Carter Reed

happened?”
    I sighed. He always knew. “Nothing.”
    “Emma.”
    “Nothing,” my voice rose.
    He took my arm and pulled me close. “What happened?”
    “Nothing.” His hand tightened, but I didn’t feel it. His touches were becoming a second skin to me. “It’s seeing them out there.”
    “Did they do something?”
    “No, it’s their love for each other, and Theresa grew up with them. It’s—”
    “AJ.”
    At that one word, the dam broke in me. I had known that I missed him, but those earlier emotions were nothing compared to the storm that took over me now. I fell to the couch and Carter went with me. He lifted me into his lap and pressed a kiss to my forehead. He brushed my hair back and continued to do so. His touch was tender and soothing, but he was right. It was AJ. I missed my brother.
    “I miss him too.” Carter gave me a smile, but it was haunted. “We don’t talk about AJ that much, but I loved him. I don’t protect you because of him, though. I know you think that, but that’s not why. I protect you because of you, because…”
    My heart pounded and my eyes grew wide. Was he going to say what I thought he was going to say…? I waited, my breath held, but a guarded look came over him.
    He started to look away, but I grabbed his chin. I held him in place. “Carter.”
    The guarded look slid away. “Yes?”
    My hand tightened. “What were you going to say?”
    “When?”
    I moved so I was straddling him. His hand gripped the back of my hips. I was pressed against him, my chest to his, eye to eye and I lingered with my lips just above his. I whispered to him, “What were you going to say to me?”
    His chest lifted and I felt the air that he drew in. My eyes closed. My breath went with him, into him.
    He still didn’t say it.
    “Please,” I wrenched out.
    “Why?”
    “Because I think I know.” I hoped I knew. Every nerve in my body was stretched with want. I wanted to hear those words. The need was blossoming in my chest, ready to explode. “Tell me.”
    He grinned. “Tell you what? That I care about you? You already know that.”
    “Stop teasing me.”
    His smile slipped and his eyes dropped. They lingered on my lips, where I was teasing him. Then he said it, “I love you.” Everything fell away in that moment.
    My eyes caught and held his. My hand fell to his chest, and it stayed there, feeling his heart. He tilted my head back and pressed a kiss underneath my chin as he murmured, “I have always loved you.” Another kiss. “I will always love you, Emma. There’s been no other for me.” His hand slid to the back of my neck and his lips moved back to mine. “Now, do you love me?”
    I grinned against him, unable to hold it in. “You know I do.”
    His hand tightened behind me. “Say it.”
    “I love you.” My body melted to his. I became one with him as I said those words. Then I said it again, because I could, “I love you. I always have.”
    His lips opened over mine, demanding his entrance. I gave it, because I needed all of him, as much as I could get.

The rest of the night was spent in a mix of anticipation, agony, and adrenalin. I was addicted to Carter and we couldn’t go long without a touch or a look between the two of us. Theresa noticed something was different when we came back to the main dance floor. Her eyebrows went high and she crossed the room to grab my hand. “What happened?”
    “What do you mean?” I was breathless. My body was still tingling with the knowledge that Carter loved me. He loved me. A new set of sensations rushed through me.
    “Emma, I might be drunk, but I’m not stupid. You’re glowing.” Her mouth dropped. “Did you guys get it on in there?”
    “No!”
    She shrugged. “A bit kinky, but we are at Octave.” She glanced at Carter as Noah handed him a drink. “And he’s the owner. You could do it on the main dance floor if you wanted.” She cringed. “Make sure it’s clean, though, huh?”
    “We didn’t get it on.” We had come close.
    “Why not? I would if he were mine.” Her voice dipped low to a seductive drawl.
    Carter looked over. His eyes lingered on Theresa and narrowed before he turned back to Noah.
    She barked out a laugh. “God, how many times does he get hit on? I was giving him the bedroom eyes, a lip quiver and everything and nothing. He’s loyal, I can tell.”
    I stiffened. Should I get pissed about that?
    Then she sighed, “I was wrong with all my rants before about him. Noah always