“Weird, what do you think of him?”
“From what I know, and how he treats me he’s cocky, bossy but vulnerable, gentle and sexy as hell!”
“Well, what’s the problem then? Go for it, if he’s good to you that’s all that matters right?” “Well yea but it’s the blackouts that worry me, and mood swings. I’m so afraid I’ll wake up someday and he won’t be… him. What if the Evan I know isn’t the real Evan Lawson? What if he’s an evil bastard?”
Sage shakes her head. “There are no guarantees in life honey, it may happen, but it may not and you can’t give up before you have a chance to start.”
“Yea, it’s just insane; I have all these new feelings, they scare me. He could wake up one day and be a horrible person.”
“Or he may stay the way he is right now, life is all about risks. It’s a huge one I know, but ya gotta step out on that tightrope and see if you can make it across; we’re here as your safety net if you fall, we love you Mia.”
I smile at her and drink my coffee. “Thanks.”
“For what?”
“For loving me, and for the advice, I was going bonkers with all this, it feels good to get someone else’s prospective.”
“That’s what family is for honey, so tell me more about this hot god of yours!” We talk and laugh, then I Google Evan so she can see what he looks like, and she fawns all over him. I play board games with the kids and I feel myself coming back. The me I’m familiar with, not the crazy me I’ve become since Evan arrived in my life.
My phone beeps in my pocket and I check the text, along with several from my friends, most from Lily, but the one I just received is from Evan. I didn’t put his number in my phone, but his face shows up with the unfamiliar number. Are you almost done? I’m missing you; I think I need some medical attention, E. My tummy flutters at the thought of him missing me. The nagging feeling I had this morning dissipates instantly. So stupid, I’m going to drive myself nuts trying to figure him out. At my sisters, finishing up- will be there soon, and what kind of medical attention are you in need of? M ;) His response is immediate. It’s an urgent issue that needs immediate attention. Smiling, I shoot a return message. Be there STAT!
My sister is eyeing me…”That him?” she asks.
“Yep.”
“Your face just lit up like a Christmas tree, better get back to work,” she teases.
“Yea, he’s asking when I’ll be back. See you soon?”
“Of course, I’m always here, just call.” I hug them all good-bye and head out; it’s amazing what a difference a few hours with your family makes. Cranking the music, I distract myself from the anticipation of seeing him. I’m 99% sure his medical attention request will be much to my advantage, so peddle to the floor, I speed to close the gap between us.
Chapter 22
“Urgent” by Foreigner
Pulling into the driveway I wonder, should I knock or just let myself in? The question is answered for me as Mr. Saint appears at the front door, heading toward me. “May I get your bags Ms. Galloway?” He is so formal and stuffy, and the fact that I now need a room in Evan’s house really irritates me, he was right. I really hate being proven wrong but I’ve no choice but to roll with it.
“Sure, just the one bag and a box, and please be careful, there’s glass in both,” I inform him, a tiny frown between his eyes puckers.
“Glass?”
“Yes, a gift, something I made, I’m a glass blower.” Why does explaining myself to this man aggravate me so much?
“I see, would you like it in your room?” he asks pointedly, and I swear with a bit of satisfaction.
“Yea, sure.” He accompanies me inside and nods toward the office that I’ve not been into yet.
“He’s working but he asked me to have you wait for him in your room.” Oh really…wait in my room, huh? Must not be much of an emergency after all. I don’t want to interrupt him though, so I take my bag from Mr. Saint and make my way through the living room, Mr. Saint on my heels carrying the box. The doors to my room are closed, that’s a first. Evan has a thing about keeping doors open and lights on, I wonder sometimes if he’s a little paranoid. Mr. Saint sets my box down in the living room and leaves without a goodbye, whatever. I open one of the double doors and instantly I’m hit with the heavy, fragrant smell of roses.
