30. Lara / Carter

Chapter 30

Lara / Carter

Lara

“ S tart at the beginning, and don’t you dare leave a single detail out.”

Typically I’d at least get a ‘hello’ from Harper, but the second she picks up the call, it’s straight down to business.?

She and Mia spent the weekend in Mallorca for an old high school friend’s bachelorette party, or ‘hen do’ as it’s better known over here, so we’ve barely spoken since Thursday night. They landed back in Heathrow this morning, and I’ve been dying to tell Harper, if only to stop the constant state of overthinking I’ve been in since Carter dropped me home two mornings ago.

“The beginning? Well, he greeted me with a coffee, exactly how I like it, and a snide comment.”

“How strangely thoughtful. The coffee, of course,” she adds, “not the snide comment. Men really are peculiar, aren’t they?”

“You’re telling me.”

“Anyway, back to the play-by-play, please.”

“My lunch break isn’t long enough for that, but to cut a long story short—we spent the night in Norcaster. Together.” Anxiety skyrocketing, I repeatedly click and unclick a pen. But it’s no use—the constant clicking sound only makes me feel worse. I really should eat something, given I’m on my break, and some food might help the gnawing feeling, but I stay seated at my desk.

“Lara! Oh my god. You fucked him, didn’t you?”

I cringe at the volume increase of Harper’s tone. If she were anyone else, I’d be secretly praying she’s not surrounded by people right now. The pen I’d been fiddling with drops to my notebook with a dull thud.

“Uh, not quite.”

“Not quite? Sex isn’t really something you can half do, honey.”

“Please tell me you’re not with Mia right now.”

Harper lets out a partly suppressed laugh. “No, she’s out for coffee. This is all you; you couldn’t pay me to tell her you ‘not quite fucked’ her brother.”?

The way she says it so matter-of-factly has a wave of unease washing over me. I certainly wasn’t thinking about his siblings when giving the best oral sex performance of my life.

“We didn’t have full-blown sex, we just went down on each other.”

Harper laughs lightly. “I’m not sure the distinction will matter too much to Mia.”

“Shit, do you think she’s going to react badly? She is, isn’t she? Oh god.”

The answering silence results in a dropping sensation in my stomach, and not the good kind. The tip of my heel taps rhythmically against the underside of my desk.

“Lara, honey, take a breath.”

I do as she says, albeit roughly. My breaths are sharp and jagged, a reflection of the sudden wave of anxiety over telling Mia. Harper is silent as I get my breathing under control.

After letting out a sigh, Harper continues. “I want to reassure you, Lars, truly, but I just don’t know. It’s one thing to have the encounter you had at the bookstore without knowing who Carter was, but it’s something entirely different to repeat it knowing their familial ties.”

The fact she really isn’t sure how Mia will respond is causing the anxiety to heighten. I’ve somehow failed to realise that this is completely different to the bookshop encounter—I’d like to blame sex brain, but I’m not sure it extends to two days later.

Just wait until she hears it won’t be a once-off . . .

“Why are you always right?”

“It’s a blessing and a curse.”

“Is now a good time to mention I agreed to it happening again?”

For the first time since the proposition, I’m questioning my decision. Is this the dumbest thing I’ve ever done? Probably not, but it’s got to be in the top five. I’m not sure what I’m hoping for with this call. Reassurance? Validation? A go girl, get that dick?

I suppose I just need her to be aware now so I don’t have to watch both their faces as they process this.?

I’m planning to fuck my best friend’s brother, possibly numerous times.

Footsteps sound along the corridor, signalling Carter’s return. Awful timing, given what I’ve dropped on Harper, but I can’t continue this conversation right now.

“Hey Harps, I’ve gotta go, but I’ll see you at home.”?

The call disconnects as Carter steps into our office, placing one hand casually on the doorframe in that indescribably hot way men do.

“Lara, could you meet me in the boardroom in five minutes? I need to discuss a potential upcoming project with you.”

“Of course,” I respond, but apparently Carter isn’t looking for a response—he’s turning on his heel and retreating before the words have left my mouth entirely.

Carter has been out of the office at meetings this morning, so this is the first I’ve seen of him since he dropped me home days ago. I certainly didn’t anticipate the way my body would react to seeing him; it’s hotter than a Queensland summer’s day in this office. The need to adjust my blouse strikes me almost instantly, the fabric unexpectedly sticking to my body.?

