He's staring straight ahead and it hits me, he can’t see. Fight or flight kicks in and I bite Isaac causing him to drop me instantly. I run across the marble floor of the foyer and without thinking drop to my knees and take Evan’s head in my hands turning him so we are face to face, his hot breath puffing the hair around my face back with every exhalation.
I see no recognition, no nothing, just beautiful bright green eyes staring forward but not back at me. “Mia?” he murmurs and every cell in my body screams “thank god and everything holy he’s back!” Using every bit of effort I’ve got I speak with my sandpaper voice. “Yes baby it’s me, oh God, God…I’m so glad you’re back!” “I…I can’t see.” He grabs onto my wrists on either side of his face and his empty eyes dart back and forth searching for me but finding nothing.
I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him close. It feels like a lifetime has passed since he kissed me goodnight, since our shaky world finally came crashing down around us. I can’t breathe he has me so tight. I’ll suffocate if it comforts him, anything to help him. I feel the air behind me rustling around as Isaac tends to Mr. Saint who is now moaning softly while he comes around. I’m relieved he’s not dead, that was a serious punch, and even more unbelievable is that Evan threw it so accurately without his sight.
“Let’s get you up.” I croak and he loosens his grip on me slightly while we stand he holds my shoulders for guidance. “I can walk, and I know the way just hold my arm.” Ok, it feels strange that he’s not more disoriented without his sight, slightly wobbly but just as he says, he knows his way. I look back at Isaac and he’s got Mr. Saint on his feet with his arm draped over his shoulders. “Mia!” he calls and I ignore him, he has his hands full, we’ll be ok for a few minutes, I think. “Mia you shouldn’t….” and that’s the last thing I hear from Isaac, we have started climbing the stairs.
I’m on his outside and he holds the banister but he’s still pretty steady. “My aunt Sophia used to have us wear a blindfold and maneuver around her house. I’ve memorized every home I’ve ever owned, every space I’ve spent time in.” He’s reading my mind again, well that part still works. I’m quiet as we approach the bedroom door. “My head hurts like hell and I’m so tired.” he admits. “Bed.” I tell him while I guide him around the mess he just finished making 20 minutes ago. “Sit.” He turns backing his legs up against the bed and sits gracefully on the edge. “I’m the boss remember?” that deep tone in his voice stirs something inside me.
I have a desperate desire to be as close as possible to him and obey any rule he puts before me. I press my lips softy on his and I whisper against them “I know.” He reaches for me, sliding his hands inside my robe and around to my ass he pulls me between his legs. “I need you Mia, now.” Click...the world just shut off and there is no one or anything around us that matters more than us being together right now. I forget he can’t see, his head aches and he’s tired.
I forget my voice is gone, my neck is bruised with marks from his hands and my feet are bandaged from walking through glass. That urgency I felt in the dining room back in Seattle while I sat on the table in front of Evan about to give him everything, fills me again. Too many barriers separate us, I need him plastered against me, naked. I need to feel the thickness of his cock against my belly, and inside of me, now.
I grab his hair and our mouths connect, hot heavy breaths escape both of us, he slides his hands along my arms and removes them from his neck. “Slow...I want you slow Mia, I want to take my time acquainting myself with your body with no sight. I need to see you with my hands.” Oh, who could say no to that?
Smoothing his seeing hands along the silk of my nightgown he places one big hand on the small of my back pulling me close again but I keep my hands at my sides. I remember this game, it’s hard not to touch but in the end it’s oh so rewarding. “Mmmmm, fuck baby you smell so good.” he murmurs into my neck, I love the dirty talk, he’s always so formal when he speaks but when we are alone like this another dialog begins.
He continues his perusing of my body until both hands reach my shoulders and he gently pushes off my robe. It pools at my feet and a shiver runs up my spine. He pulls me onto the bed with him, spreading me out gently on my back, he kneels between my legs. “Arm’s up.” Done. “Keep them there until I say otherwise.” Another command softer this time though, not as stern. I close my eyes too, we may as well both be on the same plain here and looking at him is stirring that electrical storm in my belly that craves his skin on mine.
