Closing Time

by Adrianna Dane

  Finally, she allowed him to guide her toward the table. The woman seated there was still beautiful. The years rested well on her—unlike they had done with Evie's father. She looked up at Evie. Her eyes—the same swirling gold and green as hers—mirrored back the uncertainty she, herself, felt at this unexpected meeting. Slowly, she rose to her feet and held out a tentative hand.

  "Hi, Evelyn,” she said softly. “I know it's been a long time, but I'm glad Reuben got in touch with me. I've missed you."

  Evie's laugh was more of a bark of disbelief than one of amusement. “You've missed me? You left me. You just walked away.” All the pain and frustration came pouring out of her. She ignored the outstretched hand. “You just disappeared from our lives. What you did destroyed Dad. You demolished our family. And now you say you missed me? You've always known exactly where you could find me. Why now?"

  Her mother dropped her hand to her side and lowered herself back into the chair. She took a quick gulp from the glass resting in front of her. Evie had to wonder if her mother used the same method her father had for years to anesthetize the memories and the pain.

  Her mother stared up at her, and this time Evie saw solemn determination in her gaze. “Your father had his chance to turn you against me all these years. Won't you allow me a moment to hear my side? I don't think it's asking much."

  Evie lifted her chin defiantly. “Are you married to that broker you cheated on Dad with?"

  She saw the pink flush fill her mother's face, but her gaze didn't waiver. “Yes, I am. Not everything is quite what you think. I didn't abandon you willingly. If you can't give me a chance to explain my side of things, then I guess there's no reason for me to stay. You can keep your father's bitter memories of me alive, but I have something to give you.” She reached down on the floor for a small bag and slid it across the table to Evie. “These are yours. They were all returned to me unopened.” She looked up at Evie, tears in her eyes. “You see, I wrote to you for a number of years after I left. There were presents as well—for your birthday and at Christmas. Your father returned every one of them to me. He always knew where I was and how to reach me. And he could have shared that information with you at any time."

  Automatically Evie accepted the bag and looked inside. She pulled out the beribboned bundle. Each letter was addressed to her with the return address of Lissa Morrison. She glanced back up at her mother. “I don't understand.” She put the bundle back into the bag and slowly sank into the empty chair at the table.

  She felt a strong, supportive hand on her shoulder. “Do you want me to stay?” Reuben asked her softly.

  She shook her head. “No. I think I need to hear what she has to say, but you have another set to get ready for."

  "You're sure?"

  "I'll be fine.” She glanced up at him. “But we'll talk later about how you managed to pull this off."

  She saw the hint of a smile. “I expected no less.” He leaned down to brush a gentle kiss against her forehead. “I love you, babe."

  Quietly, he left them. Evie turned back to face the mother who had abandoned her so many years before. It was time to find out the whole story.

  CHAPTER 8

  Reuben must have ordered her a drink because the waitress came over and set her usual drink in front of her. A peace offering from her lover? She would discuss that with him later. She leaned back in her chair and looked at the woman who sat across from her.

  Unlike her father, her mother looked content with her life. In fact, she practically bloomed with health and well being. Evie didn't know what she'd expected. But then again, she had never expected to see her mother again.

  "Well, I'm here. Did you know that Dad passed away? Do you even care?” Evie knew she was being surly, attacking her mother, and that it came from the years of pent up impotent anger and frustration with no outlet.

  When her mother left, her father had forbidden her name to be uttered in front of him. He destroyed all the pictures of her. In later years, when he had often been clouded in an alcoholic stupor, Evie would hear him rant at night, calling her mother a whore and a tramp. Those were the nights when she closed and locked her bedroom door, hiding beneath her pillow, hoping to drown out the horrible words. It was never enough.

  "Yes,” her mother said quietly, “I knew he had died. I had sworn I'd never set foot in Esmerelda again, but I went back for the funeral."

  Evie's head shot up. “You were there? I never saw you."

  "No. I stayed hidden. I'll admit I went more to see you than out of respect for your father. You looked so sad, but I didn't think it was the proper time to approach you. So many years had passed and I wasn't sure if you even wanted to see me. I didn't know what he'd told you about me."

  "He loved you so much he drank himself to death at losing you,” Evie informed her bitterly.

  Lissa offered her a sad smile. “It wasn't like that. If that's what he told you, it was a lie to cover himself."

  "He didn't have to tell me, I could see how distraught he was."

  Lissa straightened in her chair and in almost a mirror of the same action Evie often did, jutted her chin. “It wasn't my leaving that made him distraught. It was at the thought that the image he had in the community would be irreparably harmed. I was merely a possession to him. Oh, there was pride—pride of ownership. Pride in owning something beautiful and flaunting it to his peers. At home, in private, he was very different. Even before I left, he had started drinking."

  "That's not true,” Evie protested.

  "You were so young.” Her mother looked at her sadly. “He hid it very well when you were small. His image mattered a great deal to him, but in private he ran me down every chance he got. There was no love between us. Whatever there had been faded quickly. He suffocated me."

  "You aren't describing the man I knew as my father. But he was very different after you left. He withdrew and became so bitter."