Unsure what this potential project is, I collect my laptop and a blank notebook. I pride myself on always being prepared, so it’s a little out of my comfort zone to have no background information on the topic of this impromptu meeting.

My phone buzzes against my desk, revealing Harper’s incoming text.

Harper

I’m out for dinner tonight - talk to Mia x

Looks like I have about four hours to figure out how to tell Mia about this precarious situation I’ve found myself in with her brother. Yippee.

It’s a short walk from our corner office to the boardroom, situated on the east side of the building. I make my way down the corridor, the open-plan cubicle spaces to my left and the glass-walled offices to my right. For an established law firm, the interior design is more modern than you’d expect. I return polite smiles to a few familiar faces.

The door to the boardroom comes into view as I round the corner. The only other time I’ve been to the boardroom was during the office tour on my first day, and the view certainly wasn’t this enticing then. The room is framed entirely by windows. The blinds on the internal windows are drawn, shrouding us from anyone who may walk by.

Carter’s standing at the head of the table, muscle-corded arms crossed over this broad chest. He’s looking out the window until he catches sight of me in his periphery, drawing his focus as I walk in.

It’s intimidating having his full attention. The urge to retreat overcomes me. My flight or fight instinct sets in unnecessarily, but really, it’s only flight when it comes to me. Regardless, I stand my ground. The intimidation quickly morphs into a feeling of power; my presence has garnered his undivided attention.

His eyes light up, and he extends a hand to the chair closest to where he’s standing. “Lara, please have a seat.”

Carter’s gaze roams over me as I sit, placing my notebook down and opening my laptop to a new document. “Does the project have a name yet?”

Wandering over to the door, Carter closes it with a gentle click. His gaze returns to mine as he makes his way to the head of the table. “Not officially, but I have some thoughts.”

Carter grips the arms of the chair nearest me at the head of the table, dropping into it and crossing one ankle over the other knee. “For now, title it ‘Bringing L Matthews Orgasms In-House.’”

“That doesn’t sound like something concerning the firm, Mr Lawrence,” I respond, my stare flitting from my laptop to the man next to me at the same rate my heart is currently beating. I’m trying my hardest to act naturally, but he’s caught me completely off guard. I’m well aware he’d like to repeat Norcaster, but I certainly didn’t expect him to bring it up so soon after, nevermind at work. He’s already consumed too many of my thoughts since last week. The last thing I need to be thinking about right now is how his mouth felt on mine. Apparently, he disagrees.

Carter reaches forward, placing one hand over mine, stopping the absentminded tapping of keys I hadn’t noticed I was doing. He doesn’t move to grab my hand, just rests his atop it.

“Every time you call me Mr Lawrence, I find myself fighting a losing battle. A battle in which the loss is looking increasingly more desirable.”

I’m so often astounded at the way he renders me tongue-tied with these little one-liners. It’s nothing like the men— boys , really—I’m used to, with their cringe-worthy and often entirely laughable lines. Don’t believe me? I once had a guy tell me I looked like I made my bed every morning. Another told me they wanted to call me beautiful, but beauty is on the inside, and they hadn’t been inside me, so couldn’t say for sure. This is the weird shit I’m used to and always had a response for, yet it’s the things that come out of Carter’s mouth that make me look like a fish trying to breathe above water.

“Come here.”

For reasons unknown, or perhaps reasons I refuse to read into, he possesses a magnetic force that pulls me in inexplicably. I stand in place, noticing there’s not even an inch between our knees. Carter spreads his legs, entrapping me between them, and I take an involuntary step toward him.

My heart skips a beat, and the ridiculous urge to run surfaces again when Carter lets my hand go, instead resting his hands on the outer sides of my thighs. The skin beneath his palms sears, but I can’t tell if it’s due to the increase in my core body temperature, his own warmth, or both. Despite the heat, I’m frozen in place.

Carter drags his hand up the outline of my body at a torturously slow pace, but when he reaches my waist, his soft touch turns possessive. He tugs me forward, making me straddle his lap, a knee either side of him. A spark shoots through my core at the feel of his hardening dick pushing against me. With my skirt riding up around my waist, my underwear is my only barrier. I can’t stop my traitorous arms from snaking around his neck of their own accord, betraying the cool demeanour I’m aiming for.

