by Cara North
“Stop it, stop calling me that. I’m Shelby, Shelby Blythe.” Noel rocked. This couldn’t be happening. It must be a bad dream, at any minute she would wake up and Tom would be there. She had grown up in witness protection, with another family, her family, her real father’s ex-wife. Tom was in the FBI. It was impossible.
“No, you’re Noel. I know. I’m Page McKinna, Tom’s partner.” Page hung her head. “Tom’s?”
“Shit, shit, shit. This is real? This is real, isn’t it?” Noel began rocking again. “What’s going on?”
“Blade,” Page whispered a mournful word. Noel cried aloud a long scream of agony and pain. It wasn’t a dream. She was living her worst nightmare.
“Shhhh.” Stix patted the closet door. “You’ll get him started, stop it.”
Noel jumped at the sound and the man’s voice.
“Don’t worry, they won’t hurt you. At least the tall skinny one and the short fat one won’t.” Page frowned. With the slits of light through the closet slats, she couldn’t see as well as she used to. After a week of being mostly in the dark, her vision was getting tricky. “I don’t know who the men were who brought you here.”
“If they won’t hurt me, why are they here?” Noel sucked down her pain. She had to. She knew if she had one tear in her eye when he saw her, he would beat the tears from her face. She wiped the tears.
“They know Evelyn. They’re loyal to her. Playing both sides trying to save her.” Page sat back against the wall. “He may just kill us all. I personally hope that she comes. I think she will kill him.”
“Evelyn?” Noel gasped. “She’s alive? You know where she is?”
“No. But I hope she gets here soon.” Page closed her eyes. She was becoming numb. She knew better, but how could she really know what would happen in a situation like this? She had started her day like any other. She forgot to lock her car door. At the stop sign, she was pulled out. She thought it was a carjacking. She was willing to let the rental go to keep her cover, but it was Blade.
“Shhh. He’s coming.” Stix tapped on the door.
* * * *
Joshua helped Ethan load the car. Evelyn passed him Gray, and he buckled him in the car seat. He kissed Grace on her cheek, waved good bye to his cousin, and watched them leave. Evelyn stood on the sidewalk with her arm around Joshua. He turned taking her in his arms for a long kiss. He had to go to work.
“I won’t go anywhere today, okay.” Evelyn knew he was worried about her.
“I’ll try to come home early, explain to Mrs. Jane, the principal; I have a family matter to tend to.” He kissed her nose.
“Okay.” Evelyn smiled. She wished that were true in a way. She wanted to be family. She felt like she had a family again. That was both wonderful and frightening given the circumstances.
Joshua waited for her to go inside. She waved from the window. He got in his truck and headed to work. He had a lot of things to do, and he may have to call a sub and cash in some vacation time for the rest of the week. Surely they would understand.
* * * *
Inside the old home Evelyn was alone. She felt safe though. Odd, but she did. There was work to be done, plans to be made. If she had a good solid plan when he got home, then she could minimize his role. She headed up the stairs and checked her voicemail.
It was around noon when the lock began to jumble on the door. Evelyn was so engrossed in the romance novel she pulled from the pillow where she had stuffed it earlier she didn’t notice. It was a good scene. A hot, passionate scene that had her breathing fire and wishing Joshua were home. Since being around him she felt more comfortable in her skin as a woman. He loved her body and took his time caressing and kissing her. Her hands began to wander on their own.
“Honey, I’m home.” Joshua opened the door and got an eyeful.
“Joshua.” Evelyn was startled by him. Pulling her hand from her shirt quickly, she stood up.
“You okay, baby?” Joshua looked her up and down. She was flushed, breathing heavy. If he didn’t know better, he would have sworn she was ... touching herself? God, the thought almost dropped him to the floor with arousal.
“Yes.” Breathless and wanton, Evelyn held the book behind her back. Joshua looked at her up and down, and damn if it didn’t make her wish it was his tongue, not his eyes covering her.
Joshua shut the door behind him, locked it, and stepped into the house. He felt like she may just attack him the way she was looking at him now. There was no mistaking it, she had been touching herself. His entire body sprang to attention.
