Stunned, Wade tried to remember if Eva-Marie had ever given any indication before now that she was into him, and came up blank. But, she’d asked him out first. And there was no question she wanted him. If she’d been waiting as long as he had, it was no wonder she’d moved a little fast. He’d wanted like hell to do the same. Only his uncertainty about her feelings and motives held him back. Now Scott was telling him she’d always been interested in him. After all this time, they’d finally decided to let him in on their secret.
“Why make a move now, then?” Wade pinned Scott with a stare that dared him to waffle about the answer or joke his way out of it. “If she’s always liked me, why wait until now to let me know?”
“For the longest time, she thought you couldn’t stand her. You were always scowling at her when she was at our house. Or you would grunt when she spoke to you, and act like you couldn’t wait to get away from her. I’ve tried to talk her into flirting with you for years. I told her you’d go for her in a big way. Me and my big mouth. I practically shoved her in the kitchen and made her face you, finally, and you acted all crazy and insulted her.”
Wade blushed at the memory of that night.
“Yeah, I heard about it.” Scott kept talking, on a roll. “She hasn’t said anything since then, so I wanted to make sure you were being nice to her. She’s still my closest friend.” This time Scott was the one looking fierce.
“We’re fine. She’s a little miffed at me, but I’m going to handle that as soon as I’m done here.”
“Good deal. I love you, dude, but we’re going to have a problem if you hurt my best girl.”
“No worries, man,” Wade reassured Scott. “That’s not in the plans.”
“All right then.” Scott rose from his perch on the stool. “I’ll go be amazing elsewhere.”
Wade rolled his eyes at his crazy sibling, who responded with exaggerated primping and striking a pose like a runway model.
“Boost Turtle,” Scott growled in a ridiculous, pseudo-sexy accent.
“Get the fuck out.” Wade gave him a playful push when they could finally stop laughing.
“Later, man,” Scott responded with a wave, making his way back to his car.
Hurriedly cleaning the rest of the car, Wade rushed upstairs to get cleaned up. He took a little extra care with his appearance. If he was going to drag Eva-Marie out of bed and convince her to hear him out, a little cologne and hair gel couldn’t hurt. His intention was to go to her house, bang on her door, and plead his case once she let him in. When he arrived, the big house was so dark and imposing, he chickened out.
Picking up his phone, he tapped the screen and dialed her number. Though the device was pressed to his ear, he couldn’t hear a thing over his own pounding heartbeat. Switching to the speaker, he finally heard it ring. Once more, and she answered.
“Wade?”
“Hey. Did I wake you?”
“No,” she told him. “I’m up.”
“Can we talk now, or is it a bad time?” Silently praying that his impulsiveness would be rewarded, he waited for her response.
“Now is fine. We can talk.”
Wade released the breath he was holding, slumping in relief.
“Good. I’ve missed you, Eva-Marie. Come let me in, honey. I need to see you. Please?”
“You’re here?” She sounded understandably shocked.
“I’m right outside.”
The phone went dead.
Barely a minute later, the front door swung open. Wade met her at the door and pulled her into his arms, taking a moment to just enjoy holding Eva-Marie again before following her into the house.
Eva-Marie still held Wade’s hand as she led him down the hallway into her comfortable study. He was finally with her again. It felt like much longer than two days since she’d seen him. Now that they were together again, there was one thing she was determined to take care of. Whatever lingering doubts he had about Scott, they were going to settle them tonight.
As soon as Eva-Marie switched on the light, Wade dragged her to the nearest sofa and pulled her down beside him. He wrapped her in his strong arms once more, like he needed to hold her. She snuggled into his embrace because it felt so good to be held.
“I really, really missed you.”
She heard the words Wade murmured against her skin as he nuzzled her neck above the fuzzy, cream colored robe.
“Good,” she said sweetly, “it wouldn’t do for me to be the only one.”
She felt his deep chuckle rumble through his body first, then through hers. Involuntarily, she shivered, and Wade’s hold on her tightened. He pressed a kiss to Eva-Marie’s cheek, surprising her.
