Falling In

  There were quiet moments here and there when a sadness stole over her eyes, so hopeless, it disarmed him. She’d admitted to missing Pearl, something he couldn’t quite comprehend, but empathized with all the same. He never denied her the chance to call or visit her mother, but she seemed reluctant to take that step. He assumed she just needed a little more time.

  He’d gotten reports from the facility regularly about Pearl’s slow progress and that seemed to satisfy Evelyn to some degree. He knew she missed her mom, but visiting her, she explained, wouldn’t take that longing away. He finally was beginning to understand that, while Pearl lived, Evelyn’s mother was gone. She was mourning and afraid to hope for more.

  After the past few weeks, Evelyn was emotionally tender. He enjoyed the moments her feistiness showed, liking that challenging, playful side of her, but he also valued her softer side, which shared whispered confessions about her past and fears for the future.

  They made love regularly. Evelyn was developing her own addiction to sex, which pleased him greatly. Lucian took great joy in those moments when he caught her gazing at him with bashful need. It amused him to press her buttons in those moments and tease her into confessing what it was she wanted. Just thinking about it made him hard with lust.

  She sashayed by his desk, eating an apple and wearing a pair of loose-fitting cotton pants and one of his dress shirts. He turned and grabbed her hips, halting her progress and pulling her onto his lap. His hands wandered over her curves. Guiding her hand to his mouth, he bit into the juicy fruit.

  She sighed and snuggled into his hold. He cupped her breast through her shirt and slid his other hand between her legs. She squirmed and pulled away from his touch.

  He frowned and pulled her back. “What’s wrong? Are you sore?” She lowered her face and looked away. “Evelyn, answer me. Did I hurt you?”

  “No.”

  He turned her chin until she met his gaze. “Then what is it?”

  She sighed. “I’m getting my period.”

  Lucian’s mouth opened and shut. A million thoughts occurred to him at once. Most prominent, however, was the realization that she wasn’t pregnant. Disappointment bloomed within him and he tried to hide it.

  “Oh, well, that’s okay.” Something else seemed to be on her mind. “What else is bothering you?”

  His hands gently massaged her thighs and she relaxed again. “It occurred to me that we haven’t been very responsible as far as . . .”

  “Birth control?” he offered grudgingly.

  She nodded.

  “Well, we should talk about that.”

  “I like not having anything between us,” she admitted. “But I don’t really know much about our other options.”

  “Are you opposed to using nothing?” He had to ask.

  She pursed her lips and frowned at him. “Lucian. Be serious.”

  Okay, definitely not ready for that.

  “Okay, well, how about if I make you an appointment with Vivian? The last time I talked to her she mentioned wanting to see you again.”

  “Do you think I should?”

  His heart clenched at her question. Every time Evelyn placed trust in his guidance, they were one step closer to where he needed them to be. “I’ll make the appointment and we’ll go together.”

  Later that night as they went to bed, Evelyn was in rare form. She huffed and batted at the covers and tossed and turned. Finally, he pulled her close and held her. “What’s the matter, Evelyn?”

  “You turned me into a sex addict!” She accused and he laughed. He cupped her breast and massaged her gently. “Don’t.”

  Reflexively, his fingers pinched on her nipple, a fast reprimand. “Excuse me?”

  “Lucian,” she huffed, turning to face him. “Nothing can come of that, so don’t torture us.”

  Drawing in a deep breath, his gaze smoldering into hers with challenge, he whispered, “Evelyn, if I want to fuck you, I will.” Before she could argue, he added, “I’m respecting your need for space right now. Tell me no again, and I’ll do as I please.”

  Her lip trembled and he could read the challenge in her eyes. She whispered, “No, you won’t.”

  She gasped and Lucian had her pinned beneath him the second she mistook his promise for a bluff. His finger pressed through her cotton pants and zeroed in on the tight ring of her ass. “Try me, Evelyn. There are plenty of ways for me to fuck you. I could put my cock in this tight little ass of yours or I could fuck your mouth.”

