Chapter 7

 "That might cause some panic if you do." A muffled voice just outside the door said to me. I gasped and flung the door open, glaring at the wolf who couldn’t seem to stay even a floor away from me.

“What are you doing up here?!” I whisper yelled, cheeks burning in fury. Beta Carter merely stared at me for a moment, a light smirk resting on his plump lips but a strange emotion shining in his crystal blue gaze.

“I thought I would bring you dessert, mate. You left before we got to the best part.” he gestured to the two bowls of apple pie and vanilla ice cream in his hands. I had a feeling he was talking about more than just the food but I wouldn’t dare comment on that. Not if I wanted to get through this night with my dignity... and the same pair of panties.

“Are you going to let me in or are you going to just continue staring at me?” His smirk widened. Does this man ever not smirk?

I sighed in defeat. “Fine, come in.” I pulled the door open wider for him and sat at the desk chair. “But afterwards, you seriously need to leave. I’m pretty sure my mother’s going to have a heart attack if you’re here all night.”

“She did seem over protective.” Beta Carter handed me my warm pie. My mouth watered at the sight. Another thing I love about being in this novel is the food. Paisley’s mom is an amazing cook.

Gentle soothing tingles hummed down my arm as our fingers touched. I grit my teeth at the feeling, trying not to fall prey to his teasing.

“You just can’t help yourself, can you?” I grumbled. Beta Carter laughed and sat on my bed, joy evident on his face. I sat over at my desk, keeping a room’s length apart from him.

“I can’t help that you’re so easy to tease. It just excites me.” He grinned a full smile. Nothing like the masked smile he gave the crowd earlier today. A true smile that made his face glow. I felt my breath catch in my throat as I stared.

So this is the smile of the man behind the perfect mask. I couldn't help but think about how I liked this smile so much better than every other one he'd given to everyone.

A low sensual growl snapped me from my stupor. “You better stop looking at me like that, mate, if you want me to keep my promise not to touch you.” I gulped as the sound still echoed in my head. My heart started to race again as I rubbed my legs together subconsciously. Another growl, this time even deeper and closer sounded in front of me. I blinked and found Beta Carter on his feet before me, holding out two hands to me with the palms stretched out forth. Before I could pick my brain up off the floor I found myself grasping his hands and being pulled up from the chair.

Beta Carter held me close, chest to chest, as he started sniffing the crook of my neck. His nose sensually glided along my bare skin. A breathy whine left my lips as he rumbled in approval- the sound resonating in my chest and sending its tantalizing waves down my body.

“B-Beta Carter-” I tried to force myself to snap back into reality.

“Just Carter, baby girl.” He chuckled against my skin. “Unless there’s something else you’d like to call me?” His voice was filled with dark promise. He glided his nose all the way up my neck till his breath was felt in my ear. “I’m open to a lot of different options.”

My brain was officially on overload. I couldn’t focus on anything except his lips as they gently kissed my ear, his hands sliding up and down my back before one burrowed a home in my hair, the other inside my jean’s back pocket, cupping my rear. I whimpered.

“Hm? What was that?” He nibbled my ear before pulling me impossibly closer to the point where I was pressed up against his member. I was panting at this point. "I need your words, beautiful. I can't give anything to you until you tell me what you want." His throat hummed and I realized I had failed my mission in keeping my  panties dry.

"I want..." My breath left my as he kissed my throat, my eyes toward the ceiling. I blinked in pleasureful confusion. What was I saying again?

Carter seemed to read my thoughts. "You want...?" His open mouthed kisses traveled closer and closer up to my mouth as his hand that cupped my rear started traveling on its own course down south. My heart raced and this time not with anticipation.

“S-stop.” I forced myself to say. Carter froze and pulled back to look down at me in question. I nodded and said it again. Without another word, Carter dislodged himself from me- leaving me cold and feeling empty. I almost cried at how wrong it felt.

“I-I’m sorry, Paisley.” Carter hung his head and slumped onto the bed again, scratching his hair and groaning. “I lost control. I’ll do better next time, you have my word.” He met my eyes with sorrowful promise, shame clutching his skin. My heart nearly broke at the sight.

“No- no. That’s not it. I just-” I grunted in frustration and pressed the palms of my hands into my eyes. I was frustrated with myself for stopping, for letting it go on that long, and especially for not being able to enjoy it without a guilty conscience.

He's Paisley's, not mine.

“We can go as slow as you’d like.” Carter jumped to his feet and crossed the distance between us.

“That’s not...” I sighed. How did I even begin to tell this male that I couldn’t be with him because I wasn’t his actual mate. Tears started to sting my eyes and leak into my palms.

“Hey, it’s okay.” Carter rubbed my back soothingly. “I know it’s a lot to take in, especially considering you’re a human too. It’s probably really overwhelming.” He cooed gently. I whimpered and backed away from his touch, my head lifting towards the ceiling trying to keep the tears in. I pulled my hands away from my face to see Carter's worried face which made the tears fall harder.

“Why do you have to be so good to me...” A sob left my lips.

“What do you mean?” His dark brow furrowed.

I faced him full on, although he was blurry from all the tears running down my cheeks.

“Carter, I can’t be with you.” I trembled, shutting my eyes in shame. My throat closed up to the point where I had trouble swallowing. Everything in my body physically hurt at that sentence. No, it wasn’t my body. It was Paisley's body. I had to remember that.

All was silent for a moment. It was so still I almost thought Carter left the room till I opened my eyes and beheld a sight that would forever be the main event of my nightmares.