The Carrero Heart - Beginning (Friends to Lovers)

I lose my courage and turn back to Arrick’s car once more, aiming for the door, but he catches me from behind and turns me back around, keeping his arms around my waist and shoving me forward to walk slowly with his groin pressed to my ass to help push me onward.

“We’re doing this… My mom will probably not react like you think she will.” He’s trying to get me up the path of his parents’ house. The entire drive here I tried to talk him and myself in and out of doing this, my nerves are frayed, my emotions a mess and I’m losing all courage. I feel like I’m going to be sick or pass out and maybe just want to stay in his car and hide.

Or go home, we could just go home.

“It’s not her, it’s facing everyone, knowing that my mom has told them all. That they all probably know the stuff we get up to now. How they’re all going to react. It’s awful.” I beg him, tensing against him to try and stop our descent down the drive. He keeps moving me onwards, not letting me go, and not backing down. His chest against my shoulders and winning with sheer strength.

“Where’s my little warrior, huh? She’s fearless in the face of tough times! Pretty sure you can get used to the family knowing that we have sex, Sophie. What happens if you ever get pregnant? Are you going to tell them it was an immaculate conception?” He chuckles and bumps my ass with his groin when I stop suddenly, urging me on and not giving into me. Arrick is trying to keep me moving, despite me digging my heels in, I push my butt back into his groin to stop him, but he’s too strong.

“Keep that up and I might bang you here, and then no one will be in any doubt about what we get up to.” Arrick leans back and smacks my ass hard, making me yelp and I throw back a glare at his face.

“You wouldn’t dare. You’re not allowed to touch me when we go in… Don’t be all like lovey and touchy and stuff. I don’t want you doing weird shit that you do, like smacking my ass…. Or you know, being sweet, or lame, or annoying me with wanting to touch me up.” I scold, suddenly aware that they might scrutinize us in every way and not sure I will be comfortable with affection in front of them. Arrick sighs as I duck away from him and shove his hands off, not ready to have people seeing us all touchy and cuddly when I think it will just weird them all out. It’s already weirding me out that they might see it.

“Don’t make me carry you, baby. I don’t think we’ll need to hide anything if the first thing they see is me manhandling you in the door.” Arrick yanks me back firmly and pulls me into a loose headlock, squirming as I give up the fight and sigh.

“I changed my mind. I don’t want to come with you to see your mom.” My tone fearful because I’m really starting to panic. Hitting that age old childish part of me and sulking, pouting, and whining expertly.

“Yeah right, you’re my human shield. My mom is less likely to throw dishes at me for defiling your innocence if you’re standing between us.” Arrick smirks, still refusing to let go but I shake my head hard.

“Nope.” I turn and wrap my arms around his waist in a bid to stop him walking, crushing my skull to that wide chest and pleading with little tense nudges; he unravels me, turns me back around and pushes me in front of him with more force than necessary, that sends me skipping ahead.

“If you don’t come with me, I’ll be forced to tell her to pick an engagement party date and that you want to give her ten grandbabies. You know she will hold you to it.” He grins, and I stop, spin and stare at him in open mouthed horror.

“Stop with the B word! …What engagement? You wouldn’t dare!” I accuse, coming back to put my hands on his abdomen to keep him from the last few feet to the door.

“I might even have to bring up the M word… So, you better come in and supervise. Who knows what might come out of this mouth if she puts me under the grill. My mom can be really terrifying when it comes to you girls and her maternal need to protect you all.” He chuckles, obviously smug at his attempts to blackmail me, but I admit, it’s working. I don’t trust him to not promise his mom big white weddings and three hundred grand babies before I’m twenty-two. I don’t like that at all.

Arrick tugs me the last foot towards him and kisses me softly, tilting his head so he can get close and personal. I jump back again, gasping in panic and dart my eyes around wildly, scanning the empty street for spies.

“Someone could see.” I chastise him, fearful of prying eyes and infuriated with his sudden grin. It’s going to take a while to get used to letting Arrick be this way with me in front of the people we love; it’s not natural for me, and even though Jake got a glimpse I would rather ease into this in a more comfortable way.

