Which means, unless she makes a career change, she’s locked into Vegas.
I’d never ask her to give up her show, so it’ll be up to me to figure it out. My position can adjust to an extent. It wouldn’t be ideal, but working remotely is possible for brief spurts of time.
“You’re thinking too hard.” Her sleepy voice breaks in my thoughts.
“Not at all,” I lie, dragging my fingers through her hair.
She peers up at me, her face filled with the morning sweetness I’ve come to love. This morning, there’s an extra glow about her that sends a wave of possession scoring through me.
“Honey, are you worried about what’s waiting for you at the office?”
“Hell no.”
“Then what’s on your mind?”
“Leaving you.”
“Nineteen days and eighteen nights,” she reiterates her countdown.
I don’t let on that she’ll see me before Charleston. Until I can get to the office and move Tessa into her role full-time, there is no reason to mention it.
My phone beeps with my wake-up reminder. “Baby, as much as I hate it, I have to get in the shower.”
“I’ll make your coffee.” She rolls to the side and I catch her around the waist.
“Room service will be here soon. You can go back to sleep.”
“I need to pack my things.”
“I’ve arranged for a late checkout, so you can stay here as long as you want. Have Dante and Ryanne come over and enjoy the pool.”
“It doesn’t seem right without you.”
“How about the spa?”
The phone beeps again, taking her eyes to the nightstand. “Go get in the shower and I’ll think about it.”
I kiss her quickly and grab my phone on the way to the bathroom. It’s not surprising that there’s a backlog of messages on my screen. I scan through them and groan at Mom's.
Evin—I’ve been patient enough and expect a call today. Enough of this texting crap. If you try to avoid me, Dad and I will be on your doorstep when you get home.
I reply with a simple: I’ll call.
The room fills up with steam, the hot spray doing little to ease the tension in my muscles. A blast of cool air hits me when the door opens. Poppy saunters in, coming straight to the shower. My cock grows harder with every step.
She steps in front of me, the water pelting down on her.
“Baby, we need to talk about your torture techniques.”
“I didn’t want to miss all the fun.” Her hand wraps along my dick, teasing lightly. “When you get in your shower in the mornings at home, this is what I want you to remember.”
I drop my head back, blowing out a whistle when she cups my balls and strokes me.
“You know, I could—” The implication is clear in her voice, and my head snaps up.
“No, you want to suck my dick, you do it when I can flip you around to ride my face.”
Her eyes widen, and she sucks her bottom lip through her teeth. “Nineteen days. Until then, show me how you do it.”
“Not as good as you, that’s a given.”
She grins, pressing her tits to my chest. “But I may need my own fantasies to keep me going. This time I want to see all of it.”
Shit, my sweet girl wants to get dirty.
I cover her hand with mine, increasing our speed, and hiss when she runs her thumb over my slit. “Fuck.”
“I learned that little trick last night.”
My chest tightens, wishing she learned everything last night, and I was the only man she’d ever touched. The caveman awakens.
“Open your legs.”
“Nope, I want the full experience of only you.”
“Not my style. Give me access, baby.”
“No.” She rolls my balls through her fingers and lifts, nipping at my neck.
“Fucking hell.”
“Kiss me, baby, and get ready.”
She gives me a quick kiss, grinning to my lips, meeting my eyes before glancing down and working me harder.
It builds quickly as I thrust my hips into our hands, feeling like a teenage boy. I explode, letting out a loud moan as she presses close, still massaging my balls.
“I’ve decided you’re never taking a shower alone if I’m around,” she rasps, leaning up and bringing her lips to mine. “It’s way too much fun.”
“I’ve been jacking my dick for over twenty years. You touch me and things change.”
“I’ll remember that.”
“You’re killing me.”
She lets go and steps back in the spray, washing her hair quickly. I may have just come all over us, but my cock is ready to go again. When she’s done and tries to scoot by, I tag her back and give her a hard kiss. “I’ll be right out.”
She dries off, watching me wash and smiling as she leaves.
I go through my routine, packing my things and wondering if I should leave it all here with her.
I walk out to find her loading my suitcase, wearing my shirt from last night. It swallows her tiny body, but knowing what’s underneath sends another surge of possessiveness through me.
“You shaved,” she comments, folding my suit carefully.
“Poppy, come here,” I demand roughly.
A knock brings both our attention to the door.
“I’ll get it!” she chirps.
“Like hell you will! You’re in nothing but my shirt.”
“You’re wearing a towel,” she counters.
“That’s normal.”
She goes to the door, squinting through the peephole. “Relax, it’s a woman. Get out of sight.”
I step back in the bathroom, hearing her greet the room service attendant and then soft conversation.
The door shuts and I come back in time to catch her snatch a small cloth bag from the middle of the cart. Then she spots the gigantic bouquet I specifically ordered and her face lights up.
“I wanted you to have fresh flowers this week.”
“You spoil me.”
“Get used to it.”
She returns to the bed. “Come here.”
