Carter Reed

mine as he thrust against me.
    I couldn’t breathe. My hands held onto his arms. The muscles there also moved underneath my touch, as if wanting more.
    “This,” he growled in a whisper against my lips. “This is what I wanted that night. I couldn’t contain myself and I had to taste you, but tonight is the night I really have you. You’re mine, Emma. You always have been.”
    I nodded, so weak against his touch.
    “Mine.”
    He was mine as well, but I didn’t say it. Not yet, though everything in my body was aching for me to do so.
    He took my hand again and led the way out into the hallway. People stopped and watched us as we left. I knew it was because of him. Carter was lethal. His body was carved and molded to perfection. His eyes were cold while his face resembled an angel’s. Everyone knew who he was, where he had come from. Even the media went into a frenzy when he was seen in public. However, he moved like a ghost, how he trained his men to be, so those moments were rare, and this moment wasn’t any different. His staff had seen him before, but they all went quiet in the presence of a deadly panther.
    A wave of possession rocked through me. My legs shook as I remembered my climax. This creature who held my hand was mine, as I was his. I belonged to him and I gasped in silence as I felt his claim sink into my blood. It went deep to the bones. Everything in me belonged to him, and as I followed him through his club, I knew that I was becoming addicted to him. My hand yearned to touch his back again, to slide across his muscles and so much more.
    I bit down on my lip. This ache wasn’t going to go away. The ache between my legs and the ache that resonated deep inside of me grew every time I was with him, every time he looked and touched me.
    A soft sigh left me and he glanced back.
    I was scorched by his gaze. His wolf eyes saw into me. I was stripped bare to him, no matter what I wore or how many walls were around my heart. He saw through everything. His hand tightened around mine, and he lifted it. His lips grazed against the top of it. My eyes closed, the ache doubled between my legs at that soft caress.
    “Sir.” A man stepped out of the shadows. Another guard.
    Carter stopped as he listened to what the man had to say. He spoke quietly so I couldn’t hear, but both glanced at me.
    “What?”
    His eyes narrowed and darkened. His hold on my hand became possessive.
    I asked again, “Carter? What is it?”
    He turned, his decision made, and he curved a hand into the place between my shoulders blades. He started to walk with me down a hallway. As we got further along, I saw Mike waiting for us and then I recognized it was the same box where I had left Noah and Theresa. I dug my feet in. I didn’t know what was going on, but I knew he was going to leave me there. Something came up and he needed to handle whatever it was, but I didn’t want to be left behind.
    “Emma?”
    “No.” I shook my head. “You’re not leaving me.” Not again.
    He studied me, but then nodded. His hand tightened around mine again. My knees nearly buckled from relief as he turned to the man. “Get the information and call me. Do it quick.”
    The man went off; he didn’t need to be told again.
    He led me back through the hallways until we returned to the side entrance. It was our exit this time. A black car was waiting with the door open and Mike beside it. Carter gave him some signal because he left. As we drew closer to the door, he guided me into the seat by my hips and then slid beside me. When he reached to close the door, I jerked forward.
    Theresa and Noah had been waiting behind us for their car. Her mouth was hanging open while Noah was frowning.
    Oh no.
    But the door was shut and the car took off. Carter had no idea what just happened or he didn’t care. I had a hard time believing that he didn’t know Noah was behind us.
    “What?” Carter looked at me.
    I must’ve made some sound. “Oh, it’s nothing.” It wasn’t worth talking about.
    He reached for my hand again and raised it for a soft kiss. “Emma, tell me.”
    The knots in my stomach loosened at his touch, but I shook my head. This was embarrassing in a small way. “It’s really nothing.”
    “Emma,” he sighed. “Is this about Graham? They told me you asked for him to be taken away. I’m sorry about him. I should’ve seen that situation ahead of time, but I didn’t. He won’t bother you again. I promise.”
    I shook my head, but I