  "I'll admit, I shouldn't have fallen into the affair with Charles. It was far too easy. Looking back, I was too vulnerable to someone who showed me the least bit of compassion—which soon turned to passion, then to love. I left with him, knowing I'd be burning my bridges, but it felt like I was dying by staying there. Charles was planning to leave Esmerelda anyway and I knew if I didn't go with him, I would die."

  "Aren't you being a bit dramatic?"

  Lissa shook her head. “Not in the least. I can't expect you to understand all of it. He was your father, after all, and I know you loved him. When I left, I expected to be able to come back for you, but he stopped me. He said if I tried to get custody of you he would make sure I was declared an unfit mother because of my adulterous affair with Charles.” She shook her head and wiped a tear away. “I couldn't put you through that. I refused to rip you apart fighting over you. It was better that I stayed away. But I couldn't help writing to you.” She raised her head to look at Evie. “I'll understand if you can't forgive me. But I needed you to know my side of it. I've been very happy with Charles, even though I've missed you very much. We have two children—you have a half-brother and a half-sister who would love to get to know you. I'm not perfect—far from it, but I do love you."

  "I don't know—"

  "Oh, I know you aren't ready to forgive me yet, but maybe someday?"

  "This has been a lot to take in. I know Dad wasn't perfect, but I couldn't understand why you stayed away and never tried to contact me. I have to think about all of this."

  Lissa nodded. She pulled a piece of paper from her purse, scribbled something on it, and slid it across the table toward Evie. “That's our address and phone number. We've moved since I wrote those letters. I don't want to crowd you, but I hope you'll give us a chance."

  Evie picked up the piece of paper and stuffed it into her pocket. “I'll think about it. Give me some time."

  "Of course. We'll be there when you're ready.” She turned and looked at the stage as the band prepared for their last set. “He seems like a good man. I was surprised when
I received the call from him."

  Evie turned to look at Reuben, who kept anxiously glancing their way. “He is a good man. I've been very lucky to find him."

  Lissa stood up. “I think I've said all I came to say. I'll let you get back to what you were doing. I'm very glad I had the opportunity to spend some time with you, even if you can't forgive me for leaving you."

  It was too much to take in. So much had happened to her over the last few months—almost too much to absorb. Now, over the shock of being confronted by her mother, she found she wanted to get to know her, and the rest of her new extended family, better.

  If she were honest with herself, her father had been quite taken with appearances in the community—at least until the alcohol had finally taken control. She just needed a little time to come to terms with everything.

  Hesitantly, she held out a hand, expecting to rightly be rebuffed as she had done earlier to her mother's offer of friendship. But her mother never hesitated and firmly clasped Evie's hand.

  "Thank you, Evie."

  "I don't want to dwell on history,” she blurted out. “You've told me your side of things, but I don't want to take sides between you and Dad, so if we do have a chance to rebuild some sort of relationship, I don't want to rehash what happened in the past again. Okay?"

  Lissa offered her a shaky smile. “More than okay. Building new beginnings, even stronger.” She released Evie's hand. “Take care of yourself ... and that young man."

  Evie looked toward the stage. “I plan to. He's pretty special."

  CHAPTER 9

  "I should be angry with you,” Evie murmured as she nipped at his belly button. She heard his hiss of indrawn breath.

  "It was worth the risk,” he growled as he threaded his fingers through her hair. “You needed to know the truth."

  She razed her teeth along his hipbone and felt him shudder. “A calculated risk?"

  "Something like that. Whenever you talked about her I could sense the pain. You needed to resolve it."

  She nipped at his groin.

  "Ouch."

  "You could have told me what you were up to."

  "I was afraid you'd dig in your heels and refuse to see her and we'd be going for months round and round. Just like when you hid your past from me and I had to dig you out."

  She nipped him again in warning, closer to a very sensitive part of his body.

  "Hey, watch that. There's such a thing as a little too close for comfort."

  "Really?” she purred as she licked from the root of his exposed cock to the tip, swirling her tongue over the slit.

  "Oh, baby."

  "Hey, Reuben, you in there?” a muffled voice called from the other side of the door as someone rattled the handle.

  Evie stiffened, trying to bury herself deeper into the shadows of the tiny cloakroom they had retreated to.

  "I thought you said it was closing time and everybody would be gone,” she hissed up at him.

  "Shush,” he whispered back.

  "What do you need, Ed?” he called back. Ed being one of the other members of the band.

  "Well, hell,” she heard him grumble. “Just give me my coat and I'm outta here."

  As she waited, still crouched on the floor, Reuben leaned over and grabbed a tan suede jacket. He reached around and unlocked the door, inched it open, then threw out the coat and slammed the door shut. Evie heard a deep chuckle on the other side and felt her face burn with embarrassment.

  "I can't believe that just happened,” she groused at him.

  "Hey, I just came in here to grab our coats. I was all for waiting ‘til we got home. This is your fault."

  She felt him jump when her wet lips surrounded him yet again. She'd give him something else to think about. Okay, so it had been a bit risky following him into the cloakroom, but it was near closing time. And ... well ... it wasn't like it was the first time.