If we’re going to go slow I need less stimulation and right now sight is the only one I’m in control of. His hands glide from my ankles to my knees with a tenderness I’ve not experienced with him before. He wasn’t kidding about going slow, this was going to be a leisurely pleasure filled torture. Heat creeps through my body everywhere his fingers trail. I’m panting with need, God please just touch me, I don’t think I’ve ever been happier to have my period over than I am right this second.
I’m in such a state of ecstasy that I’d of thrown caution to the wind just this once anyway. An ache nearing pain builds between my legs as he hooks his hands behind my knees to open them wide. He continues to move at a measured pace, rhythmically tracing circles with his thumbs over every inch of me between my knees and thighs. “It’s like I always thought it would be, being blind I mean. No temptation to look, forced to feel my way around. You’re soft.” he kisses the inside of my thigh “Smooth.” and then the other. God help me I’m never going to make it through this. “Warm.” Another kiss lands directly above ground zero, I arch my back into him and clutch the sheets above my head as he softly kisses me there where my panties have been soaked since he said “I need you.”
“These need to go. Up.” he commands and I enthusiastically comply raising my ass up as he slides them down and off. “Now the rest of you needs undressing. I love putting your clothes on for you, but even better is when I take them off. I have to admit, I will miss seeing your eyes when you come for me my beautiful Mia.” My breath hitches in my throat and my head swims as he works my nightie up over my breasts stopping for a taste of them on the way. “Up.” he says and I raise up just enough that he can work it over my head. “Keep your hands here.” he says and grasps both of my tiny wrists in one of his strong hands. Pressing down on them to reinforce his meaning. Understood, no problem. “Good girl, I love making you quiver baby, it will just be that much better when we get there.” He whispers in my ear before moving away and peeling off his shirt with one hand. I couldn’t resist, I peeked.
It started as a peek but that just wasn’t enough, my other eye opens and I feast on the body before me. Tan chiseled chest, eight pack abs that I want nothing more than to lick right now. His arms flex with his movements and he unzips his jeans, the soft ones I love. This is my favorite part and I’m so glad I opened my eyes. I’ve missed seeing his hard cock springing from confinement, there was nothing but his jeans separating us. I stare with reverence, he is a work of art no questions asked.
Not even bothering to completely remove those jeans he begins again with the adoration of my body, exploring every inch of my skin on the front side of me and then turning me over onto my belly to repeat the treatment on the back. His mouth is on my calves, thighs, ass, back, even my elbows and fingertips have been tasted by this man that loves me, the man that I love. He knows all the mysteries of my body, he owns me and now he is thoroughly educated on his possession.
I’ve been pushed beyond what is humanly tolerable when he scoops his hand under my stomach pulling my ass up and things change, no more luxuriating, he’s beyond control too. His cock presses against my soaked core as he places me into the perfect position wrapping his hands almost entirely around my body at my hips. “Please Evan…please.” I beg in a whisper and he rewards my ever loving patience with a deep thrust into me that brings stars inside my closed eyelids.
“Fuck yea baby, see why we wait?” Slam! “See why you should always listen to me?” Slam
! “Yes, yes, yes.” I whisper over and over as he slides his cock from tip to balls again and again. He’s so right, this is fucking worth the wait. I press my ass against him with every sliding thrust and electricity bursts through my nervous system, no more, I can’t hold on and he knows it.
“Come for me baby, let go!” he commands and I do, holy hell I do. If I could scream everybody within a mile would have heard me when I exploded around him, clenching him inside of me I escape into an all-encompassing orgasm that rocks my world and his. He's seconds behind me, perfectly timed so that I continue to come for several punishing blows until he roars my name and grips my ass while he pulses inside of me. Filling me with a part of him we join together in the way I’ve never known with anyone but him.
