Carver Read online

  Tracing the lines of his face with one hand, I search his eyes, thrilling in the pure joy he feels at me carrying his last name. “Is that what you want?” I whisper.

  “Fuck yes,” he roars, and I can feel his cock growing against my belly. “I ain’t gonna mark your perfect skin the way some of these other idiots have their women.”

  “Hey!” Cas responds. “Talia is sexy as fuck with that mark on her.” I saw it. The branding Cas gave her. Every time she touches it, a dreamy look crosses her face. One I’ve been envious of each and every time.

  “She really is, Cas.” I smile at his insulted face, and he winks at me. Looking back to Carver, I murmur only loud enough that he can hear me. “What if I want your mark on me and your last name?”

  He doesn’t say a thing. His pupils dilate, his grip gets firmer, and his hardness lengthens. A thrill runs through me when he growls so ferally that the dogs quiet down, and he captures my lips in an intoxicating kiss. His teeth nip at my lips as he crushes my body against his. Our tongues duel, and when I let him take control, my body hums with awareness. I can feel his heated desire through our clothes, and I suddenly wish there were no one else here. I wish I didn’t have unfinished business to attend to.

  “Carve!” King calls, breaking through my fog but not his.

  Carver keeps pushing for more. I become light-headed with lust as his hands roam my body, seeking unfound territory.

  “Carver.” Cas’ tone is amused while he attempts to get Carver to let me go.

  “Fuck off!” Carver shouts, only breaking contact long enough to say the words. His hold tightens, and I can’t say that I mind one bit. I love the way he protects me while holding me.

  I never feel lost in his arms.

  Digging my nails into his shoulders, I pull away from his lips and earn a glare. Smiling softly with swollen lips, I try to reason with him. “David, he has things he needs to explain. We need to do this before you give me your name.”

  The look on his face intensifies at the mention of my step-father’s name. “That son of a bitch,” he mutters, letting me go and storming over to the man in question. “Get the fuck up.” Carver doesn’t give him the chance to do it on his own. He hauls David up to his feet and drags him into King’s office. A place I was told is where everything began.

  It seems fitting it should end here, too.

  Carver

  My name.

  My blade.

  My mark.

  They may have all been joking, but I wasn’t.

  As soon as Meadow asked about me marking her, I was all fucking in. Not a damn thing will stand in my way. Including this piece of shit man, I’ve just tossed onto the rug in King’s office. The girls need closure; I need him gone. I need between Meadow’s thighs showing her who her man is. Who is going to take care of her for the rest of her life.

  “Talk. Now,” I grunt as I walk to the window behind King’s desk. Being in here makes me anxious. It fills me with the urge to cause harm because this is where we plot and plan.

  “I don’t know what you want from me,” David mumbles, sitting on his knees on the carpet.

  “How about you start by standing and looking these women in the fucking eye. You caused this, no one else.” King’s tone is shockingly neutral.

  “You owe us something, David. I loved you for over a decade. You had so many times you could have told me everything. Lilith should have been in our home, too.” Alice’s crying isn’t missed by the man as he hangs his head in shame.

  “I should have,” he admits, turning to look to Lilith. “I did you and your mother wrong. So very wrong.” Swallowing roughly, his voice strengthens. “We shouldn’t have left you, abandoned you that way. When I straightened out, I should have come for you. Looked, anything. There’s nothing I can ever say that will make my apology great enough.”

  I want to laugh as Lil makes him wait for a response. She tilts her head from side to side as she sizes him up, deciphers the sincerity of his words. “I’ll never forgive you. Not after what I’ve gone through. I’m not strong enough to let it go so easily. I’ve made my peace with that. And so, you owe me nothing, David. You were dead to me long ago.” His body sags at her words. I almost feel sorry for the man. “What I won’t tolerate, what will end your life”—Alice inhales sharply—“is if you don’t make it right with your wife and daughter. What they do with your words is up to them, but you will beg, grovel, and plead for mercy before I grant it to you.” At that, Lil leaves the room. King right behind her. Cas closes the doors, blocking a quick exit should David want one.