Before I can open my mouth to ask what on earth he’s doing, his lips find the soft skin of my neck. My body tenses momentarily before relaxing into his embrace, the air leaving my lungs.

“Good god, you smell incredible,” Carter says on an exhale, his warm breath contrasted by my goosebumps.?

His wandering hands slowly make their way around to my back, fingers toying with the bow, keeping my top secured. One fingertip skims the back of my neck. A jolt of electricity shoots through every nerve ending in my body.

I close my eyes and pray Carter doesn’t notice the way my skin heats under his touch. Any hope is extinguished when I open my eyes and find him staring at me intently, the shadow of a smile playing on his lips.?

“Why are you looking at me like that?” My voice is unrecognisable in this deeper-than-usual octave. I don’t even have it in me to care right now, too turned on by the man beneath me.?

“Like what, love?” Carter murmurs, his accent continuing to make love sound like the sexiest word known to mankind. I’d argue it is.?

“Like a man starved.” I just manage to get the words out, feeling overwhelmed by the way his mouth roams over my skin.?

Carter doesn’t respond right away. Instead, he continues his slow assault of kisses until a soft sigh escapes my lips.?

“Because that’s exactly what I am. I’m starved of the taste of you.”

My breath hitches. The last rational cell in my brain gives out as he tugs on the bow he’s been toying with. My shirt falls effortlessly from around my neck. The slightest of whimpers leaves my mouth involuntarily, and it’s the wakeup call I didn’t realise I needed.

“Carter!” I exclaim a little too loudly in his ear as he drags his mouth up the column of my throat.?

A hum against my skin is his only response.

“Carter, you have to stop. Look at where we are for goodness sake.”

Carter appears completely unaffected as his lips trail ever so slowly across my chest, getting dangerously close to my recently exposed bra.

Looking up at me, his lips barely leaving my skin, Carter’s mouth stretches into a wicked grin. “And?”

“And? What do you mean ‘and’?” I gasp, baffled at how utterly calm he is. “We’re in the fucking boardroom Carter, anyone could walk in right now.”

At this, he chuckles. He fucking chuckles .

“You mean to tell me this isn’t our office?” Carter feigns confusion. Frustration heats my blood to a near boil.

“This is no time for jokes, Carter.” Breaking the connection of my hands behind his head, I bring one arm around and slap his shoulder.

“If someone were to walk in right now, they’d get one hell of a show.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

“Did it not?” Carter lets his hands fall to either side of my waist, gripping my hips. A gasp slips free when he drives his hips upwards, colliding with my increasingly aching centre.?

“You’re insufferable, did you know that? This is our workplace . Have you lost your mind?”

“I don’t seem to recall you being this concerned in Chapter Nine. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe that was also your workplace?”

There’s nothing worse than when Carter is so outwardly obnoxious yet right in what he’s saying, especially when he’s got that cocky look on his face. He’s reclining in the chair now, the air around my face noticeably lacking his presence. His lips are curled up into a smile, his eyes slowly giving me a once over.?

Carter has this infuriating sense of arrogance about him that I’m certain rubs me the wrong way. But as I look at him, really look at him, I’m doubting whether that was ever true.?

Gaze still locked on mine, Carter unhurriedly draws his fingers to his top button. My attention is caught the moment he slips the button free, mere inches of his well-defined chest now exposed. I can’t help but stare at the smattering of dark hair. It distracts me from my thoughts, dispelling each and every one of them. I pull my bottom lip between my teeth, causing Carter’s shoulders to shake with laughter.?

“It looks like someone’s had a change of heart.”

His gaze lingers on my lips, his eyes softening around the edges. It’s unnerving, yet it unleashes a fire within me. My gaze flicks between those deep green pools, not an ounce of concern or hesitation in sight. The shadow of a smile plays on my lips before his mouth is back on mine in an instant.

Each heated and desperate kiss slowly but surely strips away my concerns. The boardroom fades away with every touch until it’s just us, and I lose myself in him.

