Taking the Fall: Vol 2 Read online

Throwing the rest of my stuff into the hospital bag, Saint takes it and we walk quietly to his car. When we’re almost home, my phone goes off with a message from Jeanette.

  Jeanette: Sorry I had to get away from him. Home safe. You need anything?

  Me: Nope, I’m almost home. Going to take a long bath and go to bed. Talk to you tomorrow. Love you.

  Jeanette: Love you too xoxo

  “She get home okay?” Saint asks.

  “Yeah. Just give her more time.”

  “I’m a patient man, Layla, but my patience is starting to wear thin.” This breaks my heart a little. As much as I’m still angry at Saint for keeping tabs on me in secret for Carter, I hate seeing two people that could be together hurting for one another. I can’t and won’t draw parallels with my situation with Carter. He doesn’t want me, but these two could be together if they truly wanted it. I know Jeanette still wants him but she’s just holding back.

  “Don’t give up on her, Saint. She needs someone like you.”

  “I know she does but I never said I was giving up. Just that my patience is running thin and she might not like it when I snap. I’m letting her play her games for now because it makes her think she’s in control and I know she needs that.”

  I look over at him and really take him in. He’s always dirty-mouthed and crude, but he’s so much more observant than I realized.

  Pulling into my driveway, Saint hops out of the car to walk around and open my car door.

  “Let me do a house check, it will make me feel better,” he says. I know he’s not asking but I want him to as well. It will make me feel better after everything that’s happened today. I’m still anxious at the possibility, no matter how remote, that someone tried to hurt me. It makes me worry about Carter too.

  “He’s fine. I talked to him today,” Saint says, confirming that he really is more observant than I had given him credit for.

  “Thank you,” I say, opening the door and letting him in the house. It doesn’t take long for him to go through my little place, and I notice he seems to know his way around. I wait for him at the door and don’t comment, because I don’t want to know why he knows my house so well.

  “Looks all clear. I’ll check around the outside before I head out,” he says while walking out.

  “Thanks, Saint.”

  “I’m glad you’re okay. I know you don’t believe me, but Carter would have lost it if you were hurt.”

  “I don’t want to talk about him anymore, Saint. I get that you want to get back with Jeanette, but can we leave any and all mentions of Carter out of it? I’ve moved on.”

  “Got it,” he says, not quite believing me. “Lock the door and set the alarm. Later, Layla.” He leaves and shuts the door behind him. I make sure he doesn’t see my eye roll. I’ve lived on my own for four years and I know how to take care myself.

  I lock down the house and head for my bathroom. I opt to take a hot shower instead of a bath. All I want is to wash away the hospital smell. I don’t bother to dress and just throw on my pink fluffy robe and grab my Kindle. My tummy rumbles loudly and I realize I haven’t eaten today. I don’t feel like making anything, so I just order Chinese.

  I’m getting to a really juicy part in my book when the doorbell rings, making me jump. Figuring it’s my takeout, I grab my wallet, turn off the alarm and open the door.

  “That’s how you open a fucking door, Cherry?” Carter growls. I jump back in shock and end up tripping over my own feet, falling flat on my ass.

  My heart starts pounding at the sound of his voice. Looking up at him, I see his face is set in a hard glare and his jaw is tightly clenched. He’s just a big as I remember, but I swear his effect on me is magnified. After all, now I know how he kisses, what his hands feel like as they caress my skin, how it feels to be owned by him.

  Instantly he’s on me, lifting me off the floor like I weigh nothing. I automatically wrap my arms and legs around him to keep from falling. Kicking the door closed with his foot, he walks to the couch, dropping down on to it so I end up straddling him. I know I should be screaming and yelling at him, but my body just clings to his, and I bury my face in his neck. I felt scared all day and I finally feel safe again. It’s as if he’s taken all my worries away with just his presence.

  That’s when it hits me. My moment of relief is swept away by sadness and jealousy. All I can smell on him is cheap women's perfume. I lose it. Angrily, I push myself off his lap. God! To think I curled myself around him like a loyal puppy. Here I am clinging to him, and he’s spent his night with another woman? What happened to all that “I’m yours, and you're mine bullshit”? I swear I can feel my tattoo of his name burning my skin.

