It was, in fact, a very long night.

A night full of kissing a bunch of things similar to that.

I stretch awake in his extremely comfortable bed when I smell coffee. A smile immediately takes over my face subconsciously when Carter walks in wearing cotton pj pants, his chest and abs bare.

"Good morning," he whispers. He dips the mattress as he sits directly next to me, handing me the mug of coffee. I sit up, the coldness of his bedsheets making goosebumps rise on my skin.

It suddenly occurs to me that I'm naked in his bed. A small blush takes over my cheeks.

He leans in to me and gives me a soft kiss on the lips, "feeling okay after last night?" he chuckles.

Oh I'm way more than okay. I'd never been a person for sex but Carter brought me an entirely new perspective on a sexual awakening.

I was partially numb at one point and my legs shook like crazy once we relaxed. I gave him tons of shit about it and he only laughed it off.

I smirk, "feeling better. You?"

He kisses me again, "amazing."

He hands me a white mug with steaming coffee inside and my heart bolts out of my chest.

"Thank you," I whisper. He nods, "I'm craving pancakes with artificial syrup so I'll make you some too."

I giggle wondering how in the hell is he manages to be so ripped when he eats mac and cheese and pancakes with syrup.

"I have some spare clothes if you need some," he offers. He pecks a kiss on my bare shoulder as I sip on my warm coffee. I nod, "that would be great."

He gets up and walks over to his dresser, leaving me an amazing view of his behind in his sweatpants, and throws me a T-shirt. I look at his mischievous blue eyes in confusion.

"That's just a shirt," I state the obvious. He nods his head looking totally serious, "I know."

I shake my head in more confusion, "don't I need some pants?"

"Nope," he says, a sexy grin stretching on his lips.

I roll my eyes. Of course he'd want me to walk around his apartment in my fucking underwear. Why didn't I ever think of that?

I huff as I reach for the shirt when he leaves the room.

—————————

After breakfast we went back to bed.

I was still so exhausted from being kept up all night that I truly did need to go back to sleep.

We laid in his bed talking. It was so nice to just talk with Carter. He understand what I had to say, what I wanted to say. It was so refreshing.

But I was still curious about him. I wanted to know more about the man I've fallen for and I felt there were little pieces yet to uncover.

"Tell me more about your family," I say aloud. We both lay horizontally on his dark bed, facing each other.

His blue eyes cloud with someone as they always do on the topic and I feel bs brining it up but there has to be more than what he's told me.

"I want to know the good and the bad, Carter," I say.

He gives me a small smile that doesn't reach his eyes and grabs my hand, intertwining it with his own fingers.

"It's... hard for me to talk about," he admits.

I nod and stay silent. He continues, "you deserve to know," he sighs.

"When I was 14," he starts. His breath has become noticeably shakier and I feel the urge to hold him close to my bare chest.

"Charlotte noticed. She-" he stops hesitantly m, his eyes closing for a moment.

Oh my god.

"Charlotte tried to convince me to sleep with her. Continuously. When I told my Dad, he didn't believe me. She had brainwashed and manipulated him and I didn't know what to do. It went on for two years and at one point, I was done," he finishes.

My mouth is gaped open in shock and my heart is pinching with sadness and hatefulness and absolute anger.

That gold digging bitch. I told myself that if I were to ever meet her, she'd get a piece of my mind. One that includes yelling and maybe some hair pulling.

"That's why I lived with my grandparents," he interrupts my thoughts, "I moved out. Stayed at the same school, and barely ever went back."

Something inside my heart aches for him. I want to tear Charlotte apart.

Carter is such a good person. A kind, honest, and real person. I've never met anyone like him. He doesn't deserve and he never did deserve to go through what he did.

I don't realize tears are falling down my face until he softly rubs his thumb along my damp cheek. "Hey don't cry," he soothes.

"It's just, that's so unfair," I say. My lip quivers. I hate the thought of him being hurt, emotionally or physically. "You never deserved that, Carter. Any of it."

He nods, "I know. But it's okay. I've grown from it."

I love this man so much.

I cup his cheek, his scruff from his incoming facial hair rubbing against my palm. He leans his face into my hand, takes a deep breath, and closes his eyes, savoring the feel of my skin.

"I love you, Mandy. I went through what I did and now I'm here," he pauses as he flicks his blue eyes to mine, "I'm here with you."

A small smile takes over my face, "yeah," I agree, "you are."

He grips my hips gently and pulls me to him. We lay there looking at the ceiling. The only light is the moonlight outside of his floor to ceiling window.

We sit there together. Peaceful. Tranquil. It's beautiful, this peace we have with one another.

"Carter?" I chirp.

"Hmm?"

"Would you like to come home with me for Christmas?" I ask.

I feel his breathing stop but his chest remains warm under my head. "Are you sure? I'd never want to intrude," he says.

"Of course. I'll make the arrangements but I want you to see the town I grew up in."

"Of course, my love. I'll go with you."

I snuggle close to him, the feeling of his bare chest fitting just to mine.

————————

I am awoken by my phone ringing beside me.

I lean over tiredly and answer it, not caring to look at the caller ID.

"Hello?"

"Uhh hello!" Chloe chirps into my ear. I groan at how loud her voice is this early in the morning.

Last night, Carter and I woke up and got a little touchy, keeping me up a few hours.

"Chloe, what's up?" I groan.

"YOU SLEPT WITH CARTER?" She screams.

"Chloe, for the love of God shut up," I say. She giggles through the line and I hear Abby behind her snicker, "I better get details!"

"We didn't just sleep together," I confess. I hear two gasps before Chloe immediately bombards me with questions.

"OMG!" she squeals, "you guys are in love?!"

"Yup," I groan, still tired.

Another sequel followed by Abby's is echoed through the phone. "Listen, I gotta go."

"Mhm," Abby says, "gotta go eat up Carter Osteen."

I feel my cheeks blush at her teasing remark and don't respond.

"Use protection!" Chloe yells.

"Goodbye," I say immediately embarrassed and hang up.

I lay my phone back onto the nightstand and look over to the handsome man laying asleep beside me.

He's sleeping on his stomach, his eyes fluttered closed and his arms under his pillow. His backside is covered by the black sheets leaving his gloriously sexy back exposed.

I take a moment to savor the view even if I'm tired.

God he's so hot.

And he's all mine.

"If you keep staring I may just climb on you, woman," Carter groans, his voice deep and laced with sleep.

I feel my core tighten and tingle at his words, "wanna bet?"

"Indeed," he says before I'm grabbed and forced under the covers again.