Chapter 53 Chapter 53

Chapter 53 Chapter 53
Misty, 

That evening, I guided Adelaide and Carter as they set up the cameras and the apps that would allow us to monitor them. I sat back while Cricket chatted with Ads and Carter. I had to stifle my laughter when Carter pulled her into his ‘How do I get her to like me,’ conversation while Briar was most likely sitting right beside him. Cricket fell right into becoming his instructor of all things her auntie needed in a man. I felt better about my friend’s safety now that I could keep an eye on things, and the more I got to observe them together the more I felt that maybe he was the right path for her. Being able to watch them was a way to ease my mind so that I could ensure this mate of hers would treat her with respect and the adoration she deserved. 

I was nibbling on a bag of chips and salsa while I confirmed the camera angles. I stopped when I came across the one in Carter’s basement gym, the man had quite the dedication to fitness, and I had to say he had the physique to prove it as he walked in shirtless through the space with Adelaide in a sports bra and a pair of tight athletic shorts, that was like a second skin to her frame.  

They were already sweaty from a run when they came into the basement, from what I could tell as Adelaide wiped her forehead with the back of her hand and Carter grabbed a towel to wipe at his face. They moved onto the large mat that dominated most of the open space in the room and Carter began talking, his hands moving as he did. Ads stood with her weight relaxed, head lightly cocked as she listened and nodded, but I couldn’t miss the smirk on her face as I propped my feet up to enjoy the show just as Beck took his typical place beside me with a bowl of popcorn. How ironic, I thought.

“What are we watching?” Beck asked, as he shifted my feet into his lap off the desk.

“Oh, just the live drama that is Adelaide’s life. I don’t get to be there so I can at least watch and see if this new man in her life treats her well, but I think she's about to throw him a curveball. He’s trying to teach her how to fight but I can tell by that little smirk she is about to blow his mind.”

He walked her through a few moves and she obediently followed his instructions, that is until she went through his prescribed combination but spun at the end, suddenly catching him off guard as she landed a kick to his gut. He doubled over at the force, his face betraying his shock. I smiled and reached over for some of the popcorn that Beck offered as he shoved a few pieces in his mouth.

“She’s more capable than he realizes,” Beck pointed out before popping more popcorn in his mouth.

A few minutes later they were on the ground and she was beneath him; their bodies molded together as he held her hands to the mat above her head. The scene before us was charged, with anticipation. His face lowered, mouth moving, their foreheads practically touching as I watched her chest heave into his with the exertion of the sparring they had done. My blood ran hot as my mind relented to my need for the firm contact of a chiseled body pressed against mine. All I had to do was fall within myself to live that experience inside my mind. My blood seemed to boil as the figment came to life across my senses. Bodies flush, the heat of them converging, the feel of scars beneath my fingertips as I ran them across a wide muscled chest. I could imagine it so vividly. My mind was so much safer than reality. My thighs rubbed together without my command.

Beck’s throat cleared and I snapped out of it. My eyes refocusing on the scene before us.

Adelaide relaxed as Carter whispered into her ear. I watched him inhale and stiffen before he stared down at her his jaw tight as he spoke again. A moment later she shifted, attempting a move to throw him off balance by using the force in her hips as she brought her legs up and feet flat on the floor for leverage. She almost had him. 

He went to shift his hold so he could keep her hips pinned with the weight of his body by letting her hands go. She took the opportunity and they struggled back and forth in moves I didn’t know the names for, before they were on their feet again and my bestie went in for the attack. Carter caught her though and at the end of the tussle he had her back pinned to his chest, one arm wrapped around her lower body, his hand resting on her hip and the other under one arm and his hand pinning her by her neck to his body.

I watched as he mumbled into her neck, his nose then traced a line up and then along the shell of her ear. I watched Adelaide shudder blissfully before her body melted against his. Carter’s body quivered slightly and he stilled for a long moment before his mouth moved. Her eyes shot open before they narrowed and she elbowed him in the gut. To his credit, Carter smiled as Adelaide pulled free from his grasp. Words exchanged and they headed to the stairs. Carter's hand gently gilding her at the small of her back.

Carter wanted her as strong as she could be, I realized, and I mentally gave the male some brownie points.

“So we are just going to spy on them?” Beck asked as I moved the array of camera tabs to the side monitor and opened up the correspondence with this woman Veronica had sent my way on the main screen. 

“Call it what you want. I’m just surveilling to ensure this fake sheriff treats my girl right. It’s not my fault if they… have amazing chemistry and I happen to observe it,” I said honestly.

“Tell me, Misty,” he said, shifting forward and leaning into me, his breath warm against my cheek as he spoke. “Does watching get you off?” He inhaled. “Because I must say, that little performance turned you on,” he accused.

I felt the blush race up my neck and across my cheeks. I swallowed not wanting to let him get to me but I had to remind myself, I was living with a fucking bear. Their noses were better than any canine’s. It’s why I did what I did the other night. Because I was aggravated because Beck was so caught up in his past I dared him to step into the present. He had apparently refused and I had immaturely punished him with the scent of my mediocre release. The more I got to know or observe the man, the harder it was to remind myself he was caught up in a dead woman. Not to mention, I was toying with a man out of my prescribed age range.

“A girl can dream,” I teased.

He chuckled to himself and the awkward moment was forgotten as I skimmed through the messages and entered a new search for Veronica’s friend. Her husband’s search history. It took a while to load but when it came down Beck just whistled. This man had a subscription for every porn site imaginable, but the one that got me was, ‘How to divorce your wife and keep all of the assets.’ I promptly took a screenshot and sent it to her. My deed for the day on the job was complete. I glanced at the cameras on the other screen. Everything was still. I relaxed into my chair and let out a sigh.

“You didn’t tell Adelaide about Cricket?” Beck pointed out.

“She’s got enough to deal with right now,” I said standing up. “I’m going to shower and go to bed, we have a busy day tomorrow,” I said, standing up and patting him on the shoulder.

“Do we now?” he asked. The side of his mouth quirked up.

“Yes,” I said walking backwards. “Tomorrow, we strike Alpha Enterprises,” I said, giving him a grin before turning around and heading to the bathroom.

I had it all planned out.