Frozen on the threshold, I blink several times to be sure I’m seeing correctly. Lavender, purple and white roses fill the room, every available surface is covered with vases of them, hundreds. The dresser, night tables, they’re even on the floor in tall containers, every vase holding 2-3 dozen beautiful roses. My mouth drops open in shock, and I don’t hear his approach from behind. Even with the clacking of crutches, my mind is so focused on the floral explosion in front of me that all sounds have been completely tuned out. A hand reaches around from behind me to close my mouth from under my chin. “My favorite color flowers for my favorite woman,” he whispers in my ear, and resting his chin on my shoulder, he snakes his hands around my waist while leaning on the crutches, one palm flat on my belly and holding me flush with him, the other sliding between my legs. Even through my jeans his touch is scorching hot and an electric jolt shoots from somewhere in my chest directly to my core. I feel his warm breath on my neck and his mouth working his way up to my ear, nibbling and licking, finally biting my ear lobe hard enough to make me gasp, followed by him sucking it gently to sooth the pain. Evan moans softly in my ear as he presses his hard arousal against my backside in a sudden shift. “I only let you go so easily so I could spoil you when you returned.” “And I take it the medical attention that you requested involves this?” I say, pressing my back to his front gently, worrying I may knock him off balance if I’m too forceful. “Mmmhmm,” he agrees.
“They’re so beautiful…what’s with you and purple?” I ask, trying to control my breathing unsuccessfully; he has to know I’m utterly turned on, my voice is so shaky it gives me away.
“Historically it’s related to royalty and love, it represents wealth, passion and luxury. I like it, what can I say?”
“Duke…. right, you said you were a Duke?”
“Title only by lineage, yes.”
“So, Duke, should we get you off your feet?”
“Thought you were going to make me stand here forever.” I turn in his arms. “In here,” he says, lowering his voice and piercing me with the bright green of his eyes.
“Ok…. door shut?”
“Yes, and lock it.” Ok he must mean business if we’re locking the door. I immediately move with weak knees to close and lock the doors to my room. Searching for a place that’s not covered in flowers to set my bag, I find no such place exists so I open the closet and tuck it inside. I can feel him moving around behind me surprisingly quiet for being on crutches. The room is dim; the sun has set, the only light coming from small lamps on either night table. Evan stands next to the bed and points gesturing me to my bed, as I make my way to him the smirk that I’ve grown to adore spreads across his face and I know instantly that this man owned my heart, he could have anything from me…. without question…anything. “How was your day?” he purrs, towering over me as I sit on the edge of the bed between his knees. I don’t think he really cares right now so I simply answer. “Fine.” I feel a little faint, he does that to me, and his very presence is so overwhelming that my body literally has trouble accepting it. “Lay back,” he orders, but in a gentle manner and I obey because I fear I want to, and I fear fainting. My vision is becoming tunneled and his voice wanes, “Mia, are you ok?” he asks with concern on his face and in his voice.
“Yea…you know how I get…I’ll be ok.” And just like that I am…so much more than ok, how could I be so lucky to have this heavenly man standing over me, treasuring and spoiling me? Could it be Karma balancing the universe? All the terror I’ve experienced in my life and my choice to care for people as a profession has earned me the most beautiful dominant man alive? Finally my body and mind have been freed of mistrust, walls
that used to protect me from pain and hurt have been destroyed beyond recognition.
Closing his eyes and taking a deep, shaky breath as if to control himself, Evan reaches both hands to my knees, crutches still under his arms. The bed is so high off the floor that my body is aligned perfectly with his. “If I weren’t held back by this fucking cast I would worry about hurting you right now. You’re so damn beautiful, the day this thing is cut off you need to be prepared,” He growls. I reach down and unbutton my jeans, and without losing eye contact I work them off, raising and bending my knees and past my ass, he hisses between clenched teeth and drops his head back. “Fuck Mia…you’re killing me here, I’m going to bury myself so deep inside of you…” Now it’s my turn to smirk while I pull my shirt over my head and remove my bra, completely bare to him, I offer myself with zero inhibition. I sit up and gather the hem of his shirt, raising it and helping him off with it one arm at a time while he is balancing on one foot, crutches propped at the edge of the bed now. I hurry to unfasten his jeans and push them down so he won’t have to balance for long. Not that it matters, he has incredible muscle control. And those muscles are straining, keeping him steady now, a shiver runs through me imaging what he will do when he’s at full capacity.
