by V. H. Luis
The lights finally turn on in my befuddled mind and I manage to speak. “Yes, I’m sorry for bumping into you.”
“How can I be offended by being run over by a beautiful woman?” he says with a cocky smirk.
A nervous laugh escapes my lips. I take a step back to distance myself and I notice the hint of regret in his eyes as I move.
“I’m not normally this clumsy. I was just…” I sigh. “Lost in thought,” I say shyly.
The mystery man takes his time assessing me, admiring my curves. “There should be a rule against thinking too much at a party.” He gives me a perfectly straight smile. “Dance with me,” he says authoritatively.
“Is that a question or a command?” I’m sick of being on the receiving end of demanding men and my frustration is showing.
“A sincere question. In fact, a longing hope.”
“I came with someone.” I give him the patented Adam Black tone.
“Yet, you’re walking around alone.” His voice is laced with arrogance.
He’s right. I am alone. Adam is no doubt still surrounded by beautiful woman, not even remotely concerned as to my whereabouts. The thought makes my stomach churn. Recklessness takes control of my body, my actions.
“You know what? I think a dance is a wonderful idea. Lead the way.”
His strong hand grasps mine, and in less than a minute we’re swaying to Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud”.
“So, is the beautiful woman in my arms apposed to telling me her name? Let me guess—you’re the type that will make me work for every syllable.” A carefree chuckle escapes his lips.
“Why ruin the moment with introductions?” Shit, I’m actually flirting with this man.
He twirls me and then pulls me close. “Playing coy?”
I open my mouth to respond when I am interrupted by Adam’s curt voice. “May I cut in?”
The mystery man tightens his hold on me. “Adam, I was on my way to find you when I was stopped by this beautiful woman.”
I stifle a groan. I didn’t stop him, I tripped.
Adam looks at me with mildly controlled fury. I feel like he might combust before my eyes.
“Mathew, get your fucking hands off my girlfriend.” Adams voice no longer holds even the tiniest measure of control.
I’m struck by two important facts. The mystery man is Mathew Black, Adam’s brother, and the man of my dreams has claimed me as his girlfriend.
Adam’s glare does not allow me the time to revel in the delight of my newly acquired title. Oh shit…I’m in so much trouble.
Chapter Seventeen
MATHEW BLACK LOOKS genuinely confused. “You have a girlfriend?”
“I don’t exactly tell you everything about my life.” Adam takes a step forward and grabs my hand.
Mathew smirks as he takes a step back. “Does your girlfriend have a name?” He looks at Adam when he asks the question, placing a sarcastic emphasis on the word your.
“I can speak for myself.” I narrow my eyes at them both.
Adam’s grip tightens around my hand. “Evelyn, this is Mathew, my brother.” He scoffs. “Though I’m not sure why I’m bothering with introductions, since you two have obviously met.”
“Actually, we never did get around to making introductions,” I murmur with irritation, because I find it ridiculous he’s upset.
“Yes, we were eager to get on the dance floor.” Mathew has a condescending smirk on his lips as he stares at me.
“That’s not how I remember it happening.” I rally to my defense.
Adam pulls me closer. “Well, since you enjoy dancing, so much, please do me the honor.” He looks at Mathew. “Now, if you will excuse us?”
“It’s been a pleasure, Evelyn.” The way Mathew utters my name holds the same seductive edge Adam often uses.
I have little time to think on the uncanny similarity as Adam’s free hand moves to the small of my back and we’re dancing. Being light on my feet is a skill that eludes me, though in Adam’s arms I doubt anyone would notice. He leads me in a variety of spins, and more than once I find myself catching my breath at the fluidity of the movements. It’s as if we’re having a silent argument on the dance floor, our eyes often meeting in a fierce clash of wills.
After a deftly executed twirl, Adam pulls me against him so that I can smell the intoxicating aroma of his skin.
“Smile, Evelyn; you looked quite happy before. I would hate to be the cause of your distress,” Adam says impassively.
