Callous Heir (The Heirs 5)

I lose total control to my dominant side, and gripping her tighter, my tongue brushes hard strokes against hers. Carla’s taste… the feel of her body… the sensuality pouring off of her – it’s all intoxicating. My heart thunders against my ribs as emotions explode through me like fireworks. My skin sizzles to life, begging for her touch. The electric current that’s been humming between us grows a thousand times stronger in voltage, threatening to electrocute us.

I have no idea for how long I devour her mouth, and when she pulls back, I’m dead sure I wouldn’t have stopped if it was up to me.

Carla stares at me, breathless and wide-eyed.

I catch my breath and lifting a hand, I wipe over my face as I move back so I can sit on her bed. I feel out of my depth and don’t know where to begin or how to address the elephant in the room.

Carla comes to sit down next to me, and for a long moment, we both just stare ahead of us.

She clears her throat and adjusts her pink long sleeve shirt that’s dropped from her shoulder. “So… that just happened.”

“Yeah,” I murmur. I try to search for the right words to say, but seeing as I suck at communicating with the opposite sex, I’m left speechless.

Carla turns her body toward mine and reaches for my hand. “Do you need time to process the kiss?”

Surprised, my eyes dart to hers. “We don’t have to talk about it right now?”

The corner of her mouth lifts as she shakes her head. “I know you, Noah. You need time to figure out what it means. I can wait.”

“You’re not angry?” I ask because any other girl would probably tell me to go to hell.

“Not at all.” A beautiful smile spreads over her face. “You kissed me.” She shrugs, and it makes the shirt slip down her shoulder again.

Pulling my hand free from hers, I tug the fabric back over her skin. “Technically, you kissed me.”

Carla lets out a chuckle, “Yeah, but you’re the one who took it further.” Then she mimics Sid from Ice Age, “For a second there, I actually thought you were gonna eat me.”

Chuckling, a smile forms around my lips, and for a moment, I just stare at her. I take in the happy glow on her face, and it makes warmth spread through my chest.

I’m responsible for that look on her face.

I wrap my hand around the back of her neck and pull her to me. Hugging her, I murmur, “You’re turning out to be quite the surprise, Carla Reyes.”

“Yeah?” she whispers as her arms circle my neck. “In a good way?”

I nod and squeeze her tighter to me. “I just need time. Okay?”

Again, Carla is the first to pull back. Her gaze locks with mine and seeing the love she feels for me almost makes me kiss her again. Instead, I get up and shove a hand in my pocket. I rub over the back of my neck with my other hand.

“It’s okay, Noah,” Carla says as she rises to her feet. “Go think. I’m fine.”

I still hesitate, and unable to just leave, I lift my hand to her cheek. I lean down and press a kiss to her forehead. Before I pull back, I whisper, “Thank you for understanding me.”

I let go of her and walk out of her room.

As soon as I shut my door behind me, I stand and stare at the carpet like a stupefied idiot.

It’s clear Carla isn’t a kid anymore, and seeing as that was the only reason I was keeping my distance from her, what’s stopping me now?

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

CARLA

I fall back on my bed, and with the broadest grin, I stare up at the ceiling.

Holy. Shit.

That just happened.

Noah kissed me.

There was tongue.

Lots of tongue.

“Ahhhh…” I let out a happy shriek as I wiggle and shake my body on the mattress.

Suddenly my door opens, and I shoot up into a sitting position. Surprise ripples through me as Noah walks back into my room. He comes to take a seat again, and then he stares at the floor.

I sit absolutely still, not sure what this means. He couldn’t possibly have thought about it already, could he?

After a couple of minutes, he lifts his head and turns to look at me. “I like you, Carla.”

Oh, God. This is where he rejects me again.

My heart begins to shrivel into a tiny lump.

Then he murmurs, “I need to take things slow.”

Huh?

I can only sit and blink at him.

He takes a deep breath, and a slight frown forms between his eyes. “I’m not good with emotions.”

I nod, unable to form words.

“And I don’t want to hurt you again.”

I nod again, fisting my hands on my lap.

Noah notices and reaching for one of my hands, he wraps his strong fingers around mine.