Attraction: (A Temptation Series Stand-alone) (The Temptation Series Book 4) (31 page)

‘I’ll tell you what. You let me spread that tangy vinegar
shit on your pussy first and then I’ll let you spread it on my cock.’

A rather large and victorious smile spread across my face.
‘You’re on. How ’bout tonight?’

‘No can do,’ he smiled arrogantly. ‘I’m on continuous shift
for two days.’

I nodded my head at him, unconvinced. ‘Wimp.’

‘Don’t fucking bait me, baby,’ he smiled. ‘You’ll regret
it.’

I let out a sinister laugh. ‘Try me.’

Derek and I continued to make playful stabs at each other
until he dropped me off at my house. It seemed openly expressing our love for
one another had lifted an invisible weight from our shoulders. Well, it had
from mine.

Before exiting the car, I leaned over the centre console and
kissed him goodbye. ‘Be careful,’ I said softly, like I always did when he was
due to go to work.

‘I always am. I’ll call you in a couple of days, okay?’

I nodded sadly and went to open the car door when he stopped
me by pulling my hand to his chest, placing it across his heart.

‘Remember, this is yours,’ he said as he flexed his fingers
over my hand. ‘And this,’ he explained as he gently teased the skin under the
seam of my bra through the opening of my shirt, ‘is mine.’

Derek’s touch set me alight, which was kind of handy
considering he was good at putting it out.

‘Remember, don’t break it,’ I whispered, removing his hand
and placing a swift kiss upon his knuckles.

Jumping out of the car, I turned back around and
dismissively waved my hand in the air. ‘Now go and rescue a cat or something.’

‘Please don’t mention cats, or I’ll have your pussy on my
mind all day.’

Laughing, I turned and walked to my door, sounding a ‘meow’.
Derek growled in response as he reversed out of my driveway before taking off
down the street, leaving a ridiculously large smile on my face.

Moments later, as I was about to step into the shower, my
phone beeped, indicating a text from Derek.

I hope you have pet insurance, because next time I see you,

I’m going to destroy your pussy ~ Derek

Cheeky fucker.
Feeling quite bold — as per usual — I
positioned my phone in front of my snatch and took a photo. I then texted it to
Derek with a message.

Are you sure you want to destroy this? ~ Carly

He replied instantly.

Jesus fucking Christ, baby. Are you trying to cause a car
accident? ~ Derek

Oh shit!
I decided not to text him anymore.

***

Hours later, I was sitting at my desk going through the
emails that had accumulated over the summer holidays and filtering the junk
into the trash bin. School wasn’t due to resume for another three days.
However, there was a lot of paperwork and preparation to be done in order to
ensure the smooth start to the new year.

Fuck off! I don’t want to take care of your billions of
dollars you Swahili fucktard,
I inwardly cursed, pressing delete.
Would
I like Viagra? I don’t even own a dick.
Delete.
Ooh ... Novo has twenty
percent off pumps. Awesome!

Singing ‘Clap Your Hands’ by Sia, I made a mental note to go
shopping after work when Libby walked in.

‘Why are you so happy?’ she asked suspiciously.

‘I’m not.’

‘Yes, you are.’

I fobbed her off. ‘So I’m singing, big deal.’

‘Carly, you are beaming so bright that you practically
blinded me when I walked in.’

I shook my head and hid my face. ‘Pfft. Am not.’

‘Oh my god!’ she squealed.

Ignoring her, I saved an email advertising laser hair
removal.

‘Either he has said the “L” word, or you have. Or both,’ she
said excitedly as she sat her arse on my desk, messing my paperwork piles.

How does she bloody do that? I swear she is a mentalist.

‘You’re an idiot,’ I retorted grumpily, grabbing the
documents that were poking out from underneath her arse.

‘It was you!’ she pointed. ‘You said it!’

Continuing to ignore her, I bunched the paperwork in my hand
and tapped it on the desktop. ‘What was it that you wanted? I have so much work
to do.’

She tapped her chin in a cocky knowing manner. ‘He said it,
didn’t he? No, you both said it to each other.’

‘Yes! All right,’ I conceded. ‘We both said the “L” word. So
what?’

She patted me on the head in a condescending manner. ‘Carly
has finally become a grown-up. Congratulations. I am happy for you.’

Unsuccessfully trying to suppress a smile — because ever
since admitting to Derek that I loved him that’s all my face wanted to do — I
continued to act unfazed. ‘Seriously, Lib, is there anything I can help you
with? I’m kinda busy.’