  Oh, he tasted good. He was so hot and hard, and she sucked him deeper into her mouth. She had to wonder if they'd still take chances like this after they were married.

  She released him with a pop, then ran her tongue from tip to root and back again, swirling over the inflamed ridged plume. So silky. His cock glistened in the darkness, the only light filtering in through the cracks in the door.

  Again she engulfed him, at the same time sliding one of her hands inside her own panties and through her creamy arousal. She slid two fingers inside her hot, needy vagina as her tongue and mouth bobbed greedily at his steely tool.

  She felt him lengthen and expand even more, ready to explode. She stroked the base of his cock with her free hand as the other slid in and out of her pussy, teasing at her clitoris, and her mouth sucked at the ready-to-explode length filling her mouth. He was close, so very close, and she wasn't going to be far behind.

  "Oh, hot damn, yes, sweetie, just like that,” he moaned as his hands tightened in her hair and he filled her mouth with his seed. He held on for dear life, pumping into her mouth. She swallowed every bit, licking him clean, even as her own climax swamped her and she moaned around the softening prick as she released him.

  She collapsed against him, and he held her there as they both attempted to regain some composure.

  Finally, he helped her to stand and they adjusted their clothing. When they were ready, he leaned down to kiss her, sinking his tongue past her wet lips and deep into the recesses of her mouth, driving her head back against his shoulder. Then he lifted his head to gaze down at her.

  "I don't know how I'm going to survive with you back here and me on the road."

  She smiled up at him. “There's always the phone."

  "Not a lot of privacy though."

  She reached over to press a hand to his groin. “Oh, I think you'll be able to manage something, don't you?"

  She heard his soft groan. “I think we need to get out of here before they lock us in."

  She uttered a soft, throaty laugh. “Would that be such a bad thing?"

  Again, he leaned forward. “Hell, no, not a bad thing at all. We could really make this place sing, now couldn't we?"

  "Mmm,” she managed to say before pulling him down onto the floor. Home would always be there, but tonight the librarian wanted a little more adventure.

  As a matter of fact she doubted very much that things would change after they were married. In fact, they'd probably get a whole lot more interesting, because when you were in love, some things were just worth the risk.

  Adrianna Dane

  Theresa Gallup uses the pen names of Tess Maynard and Adrianna Dane. Theresa has been writing since the age of 10. A legal secretary for 30 years, she is currently working on another erotic romance, as well as a full-length romantic mystery/suspense. She has been married for 30 years and has three grown children (a daughter and twin sons), and is a new grandmother.

  Writing as Tess Maynard, her first published short story appeared in the ezine, The Whispering Forest, in January of 2004. Writing as Adrianna Dane, where adding sensual heat to romance is her motto, Esmerelda's Secret was her first foray into the erotic romance genre.

  Having traveled and lived from the East Coast to the West Coast, Theresa receives inspiration for her stories from a variety of sources, including music and poetry, and her tastes are eclectic.

  For more information about current projects, visit Theresa's web sites at www.tessmaynard.com or www.adriannadane.com.

  * * * *

  Don't miss A View To Possession, by Adrianna Dane,

  available at AmberHeat.com!

  Submissives Aurora and Tad mourn the loss of their beloved mistress. Two years after her death, although they have each other and the club Mistress Martine left to Aurora, it doesn't seem to be enough. Something is missing. Enter Master Constantine Jardine...

  Aurora has taken the lead since Martine's death, a role in which she doesn't feel comfortable. But she made a promise to her Mistress. She watches the monitors of Noir Dance, and for the last two months an attractive stranger has caugh
t her eye. Something about him draws her, but having lost one mistress, she's not ready to submit herself to the will of a master. Tad, on the other hand is ready to move on and urges her to introduce herself to the man they both desire.

  Con Jardine has patience and is willing to wait for the perfect opportunity to introduce himself to the attractive pair at the nightclub. He made a promise to Martine, yet he'd had no idea how much he would desire to possess this beautiful couple for himself, and not strictly as a duty to a woman he'd admired.

  When the moment of possession finally arrives, and these three come together at last, the promise fulfilled will be nothing any of them could have ever anticipated...

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  Don't miss Falling, by M. L. Rhodes,

  An Amazon #1 Best Seller and JERR Gold Star Winner!

  Available at Amber-Allure.com!

  As the leader of an elite British group that hunts criminals of the magic world, Christian Wetherly comes to the U. S. undercover, posing as a British cop, to investigate a series of murders he suspects have been committed by a dark mage. He never expects, however, to find himself intensely attracted to the American police detective in charge of the case. Christian has long struggled with his hidden desires and hasn't admitted them to anyone. But Alec Anderson stirs something deep within him that's difficult to ignore.

  Still ... even if he could master his fear of coming out, Christian's dedicated himself to protecting the world from magic terrors. It's a dangerous life an ordinary human could never understand or accept. And to complicate matters, Alec's emotionally vulnerable, still grieving the death of his previous lover, a fellow cop killed in the line of duty. So Christian's determined to keep his true occupation and powers hidden from Alec.

  Neither man can deny the powerful chemistry that burns between them, and both realize they're falling hard for one another, yet with so many secrets and complications, a relationship seems impossible.