Malik (Carter Brother Series Book 1) (20 page)

“He’s a man. All men are pricks,’’ I tell her but she gives me a look that has me retracting that statement. “Okay, not all men are pricks, but anyone who hurts you is. He’s not worth it Denny. Soon you’ll be crying over another lad who broke your heart until you find Mr. Right. I know people say he doesn’t exist, but I truly believe we have our other half out there somewhere waiting for us.’’

“Yeah, but what if Mason’s my other half?’’ she asks sadly.

“Then he just lost the best thing that could ever have happened to him. But I believe if he was, things will work out the way they should.’’

“I don’t think I can ever trust him again Harlow. He’s hurt me so badly. All over me giving him something I’ll never get back.’’

“Hey, you off?’’ Malik says interrupting us as he runs towards us. He looks between me and Denny before scrunching up his eyes. It has me wanting to laugh at him. He looks petrified that he’s going to be dragged into our heart to heart and have to talk about emotions.

“Yeah, I was just about to text you to come and say goodbye.’’

“I’m coming with you,’’ he says looking at me like I’m mad.

“You can stay here with your friends. I know you don’t have curfew on weekends so you don’t need to come back on my account,’’ I smile.

“I know I don’t, but I want to head home with you. I’ll be bored without you and just end up wondering what you’re doing all night anyway,’’ he shrugs like it’s no big deal, when really it’s one of the sweetest things he has ever said. My heart melts right there and I can’t help but give him a soppy smile.

“Come on then,’’ I tell him turning my smile into a grin.

He jumps down the last few steps of the house, grabbing a hold of me by the waist. He gives me a questioning look about Denny, but I shake my head and mouth ‘later’ to him. He nods his head before grabbing my hand leading the way back home.

By the time we get back home Denny is a sobbing mess. She hasn’t spoken the entire way home and I think Malik is mostly the reason for that, but I know we’ll talk once we get inside the privacy of my room.

“I’ll be up in a minute,’’ I tell her, but she walks past me up the stairs looking like a zombie. Especially with the makeup running down her face from all her tears.

“What happened?’’ Malik grunts.

“Mason. He was a complete asshole to her Malik. He’s lucky I didn’t kick him in the balls.’’

“Well someone did that for you,’’ he chuckles pulling me to him. “When I left he was by the fridge with a bag of ice to his dick.’’

“Ahhh, well, that was Denny. He kind of pushed her to it,’’ I wince remembering the look of pain on his face.

Malik grins shaking his head, “Remind me never to get on your bad side.’’

“Let’s hope that doesn’t happen?’’ I giggle.

Moving his face into my neck, his warm breath tickles my neck sending shivers down my spine. I hear him breathe me in and the sensation has me panting and lighting up like a flame.

He presses his tongue against my neck leaving a moist trail in his path. It has me losing my breath completely, my whole body throbbing reaching every last limb. Nibbling his way up my neck and across my jaw, he reaches the side of my mouth flicking it with his tongue.

My hands roam the hard plains of his body, loving the feel of him beneath my fingers. He groans as my nails dig into his hips and brings his lips to mine in a fiery kiss. Both our breathing turns ragged as we cling tightly together, neither of us ready to pull apart.

His hands move to my ass cheeks under my skirt, pulling me to him as he rubs me against his erection. I moan out loving that I do this to him. Without thinking I rub myself harder against him, moaning into his mouth. My stomach is in knots wanting more, but too afraid to ask for it.

He must sense my need to feel more, because one minute his hands are rubbing and squeezing my ass and the next he is lifting me up off the floor. I wrap my legs around his waist, running my fingers through his hair as he efficiently carries me to the side of the house.

Once we’re there he slams me as gently as possible up against the side of the house, his breathing loud as his eyes stay locked on mine. The dark intensity of them has me paralyzed; never wanting to look away, but the need to have him overwhelms me.

My hands grab onto his hair at the nape of his neck, bringing his lips to me. It starts off slower this time, but it doesn’t cool down the burning fire he built inside me moments ago; if anything I feel like I’m burning hotter with each stroke of his tongue.

He presses his body against mine keeping me up against the hard wall, the brick digging into the back of my skin, but I can’t think about anything but Malik and the feel of his lips and hands.

I moan when his hands snake down the back of my legs, up to my sex, rubbing me gently over my knickers.

“You’re wet,’’ he breathes out huskily.

“Always for you,’’ I moan truthfully. I am always wet when he’s around. Even at the worst possible times, like in art class, or the dinner hall; I’m constantly finding myself always turned on by him.

His fingers tease the fabric of my knickers right above my bundle of nerves, until I’m shamelessly begging him to touch me.

“I am touching you, baby,’’ he smirks, his fingers moving skilfully bringing me closer and closer to the edge.

