A Pound of Flesh (A Pound of Flesh #1)(168)

Unexpectedly, his chest stirred, as though a rope wound tightly around his insides, tugging them hard. He moved, trying to ease the pressure rising within him, up from his stomach, to his throat. Everything inside immediately was too big, as if some unknown force was making his organs swell and push together, overwhelming him. It whipped his breath away and set every nerve ending in his spine alight. His skin erupted in gooseflesh and his toes curled in supplication to whatever the f*ck it was.

“What’s wrong?” Kat asked, noticing his alarm.

Carter rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. “Just indigestion, I think.”

Kat placed a soft kiss below his belly button. “Better?”

Carter grabbed the tops of her arms, pulling her closer, up his body. “No. You’re too far away.” He kissed her, needing her above him, below him, covering him, engulfing him.

He kissed her hard, breathing in the rush of life that came from her lips, the heat, and the color she’d brought into his miserably gray life. She kissed him back, concern evident in the gentle brushes of her lips. She pulled away, her gaze dancing, searchingly, over his face.

Carter swallowed. “I’m fine.”

He tried to keep his voice calm, tried to show in his face that all was peachy f*cking keen, but inside, a goddamn festival was taking place, and, for the love of God, Carter had no idea how to stop it, or if he even wanted to.





30


Kat awoke to the sound of banging that sounded like it was coming from Nana Boo’s front door. Carter moved with a loud sigh, his arm wrapped protectively around her waist. He hadn’t let her go all night. They’d done nothing but cuddle and spoon, even though his hard body had told her he’d wanted a lot more. There was something different. He was different. Something had appeared in his eyes. Something irrevocable and too big to deal with at—

With her face half covered by the pillow, Kat glanced at the clock to see it was a little after ten in the morning. How had that happened? Christ, she didn’t even remember falling asleep.

“Who the f*ck is making that noise?” Carter grumbled into the nape of her neck, pressing his delicious morning wood against Kat’s ass. “They need to shut the f*ck up and let me get back to sleep.” He yawned. “I was having awesome dreams.”

Kat snorted and rolled over to look at him, smiling at his adorable sleepy eyes and brushing her palm over his crotch. “I can feel how good they were.”

Carter sighed and lifted his hips from the bed, chasing her hand. “Don’t pretend that you don’t love it.”

Kat frowned when the banging stopped abruptly and raised voices, spouting inaudible words, echoed up to the room.

A concerned frown slashed between Carter’s brows. He lifted himself up onto his forearms. “What the hell’s going on?”

Kat shook her head, hating the heavy dread snaking up her back. “I have no idea.”

Carter was swiftly on point, protective and cautious. “I’ll go and check it out.”

“No,” Kat said, touching his shoulder as he pushed back the sheets. “I’ll go.”

“Peaches,” he murmured with an annoyed glint in his eye.

“It’s fine, I’ll—”

“KATHERINE!”

The bubble around herself and Carter burst apocalyptically as the voice pummeled at the bedroom door. Kat’s skin prickled in cold terror, while tears sprang to her eyes, forced to the ducts by fear and absolute fury.

“Mom.”

“What?” Carter coughed, shooting to his feet at the side of the bed, eyes wide. “Your—your mom?”