“What’s behind your back, E?” Joshua’s lips curled into a half smile. She looked ravenous, wanton. Like she could eat him alive.
“Nothing.” Evelyn knew she looked like a wolf about to jump on a poor little sheep, but damn she was on fire and ready for him to put the flame out. She tried not to be the aggressor. She tried to be a lady, but all she really wanted right now was to jump on him and have wild ... not ladylike and delicate, but wild ... passionate sex.
“You look like you’re ready to bite me, baby?” Joshua stepped toward her.
“I feel like it.” Evelyn backed up.
“Why are you moving away from me?” He pulled his lower lip in and bit down. His pants were straining as his erection pressed against them. He was really glad he had come home early today. They had a lot of plans to make, but nothing could stop what they were about to make now. The air was thick with sexual tension. Heat pulsed off them both colliding as energy waves between them.
Evelyn was close enough to deposit the book on a shelf without notice. Or so she thought. It slipped and hit the floor behind her. She smiled a wolfish grin. Busted.
“A-ha,” Joshua said in a smooth knowing voice. Those little books got his cousins in some wild predicaments. He couldn’t wait to see what Evelyn had in store for him now.
“Joshua.” Evelyn moved closer. “I really want you right now.”
“You don’t say?” He dropped his voice a notch. “How?”
“I have to tell you something.” Evelyn twisted her lips a bit. “I didn’t think about it before because, well, I didn’t get it for that reason...”
“Tell me.” Joshua stepped closer. He was intrigued
“I’m on a birth control shot. I use it to stop my cycle, so unless you really want to run upstairs...”
Joshua started shaking his head. All this time she was on birth control. He could have had her a hundred times by now. It amused him. All they had done, but he was glad. She wouldn’t have told him that first night, and he would have missed out on all the rest. Then he realized he could take her there, in the living room without a condom, and not worry about the risk of pregnancy. God, life just got good.
“Come here,” he growled. She almost lunged at him. He caught her, and she pulled up and around him, climbing him. Standing there he held her. He kissed her gently, but she was wild, wanton, and turning him inside out with lust.
“Joshua,” Evelyn rasped. “I don’t want you to make love to me ... I want you to...”
He gripped her harder and swallowed her words. They were way too raw. He could barely contain himself at the thought. He cherished her. He wanted to make her feel good. She did, and now she was comfortable with him. He could really show her some tricks. He moved to sit on the couch, and as soon as he did he pulled her shirt off.
Evelyn pulled his tie off and started with the buttons. They were taking too long. She ripped the shirt off. It surprised them both as the sound of plastic buttons hit the wood floor rolling and spinning.
“Damn, woman!” Joshua hurried. Evelyn would tear him up at this rate. Her lips were on his neck, and she marked him, hard. Her hands were working his slacks off, and he was fighting to keep up with her.
“How do you want me, Joshua?” Evelyn stood and stepped back. She slid the jeans and panties down as he pulled his own clothes free.
“Honestly?”
“Yes.” Evelyn knew that look. It was the same he had in th
e kitchen. Again he almost drooled.
“Put your knees on the cushions and your arms on the back of the couch.” He could have come just from giving the directions. The thought of taking Evelyn from behind, like the dog he knew he truly was, made him violent with need. He watched as she promptly did just that. He would go slow and be gentle. He had enough control left he could do that.
Joshua looked at her, offered up to him. Her sweet ass was in the air, and her sex was pink and glistening. Evelyn may just be the death of him after all. He ran his hands along her thighs and then slicked a finger over her sex. She pressed into him and moaned. She was ready, no two ways about it.
“Stop teasing me, Joshua.” Evelyn looked over her shoulder at him; he was gone. His green eyes were flamed, and his body was steaming with desire.
“You have to tell me if I hurt you.” Joshua knew it was deeper like this, and Evelyn was still adjusting to sex.
She pressed back on his fingers driving them inside. Her breath caught, and she pulled forward. If he wasn’t going to help her, she would just help herself.
“Fuck me, Joshua.”