Her tone and expression are unreadable. Nervous, hesitant, sweet, bold, daring, needy—so many more I’ve memorized this week. But this is new.
“I bought you something,” she says shyly.
“You bought me something?”
“Last night I had a revelation. There are a lot of Rinas in your past.”
My stomach rolls and I open my mouth, but she holds up a finger to stop me.
“I’m not upset about it, but I discovered that I have a fiercely vibrant jealousy streak. I needed to make my statement.” She tips the bag, and a ring falls into her palm. “If this isn’t your style, it’s cool, but I thought maybe you should have your own.”
I stare at the polished black titanium ring.
“It’s masculine and reminded me of you. Polished, sharp, beautiful.” She finishes quickly.
Outside of a small watch collection, jewelry has never been my thing. Five seconds ago, that changed.
“Put it on.”
She takes my left hand and slides it on my middle finger. The instant it hits the base, it feels natural.
“Now we match.” She waves her hand in my line of sight.
I grab her hand and yank her to my chest. “Jesus, Poppy.”
“Do you like it?”
“I love it. Completely unnecessary, because you have nothing to worry about.”
“I wanted to do it for you and to prove,” she stops, taking in a shuttered breath, “that I’m all in.”
All in.
The words explode in my brain. This isn’t about trusting me, she’s all fucking in. We’ll figure out the rest together.
I flip her to her back and quickly undo the buttons on the shirt to see her body.
“Honey?”
I run my tongue around her piercing and kiss my way down. “I’m leaving this room with this image right here, you in my shirt laid out on this be
d, and the taste of you on my lips.”
Her eyes instantly heat.
“Good thing I planned on a long breakfast,” I tell her before sucking her clit in my mouth.
Chapter 11
Poppy
Tell me you’re home.
Evin’s text comes through right as we walk in the door. It’s five-thirty in the morning in South Carolina.
“You can have the bathroom first.” Ryanne crashes on the sofa.
On the way to the bathroom, I drop my bag and rush through my routine. Before I can message him back, the phone rings.
“Hey, sweetie, got home a few minutes ago.”
“Jesus, it’s late. What exactly did Ryanne need?”
“She has a big show tomorrow, and her assistant had an emergency, so Dante and I were helping.”
“I thought she organized trade shows.”
“She does. This project required her setting up the welcome reception.”
“Does this happen often?”
“Rarely, but it happens.”
His silence stretches as I crawl into bed. “Are you mad?”
“I’m not happy, but that’s my problem. I slept like shit, knowing you weren’t home.”
“I was fine.”
“You were over two thousand miles away and I was…” he sighs, not finishing.
“Completely fine. Dante walked us to our car and the hotel was secure.”
“Baby, you love him, and Dante may be six-feet tall, but he’s a slim guy.”
“He’s a black belt in karate and spars with an MMA woman in the circuit.”
“Huh, for real?”
“Yes, and Ryanne trains with the same MMA group.”
“Didn’t see that coming.”
“She’s one of the most loyal and kindhearted people I know. But underneath her feisty personality is a fierce protector. If you fuck with her or the people she loves, her inner-bitch will slice you to pieces. With her body and her mouth.”
“Good to know.” His tone is more relaxed.
“How was your dinner with family?”
“As expected, it was an ambush.”
During our calls the last few days, he explained that a Sunday afternoon at the Grahams’ would turn into a waylay. “You okay?”
“My ring was the topic of conversation for God knows how long.”
I smile to myself, way too happy at his news. “You’re wearing it?”
“Of course.”
“I like that.”
“God, I miss you.”
My stomach flips and flops as I fold into my pillows. “I miss you, too.”
“How were your performances tonight?”
“Awesome, the theatre was a full house, and it’s scheduled to be that way all week.”
“I think you may have a fan club sitting in the audience next month.”
“Who?”
“Darby and Ashlyn raved. Mom and Jill got the green-eyed monster looks and didn’t like feeling excluded. Lynda wasn’t as vocal in her jealousy but was equally interested in seeing your show. Maya, being a typical teenage girl, decided she wasn’t missing out and made Pierce promise she could jump on the bandwagon.”
The earlier flutters in my stomach dive. “Oh, my.”
“I recognize that tone.”
“You just told me your mom, her best friend, your sister’s mother-in-law, and your niece are coming to Vegas to see me perform. It’s a little nerve-wracking.”
“I’ll be with them. And it will be after the wedding.”
The nerves settle because he’s right. I’ll be spending a lot of time with these women in a few weeks. “Very true. I hope Darby and Ashlyn didn’t embellish too much.”
“Impossible to do. You’re phenomenal, and fair warning, Maya is star struck.”
“Over me?”
“Hell yes. I think her exact words were ‘It’s beyond rad my uncle is dating an actual professional dancer’. You should have seen her face when she saw your picture. She made Pierce promise to stop on the way home and get flowers. My guess is when school starts she’ll be setting the trend with flowers in her hair.”
“Nothing wrong with being a trendsetter.”
