The Criminals Series

EMMA

I’ve been bedridden for over two weeks and was losing my fucking mind!

Carter wouldn’t let me do anything for myself, with him either guarding me or siccing his watchdog John to cover when he had other things to deal with. But he had some meeting he had to attend, giving me my freedom.

The pain was still there but minimal. John was currently on guard duty. He had left my room to answer a call, so I took that as my opportunity to get up and be productive.

I’d been stuck flipping through channels or reading. The reading I didn’t mind so much, but I’d finished all my books.

I searched the library catalog online, but I didn’t find anything else that interested me, which left me more desperate to get out of bed. I hated not being able to move around on my own and do as I please.

It was five in the afternoon, close to dinner time, and I still had enough groceries I had kept in the freezer to prolong their shelf life to make a decent meal. I decided to make some fettuccine Alfredo.

I pulled out some chicken, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, butter and pasta. I had also purchased spices, garlic powder, ginger, salt, and black pepper, which I marinated the boneless breasts in.

“Emma, what the fuck are you doing? Carter made clear orders that you’re not supposed to leave the room.”

John stampeded into the kitchen like a raging bull. His tall stance hovering down on me made me feel like I was the size of an ant and he was a giant boot about to squish me into the ground.

“Shut up, John. Unless you want to eat another Hungry Man for dinner tonight, you’ll comply without any more harassment. I’m fine. I’ve been in bed for weeks now, and I want to cook,” I protested as I prepared the chicken.

“I’m bored as all hell, and cooking is one thing that not only keeps me preoccupied, but I love doing it. So unless you don’t like chicken Alfredo, you won’t say another word.”

“Fuck Emma, Carter’s gonna kill me.” John quickly gave up the fight, taking a seat on the island bar stool, desperate for a decent meal.

“Carter will be fine, especially once he’s had a bite of this,” I assured him.

“You’re right, but it’s not just your cooking that’ll keep Carter from going ballistic. He’s definitely got a thing for you.”

My head instantaneously whipped around to face John, who looked as surprised as I was, like he had said something he shouldn’t have.

“What?” I asked.

“Shit, Emma, I’ve said too much already. I’ve known Carter forever. Every woman in his life has jumped at the chance to fuck him, and he treats them like shit.

“You’ve not only withheld from getting into bed with him, but you get under his skin like no one else ever has. He may not want to admit it, but I see how much your defiance makes him want you even more, even care about you.

“He was out of his fucking mind, ready to go after Esposito as soon as he saw you all beaten up. He’s not thinking straight when it comes to you. Fuck, I need to shut up.” John reached to his head and pulled at his hair.

“Don’t worry, John, even hearing it coming out of your mouth, I don’t believe it. Carter cares about one person and one person only: Carter. He gets everything he wants at the snap of a finger.

“I doubt me coming into his life has changed anything.” Like I’ve always known, said, and heard before, Carter Jackson didn’t do love, he fucked.

There was nothing special about me to change that. John’s delusional rambling wasn’t going to change that, and I wasn’t gullible enough to believe any different.

“You care about him too, Emma. You two fight like a married couple who, at the end of the day, can’t stay away from each other.”

I wasn’t sure what John was trying to pull, but I wasn't buying it. I was thankful for what Carter had done for me, and that was all.

“Who are you, Doctor Phil all of a sudden? What you think you see is actually your imagination running wild. Now zip it and taste this.”

I was done with the chicken and preparing the sauce. Taking a small spoonful to sample, I blew several times on the hot sauce and brought it to John’s mouth to shut him up.

“Mmmm, that’s amazing.” John closed his eyes, reveling in the taste. My distraction had worked to shut up his nonsense about how me and Carter somehow deep down cared for each other.

Suddenly Carter came barging into the kitchen as I was feeding John, radiating a look of discontent and rage.

To keep him from losing his cool, I immediately walked up to him and reached under the front of his shirt, tracing my fingers over the contours of his muscles.

With my other hand, I took hold of his cheek and started kissing him on his lips, both of us forgetting anything and everything, lost within each other.

It was the first time in the three weeks I’d been there that I was the one initiating anything physical toward Carter, and I’d caught him by surprise.

I continued to run my fingers over his washboard abs, enjoying how they felt as our tongues danced around each other, almost forgetting I had only kissed him to keep him from flipping out.

“You shouldn’t be up, Em.” He spoke softly, more relaxed, once I pulled away.

“I’m feeling a lot better, and I was becoming claustrophobic being stuck in that room for so long. After we eat dinner, I’ll go lie back down. Now sit down at the table. The food will be ready in a minute.”

“Dinner and that’s it, back to bed,” Carter asserted.

“Yes, sir.” I put my hand up to my forehead and saluted him, granting me a smug look in response.

Carter and John went to the dining area and took a seat at the table. Shortly after, I brought dinner out, and surprisingly, we had a nice meal with no arguing.

Not much talking went on with the guys, who were too busy scarfing down all the food, still unused to eating a homemade dinner.

“You can do the dishes since you don’t want me on my feet,” I teased Carter, but also serious. I hated washing dishes.

“You mean John can do the dishes,” he said, chuckling and looking over at John, who just grimaced. He knew he was stuck with the task.

Since I was attacked, Carter had been sleeping on an air mattress every night in the downstairs bedroom with me, not wanting to aggravate my ribs by rolling around next to me on the bed.

Every day he stayed by my side, only leaving periodically to take care of his work. We bickered like usual, but most of the time he ignored my intransigence and waited on me hand and foot.

Tonight, I decided I would go back to his bedroom. I was in his debt, and tonight I would pay him back. Not because we had agreed on it, but because I wanted to. My body was slowly admitting its attraction to him.

Carter had shown me a different side I didn’t think was possible he’d have. He had been sweet and nurturing, making sure I was well tended to, no matter how big a pain in the ass I was.

“Where are you going?” He looked over at me as I made my way to the steps.

“To bed.” I was doing as promised for once, just not to the bed he’d expected me to head to.

“Aren’t you going the wrong way?” he asked as he took the last couple of bites of food left on his plate, confused.

“I’m going the right way. Is there a problem?”

He got the hint that time. “Um, no.”

It was strange. He didn’t seem very enthusiastic like I thought he would be. I tried not to think too much into it and removed all my clothes, then waited for him under the covers.

Once Carter got unclothed and situated himself next to me, I climbed​ on top of his naked body, immediately kissing away at the curve of his neck.

“Carter, I want you to fuck me tonight,” I spoke softly in his ear, heating the lobe with my hot breath.

“Not tonight. I’m tired.” He pulled me off of him and turned over the other way, so his back was facing me.

Completely lost and baffled, I turned my back to him and closed my eyes, wondering what I had done wrong.