Forever

by Saffire , Blue

  As I think on it a little more, I come up with an idea. “How about this? When we get back, I’ll order our food, you can start reading and once the food arrives, we’ll eat. Then we can watch the documentary and then relax in a bath,” we say the last part at the same time, bringing a broad smile to my face.

  “You’ve got it, darlin’,” I say.

  “Sounds good to me,” she sings.

  I smile at the road ahead of me. Not for the first time, I muse over how good Eva is for me. I’ve spent the day with her shopping and I’ve never been more content.

  When I think of my future, I see her in it. Her bright smile and those gorgeous eyes. I reach over to place my hand on her thigh.

  I think I’m trying to hold her in place, so I don’t lose her. My chest tightens at the thought of being without this woman and I know I need to move things along where King is concerned. The more time that passes, the bigger problem this will be.

  I’m falling in love with her.

  Chapter 14

  Our World

  Eva

  “Come on, baby. You were the one that wanted to play,” Owen teases.

  I stick my tongue out at him. “Whatever,” I mumble to myself.

  This was my idea, but I’m having a hard time getting into it. We have been in his game room, playing pool for the last two hours. It’s not that I don’t like pool. I have other things on my mind.

  If I wasn’t totally in love with Owen, I’ve fallen ten times over in the last three weeks. We have worked together from home during this whole time. He has run out to a site once or twice a week to put out a couple of fires and check on things, but I stay behind to work on whatever design tasks he trusts me with.

  I have to say I’ve learned so much. During working hours, Owen is all business. Not like that day in his office on his desk. He may rest a hand on my hip, thigh, or the small of my back, but those are all possessive gestures that are becoming natural to him.

  He’s always aware of where I am and what I’m doing. I feel like we finish each other’s sentences now. I haven’t been this happy in… yeah, not ever. I love me some Owen, and I love the bubble we have built around us.

  That’s why I’m pouting now. Meetings and clients need his attention. Our time here is up. I knew it was coming, but it still stings to know the time is here.

  I understand, but I don’t want to share him with the world. This weekend seems like it has gone way too fast. I continue to pout as I chalk my pool stick to take my next shot.

  He’s kicking my ass because I’m distracted by the feeling of dread I have for tomorrow. Tomorrow, I will have to remember Owen is my boss, not my boyfriend. I won’t be able to lean over and kiss his cheek or reach over to run my hand through his hair. All things I haven’t had to think about in the last three weeks. Things I’ve started to do daily.

  “Okay, baby girl, what’s going on in that pretty head? I’ve watched you hold the record for kicking ass in pool at the clubhouse since you were thirteen. I know I’m not that good.” He crosses his arms over his chest as I miss yet another easy shot.

  I sigh and place the stick across the table. “Things are going to be different tomorrow. We still haven’t told King about us, so we have to be careful of how we are together,” I murmur.

  He moves into my space, crowding me against the pool table. “Let me worry about King. As far as work goes, we’ll have too much work to do to worry about anything else.” He reaches for my face and turns it up so I look him in the eyes. “I’ve loved having you all to myself, but I have an empire out there to run and club shit I’ve been putting off. King will start asking questions if I don’t handle that shit.”

  “Why don’t we just tell him?” I ask, feeling insecure.

  I haven’t said it outright, but I’ve wondered if he is keeping this secret because he doesn’t want to take this any further. I know he said in the beginning he’s my man, but who’s to say he isn’t tiring of me.

  “I plan to, baby.” His voice rumbles through me as he presses his lips to my forehead as he speaks. “King has his own shit going on, and I think it’s best to wait for the right timing. He’s not going to like this. We’ll give it a little more time.”

  I sigh and nod my head. “Okay,” I say.

  He glides his hands down my sides and around to cup my ass. With a tight hold on me, he kisses my forehead and moves to the side of my face with another, then places a trail of kisses down my neck. “You know. I can’t wait to tell the world you’re mine. And I’m really looking forward to seeing you in those tight jeans and your cute little construction boots tomorrow,” he breathes against my neck.

