Twin Babies for my Pucking Defenders (Chicago Icebreakers #2)

2. Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Jade

Carter glances over as we pull away from the curb, a sly smile playing on his lips. “Play some music, Jade.”

I connect my phone to his car’s Bluetooth, but before I can choose a song, the podcast I was listening to earlier starts blasting through the speakers. It’s about JonBenét Ramsey, a real messed-up murder case from the ‘90s.

Carter snorts, shaking his head. “Well, that explains why you’re convinced you’re about to get murdered tonight.”

I laugh, a little embarrassed. “I like a bit of true crime. Keeps me on my toes.”

“Interesting,” he says, his tone light but with a hint of something I can’t quite place.

He navigates the city streets smoothly, the engine humming underneath us. “So, do you go clubbing a lot?” he asks after a moment, his eyes flicking between the road and me.

“Not really,” I reply, shrugging. “I was out celebrating.”

His eyebrows lift, curiosity piqued. “Really? What’s the occasion?”

I grin, the excitement bubbling up again. “I just passed my final exams.”

“Hell yes!” he pumps a fist in the air and it’s so ridiculous I can’t help but laugh. He glances at me, his smile wide. “Si hviezda.”

I blink at him, the foreign words catching me off guard. “What?”

He chuckles. “It’s Slovak. Means you’re a star.”

“Slovak?” I ask, intrigued. “And here I was thinking you were Russian or something.”

“Nah, Slovakian through and through.” He gives me a sideways look. “And your accent? Where’s that from?”

“New Yorker, born and raised,” I say proudly.

He grins, and there’s something warm in his eyes. “Well, I like your accent either way.”

We settle into a comfortable silence, music playing softly in the background. I watch the city lights blur by, my curiosity finally getting the best of me. “So, where are we going?”

He shoots me a quick grin. “Taco truck that serves tequila shots.”

I snort. “You’re shitting me.”

“Nope,” he says, completely serious. “Best tacos in the city. You’ll see.”

I shake my head, half-disbelieving. “Never heard of it.”

“That’s ‘cause you’ve been missing out.” He winks at me. “But hey, I’m glad I get to show you a little secret spot in Chicago.”

A few minutes later, we pull up to a small parking lot with a single taco truck glowing under a couple of streetlights. There are only two or three people hanging around, which is shocking for a city like this. The smell hits me first—spicy, savory and downright mouthwatering.

We hop out of the car, and Carter’s already walking up to the truck like he owns the place. “Let me handle the order,” he says, not giving me a chance to argue.

I watch as he talks to the guy behind the counter, his voice low and confident. I take a moment to really look at him—the way his hoodie stretches over his broad shoulders and the dark jeans that cling just right. When he turns around with our food and drinks, I’m already smiling.

“Here we go,” he says, handing me a taco and a shot of tequila.

I raise my shot glass. “So, what are we toasting to?”

His eyes meet mine, something serious flickering there for just a second before he grins. “There’s nothing I’d rather celebrate more than you.” He lifts his shot. “To Jade.”

I laugh, clinking my glass against his. “To me.” We down the shots and the tequila burns its way down my throat, leaving a pleasant warmth in its wake.

We find a little booth nearby and slide in with our tacos. The first bite is a burst of flavors—spicy, tangy and fucking delicious. I glance at Carter, who’s watching me with that same amused smile.

“These are amazing,” I say around a mouthful of food.

“Told you,” he replies, taking a bite of his own taco.

We eat in comfortable silence for a while, the night air cool around us. There’s something about this—sitting in a half-empty parking lot, eating tacos with a guy I just met—that makes me feel giddy and almost carefree.

Carter looks at me, his eyes glinting with that familiar mischief. “What?”

“Nothing,” I say, giggling a little despite myself. “This is just…a really fun night.”

He leans in slightly, his voice dropping a notch. “We could make it more fun.”

There’s a heat in his gaze now, something that sends a pleasant jolt through my body. “Yeah?” I say, my voice a little breathy.

“Only if you want to , láska,” he murmurs, the Slovak word rolling off his tongue like a promise.

