by V. H. Luis
“Evelyn—”
I interrupt him. “I have some questions I want to ask you.”
Adam inhales a breath that turns into a soft snort. He’s annoyed, though a hint of amusement gleams in his eyes.
“I’ll answer your questions if you answer mine.”
The dangerous purr of his challenge makes me hesitate, and he takes note.
“It’s only fair,” he adds.
Fighting against my inclination to buckle, I stare him straight in the eyes. “I have three questions. Shall we take turns?”
He nods.
I raise my index finger. “First, how did you disarm the bank robber? It’s been bugging me for a week. I mean, everyone in the bank was terrified; you were calm.”
Adam laughs. “Well, that’s a random question.”
He leans back on the stool and shrugs. “I was trained. After college I joined the Marines and spent four years active duty. I’ve been in situations where staying calm was the only way to survive. I was nervous that day at the bank, but I knew that showing I was would only make the situation worse. I kept it together because that’s the best way to deal with a stressful situation.”
His sincerity makes my mouth twitch in a smile. Maybe this is why he’s able to control his emotions so well.
“It makes sense that you’re an ex-Marine.”
“I’m not,” he says flatly. “You’re never an ex-Marine. Once a Marine, always a Marine.”
I nod, unsure of what else to do.
He takes a drink of his juice and then fixes his gaze on me. “My turn…” He raises his index finger. “How is it that a beautiful woman like you has never before slept with a man?”
“What?” I gape at him.
“You heard me.”
“That’s an intrusive question!”
“We never stipulated what we could and could not ask. I answered your question, now answer mine.”
I’m irritated that he would ask something so personal. More than anything I’m angry I wasted a question inquiring about the bank robbery.
“Well?” He looks at me with impatience.
“Does everyone do what you want?” I glare at him.
“Yes,” he says firmly, and I can tell he’s getting cross.
“Don’t assume it’s because I never had the chance!”
“I would never assume that. In fact, that’s the conundrum. You’re a beautiful woman…intelligent, passionate, the list goes on. Why is it that you’ve never been with someone?”
I sigh with resignation because I have to answer this question. If I were to go back on our arrangement he would think less of me. I would think less of me.
“The one time I almost did, everything went wrong.” My eyes sting as the memory flashes in my head. “I had this boyfriend in college and I liked him enough to think that maybe he was it. Fate didn’t agree. Things fell apart after that and we broke up.”
I grab his glass and drink the final sip of his orange juice while he watches, his gaze intense.
“Don’t worry. It’s not a big deal. I won’t stalk you now that you’ve ‘deflowered’ me. I’m not that type of girl.”
“You’re lying to yourself if you honestly believe what happened last night wasn’t significant. A person doesn’t wait until they’re twenty-four years old to fuck, just because.”
The frank way he speaks makes me blush and he notices.
“That’s exactly what we did,” he persists. “I was the first man you’ve ever been with and it’s a huge deal.”
“I… I don’t know what you want me to say,” I offer lamely.
“I want you to look me in the eyes and tell me that you’ll never lie to me again.”
The statement makes me frown, and since I hesitate in responding, he continues.
“Last night I asked you if you were a virgin, and you lied. I don’t deal with liars.”
I focus on his eyes and see they’re as hard as stone. My mouth dries, and when I do talk my words sputter out scratchily. “I didn’t lie. I told you to stop being ridiculous. And I feel that’s an honest enough statement since you asked that question in the middle of the act which is at least to me, ridiculous.” His eyes narrow and he opens his mouth, though I don’t give him the chance to talk. “I’m sorry, if you feel that was dishonest or unfair, I just…” I inhale sharply, “I didn’t want you to stop.” My cheeks feel like they’re on fire because it’s awkward confessing the extent of desire I felt for him last night—the extent of desire I’ve felt for him since we met.
He stares at me, as if he’s trying to siphon my secrets with his glance alone, and then he sighs. The shift in his expression is like a sunset, slow and enthralling. His features soften as his tension dissipates. “You should have told me. I would have done things differently.”