I wilt beneath him and we both go down together. “Damn it Mia, if I died right now my life would be complete.” I bump against him so he will move and he raises up so I can turn over and pull him to me, finally able to touch him I hang on tight and whisper into his ear “No.” We have so much more to do baby, you’re not leaving me for a very long time.”
A sudden tightening of our embrace is followed by rolling us to our sides. I look at him he’s not facing me but has his head turned to the ceiling, one tear slides down from the corner of his eye onto the mattress below us and my heart shatters into a billion pieces for him, for us.
Chapter 14
“Read Your Mind
AVANT
We lay tangled in each other’s arms a while until I remember Isaac and Mr. Saint, surely they wouldn’t have just left us alone for this long. Closed circuit cameras, oh great, that’s just great. I’m going to hope they didn’t just get a very big eyeful of Evan and me in compromising positions but knowing how seriously they take keeping me safe from Evan they probably did.
Evan’s breathing has slowed to a relaxing pace but I can’t sleep. This interruption to my much needed night of sleep has gone from zero to ninety and back and my heavy heart is grieving for all of the losses Evan has had to endure. And now his sight, I run through everything I’ve ever learned about brain injuries and tumors for a moment and decide there’s no time like the present, we need a Dr. and I need to study his records some more. My head is clear of the sleeping pills now after an adrenaline wildfire has burned through me, I can concentrate. Gently I prop up on my elbow trying not to disturb him.
“You’re not going anywhere lady.” he growls pulling me on top of him. We are such a mess it’s nearly comical. He can’t see me and I can’t really talk to him. I lay my cheek on his chest and run my hands over his biceps feeling his mostly smooth skin only marred with the occasional scar. I’ve never really explored his imperfections thoroughly, in fact I think I’ve avoided it on purpose. The knowledge that he suffered physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his own mother, and took on more of it to protect his sister makes me feel repugnant toward his mother. I despise knowing that there is such evil in the world.
“I’m cold.” I whisper. I’m beginning to learn the ways of manipulation. Instantly he releases me. We’ve been laying on a bare mattress but for the fitted sheet, everything else is strewn all over the place. I begin to pick up the linens and slip my nightgown back on. I keep one eye on Evan while I clean and make the bed around him, he doesn’t say anything to me. He allows me to cover him and return the pillows to the bed where he’s propped against the headboard. I notice him rubbing the back of his neck off and on until he bends one knee up and drapes his arm over it, waiting, patiently, which is kind of, well…off.
After righting every knick knack, candle and a clock I pad across the room. He’s tracking my movements by listening and it almost feels like he is seeing me. “Are you finished?” he asks. “No.” I croak. “I’m going to get your medical records, I want to look them over.” My voice is coarse but he’s understanding my message. We aren’t giving up.
“Mia, don’t waste, oh never mind, go, get them and read it if it makes you feel better. I can’t stop you and you may as well know everything there is to know.” Good, finally he’s being logical. I grasp his hand and give it a little squeeze. “Just how much can you see?” I’m back to only a whisper, I guess that’s all I get for a while. “Nothing.” he answers. I know how much he hates the dark so I have even more reason to get to work finding him help. “I’ll be right back.” I move away but he doesn’t let go of my hand, I stop and look back at him, he tightens his grip and then drops it.
The strong capable alpha male I love is starting to deteriorate and this realization propels me forward. I need to find someone to help him before he really gives up. I need to prepare myself to face two men who have probably just watched me be intimate with their boss, wonderful.
As soon as I step into the hall Isaac appears, we exchange a look and he falls into step beside me as I try to figure out my way back to the den where I left Evan’s records on the floor in the panic room. “What are you going to do?” Isaac asks and presents me with my phone so I can answer more efficiently and save my voice. I accept it and type, I’m going to get him help. After reading my message Isaac gives me a short nod in agreement. “Thank you Mia, for not giving up on him. He’s a good man, I know he doesn’t think so and he’s made some monumental mistakes but I’ve never seen him the way he is when he’s with you and I think now maybe he has a chance.
