Waking to Black

by V. H. Luis

  “Evie, you must promise to attend my birthday this coming Friday. It’s being held at my parents’ house; they live in the Gables.”

  With her interruption, I get the impression Sarah’s trying to defuse the tense dinner conversation.

  “I’m not sure.”

  “Adam, convince her to come,” she pleads, her bottom lip protruding in a cute pout.

  Adam looks at me as he places his wine glass down on the table. “Come with me.”

  His domineering tone makes it obvious that the statement is a command, not a question. I don’t feel rebellious, so I nod. “If it will make you happy, I would love to go.”

  Sarah squeals with delight. Our food arrives and we eat while speaking idly about unimportant topics—disaster averted.

  When the check is brought, Markus takes his time offering to pay. Only after Adam reaches for the bill does he halfheartedly interject.

  Adam’s features are cold and rigid as he says politely, “No. It’s on me.”

  We all stand to say our goodbyes. Sarah leans over and gives me a big hug. I’m surprised by the action, but happy to return the embrace.

  “It was nice seeing you again.”

  I’m starting to like Sarah. “It was nice seeing you as well.”

  Adam kisses his sister goodbye and shakes Markus’s hand. As he turns to go, his fingers lace with mine. We practically sprint out of the mall.

  “Will you slow down?” I mutter between hurried steps.

  Adam doesn’t respond, but reduces his speed. We reach the car and, polite as ever, he opens my door.

  We drive in silence while I repeat a mantra in my head. Keep quiet. This is not your business. I decide not to follow my own advice.

  “I understand why you don’t like him.”

  Adam frowns. “How do you know I don’t like him?”

  Damn it! I’ve pretty much confessed to being a nosy eavesdropper. I bite my bottom lip. “It’s pretty obvious.”

  Adam shakes his head. “Do you remember our conversation about lying? I don’t like it when you’re indirect with me.”

  “You and your sister were talking kind of loud back at your apartment,” I say meekly. It is, after all, a weak defense.

  Adam stops at a red light and gives me an intimidating glance.

  “Don’t look at me like that,” I say nervously.

  His expression calms. Adam sighs as he focuses on the road, the light having changed to green. “That guy is a fucking prick. He has no future prospects, he’s known to gamble away any earnings he has, and he consistently cheats on the women he dates.”

  “Have you told your sister this?”

  “Yes, but what little sister ever listened to her overprotective brother?”

  “So you admit you’re overprotective?” I say, unable to hide my grin.

  “Not the right time to joke, Evelyn,” he says with agitation.

  “Sorry.”

  We turn, entering the Eden Beach complex.

  “Adam, I need to go to work in the morning.”

  “So?”

  “I don’t have anything to wear here. I can’t spend the night.”

  “We just bought you several things to wear.” He pulls into his parking space and shifts the car into park.

  “So you just decided I’m spending the night?” I say sarcastically.

  He looks at me, his eyes weary. “If you want me to take you home I will, but I do want you to spend the night.”

  His expression is sincere, full of emotion. I’m unable to deny this man when he looks at me like this.

  “Okay. I’ll spend the night.”

  A small smile forms on his lips. We open our doors and move toward the elevator. It’s odd riding in the elevator with Adam, going to his apartment to do…I don’t know what.

  Really? You do know what, Evelyn. I shake the thought away.

  We walk through the foyer in silence, making our way to the kitchen, and I sense that Adam himself is confused. He’s usually so assured. Now he moves as if he’s unaware of his purpose. Is the situation with his sister affecting him so much? Am I affecting him?

  Once we reach the kitchen he opens the refrigerator and pours himself a glass of water.

  “Would you like something to drink?”

  I shake my head and smile. Then a thought hits me. Tina. I need to call her. I place my purse on the counter and start to rummage for my phone. Randomly, I take things out as I search. I pull out a pen, my wallet, my cosmetics bag, my birth control pills, and finally, my phone.