You would have stopped. Not having the courage to voice what I’m thinking, I nod slowly in an effort to appease him. It’s apparent that Adam is not use to anyone contradicting him.
“I believe it’s your turn,” he says, his gaze annoyingly unreadable.
I rub the side of my head for a long minute, trying to recollect my original thoughts. “Um… Why did you break up with Victoria?”
I’m not sure why I ask the question, probably because I need to understand how a man who has everything can choose to spend a night with me instead of, quite literally, one of the most striking women I’ve ever seen.
“Victoria is a beautiful woman. She’s incredibly sexy, and depending on the subject matter, quite intelligent.”
I roll my eyes as he speaks.
“I’m not finished.” He looks at me sternly.
“Sorry,” I murmur. Damn, I’m apologizing a lot in this relationship. Wait… is this a relationship? Adam continues talking which makes it hard for me to think.
“Something was missing between us. We had different interests, and she was right when she said that I was bored.”
My snippy thoughts cloud my head. See, I told you so. He’s going to use you, abuse you, and then lose you.
“Are you always this insecure?”
What an intrusive bastard. How does he know what I’m thinking?
“That’s your question?” I sound annoyed.
He shrugs. “Yes.”
“I don’t consider myself insecure. I just find you intimidating.”
“I make you that nervous?”
“I believe it’s no longer your turn to ask questions,” I say with a smug smile.
He rolls his gorgeous eyes at me.
“Hey, that’s not very polite.”
Adam grins at me, and I’m surprised at how quickly he can make me forget he’s an arrogant, domineering man who peels away at my secrets as if I were an onion.
I know what the next question will be, but the answer he may give scares me. After a deep breath I go with my impulse. “Where is this going?”
His grin fades as he stands up from the stool. His serious expression is void of emotion. He walks to the sink and stands next to me. “Where do you want it to go?”
“I believe answering a question with a question is cheating.”
“We never specified the rules of this little exercise.” He looks down at me self-assuredly.
I’m embarrassed so I lower my gaze, only to be halted by his hand on my chin. He tilts my head so I’m forced to face him.
“Answer the question, Evelyn.”
“I liked what happen last night.”
His lips curl into a satisfied smile. “I liked it, too.”
He leans forward, kissing me, and it’s the first time that the action doesn’t catch me by surprise. As I wrap my arms around him, I’m vaguely aware that the T-shirt I’m wearing has risen, revealing my bare bottom to the attractive and seductive Mr. Black. He groans as his hands trail down to my exposed flesh, and in seconds I’m pulled against his growing erection.
He shifts back and whispers, “I think we’re done with our question-and-answer game.”
I n
od up at him.
He has a smirk lingering on his lips that is piquing my inquisitive nature. He grabs my wrists, and for the first time in the last half hour I realize I don’t hear the familiar chime of my bangles. Shit! I left them in the bathroom. My scars! I’m sweating, and it has nothing to do with arousal.
Adam pushes me against the refrigerator, his mouth still pressed again mine, and the cold stainless steel on my back makes me squeal. My thoughts scatter and the missing bangles are no longer a priority.
“I like that sound,” he says huskily. “Maybe we can make some other interesting noises.”
He grabs one of my hands and pulls me to the dining room. With a charming quickness, he discards his white T-shirt, leaving his bare chest in my view.
“I want you on this table,” he utters as he towers above me.
I peer up at him between my eyelashes. “Am I to assume that I’m your dessert?”
“You are so perceptive.”
He’s forceful as he grabs my shoulders, spinning me so I’m facing away from him. I don’t have time to be shocked because his hands invade my T-shirt, cupping my breasts and kneading them so my nipples harden. His actions are coarse and possessive.
Pushing me down on the table so my stomach is touching the cool, black wood, I’m aware that his intention is to take me from behind. The thought is exciting. Truthfully, I want him to make me his, because since last night, I am his.
