Page 102 of Unhinged Kallie

“Okay, I won’t,” I said, but I had my fingers crossed.

His hand cracked down hard on my ass, and I jerked forward, but Carter pulled me back into his body. “Don’t lie to me.”

“Fuck, I’m gonna come,” he growled, and I looked over my shoulder to see his face. His head was back, his muscles flexing and shimmering with sweat while the tattoos on his arms stood out against his skin. “Fuck,” he said and slammed into me, holding still as he came.

His orgasm sent me over the edge again, and I yelled and squeezed the pillow as my body trembled from the explosion that rocked me to my core.

Carter wrapped an arm around my waist to hold me up even though the arm supporting us was shaking. He panted hard, and with each breath, he nudged deep inside of me. I never wanted him to move.

I winced as he slowly pulled out, and I grabbed his hand as he stood from the bed.

“I’m going to get something for your ass cheek to ease the sting.”

“No, leave it. I’m fine.”

“You sure? It’ll just take a second.”

I tugged on his hand. “Lay down with me.”

Sliding over, I grabbed the blanket and lifted it to let him in beside me. He gave me that inquisitive look he got when we were kids, and he knew something was off.

I tossed the blanket over us when he laid down, scooted into his body, and closed my eyes. The thought that my dad manipulated or threatened Carter into this hurt my heart. Was he even really mine?

“What’s going on, Trouble?” He kissed the top of my head and held me tighter. I didn’t want to get emotional but quickly wiped away a tear. I wasn’t the crying type. I could count the times I cried with the fingers on one hand.

“Will you answer something truthfully, even if you’re scared to answer?”

I felt his head lift, but I wouldn’t look at him. “I always answer you truthfully. What’s going on?”

“When you said you loved me and wanted to be with me forever, was that because you meant it or because you’re conditioned to look after me?”

“What?”

Sighing, I pushed myself onto my arm and stared into his green eyes. They had never dulled and were the same spring color they always were. Reaching out, he ran his knuckles down my cheek. It was a small gesture, but the lump in my throat only made me want to cry more.

“Why would you ever think that?”

“I had a conversation with my dad tonight. I needed to know why he wasn’t upset by our relationship and finding us in the barn. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want him to be pissed, but you’re right. It’s odd.”

“Okay, and what did he say?” Carter rolled onto his side to face me and pushed himself into the same position.

“He said, and I’m paraphrasing, ‘Why would I be mad when this was what I wanted from the beginning,’ and he made taking care of me your mission.” I wiped a tear from my cheek, hating my sudden insecurity. “Did he really do that to you?”

Carter smirked. “Yeah, he did, but…that’s not why I’m with you now. It’s not even why I wasn’t involved with you any earlier than now.” He cupped my cheek, and I leaned into his touch. “Kallie, you’ve always been my heart.”

“But how do you know it’s real?”

“Let me ask you this. How do you know it’s real?” I glared at him, hating that he turned this around on me. “I’m being serious. How do you know you love me?”

I chewed my bottom lip as I thought about the answer. “Because I just do…I feel it in my bones and can’t picture being with anyone else. You’re all I’ve ever wanted, but I’m not all you’ve ever wanted. You dated a ton of people, and you’re not like the rest of us. This…” I spun my finger around to indicate the room. “Is not who you are.”

“Wow, there is a lot to unpack, but I’ll try. Yes, your father threatened me, but I’m pretty positive he just wanted me not to say anything about what he did. He saw that I was already protective of you and gave me a real mission, as he put it. I felt powerful and important that he made me your protector. He once said I was your Kirby, but I didn’t take it as your lover. I took it that I was the person who helped you see reason or protected you if you were ever in danger.”

Leaning in, he kissed my nose. I knew I couldn’t let him go, even if he was forced. He was woven too tightly into the fabric of my soul.

“And the thing is, it wouldn’t have mattered if he manipulated us to hang out more or whatever it is you think he did. His threats terrified me. I couldn’t touch you or hang out with you aside from school or go to a store. If anything, it had the opposite effect as far as that goes, but I was already lost. When I was old enough to see a girl as desirable, I fell in love with you, and it never changed.”

“But what about…” He touched a finger to my lips, and I nipped at it, but he didn’t move, and I ended up sucking his finger into my mouth.