by S. L. Scott
When he returned to the living room, freshly showered and wearing only a pair of boxers, the television was on and Evie was curled up on the bed. She sat up, patted the space next to her, and smiled. “I could sleep forever. It’s so comfortable. It may sound weird, but I missed this bed.”
William laughed because she kept naming everything she missed about his place and him, but it also made him feel good inside.
She had clicked the television off, and he had left the tiny lamp in the corner on for a soft glow.
She was now sprawled across his bed, owning it, relishing the feel of it. “You came for me tonight. You fought for me.”
He cocked his head to the side. “Yes, anything for you.”
He didn’t bother with a shirt and they both slid under the covers, resting their heads on the pillow together. Their smiles morphed into a more intense connection.
Evie looked down, running her hand languidly across his bare chest and her lips parted allowing her to take a deeper breath. William took the opportunity and moved closer wanting more contact, wanting to feel her body fully against his. They kissed, reacquainting themselves in a gentle way. After a while, he leaned over, moving more on top of her. His hand dragged her shirt up and his fingertips traced over her stomach. He wanted to take things slow and appreciate her entire body, but he also wanted her so much that he struggled to find a balance between respectful and pleasing for them both. He slid his finger down the outside of one thigh before sliding up the inside of her other, touching her smooth skin. Her breath caught as she succumbed to her own feelings and to pleasure for the first time in years.
“William,” she said more breathy than she liked, slightly embarrassed, but releasing that feeling because it felt so good. His hands on her felt so good.
They continued kissing, deepening it even more as his hips shifted, pressing harder against her leg and showing her how she made him feel, how she worked him up.
William’s mind was focused. Nothing in the world existed except Evie right then. His mind was filled with her, his ears tuned into her small, alluring moans, his body loving her touch against his, and the smell of her skin with a hint of wildflowers enveloping him. There was a hint of mint and champagne on her breath as he breathed her in, and when he opened his eyes to make sure she was really there, he lost himself even more into the bliss of Evie beneath him.
“Evie.” He moaned into her mouth as they both shifted. Pulling back enough to see her face, he looked into her eyes. “Are you sure about this?”
“Mm-hmm. I want to be with you. So much.”
She had said she wanted to be with him, but he still wanted to be careful. He knew the monster never had been.
She sat up and took her shirt off then reached for her panties, slowly pulling them down. Evie’s heart raced, hoping he liked her body, her shape, all of her.
William’s breath shortened as he watched her remove her clothes for him, showing him how much she also wanted this.
He showed her by taking off his boxer shorts and climbing back into bed. As she looked him over, her hand slid down from his shoulder to his chest, lower to his stomach, and then stopped. Her eyes were on his erection and then her fingertips. She was being so careful he barely felt her touch as she dragged the tips down and around him making him twitch.
William sat up. “Lay down.” She did, but wrapped her hand around his hardness and began to move slowly.
“God, that feels good.”
Evie wanted to please him. His pleasure meant everything to her. She leaned closer to his ear as he lay next to her with his eyes closed, and said, “Tell me if I’m doing it wrong.”
William’s eyes popped open and he shook his head in disbelief. “Wrong? Baby, it feels so right.” She smiled and tightened her grip, moving a little faster. “But you’ve got to slow down or this will be over too fast and I want to make you feel good, too.” It was a half plea on his part.
She looked at him, her eyes meeting his. They didn’t need any more words. They moved where their bodies wanted until William was positioned between her legs.
With his arms straight, he was above her, admiring every line and curve of her body. She was more stunning than his mind had imagined before. And as his eyes made their way from hers down to her breasts and lower, he saw she had stopped breathing. He whispered, “It’s all right. We’re not in a hurry. I’ll go slow.”
She nodded and then a small smile played on her lips because she was about to make love to the man of her dreams. But she sensed a hesitancy just as his body touched her down there.
He pushed back up. “I need to get a condom. They’re in the bathroom.”
Evie felt like she had to say something to justify her hesitation. “I don’t want you to, but…” She closed her eyes feeling ashamed. Tom made her feel that way. Being with Tom made her ashamed she ever allowed him to touch her in the first place. “We should . . .” She couldn’t finish, the words lumped in her throat. She turned her head not able to face him, wanting to hide her dishonorable tears from him.
William refused to let her feel guilty. She had nothing to be ashamed of, and it ripped his heart out to see her feeling like she betrayed him in some way. Resting his body on hers, he touched her cheeks with his hands. “Evie, look at me.” He waited for her to look before he continued. “I love you. We’re together now. The past doesn’t matter. No one else matters. No apologies are needed. No shame is allowed. The past is in the past. Right here, right now is all that matters. Okay?”
She nodded. The tears that had already fallen were the only ones that would be shed between them.
William kissed her then went to the bathroom to retrieve the condoms.
Evie steeled herself in the short time he was gone. He was right, damn it! She did nothing wrong and the past was in the past.
When he returned, he climbed back under the covers and they kissed. She kept kissing him while she got on top of him, positioning him right where she wanted to feel him. They both moaned into each other’s mouth and his hands held onto her waist keeping her where she was as she started rocking.
