by L. T. Kelly
Then it came. She pushed him away. Hurt shot through him.
“Let me put my bloody cup down then,” she laughed. He sat back hard, sinking into her sofa with relief.
“So, I figure you know what’s been happening with me? What about you? How’re you doing? I expected you to be—” He stopped to look at the ceiling, thinking how best to put what he was trying to say without making her mad.
“What? Broken?” She tipped her head and raised a brow after finishing his sentence for him.
That was exactly the word he’d wanted to use. He let out a breathy, nervous laugh and shrugged. “I guess.”
She picked up her cup again and sipped her coffee before answering. “What Rupy did forced me to understand better. One day a week wasn’t enough to really help those lads.”
His brows quirked with surprise as he waited for her to continue.
“I gave up my job at the hotel. I’ll be working at the center full time starting in January. I have a little in savings, so I figured I could live off that until then.”
“You know I could—” A bark of laughter interrupted his intended offer of financial support.
“No chance. I don’t take money from strangers.”
Ouch. He winced. “I swear to you. I’ll tell you everything. But let me off for today. I have plans for all that.”
“You do? What’s that then?” she asked, with a suitable amount of intrigue and amusement.
Truth be told, he wanted to make sure he had her firmly back in his corner before he revealed his birthday gift to her.
“You’ll see soon enough.” He grinned, revealing his teeth, suddenly feeling comfortable enough to remove the coffee cup from her hand and pull her into another deep kiss.
“Mmm, that’s nice. I missed your kisses most of all,” she said breathlessly as he pulled away.
He pressed his finger against her lips. “I missed kissing your mouth all right.” He trailed down past her collarbone and along the line of buttons on her pajama top until his finger reached her apex. Their eyes never lost contact the entire time. “I’ve missed kissing you here, just as much.”
Her tightly held breath suddenly escaped in a pant as she leapt up and broke into a run, her feet banging on the stairs. He laughed, getting up to chase her.
“You’re in big trouble, angel,” he hollered after her.
“I bloody hope so,” she called out from her bedroom.
Chapter Sixteen
He bounded upstairs after her to find her standing beside her bed, waiting for him. He didn’t want to play today. He wanted to feel her body against his where it belonged. He made his intentions known, reaching out and undoing the buttons on her top, his eyes lost in hers. She shuddered beneath his touch.
“I have missed you,” she whispered.
He dipped his head and fluttered gentle kisses over her cheeks, his fingers still working on the line of buttons. When he reached the last one, his kisses became more forceful, trailing down to her neck and collarbone. Her chest heaved, as his hot lips got closer to her erect nipple. His tongue ran teasingly around her areola. He drew his head back to admire the beauty of her pert breasts and gently blew on the area he’d licked, causing her to shiver. He peered up at her face. Her bottom lip jutted out, and she gazed at him wantonly.
“I missed you too, angel. Lay back. I want you to feel what I’ve been missing.” He slipped the pajama top from her shoulders before allowing her to move.
She followed his order and lay back on her unmade bed. He crawled atop her and kneeled up, pinning her to the bed by resting back on her hips. Her face looked so open and expectant. Despite what had happened, she acted as though she trusted him implicitly. He took her pajama top he still had in his hand and lowered it to her face slowly. If she’d asked him to stop, he would have. Instead, she lifted her head slightly to allow him to tie in behind her head, so it acted as a blindfold.
“I don’t want you to move, you got that?”
She nodded her response.
He shuffled back and stood to remove his shirt. She looked so helpless lying there without the sense of sight. His cock had been painfully solid since he’d laid his lips on her. It would take him all he had to hold back from taking her hard and fast to rid himself of the fiery yearning resting heavy in his groin.
She yelped as he pulled her roughly by the ankles so her legs dangled over the edge of the bed. In contrast, he gently tugged at her pajama bottoms, slowly releasing her from them and losing his composure when he realized she wasn’t wearing any panties. His breath hitched when he dipped a single finger inside her, immediately soaking it with her juices. He slipped his digit from inside her and rubbed it over her beautiful clit, making it glisten in the early morning light that seeped through the gap in the curtains.
