The Carrero Heart - Beginning (Friends to Lovers)

“Pretty sure we have, more than once. Maybe you were just too drunk to remember. I carried you to bed twice when you stayed here, after a party. Couldn’t trust any of the guys not to climb in with you and make a play for something more, so you slept with me.” I stare at him in disbelief, trying to recall any time I have ever woken up in his bed and seem to remember hazy memories of doing so once or twice, but always alone. I just assumed he let me use his bed and slept elsewhere. It feels kind of nice, in a warm weird way, to know that I have actually slept with him. That he took care of me that way and shared a bed without even knowing I had. My heart expands with affection, appreciating him with a definite smile and losing all the last ounces of shyness.

Still my Arry after all.

“Always the gentleman.” I giggle, toying with his shoe with the toe of mine still, distracted by the motion, and happier that we are being more like us, that even after all this I can find my way back to normal with him. He slides his hand under my chin as he pulls me up to look at him. I inhale sharply, faltering in my reaction at this intimate movement that catches me off guard. He ponders me for a long moment, eyes flickering all over my face slowly before he settles on my eyes and I get butterflies in response.

Does he really not know what he does to me?

“It’s my friend’s birthday tonight, we’re going to a club in town, do you want to come with me? If you don’t then I won’t stay out late. I don’t plan on drinking much as I have training first thing again.” His question completely disarms me, coming out of nowhere and I hesitate for a moment as it sounds like he’s asking me on a date. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I wonder why he isn’t taking Natasha; they have the same friends.

“You sure you trust me to come out getting drunk with you?” I smirk at him, batting away the questions and doubts, and trying to take this at face value.

“Well, it might make a change getting drunk with you, rather than showing up to collect you after the damage is done.” Arrick smiles back and I screw my nose up at his face, poke his cheek, and reply with ‘HA HA’.

Ever witty and just has to poke fun at that crap.

Good one.

I point out, more than aware that apart from being moderately tipsy at family parties,

every flicker of emotion on me like a hawk, homed in on its prey. It’s a little unnerving, but his hand is no longer cupping

a couple of new dresses I haven’t worn out yet. Guess it’s a date.” I beam, trying my hardest to ignore the way his warm hands around my fingers feel, how even a tiny little fidgety act of tenderness, turns me into a puddle of mush. My smile immediately drops when I realize

bops his forehead against mine. Moving in a little too closely for my liking,

as he yanks me back to him, oblivious to how much I am trying to avoid this sort of closeness, for my own sanity. Arrick shifts his gaze to my hair, letting my arm go and picks up a dark strand from beside my cheek gently, twiddling it in his fingers

looking like my Sophabelle.” He studies my face, a flicker of something in the depths, maybe a pang of reminiscence and I’m

me a sundae, Massive Douchebag?” I raise a brow his way, uneasiness firing up sarcasm in

does this feel

me a cute wink back. Leaning in again with another gaze that sends

enjoy indulging.” I smirk smartly, impressed with my quick retort, all the while trying to move back subtly. I squeal when he bends down and hoists me over his shoulder effortlessly, for the second time, with lightning speed that has me squirming and fighting and yelping when he

him from my angle, the heat rising from where

screwing up

Keep it up; I can do this all day, Huffy pants.

that hot Carrero rear and smack him back hard enough to make my palm sting. He slightly tenses in reaction, and I get a sense of satisfaction. Smug