheese wedge. He eyes me suspiciously, leans in, and kisses me long and hard taking my breath away. Sitting back in his seat with a satisfied smirk plastered to his face, he lifts a slice of pizza to his mouth and makes a loud moaning noise as he chews. Instinctively I look down, and son of a bitch, he stole a slice of my pizza.

“So easily distracted by my manly prowess,” he chortles through a full mouth. Rolling my eyes, I turn my attention back to the movie just as Fat Amy, says “I’m gonna finish him like a cheesecake!” Perfect timing if you ask me, I scowl at Carter, and we all four burst into laughter.

“I oughta punch you in the junk,” I say laughing even harder at the look on Braydon’s face – part confused, part amazed.

“What Braydon, never seen a girl eat before?” Brie questions as she polishes off her third slice of pizza.

“I, I think I should remain Switzerland going forward,” he stutters while looking between the three of us. “I can say, I have never seen a skinny chick devour a whole large pizza or threaten a man’s junk for stealin a slice. Hardcore Han, you got me a lil worried about my safety.” He slowly reaches for the box of pizza on the table. Brie is staring him down, and it takes all I have not to start laughing. The faux fear in his eyes while he knows we are kidding is still the best entertainment of the night.

“Don’t eat all that Bray, Carter is entitled to half of that pizza.” Brie garbles out while inhaling another slice.

That’s the last of our conversation until the credits are rolling on the screen, I am snuggled into Carter’s side silently wishing he didn’t have to leave tomorrow. Brie betrayed our movie night ritual and left to go to Clematis at Night with Braydon, not that I am upset by that. I wanted more alone time with Carter. At least the two of them leaving on their own accord made me seem less desperate or bitchy to isolate them after the movie.

“I’m not ready for tomorrow,” I whisper into Carter’s chest, as he pulls me tightly to him. I feel his sigh and know he is thinking the same thing. The clock reads nine, reaffirming that six am is going to come too soon.

“I know Han, trust me, I know. But since you brought it up, where are you at, beautiful?” His voice is soothing, yet laced in an unknowing weariness.

“Carter, it’s not that simple. My life is here now, and I love my work, my house. Granted if it wasn’t for the accident that ruined a part of me, a part of us and the settlement I received in exchange for daddy not pressing charges and making everything public and known, it wouldn’t be paid for. But it is, and I’m not leaving,” my voice cracks as I finish my thought, but he doesn’t react. He just holds me.

“Hannah Grace, I’d never ask you to leave what you love or your escape. But will you allow me back in it for more than a few days? Hmm?” Tears begin falling from my lids at his words, always bending for me, but leaving me an out at the same time.