Coming Home

  It took her a moment to find her bearings. She wiggled and every little motion seemed to anchor him deeper in her sex. She decided she liked this position very much. Once she understood the mechanics of it, she realized she could use her upper body strength against his calves as leverage. Pulling at his ankles, the wiry hair covering his legs tickled her fingers as she rocked.

  Dear God he was deep. He grunted and began to rock back into her, every counterstroke to her rhythm a delectable brush to her core. Her limbs grew slick with exertion as she soon mastered the pose. Just as she was about to come again, he slapped her ass hard and she sucked in a breath and stilled.

  “My pleasure, Evelyn. I saw to yours. Now see to mine.”

  Indeed. Her greedy body wanted more, but her mouth pulled tight in a smirk. The orgasm vanished, leaving nothing but a telltale quiver. Frustrated with being deprived of such selfish pleasure, she put her efforts into milking the best climax he’d ever had. Her force of each stroke doubled. She clenched her sex at precisely the right moments, and when his fingers dug into the firm flesh of her ass, almost punishingly, she knew he figured out she was playing with him.

  Her body became an instrument of pleasure. Delirium set in as she worked at her task. Body slicked over body as fingers tightened to leave purple kisses like the subtle, bruised painting of rose petals. The muscles of her arms and legs cried out for mercy, but her determination to shatter him to pieces overruled their protests. The bed rocked like a lullaby of sin, and he cursed.

  His grip bit into her flesh as the warmth of his seed spilled into her womb. His cock, buried so deep inside her, hammered, each jet of his release a pulse into her sensitive sex, and she cried out as her orgasm collided with his. He nearly dislodged himself with the force of his release, hips bucking, leg muscles constricting. Opening her eyes, Evelyn had the satisfaction of literally seeing his toes curl.

  The urge never announced itself; she merely transcended into an animal claiming her mate, and her teeth bit down on the muscle of his calf. He twitched and pinched her ass, jarring her enough to loosen her jaw. She giggled and rested her dewy cheek on his leg. Spent.

  The room echoed with their labored breaths, and somehow Lucian managed to untangle their limbs. When he withdrew from her sex, as always, the unwelcome emptiness that followed provoked a little whimper. Strong arms pulled her to his chest and slid the covers up to their shoulders as he eased their heads onto the pillows.

  “You’re amazing,” he whispered. His lips pressed into hers, hard. The kiss was packed with direct admiration.

  She softened and he followed suit. Her fingers threaded through his silky black hair, and she tugged. “So are you.”

  They settled in, hips nestled within hips, ass to groin. His arm coiled around her, and his hand found a home possessively over her breast. A kiss to her shoulder, and then they rested, replete, well loved, and blissfully content.

  ***

  Evelyn stretched her sore muscles, basking in the gentle afterburn of great sex, as the hot, pounding water soothed her body. Slippery suds traveled over her skin, detouring in the gully of her breasts, gliding over her hips and down to her toes, swirling away at the drain on the marble floor.

  Her fingers shampooed her long hair. She never grew tired of the ritual, too familiar with the notion of having to go without. Turning her face toward the spray, she closed her lips and let the suds rinse away. How glorious it was to be clean.

  Lost in a whirlwind of visions from the night before and cozy in a feeling of contentment, she jumped when Lucian’s body stepped into the shower behind her. His arms snaked around her belly and the long length of his arousal settled in the crease of her ass as he bent to kiss her shoulder. She smiled and leaned into him.

  “I thought you had work to do,” she said, suggestively wiggling her ass.

  “I do, but I kept picturing your mouth, and then my cock got hard, and then I heard the water and knew you were naked and you can guess where my mind went next.” He caressed her hip, running his knuckles through the damp curls at her apex. “We need to get you waxed again.”

  “You say that so easily, but no one’s pouring hot wax over your manly bits and ripping it off.”

  He chuckled and bit her shoulder. “Thank God for that. Wax can be fun though. Maybe that’s something we should look into.”