Pivoting on his good leg, he shakes the jeans free of the shin-to-toe cast, and using his strong arms he lifts himself onto the bed, laying back and grabbing me around the waist to straddle his trim hips. The wetness of my core comes into contact with his straining erection, and he pulls me down to kiss my mouth, urgently at first but then with more control as he peppers my face with tender kisses. Holding my face in both hands, my hair curtains out all around us as he draws back so we are nose-to-nose and closes his eyes. “What are you doing to me Mia?” he murmurs.
“Loving you,” I whisper, our lips feathering with the words.
“Don’t stop,” he says and suddenly removes his hands from my face, grabbing my hips to lift me over him. I grasp his wrists for something to hold onto, anticipating the fierce ride. He thrusts inside of me to the hilt, pulling my body down hard and holding me in place by my hips. I cry out, dropping my head back while we pause for a fraction of a moment to savor the feel of our connection. He continues his onslaught, thrusting rhythmically as I push him deep into me simultaneously. Releasing my hands from his wrists and moving them to his thighs behind me, I desperately attempt to push him deeper inside of me. He slides his hands from my waist to my ass, tilting me forward and hitting a spot inside me over and over with every thrust. I feel electricity building low in my belly and I know I’m almost there, but I want it to last so sit up and move over him with my breasts brushing against his smattering of soft chest hair. My hands on either side of his head, our eyes lock and suddenly Evan flips me over onto my back, supporting himself with his good knee as he plunges into me with a punishing force; I think my heart just skipped a beat. Sliding our sweating bodies together, I wrap my legs around his waist, pressing my feet into his ass, attempting to get closer. “Mia I’m going to come, I’m not waiting, I want you to come with me!”
“Yesss.” I can hardly get that one word out before tipping over the edge.
“Fuck Mia!” he yells at the same time I scream unintelligibly, with orgasm possessing our bodies simultaneously for what feels like a lifetime… Both of us pant heavily as he opens his eyes and kisses my forehead tenderly, followed by both cheeks, the tip of my nose and finally my lips. Salty with sweat, we both smile through the kiss and I thread my fingers through his damp hair.
“So…medical emergency averted?”
“More like mission accomplished baby.”
“Another perfect 10?”
“Oh yes, you better believe it.”
“I can’t believe you flipped me! Are you nuts?” Jutting my hips for him to move back to our initial position, he rolls us without disconnecting until I’m once again on top, arms around him and nuzzling his neck I breath him in, his scent, his essence, and I feel it in every part of me. Love. Shit I’m sinking like an anvil in the middle of the ocean, no way out, and a little panic travels through me. With his clairvoyance, he senses it and says sternly, “No worrying.” All the time he’s gathering my messy, tangled hair and looping it into a knot at my back with one hand. For now I’m just going to try my best to just listen to him.
“Ok,” I murmur into his hair, and as I sit up astride him, something on the bed next to him catches my eye. It’s a white teddy bear, propped against the pillows in the center of the bed. What the hell is that? “What’s with the bear?” I ask him, and he turns his head to look in the direction I’ve indicated.
“A friend for you,” he answers.
“A friend? I’m not 6 years old, I haven’t had a teddy bear since…since forever.”
“Well then it’s high time you do, she’s important, don’t lose her,” he instructs. Uh ok, I think he really does have brain damage.
“Well thanks…”
“Don’t mention it.” He smiles a devilish grin and I know he’s up to something…but what?
We shower together, after I streak back to Evan’s bedroom giggling at the thought of Cecelia or Mr. Saint catching us nude post coital. Even naked on crutches, that man is irresistible, as he leisurely makes his way along, leaving the doors to my room open and releasing the potent smell of roses into the rest of the house. To say Evan’s shower is grand would be an understatement. It’s more a cathedral than anything, tall ceilings surrounded by glass, walls and benches of stone. The furthest bench is shaped in a smooth, hill sort of shape with an arch on one side, and I wonder about the unique shape. Staying in there all day wouldn’t be out of the question, especially with Evan.
“Let’s eat pizza in bed and watch something on T.V. tonight.” The Duke has read my mind, sitting at the dining room table eating fancy food tonight just didn’t sound appealing.