“No, I want you to put your fingers in me,’’ I beg, my face flushing bright red and I can feel the heat coming from my cheeks.

Malik doesn’t waste time once the words leave my mouth; his fingers slide the thin material aside before he slides his fingers through my wet heat. My body starts to tremble from the way he presses down hard on my clit in a circular motion.

I become lightheaded when he enters a finger inside me followed by another. I know I’m close. I can feel it. The way my stomach tightens, my core clenches around his fingers and the way my vision becomes blurred. He’s driving me past the point of insanity.

His fingers pump harder as his breathing increases into my neck. My orgasm is building closer and I know I’m going to fly over the edge at any second.

“Damn it Harlow, cum,’’ he growls at me in a strangled voice.

I make a noise in the back of my throat in return. I want to tell him I’m trying, that I’m close, but no words come out, the only sound to be heard is my whimpers and moans and his heavy breathing.

It’s not until he bites down on the side of my neck that I shatter, my whole body tightening. I cling to his body as I ride through my orgasm, a low cry leaving my mouth.

It takes me a while to catch my breath and to find the strength to lift my head because it feels that stiff. When I do, I look into the most intense eyes ever. They’re so dark filled with lust that I can feel myself becoming turned on again. Malik must see the change in my eyes because he gives me a look that has me giggling into his neck, only to stop short when my giggles turn into a yawn.

“Come on babe, let’s get you to bed,’’ he chuckles, giving me one more kiss before putting me down.

“You’re still staying over tomorrow night right?’’ I hate that my voice is shy, but I know it’s more to do with me not wanting him to reject me. It’s what I’m scared the most about.

“Got nowhere I’d rather be babe. I’ll see you tomorrow around five though. I need to go to Harvester to pick up some parts for my bike.’’

“That’s fine. I’m actually going into town with Denny. That’s if she’s still up to it,’’ I say sadly, feeling bad that I’ve left her alone when she’s so upset.

“Okay,’’ he says walking me to the door. “Night babe,’’ he says pulling me in for another kiss.

Ten minutes later, Malik and I stop kissing and he finally walks home. Walking into my bedroom, I’m wearing a huge grin across my face. It slips when I see Denny on the other side of the bed curled up in a ball fast asleep. Her hair is all knotted; fanning around her pillow and her makeup has stained her cheeks.

Tomorrow when we wake up I’m going to make sure she forgets about him. Her mom had given her some money at the beginning of the week to get what she needed, so I’m hoping she will use it for some retail therapy.

With that I get out of my clothes and join her in bed. Hoping tomorrow will be a better day, not just for her, but for me too.

Denny and I didn’t get up until late morning, so we’ve headed to a cafe that serves an all-day breakfast to fuel up before heading into the stores. We haven’t discussed Mason and last night yet, and I’m hoping that when I do she won’t get too upset with me bringing it up. I just want her to be okay. She’s the only girl friend that I’ve made since I’ve moved out here. She’s also done more for me than any of my other friends back home.

Home.

It’s not my home anymore. As sad as it is to say that, I’m glad I got to move here. I’d do anything to bring my parents back and be at home with them, but I also hope that if they were still here that we’d end up right where I am now.

My mom never spoke about Grandma and whenever I brought it up she’d brush my questions off by bringing something else up. My dad however spoke about his parents whenever I asked or if something reminded him of them. They died when he was younger, so I guess for him it was different talking about them than it was for my mom.

I snap out of my thoughts when Denny grabs my attention making a funny noise. She’s looking at me with wide eyes before shoving her phone in my face.

She has her Facebook screen up showing Hannah Gittens profile page. My eyes go wide when I see her status, my eyes filling with tears and anger.

Looks like the new girl got booted.

Attached, is a picture of Malik and another girl hugging each other. My mind doesn’t see anything else apart from him leaning against the bar in the basement we were in last night with his hands around some chick.

“Oh my God,’’ I whisper feeling my heart break. My phone vibrates in my pocket so I take it out and answer without looking. My eyes can’t look away from what is in front of me. Why would he do this?

“Babe?’’ Malik rushes through the phone. A sob escapes and I place my hand across my mouth not wanting him to hear how much this has hurt me. “Babe, it’s not what you think. That picture was taken two years ago. Look at my hair, it’s longer, and have you ever seen me in those clothes? No, because they were Chris’s. I borrowed them from him after we messed around on the bikes and ended up filthy. I don’t know what the fuck her problem is, but I’m going to deal with it Harlow.’’

The phone is silent for a few seconds before he sighs, I want to talk, but I can’t. Looking closer to the picture, I can see that he’s right, that his hair is longer in the picture than what it is now and that the clothes aren’t his. They don’t look like something he’d usually wear.