“I wasn’t going to make it much longer without seeing you,” Wade confessed. “It was driving me crazy. All I could think about was you.”
“What were you thinking?” Eva-Marie drew away from Wade until she could look him in the eyes. His answer mattered. After waiting so long to truly get to know Wade, she was interested in what he thought, especially about her.
“That you should probably know I’ve been into you since high school. Like everyone else, I thought you were Scott’s girlfriend, so I never said anything.”
“You’re kidding.” Eva-Marie couldn’t believe her ears.
“It’s true. I was as fascinated by you as every other boy. You were beautiful and exotic and brilliant. You still are.”
“Wow. Thank you.” She was blushing under his praise. “I never would have guessed.”
“I didn’t want to be disrespectful to my brother, or make things complicated for you guys. But now that we’ve gotten all that cleared up, we can forget about it and move on.”
“Okay,” she agreed, glad to be done with that subject.
“Wait.” Wade took one of Eva-Marie’s hands in his and brought it to his lips, sending a little frisson of tingly heat spreading up her arm and throughout her body. His expression was serious as he gazed at her intensely. Whatever was coming next, he appeared to feel strongly about it.
“I need to say something else before this… before we go any farther. You have to know this isn’t casual for me. It’s my fault for not making that clear before. This thing between us, it’s about more than sex for me. In fact, we can wait on that, if you want. Do you think that would be better?” He squeezed her hand. “Anything you wish is okay by me, honey.”
Eva-Marie looked deeply into the dark, earnest eyes of the man she’d wanted for what felt like her whole life.
“That’s nice to know. I’m glad you feel that way, because I don’t want this to be a casual fling either, Wade. I’d like for us to have something real, or to at least try. And no, I don’t want to wait. I think we’ve both waited long enough. Don’t you?”
She rose, pulling him up from the sofa by the hand he still held. Then, beckoning for Wade to follow her, Eva-Marie led the way up the stairs to her bedroom. The thick carpet masked the sounds of their footsteps, and she wondered if Wade could hear the rapid thumping of her heart in the quiet house. Earlier that evening, she’d already decided not to miss out on what could be her one chance to be with the one man she’d always loved. She was planning to call him tomorrow and tell him so, but he’d beat her to the draw, thank goodness. Knowing he missed her was amazing, as was the fact he wanted a real relationship, not just one night. From the moment he’d said those words, she’d been more relaxed and confident. And even more ready to make love to him.
In her room, Eva-Marie dropped the robe and stood before Wade in a short, purple stretch lace nightie. She wore no bra underneath, she he had a peekaboo glimpse of her breasts through the lace. The tiniest of straps held up the gown, which only hung down a couple of inches past her hips and ass. Her purple string bikini panties matched the nightie, and probably showed as much as they covered.
Wade cleared his throat.
“Do you always sleep dressed like that?” His voice was low and husky, and his gaze roamed over her as if he was trying to memorize every
thing he saw.
“Yes, I always wear nice lingerie. It helps keep me in a good mood. You know, a woman looks pretty when she feels pretty. Or, something like that.” Her voice faded, and she blushed. The way Wade was looking at her was making her a little breathless. Already having a dark and dangerous appearance, right now he looked positively savage.
Wade moved toward Eva-Marie, and for every step he took, she backed up one, suddenly nervous in the face of this wild man she’d invited to her bedroom. Wade was stalking her like he was a hungry predator, and she was destined to be his feast.
“Em,” he sighed. Wade’s breaths came heavily and fast, and hers matched them, her chest heaving in time with his.
When he finally slid his arm around her waist and pulled her body against his, Eva-Marie almost moaned out loud with relief. She wanted Wade so very much. The press of his shaft against her belly let her know he was probably feeling the same way. There had better not be any interruptions this time. She was certain she wouldn’t be able to take another night like the first one.
Wade brushed a curl away from her face, his touch gentle despite the fierce look in his eyes.