  “Mom, you should sit.” Meadow helps the distraught woman to a chair by the fireplace.

  Opening the bottom drawer of King’s desk, I grab the bottle of malt scotch he’s got stashed and pour two fingers into one of the glasses kept with it.

  “Drink this.” I hand the glass to Alice, who smiles gratefully up at me as she downs it in one gulp.

  “Smooth,” she mutters.

  Walking back past David, I lean down into his ear and say, “Start talking, David,” with Mercy resting on his shoulder.

  His swallow is audible in the room as Cas chuckles from his stance by the door. “King’ll be pissed if you scare him into pissing himself.” I shrug.

  “I didn’t mean to. Once I got sober and realized, really acknowledged what I’d done, I always meant to go back. To find out what happened.” His head shakes as he speaks. “I never wanted for Lilith to be alone. I never meant to lie and keep on lying.” He looks up to Alice. “When it came time to tell you about the horrible person I had been, to confess my sins, I chickened out. You looked at me with so much love. You let me into Meadow’s life, and I loved you both so much. I couldn’t bring myself to do it.”

  “I used to wonder about those sad looks you’d get. You didn’t let me see them often, but every once in a while, I caught sight of the inner turmoil when you were alone,” Alice tells him.

  “I thought about her every day.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us?” Meadow finally asks. “All these years later, you could have told us.”

  Looking around the room, he says, “I knew this would have been the end game. The both of you hating me.”

  “We don’t hate you, David,” Alice replies. “I just wish this would have played out differently.”

  “I’m sorry.” The man breaks down into tears, and Alice goes right to him. Meadow is still holding herself back. Tears hover on her lids, and I can see she wants to believe him, but she’s torn.

  “Meadow-mine,” I whisper, and her head looks up. Holding my arms out for her, she runs to me, her tears dropping with each step. “It’s okay to still be angry,” I say into her hair.

  “How can I forgive him after learning of all that Lilith went through?” Her breaths are harsh as she tries to hide her pain.

  “You don’t have to. Not yet.” I’d still like to filet the man, but not while Meadow is undecided on his forgiveness, and not when it would hurt her mother in the process.

  Meadow

  Cas took Mom and David home after endless tears, some screaming, and more apologies. I’m not sure Mom is ready to give up on him yet. Not when they had such a strong love. Aside from not telling us about Lil and her mom, he’d never lied to us. He always made us feel like the world to him, so I don’t blame her for not wanting to end their marriage right now.

  I, on the other hand, am still angry with him. Mostly, I think I’m mad at myself because while I was receiving his love and attention, Lilith was fighting to survive. In some ways, I feel like I stole that from her even though he abandoned her years before he found us.

  Carver has been watching me with such a deep intensity that I drift between fear and anticipation. Not fear of him, but fear of my desire for him. To give him anything in this world he wants.

  When he went to put the dogs away for the night, I snuck upstairs to his room. Talia and Ariel let me raid their new lingerie for something sexy so I could show Carver th
at I was accepting of him and his life.

  I intend to seduce my man tonight and show him with my body and soul that I’m solely his to do with as he pleases.

  “Meadow-mine,” I hear growled from the bedroom as I finish changing in the bathroom.

  Giving myself one last look in the mirror, I try not to cringe at some of the lingering bruises on my limbs. Stepping through the door, I see Carver sitting in a chair by the window. His vest still in place, but his jeans are undone, and Mercy is clasped in one hand.

  A hooded look holds me captive as his gaze devours me. The black lace hugs my curves and leaves nothing to the imagination as he licks his lips. The predatory look only intensifies as I walk closer to him.

  “Where’d that come from?” His voice conveys his longing to discover what’s underneath.

  “Ariel had it new,” I respond, suddenly feeling shy. Lifting my arms, I now try to hide the exposed flesh he’s perusing.

  “No,” he snaps, his eyes darkening. “Down. Knees. Now.” Hiding my grin at his one-word commands, I do as he asks.