“It would save us all of this drama. Come on you. We can stand out here all-day bickering, but I’d rather face the music and tell everyone I’m fucking little Sophie.” He dodges my slap on the shoulder and chuckles at my outrage at calling it that. Hauling me back under his arm and pulling me towards the house, despite my protests and struggles. Arrick isn’t taking any excuses, he is intent that coming home is for one reason alone and that’s to tell his parents and face my family as a real couple.

God help me!

him, grabbing onto his upper arm with a death like grip as he leads the way. I’ve no idea how Sylvana is going to react, seeing as she has been like my surrogate second mom, or maybe third, for years. Suddenly it’s too terrifying that she may not approve of this, because I

cutting off the blood supply, baby.” He nods at my hands and I loosen them a little. Arrick peels one of them off and slides it into his hand as he pulls

Where are you?” He yells into the echoing house and both jump when a voice comes close

a mixing bowl, in her kitchen, wooden spoon furiously pounding some sort of batter, eyeing us up with her usual loving face, a raised brow of a woman

to bridge the gap with his mother, leaning in to kiss her on the cheek. Sylvana

need to wait for you two to awkwardly beat around the bush and spit it out ,while I pretend I don’t know, or are you going to tell

love her.” Arrick doesn’t hesitate. Always so at ease with his mother and he never really fears retribution. That is the perk of being the golden child, the good one in all the years, while Jake had been the devil. He dips his fingers in the bowl of batter and sticks them in his mouth, throwing me a wink as she bats him away for his dirty

hardly a shock seeing you kiss her on the drive. Last time I saw you here you were dragging her off in the dark like a crazed jealous loon when her gay friend was making an awful job of acting like her boyfriend. Sophie, darling? …..

mortified body as shame courses through me. Arrick on the other hand is smiling, chuckling, and pulls me forward into his arm

we thought we were, huh?” He kisses me on the head and I wriggle free, shoving his hands off me in sheer awkwardness and slapping

arm with a warning

a fuss, the worse he will try and get a reaction. I would get used to being pawed by him. It’s pretty clear to anyone you are bumping uglies already. He is a Carrero after all.” She smiles widely, motions to the coffee machine in a ‘would you like some’ gesture and seems oblivious

groans. “Wherever you heard that phrase, please never use it again. It’s not cool or hip and it’s really cringe. I never want you to say anything like that to me again.” He leans back against the worktop behind us appearing traumatized, his mom giggling girlishly sways

bump when, you know? … Copulate.” She raises an eyebrow and then softens her face with a smile, that cheeky Jake like glimmer in the depths and I realize she is doing it on

swear, I’m scarred for life.” Arrick groans again, clearly at a loss

maternal figure and needing reassurances.

I’m not mad, darling child. I’m surprised it took him this long to see the beautiful woman you were becoming.” Sylvana reaches out and takes my hand, holding it tightly

under Sylvana’s scrutiny but

just didn’t think I should ever act on it.” He points out defensively, suddenly being ganged up on by two women he adores and deflecting the hard time

can’t say it seems odd. You two have always been close, so seeing you being this way isn’t really new. Don’t play with her heart, Arrick. Sophie is a fragile soul and she needs stability, not some lothario

I’m more than capable of being in a committed relationship too. You’re basing your

better be a ring on that finger before long.” Sylvana is deadly serious, scarily so and a hint

knowing this was going to be a topic at some point, but not

we’re living in the moment. She’s moving in and we’re taking it from there.” Arrick encircles my waist affectionately, his body molding to mine, despite my attempts at batting him off subtly and then giving up again. Somehow her non-reaction makes me relax and I admit, I like his touch a little too much

sin before marriage, just get married if you want to cohabit, and be done with it.” She sighs, contemplative and moves off

aversion to marriage and babies. Give her another five years at least.” Arrick laughs, his breath tickles my neck, yet I’m still staring

better re-think

you then come to me, I’ll kick him in the balls for you.” Sylvana wanders back to me, kisses my forehead and smiles gently. “Although knowing you my darling child, you’re more than capable of doing

to that.” Arrick