I hear him rip the foil wrapper of a condom. Where the hell did he get that?
“Did you plan on this happening?” I say with a smile.
“I’m just perpetually prepared.”
I don’t have to see him to know that he’s grinning.
Adam lifts the T-shirt I’m wearing so that it rests under my arms, leaving my back exposed. One of his hands moves along my spine while the other grabs my hips, pinning me in place. Then his lips are pressed against my skin, trailing kisses along the curve of my bare flesh.
The feel of his warm, wet mouth makes me whimper and writhe. I try to shift so I can face him, but he’s persistent with his hold. He controls the situation.
His teeth graze my skin, nipping me between the shoulders and then he whispers, “What do you want, Evelyn?”
What a stupid question. Obviously, I want you. I continue to squirm against him without offering a response.
Adam makes a soft tsk-ing noise. “Tell me what you want, Evelyn.”
Breathlessly, I answer, “You… I want you inside me.”
He chuckles, as the hard bulge of his erection weighs heavy against my ass. “I want you to be exact. What part of me do you want inside of you?”
A low growl rolls out of my throat because I simultaneously loathe and love the way he pushes me out of my comfort-zone. “Your cock…. I want your cock inside of me!”
He thrusts into me hard. I’m wet, but the intensity of the movement and my soreness from the previous night, makes the friction painful. I cry out, and he stops.
“No,” I say breathily. “Keep going.”
He hesitates and I roll my hips, tilting them up, offering him a better vantage point. Then he’s moving again, and my frantic moans only serve to excite him more.
This is precisely what I desire—the rough sensation of him conquering me, that perfect blend of pleasure and pain. My hands are moving against the table in a futile attempt to anchor myself, but there’s nothing to grab.
Ecstasy ripples throughout my body as he slows his pace. His thrusts become shallow and I can feel every inch of his cock swell with pleasure as he sinks into me. I press my legs together and squeeze my muscles as he lunges forward.
“Fuck! Keep doing that.”
Adam grips my ass as he thrusts deep, my body giving way to the forceful intrusion as his balls slap against my clit. A primitive groan escapes my throat and I’m about to come. His pace quickens and I can tell he’s close.
We’re at a precipice, about to fall together, when the sudden sound of a door opening halts our movements.
“What the hell?” Adam growls.
He pulls out of me roughly, making me wince. Before I know what’s happening, he’s yanking me upright, the T-shirt bunched under my arms falling so it sits high on my thighs and drawing his pants up, the condom still wrapped around him, though now it’s concealed.
I stand behind him, unsure what’s going on, my body still burning with need.
We both look toward the foyer entrance. A beautiful young woman in designer clothes appears, the sharp clicking of her undoubtedly expensive heels reverberating in the now-silent room.
She appears strangely familiar. Then I see her eyes, those beautiful deep-blue eyes.
Her voice is crisp, and she sounds amused. “Hello, brother. Am I interrupting something?”
Chapter Ten
“SARAH. WHAT THE hell are you doing here?”
To her credit, his sister isn’t fazed by his anger.
“How did you get a key?”
She rolls her eyes.
How does she manage to do that with such elegance? I better start taking notes.
“You gave me a key over a year ago, when you went to New York to purchase that apartment complex in Manhattan. I was here for the summer, so you asked me to housesit.” She has that same matter-of-fact tone that Adam so often exhibits.
“As I remember it, you gave the key back.”
“Well, yes. However, I did make a spare.” She finally appears somewhat apologetic.
Adam’s body is rigid, and I can tell he’s holding back his fury. I’m huddled behind him, my face pressed against the warmth of his back. I’m mortified. His sister busted in on us when he was enthusiastically making me his. My thoughts echo in my head. You mean while he was fucking you on the dining room table. I stifle a groan.
“Go to the guest bedroom, now.”
Since I have no clue where the guest bedroom is located, I assume he’s speaking to his sister, though the thought of retreating is appealing.