  Placing my hands on his knees, I lean forward. Brushing my hard nipples against the rough denim, a shiver works through me. Carver’s hands fight to free his cock to the fresh air. A sigh leaves him once he breaks through the confines of his zipper.

  With a crooked finger, he beckons me closer. I have one destination in mind, and I think he knows it. Hypnotized by the small drop of liquid on the tip of his cock, I lick it up and exhale a loud moan as I taste his essence. The mix of spice and salt has me yearning for more. Without encouragement, I go in for another taste. His fingers brush through my hair as I lick from the base to the tip. Loving the small pearls of cum each time.

  Gathering my courage, I fist his length with both hands as I suck him to the back of my throat. His grip tightens. My throat closes snugly. A moan of absolute pleasure escapes me, and his hips rise in response.

  “Fuck,” he moans out. I slowly bob my head up and down, savoring the taste and feel of him in my mouth. Lavishing in the way he lets go for me. Carver doesn’t hide his pleasure of my assault on his body.

  When I feel his free hand grasp the lace of my bodice, I pause for a fraction of a moment. The cold steel of his knife on my back, moving down my spine, is feather light, and I relax into his hold as he takes control.

  “Up,” he groans when I swallow around the head of his dick. With a pout, I do as he commands and look up to him with forlorn eyes. “On the bed.” His stare is unfocused, and his lips give a lascivious snarl as he tries to hide some of his longing.

  Moving to the bed, I lay flat, recognizing what he’s going to want already. I can read his body language, and I know he’s going to take me hard and fast, and I can’t wait.

  Removing his vest on the slow saunter over to the bed, he then drops his jeans to the floor and kicks it all to the side. Laying Mercy down next to my hip, his hands grip the flimsy material hiding my body from him, and he tears it, so it’s tattered threads splay out beside me.

  Gripping my ankles, he draws my legs up to sit on his shoulders as I feel his hardness throbbing near my center.

  “I ain’t gonna be nice. I need to fuck, Meadow, and I won’t be able to stop.” I don’t say anything; I know what he needs.

  He slams into me without comment, and I scream from the shock of it. The invasion of my taut muscles without the adjustment he’s always given me springs tears to my eyes. As soon as he notices, he smiles the same satisfied smile from earlier. Because as much as he loves to take care of me, he also loves dominating me. “Please, Carver,” I beg. For what I’m not sure, but I need the ecstasy I know only he can provide to overtake this pain.

  He starts slow, giving just enough to drag me through light touches of pleasure. His eyes are closed while his hands hold my legs steady. I want more. There’s this feeling building inside of me, and I can’t get there with his short thrusts. “Carver,” I groan when he pushes his hips forcefully inside of me. His dick scrapes against my channel as I contract the muscles.

  “Meadow-mine.” He whispers his nickname for me like a prayer.

  “I need more.” Picking up the blade I can still feel at my hip, I lay it across my stomach, the coolness melting away with my warm skin. Clutching his hand, I place it in his palm.

  His stare transforms with illicit intent as he finally witnesses his two favorite things in the universe melding as one in his mind. His nails swipe across my stomach as he fastens his hand around the handle. His hips start pumping faster with the new realization that I really do want him to mark me. Not by slicing me open, but there is a line where we can play without causing unbearable harm, and I know deep in my heart that he won’t cross it.

  “Please, Carver,” I whisper, the lust and desire clear in my voice, “play with me.”

  Carver

  Her words, her soft cunt, my knife.

  I’m on overload.

  I never imagined she’d accept this part of me let alone fucking beg for it. But here she is, perfect Meadow-mine, imploring me to mar her creamy flesh.

  I could never really hurt her, not in the way others would. I only want small red lines. My stamp of ownership. No one will ever see them but me.

  In the bedroom.

  In public.

  Anywhere we go.

  I’ll only have to do it once, and forever, I’ll see my marks on her.