  “You’re on birth control?” Adam’s eyes widen.

  “Oh?” I focus on the pill box. “Yes, I’ve been on it for years.” I turn on my phone, scanning through my contacts.

  “Why didn’t you say something?” He sounds annoyed.

  “Mentioning I’m on birth control is not exactly a conversation starter.”

  “That’s the type of information you willingly supply when you’re sleeping with someone.”

  I place the phone down, shifting my attention to him. “In that case, I’m on birth control, just thought you should know.”

  “Why would you be on birth control? We’ve already established that before me your experience was extremely limited.”

  “Well, Mr. Intrusive, I’m prone to ovarian cysts, so I’ve been prescribed birth control pills as a preventative measure.” I sigh. “Why does this matter?”

  “It matters because I’m the one who has to wear the condoms. They significantly reduce the overall feeling.”

  “Really?” I now regard him with a small smirk. “So are you saying you want to have sex without a condom?”

  “I’m saying that the next time we have sex it will be without a condom.” He takes a sip of his water.

  What a smug son of a bitch. “How do I know you don’t have any illnesses? Rich men are known to sleep around.” I stare at him, a clear challenge on my face.

  “Rich men are known to take care of themselves,” he says emphatically. “I have a concierge doctor on retainer. You’re more likely to have an illness than I am.”

  I narrow my eyes at him. “You are, without a doubt, the most conceited man I have ever known.”

  “Your opinion can’t be trusted. You haven’t known many men.”

  He appears so young when he is amused.

  I laugh, because even though I find him arrogant to a fault, I find him charming. You love punishing yourself… Ignoring my nagging thoughts, I shoot him a coquettish glance.

  “Is this how you treat all the women who are in relationships with you?”

  “I wouldn’t know. I don’t do relationships.” He steps around the counter, places the glass down in front of me and stands only a few inches away.

  I frown, because he’s confusing. “You don’t call what we’re doing a relationship?”

  He tilts his head to the side. “We’re dating.”

  “What’s the difference?”

  He inhales a deep breath. “You date someone, and as time passes, as you get to know them, you slowly forge a relationship. You begin to trust that person and they begin to trust you.”

  “And you never get to that part? You always just date?”

  He nods as his eyes survey me, scrutinizing my face.

  Adam has never been in a relationship? No way.

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “I was pretty certain you wouldn’t.” He has a challenging expression burning through his eyes.

  I’m suddenly so tired. But I’m aware that I may never have the opportunity to broach this subject again. This is my chance to learn about the woman who screwed him over, because there is no doubt in my mind that there was at one point a woman in his life. A relationship.

  “You’re the one being indirect now. I thought you were a man who disliked lies.”

  “Maybe you’re not asking the right questions.”

  I face him, my eyes narrowed. “Were you ever in a relationship with a woman? Did you ever move past th
e dating stage?”

  “Yes, once.”

  “What happened?”

  He shakes his head and a curtain has been pulled over his expression.

  “I’m not going to get an answer, am I?” I say with resignation. “How long do your normal liaisons last?” I try to sound unperturbed as I change the subject, although the serious nature of our topic has left me sad.

  “Liaisons? That’s cute.” He shrugs. “Usually they last for about a month.”

  “So this thing between us is a ticking time bomb? In three weeks it will all be over?” I whisper.

  His eyes dart toward the floor for a second before shooting up to meet my gaze. “Probably.”

  “Why tell me?” I’m angry he would so boldly admit that I’m just a distraction, that he’s bored with his life like Victoria proclaimed, and that he’s using me. I can’t face him so I look down.

  “I tell you so you have a choice.” He places a finger underneath my chin, making me face him. “I’m not interested in happily ever after. I’m more concerned with the here and now, but I do want to share that with you.”

  I pull away from his grasp. “I don’t feel as if I ever had a choice.”

  He looks somber. “It takes two people to have sex, Evelyn, and as I recall, I did ask you if you wanted to do this.”