Scrolling through her phone, she answered. ‘Nope, I’m —’

I waited for her to continue and when she didn’t, I looked
up. ‘Nope, you’re what?’

She didn’t answer me, instead concentrating quite deeply on
whatever it was she was reading.

‘Lib!’

‘Carly, you might want to see this. It’s breaking news. I
don’t know how true it is but —’

Seeing the panic on Lib’s face, I took the phone from her
hand and began to read the
Herald Sun
online breaking news.

CITY TOWERS PENTHOUSE EXPLOSION. ONE CONFIRMED DEAD.

‘Oh, my god!’ I shrieked. ‘Oh no! Oh no.’ Waves of terror
rolled over me as my body began to tremble, causing me to drop her phone.

‘Carly, honey, calm down. Let’s ring Alexis’ phone,’ Lib
suggested.

I nodded, fumbled for my phone, and dialled Lex. After many
attempts, the call would not connect, which only added to my heightened terror.
‘I’ve got to go. I’ve got to go there.’

Shooting up from my seat, I grabbed my phone and keys and
headed for the door.

‘Carly,’ Libby called out, ‘I’m coming with you.’

***

Libby ended up driving us both into the city, which was a
good thing. My head was a mess — a jumble of anxious thoughts — and driving
myself would have been a dangerous mistake. Traffic was crazy due to roads
having been cordoned off by police. News crews and paparazzi were everywhere.

Looking up toward the top of City Tower before entering the
entertainment precinct, I noticed smoke and a blackened exterior. The sight of
it had me doubled over and feeling nauseated. ‘I can’t,’ I said, gasping for
air. ‘I can’t go any closer. I don’t want to know.’

‘Sweetie, you can’t stay here. Come on, we’ll see what we
can find out.’ Lib looped her arm around mine and led me toward the precinct.

Just shy of the building, we were stopped by a security
officer.

‘I’m sorry ladies, you can’t go any further. It’s not safe.’

‘Alexis Summers, Mr Clark’s fiancée, is my best friend. I need
to know that she is all right. She won’t answer her phone,’ I pleaded.

‘I’m sorry. I’m not at liberty to divulge any information at
this stage,’ he said impassively.

‘Please!’ I begged, tears now beckoning. ‘I just need to
know that she is okay.’

His demeanour softened just a little. ‘I’m sorry ma’am, I —’

‘Carly!’ a voice sounded from behind him.

I peeked over the man’s shoulder to find Liam walking
briskly in our direction. ‘Joey,’ he said to the security officer, ‘it’s okay.
Carly is Ms Summers’ best friend.’

‘I told him that,’ I said crossly.

Liam patted Joey on the back. ‘He’s just following protocol,
Carls.’

‘Where’s Lexi, Liam? Is she all right? I need to see her,’ I
begged.

‘She’s been taken to the hospital. She’s fine, apart from
smoke inhalation and, I dare say, shock. Bryce is with her.’

I sighed with relief and fell against Lib. ‘Oh, thank
goodness.’ Another wave of terror washed over me. ‘What about the kids?’

‘I’m fairly sure they are with their father,’ Liam said
reassuringly.

Libby draped her arm over my shoulder and gave me a quick
comforting squeeze. ‘Come on, I’ll take you to the hospital now. You can see
for yourself that Lexi is fine.’

***

Libby drove me to The Alfred Hospital where we headed
straight for the reception counter to find out what room Alexis was in. Upon my
approach, I noticed Will heading for the exit.

‘Will!’ I called out.

Libby groaned with annoyance.

I turned and furrowed my eyebrows at her. ‘What’s your
problem?’

‘Nothing,’ she muttered.

‘Hey, Jaws. And nice to see you again, Labia,’ he said
suggestively, as his eyes raked her from top to toe.

‘Hi, Will. You don’t happen to know what room Lex is in, do
you? It will save me the trouble of asking.’

‘I know what room they are both in,’ he answered with a
smile, his eyes still roaming my redheaded friend.

‘Yes, these are breasts, Will,’ Lib explained with
definitive poise. ‘They are two protruding glands and their purpose is to
secrete milk after childbirth.’

Will licked his lips. ‘They have more purpose than just
that, sweetheart.’

‘You’re a pig!’ she chided and crossed her arms over her
chest.

‘What a minute,’ I said, breaking up whatever it was the two
of them were doing. ‘You just said both, as in plural.’

He gave me an inquisitive look. ‘Yeah, Alexis and Derek.’