  She panted. She was excited and sexually frustrated, but he also noted a bit of reluctance and fear in her eyes. Not of him, but of the unknown.

  “Is that what you want?” he asked smoothly, applying a bit of pressure to her bottom.

  Her excitement was building. She was getting aroused.

  “I don’t think you’re ready to take me here, but perhaps you’re ready to take me orally. How does the thought of my cock in your mouth make you feel, because it makes me damn hard imagining those pretty lips of yours stretching wide to accommodate me.”

  Her breath hitched and he removed his hand from her ass and pinched her nipples pressing through the thin fabric of her cotton tank top.

  “I could also fuck these pretty tits.” He ground his erection into her. “As a matter of fact, all this challenging talk has made me decide I will fuck you. I’ll be gracious and let you choose where.”

  Her pupils dilated and a needy moan left her lips as he ground himself into her again. “I want you in my mouth,” she whispered, and he smiled slowly at her acquiescence to his authority over her body.

  “Very good, Evelyn. Remove your shirt so I can look at you.”

  She nodded and pulled her shirt off.

  “I want you to enjoy giving me pleasure as much as I enjoy giving it to you.” Lucian gently held her chin and ran his finger under her full lip. “You okay with this, Evelyn?” He gave her an opportunity to voice any concerns. “I want you to know you can always tell me when something makes you uncomfortable. I expect you to confess all of your concerns to me.”

  “I’m okay. I want to do this to you. I’m excited.”

  Pride welled up inside of him, plumping his cock another inch. “Good girl. You make me very happy.”

  He eased her into a sitting position and then helped her off the bed.

  “I want you on your knees. It’ll be easier than having me over you.”

  Lucian dropped a plush pillow onto the floor, and she lowered gracefully to the ground. He looked into her upturned face and said, “I never want you to tolerate or do anything you aren’t comfortable with. When we do things and you’re in a position that doesn’t allow you to speak, you still need to communicate with me.

  “If I ask you if everything’s okay, I expect you to answer me, vocally or otherwise. When you can’t vocalize, this will be our sign for okay.” He formed a V with his index and middle finger, mimicking a peace sign.

  “If you need a time out, you’ll cross your fingers like this, which is sign language for the letter T. T for time. If you want whatever’s happening to stop altogether, you’ll use the universal signal for stop by splaying all five fingers wide. Do you understand?”

  “Why can’t I just pull away?”

  “That won’t always be an option.”

  She drew a deep breath and shivered.

  “Are you still okay with my conditions?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do they frighten you? Be honest.”

  A deep pink flush climbed from her breasts to her ears. “No. It excites me. Does that make me a deviant?”

  “No, it makes your lover one.” He laughed and in a more serious voice said, “Evelyn, so long as it’s safe, sane, and consensual we aren’t doing anything wrong. There’s no shame here. Okay?”

  She nodded.

  “Good. And when I
do this,” he gently tapped her throat twice with two fingers. “That’s your signal that I’m going to come so that you can prepare.” They ran through each signal a few times until he was sure she understood.

  “Are you wet, Evelyn?”

  “Yes,” she rasped.

  “Good.” He took her hand. “Feel how I take your finger into my mouth.”

  He sucked her finger deep, curving his tongue along the bottom, and applying firm pressure. After thrusting her digit into his mouth a few times, he released her from his mouth. “That’s how you’ll take me, firm but gentle, deep and long. Are you ready?”

  “Lucian, if you don’t let me touch you soon I’m going to explode.”

  His shoulders shook with laughter. Feeling his eyes crease with mirth, he whispered, “Undo my pants.”

  She sat up eagerly. Her nimble fingers made fast work of the silk drawstrings at his waist. His pants loosened and fell to the ground in a puddle. He lifted his feet free, took his cock in hand, and stepped up to Evelyn. Her eyes were focused on his hand as he stroked over his flesh.