  “You stink, Carter. You smell like another woman. I understand that you don’t want to be with me, but, Jesus, have some compassion.”

  “It’s not what you think, Cherry,” Carter says softly. He starts to rise and I hold my hand out, not wanting him to get up. He looms over me, filling my entire field of vision. He’s easily over a foot taller than me, and right now I need to be on the same level as him.

  “I don’t believe you. See, you have this problem of lying to me and running away. You’re just that kind of man it seems,” I throw the words at him as my anger gets the best of me.

  “Never lied to you,” he clips.

  “Doesn’t matter. I don’t want to fight about this and I’m done crying. I’m letting you go,” I say forcefully. Maybe if I’m forceful enough with my words, even I’ll believe them.

  “You’re letting me go?” he says in a tone that implies I’ve lost it. Maybe I have. God, why does he have to be so beautiful?

  I tear my eyes away from him and shift my gaze to my feet. “I can’t justify this to myself anymore. I fight with myself trying to rationalize your actions. I go over and over everything that happened between us in my head. I’m driving myself crazy. Every time I give myself over to you, it’s just a waste of my love. Leave me alone, Carter.” I put my hand over my belly and his eyes go there. “Leave us alone. Please.”

  I wish I could sound more commanding, more convincing but I can’t. I feel my shoulders drop in defeat and I close my eyes tightly

  The silence is deafening.

  CARTER

  Did she just say “us”? She didn’t just say “us”. Did she?

  I look up at Layla as she stands over me and I see her shoulders start to shake. I watch in horror as tear start to run down her cheeks.

  “No, no, no, no, no,” I chant, standing and picking her up again. “Don’t cry, baby, please don’t cry.”

  I’m making my way to her room with her in my arms when the doorbell rings. “Who the fuck is that?” I ask.

  “Crap. That’s the Chinese I ordered,” Layla says hoarsely.

  “I’ll take care of it,” I tell her and put her down. I walk to the door, open it up and see the young guy holding the food. I grab some bills out of my pocket and shove them in his hand, mumbling a “thanks” as I grab the food and slam the door in his face. I flip the lock, set the alarm, and then throw the food in the fridge. I stalk over to my girl as she watches me warily and pick her back up.

  “I can walk you know,” she sniffles.

  I ignore her protest and carry her across the room and down the small hallway to her bedroom. I can’t handle her tears and seeing her upset breaks my heart.

  I take her into her room and set her down gently on the edge of the bed. I straighten and gaze at her small body. I feel my protective instincts overwhelm me.

  “Cherry, baby, look at me,” I demand. I know she needs me take control. It’s how we work, and now is no different. She looks up at me with big watery eyes and it’s all I can do not to break down with her. These past months apart from her have torn me to pieces inside. Seeing her push me away is enough to end me. I reach down pull my shirt off. I need to get this fucking stink off of me, and get my girl’s scent where it should be – on me.

  She looks at my bare chest and then back at my e
yes. “Cherry, I will explain everything to you. I swear. But right now, you need to explain what you meant by ‘us’.”

  She breaks eye contact and looks out the window. “Don’t pretend like you don’t know, Carter. I’m sure Saint went and tattled to you the day he found out. It’s fine. Whatever. The baby and I didn’t need you three months ago and we sure as hell don’t need you now.”

  Her words send me over the edge and I fall to my knees in front of her. “Baby?” I whisper.

  She looks at me, confusion written all over her face.

  “You didn’t know?” she asks, tentatively. Hope creeps across her beautiful face. She reaches her hand out to touch me but then stops herself and lets it drop to her side. Seeing her stop herself from touching me hurts more than if she had smacked me.

  For the first time in my life I feel tears well in my eyes. “A baby,” I whisper again and let my head fall in her lap. She’s wearing only a bathrobe and it comes undone with the movement. If this is going to be the first time in my life I cry, I don’t want her to watch me do it. I didn't even cry when I lost my parents. I wrap my arms around her waist and bury my face against her belly. “My baby,” I gasp, and feel warm tears on my cheek.

