The Carrero Effect Trilogy

Chapter 29

Wandering around, getting my bearings long after the men have packed up and gone for the day, helps this feel less like a dream. The tools are tidied away in piles against the hall walls, the masses of dust brushed to one side, and all that remains is the plastic protecting the floor and the canvas sheets covering delicate pieces of furniture from Jake's apartment. The aura of moving in settling around me, making me grin in excitement.

Jake is busy exploring the rooms and checking for things he wants to alter, being his usual commanding self while I wander this beautiful house, absorbing the feel of it, realizing that this will be our home from now on. It's helping me, making me feel less like a guest in an expensive show house. It's big enough that if Jake and I should ever need space, we could wander in two different directions with no hope of seeing one another.

The house is eerily empty and silent. The staff is still away until all construction work is completed. For now, Mathews is living in the pool house while his self-contained annex is decorated, ready for the arrival of his wife. Jefferson is being allocated to the city when Jake flies back for business, and his cars moved here, so he doesn't require a driver. However, Mathews will happily still chauffeur Jake when I don't need him.

The plan is to sleep here, in our new room, and oversee the decorating, picking out furnishings and furniture with Monica. We can eat and escape to Sylvana's when we need to, but we need our own space to start this new chapter of our lives. The freedom to relax and have intimacy when we feel like it, without prying eyes.

"Emma?" Jake's voice echoes down to me from the top of the stairs, making me smile. There's something extremely homely and domestic about his voice calling through this house, looking for me, sexy and husky as always.

"Down here," I call back, padding into the kitchen to admire my shiny new appliances. I'm surprised to find a fully ready-to-use kitchen, stocked cupboards, and a bursting refrigerator. Sylvana's trademark Tupperware in the huge double steel doors and shelves, all labeled with heating instructions, she has thought of everything.

Jake strolls in, looking seductive in sweats and a T-shirt, and I'm still in an over-fluffy bathrobe from swimming around that huge tub with him. He immediately heads to the coffee machine that looks like the one from his apartment, but this one is chrome instead of black. This added touch to the kitchen must be one of his choices. The coffee maker has a small place in his heart.

"Mamma says she has a bunch of info sheets for you from her counselor friend and some insight on how to become one." He smiles over at me while preparing the machine, all sexy shoulders and tensing biceps, completely distracting.

"We should go over in the morning." I yawn, trying to drag my gaze off his beautiful body. We arrived late in the afternoon, and the 'unclean' soap fun took considerably longer than an hour. Tadpole and I need food and sleep, in that order. This baby is ruining me. I am such a tired lightweight these days.

"Yeah, I told her it would be tomorrow." He glances at me, and I nod gratefully. The soft look he's giving me makes me feel content; he knows I need some rest just from looking at me.

Jake is running things with Carrero Corp. in his own way; a trip once a week back to the city until he's happy Margo and her new staff are competent enough to take over, then he's planning on fortnightly trips to check up on things until after the baby is here. The idea of having weeks of blissful homemaking with Jake while waiting on our little tadpole is my idea of heaven. I thought we'd never get to this point. The baby's nursery is one of our first projects to tackle together now we're here.

"I just want to get things sorted and settle in properly," I beam. "It feels like this is the last hurdle before life can start." I run a hand over my stomach affectionately, a small bump starting to firm up and extend slightly, another sign bringing this reality back to me.

"It will be soon enough, Bambina. If I have to pay them triple time to haul ass, I will. I want nothing more than to start feeling at home here with you." Jake slides a mug under the machine, catching the hot liquid as it pours out.

"Home." I sigh, gazing around the expansive modern kitchen with a touch of emotion. That's what this place is; home to start a family in. To fill with memories, where I belong with him, a new chapter, and a fresh start to forget everything from before.

"Home is anywhere you are." He suddenly nuzzles into me from behind and nudges his groin over my backside suggestively.

"You're still as insatiable as ever." I giggle, his hands coming around to slide inside my robe in true smooth Casanova fashion, his mug discarded at the machine.

"Do you blame me? You're still as fuckable as ever." His hand is heading south on a mission, thanking my inner stars for my lack of underwear as he kisses my neck and moves in for the kill. His hands skim my nakedness and yank the robe open, so he can access me undeterred.

Moving around to my front and into me, he slides his arms around my waist underneath the fabric of the robe, delicious skin-on-skin movement, lifting me onto the kitchen counter in an easy maneuver. His mouth comes to mine, teasing me into erotica as his hands skim my naked upper body. Jake moves his groin firmly between my legs, his tongue sliding into my mouth, catching the back of my head in his palm so he can pull me into his kiss. I have zero capability to stop things from heating up while in this very compromising position.