  I open my mouth to object but then quickly close it. He’s right. I wanted this and I willingly jumped at the opportunity, knowing the risks. My mother warned me, Tina warned me, my nagging thoughts had told me I was making a mistake and I disregarded all of it.

  “I don’t want to fight,” I say softly. “I did want this and I think part of me knew that eventually it would come to an end.”

  His hand rubs against my cheek; it’s such a tender action that it gnaws at my heart. Why the hell is he so damn sweet? He’s telling me he’s not interested in a serious relationship, yet he’s being impossibly sweet.

  “I don’t want to upset you. If you want, I’ll take you home,” he whispers.

  The thought of leaving him, of never again seeing him, of being denied his honeyed kisses is too much for me to take. I’m not willing to accept it.

  “You said you want to spend the here and now with me… Why?”

  His eyes narrow. “Is that a rhetorical question?”

  “No. I need concrete boundaries. I need to know if what’s going on between us is an itch you need to scratch or if it’s something more. If it’s just sex then I can jump on that train, I’ll ride it…” I cough and then clear my throat at the arched brow he gives me. “Um…that came out wrong but you get what I mean.”

  He shakes his head a low throaty laugh pulsing from his lips. “I haven’t thought about it.”

  “Think about it. I’ll give you a minute.” I cross my arms over my chest.

  “You’re giving me an order?”

  I straighten in the chair, giving him the most deadpan expression I can muster. “You shoot orders out all the time, so yeah, you would know how they sound.”

  “I’m not sure why, but I just got hard,” he rasps.

  There goes my poker face. Unable to resist, my gaze darts to his impressive package and for a long minute I stare at the bulge, arguing with myself over the desire I have to give in and let him fuck me senseless and my urge to define whatever it is we’re doing together.

  Again Adam lifts my chin. “I should take you home.”

  With five words, he’s defined our liaison—sex. And he’s right, I should leave, but leaving means it’s over and I’m not ready for it to be over.

  Framing his face with my hands, I kiss him. I run my tongue along his lips, tracing their shape. It only takes him a moment to run with it, his arms wrapping around me. Being in his embrace feels right, how can he ignore this burning intensity? As I’m giving in to my growing desire, he pulls away from me.

  “Evelyn?” he says with a frown. “What are you doing?”

  “Exactly what I want to. I’m a big girl; don’t worry about me.” I move my hands to the buttons of his shirt.

  “You seriously want to do this? Knowing full well the consequences?”

  “If we only have a few weeks, I don’t want to waste time,” I say in an effort to convince not only him, but myself as well.

  He grasps my hands, pulling me away from his shirt and turns toward the bedroom. We don’t, however, stop there. Adam leads me to the bathroom where he wraps his arms around me and undoes the zipper to my dress. It slides down my shoulders, leaving me in nothing but heels, bra, and panties.

  I know this is wrong. What we’re doing will lead to heartache, but I’m not willing to let it go.

  Again, my trembling fingers move toward the buttons on his shirt. It falls to the floor. I see the chiseled lines of his abdomen and all I want to do is kiss every delicious inch, to trail my tongue over the ridges of his muscles.

  Adam takes a step back as my hands move to his belt. He shakes his head, a lustful grin on his lips. What is he thinking?

  “Take off the bra.” His murmur is low as he watches me.

  I lick my lips at the command, because knowing he wants to watch turns me on. My hands slide up my body as I reach for the clasp. I slide it off until I’m holding it out to him.

  Adam gazes intently at my naked breasts, making a deep heat swell within me.

  “Now take off the panties.”

  He speaks in that bossy tone that normally drives me crazy, though at the moment I like it.

  I move my hands to my underwear, rubbing myself as I do, and my nipples harden at the feeling. Slowly, I slide the fabric down my legs until the black satin pools at my heels. With a grace I didn’t know I possessed, I kick the scrap of fabric so it lands in front of him.