We stop at the entrance to the den and I look long and hard into Isaac’s eyes. He loves Evan, as a friend, a boss and maybe more? Ok, I don’t have time to ponder Isaac’s sexuality right now. I’ve got to find a Dr. willing and competent to operate on Evan. Isaac has put the files on the desk outside the panic room and booted up the computer with the SD card in it, no sign of the death SD card. Good, let’s keep it that way. I text Isaac one more message before starting my research Will you tell him I’m in here and working on this computer? He’s in bed. “Of course, I’ll leave you to it.” I watch him walk away and secretly hope he’s not gay, I always thought he would be fun to introduce to Lilly, being total opposites they might just work together.
I flip through file after file of medical history and Evan’s condition, doctor after doctor have deemed him hopeless. He’s had radiation multiple times trying to keep the size of the tumor under control but about six months ago he stopped, probably part of the cause of his blindness. It’s grown large enough to press against his optic nerves and rob him of his sight. Back and forth between the computer and paper records I feel like I have familiarized myself with his condition enough to make some calls. He may have been to all the best, most expensive physicians in the world but that’s not always the best route, sometimes the right person isn’t the most renowned or famous. They can actually be the one in your own backyard.
Dr. Carter lives in Seattle and travels around the world doing charity work for people with brain injuries and conditions. I’ve met him many times at Seattle Trinity and I’ve seen him perform miracles. He’s virtually an unknown genius but I know him and Evan’s case is right up Dr. Carter’s alley, challenging, difficult and rare. Now I just have to figure out how to convince Evan and contact Dr. Carter.
“Did you find what you needed?” My ass pops up out of the leather office chair, shit he startled me! Evan stands just inside the door, dressed again and looking ever the mogul millionaire restaurant entrepreneur, no sign that he’s currently blind. He even seems to have his eyes locked on mine when he speaks to me. I put my feelers out to make sure I’m dealing with my Evan and not evil Evan. I wonder what evil Evan thinks of being blind?
The air seems undisturbed by bad juju so I try to relax and I think about crooking my finger at him to draw him closer but remember he won’t see me and my heart clenches. “Come here.” I whisper as loudly as I can, the house is silent, he has no trouble hearing me. It’s a proven fact that when one sense is lost the others sharpen, and this isn’t the first bout with blindness he’s had.
I watch in awe as he makes his way to a chair on the other side of the desk and sits, crossing his f
oot over his knee. I can hardly believe he can’t see, he did that so effortlessly. “I told you I’ve memorized every room, counted every pace, I know my way around, as long as nobody rearranges the furniture.” He smirks and I realize how much I miss that, even with everything happening he can still melt me with that tiny facial expression and joke about his new disability. I can’t help it I sit there dumbfounded, mouth hanging open, like I said, in awe.
“Close your mouth before a bug flies in baby.” For fucks sake, now how does he know my mouth is gaping open? He leans forward and puts his foot on the floor. “I’ll tell you a little secret baby, you want to know how I read your mind?” Stupefied I slump back into my chair and nod. It doesn’t matter that he can’t see, somehow he knows what’s going on anyway. “First of all the magnetic force that draws us together is an energy. I’m so in tune with you I can feel when your mood shifts. Second of all you have a telltale breathing pattern, I hear very well, and that pattern tells me what shape your pretty mouth is in, how excited or angry you are.
Essentially I read your mind by feeling you out with my senses. Now you know my secret. Don’t try to trick me by changing your ways, I’ll know that too.” I’m speechless, literally. I’ll never stop learning amazing things about this man. I plan on keeping him around until we are old and grey, maybe by then I’ll have learned to read him as well has he does me…
Chapter 15
“The Church and The River”
Jennifer O’Connor
Standing up I round the desk and push Evan’s shoulders so he is sitting back in the chair and a space is made for me to climb into his lap. Our arms instinctively wrap around each other and I whisper “I’ve seen who has told you that your tumor is inoperable but I have someone else in mind. I want to call him and set up an appointment.”
Dark Thief (The Two Sides of Me Book 2) Page 8