Carmen

Hand in hand, Corden guides me through his elaborate childhood home to find the exit. I still can't believe others live this way with such extravagant furniture and artwork that looks like it belongs in a museum. This world I've walked into is so foreign, and as we continue walking down numerous hallways, I can't help feeling like I don't belong here. I may look the part, but I'm out of place in the sea of the rich and wealthy.

"Delano is waiting out front," he says. "I'm tempted to put the divider up so we can—"

"Jett." His mother waits for us by the front door with a smile and raised brows as she scans us from head to toe. I can only imagine what we look like. My dress is wrinkled, and I'm certain my lipstick is smeared. Corden's hair is mussed, and his dress shirt is coming out of his pants. It doesn't take a brainiac to piece together what we've been doing in her home, and I'm guessing Corden feels the same, judging by the way his body tenses.

Heat flares to my cheeks with embarrassment. "Mrs. Nash, it was such a lovely party you threw. I had an incredible time."

"I'm pleased to hear that," she replies warmly. "Are you two heading out for the night?"

Corden wraps an arm around my waist, drawing me closer. I'm surprised he's being so openly affectionate in front of her, but I don't make any moves to push him away. It feels nice having him close. Supportive. "Yes, we were. It was nice to see you, mother."

The two hold a lingering stare, almost in silent conversation, before she steps to the side and allows us to pass. I lean into Corden's embrace when we walk further down the hall and stop at the coat closet. He grabs my peacoat and helps me into it before shrugging on his own and guiding me out into the freezing cold night. The snow packed on the ground is fresh and in pristine condition, looking like some sort of painting until it inevitably fades and turns to muddy slush mixed with black ice overnight.

Delano dips his chin and opens the door for us to slide into the backseat of the black SUV. His eyes linger on mine, again in that deciphering way of his, but he doesn't comment or express his curiosity. When we get inside the car, I quickly send a text to Sienna to let her know I'm headed home for the night. I took a cab here, so it's not like I have a car to drive home. Not that I own one. What's the point of owning a car in New York when buses and the subway exist?

"Are we headed to the townhome, sir?" He asks. If I'm not mistaken, a smile threatens to appear from the way his lips keep twitching at the sides.

"Yes." A ragged breath of what seems to be relief flows out of Corden before he rests his head on the back of his seat and turns to look at me. "I didn't mean to cut the conversation with my mother short. She can be..."

"A mother?" I suggest.

"She's just very involved in mine and Lincoln's love life. Always trying to play matchmaker and whatnot."

"Well, she only seems to want the best for you. That's what mothers do, right?"

He nods, flicking his eyes to the neckline of my dress, where it's currently gaping open to expose my cleavage. "You sure about coming back with me? What that entails?"

I roll my eyes. "Corden, we know each other well enough by now for you to have the answer to that. I don't say things I don't mean."

"No," he hums in agreement. "I suppose you don't."

The city lights whiz by us in a blur, illuminating Corden's face in a reddish hue. His side profile is one of the most attractive things I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of attractive men. My blood is still thrumming from our time in the butler's kitchen. My things clamp together as Corden strokes my knuckles with his thumb, memories of his cock lodged in my throat distracting me from making any sort of conversation.

We have a lot to talk about, but I need to get him out of my system first. I need to act on the urges I've been tampering down for months. I want us to explore every crevice of each other's bodies before we dive into the deep conversations. If we don't, there's no way in hell I'll be able to focus on a damn thing he says when his lips look like that.

As if he can read my thoughts, he darts his tongue out to wet them. "Penny for your thoughts?"

I scoff. "No. Wouldn't want to make your ego any bigger than it currently is." Lies. Corden may put on an arrogant front as Jett, but when he's with me, he's himself, and I'm learning he has a much bigger heart than he lets on.

Delano coughs in the driver's seat. "Did you just call him arrogant?"

I lock eyes with him in the rearview mirror. "Someone has to, right? No one else will."

Delano chuckles. "Well, if we did, then we'd end up with a stab wound. I guess you're an exception, boss lady."

Boss lady?

Oh, god.

"Never call me that again," I groan. "I'm not anyone's...boss lady. Especially yours."

Corden tips his head back and laughs. "I knew she'd hate that name."

"You guys have talked about nicknames for me?" I turn to face him with furrowed brows. This shouldn't be surprising since I've recently come to learn that I matter to him, but his job doesn't seem like the type to include gossiping with friends about nicknames for their... Well, I don't know what we're calling this between us. Again, conversations for later. Fuck first. Questions after.

Corden shrugs. "Delano brought it up in conversation once."

"Well...don't. Ever again. That's an awful nickname, Delano."

His eyes twinkle in the rearview mirror. "Noted."

***

When we arrive at the townhouse, I realize it's nothing fancy like I was expecting. It's in a decent neighborhood, but not where the wealthiest live in New York like my friend Sienna. Then again, he's attempting to blend in here and be normal. If he stayed somewhere lavish he'd draw attention to himself.

The home looks staged for a rental, with nothing sentimental or homey around—not that I expected it. White walls with crown molding and modern furniture greet us in the foyer, but as soon as the door shuts, Corden takes my hand and drags me to the stairs. "I'll speak to you in the morning, Delano," are his only parting words to his second in command.

Every place he touches feels as if it's on fire. He pulls me up the stairs until we reach a door in the hallway at the end. It opens to a simplistic master bedroom with the same modern themes. A four-poster king-sized bed greets me like it's calling our names, and there's nothing I want to do more than climb into bed with Corden. I can't think of a better way to end the night.

The man taking off his belt is rumored to be one of the most dangerous men in New York, and yet all I feel is safety and comfort in his presence. His hands that have killed only seem to elicit pleasure whenever they touch my skin, so maybe that's why I'm not afraid of him. I've never been afraid of him, only curious. Since the moment I met him, as much as I try to deny it, his life of danger has beckoned for me.

"Where are you going?" I'm smiling when he opens the door to the bathroom and smiling harder when he returns with a box of condoms. He sets it on his nightstand before he begins to unbutton his shirt, and the pure heat in his eyes is enough to bring me to my knees all over again. He was holding back in front of Delano, but now that we're alone again, there isn't a question in my mind about what he plans on doing to me tonight.

"I want you to strip," he says in a tone that leaves no room for discussion. "And when you're finished, I want you naked on this bed with your legs sprawled wide for me so I can finally have a proper look at you."

"Corden." I'm so turned on. Normally, having someone tell me what to do would bother the hell out of me. I'd kick a man straight in the nuts for thinking he could boss me around, but in bed? It's...

Fuck, it's hot.

"Get naked so I can fulfill my promise to you, Carmen."

"W-What promise?"

He grins wickedly, tossing his shirt to the floor. "I'm going to ravish you. Completely. Fully. Until you're begging me for mercy from coming too hard. Now hurry up. Time's ticking."

I've never removed clothing so fast in my life.