“I got a glimpse into Pierce’s struggle.”
“How so?”
“Maya’s mom, Connie, is a fucking cunt. Can’t stand her with every fiber of my soul and nothing is redeeming about her, but she’s not ugly. You’ve seen Pierce. Maya got the best of both parents, which means she’s growing into a beauty. Flowers in her hair will only add to it and bring more attention her way.”
I let out a little laugh at his description. Darby showed me photos of Maya, and she’s not growing into a beauty, she’s already there. “Pierce is in for many more years, considering he’s about to have another little girl.”
“Darby is using that exact argument to slow down his family plan.”
“Is it working?”
“Not by a long shot. I’m understanding his determination.”
My breath catches at the inference, and my body jerks awake.
“Shit, I know that sound, too.”
“I’m good.” The croak in my voice gives me away.
“You’re a terrible liar.”
“It’s unfair how you can be thousands of miles away and catch on.”
“I spent a week learning everything I could about you. What you like on your pizza, the way you curl into the pillows when I get out of bed, how your eyes change based on your mood. Your walk, your talk, the way your entire body vibrates when you laugh out loud. Any time of the day, I can picture a thousand different images in my head. I don’t have to be there to pick up when your mood shifts.”
“Unfair,” I repeat but know I can do most of those things with him as well.
“Baby, this is new and you have a justified and warped view on family, but do you want kids?”
I swallow hard, coating my throat and trying to calm the panic. Evin’s around family and children all the time. His nephew is practically named after him. He has a twin. I’ve seen firsthand how his business personality is bold, disciplined, aggressive, sharp, and demanding. But to those he cares about, it’s different. He’s one-hundred percent a family man.
“Fuck,” he hisses through the line, the bitter tone giving me goosebumps. “Those fuckers crushed that.” His disgust is raw in his assumption.
“No, sweetie, that’s not it,” I rush to say.
“Poppy—”
“Wait, let me finish. I didn’t hesitate because of my history. You took me off-guard and the glaring differences in our lives slammed into me. We are both surrounded by family every day. Mine is non-blood related. Regardless, your situation includes children, lots of them. Mine doesn’t. In my years here, I’ve only known a handful of women that had babies. They worked for as long as they could, but the schedule and intensity became too dangerous. Then they never returned. I’m not saying that they couldn’t hack it, but their priorities changed.”
“Poppy—” he tries again, but I keep going.
“My family didn’t warp my opinions. I don’t hold resentment on my upbringing. Growing up a dreamer, I always pictured myself having kids. Marco and Karen didn’t strip that from me. But choosing this career switched my perspective.”
“I’d never ask you to give up your career.”
“Hypothetically, knowing my training regimen and performance role, if we found out I was pregnant tomorrow, would you want me on that stage?”
His growl is my answer.
“Considering until a short time ago, there wasn’t a man in my life to have these discussions, it never occurred to me. Now, my perspective is different.” I hold my breath and wait for his reaction and not believing the words that tumbled out. Did I admit to possibly rethinking my entire career and future?
“Jesus, baby, I wish I was there to show you how that makes me feel.”
The enormity of the situation sends my heart racing triple time. “Evin, did we just have a h
eartfelt discussion about the possibility of children in my future, or our future?” The question is ridiculous, but I need to hear him confirm.
“In my mind, those are the same.”
My racing heart swells, and I resist giggling like a girl whose high-school crush has taken notice.
“For the record, until a short time ago, there wasn’t a woman in my life to have these conversations. My perspective has changed, too.” He steals my words, his voice warm and tender.
“Stop being so sweet.”
“Keep it to yourself.”
I decide to change the subject before my heart bursts. “Going back to your family night, was our relationship the only topic of conversation?”
“Dev saved me. I’m depositing money in his college fund today.”
“Do tell how an eight-month-old saved you.”
“Apparently, he said ‘mama’. It sounded like more of a babble followed by spit bubbles, but I took his distraction. He’s a total badass.”
I can’t stop laughing, picturing his sweet little face. “Yes, I can see he’s growing into a real man now.”
It’s his turn to chuckle. “You better get some rest. I’m gonna run before work.”
“I hate you’re starting your day as mine ends.”
“Call me when you wake up.”
“Isn’t your calendar slammed today?”
“Never too slammed to take your call.”
“Okay, I’ll call.”
“Sweet dreams, Poppy.”
I listen to him disconnect and curl around my pillows. For the first time in a long time, my mind wanders to the possibility of a life outside of performing.
“This is extraordinary!” I admire the stained glass.
“It has a matching blown glass vase.” Ryanne holds up another stunning piece.
“It’s perfect for a wedding present.”
Ryanne’s eyes flash with hesitation when she puts the vase down.
“What? You don’t like it?”
“I love it, but it’s you. What if Stephanie has more modern taste?”
“Hmmm, you’re right. She may be more of an etched fine crystal type of person.”
“Why won’t you order from her registry?”
Evin's Fight (Southern Charmers Book 3) Page 11