‘Derek!’ I shrieked. ‘Derek’s here? Why is Derek here? What
happened to Derek?’ I asked, panic setting in once again.

‘He mustn’t have had time to call you yet. He was one of the
first firefighters on the scene. He’s just in for routine observation — mild
smoke inhalation.’

‘What?’ I exclaimed. ‘What room?’

‘Level three, room eleven.’

I started for the elevator. ‘Lib, do you mind waiting down
here?’ I called back.

‘She’ll be fine,’ Will explained, draping his arm over her
shoulder and pulling her to him. Libby pushed him away. ‘I’ll take good care of
her. And by the way, Alexis is on level five, room eight.’

‘Thanks,’ I called back.

As I approached Derek’s room, I heard a familiar female
voice, one which had the power to pull on every jealous fibre I owned.
What
is she doing here?
Deep down I knew what she was doing here, but it was
more a question of why she was in the room with my injured boyfriend and I was
not.

Knocking gently on the door, I walked in when invited, to
find Lucy sitting in a guest chair next to Derek’s bed and Alexander happily
sitting on Derek’s lap. They both looked up with shocked expressions when they
saw me.

‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ I stuttered, their stunned demeanour
causing me to feel unsettled. ‘I’ll come back.’

‘No!’ Lucy stated, standing up quickly. ‘I was just leaving.
I was just seeing how Derek was after visiting Alexis.’

‘I can come back, it’s fine,’ I choked out, trying
desperately not to show my betrayed feelings.

‘No, no. Come on. Al, we have storytime at the library.’ She
picked up her son and waved his arm at Derek. ‘Say bye.’

Derek smiled and waved in return, his affection for Al again
causing the pit of my stomach to plummet into the abyss.

Lucy walked past and gave me a resigned yet guilt-ridden
smile. ‘Nice to see you again.’

I could only nod and follow her departing form and, when she
was gone, I almost could not bring myself to turn around and look at Derek. I
was hurt and angry that he did not think to call me. I was jealous and scared
that Lucy seemed to always be his first point of call. I was so fucking
confused. He made me confess my feelings, but then dismissed them by keeping me
at an arm’s-length. After everything, nothing had changed. My heart was now
hurting and, as a result, my wall came up again, to protect and prevent any
further battering of it. He may not have broken it one day after me giving it
to him, but he sure as hell just gave it a good bruising. That was painful
enough.

‘Baby,’ he said, sending an unwelcome chill up my spine, a
feeling that word did not normally produce.

I spun around and took a seat, my body language
uncontrollably rigid. ‘Are you okay?’ I asked flatly.

‘I was going to call —’

I interrupted him, not wanting to hear his excuse. ‘What happened
at City Towers?’

He scrunched up his face and grabbed my hand, placing it
upon his chest. ‘I was going to call you right before Lucy popped in to see how
I was. Prior to that, I had been subjected to routine tests and just never got
the chance. I wanted enough time to explain what had happened so that you wouldn’t
worry.’

‘I found out from Will,’ I seethed, forcing back a tear and
gritting my teeth, ‘In the fucking lobby only moments ago where I was
frantically trying to find my best friend to see if she was all right.’ I
removed my hand from his chest. ‘I still have not done that yet.’

He dropped his gaze and stared at my hand which now sat on
my lap. ‘Physically, Alexis is fine. She suffered a little smoke inhalation.
Lucy also mentioned that the baby is fine too.’

Swallowing heavily, I closed my eyes for the smallest of
seconds and whispered, ‘Thank god.’

‘Gareth is dead,’ he said quietly.

My eyes reopened with rapid speed, taking in his sad
expression before he directed his gaze to the view outside his window.

‘He tried to
kill himself and Alexis by blowing up the apartment. She managed to get away in
the nick of time, but was trapped in the elevator. No one knew she was there.
Bryce thought she was dead and was beside himself with grief. Carly, I thought
she was dead as well. I couldn’t find her.’

A tear streamed down his cheek, prompting my own to
overflow. Seeing his obvious pain, I pushed aside my own hurt and grabbed his
hand, pressing it to my lips. ‘She’s okay. You’re both okay.’

Derek continued to gaze forlornly out the window. ‘I
searched everywhere, but visibility from the smoke was next to zero. With every
room I entered and found empty, my heart shattered. I’d promised Bryce I would
find her. I promised him I would not come back unless I had her with me. Do you
know how fucking hard it was for me to break my promise and leave that
apartment without her?’