Untouchable (Untouchables, #1)

by Sam Mariano

on. I said you two greedy bastards could cop a feel, not fuck her.” I cannot believe I’m in the astounding position of hoping and praying they only grope my naked breasts.

“Remember yesterday I said I’m not a tit man? I’m not, but I can’t stop thinking about yours.” Shaking my head as I look off at the street to avoid looking at him, I say, “That’s… I honestly don’t even know how to respond to that.” “I suggest lifting your shirt and giving me a peek,” he offers. “Suggestion denied.” He shrugs. “It was worth a shot. So, dinner.”

“I like when you say please,” he tells me, smiling faintly while he ignores my request. “It’s cute.” “Then I’ll never say it again.”

As a kid, I followed in her footsteps and worried endlessly over what other people thought of me, too. As I’ve grown up, I realized that putting the opinions of others in such high regard is a shortcut to misery, and I don’t want to take that path. My mom never found her way to that conclusion.

“I told you, I was trying to be nice,” he states. “And no, it was not all fake. None of it was fake. I made it clear I liked you. I must have asked you out half a dozen times. You said no every time.” My eyes bug out. “Yes, Carter. I said no.” He shrugs. “So, I had to get creative.

The material is thin, but with the sleeves, it’s more fitting for cooler weather. Today is a hot day, but it shows no cleavage and shouldn’t tempt him. I can’t believe I have to pick outfits based on what won’t tempt my date. This is terrible. Good lord.

I crack a smile, even though I know he must be picking on me. “Magnificent, huh? I thought I was an ice princess.” “Sometimes,” he acknowledges, his lips moving to my earlobe. Pleasurable shivers dance across the back of my neck and down my spine as he nips that, too. “But sometimes you’re warm.” He kisses my neck. “Sometimes you’re sweet.” Another kiss, trailing closer to my face. “Sometimes you’re a real pain in the ass.” “How romantic,” I say dryly,

His amusement dissipates, and he watches me curiously. “And you’re not like other girls,” he states. Lifting my eyebrows and looking pointedly at my arms pinned against his couch, I say, “That’s a given, or we wouldn’t be here right now.” “True. You’d probably be buried in a shallow grave somewhere.” The amusement in his voice is so wrong. I shake my head. “No. It’s not funny to joke about murdering women. Can we not?

the church parking lot like a raging asshole. Great. That’s just wonderful. “Was that necessary?” I ask him. “I think it was,” he remarks. Barely missing a beat, he continues, “Who was that guy? Why are you seeing him Wednesday?” “Oh, the guy you just mauled me in front of? That’s my youth pastor,”

It’s not my natural inclination, it wasn’t always easy; I just learned at an early age I needed to fight my own human instincts on some things or I’d be an unhappy person. I chose not to be unhappy. I fought my natural instincts, I fought teachings that had been instilled in me from birth, and I won. I guess maybe that’s why you perceive me as being so strong. I am strong; I can even conquer myself, if I set my mind to it.”

I say, “So, hangin’ out with your ex is super fun. We should do this more.” Carter smirks. “See why I fucked the art teacher?” “I might’ve fucked the art teacher too, if it was the only way to get away from her,” I admit. “Oof, would watch,” he murmurs. I grin, my cheeks flushing, and bump him in the side. “Behave yourself, Mr. Mahoney.” “Never,” he murmurs back.

Now. We weren’t technically official, so I guess… this is a gray area, but it isn’t gray if you lie to me. I will never trust you if I find out you’re lyin’ about this. I won’t date you either. You can terrorize me all you want, I’ll shut you down so fast, my relationship with Jake will look warm and fuzzy.” Instead of being offended that I’m reaming him, Carter smiles and grabs my shoulders, yanking me into his chest. “Come here, you.” “Tell me the truth,” I say, refusing to hug him back.