My eyes dart up to meet his and I smile with sincerity, because even if he’s controlling his emotions and leaving me guessing as to his thoughts, I’m where I want to be—in his arms.
As the band finishes the song Adam leads me toward a secluded area around the house. Throughout our brief trek he remains silent, the soft tapping of our feet as we step on stone pavers being the only noise between us. My eyes focus on our destination. The building we’re approaching has a wall with a high peak toward the front, and vines are climbing over the delicate brickwork, the erosion forcing some of the stones to fade and chip. As we enter the structure I’m awestruck by the sight; it’s a greenhouse. The exterior stonework extends to the far wall, but all the others are made of delicate glass. Flower pots are scattered around the room and the smell of soil and blooming roses make me smile. If Adam wasn’t flushed with anger, I would assume he brought me here for an intimate encounter.
As if he were discarding his coat after a long day, he whirls me around and releases me from his clenched grip. I shuffle back with wide eyes as the top of my thighs hit a weathered table and the clank of ceramic pots echoes behind me as my fingers splay out in search of stability.
“Did you forget that you came to this party with me?” he says, adopting a cold, detached tone.
The question surprises me, though my shock quickly shifts to anger. “I should ask you the same question.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“I’m not the one who was surrounded by a cluster of scantily clad groupies earlier. If it was your intention to ignore me, why bring me at all?”
“Ignore you! I’ve spent the night standing by your side, introducing you to my family, to people I’ve known for years, and you have the nerve to say I was ignoring you?” He takes a step forward and glares down at me.
I meet his gaze, because even though he intimidates me, I refuse to be humbled by this man.
“The second I walked away you surrounded yourself with the Adam Black Fan Club. I doubt you even noticed I was gone until you saw me on the dance floor.”
“You’re being ridiculous. I was socializing with family friends while you went out of your way to make me jealous.”
“You act as if you found me making out with some guy in a closet! It was a dance.”
“It’s the fact that you were dancing with him,” he says with exasperation.
“Why does it matter?”
When he doesn’t respond to the question, I look at him, really stare him down, focusing on the flush of his cheeks, the sweat misting his hairline, the stiff rigidness of his locked muscles. Though he’s attempting to mask his expression, insecurity is written in the subtle nuances of his tense jaw and the small creases under his eyes. The realization is so shocking it dulls my anger.
“Why did you neglect to tell me you had a brother?”
He leans down and whispers, “You seriously want to discuss why I neglected to tell you something?”
My face blanches. “It’s not the same.”
“You’re right, it’s not!” His raised voice reverberates against the windows.
“There you go with your self-righteous, high-and-mighty attitude. You get angry at me for being dishonest when you conceal everything from me.”
“I wasn’t the one with my body pressed up against someone else.” His sapphire eyes gleam against the glittering lights of the greenhouse.
I sneer at the comment. “Well, honestly, how could you press up against
just one person? Your groupies virtually surrounded you. I doubt you knew which direction to lean.”
“That’s enough,” he growls. “I was talking with people I’ve known for years, while you were flirting with my brother.”
“People you’ve known for years?” A laugh escapes my lips. “You mean people you’ve fucked, don’t you?” I stand tall, steeling myself. “Just how many people have you screwed at this party?”
“Do you want an exact number or an approximation?”
“You are such an asshole,” I say through clenched teeth.
“My brother is a handsome man. Maybe if he compliments your paintings, you’ll fuck him, too.”
I don’t give myself the opportunity to think. My palm cracks against his cheek. The shock on Adam’s face gives me a small sense of satisfaction and I raise my hand again, to hurt him like his words have hurt me. Adam grabs my wrists and twists my arms so they are pinned behind my back. Though I’m still angry, a raw sexual energy charges the air around us.
“I didn’t mean that… I’m sorry.” The words rasp out of him, as if torn from the deepest part of his soul and it’s hard for me to keep it together when I hear vulnerability in his voice.