“Em, baby?”
She shivered in his arms as his husky whisper traveled over her skin like a feather-light touch.
“Yes.” At the moment, it was the answer to everything.
“The first time’s going to be hard and fast. I don’t think I’ll be able to help it. After that, we can make love. Any way you want. As many times as you want. I promise. Okay, honey?”
Eva-Marie stared into Wade’s gorgeous dark eyes. Hard. Fast. Perfect.
“Yes. Now.” She reached for his mouth.
****
The second her lips met his, Wade lost control. Eva-Marie was in his arms again, and he was going to make love with her. Tonight. Nothing was going to stop him- no ghosts from the past, and no disruptions in the present.
He kissed her with all the passion he’d felt for her since the day they’d met. In his arms, she melted, draping herself around his body, and slithering sensuously against him, teasing his cock into a degree of hardness he’d never known before. And still he kissed her, coaxing her open and ravaging every iota of space inside her mouth while his hands roamed her lace-covered body.
When Wade could tear himself away from the delicious temptation of Eva-Marie’s lips, he eased her away from him. Gently, he lifted the straps of the nightgown away from her skin, and let them fall. He followed the descent of the lace extremely closely, marveling over every beautiful inch of skin as it was revealed.
“God, you’re magnificent.”
The awe he felt was evident in his voice, in the way he couldn’t take his eyes off her, and in the swift way he was back at her side, as if he couldn’t wait to touch her again. Wade undressed in a blur of motion that could have made a racecar driver dizzy. Pulling Eva-Marie back into his arms, he moved to the bed and sat down, pulling her with him to straddle his lap.
When she instinctively grabbed his shoulders to hold on, Wade leaned in to trail kisses across her chest and throat, his excitement amplified by the appearance of goosebumps in the wake of his lips as they moved along her skin. Going lower, he nuzzled at her breast.
“Em.” Her name was a long, low moan before he softly rolled her nipple between his teeth, then sucked it into his mouth. Hearing Eva-Marie draw in a hissing breath Wade looked up to see her eyes drifting closed. Her head fell back as she arched and pressed her breast closer to his suckling lips. He felt her caressing his shoulders, stroking her fingers along the plains of his jawline, then plunging her hands into his hair, gripping the short waves and holding his head to her breast.
Sliding his hands down her back, Wade slipped them into the purple panties. He filled his hands with the bounty of her of her sublimely plump, round ass. Squeezing and massaging her supple flesh, he pressed upward with his hips while pulling her down onto the hard ridge of his cock. Reluctantly dragging his mouth away from her breast, he groaned in frustration.
“Fuck, Em, I can’t wait.”
“Don’t.”
She’d barely gotten the word out when Wade lifted her, moving the panties to the side, and impaling her on his cock. They both cried out in unison.
“Ah,” Wade groaned. “Damn, sweetheart. You’re so fucking tight.”
“Oh.” Eva-Marie squeezed her thighs alongside his and her hands dropped to his shoulders again. Wade felt her nails digging into his skin, making him pause momentarily.
Releasing his grip on his darling’s gorgeous ass, Wade dragged his fingers slowly down her thighs to her knees. Drawing soothing circles there, he attempted to get her to relax.
“Em,” he crooned, resting his forehead against hers. “Look at me, baby.”
He continued to stroke her thighs, listening to her panting softly as he waited for her to adjust to him. She’d said she was ready, but he was possibly too forceful in his haste. And she was so, so tight. He could feel every fluctuation of the muscles inside her, gripping his shaft in time with her rhythmic breathing. Every millimeter he sank deeper inside her was torture. Sweet and wonderful, but torture all the same.
He felt like the world’s biggest jackass for rushing, and for hurting her when she was only trying to please him. It was the last thing he wanted to do. How the hell was he supposed to apologize for this one?
Her eyes were still squeezed shut, but she’d eased the death grip with her thighs a bit. Her nails penetrated slightly less deeply into his shoulders and back.
“Come on, love,” he encouraged her, “open your eyes.”