“You like that, Ellis? You like being treated like my little whore?” Ellis? No, no, I don’t want to go back to Ellis. Call me princess. That’s what you call me when you’re doing degrading things; Ellis is what you call me when you keep me at a distance. I don’t deserve distance for the nasty shit I’m letting him do to me right now. Impulsively reaching up and dragging my nails down his back, I tell him, “I’m not your little whore. I’m your princess.” He sighs with pleasure as my nails scrape his flesh. “Fuck, Zoey.” That’s better. “Let me suck you again,” I request, lifting my head to kiss his thigh, since that’s what I can reach. “Take my throat. Make me yours.”

shoulder. “I told you before, I’m not a sociopath.” “You’re something abnormal,” I tell him. “I protect my inner world from people, that’s all,” he offers. “Give them something easier to swallow, since that’s what they need. Keeps everybody happy.” I shake my head as he opens the door for me. “You can’t make everybody happy. That’s impossible. If you try to, eventually you’ll snap.” “Well, I did nearly rape a girl in an empty classroom. Does that count?”

“Don’t even try it, Mahoney. You’re bad enough for me without tanking my grades. If you ruin my GPA, I’ll follow you to Columbia just to cock block you. I’ll follow you everywhere you go and tell all your potential wives that you have a small penis.” “That’s not true,” he points out. “But they’ll never know that because my methods will be so effective, they will stay far, far away from it. I’ll bring a Tootsie Roll for visual aid. I will become the bane of your existence, and then I’ll be like, ‘Well, you should’ve let me maintain my GPA and then I’d be at college in PA right now, but nooooo.’”

Carter smirks, catching me around the waist again and pressing me up against his car. “One small flaw in your plan, princess.” I let him smash me against the warm metal at my back. Holding his gaze as he leans in until our chests are touching, I ask, “Oh yeah? What’s that?” “If no one else is paying my dick any attention, I’ll make you pick up the slack.”

a shit-eating grin on his face. He’s sweaty and happy, and he doesn’t hesitate to grab me around the waist and pull me right up against him in all his gear. “You see that?” he asks. “I told you I made better passes. A 71-yard touchdown pass to win the game? Not too shabby, right?” His enthusiasm is catching and I can’t help grinning up at him. “You might as well be speaking in Latin, but I’m glad you won.”

You may have some genius GPA, but don’t fool yourself, Zoey; you’re no smarter than I am when it comes to Carter.” Shaking my head, at a loss for how to grasp this situation, I say, “This is a bizarre conversation. You’re calling both of us stupid. You’re not just insulting me, you’re including yourself.”

“That’s plenty of time. It’s settled. You’re coming to my house.” I shake my head. “I’m not, though.” He ignores me. “You’re going to climb your pretty little ass in my bed so I can fuck you, then we can fall asleep together like last night, but in a much more comfortable bed. I really like this plan.” “This is not the plan at all. The plan is for me to go to my house alone, curl up in bed wearin’ flannel pajamas, and sleep all by myself.” Glancing beyond me, Carter gazes absently into my car. “Now, do I trust you to drive yourself to my house, or do I drag you to my car and bring you back for yours tomorrow?”

“I’ve never met anyone I could talk to the way I can with you. You know exactly who you are and what you stand for, but you have an openness I’ve never encountered before. You’re not stubborn like most people; it’s not your way or the highway. You’re curious and flexible, you’ll try out new ways of approaching things rather than accepting the beaten path as the only way. I love the breadth of your mind. I love just hanging out and talking with you, and…” He unbuttons my jeans. “I’m a pretty big fan of everything else we do, too.”

it’s easy to tell when you’re on my bad side. You haven’t been since the first time I actually saw you, volleying back and forth with me in the middle of your greatest humiliation. You know when to fight and when to stand down. You’re perfect for me.” “Do you want me to fight tonight?” I inquire. Carter shakes his head. “Nah. I want to make love to you tonight.” His words make my tummy bottom out. He’s saying all the nice things tonight, and I like it.

“You just need to start trusting me,” he finishes for me. “Trust the scary, unpredictable sociopath?” I ask lightly, leaning down to kiss him to take any potential sting out of my words. Carter reaches up and grabs a fistful of my hair, dragging me off him and rolling me onto my back. “Not a sociopath.” “Right,” I murmur. “You’re just manipulative, fine with exploiting and violating the rights of others, callously disregarding—” Rather than allow me to continue my diagnosis, Carter kisses me.