“Don’t be mad. I just wanted to surprise you.”
“Sarah, go now!” he yells.
A twinge of sympathy stirs within me for his sister. Being on the receiving end of Adam Black’s ire is not on the top of my to-do list.
The loud click of her heels dissipates as she walks away. Adam turns to me and I’m sure at this point I’m beet-red.
“Hey,” he says softly.
“Hey.” I mimic his response, because I don’t trust myself to say anything else.
I gaze into those sapphire eyes and my own water with suppressed tears.
“It’s okay. She didn’t see anything.” Gingerly, he wraps his arms around me.
He has a small smile on his lips and I wonder if he finds my reaction funny. A vile thought comes to my mind. How many times has Adam been caught with someone else? How many times has he laid a woman down on that dining room table?
My thoughts are halted by his kiss. At first I still, unwilling to return the affection because I’m tormented by the thought that I’m one of many in his endless list of affairs. However, those sweet lips are impossible to resist. As he bites my bottom lip I open my mouth and our kiss is no longer chaste.
Adam pulls back. “It’s time you change into something more conservative. As appealing as you look in my T-shirt, we’re no longer alone.”
He is stiff with frustration. Maybe the thought of explaining himself to his sister bothers him? Probably not. I doubt Adam explains his actions to anyone.
“Feel free to use any of my things. I doubt I have anything that will fit you, but you’re welcome to it.” He sounds impassive.
I hate it when Adam sounds so detached. I nod.
He turns to retrieve his cellphone from the kitchen counter. “Shit, less than an hour till I have to leave.”
I don’t want to be in this room; I don’t want to be near him. Confusion washes over me. Where the hell did the kind, compassionate man who spent the last few hours with me go?
I move past
him with the intention of going to the bedroom, but then I remember my shorts and tank are in the piano room. Once I’m there I see my clothing scattered across the floor. I grab the shorts and put them on minus my panties, because I can’t find them. My purse is on top of a corner table and a sudden thought hits me.
Tina! I groan. She’s probably furious.
I reach the phone, and as I suspected, I have several missed calls and a few texts.
ARE YOU OKAY?
CALL ME.
IF YOU DON’T PICK UP SOON I’M GOING OVER.
I’M AT YOUR HOUSE. WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU!?
NOT COOL, SNOWE! I’M PISSED!
I press the call back button. The phone rings once before she picks up.
“Evie!” She sounds surprised.
“Hey, I’m safe.”
“You didn’t call last night or respond to my texts. What’s going on with you?” The sliver of relief I heard has now switched to reproach.
“It’s a long story. Are you still at my house?”
“Yes. I raided your fridge. Feeding me is the least you can do after ignoring me for hours.”
“Did you call my mother?”
“No,” Tina murmurs. “And I’m pissed you’d ask. Contrary to what you think, I don’t call your mom to give her a play-by-play of your every action.”
“Sorry,” I say more to shut her up than anything. “I’ll be home soon. I’ll tell you everything when I get there.”
“You spent the night with him, didn’t you? No way! You slept with him?”
Her squeals as she asks the questions makes me lean away from the phone.
“Let’s talk about this later. I’m not exactly in the best place to have this type of conversation.”
“Are you okay?” Tina’s voice has shifted back to concern.
“Yes. I’ll tell you everything when I get home. I need to go.” I hang up the phone, recognizing I probably left her with a thousand unanswered questions. I couldn’t care less; I’m reeling from the emotional rollercoaster of the last few minutes and still trying to catch up.
I sit in the piano room, eyeing the painting I’ve created. The dichotomy is interesting. Part of it is beautiful and bright, hopeful even. Then the portion cast in shadow is scary. Adam is right. This painting is a reflection of my own emotions, of the feelings I struggle with daily. I close my eyes, unwilling to look at it further. I hate that Adam is right, and part of me is unable to fathom how a man who’s known me for only a week can so easily see me. Why can’t I do that?