“Don’t move,” he warned her huskily as he dragged himself away from her and went downstairs to the hallway to grab the bottle of champagne. It wasn’t as chilled as he’d have liked it to be, but it would be cold enough. Returning to her, he was pleased to see she’d obeyed him. The gentle rise and fall of her stunning breasts appeared to be the only movement in the still room.
He devoured her naked body with his eyes as he popped the cork, grinning to himself when she sat bolt upright on the bed. He gulped down his amusement and tried to inject some forcefulness into his voice, just the way she liked it. “I told you to stay still, didn’t I?”
She tipped her head forward and lay back again, her hands fisting the sheet as she did.
“It’s taking me every ounce of composure not to fuck you hard and fast right now. So you’d better do as you’re told.”
He watched her lips curl at the edges. It turned her on when he told her he wanted to fuck her. He had to use all of the tricks in the book to get her back fully, to make things the way they were.
He poured some champagne into the empty glass beside her bed then filled his mouth with it. He pressed his lips against her clit and opened his mouth, allowing the cool bubbles to fizz against her. Her strangled moans were a symphony of pleasure reverberating through his ears as he swallowed the liquid infused with the hues of her personal juices. It tasted exquisite. Her hips bucked off the bed as his cold tongue suddenly heated against her.
“I’m going to come,” she breathed.
“Hold on,” he ordered, having pulled his mouth away to take another mouthful of champagne. He enjoyed the way it had affected her. With his mouth full of the drink, he repeated his sweet pleasure on her. She cried out again, her moans turning to pants. This time, as he swallowed, his tongue lapped at her until she screamed out with release. She tensed as his hands reached for her stomach to prevent her bucking away from him. He continued his assault on her sweet flesh, not allowing her retreat until he was ready.
She pulled the top from over her eyes. “I don’t care what your game is. It’s my turn now. Take your jeans off,” she commanded, her eyes at half-mast.
This was different. He usually took the lead, but he’d be damned if he wasn’t going to comply. Her sudden show of dominance made his cock ache with desire.
He quickly undid the buttons and shoved them down.
“Your boxers, too,” she told him huskily. Her tongue ran out to trace her top lip.
He pushed down his black boxer-briefs, his solid cock springing out as he did.
“Now, that’s the ship’s biscuit,” she drawled. He couldn’t think straight enough to question what she’d said. Her eyes were trained on his erection.
“Lie down.”
He lay on the bed, attempting to hide the hesitance from crossing his features. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust her—he did, but she’d been so mad at him earlier.
His breath hitched as she moved quickly, swinging her leg over his torso and grabbing his cock with both hands.
“What do you want, Evan? Hard and fast, or slow and torturous?” her voice rumbled. The way she stroked her fingers gently up and down his shaft made his balls feel as though they
were about to explode.
“Whatever you do, angel, it’s going to be fast,” he croaked before holding his breath again. His muscles tensed deliciously, and he struggled to hold back his impending orgasm.
He lost control of his senses when she let go of his cock and leaned over to grab the glass with the remaining champagne in it, brushing her soaked pussy over him as she moved.
“Perhaps, I’ll return the favor?” She raised a brow and took a sip. His dick jerked at the thought of her hot mouth wrapped around his shaft.
She shimmied down the bed, her eyes never leaving his. He daren’t look anywhere else for fear of ejaculating before she’d even had the chance to perform the act she’d promised.
He knew he was fucked as he watched her fill her mouth with the bubbly drink. The moment her lips pressed against the head of his cock, he clutched the bed sheet for dear life and tried to summon the image of someone unattractive. But, as her mouth opened, the cool explosion of bubbles against the thin sheath of skin, rapidly followed by the heat from her mouth, meant he’d failed his task. In a few swift movements, he lost control. His groans filled the air. His muscles went rigid as he came in her mouth. She sucked and swirled her tongue relentlessly around the tip of his cock, milking him of all he had.
