Page 19 of Fatal Scheme

They bicker like little kids, and she challenges him, forcing out the sides of himself that nobody has ever seen. In turn, he’s breaking down her walls, earning her trust, and something tells me that it’s the first time she’s been vulnerable with anyone.

“Come on, Principessina, get that pretty ass over here,” Massi says, climbing out of the truck and holding his arms out, waiting to catch her.

“I can walk, Jasper. My legs work just fine,” she quips, and I stay back, waiting until one of them breaks, fully enjoying the standoff.

“What if I want everyone to know that you’re mine?” He challenges, and she scoffs, rolling her eyes at his possessive attitude.

“You’re not peeing on me to mark your territory, Stalker Boy,” she asserts, jumping down and slamming the door for good measure. “Tyson on the other hand, is more than welcome to hold my hand.”

Massi’s fuming, and I can’t help but laugh at the vein bulging out of his neck, but he loves the games she plays, whether he admits it or not.

“Over my dead fucking body.” He lunges, scooping her off the ground before our hands interlock, howling like a hyena as he tosses her over his shoulder with ease.

“Jasper! Put me down,” she cries, pounding her tiny fists against his back, but he slaps her ass, whispering something in her ear that I don’t catch.

“I’m going to stab you with your own knife, I swear to God,” she mutters, seemingly giving up the fight and accepting her fate as we climb the stairs.

“Nothing would turn me on more, Principessina. I’ll lick it clean when you’re done, too,” he says, and even though she’s upside down, I can see the heat flush across her cheeks, the subtle way she bites her lip at the thought.

Our girl likes knives and blood and I store that tidbit away for later, the overwhelming desire to know everything about her – the things that turn her on, make her tick, and what drives her crazy – consuming me like a drug I should steer clear of.

“Put her in my bed,” I order, not letting Massi attempt to steal her for himself.

We agreed to share, but if we don’t set boundaries, this won’t work. I’ve never fought for a woman before, but hell will have to freeze over before I let Carter get away from me.

“Who died and made you in charge?” Massi shoots, and I narrow my eyes, not in the mood to fight him.

“She did,” I say, and his face softens, knowing that I’m right.

She craves the violence and tension that comes with Massi, but I can tell she wants to be treated tenderly, too, and that’s exactly where I come in with the perfect balance.

After the tidbits she’s already confessed, I’ll be damned if we don’t give this girl every-fucking-thing she wants.

“We’re just jumping right into this sleepover? You can’t even take me to get clothes or buy me dinner first?” She snarks, kicking off her heels before flopping down on my bed dramatically.

Now that she’s in my space, I watch intently as she unstraps the blade from her thigh, tucking it under the pillows as she tosses the leather sheath onto the floor.

I felt it when she was straddling my lap in the car, but seeing it on her body is arguably the sexiest thing I’ve ever witnessed. She’s the equivalent of unwrapping a present, each layer that’s shed revealing a brand new, fascinating fact.

“Don’t worry about clothes, my feral little house cat, I sleep naked, and I have no opposition to you doing the same,” Massi says, sitting beside her and trailing his hand over her thighs.

“Food. Now.” She swats him away, glaring at him as she accentuates her words.

Right on cue, a grumble comes from her belly, and I can’t help but stupidly grin at how adorable she is.

“Whatever you want, Carter. I’ll have it delivered,” I tell her, and she smiles at me with gratitude, something I’d do anything to keep there permanently.

She scrolls through her phone for a few minutes, adding a few different options to the cart, and before she can even think about it, I hand her my credit card, urging her to take it.

“I can pay for my own, it’s okay.” She pulls out her wallet, attempting to give me cash, but I shake my head, not going to let her offer again.

“Absolutely not, baby girl. It’s okay to let somebody help you, or pay for your meal once in a while, alright?” I stroke her cheek, tucking a stray curl behind her hair, and she nods sheepishly, slipping the cash back into her bag. “Good girl.”

Her eyes immediately flick to mine, her baby-blue irises dilating as she processes my words of praise, and just when I think she’s going to rip me a new ass like she does with Massi, she smiles softly.

She likes to be praised – noted.

“Good, now that we’ve got that settled, get your sexy little ass on top of me,” Massi says, pulling her until their bodies are flush while she giggles like a schoolgirl, and it’s the most pure sound I’ve ever heard.