Carter

As lovely as Lara’s navy bra is, I’d much rather see what lies beneath. Without breaking our kiss, my hands find the lace. Cupping her breasts, I give them a gentle squeeze, and I’m rewarded by Lara pressing herself even closer to me. My cock strains beneath my trousers, itching to touch her.

Our tongues remain tangled as I slide my hands up to the straps of her bra, slipping them off her shoulders with little protest. Returning my attention to Lara’s chest, I make quick work of pulling down the cups of her bra, completely exposing her to the cool air. Her nipples are impossibly hard as I roll them between my fingertips.?

I kiss her deeply once more, revelling in the way she fights me for dominance before standing. Lara startles, hastily wrapping her legs around my midsection, ankles locking against my arse.

“What—”

I cover her mouth with another kiss, silencing her, as I place her on the edge of the table. Her legs release their death grip, and I take a seat once more. The position change is completely selfish; I want easier access for what I’m about to do.

I place delicate open-mouth kisses from her lips to the edge of her jaw, continuing down the column of her neck. My tongue traces along the length of her throat, her pulse thundering beneath. A shudder racks through her as I reach her decolletage, teeth scraping gently across the bones.?

Lara brushes her hand through my hair, pulling gently at the strands when I bite down on her collarbone, quickly replacing my teeth with my lips, sucking on the bite marks. Testing Lara’s limits has become my new favourite pastime. It’s fascinating finding out what she does and doesn’t like when it comes to intimacy, although so far, there haven’t been any dislikes.?

My slow descent down Lara’s body reaches its climax as I drag my teeth across her left breast until I reach the nipple. I take my time teasing the hardened peak between my teeth with the other between my fingertips. A muffled whimper escapes Lara as she drops her head back, the hand that was pulling my hair now settled on the back of my neck and pulling me against her.?

Unfortunately for Lara, that whimper signals it’s time for this to end. I don’t have to touch her to know she’s close to dripping, and anything more from me would have her unravelling right here on the boardroom table. There’s nothing I want more than to spread her legs and lick up every drop or fuck her seven ways to Sunday, but not here. Not now. I have to be smart about this if it’s to continue, because fuck , do I want it to continue.?

I pull away. Lara’s head snaps up, tilting slightly as she searches my face. I say nothing as I reposition her bra, hoping my silence will encourage her own. I feel rather than see the way she continues to watch me as I reach for the ties of her top, replacing them around her neck. Once they’re re-tied into a neat bow, I kiss Lara on the side of the neck. It’s harder than I expected not to linger, but I force myself to stand upright and stroll away and out the boardroom door without a backward glance.?

When I reach the meeting room adjacent, I dial a client’s number and put my phone to my ear. Lara watches me with bewilderment as our eyes connect. I give her my best ‘Can I help you?’ smile before I close the door.

It’s ironic I’m the one leaving her wanting more, considering I’ve wanted everything she has to offer from the moment I laid eyes on her.

Despite my to-do list growing at an alarming rate, I’ve spent most of the afternoon entranced by the woman across the room. She’s only looked at me a handful of times—spoken even less—but she has me wrapped around her finger. She just doesn’t know it yet, and I’ll be damned if I let on.

“I can feel you staring at me. Have you achieved anything this afternoon?”

The way she reads me so perfectly would be alarming if it weren’t so attractive. Her entire face lights up the moment she looks over and sees the goofy grin I’m flashing in her direction, and it’s enough to know I’d give almost anything to see that look again.

“I’ll have you know I’ve added to my to-do list,” I respond matter of factly.

This elicits a light laugh from Lara as she stands, gathering up her belongings. “I’m over here trying to make your job easier, yet you’re sitting there making mine harder—make it make sense.” Tutting, she wanders over and stands across from me, the desk a barricade between us.

“I’m only human, Miss Matthews.” I stand, placing my palms flat against the desk and leaning my weight onto them. It gives me the perfect vantage point to look her directly in the eye, which will make what I’m about to say that much more impactful. “How do you expect me to get things done when the image of you in the boardroom is stuck on a loop in my head, accompanied by the soundtrack of your whimpers?”

I see the moment her eyes turn saucer-like, and her bottom lip is pulled between her teeth. Those reactions alone are almost too much to bear; I need to get out of here before I act on any more impulses. With that, I pick up my laptop and walk out the door, leaving Lara utterly perplexed for the second time today.