  Brushing a hand over her hair and cupping the back of her head, he said, “Lick your lips.” She did. He painted her wet lips with a tear of come that seeped from the head of his cock. “Now lick them again. Good girl.” He watched her eyes widen at the taste of him, then tapped the weight of his dick on her lower lip. “Now open.”

  Her lips parted, and he slowly fed his cock into the warm cavern of her mouth. Taking gentle hold of her hair, he urged her forward. She pulled back the moment she felt uncomfortable with his depth, but eagerly drove forward again, building her tolerance. Her mouth felt fucking fantastic.

  “That’s it, baby, adjust to it. Get used to me being there, because I’ll be back again real soon.”

  She became bolder with each thrust. Her tongue experimented with swirls and her lips dabbled with different variations of suction. His toes curled into the carpet and he moaned when she did something he found especially pleasant. She was too careful to do anything unpleasant.

  He kept a gentle grip on her hair. “Put your palms on my thighs for balance.”

  After several minutes he said, “Now take me deep, as deep as you can.”

  She drew a deep breath and sucked him almost to the back of her throat. It was exquisite.

  “Now you’ll do it again and this time I’m going to hold myself there for a few seconds. Trust me to know how long is too long and remember our signals.”

  She nodded and he plunged deep. His grip tightened in her hair. Her eyes widened and then glazed with lust. He held himself at the back of her throat for only a second, then tugged her head back.

  “Beautiful. Again.”

  She became putty in his hands. She moaned as if she were vicariously experiencing his pleasure. Her fingers dug into his thighs as he slowly pumped in and out of her mouth. Lucian shut his eyes for a moment, fighting back his climax. As he withdrew his cock, she leaned forward, reluctant to let it go, until his grip in her hair drew her up short.

  “Who’s in control, Evelyn?”

  “You, Lucian.”

  “Do you want to make me come?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then lower your hands and suck me deep as I fuck that pretty mouth. Give me control. Surrender. When I’m ready to come you’ll lean back and I’ll show you what you do to me.”

  Her hands lowered, and her mouth opened a second before it was stuffed with his cock. Showing her what pleased him, he did not keep his touch gentle. Rather, he fisted her hair and pumped her hot mouth over his thrusting cock.

  “God, you’re fucking amazing,” he gritted. “Tighten your mouth. That’s it. Now drag your tongue from side to side . . .” He moaned deep as his release powered from deep within him.

  He tapped her throat twice. “Now, baby, now!”

  She released him with a pop and threw her body back, bracing herself on her elbows.

  “Watch me, Evelyn.”

  Lucian gripped his cock hard and jerked as hot come jetted out in long ribbons and coated her tits. She gasped and watched his release mark her and dribble down her front.

  She was crazed with lust, and he couldn’t leave her in that condition. Dropping to his knees, he took her mouth hard. His fingers trailed over her sticky breasts, collecting his come, and reached into her pants.

  She broke the kiss. “Lucian!”

  “Hush. It’s fine.”

  His come-covered fingers found her clit and rubbed hard. He pressed into her bud, giving her the friction she needed. It only took a few firm strokes and she was coming. Her body quivered in his arms and he cradled her to his chest, kissing her shoulders, throat, and panting lips.

  “You were beautiful, Evelyn. You please me very much.”

  She nestled against his chest, a sort of affection he was slowly coming to expect from her. It warmed him, and he drew her closer. Essentially, they hugged for several moments, neither of them willing to let the other go just yet.

  She quieted. Slowly, he stood and went to the bathroom. Running warm water over a cloth, he returned to where she lay on the floor and gently lifted her. Lucian cradled her pliant body to his chest and settled her into the bed. The cloth cleared away the remnants of their passion, and she shivered. Carefully tucking her under the heavy satin covers, he discarded the cloth and climbed in beside her, drawing her body close to his, needing to hold her.

