“Vincent, wait—"
“Don’t deny me. I need to drink you in.” I immediately slide my tongue inside of her, and she lets out a low moan. Time ceases to exist. Stopping myself isn’t an option. I need to lose myself in her.
“Vincent. It’s too much,” she begs. God, she tastes so fucking good. I keep up my pace until her entire body is pink, flushed and shaking. She liquefies into my mouth and I savor every drop. When she’s finished, I kiss back up her body and bring her to my chest. She fits.
“Eve, I need you.”
“I know. I’m here.” Love shines from her voice. But encasing her emotion is strength.
18
EVE
I clutch onto Vincent’s back as we ride up the bright highway, nothing but open road and mountains ahead of us. The last forty-eight hours have been spent watching TV and alternating between fucking like crazy and making slow, savory love. We didn’t talk much—we just lived. I’m not ready to open up about how he left me before prison. Discussing the details would only ruin this moment. Still, I’m worried that if we get into the past, everything between us will break down. Maybe I’m falling back into an old habit, but I trust we’ll figure it out when the time is right.
He grilled steaks and corn for us every night, and I always made a big salad. I wanted to cook more for him, but he didn’t want me busy in the kitchen. Doing work for the Milestone was nearly impossible, but we managed to get a bit done while tangled up in each other.
With Vincent, it’s that mind-body connection. He takes me over on every single plane.
His home is tiny and perfect and we agreed that more than this just isn’t necessary. What a relief not to deal with anything material. We have each other, delicious food, and a safe, warm home. What else is there? Over coffee this morning, he mentioned building us a house with a backyard one day—when we have kids.
I had burst into tears. He got down to his knees, holding me tightly around the waist. Not talking. Pulling off our clothes. Making love to me on the floor of his kitchen, cold tile becoming click with our sweat.
Gripping him as the wind whips around us, I let myself imagine our future. Vincent. Three children. A son and two daughters, because every girl deserves a sister. I hope they have his eyes. I want them to have his heart and strength too.
Our bike pulls into a dirt and cement parking lot, kicking up dust as we take a corner spot. Staring up, I see a huge red, white, and teal neon sign: THE BLUE. With nothing other than a gas pump and a handful of motorcycles, I’m equal parts excited and nervous. This life isn’t what I’m used to, but still, it feels like it’s where I’m meant to be.
Walking into the dimly lit restaurant and bar, country music plays on the speakers as I tightly clutch Vincent’s hand. Being next to him fills my heart with pride—this brilliant, handsome, strong man is mine. I finally look around, eyes widening in surprise; the bar resembles an old New York City deli counter.
“This place is one of the few around here that’s typical America.” He walks us to a small booth in the center of the restaurant.
“Are most of the people here locals?” I sit down across from him, placing my hands on the table for him to hold; he immediately takes them.
“Yup. Believe it or not, most of the people here are Native Americans, but there’s a range of blood degrees from full-blooded to practically blond, yeah?”
I gaze around the room and stare at the other patrons before settling back at the man in front of me, whose dark eyes haven’t left my face. I flush, thinking about an hour ago when he was on top of me, going deep and slow.
Sexually, we’re explosive. But it’s so much more than that, and it always has been with him. I’ve known Vincent from when I was a little eighteen-year-old in the Blue Houses. The man took me for pizza and ice-skating, for God’s sake. No one knows me like he does—so fully.
But I’m no longer a kid, and the realization is worrying. I’m a level-headed woman with a job and an apartment with a mortgage; my life is set on a track. But where does that leave us? The last few days have been spent in a dream world. Now we’re out of his trailer and at a restaurant with the real world upon us. Our past—we’ll deal with. But what about tomorrow? What about my work and the life I built? Anxiety brews.
19
VINCENT
She’s stressing; I can see it in her eyes and in the tiny crease in her forehead. I’m done with tiptoeing around. There’s no way I’m going to stop myself anymore around her.