He swallowed hard and pulled his fingers out. Surely she didn’t know what she was asking for, but she was lost in a haze, and he was following close behind. He held her lips open with one hand and pressed the tip of his erection to her swollen sheath with the other. The naked flesh was amazing. She was wet and hot. Evelyn pushed back on him, and his knees almost buckled as he entered the inferno.
God, she is sweet.
Evelyn pushed against him hard. It was deep and powerful, and she loved it. His hands held her hips, and her bottom smacked against him. She met him with equal pressure driving him deeper, harder, and faster. He pulled at her thighs and opened them wider. Evelyn knew now why he wanted her to tell him if it hurt. It did, but not in a bad way.
Joshua reached around to stroke her nub. Evelyn was killing him. She pushed hard against him, and he fought for control. He wanted her to come, but he was losing ground quickly. She writhed against him pulling every ounce of strength with her. He opened her up more, and she slowed her pace. He knew it was deeper, but he had to reach her. Once he did, it wasn’t long before she was calling his name. The feel of her tightening on him forced his release. Thankfully she found hers at the same time, milking him, writhing against him. He shook from the sheer force of it all.
Evelyn pressed back into him as he kissed her back. She had never felt so connected to anyone. She could feel him inside her, pulsing. His legs trembled against her, and his breath fast. She wished she could remain connected to him like this. He made her feel like a lady, yet he made her feel like an animal. She wondered how she made him feel.
Joshua felt like he was in love. Evelyn really drove him to the brink and back. He felt more like a man when he treated her tenderly, and this afternoon, he felt like an animal, but apparently so did she. He didn’t do any of the work. From that position he should have been in total control, but Evelyn was the one in control. He just held on and tried to remain standing as she pushed against him. He wouldn’t dare drive as deep or as hard as she pushed him. His delicate little sweetheart was as much a hound dog as he was.
“You’re better than me at everything now. Are you happy?” Joshua patted her thigh and slowly pulled out. Breathless he thought he would pass out.
“No.” Evelyn turned to face him. He was flushed from head to toe. Sweat poured from his body. He must have really needed that. She sure did, but now the teacher needed to learn a lesson. That just because he was a huge man, didn’t mean he couldn’t be cherished and treated gently.
“No?” He looked at her unsure of what she meant.
“Uh-uh. See, you got what you wanted, and now I can get what I wanted.” Evelyn stood and grabbed his hand. “Follow me.”
“Will I seem like less of a man if I say I’m scared?” Joshua laughed. Evelyn was in rare form today indeed.
“Well, you’ll have to tell me if I hurt you.” Evelyn led the way up the stairs.
Joshua again was intrigued. She had him inside out. Maybe she would tie him up. He wouldn’t protest. She wouldn’t hurt him. Make him crazy with lust, yes, but he trusted Evelyn. He told the principal that he would work another half day tomorrow but needed Friday off for sure. He explained that he had serious family issues, and Mary Beth Jane, the principal, didn’t question him at all. She said his record was impeccable, so if he needed a day off, he could have it.
To his delight Evelyn headed for the shower. The warm water buzzed over them, and Evelyn really surprised him by snatching the washcloth and lathering it up. She treated him to the same care he had treated her. He had to bend to accommodate her since she insisted on washing his hair and massaging his head. She nipped his hip when he didn’t turn around fast enough, but damn he was lost. No woman ever took this kind of care with him. His muscles relaxed under her touch, and she was gentle, delicately paying attention to each rough finger and each individual toe. He was overwhelmed.
“Well, I can’t carry you to the bed.” Evelyn licked her lips. He was relaxed in a way she never thought possible. He looked happy. A very content smile was on his face. He looked how she felt, and she felt that way because of how he looked. “But I can take care of my mission right here.”
“Honey, you have taken so much care of me I might just combust if you do any more.” Joshua was thoroughly sated. His heart was so full of Evelyn he couldn’t bear the thought of her leaving him. His life would never be the same. She had saved him—from himself. It wasn’t until this moment he realized he couldn’t find a good woman because he was looking in all the wrong places. Evelyn could easily kick a man’s ass. She was trained, and she was deadly. So much trouble he couldn’t see straight from it. But when they were alone and it was just the two of them, she was soft and gentle and had a capacity to love that he finally understood. He would die before letting her go.