  “No, I think I’m set. Those torture artists you employ at the salon downstairs kick my ass enough.”

  His thumb and forefinger pinched her nipple. “Are you telling me no?”

  The ache at the tip of her breast spread into heady need. Breath catching, she remembered their agreement. “No. I suppose it’s your decision.”

  He flexed his hips and growled. “Correct. Do you know what I want right now?”

  His fingers continued to toy with her nipples. Her head rolled back on his chest. “What?”

  “I want to see your pretty mouth stretched over my cock.”

  Her pussy clenched and she turned into him. Her mouth licked at the drops of water, and the flat of her tongue dragged over his dark nipple. Fingers tightened at the back of her head in the tangled, wet mop of her hair, the grip of his hold urging her down.

  She lowered to her knees, the unforgiving tile slick beneath her weight. His fist released her hair and she looked up at him, awaiting his command, hands folded delicately over her thighs.

  “God, you’re beautiful,” he rasped, dragging a finger around her ear and down her jaw.

  She wasn’t beautiful. She was too thin. Her eyes were too gray. And her skin was too pale. But he made her feel like a work of priceless art. Blinking slowly under the soft spray of water misting over his broad shoulders, she preened at the compliment. “Thank you.”

  “I love seeing you like this, on your knees for my pleasure.”

  Oddly, she loved being that way for him. His thumb rubbed over her mouth, pressing softly into the plump swell of her lower lip. He widened his stance and stepped closer, bracing his weight in a way that made the thickly corded muscles of his legs flex.

  She opened and he breached her lips, sliding his thick cock to the back of her throat. Her satisfied moan mimicked his. Brushing the damp hair out of her eyes, he stared down at her. His erection pressed and withdrew, slow at first, but building momentum with each thrust.

  She rose up on her knees, lifting her weight off her heels and gripped the root of his cock. He stilled. “Hands behind your back.”

  Blinking up at him, she did as he said. His fingers wound her hair like long lengths of ribbon, fisting it tight at the back of her head. He was in control, and she melted at the sensation. Although he kept a strong hold on her, he wasn’t rough. He never went too deep or too fast. He merely directed their rhythm in a way that allowed her to let go, not think, and simply feel.

  The press of his fingers to her throat warned her that he was ready to come. Going up on his toes, he groaned and dragged her head back, withdrawing his flesh from her lips.

  Shoulders tight with her fingers laced behind her spine, she watched as he tugged at his length in quick jerks. Ribbons of hot, white cum splashed onto her breasts and chest, marking her.

  His shoulders expanded with each breath. His hand reached out and she unlaced her fingers, placing her palm in his as he carefully hoisted her off the floor. He took several minutes kissing and bathing her. When he toweled her off, her skin was buffed to a glowing pink.

  His lips found hers and lingered there for several minutes. When he pulled away, he said, “I need to go to the office in a bit. I’ll be back soon. I’ve left Jason a message asking him to meet you here.”

  Her brow tightened. “You called Jason?”

  “Yes.”

  She understood she was supposed to hand over some authority to him over the next thirty days, but this was not what they discussed. “But he’s my instructor.”

  “I?
??ve arranged for you to use a boardroom on the ninth floor for your lessons. There’s a Smart Board and other items that may help. Welcome to school, Evelyn. Today you’ll be visiting your first classroom.”

  She stilled, processing what he’d said. A classroom. Not her rinky-dink table that barely had a large enough surface for two books. Perhaps this was what he’d meant by making things easier for her. He hadn’t done anything but provide a space for them to work more efficiently, a space that likely would have been vacant on a day like today.

  While most people might dread the idea of passing endless hours in a classroom, it was a novel experience for her, and she looked forward to it. Many times over the past week she and Jason had struggled to make room at her tiny table. Between the books, worksheets, and other notes there was a lot to manage. A larger table and classroom would be ideal.

  “Thank you. That’ll probably make things a lot easier.”