  His hands coasted over the gentle curve of her shoulder as his gaze watched her drift slowly to sleep. He couldn’t tear his touch or his gaze from her. For some reason he needed to see her, feel her, know she was real and right there beside him.

  As her breathing settled and her body drifted off to sleep, his mind seemed to waken, a thousand thoughts running through his head, each one triggering the next. His fingers twirled her soft hair, admiring its silken sheen, loving the subtle weight of it in his palm.

  This was more than finding her to make sure she was safe. This was more than fucking her because he had to have her. This was more than anything a casual proposition for company should become, but he was glad it had evolved to something else entirely.

  Evelyn provoked a possessive side in him that had been dormant too long. He was not an easy man, no point in pretending to be. He knew it, his business partners knew it, Evelyn knew it. But this territorial side of him that came out around Evelyn was different than anything he ever felt. It was . . . softer. Beyond the intense need to claim her as his, came some sort of tender desire.

  It wasn’t enough that she be with him. She needed to be happy, fulfilled. Emotionally, physically, and any other way a person could be made to feel content.

  A soft little sound escaped her lips as she nestled closer to his chest. Her warm flesh was soft and smooth, so different than his own. Lucian cuddled her close, wrapping his arms around her delicate form protectively, not wanting to let her go, never intending to let her go.

  Part III

  Evelyn

  Chapter 39

  The hours to come . . .

  All of Scout’s life she’d essentially been the same person, but that person she had always been suddenly seemed unrecognizable. She was losing Scout and becoming Evelyn. She was changing.

  Evelyn had visited the spa early that morning and had her appointment with the girls, getting everything trimmed, waxed, painted, and plucked. She was acutely sore, but glad to have it done with. She was coming to take pride in such regimens and loved the way Lucian noticed such things and appreciated her efforts.

  On her way back from the salon, she almost mistook a Patras attendant for Parker. The resemblance was uncanny. The man she saw had the same soft eyes and careless posture she had come to recognize as Parker’s, yet this man had a bit more meat on his bones and his skin had a healthy rosy glow. His hair wasn’t as long as Parker’s. She wanted to get the man’s name after he??
?d looked directly at her in the lobby, but, as a group of guests cut through the foyer to the elevators, she’d lost track of him.

  Probably best she didn’t approach him anyway. What would she even say? You look just like my friend. Like he would care.

  Since the incident in the lobby, however, her mind had stuck on Parker, and she wondered how he was. The snow was now gone and the bitter cold relented to uncomfortably arctic. Not perfect conditions, but certainly less bite.

  Evelyn asked Lucian about the progress being made at St. Christopher’s and was pleased to discover the shelter had reopened its doors that past weekend in time for Christmas. Lucian also informed her that he’d replenished the facility with a month’s worth of food and other goods like cots that would lift the residents off the ground, blankets, a free laundry facility, showers, a huge shipment of coats, gloves, hats, and boots. He was a master of hospitality and basically turned the shelter into a free hotel for the needy. This information was extremely dangerous for her heart, which was already hazardously close to falling in love.

  She couldn’t love Lucian. She just couldn’t. Love was a trap. It led people to depend on others who might not always be there and gave them the ability to hurt you more than anyone else ever could. She’d only ever loved one person, and she’d done nothing but show Scout all the reasons she should have protected her heart.

  As they made the ride out of the city one afternoon, the highway opened up and Evelyn recognized the familiar route. Much like the last time they made this trip, she was anxious. Although she’d visited Lucian’s home once, it felt like years had passed since then. And that time didn’t include his family.

  She had a chilling thought. “Will Slade be there?”

  Lucian’s otherwise serene expression shuttered. “No.”

  He didn’t offer any explanation, so she let the topic of his friend go. Lucian must’ve detected her unease, because he pulled her close and rubbed her shoulders. She’d become dependent on his constant touch. Another dangerous thing.