  Pressing the dull edges into her belly, I trace my name across her flesh, only nicking her hip. The small drop of blood pools and disappears, fueling my desire for this woman on.

  My hips buck without permission, and I bow forward. “I fucking love you, Meadow-mine. Never doubt it.” I grunt as she tightens her cunt around my cock. The need to fill her with my cum is driving me to move faster.

  “I love you more, Carver,” she whispers, never taking her eyes off Mercy.

  Bringing the blade up, I lay it between her breasts. Watching her firm globes hug it as I continue my assault upon her, driving my need higher.

  Releasing her legs, I wrap them around my hips, locking her ankles together, and dropping down on her, hissing when I feel the blade dig into my chest. I go to pull it away, but she drags me closer. Locking our lips together, I fuck into her. I lay claim to her.

  “Harder, Carver,” she cries against my mouth.

  With painful thrusts, I give her what she asks for, and she gives me an unimaginable gift.

  The gift of her love and acceptance.

  The gift of her own sick needs.

  Meadow is the perfect fucking beauty to my beast as we spend the night fucking. There’s no other word for it. She gives, and I take. She takes when I have nothing left to give, and each instance is better than the last.

  By the time morning comes, we’re both spent, and there on our chests is exactly what she wanted but was afraid to ask for. A cut deep enough to scar. Matching war wounds.

  “Now, we’ll always have a part of each other.” She traces the red line on my chest with a soft touch, and I can’t fucking disagree. This woman owns me in every sense of the goddamned word, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

  Closing my eyes, I can picture the moment. Recall it for the rest of my life.

  “Carver.” Her soft sigh, the whine in her tone, fuels me on. “Please, Carver, I want something for just us. You and me.”

  With my forehead pressed to hers, my hips pumping harshly into her body, I slip my hands around her back. I let my full weight fall on her, the sharp steel digging into our skin was a high I hadn’t expected.

  My excitement grows, her breathing picks up pace, and I watch her face for any pain or stress from Mercy scaring us both. I see nothing but a complete sense of overwhelming peace.

  “Meadow-mine,” I groan against her lips, nipping her tongue. “You’ll have me inside you forever.” I can feel the exact moment the blade splits our skin, and her eyes widen first with a moment of panic, then with the bliss from her orgasm setting off my own.

  “Together,”
I mutter into her mouth as we spill our love for one another in one of the most primal ways two human beings can.

  Through our love and bodies.

  Epilogue

  Dimitri

  “What in the fuck do you mean you can’t do anything else? What does that mean?” I snap at the fifth doctor Daniel has had. They keep threatening to have me removed. I’d like to fucking see them try.

  “Dimitri, calm down.” Danika fucking Vashchenko, a pain in my goddamn ass, places her perfectly manicured hand on my forearm as I try not to kill the man across from me.

  “We’ve done everything we possibly can to wake him. If he doesn’t want to come out of this, he won’t.” The man scurries out when he hears the crack of the plastic bed rail in my hands.

  “The fuck they have,” I snarl.

  “Your grunting and growling aren’t helping matters,” Danika admonishes me with a laugh.

  “Why the fuck are you still here?” The woman gets on my last nerve.

  “Because you need someone with you both.” Her soft voice as she fixes Daniel’s blankets again soothes some of my worries.

  Carver was right when he said I needed to give Danny-boy something to hold onto. The doctors told me he could still hear while he’s like this. That it might help. But what the fuck am I supposed to say? I love you, but there’s something missing? Why the fuck would he wake up to that. I sure as hell wouldn’t.

  “You don’t have to be so rude, Dimitri.” I look up to Danika. Panic seizes me when I see her purse strap on her shoulder and her coat over her arm. “If you wanted me to leave, you could have just asked.” Before I can say anything, she’s gone, and I feel like a complete ass because I registered the hurt in her eyes.

  I don’t know what it is, but this woman has held me captive with her quiet beauty and unwavering support from the first time she stepped into this room. Her dedication to keeping me sane and Daniel comfortable should have had me more grateful.