  Layla starts rubbing my head and shoulders and I feel her starting to cry too. “You really didn’t know? God, Carter, I thought you didn’t want me. Where have you been? Why did you leave me? I’ve been miserable without you.”

  “Cherry. Just give me a second to feel this. I’ll tell you everything. I just want to have this moment. Please.” I hear my voice crack.

  I’m on my knees, holding her naked body to my bare chest for what feels like forever. I hear her laugh a little and sniff, and I know she’s enjoying this moment too. I move my head so my lips are against her belly and start to speak. “Hey, little guy, I’m your dad. I love you and your mom so much.” I kiss her soft belly once and lean back to look at her. She has a huge smile on her face and I finally feel like my world is complete. Who would have thought my path of vengeance would have led me to what was taken from me?

  “‘Little guy?’ It’s a bit soon to know what we’re having, Carter.”

  “A man can dream, can’t he? You’re here, so my first dream came true.”

  Cherry rolls her eyes at my lame joke, but I know she’s eating it up. I reach up and rub her leftover tears away and kiss each cheek. I move my arms down and push her robe off her shoulders.

  “Carter, wait. I want to talk first,” she says, and makes a move to cover herself up.

  “Cherry, my love, it’s been three months since I tasted your honey. I’ll talk, but it’s gonna be muffled.”

  Layla laughs and lets me finish taking off her robe. Once she’s completely naked, I stand up and get out of my jeans and boots as quickly as possible. I look at her beautiful naked body before me, and I notice something on her ribs.

  “What’s on your side, Layla?”

  I see the red spread across her cheeks and I feel like she’s hiding something. I get closer and move her arm out of the way, so I can see what’s on her perfect body. That’s when I see it. My name tattooed on her ribs in black ink.

  “Oh, Cherry. Why would you mark your beautiful body with my name? I’m not worthy of this.”

  “I got it the day I woke up and you were gone. I knew that no matter what you’d always be a part of me. I wanted to have a physical representation of what I carry in my heart.”

  I lean down and kiss the tattoo of my name. I trace it lightly with my fingers and kiss it again. I know I don’t deserve this from her but seeing my name on her, knowing she put it there makes me feel ten-feet tall.

  “Thank you, baby, I love it. And I love you.”

  I move behind her and lie back in the middle of the bed. “Come sit on my face, Cherry, I need all of your sweet pussy on me.”

  She blushes from head to toe but climbs on top of me. She crawls tentatively across my body so I grab her by the hips and move her where I want her. “I said get on my face, Cherry. Don’t make me say it again.”

  She reaches up and grabs the headboard. I grab her hips and slam her pussy down on my mouth. We both let out loud moans and I feel cum drip from my cock on to my belly. Fuck, I’ve missed this taste.

  I eat her like a starving man would devour a feast, groaning in pleasure at her taste. I try to speak but refuse to remove my mouth from my delicious treat. My words come out as a garbled moan.

  “What the hell did you just say, Carter?” Cherry says in an amused voice as she continues to move her hips, dragging her sweet pussy across my mouth.

  I pull back just a little so she can hear me more clearly. “Said I haven’t touched another woman since the day I met you, and I wasn’t about to start just because we were apart for three months.” I lick her pussy between my words, and her honeyed juices start to run down my chin.

  I suck her clit and then reluctantly lift my head to tell her what has happened. I know she’s been worried but I had no idea she was pregnant.

  “I didn’t know about the baby, Cherry. I swear. I would’ve come back immediately had I known.” She works her hips against my mouth and my hands go to her ass cheeks to help her rock.

  “I’m so happy, Cherry. I’m so fucking happy you’re pregnant with my baby.” I lick deep inside her pussy and she starts to pulse with need. “That’s it, baby, cum all over my face. I want your cream all over me. Fucking work that pussy, and get off on me. Make my face your fuck toy, Cherry.”

  She cries out and rubs her clit hard against my face. I slip a finger in her pussy and get it nice and wet. Fuck, she’s tight. Then I sneak it back to her ass and rub her there. She moans louder and I feel that she’s close to cumming. I suck her clit in my mouth and at the same time I push my finger through her tight ring. It hits her then, and my Cherry cums all over my chin as she screams out my name. I feel her juices run down my neck and I lose it. I cum all over my stomach as she rides my mouth to her finish. I never even touched my cock. Just her taste and feel made me bust my nut everywhere.