“Exactly.” Evelyn tiptoed up to him for a sweet and tender kiss. She slid her hands slowly over him and down.
She wanted him to know that this was about him. All of it was about him. Joshua taught her that she was all woman and sensitive and sexy, and she didn’t have to be ashamed of her body or her softer side. He treated her with care, and he respected her abilities. She moved to her knees, and his eyes opened in surprise as she consumed him.
* * * *
Joshua lay in the bed with Evelyn on top of him. It was six at night, and they had been making love all afternoon passionately, slowly, and deeply like it was the last time they would ever get to touch one another again. She was asleep. He was worn out and starving. It had been two hours since they stopped for sleep. Evelyn slept while he held her, savoring every moment of peace with her. He knew that they had business to tend to, tonight.
“Evelyn.” He kissed her forehead.
She moaned.
“Come on, baby. We have to eat and take care of plans.” Joshua nudged her and kissed her again.
“I have it all sorted out already.” Evelyn groaned and shifted just a bit.
“Well, then we have to eat. I’m starving.” Joshua stroked her hair still damp from the shower.
“I guess if we have to.” Evelyn sighed heavily. She never wanted to leave the bed again. What they had done was too powerful. They connected, deeply, spiritually. She could never leave him, and she would never let him risk himself for her. She would protect him. She loved him more than Noel, and that she never thought possible.
* * * *
Something felt off this morning. He scanned the street looking for anything out of the ordinary. Nothing. He walked back into the house and closed the door. He didn’t want to worry Evelyn, but he could tell she sensed it, too. She was nervous this morning. They had plans. They would meet with Ayden and then find a way to turn her in without turning her over. Ayden still held a badge, so he could arrange things.
“Don’t go anywhere today. Stay inside, lock the doors. Don’t open them for anyone.” Joshua heaved
a long breath.
“I’m okay. Nothing’s going to happen today. I’ll stay inside. Maybe read some more.” Evelyn smiled but inside she was nervous. Something was weird; the air was different. Even the birds were quiet this morning.
“If you need me, you call. You call 911, and then you call me.” Joshua kissed her lips. “I’ll be home right after work. I’m leaving early. I should just call in.” Joshua headed for the phone. Evelyn grabbed his arm.
“No, you should go to work.” Where you’ll be safe. Evelyn smiled. “Go, you’ll be late.”
“I’ll check in every hour.” Joshua hugged her tightly. “I don’t want to let you go.”
“I know,” Evelyn whispered. “But you have to go to work.”
She pushed out of his arms and pointed toward the door.
“Lock it, don’t forget.” Joshua kissed her lips. “I’ll call in an hour.”
“Okay.” Evelyn looked him over. He wore jeans and a black shirt since the kids were doing art projects today. She smiled. Somehow it felt like the last time she would get to do it. That sent a cold feeling down her spine.
* * * *
Joshua waited until he heard the lock tumble then he got in his truck. Looked around the street one more time and started off to work. He made it halfway there before the hair on the back of his neck stood straight on end. The cold that blew over him chilled him to the core.
Joshua called the house, third ring. No answer. He slammed on the brakes and did a U-turn. Evelyn.
* * * *
The knock was so soon after him getting in the car Evelyn knew it had to be Joshua at the door. Instead, it was the big bad Wolf.
“Evelyn.” The Wolf huffed and blew cigarette smoke to the side. “Never thought I’d see the day.”
“The day I kicked your ass? I’ve been looking forward to it.” Evelyn nodded and moved to a defensive position.
“No, the day you sucked face with someone. Young’s a good guy. I hope you live through this. He could be good for you.” Wolf entered the house and took a good look around. “Nice place. Let’s not wreck it, darlin’”
“What do you want?” Evelyn studied his every move. He wasn’t there to attack her, but he was sneaky, like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Like her.