Chapter 84
Livestream
Carter’s POV
One night.
It wouldn’t hurt, right? I mean, what was the worse that could happen? Besides, I needed something to distract me from the whole Meghan issue.
“What do you say?” She asked again.
“Let’s do it,” I accepted and her eyes lit up immediately.
“Really?” She asked.
“Sure, why not? I need a release anyway so let’s do it,” I said and she immediately got off the stool and dragged me off with her.
“Arie, calm down,” I chuckled. “I thought we were going to have drinks first?”
“Drinks can wait. We can always get them in the room,” she said.
“Did you book somewhere already?” I asked, a little surprised. She shrugged and my eyes widened. “How did you know that I was going to take the offer?”
“What can I say? I am really good at guessing,” she winked and I shook my head with a smile. My phone suddenly started blowing up with notifications and I fished for my phone in my pockets. I needed to know what was going on.
“Carter watch out!” Arie yelled, yanking me forward with her just as the car horned. I blinked in shock while she glared at me. “Can you put that away, until we are sure we won’t be getting killed?”
I pocketed the phone. “Sorry,” I mumbled but she simply turned without acknowledging my apology. We got to the reception and I must confess, the hotel was indeed refreshing.
Arie strutted confidently to the front desk, flashing a charming smile at the receptionist. “Reservation under Arie Mensah,” she said smoothly.
The woman behind the counter barely glanced up before handing her a keycard. “Penthouse suite. Enjoy your stay.”
I raised a brow. “Penthouse, huh? You really went all out.”
Arie turned to me with a smirk. “Only the best for my one–night distraction.”
I scoffed but followed her toward the elevator. The air between us was charged with anticipation, but something about this felt too… Out of place?
I eyed her as we stepped inside the elevator. “You sure you’re not setting me up for something?”
She gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her chest. “Carter, I am offended by your lack of trust.”
I chuckled. “Yeah, yeah. But seriously, how did you know I’d say yes?”
She shrugged, watching the elevator doors close. “Because you needed this. And I’m really good at reading people.”
The way she said it made something stir in my chest. There was
something about her confidence, the way she carried herself like she knew exactly what she was doing.
And yet. I couldn’t shake the feeling that she wasn’t just doing this for
fun.
The elevator dinged, and we stepped out into the lavish penthouse. Floor- to–ceiling windows overlooked the city, casting soft reflections of the two of us in the glass. A bar sat in the corner, fully stocked. The bed, massive and covered in beautiful floral sheets, stood in the center of the room like an invitation.
It was one of the best suites I have seen.
Arie kicked off her heels and stretched. “So, Carter…” She turned to face me. her expression mischievous and taunting, “Are you backing out?”
I hesitated, staring at her.
Was I?
My phone buzzed again in my pocket, and I was tempted to check it, but I forced myself to ignore it.
Not tonight.
I stepped forward, closing the space between us. “No.”
Her smirk widened. “Good.”
She reached for the bottle of whiskey on the bar, pouring two glasses. “Then let’s make this night worth it.”
I took the glass from her, our fingers brushing slightly.
One night.
No strings.
Nothing could go wrong… right?
I clinked my glass against hers, watching as she downed her drink in one go. The amber liquid burned as it slid down my throat, but it wasn’t nearly enough to drown out the chaos in my mind.
Arie set her glass down and arched a brow. “You’re thinking too much.”
I let out a short laugh. “That obvious?”
She stepped closer, tilting her head as she studied me. “Yeah. But that’s not what tonight is about, is it?”
Her fingers trailed down my chest, a slow, deliberate touch that sent a shiver down my spine. She was right. Tonight wasn’t about thinking. It was about escape.
I exhaled sharply, setting my glass down beside hers. “You’re trouble, you know that?”
She grinned, biting her lip. “And yet, you’re still here.”
Before I could respond, my phone buzzed again, more insistent this time. Arie sighed dramatically and snatched it from my pocket before I could
react.
“Aric…”
“Relax, I’m just saving you from whatever nonsense is trying to ruin your night.” She waved the phone in front of me, her expression playful. “Or we could just toss this aside.”
She dropped my phone and got on top of me. My shoulders immediately
Chapter 14
tensed and I began rethinking my decision to do this.
“You overthink too much, Carter,” she leaned against my face until our lips were just inches apart. “It’s not sexy.”
“And you are not thinking enough,” I muttered under the same breath and her eyes flickered to mine.
“I guess that’s why we balance each other out,” she whispered. She swiped her tongue gently over my lips and they parted slowly.
Her lips slowly captured mine and delicious shivers ran through my mind. They were soft and moulded perfectly against mine. The kiss was slow and reason, like she was daring me to lose control. She deepened the kiss, fingers tangling in my hair as she straddled my lap.
Arie tasted like whiskey and something dangerously addictive.
I let my hands settle on her waist, gripping her hips as she rocked slightly against me. My body responded before my mind could catch up, the heat between us was rising too fast, too intense.
She pulled back just enough to whisper, “See? Feels better when you stop thinking.”
I exhaled sharply, my fingers tightening on her waist. “You always this reckless?”
She smirked. “Only when I know I won’t regret it.”
Her confidence was intoxicating. She didn’t hesitate, didn’t second–guess. She just was. And damn, it was hard not to be drawn into her world.
I leaned in, brushing my lips against her jaw, just to hear the hitch in her breath. She shivered, her fingers pressing into my shoulders.
Chapter 84-
Then, my phone buzzed again.
Loud. Urgent. Persistent.
Aric groaned and flopped back onto the bed, throwing an arm over her face. “If that’s a Meghan emergency, I swear I will block her myself.”
I wanted to ask how exactly she knew about Meghan, enough to hate her. It couldn’t possibly be the internet because people there adored her.
She picked up my phone with annoyance and opened my notifications.
“Well fuck me, I am a damn good guesser,” she chuckled but that was all it took to dampen my expression and plunge me back into my misery. “What did you do to her?”
“What do you mean by what I did I do to her?” I asked, sitting up immediately.
“Well, it says here, Millionaire’s Fiancee, Meghan Sterling, appears on Livestream with a battered face to denounce her claims on her husband, Carter Grayson’s involvement in domestic violence.” She read out.
I grabbed the phone from Arie to check it myself and the first picture I saw had me shock to the bones.
What the fuck?