My stomach flips at the sound of it. “What does that mean?”

He smirks. “It’s an endearment. It means ‘love’.”

“Well, you’ve got a way with words,” I tease, feeling bold.

“I’ve got a way with more than just words,” he replies, his voice low and it takes everything in me not to shiver at the way he says it.

The tacos are long forgotten as we sit there, the night stretching out before us, full of possibilities. I know where this is headed and I’m not stopping it. Not tonight.

Carter leans back, his arm draping casually over the back of the booth, his eyes never leaving mine. He smells like sandalwood. I want to bury my face in his neck and breathe. “So, Jade, what else do you like besides true crime and tacos?”

I grin, feeling more relaxed, more myself. “Music, obviously. I’m into a lot of indie stuff.”

“Indie, huh? That’s cool. You play anything?”

“Guitar,” I say, a little shy. “Not professionally or anything, I play just for fun.”

“That’s sexy,” he says, and I can’t tell if he’s teasing or if he means it.

“Maybe I’ll play for you sometime,” I shoot back, surprising myself with how flirtatious I sound.

“I’d like that.” His eyes darken a shade, and the air between us seems to thicken.

We talk about random shit for a while—music, movies, the weirdest things we’ve ever eaten. It’s easy with him, the conversation flowing like we’ve known each other for years, not just an hour.

At some point, he reaches across the table, his fingers brushing against mine. It’s a simple touch, but it sends sparks up my arm, making me aware of every little thing—his closeness, the way his eyes lock onto mine, the way my pulse quickens just from that slight contact.

“Jade,” he says softly, his voice almost a whisper in the quiet of the night.

“Yeah?” I’m holding my breath, waiting for whatever he’s about to say next.

“You’re fucking beautiful, you know that?”

I laugh, a little caught off guard. “You don’t know me.”

“Maybe not,” he agrees, his gaze never wavering. “But I’d like to.”

There’s something in his voice, something that makes me believe him. It’s not just a line; it’s more than that. And for some reason, I want to let him in. I want to see where this goes, even if it’s just for tonight.

“Then let’s go,” I say, standing up and grabbing his hand. The words are out before I can think about them, before I can stop myself. I’m all in, whatever that means.

He stands up too, his hand warm and firm in mine, and I can feel the electricity between us, the tension that’s been building all night. “Where to, láska?”

I bite my lip, looking up at him, my heart thudding in my chest. “Somewhere we can be alone.”

Carter doesn’t say anything, just nods and leads me to his car. The drive is short, barely giving me time to second-guess this, and before I know it, we’re pulling up outside a sleek, modern hotel. It’s the kind that screams expensive, but he seems unfazed.

“Where are we? This looks expensive.”

“Oh,” he laughs, “I have a room here for a few nights.”

“Is it your fuck pad?” I smirk at him.

“Hell no. No one has been in there except for me. I like to stay here some nights when I need to think,” he says, cutting the engine and turning to look at me. “But we don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with.”

I appreciate the way he says it, the sincerity in his voice. “I know,” I say, smiling at him. “But I want to.”

We get out of the car and he takes my hand, leading me into the hotel. The lobby is all polished marble and soft lighting, but I barely notice as we make our way to the elevator. The ride up is quiet, the air thick with anticipation and by the time we reach the room and my nerves are buzzing.

The door clicks shut behind us, and suddenly, the reality of the situation hits me. I’m here, with him, and we’re about to…

Carter steps closer, his hands finding my waist, his touch warm through the thin fabric of my dress. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” I breathe, looking up at him. “I’m more than okay.”

His lips quirk up into that sexy, crooked smile, and before I know it he’s kissing me, slow and deep, like he’s savoring every second. I kiss him back, letting go of everything except the way his mouth moves against mine, the way his hands start to explore, making my skin tingle with anticipation.

He pushes my jacket off my shoulders as his searching hands are everywhere.

He pulls back just enough to catch his breath, his eyes dark and heated as he looks at me. “You’re so fucking beautiful, Jade.”