On closer inspection I also notice that the bar isn’t actually the same as last nights. It’s just one made up of wood, with a few bits on. Last night it had beer mats and ash trays on it; it was also painted and varnished in a dark brown.

“I believe you,’’ I breathe, Denny’s eyes looking sympathetic at me. 

“Thank fuck. I’m an hour away and I was ready to jump back in the car and come home. She’s a fucking bitch. I swear when I see her I’m going to go fucking mad. She’s taken it too far.’’

“Just don’t get into trouble, okay,’’ I say, my mind clearer.

“I won’t. Are you okay?’’

“Yeah, it was just a shock. I didn’t even look past your arm around the girl,’’ I whisper, feeling bad once again that I doubted him.

“Usually I’d be pissed you didn’t trust me, but you haven’t lived here long enough to know when it was taken, so I’ll let you off. Plus, it isn’t your fault that bitch is out to break us up.’’

“I’m sorry. I know I keep jumping the gun, but Malik, I’m still finding it hard as to why a lad like you, would want a girl like me,’’ I tell him honestly, hating that Denny is listening to my insecurities.

“Babe,’’ he breathes, sounding pained. “You have no idea. I ask myself every day why you’re with a loser like me. Look, enjoy your day. Don’t let this get you down and we’ll talk about this later,’’ he says. That last part sounds like a warning and my stomach fills with butterflies thinking about him.

“Okay,’’ I smile, although he can’t see me.

“See you later babe. Oh and look in the zip compartment in your purse,’’ he says before ending the call. I look at my phone in confusion before it morphs into anger. Oh no he didn’t!

“He put the fucking phone down on me,’’ I snap feeling pissed.

Denny giggles looking at me amused, “What did he say?’’

I take a sip of my tea before filling her in our conversation. Denny rants about Hannah being a bitch, and then questions the last part about the zip compartment.

“What’s in your purse then?’’

“I don’t know,’’ I shrug grabbing my bag.

Everything in my bag looks normal, so I grab my purse out and open it up. Inside I have a zipped compartment and when I unzip it I gasp in surprise. He did not do this? What the hell?

“Tell me, it’s killing me already,’’ Denny chuckles trying to peer over the table.

“He gave me money,’’ I whisper, touched by his generosity and a little pissed he would give me so much.

“What?’’ her excited squeal is contagious. When I look up at her I’m grinning, surprised and touched he would do this. I’m still unsure why he would do this. It’s too much for me to take.

“How much is in there?’’ Denny asks curiously.

I count the money inside of my purse, knowing better than to get it out in public. That’s just asking to be mugged.

“Hundred quid,’’ I gasp. “This is too much. Where has he gotten this money? More importantly, why, if he has this sort of money is he giving it to me?’’

“I don’t know the answer to that, but if he didn’t want you to have it then he wouldn’t have given it to you. Malik isn’t that sort of person. I don’t know much about him and I’ve grown up near them all for most of my life. He’s the quiet one out of them all, well, Maverick is close to next, but I never see him that much to comment. Malik though, he’s always been the same. All the lads in the school wanted to friend him or be him, and the girls wanted to date him. I guess he never paid attention to anyone before which is why I can’t answer that for you. Who knows why Malik does what he does.’’

“I guess,’’ I tell her, my eyes still glued to the money.

Grabbing my phone from off the table I send him a text telling him I can’t accept this, that it’s too much.

Fifty of it is from the others. They all put a tenna in, including Granddad. Enjoy and buy something sexy ;)

I giggle at his easy reply and it warms my heart knowing they all did this for me. Especially when I only told him last night I was going.

“Malik gave me fifty and the rest of the Carter men put in the rest,’’ I smile.

“No way, that is so sweet,’’ she gushes. “Come on, we got some serious shopping to do.’’

Grinning, I grab my bag and coat, and then link my arm through Denny’s as we head off shopping.

*** *** *** **** ****

“I’m not sure about this,’’ I groan through the curtain.

Denny dragged me into an Ann Summers store just as we were about to call it a day. It’s a sex store that sells woman’s lingerie. When we walked in they asked us for I.D. and because neither of us are eighteen, we’ve been told to keep to the restricted areas only. Meaning, we can’t go over by the back where they keep all the sex toys and shit.

Like that’s where I want to go. Sheesh.

Anyway, Denny picked a few racier pieces and demanded I come back to the changing rooms and try them on. Well, the bra’s anyway.

The piece I have on at the moment is a red corset that fits snug on my body, showing off my best assets. I’m blessed in the breast department; I follow my mom and Gram’s in that area. The corset has meshed up sides with a red satin front and a delicate black lace overlay. It has a matching pair of frilly red silk and black lace panties. To complete the outfit she’s made me try on the matching suspenders with black stockings. At the top of the stockings it’s lace with a red satin bow.