  As Cherry comes down from her peak, I softly rub her legs and ass, showing her with my body what she means to me. I love every inch of her, even though it’s hard to say sometimes. I try to let her feel it.

  I grew up mostly on the streets after my parents were killed. We weren't the perfect family by any means but we made do until they were taken from me. I thought for a while that I had no future so it’s not a surprise I’ve never said I love you before her. Shit, I never heard it before Layla either. I’d never wanted kids, thinking I would just be a shitty parent, but I know now that I can be the dad I never had. I also know Cherry would be at my side. With her I feel like I can do anything, have everything.

  The moment she said “baby” I knew that it meant she’ll never be free of me. She’ll be bound to me forever, and I will never let her go.

  I help Cherry off my face and make her stretch out on her back. I move on top of her body and support some of my weight with my elbows. My cum coats my stomach and I feel it rub between our bodies. Cherry reaches down to touch it. I’m still hard but seeing her touch my cum gets me even harder.

  She brings her finger back to her mouth and licks it clean. Suddenly, my lips are on hers. I can taste my cum and her juices blending on our tongues. She grabs my shoulders and arms and pulls me as close to her as possible. I breathe her in and all I want to do is live in this moment forever.

  I break the kiss, because she deserves to know how I feel. “I love you, Layla,” I breathe and just stare at her beautiful face. “I’ll never leave you again.”

  She looks me directly in the eyes and nods her head in agreement. “I love you too, Carter, but don’t ever do that to me again. You have to talk to me. I’m not a little girl anymore.”

  I move my hips and position my rock hard cock at her opening. “Trust me, Cherry. I know how much of a woman you are.” I stop before I enter her because I have a sudden panic.

  “Oh shit, Cherry. Can we do thi
s? Can I fuck you while you're pregnant? I mean, I know people do, but my dick is huge, and I’m pretty sure there isn’t enough room in that tight pussy for everything.”

  She laughs a little and moves her hips, as if to welcome me. “Carter, please. It’s completely safe.”

  “I don’t know. I think I should just fuck your ass. I’ve been wanting to claim you there too, and this is just as good of a reason as any.” This seems reasonable to me until I get a chance to Google that shit or call a doctor tomorrow.

  Her eyes get really big and she shakes her head. “Carter, you’re way too big to fit there. I won’t be able to do it.”

  “Cherry, I wasn’t asking for permission. I’m telling you, I’m going to fuck your ass. You and I aren’t a democracy. Your body is mine. Remember?”

  “But…”

  “I said I’m fucking your ass. Conversation closed. Trust me, you’ll be begging for it when I’m done with you. I’ll give you a break and just take your pussy tonight, but you’re going take my cock in every hole. You got me? And remember, little Cherry, the answer is always ‘yes, Carter’.”

  She gives me an evil stare that is only cute as fuck, then reluctantly nods her head and says, “Yes, Carter.”

  “Good girl. Now be still. I don’t want to hurt you while I get inside this sweet pussy.”

  I ease in and try to be careful as I slowly sink my cock into her tight cunt. “Fucking Christ, it’s too goddamn tight. It’s tighter than I remember, baby. Fuck. I’m not gonna last.”

  “Maybe it’s so tight because it doesn’t get used enough,” she huffs.

  “That so?” I growl. “Guess I’m going to have to do something about that, aren't I?”

  She shifts her hips and tries to get me to speed up. “Please, Carter, faster. I need more, please.”

  “You know you don’t call the shots when I’m inside you, Cherry,” I say, clenching my teeth as I try to maintain some control.

  “Please. I’ve missed you so much. You left me without a word. I need you.”

  Her plea is my undoing and I start to pick up my pace. I give her what we both want when I’m balls deep and thrusting inside her. I look down and see my cock coated with her cream. It spurs me on and I give it to her, hard. I have to look away because seeing my cock drive in and out of her tight cunt is just too much for me. I’ll never last. I grunt and growl and Cherry clings to me with her arms and legs. I clench my teeth and try to prolong my orgasm and I feel the veins popping out on my neck.