  I moan when he flicks his tongue out against my skin. I giggle and snuggle into his chest. “You really didn’t have to take me shopping,” I say breathlessly as he sucks my skin into his mouth.

  It’s been almost a week, but I still can’t believe all the money he’s spent on me. My belly drops and twists every time I think about it.

  “That’s where you’re wrong, baby girl. You needed something, so I’m here to give it to you,” he says against my skin, sending goose bumps over my flesh and shivers through my body.

  I moan again as he kneads my ass cheeks with his big hands. I try to focus because I have a point to make here. While I really appreciate him buying me new things since I packed so poorly, I want him to know how much it really meant to me.

  It’s not like I don’t have my own to take care of myself. Cage left money for us all to be good if anything ever happened to him. King wouldn’t let me touch that money for school, so I haven’t put a dent in it.

  I push gently at his chest, so I can focus and get my point across. “No, Owen, I want you to know how much it meant to me.” I cup his face in my hand and scratch at his beard. He turns his face and kisses my palm. “Thank you.”

  “I know how you can really thank me, darlin’. I think it’s time for bed.” He wraps his arms around my back, drawing me into him.

  He lifts me, causing me to wrap my legs around his waist. I cup his upturned face in both hands and take his lips in a kiss. He takes over the kiss, devouring me.

  However, before we can get too lost, his phone starts to ring. A growl rumbles from his chest as he places me back on my feet. He pecks my lips as he pulls the phone from his pocket. I watch as he pulls a face while he lifts the phone to his ear.

  “Prez,” he answers. I suck in a breath.

  I don’t even move a muscle as if King can hear me. As it does every time King calls, my stomach churns. He trusted Owen with me all those nights ago. We have both broken that trust in a big way.

  King is going to kill us.

  Owen

  “Hey, brother,” King grunts into the phone. I can hear already he’s in a mood. “How’s my sister?”

  “She’s good, she’ll be going to her first worksite tomorrow. I have a few clients who love some of her ideas and want to pull her in on their project teams already,” I reply with a proud smile on my lips.

  Eva stands before me frozen. I chuckle inwardly and move to pull her into my arms. I know she’s concerned about how King will react to our relationship.

  I don’t blame her. I know it’s going to be a hurdle to get over. I’m only trying to time it right.

  Every time I’ve spoken to King in the last three weeks he has sounded so stressed out. I know he’s about to blow any minute. I’m giving him the time I know he needs to sort shit out in his head, before he brings whatever it is to me.

  I know my best friend, that’s why I know it’s not time to tell him I’m fucking his little sister. I bury my face in her hair and inhale. Shit, it’s not the time to tell him I’m in love with his little sister.

  My chest feels blown through as the realization hits me. I love this woman. I’m no longer falling.

  I’ve watched her stress out all day, but I’ve been thinking of the same things. It’s going to be hell keeping my hands off of her at work. It was risky for me to fuck her in
my office the day of her interview.

  There are Lost Souls members all throughout my organization. Sure, most work the construction side and are out in the field, but all it would have taken was one to go back and mention something to King.

  It’s another reason I made it so Eva and I could work remotely for three weeks. I needed to be able to ensure I could hold it together throughout the workday. I still haven’t managed to keep my hands off of her, but I haven’t tried to fuck her brains out during the workday.

  That’s something, given how much I crave this woman. I can’t wait to lay her body down now. I want to show her what I know. I love her.

  “Good, I need a favor, brother. I’ll be by the worksite tomorrow to talk in person. Give me the location,” King says, bringing me from my thoughts.

  My gut tightens. King being in South Carolina is one thing. Him being here in Georgia is another.

  Fuck!

  My workers, I may be able to fool them into not knowing anything is going on between me and Eva. King will see right through that shit. He knows me too well.