Looking in the mirror I have to admit I feel sexy, different, confident, but it’s whether I’ll be able to wear this in front of Malik that has me wanting to puke. I keep thinking it’s too much.

“Come on Harlow. Let me see,’’ Denny whines.

“Jesus! You’re bossy,’’ I moan before sneaking my head out the curtain. “Quick, I’m not going out there.’’

She walks over from the wall she’s leaning on with a massive grin on her face. Once she pops her head into the curtain she gasps looking pleased with her choice.

“Holy shit! You look freaking hot Harlow. If we do your hair wavy, and your makeup, Malik won’t be able to resist you tonight,’’ she winks. “Hell, you could wear a scream mask over your head and in that outfit you’d still look hot as hell.’’

“Shut up,’’ I tell her, smacking her lightly on the arm, both of us laughing. “Go away, I need to get changed.’’

She rolls her eyes stepping out of the curtain.

Once I’m changed back into my clothes, I purchase the lingerie then meet Denny outside on the sidewalk. She’s still talking on the phone when I walk out and lifts her index finger indicating ‘She’ll just be a minute’ rolling her eyes.

“I’ll be home within the next couple of hours mother. No. Okay. I understand mother. Thank you, mother.’’

The one sided conversation is weird. Denny doesn’t even sound like herself. She sounds really uptight, posh, and not the girl who cusses every other sentence that I’ve come to know. Denny doesn’t talk about her parent’s. Once I thought it had something to do with my parents being dead. She knew about their deaths, just not about how they died. I began to think she didn’t want me to be upset about seeing her parents together, but when I questioned her over it she just said they don’t allow her to have guests over and left it at that.

“My mom is a nightmare,’’ she groans frustrated once she ends the call.

“Why, what’s wrong?’’ I smile, showing her I’m comfortable with the conversation.

“Someone tattled to my mother last night. Said they saw me crying and looking out of it.’’

“What?’’ I ask blown away.

“Yeah.’’

“What did you say?’’

She looks at me sheepishly, like she’s ashamed of what she’s about to tell me, so I give her an encouraging smile.

“I lied,’’ she groans covering her face. “I lied to her. She would kill me if she found out I went to a party after the field. So I told her we went for some food then on the way home I ended up tripping over and banging my head. That it hurt that bad I started crying because of it.’’

I can’t help it, I start laughing. She’s nearly eighteen and legal to go out drinking, yet her mother won’t let her go to a party.

“What is she going to do when you turn eighteen?’’

“She’ll probably lower my curfew to eight,’’ she rolls her eyes. “Honestly, she’s so strict and don’t even get me started on my dad. She says jump he says how high. Sometimes I wonder how they’re together. I caught him once sneaking outside for a fag in the garden. He’s a grown ass man for Christ sakes.’’

I start laughing harder as we make our way down the street to the bus stop. We’ve gotten everything we came for, and I need to get back to say goodbye to Gram’s before she heads off to Edna’s.

“Well... well... well,’’ a snarky voice sneers from behind us.

“Really,’’ Denny groans turning around. “Do you not have anything better to do?’’

“Fuck off Smith, wouldn’t want mommy knowing you were in a porn shop now would we?’’ Hannah laughs along with her four other friends.

“Screw you,’’ Denny snaps.

“Why don’t you just go,’’ I say glaring at Hannah.

“Oh she talks. I thought your friends all spoke for you. Heard Malik had a good night last night.’’

The smug look on her face has me stepping forward making her cackle. Grrr, what I’d do to wipe that bloody smug look from her face. She’s the same at school, walking around on her high horse wearing a smug smile that is so freaking irritating. It’s like she knows something that I don’t when I see her giving me that snarky look. One day karma is going to bite her in the ass. Hopefully I’m around when that happens.

“Yeah he did,’’ I grin, thinking about his talented fingers and what they did to me.

Her face loses its look for a split second before she straightens it again, looking at me with so much hatred that I wonder where it all came from. It’s not like I’ve been here long to make enemy’s but somehow I’ve managed to make two.

“You think you’ve got him now, but once he sees what a frigid bitch you are he will go running back to his other girls. You think Tammy is going to let him go after what they did last night?’’

“You’re so full of shit Hannah, you really need to get a life.’’

“I’d love to say I feel sorry for you but I don’t. I’m looking forward to watching him crush you. You need to watch your back bitch,’’ she says walking towards me, I see it coming but I’m too shocked that she had the nerve to threaten me to even move out the way. Her shoulder slams into mine knocking me back a few steps.

“Stupid cow,’’ I mumble under my breath.

“Ignore her. She’s a jealous bitch and always has been. Don’t even think she’s friends with anyone that’s been with Malik. I don’t think he knows but she made their lives a living hell at the parties. Most ignored her, but then there was the odd girl who would run off crying.’’