  Standing before Adam wearing nothing but heels is liberating. I feel as if I have control over the situation, and though I probably don’t, I revel in the thought.

  “Now that you have me like this, what are you going to do with me?” I taunt.

  Adam kicks off his shoes and pulls at his belt while moving toward me. “I’m sure I can think of something.”

  I think he’s going to grab me, to hold and kiss me, but in actuality, he walks past me.

  The bubble bursts—I never had the power. I hear the rush of the shower and in a blink he’s in front of me. The button of his jeans is already open and his hands are on the zipper. The jeans and boxer briefs come off and Adam is standing naked and ready before me. Even with the heels I still have to look up.

  “Get into the shower.”

  I step out of the heels and turn toward the shower because I want to be in there with him. My body has long since ignored the desperate pleas of my brain. He will never love you, Evie. Run away while you still can. Don’t be naïve.

  The water is warm as it cascades down my body. When I focus on Adam, he has a knowing smile on his lips, because it’s obvious that desire has taken hold of me. He enters the shower and kisses me, his lips the only contact I am rewarded with. I want to wrap my arms around him and feel the press of his skin against mine, but I know this is all a game. Adam wants me to initiate the action; he wants me to lose control, to give in to my base desires.

  I pull back from the kiss. With unbridled passion, I kiss his neck. I trail my tongue down his body, down his defined abdomen, and I don’t stop there. I move to my knees and peer up at him as I roll my tongue over the tip of his cock. His breath hitches as his eyes darken. Mission accomplished, I totally have the power now.

  I love the taste of this man, the weight of him against my mouth. He groans as I swirl my tongue around him. One of his hands is against my head, tangled in my curls, though he’s letting me direct the situation. I run my lips down his length until the tip of his cock hits the back of my throat.

  “I’m going to come in your mouth,” he says between panting breaths.

  I know it’s a warning, but I don’t care. Please do, go right ahead.

  His muscles tighten and he grows bigger, so much the corners of
my lips burn. I bob my head taking every inch I can; desperate to make him feel what I feel—what I don’t have any control over.

  A ragged groan erupts from his lips, echoing in the bathroom as he reaches his climax and a surge of warmth trickles down my throat as he spills. I swirl my lips over him a few times, savoring his taste, and when I shift back his eyes are fixed on me. That’s right, Mr. Black, maybe it’s me who will do the owning.

  He leans down and grabs me by the hands, and with a sharp pull I’m on my feet and pressed against the marble tiles of the shower. Maybe not.

  “What the fuck are you doing to me?”

  He whispers the question, obviously not caring for an answer, because his tongue invades my mouth. He kisses me, his lips rubbing against mine as his hands run down my body, claiming me with every caress.

  Adam grabs the back of my thighs, lifting me up and making me aware of the hard press of his cock against my stomach.

  “Wrap your legs around me.”

  I happily obey, and he fills me. My cry echoes as he mercilessly continues his conquest, each thrust harder than the last. The sight of him pushing into me, invading my body, makes me thrash with uninhibited pleasure.

  “Adam!” I cry, because at that moment, I’m his, and he owns me.

  My breathing is erratic as I reach the precipice of my orgasm.

  “Let go.” There’s raw need in his voice.

  I come at his command and he follows. The room spins and my body convulses as a powerful surge of pleasure overtakes me.

  I’m not sure how he manages the strength, but he lifts me out of the shower and gently lies me on the bathroom rug. Adam is still in me as I lay on top of him. My head is pressed against his chest and the rapid beat of his heart is like music to my ears.

  “At some point we need to go in there and actually finish that shower,” he says with a lazy chuckle.

  “I think I need a few minutes to recover.”

  “That was unexpected.”

  “You’re always shocking the hell out of me. It’s only fair every now and then I get the same opportunity.”

  His chest rises as his laugh reverberates around the room. “I’m not complaining. In fact, whenever you feel the urge to do that again, you have my unequivocal permission.”