by L. B. Reyes
“I can look out for myself.”
“I can help.”
“Stop smothering me.”
“Stop being stubborn.”
“I’m not stubborn!” I gave her a pointed look as she proved my point. Evie wrinkled her nose and looked away. “This isn’t me being stubborn. I’m just…not agreeing with you. This is arguing…as adults, which we are. Adults argue and prove their points and—”
“And now you’re just rambling,” I interrupted, pulling her onto my lap. She obliged resentfully, though she couldn’t hide the way her gaze fell to my lips.
Those hormones. I fucking loved them.
“You can’t blame me for wanting to protect you,” I whispered, my hand going to the hair tie that held her hair back. Her breathing hitched with the small action, and I smirked, knowing her well enough to know what she was thinking. I brought her face to mine, pressing a small kiss to her lips. “I just don’t want you to get hurt again.”
Her lips parted, and I took advantage by kissing her, her back arching towards me with the action.
“I won’t…get hurt,” she nearly moaned. Suddenly, realization dawned on her, and she pushed me back with fury. Evie jumped off the bed, her beautiful eyes wide with fury. “You’re convincing me with sex?”
Her exclamation elicited a chuckle from me that soon turned into a laugh. Gaping, Evelyn took a pillow, throwing it at me with all the strength she had.
“You treacherous, taker-advantage of hormones. You are evil and…and, evil and just…evil,” she groaned, covering her face. “Ugh, and now I’m just a pregnant horny woman.”
Fuck.
The tears.
Shit.
I heard her quick intake of breath as she started to cry.
Dammit.
I stood up, pulling into my arms. “Yes, you’re pregnant, yes, you’re horny, but there’s nothing wrong with that,” I said, praying to all the heavens that I was saying the right thing.
“And fat,” she sobbed, wrapping her arms around my neck. “You forgot fat.”
“No, not fat.”
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not going to say anything else.” I knew sometimes it was better if I just shut my mouth.
If I said even a wrong syllable, the situation could turn deadly, and I was not about to risk it. I cupped her face when she started calming down and wiped away her tears. Met with rosy cheeks, bright eyes, and parted lips, I leaned down and kissed her once again, this time hungrily, a loud moan escaping past her lips.
“Can we talk later?” she asked, pulling away just enough to remove her shirt. She wasn’t wearing a bra, and she lay back on the bed, removing her panties as well.
Aaand we’re back.
“Fuck yes,” I muttered as I positioned myself on top of her.
Even though it was an important conversation, there was no talking done that night.
Chapter 16
Evelyn
I stood inside the crowded gallery, admiring the sight of what Nathan accomplished. It was the weekend, and there was an exhibition that I had been warned about. Of course, with my pregnancy brain, I kept forgetting even what my name was, so I didn’t remember it was going to be so busy.
I brushed my hair back, crossing my arms over my chest. Nathan spoke with several potential buyers, as did Jesse, while I walked around the gallery. I was so proud of him. Though Nathan was tired and a bit stressed, I could tell he was happy, proud of what he’d accomplished. There is nothing like seeing what you’ve been working toward flourish.
“Nice gallery, isn’t it?”
I jumped back, startled at the voice behind me.
“Paintings here are rare. Honestly some of the more interesting ones I’ve seen.”
A man stood next to me, smiling. His green eyes sparkled, and he’d combed his light brown hair back. He looked around the gallery for a moment before addressing me again.
“Do you frequent this place?”
I studied him quietly. Truth be told, he was handsome, but that wasn’t what caught me off guard. He seemed familiar, though I couldn’t exactly place where I had seen him before.
“Uh, yeah, actually, I do. What about you?”
“First time,” he said, raising his eyebrows. “I’m interested in a few pieces, but the seller is busy, so I’m waiting patiently.” He extended his hand to me. “I’m Derek Hensley, and your name is?”
I smiled, extending my hand to him as well. He seemed friendly enough. “Evelyn Carson.” My eyes widened when from a distance Nathan’s gaze fell on us at that precise moment.
He was not happy.
I removed my hand from his, giving him a tight smile when I felt I’d done something wrong.
“Do you want a drink?” Derek asked.
“No, thank you,” I replied. He hummed, but by his expression, I could tell something was on his mind. He looked at me intently, making me shift uncomfortably on my feet.
“I’m sorry, you just seem incredibly familiar,” he said. “Have we met before?”
I smiled, genuinely this time. “I feel the same way. I just don’t know where I’ve seen you before. Hensley, right?”
He chuckled. “Yes. I know many people with the last name Carson, so…” He narrowed his eyes on me as he trailed off. “You aren’t by any chance related to Hannah Carson, are you?”
My heart stilled.
“I’m sorry if I’m prying,” the man said when he noticed my expression. “You don’t have to tell me anything.”
“How do you know her?” I asked.
“Acquaintances. Almost did a few deals with her before the crumbling of the company. Shame what she did, very stupid. All that fraud with no need hurt many families. I heard it was under new management and that it was doing much better now, thanks to the little sister. Bright girl if she managed to at least put the place back on the right track before stepping down.”