When he finally managed to pries his eyes open she lay next to him on the bed with a wide smile.
“Well, that was a nice birthday present, even if it was a day late,” she laughed.
He scrubbed a hand over his face. The jetlag, coupled with the most intense orgasm he’d ever had the pleasure to experience, took over, and he struggled against sleep.
“That wasn’t your birthday present. It was mine. I’ll give you yours later.”
“What the hell is it?”
“Come here and hold me. All will be revealed soon I promise.”
* * * *
After an hour of lying beside Evan, staring at him while he soundly slept, Katie knew her restless movements would rouse him.
She padded downstairs to the kitchen, looking forward to actually drinking a full cup of her morning coffee. She sat at the small, round table in the corner, warming her hands on the heat of the mug and listening to the ticking of the clock.
She went over what he’d said in her mind. Taking Evan back would be selfish on her part. She had Jessica’s feeling to consider, too. Who was she kidding? Jess would be over the moon, and Katie knew it.
She thought about having a long-distance relationship, battling with herself over whether or not she could pull it off. She puffed out a self-chastising laugh. Hadn’t that been what she’d already been doing? Fine, she hadn’t contacted him, but she’d watched him all of the time on the TV and listened to his spine-tingling voice on the radio. Only in someone else’s company did she pretend that she didn’t care about him but she’d never worn pity well.
Even her mother had jumped to the conclusion Evan had finished with her. She’d allowed them to believe it, knowing all the things they’d say if they knew she’d been the one keeping him at arm’s length. They’d have begged her to reconsider, because they could see exactly what she could see, but they couldn’t feel what she felt inside. To have told them what Alex had told her would have been too humiliating for her to bear. She knew full well she was throwing away someone young, funny, talented and absolutely drop-dead gorgeous. Along with that, he was amazing with Jess.
Truthfully, she’d been with Evan the whole time he’d been gone. In her heart, she’d never let him go, and she doubted she ever would. The thought of another man laying a finger on her overwhelmed her with nausea. She’d been lost to Evan. What was the point of denying it any further?
She was suddenly pulled from her thoughts when he appeared in the doorway, his blond hair sexily tousled. Her eyes trailed greedily up his body to that lopsided, boyish smile he always wore when he could tell that she unashamedly checking him out.
“Morning.” She offered him a smile. “Coffee?”
“Yeah, please.” He moved to the chair beside her as she got up and flicked on the kettle.
“So come on then. What’s my gift, birthday boy? I would have gotten you one, but you didn’t tell me your birthday landed the day after mine. A magazine did. I had to assume you’re averse to receiving gifts. Besides, I wasn’t expecting you.” She kept her eyes on the task of fixing him coffee, scared to look at his reaction.
The gift had been playing on her mind, making her nervous ever since he’d mentioned it. She hated surprises. She’d never quite mastered how to hold her face when what someone else considered wonderful, she thought to be a pile of crap. It had been particularly bad when Lee had bought her birthday gifts. The first one had fallen a short time after they’d gotten married, and she’d sworn that if she hadn’t been condemned to knocked-up, waddling status she would have ran. The problem being that he’d come from an old-fashioned household, and she’d come from an in the moment one. So, no, a multi-colored knitted scarf and matching gloves weren’t really a gift to her. They were more of a necessity, considering she’d been born in October, and she already owned a ton that were far more suited to her taste.
She placed the freshly brewed mug of coffee in front of him, feeling her chest tighten and the smile slip from her mouth as she looked at his nervously twitching lips. He’d inspected the table for far too long.
“Come on, it can’t be that bad. As long as it’s not an engagement ring or something ridiculous like that.” She giggled then abruptly stopped when his head shot up and he glared at her, wide-eyed. Her breath caught in her throat. “Oh no! It’s not, is it?” she squeaked, trying to prepare herself to say no.