  I press my face closer to my shoulder that has the phone balanced on it. I tighten my arms around Eva. I’m so lost in thoughts of how much of a clusterfuck this is, I haven’t responded to King.

  “Brick, you hear me?” he grumbles, snapping me back to the present.

  “Yeah, yeah, I hear you. I’ll text you the address in the morning,” I finally reply.

  “Good.” King sighs. “I need one more favor. I need to borrow one of your trucks. You can bring my bike to the club on the weekend. Need you in church.”

  “Got it, see you tomorrow,” I reply, knowing this conversation is done.

  I hang up the phone and look down at Eva. She has her bottom lip trapped between her teeth and her eyes are filled with worry. I kiss her cute little nose.

  “Stop worrying about shit I plan to handle. I know King. I’ll tell him when the time is right,” I reassure her.

  “He’s here, in Georgia?” she asks with her brows wrinkled.

  “Yeah, but I’ll handle it.”

  Eva looks at me skeptically. Instead of trying to reassure her with words, I go back to my original plan. I take her lips and kiss her with everything I have.

  This is my woman, and nothing is going to change that.

  That’s what I confirm in my head. I mean it. Let anyone test that fact and they will learn the truth.

  Chapter 15

  My Woman

  Eva

  I am nervous as shit as we pull up to the site. I can already see King waiting by his bike. I narrow my eyes as his face comes into view.

  I groan. This doesn’t bode well. I know my brother and I know that look on his face. He’s going through something big.

  Maybe Brick is right about waiting to say something. The realization only makes my heart sink and my belly tighten.

  “You ready for this?” Owen says.

  However, I don’t get a chance to answer as King pulls my door open to let me out of the truck. He wraps me in his embrace and gives me a bear hug. When he places me on my feet to look me over, he purses his lips and shakes his head at my outfit.

  “You didn’t have anything else to wear?” he grumbles. “This is a construction site.”

  “I—”

  He holds his hand up before pulling it down his face. “Ignore me. You need anything?”

  Owen rounds the truck at that very moment and hands me a hard hat. I take it and smile, catching myself before I say thank you, Owen. It’s right on the tip of my tongue. I quickly turn and reply to King for a distraction from Owen’s intense eyes.

  “No, I’m fine.”

  King nods, still frowning at my outfit. I have on a pair of well-fitting blue jeans, with a black Soul Deep Construction Polo and the tan construction boots Owen bought me. I’ll admit as simple as the outfit is, it’s not something I would normally wear because it places my body on display.

  However, when Owen looked at me this morning and licked his lips, I took a look of my own in the mirror. I mean, a real look. What I saw for myself was an attractive, curvy woman who shouldn’t try so hard to hide herself or from herself.

  Although observing King’s reaction makes me believe all he sees is the trouble I’ll get into dressed like this. He sucks in a deep breath and shakes his head before waving for Owen to follow him.

  “Let’s talk,” he says.

  “Give me a sec.” Brick nods but takes a moment to wave over one of the guys working.

  When the worker comes over, Owen leans into whisper something to him. They both turn their attention to me. “Eva this is Anthony, the foreman here. You’ll stick with him until I get back.”

  “Okay,” I say quietly.

  I can totally read Owen doesn’t like this introduction one bit. He’s not doing well at hiding it either. I glance at King, but he seems distracted.

  “Good to meet you, Eva,” Anthony says with a lingering look at my breasts before he reaches out a hand to shake mine.

  I reach out my hand but clumsily drop the hard hat on the ground as I look to Owen out of the corner of my eye. I bend to reach for the hat and when I straighten, I find Anthony smirking at my ass.

  I shoot my gaze to Owen. His ears are so red, I know he’s ready to blow. The only thing holding him back is King standing right next to him. King is looking at his phone and misses the entire exchange.

  Quickly, I shake my head at Brick. Reminding myself again not to call him by his real name. I keep my hands busy with the hat instead of trying to shake Anthony’s hand. Something tells me that’s not such a great idea.