  He smiled and kissed her nose. “The room is yours as long as you need it. I’ve ordered the concierge to mark it as occupied until otherwise instructed. Feel free to hang things on the walls and leave your books there so you don’t have to lug more than you need back and forth. Your clothes are laid out on the bed.”

  She flinched at the sudden change of subject. Glancing to the unmade bed, she saw denim and cotton folded neatly beneath a wisp of black lace. “You’re picking out my clothes now?”

  “You never wear shorts. I wanted to see you in them.”

  She thought for a moment, supposing she never wore shorts because they were impractical. Skin was the body’s best defense against outside objects. Long jeans were a precautionary form of armor. More than once she’d cut her knee slipping under a chain link fence.

  He didn’t wait for her acquiescence. When he disappeared into the walk-in closet, she stepped over to the bed. The shorts were khaki and the shirt was a soft pink button-down with capped sleeves. There was also a white tank top to go underneath, no doubt to cover up the black demi bra he’d selected. Matching panties rested in a tiny drape of fabric.

  Slipping out of her towel, she made quick work of dressing. Peeking out beneath the dust ruffle were two small sandals. She scooped them up and examined them. Flip-flops. Another type of clothing she never attempted for sensible reasons.

  “Here, it may be chilly later and the boardrooms maintain a lower temperature because of the electrical equipment.” He stepped out of the closet, holding a white cardigan, and stilled. “You look lovely dressed like that.”

  His gaze traveled down her legs and her cheeks warmed. “Where are all these clothes coming from?”

  “The girls at the stores we visited in the fall have a record of your sizes. I told them you were in need of a summer wardrobe.”

  It seemed her Lucian had truly returned, making snap decisions at the speed of light. “When did you contact them?”

  “Last week when I noticed your sneakers were getting a bit worn. There are several new pairs in the closet.”

  His fingers deftly flipped the navy silk of his tie and knotted the loop, cinching it tight at the collar. He slipped into his jacket and kissed her again. “I’ll make an appointment for your torture session downstairs and have them call up with the time. They’ll fit you in before Jason gets here.”

  “Lucian, I have to go home.”

  He turned and frowned. “Why?”

  “Because I don’t live here.”

  He stepped close and smiled. “What would you do at home until your lesson?”

  She frowned. Nothing. She had everything she needed here: clothes, her books, her phone. She didn’t even leave a dish in her sink. There was no reason for her to leave.

  She had intended to go to the salon eventually, knowing he preferred her waxed with only a trimmed patch at the top. Looked like he’d thought of everything. She supposed she could indulge him for his thirty days. What was the harm? So long as he wasn’t interrupting her plans with Jason, she saw no trouble in humoring his request. “I guess I could stay here.”

  “Good.” He kissed her lips, a satisfied grin on his face.

  She took a few experimental steps in her flip-flops. The smack of the shoe against her heel made her frown. God, she was like an alien, always trying to get used to new things. Get over it, Keats. They’re shoes.

  Lucian hustled in and out of the room, sorting through his money on the bureau, returning to the bathroom to tidy his hair, and finally to kiss her good-bye. When he left, the condo was filled with impenetrable silence. She wandered around for several moments, pondering what she should do for the next few hours.

  The sharp ring of the house phone startled her. “Hello?”

  “Ms. Keats?”

  “Yes?”

  “This is Camille from the salon. Mr. Patras asked me to call and inform you your appointment is at eleven.”

  She glanced at the clock. It was quarter to. “Oh, okay. I’ll be right down.”

  “He wanted me to remind you to bring a book so you have something to do during your paraffin treatment and pedicure.”

  So he had decided what she would be doing with the remaining hours of the day. She smiled. If she shoved away the initial offense at being coddled, she could actually get used to feeling so cared for. “Okay. Thank you.”

  She hung up the phone and went to her bag. Evelyn wasn’t going to bust out her elementary workbook at the salon, so she grabbed her dictionary. She’d practice reading words. Jason had been working on combination sounds and consonant blends with her. She’d play around in the ph section for a while, because that still threw her off.