That’s me!
I hid my smile. At least I’d done something right according to this…stranger.
“You sure are a bit of a gossiper,” I commented.
He smirked, taking a sip of his wine. “You have to be informed in the industry.”
“That’s one way to put it.”
Not knowing what else to say, I focused my attention on the painting in front of us.
I didn’t know why I was nervous, I just…was.
It’s because he knows your family.
And if he knew my family, it was possible he’d seen that video. If he’d seen the video, then he thought I was easy. And if he thought I was easy, there was no telling what he wanted from me.
“I can hear you,” he whispered. I gasped, jumping back once again.
Did I say that out loud?
“No, you didn’t say that out loud,” he snorted. “But I can tell you’re trying to figure me out. I’m just a man making conversation, that’s it. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“Nothing is ever that simple,” I stated, unknowingly glaring at him.
“With me, it is.” He smiled, flashing his perfect teeth. He glanced towards the other side of the gallery, nodding towards it. “Come here. There’s a painting I think you’ll find interesting.”
I searched for Nathan in the crowd and sighed when I couldn’t find him.
Oh well.
I followed behind Derek, bypassing the various groups and couples talking until we were in front of a painting that I hadn’t seen before.
I wasn’t sure who painted it or why it was there, but its beauty took my breath away.
“What do you see?” Derek asked, his eyes roaming the painting cautiously.
There was a woman hunched over, hugging her knees while the world around her seemed to crumble. She wore a warrior suit but appeared weak.
She’d given up the fight.
Her world was a literal war zone, and the woman had given up.
“You’re thinking she’s given up, don’t you?” Derek gave me a knowing look. I nodded,
looking up at him, for the first time since we started talking truly meeting his eyes. “Well, look at her facial expression. Do you see it?”
Her face looked fierce. Her eyes shone with bravery, and if I looked closely, I could even see a hint of a smile on her face.
“Yeah, I see it.” My voice was a mere whisper.
“Yes, she’s hunched over. She’s protecting herself. And yes, the world around her is falling apart, but what does her facial expression tell you?”
I smiled softly. “That she’s going to get back up.”
“Exactly,” he said, smiling back at me. “Her world is crumbling, but she’s letting it pass because in the end, she knows she’s stronger than what’s going on around her.”
“That’s beautiful,” I murmured, now having a new understanding of the painting.
“Truly is.” Derek grinned. “As are you, by the way.”
I flushed; the man wasn’t directly flirting, but it didn’t take a genius to figure out what he was trying to do.
“Thank you.”
He shrugged, downing the rest of his wine. “I figure someone like you can’t be single. But hey, nothing more than a friendly cup of coffee won’t hurt anyone, will it?”
“That depends on your intentions,” I heard Nathan’s voice.
There was no mistaking his jealousy. Nathan gripped my waist tightly as if forgetting that the man in front of him was a potential client.
“Hey,” I breathed. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
Nathan smiled at me, tilting my chin up and placing a kiss on my lips.
“I’m taking a wild guess that this is the boyfriend?” Derek said with a raised eyebrow. “You could have told me you were dating the owner of the gallery. Now he may not sell me the pieces I want,” Derek teased.
Nathan sighed, shaking his head. “What are you doing here, Derek?”
“You know him?” I asked, furrowing my eyebrows.
“Acquaintances,” both men replied at the same time.
“Okay,” I said, glancing between them. I was hormonal, yes, but the testosterone war about to ensue was one I didn’t want to be a part of. “I’m going to take a walk. I’ll see you later?” I asked Nathan.
“Yeah.” He pressed a kiss on my temple. “We can have lunch in about an hour?”
“Sounds good,” I said, squeezing his hand. Finally, I turned my attention to Derek, who still stood, watching us curiously. “It was nice to meet you, Derek.”
“It was, Evelyn. I’ll be waiting for that coffee, hm?”
***
Once in the office, I took a seat by the desk, closing my eyes. I could hear the chatter of the people out in the gallery, the excitement in their voices, while all I could think about was Hannah’s call.
Was Derek being there a sign that I should talk to her?
Maybe it was a subtle way of life letting me know it was time to confront her once again, hear her out. My mind kept warning me that it was a bad idea, that there was a huge chance of getting hurt again.
I was too damn curious.
Nathan wouldn’t approve, and though I knew he was looking out for me, I knew it was also something I had to do. If I didn’t, I would regret it for the rest of my life. I didn’t necessarily have to do it for her, but for myself.
Maybe she had changed.
In the end, the only things I’d regret were the things I didn’t do, the things I didn’t say. I wouldn’t make that mistake. I’d been dealt with endless problems already—a less than ideal family, problems that some people never had to go through—and I was still standing.
What harm could a little reunion with my beloved sister do?
Chapter 17
Evelyn
The tension surrounding Nathan and me for the rest of the day overwhelmed me. He was angry, frustrated without even explaining why. The relationship between Derek and Nathan wasn’t ill; they seemed like they could have potentially been friends. However, all chance of a friendship seemed to have disappeared with just the sight of Derek speaking to me.