“Come here,” I say. I need to feel her, and she needs to feel me, too. Smiling with a little hesitance behind her eyes, she stands up to come to me. Before she can make another move, I grab and pull her into my lap.
“Vincent!” She giggles. I throw my arm around her shoulders as she nestles herself into my side. Her life gives me mine.
As much as I love disappearing from the world and staying in bed all day with Eve beneath me, I don’t want to hide her like I had to back in college. Never again.
“We’ve gotta really talk now, babe.” My voice comes out like gravel.
Her body shivers as I press my lips to her collarbone, snaking out my tongue to get a taste. So sweet.
The waitress comes over. “Hi! Do y’all know what ya want?” Her smile turns down as she stares at us with a look of confusion and nerves and I try not to laugh out loud. My girl is fresh with clear skin and shining eyes. So tiny and right now—cute as fuck with her hair in a high ponytail. Meanwhile, I’ve got my resting murder face, tatts, and four-days-worth of dark stubble.
Eve stares up at me, all trusting and innocent without any care that people are judging us. She’s too good to me. Too good for me. Jesus Christ, this woman. I move an errant hair from her forehead before turning back to the waitress, asking for a few good things on the menu I’ve eaten before and think she’ll like. Eve cuddles closer, letting me take care of her.
The waitress leaves, giving us privacy once again.
“So, when should I come back?” Her voice is whisper soft. She moves her nose to my shoulder, inhaling. “If you want me to negotiate some agreements for you, I can probably stay long—"
“Eve,” I laugh, cutting her off. “I don’t just want to hire you. Hiring you and your brilliant mind would be a perk. I want you in my bed every night.” I rub the back of her neck as I stare into her eyes. She’s hesitant, but still, she’s going to have to hear this.
“I’ve been to hell and back, just as you have. I’ve got scars. And the truth is, my days of living in big-city luxury are behind me. I like the simpler life without all the goddamn noise. I’m happy with cash in the bank and you on the back of my bike. I’m not a clean-cut doctor. I’ve been in lockup. I’ve got a laundry list of sins.” I pause, noticing she isn’t panicking. I drop my hand on her thigh.
“I ran you from New York and ruined your life. No one knows it better than me. You need to hear now how sorry I am.” I swallow. “But I couldn’t drag you into that shit, and I think you know there was no other way to make sure you were safe. I also didn’t want you coming out here and wasting your life waiting for me. But now I’m back, and I want you. Need you. Fucking love you babe and always have. It’s time you move here with me.”
20
EVE
The waitress returns carrying plates, interrupting Vincent from his speech. I take a minute to contemplate his words as the food is set in front of us. But with each passing second, I feel my temperature rise. We’ve been stuck in our own cocoon for days. But reality just punched through my door.
“Am I just your puppet?” He tilts his head to the side as if he’s confused. “Is my life something you can control at your discretion?” The updated version of myself rears its head.
His eyes soften as he shakes his head. “No, it was never like that. It’s still not like that. In fact, I need to tell you the truth about that night—”
I put up my hand, silencing him. “Tell me you’re joking,” I say angrily, pushing one of the plates a
way from me. A minute ago, we were drenched in love. He seems surprised by my hurt, but what can he expect? I’m still aching and it’s not ignorable. “Forget college for a moment. Did you consult me before showing up at my office? Nope. You just came and stomped on my emotional well-being and sanity. Meanwhile, it’s been seven years, Vincent. Seven fucking years.”
I can feel my heart racing with an avalanche of emotion. “You waltzed into my office and threw millions at my firm—the one I worked my ass off to have a desk at—and I’m supposed to leave everything I’ve studied and worked for and come running back into your arms?”
We’ve been loving each other so hard the last few days, but with his admission, all of my resentment bubbles to the surface.
He pulls on the ends of his hair. “You have no idea the hell I was enduring in lockup, huh? I called you the second I got out and you didn’t answer your fucking phone.” His eyes flash.
“You knew where I lived, Vincent. You could have shown up to my apartment. But no, you had to come through work?”
