"I was really gonna call you, Carl. I just didn't know what to say." I knew Carl already figured that, but I felt the need to reiterate anyway. He caressed my cheek, tracing up my nose, and my heart fluttered delicately. "I'm sorry if you thought I was ghosting you."
"We live in generally the same area, Mel. Even I was affected by the bloom this year. I knew it'd be borderline disastrous for you. Besides, Laurie's the one who thought that, not me. She's naturally negative-leaning."
A rough snort sounded at Carl's declaration, and I glanced over at the door to find Laurie leaning with her arms crossed under her bust. She was so friggin pretty, man, with her thick, blue hair and naturally tan complexion. She looked smart, gave vibes not to mess with her, and I puffed out my lips absently.
"What's up, Laurie?"
"I was just talking to Eric Dane, and he offered me a job." Her strong but beautiful face broke out in a huge grin, and she waved her hands as she stalked over to punch Carl in the shoulder. "You idiot! I love you!"
"Seriously? Just like that?"
Bright, brown eyes met mine, and Laurie reached to grab my hand and squeeze— like she couldn't contain herself. In that one movement, I knew she was a physical person, and I struggled not to tense when she shifted her beaming smile back to her brother.
"Yeah! I was thanking him for talking to my professor, and he mentioned that he was authorized to take on an assistant starting fourth quarter. So, what about you two? Are you still gonna date even though your whole relationship is basically bad porn tropes?"
My eyes widened, heat slithering up my neck, and Laurie rocked side to side on her tall heels as she picked at her pale green shirt.
"I don't know how that works. Are you going to just ignore the fact that our mom married your dad?"
"I have a feeling they won't be married long enough to matter." I really felt bad for Carl's mom, but... like... I also knew he wasn't that great a liar or a schemer. That this woman fell for my dad's lies wasn't something I could get involved in, and it was obvious Carl and Laurie had already tried to dissuade their mom. "Oh— you're okay, though, right, Carl?"
"Yeah— yeah. It's gonna be Hell, but my mom's an adult. I'm not gonna be there to pick up the pieces after she ignored me. I've been meaning to ask, Mel... is your dad's real name really Augustus?"
My brows rose in surprise, and Carl arched his quizzically. Augustus?
"Yes. Everyone just calls him Auggie, though. His father's name was Julius. It's kinda a joke. My granddad was that kind of guy." For a moment, I wasn't sure if Carl and his sister were relieved or amused— or both— and a soft knock on the door interrupted us. My doctor nodded in acknowledgment at Carl before his eyes met mine, and I licked my lips heavily as I sat a little straighter. "I'm gonna be discharged soon, right? I'm feeling way better."
"Good. Considering the circumstances, I think it's plausible to rule out intentional overdose, so you won't have to stay for observation." He winked at me, and relief slumped my shoulder as I ran both my hands up my face and into my hair. "I'm going to prescribe you a stronger allergy medication for the duration of the season. You'll most likely have some left over, and, obviously, you shouldn't abuse them."
"Of course not. No. I'll be more careful from now on." Nodding firmly, my doctor whose name I couldn't remember clapped his palms together. "So, everything's good. Awesome. I'm really glad I picked up those air purifiers when I was in Providence."
"Great. I'll get your discharge papers and send over your prescription, and you should be good to go." Just as suddenly as he appeared, my doctor was gone again, and I sighed heavily and threw myself back. Going home was gonna suck— I could already feel it in my nose.
"I think we should talk. Do you want to come over?"
Carl nodded without hesitation.
I turned to Laurie in askance. "Do you have to go back to Connecticut?"
"I already missed my morning class, so no, but I'm not gonna be a third wheel while you 'talk'." Curling her fingers in emphasis, Laurie's smile became slippery, and I blushed furiously. "I think I'm gonna get a hotel room, shower, and sleep, and stuff before I head back. God only knows I'm not gonna get to sleep next week while I prep for my tests."
"Oh— good luck." She flounced out of the room to leave Carl and me in contemplative silence, and I hummed softly. "She seems nice."
Chapter 19
Melissa
Shutting the door to my apartment, I closed my eyes as the relief to my sinuses instantly made it a little bit easier to breathe. All the junk in the air from last night was gone, and I set my purse on the small table by the door to gaze at Carl's back.
Before he could turn around, I wrapped my arms around him and pressed my cheek against his muscular back. He was warm and hard, sturdy, and I closed my eyes to savor the smell of him.
"I would love to go on a date with you, Carl." My murmur spiked Carl's heart rate against my cheek, and he sucked in a sharp breath. Turning to pin me to the door and grab my butt with both his hands in one, quick movement, he captured my lips in a searing kiss. This time, there was no alcohol to dull the shocks that skittered across my face, and I gasped into his mouth as surprise rolled up my spine. Squeezing my butt, he hiked me off my feet, his muscular body pressed flush against mine as my hands flew to cup his neck.
The hard bulge in his dress pants teased me outside my panties, and I moaned when Carl's tongue slipped between my teeth. His taste was intoxicating, igniting a fire in my belly as I wrapped my legs around his waist. Powerful muscles rippled under his button down, and he hooked his arm under my butt to cup the back of my head. The door disappeared, the cold of my apartment slithering up my back deliciously.
Months— months of revolving around each other, being unable to get close but needing to...
"God..." Kissing down my jaw, Carl set me on the sofa to drape himself over me, and I reached to fumble with the buttons of his shirt. Gathering up my dress, his fingertips teased up my thighs, and a gasp lodged in my throat. Hot, chapped lips trailed fire down my collar bone, and I wiggled and squirmed as he tugged the soft fabric up and over my head.
"Y-yes— yes— oh—"
Greedy hands groped my breasts, and I arched into Carl's mouth as he sucked my nipples. Licking and sucking as he kneaded, he grumbled his satisfaction as fire engulfed my abdomen. Tossing my head to the side, I closed my eyes in pure bliss. He ground against my core with firm, long strokes, and I abandoned his shirt to attack his pants fastening.
"Fuck—" Bracing himself against the arm rest above my head, Carl trailed his tongue up my windpipe. Thrusting his hips, he crashed his mouth on mine just as I shoved my hands down his pants. Pushing down the heavy fabric, frustration only intensified my hands shaking. My blood boiled, and he gasped when I palmed his cock firmly. Pumping his hard, throbbing shaft, I pinched his head between my thumb and forefinger gingerly, and his kiss turned ravenous.
Reaching between us, Carl pulled aside my thong to swipe up my slit, and I shuddered. My abdomen throbbed wildly with need, clenching when he flicked my clit with practiced fingers. Spreading my folds, he thrust into my hand and tore his lips from mine to pant harshly. Need seeped out of me, coating his cock as he circled my clit, and I poised his tip against my entrance.