  “Mr. Mason spoke highly of your crew. Nice to meet you too,” I say.

  “We are the best,” the foreman replies with pride.

  “Anthony,” Brick bites out. He gives Anthony a dirty glare as a warning.

  “Got it, boss.”

  I can tell Brick wants to say something more, but he doesn’t.

  Anthony gives a smile and waves for me to follow him. I start after him but look back to see King watching me for a moment with that same frown on his face before his phone grabs his attention again. I rub my hands on my jeans self-consciously.

  Yeah, I might be dressed for trouble if King looks so disturbed. If I go by Anthony’s appreciative looks and Owen’s death glares directed at Anthony, I’m pretty sure King is right. It doesn’t take long for me to find out for a fact.

  * * *

  ***

  King and Owen disappeared to talk club business hours ago. I knew King had something on his mind, because he totally missed the entire thing that passed between Brick and Anthony. Usually, he would’ve been the one to threaten to cut the guy’s balls off, if he didn’t keep his eyes to himself.

  A part of me wishes Brick had said more earlier. I would love to have my baggy clothes back right about now. At the moment, I’m sitting through an awkward lunch with a bunch of guys drooling over me. Anthony is on my right, sitting way too close. I’ve been asked out on a date twice by two different guys.

  “So, you’re the big boss’s new personal assistant?” one of the guys asks, I think he said his name was Rock.

  I nod and nibble at the sandwich Anthony insisted he pay for at the truck. I wipe at my mouth and sip my soda. With a swallow, I give a real reply, since everyone seems to be looking for me to elaborate.

  “Yes, I’m an intern for the summer.”

  “I’d love to have an intern following me that looks like you,” one of the other guys says. I can’t remember his name.

  “I’d watch that,” Texas, a guy I recognize as a Lost Soul, cautions. “That’s Prez’s little sister.”

  The guy who made the comment and the two who asked me out look like they’re about to lose their lunch. I almost laugh at the look of horror in their expressions. I guess they heard enough about my brother.

  “Damn, I still wouldn’t mind climbing that family tree,” Anthony murmurs next to me.

  The growl that
rumbles through my back nearly has me jumping in the air. I turn to look over my shoulder to find Owen is standing at my back, looking down on Anthony with rage in his eyes. I go to touch his chest to calm him but think better of it.

  “Brick, the guys were only joking,” I squawk.

  “It’s sounds like sexual harassment and it won’t be happening on my worksites. If I hear it again, the mouth it comes from will be out of a job,” Owen seethes.

  “I… I meant no harm, boss,” Anthony stutters.

  “The fuck you didn’t,” Owen growls out. “Eva, let’s go.”

  “I didn’t finish my lunch. I don’t want to waste Anthony’s money,” I say stupidly, wincing as soon as the words are out of my mouth.

  “He paid for your lunch,” Owen says tightly.

  Owen’s face burns red and his ears turn purple. Oh, shit, I know that look and it isn’t good. He’s about to go DEFCON. I chide myself for my stupid mouth and get up from the plank I’d been sitting on with the rest of the guys.

  “I’m ready,” I say as I move toward where the cars are parked.

  I chance a look over my shoulder, hoping Owen is right behind me. He’s not, instead he has a hand on Anthony’s shoulder as he whispers something in his ear. Anthony’s face has gone white as a sheet.

  My mouth falls open and I stop right in my tracks. I turn, wringing my hands and look around for King. I’m not sure if he has left. When my gaze lands back on Owen, he’s stalking toward me with fire in his eyes.

  When he reaches me, he clasps my wrist and pulls me along to King’s bike. I wrinkle my brows as Owen hands me a helmet. My brother is so picky about anyone touching his bike.

  Honestly, Sal and Brick are the only people I’ve ever seen ride it other than King. Reap is the only one he lets work on it other than himself. So, to see Owen straddle it has my mind racing.