“Sounds perfect, and thank you for the flowers, I was a little distracted earlier and I forgot to say anything. Can we bring some to your room?” Since I usually sleep in his room, I’d miss out on enjoying them most of the time.
“Certainly, we can have them all brought in here if you want, and it was my pleasure- seeing the shock on your face was worth the time you were away so I could arrange it. I was miserable, by the way, and you never really told me how your day was. “
A little thrill passes through my mind at his comment about being miserable without me; I was so off base this morning.
“Yea…again got distracted. And my day was pretty close to perfect, I checked on things at home, visited my sister and my niece and nephew, came to work and was surprised by about a million roses and the best sex I’ve ever had.”
“That sounds like one hell of a job you have there,” he says, teasing and tugging on my thick, wet braided hair.
“The best.”
Chapter 23
“Dominus Illuminatio Mea” by Catholic Gregorian Chant Songs
I love lingerie, matching panties and bras, pretty night sets and gowns. I’ve never really had reason to wear anything like that other than for my own gratification. I sleep in short shorts and tank tops for the most part, especially after work when I’m just too beat to care. When packing for this week I thought it best to bring casual things and keep the temptation level down. But seriously, at this point I think that ship has sailed. This is supposed to be a job damn it, I shouldn’t even be in the same room as him in anything other than scrubs!
I dressed conservatively tonight anyway, in a pair of cotton shorts and a tank top, very unsexy. Looking around my room, I grab a vase of roses, my bag and the box with the light fixture I made for Evan. I should just move my things into his room permanently; I never sleep in here anyway but he’s given me this room for a reason. I’m just not sure why when he won’t let me use it. The bear he gave me catches my eye and I set my bag on the bed and pick it up; it’s the softest fuzzy thing I’ve ever felt. Upon further examination I notice it’s eyes, they look like diamonds, like act
ual diamonds, surely not though- they would be ridiculously expensive, several carats for each eye. Smoothing out its fur I also find it wears a collar, a wide band of 6 rows of diamonds as well; cute it’s a she. It’s so soft, the stitching is intricate and it’s obvious that it’s an expensive toy. But who gives a woman a teddy bear at my age, and why is it important? A mysterious gift…I set her down and grab my bag, excited to finally give Evan his light, although not nearly as extravagant as several hundred roses, I made it with my own hands, and I want him to like it. I’ve been looking at Evan in a bed for weeks, but he still takes my breath away, propped on a half dozen pillows and pointing a remote at the T.V. in thin pajama bottoms that sit low on his hips, wet hair from our shower and his bare chest. I pause to admire the ultimate maleness that is Evan Lawson. He pauses his channel surfing to watch something when he feels my stare.
“Enjoying the view nurse Mia?”
“As a matter of fact I am Mr. Lawson, very much so. I see you have pajama pants though, thought you always slept naked.” I say pushing myself off of the door jamb with my shoulder where I’ve been leaning. I move to set the vase of flowers on the night table on my side of the bed.
“You thought I should wear something to bed, they’re for you.” There’s a small smile on his lips he follows my movement across the room. “Well that was before we started…you know….”
“Oh, so now you want me naked do you?” Suggestion runs thick in his tone.
“Is this new?” I gesture to the night table I just noticed on my side of the bed and effectively change the subject. I’m sure he only had one on his side before.
“Yes, I had a matching one delivered for you, to put your things on at night; you know, phone, iPad, lamp….” The gesture tugs at my heart, but it seems like a pretty permanent thing to consider. I’m only here for a week after all. I don’t know why I keep trying to talk myself out of his motives; he’s planning on keeping me here forever. I know it, and if I’m honest I love it but I can’t let myself think about a long term relationship, it scares me as much as it thrills me to be wanted and possessed by a man that could destroy me without even knowing it. I’m always waiting for the other shoe to drop, the switch to turn, the monster to return. I’ve had no reason to be concerned recently; he’s been acting normal, or as normal as I know him to be. I simply thank him, arrange my things on my new table and crawl to the center of his outrageously large bed to sit cross-legged facing him with my bag and box.
Dark Kiss (The Two sides of me Book 1) Page 15