I groan as he pulls back, sucking my bottom lip, moving into kissing me passionately, his hand smoothing down my naked abdomen, meeting the apex of my thighs with a welcome moan.

His phone vibrates across the countertop beside me, making me jump and giggle as he pulls back slightly with a lusty expression to retrieve it. He curses under his breath and throws me a naughty half-smile.

"Saved by the bell." He growls, his voice low and sexy. He still has his hand between my legs, cupping my warmth gently while he retrieves his phone and sticks it to his ear.

"Jake Carrero, speaking." He leans in and kisses me again slowly, that tongue dipping into mine mercilessly despite the phone almost poking me in the face.

"Uhuh." He props up his phone with one shoulder and returns to running his other hand over my exposed breast, leaning in to trace his tongue up my neck and send a thousand tingles through me. He doesn't care that he's in mid-conversation with someone.

"Thursday?" He sighs, looking at me with a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. His hand between my thighs is extracted as he takes his phone and swaps ears, a look of agitation on his boyish face. 'Business Carrero' moving in to kill his libido. Something must be wrong at work, and disappointment washes over me.

"Fuck's sake, Margo! Can't they do a fricken thing without me standing over the top of them shouting fucking orders?" He lets me go fully, stalking toward the huge wall of french doors, and glares outside. His body is rigid but divine as hell and tense as he pushes a hand to his waist, fisting it there in agitation, looking completely intimidating, like a gladiator about to embark on a war. I guess things with work aren't rosy today. He has a few large developments he's overseeing, so his stress levels have been up and down.

"One night … We kept the apartment … Yeah, arrange to have my flight there Thursday and home Friday morning first thing. Jefferson is still in Manhattan, so he can pick me up at the airfield." He almost barks the orders at her, and for a moment, I'm relieved that this is no longer our relationship. As much as I loved working with him and love him in general, I don't think I could tolerate the bossy ass he can be where work is related ever again.

"Sure, I'll see you then … I will, Margo, thanks." Jake hangs up and sighs in irritation, sliding his phone onto the counter beside me where I'm still perched with legs dangling freely, my robe pulled back together.

"Problems?" I enquire gently, sliding my robe sash across and tying it in a knot. He frowns and walks over, tugging it out of my hands, so the robe gapes open, pulling the belt completely free, and tossing it over his shoulder onto the floor with a childish look on his face.

Oh boy.

"Same shitty headaches; a contracts oversight needs signing off and delays on the building we purchased for another sports complex. I need to fly out for a night, baby. I'm sorry to leave you here, but you still can't fly, and this needs to be sorted quickly." He leans in, kissing me on the cheek tenderly, bringing his body firmly between my legs and that undeniable warmth of his. It feels like home.

"It's okay, I'll be fine, your mother is next door, and Mathews is here on guard duty. I can wander around daydreaming about color charts and throw cushions." I wrinkle my nose at him, receiving his sexy smile as a reward, making my smile wider.

"Get used to domestic bliss, Bambina. There's going to be a lot of that as soon as we get this place Emma-worthy." He kisses me softly on the forehead.

"Emma worthy?" I giggle at him and run a hand across his gorgeously rough jawline. "Don't you care how our house turns out?"

"If you two are in it, then nope; happiest guy alive and easy to keep content." His hands find my abdomen, his fingers running gently across my sensitive skin and around my hips slowly.

"You're impossible." My skin tingles under his expert touch.

"Sexy too." He winks at me.

"Hmmm, big-headed with too much ego, more like." I retort with a playful push on the hard expanse of tight chest before me.

"I earned the ego because I know I'm sexy as hell, baby, and your sweet ass knows it." He links his arms around my waist underneath the robe, tugging me forward, so we're almost connected at the groin.

Ah, he's back in Casanova mode and being his delightful cocky self again.

"What will I ever do with you." I gaze adoringly at his face, my arms sliding about his neck, that feels so strong and very edible.

"Go with it … Margo says hi, by the way." He mumbles as he finds his way back to my throat by tracing his tongue across my collarbone. It takes all my willpower not to let my head drop back and sag beneath Jake's roaming hands, instant submission to his touch, like always.

"Mm." I close my eyes to the sensation, and it's all I can say to respond. My inner self gets hot at his attention, and tingles erupt within my entire body.

His phone vibrates harshly for the second time across the countertop, and I groan this time in irritation.

"For the love of fucking God." He lifts an irate face and grabs the phone looking at the screen before putting it to his ear, scowling at me as though, somehow, it's my fault. I mock scowl back and giggle when he tweaks my nose.