I glanced back at Nathan on our way back to the condo. His grip was tight around the steering wheel, so tight, in fact, that I was afraid he’d break it. Gaze fixed on the road, Nate didn’t even turn to look at me.
Was he angry at me?
Seeing his attitude change only made me realize I would have to wait another day to talk about my potential visit to Hannah. Talking while he was angry was not an option; he wouldn’t listen, and I would also get angry, leading us absolutely nowhere.
We arrived at my building, Nathan on one side of the elevator while I stood on the other. He looked up, and I crossed my arms over my chest.
I didn’t like the silence, not this type of silence, especially when I had done nothing to warrant it.
He followed behind me as I opened the door to our little home and closed the door behind him. Briefly, his gaze met mine; it was blazing. So intense I had to look away because I didn’t know what it meant.
Was he angry or jealous?
What was going through his mind?
He smiled, forced and fake, and I scoffed.
“What’s your problem?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. If he had something to say, there was no need to hold back. I could handle it.
“I don’t like him,” he said with a clenched jaw.
“You don’t know him,” I stated, setting my purse on the sofa.
“More than you know, Evelyn. Just stay away from him.”
Was he serious?
I didn’t like being ordered around, and Nathan did just that. He gave me no valid reason for me not to talk to Derek. Therefore, his anger wasn’t enough.
“I told him I was involved with someone, Nathan. Then you came around and marked your territory when you kissed me, so I don’t know what the problem is.”
His expression turned sour.
Bitter.
“What?”
“He is not a good man, Evelyn.”
I narrowed my eyes on him. “Not everyone is out to hurt us.”
Smirking, I walked up to him, wrapping my arms around his neck. “You’re jealous,” I teased.
Nathan frowned, removing my arms from around his neck. “I’m going to bed.”
Men.
After eating a couple spoons full of ice cream, I followed behind Nathan into the room. He sat on the bed, scrolling through his phone, though I could tell he could care less about what he was looking at.
I began undressing, doing my best to suppress my laughter when he had to force his gaze to stay on the phone. I took advantage of the situation.
“What are you doing?” Nathan asked when I took the phone from his hands, placing it on the nightstand. I crawled on top of him, straddling him with my legs on each side of his body. His eyes fell to my bra-covered breasts before it went back to my eyes.
“Trying to prove to you that I don’t care about another man that isn’t you.” My lips traced his jawline while my hands ran down his chest. I smiled against his skin when I felt the muscles tensing.
“You’ve been the only man in my life,” I confessed.
I kissed my way down his chest, looking back at him teasingly. Still, his gaze was intense and dark…I was testing him, and I knew it. My lips parted as my tongue slid out, tasting his skin.
The last thread of control he held onto snapped as he flipped us over, making me bounce slightly off the bed. Nathan cut my laugh of amusement off when his mouth claimed my own with passion and ownership. I moaned, arching my back as he took complete control.
My remaining clothes were torn off without mercy as he ravished me. He sank into me with one swift thrust, and I cried out, throwing my head back. I panted, struggling to get air into my lungs while I accommodated to his size.
He gripped my chin, forcing me to look at him.
He was enjoying this.
“Test me now,” he dared, pinning my hands over my head as he began thrusting into me with wild abandon.
Just
like that, I surrendered to him.
***
“I should make you jealous more often,” I mumbled against the pillow.
Nathan chuckled, massaging the muscles of my lower back.
“Mm, that’s nice. You know what else would be nice?”
“Wild guess…ice cream,” he replied.
“You know me so well,” I whispered.
He placed a kiss on the nape of my neck, squeezing my ass. Sleepily, I ogled over my man as he stood and walked over to the kitchen, completely naked.
I sat up, closing my eyes and leaning my head back against the headboard.
“Here it is,” I heard Nathan say from the door.
For a while, we were quiet, eating the delicious snack in the middle of the night. There were still so many pending conversations, though. We couldn’t avoid them forever.
Nathan didn’t seem to want to talk about it, but I didn’t want to avoid the subject any longer. He’d gotten sex; he could be honest with me, couldn’t he?
“So…what’s the deal with Derek?”
Nathan stared at me for a moment before sighing. Clearly, he didn’t want to discuss the matter with me for now, but I couldn’t let the chance slip by.
“I knew him some years back with Hannah. They were friends.”
“Friends? I never heard of him.”
“It was while you were in Florida. You weren’t around.”
I set the empty ice cream tub on the nightstand and lay down, resting my head on his chest. Unable to stop myself, I kissed right over where his heart beat.
That, along with the heartbeat of our baby, had to be the sounds I loved the most. The more I thought of it, the more I realized how fragile life was. If that one organ ceased to beat, it was over. I closed my eyes, listening to the steady beat, cherishing every single one of them.
I would never tire of it.
“I saw the way he was looking at you, Evie,” he murmured, pressing a kiss on my head. “You may have not noticed it, but I did. I don’t mind you having friends. In fact, I want you to have friends, Evie. It’s just Derek…he has a bit of a history with women.”