“Hold up.” He shakes his head, as if I’m not understanding him. He looks frustrated. “I only did that because I thought it would be a more comfortable way for you to—"
“—And you think I don’t know what you must have gone through in prison? You threw me away.” My voice breaks. I can’t stop the words even if I wanted to. “I died for you, Vincent. Without you, I wasn’t functional. I was basically s-suicidal.” I squeeze the napkin in my fist, remembering my younger self wading into the ocean. Everything around me turns into a blur as pain slams into my bloodstream. The look in his eyes was cold. A girl on her knees before him. The imagines flash, turning my stomach.
He grabs the back of my head with his hand, keeping me tethered to him. “Well, I lived for you, Eve.” His hold tightens, but I feel stricken. “I went through hell and back, and your face kept me alive. I told you all those years ago I would never be done with you. That I’d kill for you. Die for you. And baby? I’m no liar. You can be scared right now. You can be nervous. You and me, Eve, we’ll never be over. And now that shit is finally clear out here, you’re deluding yourself if you think I’ll ever walk away from you again.” He takes a sharp inhale through his nose. “I hurt you. I know it.” His head moves up and down, once. “It was for your own good. And if as an adult, you can’t see that? Well, you n—"
I let out a loud sarcastic laugh. “You don’t get a choice anymore. I’m leaving here tonight.”
“Leaving?” The word falls out of his mouth with surprise.
“Yes. I’m going.” I throw my hands up. “You can’t just expect me to uproot my life. I’ve built a whole world out in California. Working my ass off at work to make partner. And anyway, I think it’s only a few more years away—”
“Fuck them,” he presses his lips together, voice vibrating. “Come here and open your own law firm. Or don’t. You love the Kids Learning Club. The teenagers on the rez could use your help, too. Half of them drop out of school and unplanned pregnancy is rampant. You could start a tutoring center.”
“You can’t just decide this for me.” I turn my face around to see if we’ve garnered any attention. Luckily, the place is filled with patrons and the music is loud, drowning out our words.
He grips my hand in his. “I’m not blind. You hate working for that dickhead. And they treat you like shit, too. Let me guess, you think it’ll get better? You can prove them all wrong?” His voice is accusing. “They harass you in that office, babe. I hate how you stay there. You need to quit that place. Now’s a good time.”
I sit back, pulling my hands away as if I’ve been slapped. He’s so honest and accurate in his assessment that it momentarily jars me. “You have no right throwing that back in my face. I can deal with the way they treat me. I’m not weak.” I grit my teeth.
“Of course, you’re not. You’re as strong as they come. But you don’t have to eat shit in order to prove strength.” He looks up at the ceiling as if to gather himself. “Okay. You need more time. Fine. Go back to L.A., a city I despise, and we’ll do the long distance. That’s what you want? Once or twice a month? Fuck like crazy before returning to some cold apartment? Newsflash. That’s not the life I want and it isn’t what you want, either. We’ve been separated long enough. That shit’s gotta be done now. It’s time.” His voice is urgent.
“No,” I shake my head from side to side. “No, it’s not time. If I can just work for a few more years, I’ll finally—”
“—make partner? And then what? So, you can continue as a cog in their bullshit machine? We both know it’s not your calling. Yes—be a boss. But not there. Not for them.”
“Don’t say that,” I gasp. “Don’t come here and step all over my life and my work.” I cross my arms over my chest, trying to stabilize myself. He’s speaking truth, but it’s butting heads with what I’ve been telling myself for years. It’s too much.
“I’m not stepping on you, babe,” he replies, his voice calmer. Gentle, almost. “You should have more than what they’re giving you. You want to keep doing contractual work, I’ll pull my money from Jonathan and give it all to you. The Milestone is yours. Do you hear me? Everything that’s mine was yours and still is yours.” His words are promises. I believe him. “I’m the one who messed up and lied to you. But come be with me now and let me make it right.”
