The Carrero Solution (Carrero Book 3)

Splayed out like a star on the bed with Jake’s palms pressed to mine, our fingers interlaced and pinned down on the mattress. He’s panting on top of me and finally finds the strength to move, rolling off gently and lying beside me instead, after an energetic couple of hours in an empty house. I’m lying in the afterglow of the best morning of my life.

Yesterday we endured a day of meetings, one with an interior designer, then the local press for the announcement of our engagement in the paper. Finally, we had Sylvana clucking around for the remainder of the day, treating me like fragile glass, just like Jake does. Leila and Daniel never returned for the tour, so Sylvana finally got hers, minus the sexual moaning from upstairs. We hadn’t had another moment all day to be alone until we came to bed when his parents left for a dinner date. The day had been busy and unstoppable, and by the time we got to bed, Jake was tearing my clothes off in a frenzy to get our bodies back together now his mental block is gone.

It’s safe to say he’s returned to his former glory, all emotional crap in his head finally dealt with. This morning he woke me in the most spectacularly sexy way, which led to the hottest morning sex of my life, and I’m hopelessly falling in love with him all over again. He’s finally the man I loved, all domineering, bossy and sexy, and now that every part of him is as it should be, I am glowing inside and out. Basking in an afterglow of multiple orgasms.

Anyone who thinks sex isn’t important in a relationship is crazy.

“You up for trying a car journey today?” Jake leans in, kissing me on the temple, my body still tingling and vibrating from our recent energetic session like I’ve had a serious workout and my body could do with a shower. Irritatingly, he looks immaculate, like always, and smells exactly as he always does. Fresh and citrusy.

How the hell he does that, I’ll never know. It’s annoyingly seductive.

“Depends on where we’re going.” I turn to him, snuggling into his broad chest, dragging those strong arms around me satisfyingly. These arms are still the best place in the world, and luckily for me, Jake gives me them whenever I want, night or day.

“We need to go back to the city and sort out what we want from the apartment. I’ve got three days” worth of

crap to deal with at work over the Hunter contract, and I’d rather you were close by so I can see you at night.” Jake releases me and slides out of bed. He obviously has his

bossy brain in gear this morning and a look on his face that says we have plans, not that I mind. I’ve been getting bored with lazing around in the Carrero family home while he dashes back and forth from the city. I’d rather be back in our private space until our house is ready, then after that, I’ll just have to get used to his disappearing acts when he goes to and fro from work.

“I haven’t been as sick lately, so I should be okay.” I stretch out and yawn like the cat who got the cream and then some. It’s early, but I’m restless and want to do something beyond a day of reading books, lying around, and cooking lessons. I need to sort out other parts of my life before I can come here and start a new chapter. Other parts being my mother, work, and seeing Sarah properly.

“Sophie’s supposed to be coming over later today, after school, to see the house.” I watch him move around the bedroom, lifting towels for the shower, that magnificent naked ass and body on full show. He’s never been shy about wandering about in front of me naked, not that I can blame him; with his body, I would’ve taken up nude modeling to show it all off.

Not that I want him to, I think I’d scratch the eyes out of any girl who ogled his body these days.

“I’ll leave keys and alarm code with Mamma and tell her to show Sophie around. The designer has all your preferences for our bedroom and the lounge, so if she gets that in motion quick, we can move in while the rest of the house gets done.” He throws me a panty-melting happy face. I start smiling, biting my lip, aching for his body to be entangled with mine again already. It’s alarming how my lust has returned tenfold with a reminder of his skills. I have to drag my eyes forcefully back to his.

“When do we leave?” I roll onto my stomach to watch him. He yanks on sweatpants and throws a T-shirt over his head, covering up that gorgeous expanse of tattooed lusciousness. He’s obviously changed his mind about having the shower right now.

“After you eat, baby. I’ll have the housekeeper pack up food for the trip, still can’t have you flying, so it’s a long drive back. Jefferson is coming with the Lexus so that I can sit with you in the back.” He picks up a gray bathrobe and throws it beside me with a raised, suggestive eyebrow.

Hmmm, sexy back seat time. I like this idea.