“Sometimes you’re so cruel, a complete—”
“Bastard. Unfeeling, ruthless prick.”
I hate his acquiescing response, more because I’m not willing to end his self-deprecation than my reciprocating sentiments. And yet, faults and all, I still believe he’s an incredible man—the best I’ve ever met.
Before I can get a grip on my emotions, his lips clash with mine. Our bodies move back and once again I hit the table full of ceramic pots, one of them falling at the sudden jolt. My head is telling me to fight back, to stop him, but my body is a slave to his touch. In a moment of clarity, I tilt my chin up to pull away and Adam bites my lower lip. It’s the best type of pain, one that makes your heart race and reminds you you’re alive.
I’m panting. He’s only inches away and I can tell he’s struggling with his own desires. How can I be so angry at him and yet so starved for his attention, for his touch?
“What’s your plan, Adam? You want to get in a quick fuck before you toss me aside so I can be like one of the fawning women out there? Pining over you, hoping you’ll deign to give me your attention.” I pull my hands from his grip and push them against his chest.
Adam isn’t fazed by my shove, though he does take a few steps back. “Evelyn, upsetting you wasn’t…” he starts to say.
I interrupt him. “I refuse to be something you use and discard. Remember what I told Victoria, that maybe I was going to be the one using you? I meant that.”
I take a deep breath, strengthening myself against the pain numbing my senses, because I know my words are a lie. I already belong to the Adam Black Fan Club. In the span of two weeks I’ve fallen in love with this man, and to him I’m probably nothing more than a diversion. The words of my Catholic mother echo in my head. Don’t sleep with a man before you’re married…he’ll never respect you.
“You’re letting emotions get in the way…” Adam’s says bitterly.
Once again I interrupt him. “Well, at least I make the effort to openly express my emotions. You repress and bury them, until they fester.”
He mutters a curse under his breath before his mouth covers my lips, effectively silencing me. I shift my hands up with the intention of pushing him away, but I’m lost to passion. Adam pulls back so his lips hover above mine, his strong arms holding me in place.
“Why do you keep doing that?” I say softly.
“Because it’s the only way I can get you to shut up.” Adam pulls back and runs his hand over his hair, frustration searing through his expression. He eyes his watch. “It’s getting late, we need to go.”
“I despise how you tell me what to do. I hate how you keep things from me and then criticize me for doing the same. You rage at me for keeping secrets from you, when you keep everything from me. You’re a hypocrite.”
Adam leans forward; his movements like a prowling panther, slow and frightening. “Say what you really mean. You despise me.” The self-loathing in his gaze is sobering.
My eyes widen and I take a deep breath. I can’t stand the idea of Adam thinking I hate him. I place my hands on his cheeks. “I don’t know how to be the person you want me to be. I keep making mistakes without even trying.”
“The person you are, is exactly who I want in my life.”
His body freezes and his eyes dilate, almost as if he’s surprised by the admission he’s made. Sensing I need to make the next move or run the risk of coming to a deadlock in the conversation, in our relationship, I bite back my fear and hold on to my resolve.
“Adam, before you, I was numb, purposefully disconnected from the world around me. I could be around a thousand people and still feel choking fear, but in your arms, I feel safe. Even when I think you are being unfair, I could never, ever, hate you.”
We stare at each other for a long time—then like magnets, we collide. Grabbing the back of my thighs, Adam carries me as his lips bruise mine in a kiss that tastes of the longing, the frustration, and the craving we’ve both been afflicted with.
My back hits the delicate ironwork of a weathered trellis and I don’t bother to muffle the moan that escapes my lips. Adam’s hands move up my dress and the realization of what we’re doing hits me like a freight train.
“Adam, we’re in your parents’ house, in a building open to the public,” I protest, and though I mean it, my body rubs against his, contradicting my statement.