"Hunter, this better be fucking good. I was in the middle of something." He snaps down the phone, a devilish look and wolfish smile appear on his face as Hunter correctly pinpoints what kind of busy he is.

"Yeah, I was … Why aren't you doing the same thing and leaving me alone?" Jake isn't snapping anymore; he sounds boorish and tantrummy, both normal Carrero traits, so I relax, knowing this is probably a social call.

"Okay, mate, calm down and breathe." Jake's eyes soften, and once again, he lets me go. This time I'm quick to slide down for my sash and tie up my robe. I love being accessible but being nakedly on show while he walks around the kitchen talking to Daniel isn't my idea of comfortable. The expression on his face is making me more concerned than horny right now. He no longer looks chilled; Jake sighs and eye rolls at me, making me break into a smile.

Whatever it is can't be that bad if Jake is implying that Daniel is a drama queen.

"Look, if you're reacting like this, then maybe you should hold off for now. Get your head around it first?" Jake pauses to listen, then moves the phone away for a second.

"Daniel wants to ask Leila to move in with him when they get home, but he's having a panic attack in their hotel bathroom over it." He lifts his eyebrows in complete deadpan seriousness, not even bothering to cover the mouthpiece when passing on the details.

"Poor, Daniel." I sympathize and watch Jake's face intently.

"It's not a heart attack. It's a panic attack. Stop being a fucking girl." Jake has his bossy unamused face on and his male 'no sympathy, no-nonsense tone' laced in his voice. I shake my head at him and walk forward, stealing the phone from his ear gently. Sometimes bull in a china shop comes to mind with Jake and his sensitivity toward Hunter's romantic problems.

"You're unbelievably hostile for a guy who is usually all love hearts and roses with me." I slide the phone to my ear with a raised brow and a schoolmistress look.

"Daniel, it's Emma." I at least sound friendly and hope a lot more sympathetic to the poor guy's current situation. Jake grabs my ass hard and breathes into my neck as he steals a kiss. I quell the urge to yelp.

"Men don't do 'roses and hearts' chats with each other, baby." He moves off smoothly, and I throw another indulgent look his way. He finally walks to the coffee machine and takes a sip of the coffee he left there.

"Emma. I … can't … fucking … breathe." Daniel is panting and gasping. He sounds like he's in serious distress. My heart immediately goes out to him. He sounds nothing like the playboy master of control he normally is.

"You don't need to do this right now, you know? It's early days, and she won't expect it, so stop pressuring yourself." I suggest, hoping to at least get his breathing back to normal.

"I … love … her." He pants, and I cringe at his efforts to gain control of his breathless fear. I know what that crushing panic feels like. I've had many panic attacks in the past.

"She loves you too, but it doesn't mean you need to follow Jake's example and push her at a hundred and fifty miles per hour." I raise an eyebrow at Jake, and he narrows his eyes right back with a scowl. When I jokingly remark about the speed at which he maneuvered our relationship, it always ignites a bristling face from him; he hates being criticized, but it makes me giggle at him.

"Hey!" He pouts at me, and I blow him a kiss.

"I … I … can't … lose … her." Daniel seems to get a little hold on himself for a moment. "I .. need .. her. She ... needs. me to show her … I'm serious about us. I can't think of how… else to do it …." As though a little self-clarity has distracted him from his crippling tight chest as he seems to regain some verbal control.

"You can only do what feels right." I soothe, wandering away from Jake toward the fridge, turning my back on him, my eternal hunger pushing my feet to scope out the munchies.

"What if she says no?" He gasps, his breathing still shallow and his voice hoarse, but he seems to be normalizing. He's talking more freely now.

"Then it means neither of you is ready, and that's all; it doesn't mean she doesn't love you to death or want a future with you." I can't help but turn and look at Jake over my shoulder with a sarcastic smile, but he frowns back at me knowingly.

"Yeah, yeah. Point made." Jake shakes his head at me and jumps off the counter back to the coffee machine to fiddle with the knobs, obviously unimpressed with the coffee it produced the first time. I shake my head at him and sigh at his beautiful body.

"Are you mooning over Jake right now?" Daniel asks rather pointedly, with a haughty tone, despite distracting Hunter to an almost even breath, and I reply guiltily.

"No … Well, maybe." I blush at being caught, and Daniel lets out a long, slow exhale.

"I want this. I'm just terrified." He sounds so young and vulnerable. It reminds me of the lost-looking boy who sat on our couch when Leila broke up with him, the boy who is slowly becoming a friend to me … of some sort.

Who ever thought that would happen?