  Chapter 16

  Speak Easy

  Over the following days, Evelyn discovered a side to herself she only knew from distant musings. Lucian decided everything for her from the type of panties she wore to what vegetables she ate with her dinner. She couldn’t imagine how such an arrangement was benefiting him. She, on the other hand was making out like a bandit.

  She saw no fault in temporarily indulging his request to take better care of her, so long as he didn’t override her decision to continue with her education. Her lessons with Jason took an incredible amount of time. The work she did on her own often left her tired, but Lucian was encouraging her every step of the way. His determination to control the little details was actually helping her focus on her top priorities.

  The freedom of not having to make one decision after another cleared her head into a state of purity she never experienced before. Her tasks were simple: focus on her schooling, rest, tend to Lucian—which was never a chore—and simply be.

  It was a vacation from herself in a fundamental but intangible way she was quickly learning to live with. And she liked his choices, from the style of underwear to the menu. He knew her so well, knew what she liked, and appeared to understand exactly what she needed.

  On Friday morning, Lucian arranged for Dugan to take her to visit Pearl. Evelyn complained, still feeling beaten down from her last visit with her mother, but he felt it was for the best that she replace her recent memories with better ones. In the end, she was glad he pushed her.

  Pearl was quiet, somewhat withdrawn, but the presence of sullen doubt and jaded opinions helped to put Evelyn’s world back on its proper axis. As always, her mother complained about her stay at the rehab as though she were an imprisoned criminal, voicing falsehoods of how good she used to have it on the streets.

  Evelyn took stock of the increased thickness of her mother’s wrists, the fullness of her hair, and the lack of sallowness in her skin. These were the evidence of better living. Lucian had done this as well. Her mother, who had been malnourished and withered since Evelyn could remember, was finally beginning to look like a somewhat healthy person. Her jaded, cynical opinions of the world said otherwise, as did her nonsensical ramblings that indicated mental illness, but Evelyn had grown used to such tendencies.

&nb
sp; Nevertheless, Lucian had suggested setting Pearl up with a specialist capable of performing evaluations of her mental health and possibly getting her on additional medication. Evelyn agreed it wouldn’t hurt to utilize the professionals at her mother’s disposal, but it was still a lot to take in. Her mother was not normal and would always be a little bit broken. Seeing physical improvement at least made up for something.

  Once her visit with Pearl was over, Evelyn saw that Lucian was again right. Seeing her mother had healed some of the hurt from her prior visit. Once back at the penthouse, she’d called Lucian and thanked him, telling him she’d like to see her again soon. Lucian seemed touched by her gratitude and wished her a good rest of the day. Next it was off to her lesson with Jason.

  ***

  As she sat, distracted by the clock, impatient for Lucian to return home, Jason read a page from the light chapter book they were working on. It was about a seal named Sam. Or was he a starfish? She wasn’t paying much attention.

  “Evelyn, it’s your turn.”

  She looked away from the clock on the wall. “Oh. Sorry.”

  He laughed. “Just like the rest of my students. Here,” he said, pointing to the paragraph they were on.

  She fumbled over the words slowly, mispronouncing several. Jason never gave her the answers like she sometimes wished he would. Rather, he prompted her to take a second look and notice certain letter combinations. Evelyn easily became frustrated with her inability to simply read, but Jason had patience in spades.

  “Very good,” he said when she finished the paragraph.

  He read the next one, and she admired the way his voice easily flowed over the words. She hoped one day she too could read so smoothly. It was as if he somehow predicted the tone in which the characters intended to speak. Her words always came out jagged and segmented in a way that made it difficult to comprehend the purpose of each sentence.

  They worked for several hours and she was getting hungry. His phone vibrated quietly on the table. He glanced at it and she paused in her reading. “Keep going,” he said, typing into his phone and putting it aside.