A shiver runs down my spine at the way he says it, like he really means it. He slides his hands down to the hem of my skirt, his fingers brushing against my thighs as he slowly lifts it up. Then he reaches for the zipper, dragging it down to let the skirt slip down my legs and pool on the floor.

When he reaches for the hem of my T-shirt I lift my hands up and let him drag it off me. I’m left standing there in just my bra and panties, and he steps back, taking me in with an appreciative smile.

“Goddamn,” he mutters, before he kneels in front of me, his hands on my hips as he leans in, pressing a kiss to my stomach, just above the waistband of my panties.

My breath hitches and I grip his shoulders for support as he kisses his way down, his lips and tongue making me tremble. He hooks his fingers into the sides of my panties, pulling them down with agonizing slowness until they’re off and tossed aside.

He looks up at me, his eyes dark with desire. “Hold on to me,” he murmurs, and I do, my fingers digging into his shoulders as he leans in, pressing his mouth to me.

“Carter!” His name is a gasp, and I swear I see him smirk before he starts, his tongue and lips working in ways that make my legs weak.

I’m a fucking mess, gasping and moaning, and he’s relentless, like he knows exactly what I need. The pleasure builds, hot and fast, and when I finally come, it’s with a cry that echoes in the room.

He rises to his feet with that smirk still on his face as he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. “Beautiful,” he murmurs, his voice rough.

I barely have time to recover before I’m reaching for him, needing to feel him. I start peeling his clothes off, my hands trembling a little as I push his hoodie up, revealing the hard planes of his chest, covered in tattoos that I didn’t notice before. He helps me, yanking his shirt over his head and kicking off his shoes, until he’s standing there in just his jeans.

“Fuck,” I whisper, my hands tracing the ink on his chest, the muscles flexing under my touch. He’s all hard lines and raw power, and I can’t get enough of him.

He grins, clearly enjoying the attention, but I’m not done yet. I drop to my knees, undoing his jeans and pulling them down, along with his boxers, until he’s bare before me.

“Jade…” His voice is a low growl as he reaches for me, lifting me effortlessly as if I weigh nothing. He carries me to the bed, laying me down gently before joining me, his body hovering over mine.

I reach for him, desperate for more, but he pins my hands above my head, his grip firm but gentle. “Not yet,” he murmurs, his lips brushing against mine. “I want to take my time with you.”

I shudder at his words, the anticipation almost too much to bear. He kisses me again, deeper this time, and I lose myself in it, the heat between us growing with every touch, every taste.

When he finally lets go of my hands, I’m all over him, my fingers digging into his back as I pull him closer, needing to feel him against me. He reaches into the nightstand, pulling out a condom and rolling it on with practiced ease.

“Ready?” he asks, his voice rough with desire.

“Fuck yes,” I breathe, my legs wrapping around his waist as he positions himself at my entrance.

He enters me in one smooth thrust, and I gasp at the feeling of him inside me, the stretch, the fullness. It’s intense, overwhelming and I fucking love it.

He moves, slow at first, like he’s savoring every second, but I’m impatient, needing more. I arch my back, meeting his thrusts, so he picks up the pace, his movements rougher and more demanding.

It’s a battle for control, each of us pushing the other to the limit, and it’s fucking perfect. He’s relentless, driving me closer and closer to the edge, until I’m trembling beneath him, every nerve ending on fire.

“Carter,” I gasp, my nails digging into his back as I cling to him, desperate for release.

“Come for me, Jade,” he murmurs, his voice a low rumble in my ear.

And I do, the pleasure crashing over me in waves, leaving me breathless and shaking. He follows me over the edge, groaning my name as he finds his own release.

We collapse together, our bodies tangled in the sheets, both of us panting and spent. He pulls me close, his hand running up and down my back in a soothing motion as we lie there, coming down from the high.

“You’re something else, Jade,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to my temple.

I laugh, exhausted but content. “You’re not so bad yourself, Carter.”

He grins, his lips brushing against my ear as he whispers, “ Láska.”

I smile, knowing exactly what it means now. And maybe, just maybe, I could get used to hearing the endearment fall from his lips.