Evan slowly smiled, and it turned into a chuckle. “No, angel, I’m crazy about you, but I’m not that much of a glutton for punishment. I knew you’d knock me back.”
Her hand flew to her chest, and she slowly released her breath with relief. “Don’t do that.” She slapped him playfully. “You scared me half to death.”
“In that case, I’m glad I opted for plan b.” He shifted to one side, allowing him access to his jeans pocket.
She laughed, throwing back her head. “You couldn’t handle me as your wife. So what is it then? A shopping voucher?” She nodded at the crumpled white envelope he’d placed on the table between them.
He shook his head slowly, the nervous look reappearing. “Open it,” he whispered. “So I can explain.”
She reached for the envelope. A fizz of excitement and nerves attacked the pit of her stomach. She turned it over and peeled it open. Her vision blurred when she held the two oblong pieces of card in her hand after fishing them out of the envelope.
“Plane tickets?”
He nodded.
“For tomorrow? You’re crazy. You know damn well I can’t just take off. You know I have responsibilities,” she croaked, fearing the worst for their relationship.
He shook his head, sitting up straighter on the chair and holding up his hands. “I knew you’d think I’d been thoughtless, but hear me out before you jump to conclusions.”
Her shoulders sagged. That was exactly what she’d thought. She sighed heavily, feeling a smidgeon of guilt for her reaction.
“Okay, go on.” She folded her arms across her chest and glared at him then quickly softened her harsh stare when she noticed his nervousness reappear.
“The way I held out on you and didn’t tell you about my past wasn’t lost on me, Katie. I struggle to talk about it, which is why Alex and I have always been close. As much of an asshole as he is…” He paused and clenched his jaw momentarily. “He knows everything about me.” His face softened, a faraway look shone in his eyes. “I wanted to take you to LA, to show you why it is I can’t explain it all away. Hell, I hate even thinking about it. Come back with me. The return ticket is there, too.” He reached out and slipped the outbound ticket from her hand. “Please, it’s only ten days.”
Katie stared at the ticket, her chest aching. She longed to go with him. “But, Jess—
”
“She’ll be taken care of,” he interrupted. “I spoke to Helen. She’s agreed to stay here during the week if you don’t mind. She’ll take Jess to school and collect her.”
Katie tipped her head. “You spoke to Helen?” Regret that she hadn’t been listening in on that conversation pulled at her.
“Yes, before I brought the tickets, as I headed onto the plane to come here.”
“How was she with you?” Katie couldn’t fight her curiosity.
“That really doesn’t matter. She agreed. Will you come?”
Katie sighed again and looked around her kitchen, in her safe, little house. She had complete security here with Jess. She viewed her life in neat compartments. Twice, she’d stared death in the face. One of those times had almost taken her, too. But she’d bloody survived. She’d battled, crusaded and won. Now, she’d come to a fork in the road. One way was smooth, level and easy to walk on, just an ordinary road. The other looked rocky, uncertain and who knew where it ended? Deciding which road to take had been obvious when she’d been lost in his green eyes earlier that morning. Fuck, she’d have even ridden a unicycle down the bloody thing, as long as he stood behind her.
“Yeah, okay, I’ll come,” she said, feigning nonchalance.
Evan nearly knocked her off her chair when he made to take her in his arms. She pushed him away and shot him a warning glance. “On one condition.” She held up a finger as she spoke.
“I’ll do anything.”
“You get your phone right now and call Al. Apologize and beg him for forgiveness. You’ve worked too hard to throw it all away now.”
Evan glanced at the table. “Would you be mad if I told you I did that before I came downstairs?”
She giggled. “I knew you’d come around. Next condition is that we go visit a certain little girl who’s missed you to death.”
They grinned at each other. “I can’t think of a better way to spend my birthday.” He winked and leaned over to steal a kiss.