He was solid beneath her mini gyrations and she pulled back from his mouth, taking the condom in her hands. William watched with rapt attention as she rolled it down his length. “I want you on top,” she whispered, looking down at him.
They rolled together, his fingers making their way up the inside of her thigh. He paused to press his forehead to hers before proceeding. Feeling her chest heavy against his, he took a deliberate and necessary breath, but she still gasped when he touched her so intimately.
William was surprised to feel how ready she was for him. He debated if any more foreplay was even wanted on either part.
“William?” She said his name as a question, but it was clear they both had already decided.
He positioned himself once again between her legs and pushed gently, not going any further . . . yet. Evie’s hands found his shoulders and she wiggled, causing him to enter her. Taking her cue, he pushed forward, her warmth enveloping him. William dropped his head to the pillow beneath hers, and he moaned in pleasure. “Mmmm, Baby.”
Her lips found his jaw and worked her way to the soft skin around his ear. She kissed and licked and nipped at him, loving the feel of him as he reached her depths over and again.
William stopped moving, enjoying her sensations, but needing a moment to get back in control.
Noticing his face flickering between pleasure and pain, she asked, “Are you all right?”
Leaning up, he kissed her. “I’m better than all right. I’m perfect,” he said, his eyes hooded with desire.
“I need you to move then.” She tried to restrain the begging in her tone, but she was ready for more.
She felt him take a long breath and exhale before he began deep, slow strokes. Yes, that was what she needed and what she wanted.
Their staggered breaths became pants, which became moans turning quickly into wanton gasps as he moved, giving h
er what she craved, and he dreamed about. Each motion pushed them closer to their bliss. Just when she thought she couldn’t handle much more of the intensity from their connection, his fingers slid between her legs, touching her how she needed it most, and she jolted in response. He slowed his pace, focusing his attention on her.
It didn’t take long. She was flooded with long desired yearnings for him that her body gave into, making his own desires release. He was right there with her, chanting her name and praising her body as he did.
An hour later, they lay naked and snuggled together on the twin bed. Evie was relaxed, feeling happier than she could remember feeling in years. That was until fear gripped her as she remembered something Tom had said to her once about “having information.” Her heart started racing, and she panicked. “He knows where you live!”
William lazily opened his eyes. “Doesn’t matter. Let him come here. He’ll never touch you again. If I have my way, he’ll never talk to you again either.” She was surprised at how calm the words were spoken, but laced with hatred. She hoped it would never come to that either. “Besides, if he was coming over tonight, he’d be here already.” He rubbed down her hair and across her chin, stopping on her shoulder. “Sleep, my sweet girl.”
She was his—heart and soul—and she loved this knowledge. He made her feel smart and pretty, hopeful and sexy all at once and ridiculously happy.
Chapter 30
Evie woke up when her stomach growled. Opening her eyes, she found William also waking up. “Hungry?” he asked with a small smile.
“Yes, I guess I am.”
“Let’s get some breakfast.” He moved closer and gave her a sweet, chaste, worried-he-had-morning-breath kiss. William rolled out of bed, naked, and grabbed a pair of jeans, sliding them on without boxers.
She sighed happy and then disappointment set in when he pulled a shirt over his head and further, hiding his body from her.
He smiled when he caught her appreciating him. “You’re pretty damn sexy, too, you know?” He arched his eyebrow up and winked at her.
She laughed and got up, not embarrassed at all being naked in front of him. She had never felt more beautiful and confident than she did with him. But she realized she only had her dress from last night to wear. He saw her expression change and wanted her happy again. “The clothes you bought last time you were here are over there in the corner. I’ll give you the dresser if you want.”
“I don’t want to intrude.”
“Intrude? I’m hoping you’re staying and not just visiting.”
“Being here makes me happy.” She looked at the clock on the desk, and was shocked. “It’s two in the afternoon already? I haven’t slept that late in . . . in . . . in years. We must’ve been tired. Can we even get breakfast now?”
“First off, I haven’t slept that well since the last time you were here. Secondly, our…” he cleared his throat, and said, “…activities last night might’ve compounded the exhaustion. And thirdly, it’s Sunday in New York City, of course we can still get breakfast.”
They were happy spending their day together, pushing down any thoughts of the people they left behind last night. Although they found it odd that Tom had not shown up, they kept thoughts of her ex to themselves not wanting to ruin the day.
They ate at a local diner then spent the afternoon both reading in the park. They also made out in the park. Since they’d been intimate, it was hard for them to keep their hands off each other, but they were hoping no one noticed.
They made love again Sunday night, a little quicker, a little harder, and a lot more frenzied than the night before. They had become ravenous for each other, so repeated the act in the wee hours of the morning once again. Who needed food when they had each other?
But when Monday rolled around, they had to figure out what they were “officially” doing.
“I’m moving in here,” Evie stated, matter-of-fact.
“I hope so. I thought that was already decided.” William looked up from the teaching assistant’s handbook he had been given by Lang.
“I’m just making sure you’re still on board with the idea.”
