“I’ve been drinking,” my father says, standing. “I’ll get one of the boys from the station to come and give you a lift home.”

“No bother, Mr. Montgomery. I’ll walk,” Meg replies.

“I’ll walk you home,” I offer, rising to stand next to her.

“No. I don’t like the idea of Megan walking home on her own, and if you go then you’ll have to come back alone,” my dad says.

“I’ll go with them,” Carter chimes in. My dad’s eyes move to him as he considers his offer.

“Okay. It’s fine as long as Carter goes with you.” I look at my dad. Is he serious? After the look he gave us before, I’m surprised he’s comfortable with us being alone together now.

••••

Once we’ve walked Meg to her door I hug her goodbye. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” she whispers in my ear. It earns her a pinch under the arm. There’s not much she wouldn’t do. “Ouch,” she laughs. “Thanks for walking me home, Carter,” she adds looking over at him.

“No problem,” he replies. His hands are shoved in his pockets looking all cool, calm and sexy.

“Feel free to take advantage of my friend on the way home,” she says with a wink. Oh. My. Fucking. God. She did not just say that. Carter just laughs at her comment. I, on the other hand, want to crawl under a rock and die. I’m glad I pinched her now. I should’ve done it harder. She’ll pay for that remark tomorrow. I give her a look letting her know I’m not impressed with what she just said. She just smiles at me sweetly. Bitch.

We’re both quiet on the walk back. I don’t know what to say to him. I’m still dying inside from Meg’s words. In a way I hope he takes her advice, in a way I don’t.

I know I probably shouldn’t pry considering I get the sense that all dad talk is off limits, but I jump straight in. “Does your stepdad speak that way to you often?” I ask, trying to break the awkward silence.

“I guess,” he shrugs. “He’s a cocksucker. I can’t stand him. What my mum sees in him, I’ll never know.”

“I’ve thought the same thing. She seems so nice,” I tell him as I shake my head trying to make sense of it.

“You don’t like him either?” he asks, looking at me surprised.

“No. Neither does my dad. They nearly came to blows a while back.”

“Why?” he asks.

“Lassie did his business on his lawn. You know, a poop. Let’s just say he wasn’t impressed. When he screamed at me and made me cry, my dad lost it.”

“Larry’s a fucking champion,” he chuckles.

“Lassie,” I remind him.

“Sorry, kid,” he says draping his arm around my shoulder. “He’s always gonna be Larry to me. You’ve gotta admit Lassie is a shit name for a kickass dog like that.”

As much as his comment gets under my skin, I’m smiling like a fool. I can’t believe he has his arm around me. I take a deep breath, inhaling his cologne. It’s musky and manly and very him. I could drown in his scent. Ugh! It’s official—I’m pathetic.

The nights this time of year in the suburbs of Sydney are quite hot, but his body temperature next to mine feels fine. I’m certainly not complaining. “I used to watch Lassie on television with my dad when I was a kid, which I’m not anymore by the way.” He throws back his head and laughs. Ignoring him I continue. “After every episode I’d beg him to buy me a dog just like that. One day he came home with Lassie. Of course he wasn’t a Collie, but I didn’t care. They both had the long hair and similar colouring. My Lassie came from a litter of pups from one of the police dogs on the force. That’s how my dad got him.”

“Nice story, great dog, but unfortunately still a shit name for my man Larry.” I playfully elbow him in the stomach and he laughs again. He’s really let his guard down tonight. I wish he was like this more often. He’s actually not a bad guy when he’s not being an arsehole.

“I like it, so it’s staying,” I enforce.

“Well, I like Larry, so that’s what I’m going to continue to call him,” he counters, pulling me closer to his side. I’m so short compared to him that I fit neatly under his arm.

We walk the rest of the block in silence. I’m tempted to wrap my arm around his waist, but I don’t. I’m sure that his arm around me is nothing romantic on his part, just a friendly gesture. When we reach my place we stop walking. “Are you going to come in, or head home?” I ask.

“Nah. I think I’ll head home. Tell your dad thanks for inviting me over tonight,” he replies, dropping his arm from my shoulder and turning to face me.

“I will.” I turn to walk away. “Goodnight, Carter,” I say looking at him over my shoulder. He reaches out and pulls me back towards him. My body lands flush against his. Turning me to face him, his arms slide around my waist pinning me to him.

“Are you sorry I didn’t take your friend’s advice?” His voice is low and sexy. His eyes lock with mine, and my heart rate accelerates.

“What?” At first I’m not sure what he’s talking about, then it hits me. Meg’s comment. “No,” I screech screwing up my face.

“Liar,” he says smirking. “You were hoping I’d take advantage of you.”

“I was not.” I try to turn to walk away again, but he holds me tight. He’s so full of himself. Sure there was a part of me that hoped he would, but I’m certainly not going to admit that to him. It’s puzzling that I’d even want that considering the way he treats me.

He pulls me closer against him while one of his hands tilts my face up towards his, locking his eyes with mine. My heart is beating so fast now. His gaze moves down to my lips before moving back to my eyes. His face inches forward ever so slowly. Oh God. I think he’s going to kiss me.

My breath hitches when his lips are mere centimetres from mine. “You want me to kiss you don’t you?” he breathes.

“Yes,” I whisper without hesitation. Did I just admit that out loud? I kind of expect him to start laughing and hold it over me with a, “See I told you, you wanted me,” but surprisingly he doesn’t. Instead he groans before his lips gently meet mine. My hands slide up his front, fisting in his shirt, pulling him closer.

When my lips part he slides his tongue into my mouth, deepening the kiss. This is one hot kiss. I moan against his mouth. Nobody has ever kissed me like this before. It’s one of those kisses that make your toes curl. Is it possible to have an orgasm from just a kiss because I think I’m close to having one right now?

I clench my thighs together. Nobody has ever turned me on like this. Suddenly, the porch light comes on. Shit, my dad. We both pull away from each other with a start. “Indi, is that you out there?” my father calls through the screen door.

“Yes, it’s me,” I reply, my eyes still locked on Carter. We’re both breathing heavy. “I’m coming inside now.” Carter exhales as his hands run through his dark hair. His eyes still haven’t left mine. I think he’s just as shocked as I am.

I take a few steps backwards. What the hell was that? I can’t speak. I have no words for what just happened. No words for how that kiss made me feel. “I have to go,” is all I say as I turn and run up the front steps. Far out.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Carter

Jesus Christ. What the fuck was that? I don’t know what just came over me. Sure, from the moment I saw her, I wanted those lips on mine, I’ll admit that. But, never did I think I would act on those feeling. Never did I think it would actually happen. And never did I think it would make me feel what I just did. Fuck.

I’m well and truly screwed.

After she walks into the house I continue to stand there. I can’t seem to get my legs to work. My middle leg is working just fine. That fucker is standing proud. It’s so fucking hard it actually hurts. Why did I go there? Why?

When the blood eventually leaves my cock and flows back into my legs, I drag my arse towards the house. I don’t bother going through the front door. I head straight for my bedroom window. I can’t face my mum or Fuckwit right now. My head is all over the place. What am I going to do? As much as I’d like to, I can’t go there with her. I just can’t.