I drop my head down low, staring at the white-tile floor. Vincent puts his thumb under my chin to lift it back up before staring into my eyes. “If you don’t want to do law anymore, just stop. I’ll support anything you choose. You don’t have to keep running to reach some goal you don’t even care about. I know you, Eve. I know the real you. Real Estate law isn’t your end game.”
I touch my forehead, feeling totally out of sorts. I have no idea what it is I even want. I’ve been dreaming of this career for so long. Even if law in this capacity makes me miserable, it’s all I’ve focused on. And now, am I supposed to just let it go? How can I?
I lick my lips, facing the window in the back of the restaurant. “This is too much, too soon. We just started seeing each other again. We haven’t even talked enough about the past. And you’ve obviously thought all the details through. But I haven’t.”
“The past? It’s simple. I staged the party to make sure you moved on. I wanted you safe and free. If anyone knew we had ties? If anyone knew you were mine? The backlash would have been a hundred times worse than what Daniela gave you. You’d be dead by now, Eve. My father alone was enough of a threat. Everyone had to know we were done. I didn’t have a month to convince you to leave me. It had to be hard.”
He puts his hand back under my chin, forcing me to look at him. “Do you love me, Eve? Because you’re the breath in my prayers. In my mind, it’s only ever been us.” His hands dig into my hair, gentle yet dominant, as his dark eyes fill with so much adoration, it stops my heart. “Do you love me?” he repeats.
I blink, the answer sitting on my tongue. I’m afraid to say it now. I’m scared of what it’ll mean and what I’ll have to give up. He waits, staring at me searchingly. Pleadingly. When he realizes I’m not replying, he sits back, looking knifed.
“I just need some time, okay?” My words fall out in a rush. “Let me go back to L.A. and just, s-sort it all out.”
He lifts his hand, asking for the check as our entire meal sits untouched before us. Before the waitress can bring it over, he drops a few twenties on the table and stares at me expectantly, waiting for me to move from the booth. I feel like crying. Screaming. Telling him to just... hang on and wait, dammit! But Vincent waits for no one. It’s who he is and why he’s so successful. But right now? I’m the one getting stomped by his drive.
I move out of his way. He wastes no time in striding out of the restaurant, people stepping left and right to avoid getting run over by this beast of a man. He pushes through the front doors and I run behind him. I’m so mad, but still…
“Vincent, please—” I beg, practically chasing him to h
is bike.
He drops the helmet on my head, closing it tightly while refusing any eye contact. Climbing on, he waits with a look of impatience for me to join him.
Our entire drive is cold. I grip his waist as tightly as I can, wishing that somehow, I could open his brain and pour my feelings into him so he could understand.
Stopping in front of my hotel, he lifts his helmet. “Don’t burn your legs when you get off.” His words aren’t said cruelly, but they are final. He’s mad. He’s so fucking mad.
Shakily, I climb off, trying not to crumble onto the ground as he rides away, leaving nothing but dust in his wake.
Fifteen minutes later, I’m still standing in the spot he left me—my body in a trance. Is Vincent gone?
I finally return to my hotel room. Packing my clothes and checking out is taking longer than expected.
Sitting on the white couch in the hotel lobby, I barely notice a single thing other than the desert, dimmed to gray by my sunglasses. This is exile.
“Miss?” One of the hotel staff touches my shoulder politely. “Your car is here for you.”
I turn around, noticing a long black Escalade waiting in the hotel’s driveway. I stand, walking out the sliding glass doors while the bellboy carries my bags.
The driver runs around the car, opening my door. I step in. Slade is here. He looks happy at first, but his mouth quickly turns down at my demeanor. I pull my sunglasses back over my eyes; the last thing I need is to talk to someone on Team Vincent. Taking a seat in the third row, I stare out the window, doing my best to avoid any conversation. Luckily, he stays silent.
Halfway to the airport, I sit up, pushing my glasses on the top of my head as an idea takes shape in my head.
Redemption (Vincent and Eve #3) Page 13