Eva-Marie’s eyelids fluttered open seemingly against her will.
“That’s it, baby.”
She blinked like she was waking up from a trance. Her normally golden-brown eyes had darkened to cinnamon colored pools of liquid heat. And the way she was looking at Wade was likely to set him on fire. Holy fuck.
“Wade.” It was somewhere between a whisper and a sigh. Her breath fanned across his lips as sweetly as a kiss.
“Em, honey, talk to me.” He pulled away, cupping her chin to make sure he had her attention. “Did I hurt you, baby? Are you okay?”
She quirked her lips in a little smile and closed her eyes again, her head falling back as he watched in confusion.
“Mmm,” Eva-Marie moaned, her hips moving, twitching the tiniest bit.
Wade drew in a sharp breath between his teeth. His cock throbbed inside her. He couldn’t help it. She jumped slightly in response, shifted a little, then oh, so slowly circled her ass, pushing him deeper into her hot, slick sheath.
Judging by her answer, she was fine. He would still take it slow, since he could tell she was still having trouble accommodating him. But every rotation of her pussy on his cock was magic. Exactly as he’d somehow known it would be.
A few more sexy twirls of her hips, and his enchanting princess had him fully seated inside her. A groan of pleasure so strong he couldn’t suppress it bubbled up into his chest, clutching his heart, before emerging as her name. She hugged him closer, and he wrapped his arms around her, savoring their connection.
Running his calloused hands down the delicate softness of her back, he thrilled when she shivered under his touch. His princess. He rocked into her, and she buried her face in his neck and purred.
“Mmm.” Her lips were pressed against his throat, and the vibrations from her moan shot straight down to his cock.
“Good,” Eva-Marie whispered between kisses and bites on his skin. “So good.”
“Damn it, woman.” Wade growled his passion and frustration. “You’re going to make me cum in two minutes like a teenager.”
He felt, more than heard, her chuckle. So, she thinks this is funny, huh. Let’s see if she thinks this is funny as well. Cupping her ass, he held her to his body while he pistoned his hips and drove into her wet, amazing heat.
“Ohhh.”
Not exactly laughter from the princess. She’d raised her knees and planted h
er feet on the bed, then linked her hands behind his neck. Now she was bucking in his arms like a cowgirl, bouncing on him as hard as he was driving into her.
Shit. He’d pushed a button and turned on her inner porn star. And sweet princess Eva-Marie was going to fuck his brains out. He was barely holding on to his sanity, trying to hang on to her beautiful body.
“Baby,” he huffed through clenched teeth. “Gotta… slow… down. Gonna cum.” Wade finally had his dream girl, and she was going to break him.
“No.” Her whisper was husky and demanding. “Now.”
Wade didn’t want to give in, but he didn’t have much choice. If he lasted more than another minute, it would be a miracle.
“Em.” Her name was a heartfelt plea. “Sweetheart, we have to slow- I’m trying- .”
“Now, Wade!”
His name started on a moan and ended on a scream as Eva-Marie came apart in his arms and took him with her.
Every chance he had since that night, Wade made love to Eva-Marie. For hours, sometime days at a stretch. Every evening after work, the would rush to each other for a frantic coupling, then spend the rest of the night in sensual exploration of each other. He couldn’t get enough of her, and apparently the feeling was mutual.
But not tonight. Here they were, standing in a club packed with people. Most of the owners of the Beale Street establishments had come by to say hello, along with what seemed to be a million members of the press, one of whom had a microphone shoved belligerently in his face. There were always a few who took his silent scowls as a challenge and insisted on trying to cajole or bully a response from him. It didn’t usually work in their favor, but having Eva-Marie near had softened him. He had managed not to growl at anyone all day, and the media types were taking it as encouragement. A few continued to hang around, but this particular one was downright rude. Baring his teeth at the woman with the microphone, tonight’s version of a smile, Wade turned away and stepped directly into the last person he expected or wanted to see.
Let's Stick Together Page 5