“I wasn’t born this way,” he assures me. “I used to be more normal, then I realized the world sucks, everyone in it sucks, and I needed to toughen up and look out for myself, because no one else is gonna look out for me. Can’t be a sociopath, because they’re born, not made. My brain wasn’t wired this way.” That’s the most revealing thing he has ever said to me. “You rewired it. That’s a lot of work. Why?” “Doesn’t matter. The point is, I protect myself and my own interests. You’re one of my interests. You’re safe. I want you; I’m not going to hurt you. If I just wanted some dopey doormat I could cheat on, I could find one, easily. That’s not what I want, and I’d never try to turn you into one. I only cut down people I don’t like or don’t give a shit about. You don’t fall into either category.” Cracking a smile as I look up at him, I tease, “You saying you care about me, Mahoney?” Picking up the teasing gauntlet while imprisoning me with his body, he says, “Maybe a little bit.”

“I have to shower. I can be fast, but considering you’re bound and determined to make your mother a grandma, I’d like to make a better first impression than this.” Carter chokes on laughter,

Carter glances at my plate and smirks. “Hungry?” “I need the extra nourishment,” I inform him, lifting my eyebrows. “I’m probably eatin’ for two.”

“You know when you’re going to be decidedly less amused? When I’m sendin’ you to the store at 3am because I’m craving a certain brand of pickles.” Carter takes a step back, rolls his eyes at me again, and grabs his plate. “Come on, wifey.” “And my back is already aching from carrying around your spawn. I hope you’re plannin’ to give me a back rub later.” “Are your feet swelling up, too? Maybe I should just buy you a whole spa day.”

for her. I figure bedroom, office, Chloe’s room. Unless I knock you up, of course. Then we’ll probably need a nursery.” I widen my eyes and look around to make sure no one overheard, then glare at him. “Really? At a church function?” Carter smirks. “Hey, you were doing it in my kitchen with my parents in the next room.” “I was trying to scare you straight; you’re just bein’ a troublemaker.” “No, I’m being a problem-solver,” he offers back, lightly. “If I knock you up, we already have to accommodate one kid. We could probably just have Chloe move to New York with us, wouldn’t be much added trouble.” “I’m growing increasingly worried that you’re startin’ to view knockin’ me up as a way to lock down a dedicated nanny.” “And lover,” he adds. “I’m seeing a lot of perks.” “You are an insane person,” I tell him.

“I just can’t decide if I should be envious of or feel bad for your future wife.” Smiling, Carter drapes an arm around my shoulder. “I’m gonna marry you, remember? You don’t strike me as the type to spend a lot of time feeling sorry for yourself.”

“Really? Not a social butterfly, huh? How did you and my brother meet again?” she half-jokes. “It was an accident of fate,” I assure her. “I’m not his type.” “You are now,” Carter assures me,

“What are you doin’ here, troublemaker?” “Checking out this hot cashier who works here,” he says, letting his gaze travel over my body. “Don’t tell my girlfriend.” I play along, asking, “Is she a real ball-buster?” “She’d kick my ass.” Bracing my palms on the countertop, I lean in and give him a kiss. “All right, I’ll keep your secret. But only if you don’t tell my boyfriend. He’s fucking crazy.” Carter chuckles against my lips before murmuring, “Damn right he is.”

I’m gonna be really basic here for a minute, but I also think you’d like Catcher in the Rye if you haven’t read it already.” “If it hasn’t been assigned in class, I haven’t read it.” “That has been assigned.” “If it has been assigned in class, I also might not have read it,” he amends.

There are a million things I could say and I’m sure I’ll have to explain beyond this, but I decide to open with the bold truth. “We’re breaking up.” Carter rears back a bit, completely flabbergasted. “What? We are not.” “Yes, we are.” “No, we most assuredly are not,” he says, more firmly.

“You’re being pretty mouthy for someone so completely at my mercy,” he observes. “I’d say do your worst, but you already have.” “Nah, I haven’t done my worst,” he says dismissively. “Not to you. Don’t intend to. I like you too much.”

Then, I was legitimately afraid he might be a monster, and I didn’t want him chasing me. Now I know he’s a monster, but I’m not afraid of the chase.

Swallowing down a lump of anger and meeting his gaze, I ask, “Can we talk privately, please?” Carter reaches out and caresses the side of my face, an intentionally condescending move. “Since you said please.” Murder, murder, murder. Stab, stab, stab.