“I want you here with me, Evie.” He could sense she wanted to say more, and waited for her to continue in her own time.
“I need to get my stuff from my parent’s home.”
“You know I still have all of your money. I didn’t spend any of it.”
She got up from the bed where she had been lounging and smiled while situating herself on his lap. “You could’ve if you needed it. I hope you know that. I haven’t even thought of the money.”
“It’s yours and yours alone to do with as you please.” William didn’t ever want money to be an issue between them.
When she stood up, she made an announcement. “Let’s go get my stuff.”
An hour later, they approached her family’s apartment building. They chose to walk and enjoy the weather, which was something she hadn’t gotten to do much in recent months. Walter saw them through the glass before they reached the door and raced to hold it open. He shook William’s hand and patted him on the back as he passed.
“Yeah, I’m pretty pleased myself,” William said, enjoying the support.
Once upstairs, William got nervous standing outside her front door. Walter had told them no one was home, but Evie didn’t have a key on her, so they had to wait for someone to answer. Other than the money he saw her get from the bank, William had lived happily oblivious to Evie’s wealth, but right then he realized that blissful ignorance was a safer place to be mentally.
A small woman in a maid’s uniform answered and greeted Evie then took leave of them. William followed her into the massive apartment and gawked at the views and sheer size of the place.
Sensing his discomfort, Evie took the lead and pulled him by the hand into her bedroom. She shut the door, making sure to lock it, and got to work getting her suitcases out.
He remained standing where she left him in the pale pink room. After scanning the room, he joined her near the closet, leaning against the doorframe and laughing. “My whole apartment fits into your bedroom two times.”
She turned to face him, resting her hand on his cheek. “Let’s not do the comparison thing. You are all that matters to me.”
William was quick to calm, knowing she was all that mattered to him as well. He went and sat on her window seat, waiting for her to gather her stuff. Thoughts of how much she was giving up to be with him hit him full force. Her whole world—a large pink bedroom, a huge walk-in closet, a maid, a chef, amazing city views and more—she was giving it all up to be with him.
He knew she was going into their future together with her eyes wide open and that made him feel invincible.
They took a cab home since she brought two suitcases and two medium-sized boxes from her previous life on the Upper East Side with her. The rest she could live without. She was just excited to start her new life with William. He cleared a space in the corner of the dining area, and together they decided they would work the stuff to its final destination a little at a time.
The new couple was excited to talk about his new job with Professor Lang over a steamy, hot bowl o’noodles that night. They laughed together and spoke about things they looked forward to.
“I’m excited about your graduation dinner,” Evie said, tucking her legs under her on the bed.
“I’m excited about graduating.” William dropped his head to the pillow and closed his eyes, releasing a sigh of relief.
“I’m proud of you.”
He rolled his head to the side and opened his eyes. He could see how much she meant her words. “I’m more proud of you. You’ve gone through so much and yet, you’re still selfless.”
“Stop one-upping me.” She teased, poking his ribs.
“Here’s a one up to one up all one ups.” He grabbed her hand and kissed it, pulled her down until she was lying next to him, and cupped her cheek. “I’m proud of you, proud of everything you do,
you will do, and who you are, but mainly, I’m the most proud of your inner strength, and I’m in love with you wholly and unconditionally.”
She looked away from him, never having anyone say such amazing things to her like that before. Wiping a tear away, she whispers, “Thank you.”
They let the depth of the shared words linger between them, the weight of heavier topics needing to be discussed taking over.
He hated the thought of her having to work, but they both agreed it was necessary, especially since his income wouldn’t be much more of an increase over his current job. “It sucks, but I can barely pay my bills, Evie.”
He wouldn’t be able to support two people on it, which normally would hurt his pride, but she was so supportive he felt proud to have the job opportunity.
“It doesn’t matter. We’ll make it work. I really don’t mind,” she said, shrugging. “I kind of look forward to it. It’ll be a new adventure.”
“I’m sorry, but I promise it won’t always be like this. Money won’t always be so tight.”
She rolled over and straddled his lap while wrapping her hands around his neck. One kiss. Two kisses. “I love you, nothing else matters.”
Over the next four days, Evie didn’t contact her parents. She had spoken to Audrey who said she talked with them, but they were still “trying” to understand what was going on. Audrey told Evie she couldn’t hide what Tom had done to her any longer and she would tell them soon. They hadn’t listened to Evie when she tried to tell them the same day William was arrested, and didn’t think they would listen to Audrey either, but wished her sister luck. Luck was something Evie didn’t feel was on her side. She was focusing on more proven methods of destiny, like action.
The rest of William’s week was dedicated to working for Manhattan Messengers, and Evie meeting with Lang. She re-enrolled in school under Lang’s guidance and encouragement.
As the week went on, she still hadn’t heard from Tom or her parents, which made her nervous. It weighed on her daily, but she tried to hide that when she was around William.
She also went out looking for a job. Although, it seemed like an unlikely place to go, she marched straight into Bean There and applied for one. There was something about the place that called to her, and she felt like that would be a job she could do, especially since she spent so much time in there anyway.