“I don’t care. I’ve wanted to fuck you since I saw you in this dress. It took all my willpower to resist you in the car, and right now all I want to bury myself in your sweet pussy and hear you cry out. I want to know I’m the only man who will lay claim to every inch of your body.”
His husky tenor and brutal honesty makes my body warm.
For a brief moment, I note the words he chose to describe his desires. He wants to fuck me, not make love to me. Do I mind? I don’t even know the difference between the two, and the truth is, I want him inside of me.
He slips his fingers inside the delicate fabric of my panties and tears them free, leaving me open-mouthed in astonishment. He takes the opportunity to claim me in a chaotic, wet kiss. The world stills.
Adam moves his lips over my chest and my muscles constrict. His hands and body continue their downward journey until he’s on his knees, and to my shock, he lifts my already short dress so it bunches at my waist, exposing me. My ripped panties have long since been discarded and I’m too filled with desire to feel even an ounce of shame. With wide eyes I watch as he peers up at me, lust burning through his gaze. His lips trail kisses along my thighs, and when he reaches the apex, he buries his head between my legs as his tongue parts the folds of my sex.
I cry out at the feel of his tongue swirling along the delicate flesh between my legs. Adam’s pace is slow at first, and when his fingers move against my clit the sensation makes my muscles clench. I’m close, and the skill of his probing tongue pushes me over the edge. One of my hands grips the iron trellis for support as I come, my panting cries sounding incredibly sharp in the serene greenhouse.
Adam moves up, all the while rubbing his head along my body. He holds me upright as my knees shake, and when his face meets mine he kisses me, his lips still slick with my arousal. I rub my body against him like a cat in heat, because he has the power to make me lose all sense. He pulls back and the sexy smile on his lips is dripping with masculine pride.
“Do you like the way you taste?” he says in a deep whisper.
I don’t even have to think about my response. “Everything tastes good on your lips, even me.”
“I want you to say it, Evelyn.” Adam pushes his growing erection against my pelvis.
A small frown forms on my face.
Responding to my unspoken question, he once against thrusts his bulging erection against my body. “Tell me what you wa
nt.”
“You, I want you.” I writhe with need against him.
“Why do you want me?”
His arrogance turns me on. Between breathy pants, I respond. “I want you to fuck me…because I’m yours. You’re the only man I want to be with.”
His lips bruise mine as he claims my mouth and I vaguely hear the clink of his belt buckle before he pushes into me. My body is pinned between him and the iron trellis and each thrust feels like a magnificent punishment. I know he’s still upset, he’s exasperated with me, and he’s fucking his frustrations out. One of his hands is holding the intricate iron while the other holds my hip in place, anchoring him, so he can maintain control.
A quivering moan escapes my lips as his precise lunges build me up fast. This isn’t a slow seduction, but a quick fuck, the threat of being caught making the thrill sharp. I bite my bottom lip, trying to repress my screams, because the echo in the greenhouse amplifies every sound, but Adam won’t allow me to hold back.
“I want to hear you, Evelyn. I want to hear every uninhibited sound you make as I fuck you.”
He hitches my leg, shifting his position so his shaft slides against that special spot inside me he’s so incredibly familiar with and I cry out, not even remotely concern about being heard by another party guest. In seconds, I’m letting go and coming with a heart-pounding shudder.
Adam reaches his own climax, and the sensation of his release pulsing between my legs is exhilarating. We both slide down the trellis to the floor, our bodies exhausted. Running my fingertips along the strands of his hair, I notice it’s damp with perspiration, and I love that I can do this to him, leave him weak and spent. I look over to the door and realize Victoria has left.
“How you can so easily make me lose control is both fascinating and frightening,” Adam gasps.
I kiss his lips affectionately. “The feeling is mutual.”
He gives me one of those go-weak-at-the-knees smiles and as I gaze at him, I feel a new confidence. “Why did you ask me out to dinner that day?” It’s a question I have long asked myself. Why would this man who has everything want to be with me?