"Then tell yourself that she loves you. Remind yourself of why you're asking her." I croon softly, aware Jake's messing with the damn coffee machine, making it look complicated to work, with a frowning and confused look glazing over his face. I think it's more impatience than anything.

"I want her … every day, every night … I want to be able to call her and be like, hey, babe, I'll see you at home." Daniel sighs heavily. "Fuck, I sound as soft as Jake right now." At least he's calmed down now and hasn't noticed that his attack is over; talking about Leila calms him without him even realizing it.

"Yep, you kinda do. He's a sucker for love too." I smile at Jake's wide strong back and flutter my lashes as he glances over at me, all manly attempts at nonchalance disappearing.

"Should I be concerned about you two on the phone?" Jake glares at me with his I'm starting to get jealous tone. I stick my tongue out at him.

"Tell Jake he's an asshole for turning me into this fucking mess with all his talks of the one and happy ever afters," Daniel growls down the phone at the same time as Jake growls at the phone in my hand.

Men don't talk soppy to one another? Right then, Jake.

I sigh with exasperation at being caught between two pig-headed males.

"Jake, you've ruined Daniel's life by pointing out he loves Leila," I say drolly, eye rolling again. Daniel is a drama queen.

"Stop dicking about, man the fuck-up, and just propose, Danny. It's obviously heading that way." Jake says loudly for Daniel's benefit, and there's a sharp inhale of breath and sudden silence on the other end of the cell.

"I think you just caused him to have a cardiac arrest, Jake" I look at him deadpan, hearing the smallest whimpering of hesitation from Daniel. "Oh, never mind. I hear signs of life." I smile wickedly, and Jake continues to glower my way. He's still not in control of that little green-eyed monster growing inside of him, but he's trying to rationalize his stupidity.

"You think that's what she expects so soon?" The fear in Hunter's voice is back with a vengeance, and my heart melts.

"Honestly … No. Leila knows you better than anyone, and I think she won't expect that for a very long time. Stop overthinking this." I smirk at my reflection in the steel refrigerator door at the irony of my sentence.

When did I stop doing that?

I glance back at Jake and catch the same smirk aimed at me as he thinks the same thing.

Yeah, okay, smart ass.

"No, no … You're right. Leila's fucking amazing and supportive and … Fuck. Fuck. She won't want that yet; I don't want that. Emma, I want that. Why wouldn't she want that with me?" The confused turn around in Daniel's tone has me almost giggling.

Daniel is either having some mental breakdown, or he's truly head over heels for that girl and has no control over his emotions.

I catch his heavy breathing coming back.

"Daniel, breathe and stop. You're driving yourself a little crazy. It's too soon, and Leila probably does want that in time. Right now, you're just trying to show the girl she can trust you and have a future with you." I remind him. "She doesn't need anything like this yet, just you to keep proving you love her, and she can trust you." I sound like Sylvana, imparting soft wisdom in hushed tones.

"Trust her. She knows what she's talking about." Jake cuts in. He's had enough of his best friend monopolizing me and swiping the cell from me, propping it on his ear with his shoulder. He manhandles me onto the countertop in a very dominant way, walking me backward toward it with a slight thud.

"Hunter, man up and stop being a pussy. Ask Leila to move in and get off the fucking phone." Jake isn't exactly friendly, but he has a tone of warmth in there somewhere. He yanks open my robe and runs a hand down my abdomen, obviously giving up trying to be patient.

"Go find your girlfriend and fuck her, trust me. I'm sure even you can handle asking her while having sex to take your mind off the fact that you're an emotional cripple." I grimace at how Jake handles Hunter, but I can't be mad since his hand is expertly moving in places that have me writhing. I have a weakness inside me for him that he knows all too well, and I'm instantly submissive putty in his hands; no arguments from me.

Oh, God.

I squirm against his delicious hand between my thighs and watch his transparent green eyes change, glazing over to dark and hazy, his pupils dilating. Excitement rushes up over my body at his lack of patience and control.

"…currently trying to seduce my fiancée and get you off the goddamn phone … Good plan, let me know how you get on … Just not anytime soon," Jake smarts in a lust-filled angry tone and hangs up. He goes to continue his advances up my thighs but stops, realizing something. He tosses his phone into the hall with a crashing thud as it breaks into pieces, echoing around the house.

I guess phone shopping will be on the list tomorrow.

"Jake?!" I giggle, but my breath is halted with a sharp tug of my body to his, and my robe falls open fully. I go limp with desire and can't do anything except gape at his mouth as it moves closer.

"Any other asshole interrupts this, and I'll rip heads off." He growls and moves in with the look of a killer animal devouring its prey.