“You’re very bossy this morning Mr. Carrero. I like seeing some of the old you kicking in.” I giggle as he comes crawling quickly across the bed to haul me onto my back, kissing me passionately. Caging me in with those glorious muscles assaulting me with his very sexy essence, like a strong aftershave folding around me.

“Amazing what a lot of sex with the woman I’m crazy about can do.” He grins and takes a shot at devouring my neck playfully.

Amazing what a lot of sex with Jake Carrero can do.

“No more guilt and crazy thoughts about hurting the baby?” I push him up to see his face, smiling at how lust-filled those eyes are again.

“Still lingering a little but no longer crippling me into celibacy. I needed yesterday more than you could ever know, Emma. I needed to get back to this, to us. I love you so much.” He runs a finger over my mouth before scooping to replace it with his lips. I moan at the contact, so ready for more. He sits back up, looking at me adoringly.

“I love you too, although yesterday I contemplated triggering your sleeping disorder if my plan didn’t work. I even googled it.” I laugh as he shakes his head at me.

“I would’ve probably liked it.” He laughs, biting my neck playfully again, sending me into squirming giggles. He slides up and flips me over to my front, smacking my butt a little hard, but I like it. I’ve missed all forms of Casanova Carrero. It’s like he’s reappeared from being away for a long time, our honeymoon period in full force once again.

“Get up. We have shit to do today.” He jumps to his feet over my body on the bed, balances walking over me carefully, then drops to the floor before stalking to the bathroom. I sigh obediently and slide out of bed to retrieve the fluffy robe he’s left there and haul it on.

I’ve got so used to living in this house that breakfast is normally eaten dressed this way, curled up in the cozy main room on the couch in a fluffy robe. Sylvana comes to breakfast dressed the same way and always with a huge grin on her happy morning face.

I’ve seen Giovanni briefly. He’s always impeccably dressed; never caught him wearing anything less than a shirt, waistcoat, pants, and shoes. The man must rise at dawn and always have that cool, controlled demeanor, never a hint of relaxed softness or harshness, just being Giovanni.

I can see why Jake and he collide. Giovanni is never demonstrative or outwardly emotional. He’s not touchy or affectionate. Arrick has more of Giovanni’s traits than Jake does, that same cool mature manner, and even when girlfriends are here, Arrick doesn’t overly pander to them. The odd hand holding, but no real public displays of affection that Jake is always happy to throw around, and no open flirting or cuddly feelings.

Even with his mother, Arrick is more reserved than

Jake. Jake kisses her on the cheek and hugs her in passing

or walks with her arm in arm. Arrick is like his father, hands in his pockets as he stands in a domineering manner

among people, those eyes never miss a beat. Arrick understands his father a lot more than Jake. That much is obvious, and I believe it’s because he’s far more like Giovanni than Jake is.

Giovanni works in the city, so he flies back and forth a lot to be home every night just as he promised his wife, another display of respect and love for Sylvana that Jake doesn’t notice either.

Arrick’s still in education. I’m not sure if that means college or some high-priced university or business school, but he seems to come home sporadically, always with a new girl in tow, much like the Jake of old. Carrero blood has a lot to answer for, and I’ll be damned if this little Carrero gets up to such things … if he’s a boy, that is.

Sylvana splits her days between here and her charity, so sometimes she’s home for days and sometimes gone for

days depending on her commitments.

She has gushed at me on occasion at how much she’s looking forward to having little feet running around again and a little face to spoil with kisses. I can imagine her as a grandmother, giving so much love to a new generation of little Carreros. She’s a woman built to love and to keep loving every child who comes her way, and I know she’ll love both mine and Marissa’s child equally.

I have tried to ignore the pain in that statement. Once again, realizing that everyone will bond with Marissa’s baby months before mine comes. Ours won’t be the first tiny feet, the first grandchild, or even Jake’s first child, which still hurts me to the core. My baby will be second in everything, second to arrive, second to be loved, second to be pampered, but in Jake’s eyes, my baby will always be first. My baby will be first to him in every way, and I should use that thought to be okay with this. That’s all that matters to me. He will love his other child, but I know his bond with me and living with this child will make a difference in the relationship. Something Marissa hasn’t thought of.

“Come on, sexy.” Jake reappears from the bathroom and catches my hand in his, dragging me with him off the bed and through the door in that infuriating, bossy manner of his.