“You know the place with that massive burrito that was just fuckin’ smothered in queso? Dear lord. The waitress was hot as hell, too.” “Oh, well, I wasn’t entirely sold on the food, but if the waitress is hot,” I murmur, opening my drink. Cartwright grins and nods. “That’s what I’m talkin’ about. See, Ellis is cool. She knows.”

“Damn, will you come up with all my alibis, too? That’s fuckin’ thorough.” I point at him with the corner of my fajita and lift a severe eyebrow. “You’ll say nothing.” “I always say nothing,” he assures me, before taking a bite. “I can see why Carter likes you so much now, though. You got a brain in that pretty little head too, don’t ya?” “The Zoey Ellis package is a pretty good one, I won’t lie,” I tell him, flashing him a playfully boastful smirk. “Sure is,” Carter says, wrapping an arm around me, not appearing to like Cartwright’s praise. “And all mine.”

An idea pops into my head, perhaps a way to hit both birds with the same stone. In an attempt to calm Carter and piss Erika off enough that she does herself a favor and goes away, I grab Carter’s face, pull him close, and kiss the hell out of him. I can feel him jerk in surprise, but he’s not about to turn down a kiss in the current climate of our relationship. Being pissed off doesn’t make him want to kiss me less, it just makes him rougher. His arm curls around my waist and he yanks me against him. His other hand moves, and he pushes his fingers through my hair, cradling my head while he kisses me.

was a stage kiss,” I assure him. “Nothing more.” “Uh-huh,” he says, unconvinced. “Why are you flustered, then?” “I’m not flustered,” I mutter. “Aw, are you blushing?” Cartwright asks, smirking at me. “She’s blushing.” I look up at him across the table. “Et tu, Brute?” Cartwright frowns. “Huh?” “I’m gonna buy you a book for Christmas,” I tell him.

Because something Carter said to me a long time ago is so very true. These people don’t like him, they like what their closeness to him does for them. They don’t follow his orders out of loyalty or a genuine desire to support him, but out of fear—fear that if they step out of line, he will banish them, and all the benefits of his friendship will disappear in a puff of smoke. Erika was wrong. None of Carter’s friends think they’re safe. They just make sure not to cross him so that he never has a reason to throw them to the wolves. Looking over at him, I feel a strange stab of sadness for him. In so many ways, he is so spoiled, but in the most basic ways, I think he might be starving. Like he said to me once before, I am the first real thing Carter has ever encountered.

To tell him even when I’m so angry at him I want to scream, I still like him. I always like him—and not the shiny, perfect side of him, either. I like the filth and the sadness and the darkness. I do crave his depravity, because I know it’s inside him whether he has somewhere to put it or not. I love being the place he puts his darkness. I love being the keeper of the secret of who Carter really is.

“I got Jake suspended because he was sexually inappropriate with me. He violated actual codes of conduct. That’s not the same thing,” I tell him. “Erika cost me you,” he states. “That’s a good enough reason for me.” In a twisted way, that’s kind of sweet.

The first words out of his mouth when he breaks away are, “Why was Jake bothering you?” “Because he has a crush on an imaginary girl who looks like me,” I inform him, winding my arms around his neck. “Damned doppelgänger,” he says lightly, shaking his head. “Always causing trouble,” I murmur, before stealing another kiss.

Capturing my hand and bringing it to his lips, he presses a soft kiss there. “I’d do anything for you.” And there it is. Not just his words or his enormous gesture, but that look in his eyes, the one that communicates all the love he has for me. That’s the reason I believe his promises. The reason I believe in him, period. Whatever wickedness he’s capable of, Carter doesn’t want to lose me. He may be hell on wheels sometimes, he may be a challenging, difficult guy with as many issues as he has privileges, but when he looks me in the eye after all this and tells me he would do anything for me, no part of me doubts that he means it. Scary as it can be sometimes, Carter would do anything for me.

You’re above and beyond anything I’ve ever hoped for. I never even knew to look for you, but I sure am glad I stumbled across you.” I feel a pang of affection as my heart fills up. I wrap my arms around him to draw him as close to me as possible.