Evie“Fingers or a dildo?” he rasped.“Fingers. What about you?”“What. About. Me?” His breathing was coming hard and fast. I could feel him getting close to the edge.“Do you rub yourself and think about me?”He smirked. It was a cocky little smile that almost made me explode. “All the fucking time, baby.”I gasped. The confession sent shockwaves of heat and desire through my body. I understood what he felt. It was a huge ego boost. It was erotic and sensual and so damn good to know he thought about me and pleasured himself.“Do you think about my mouth wrapped around you or do you think about you inside me?”He grunted, moving harder and faster. “Both.”“In bed?”“Everywhere. I beat off in the shower. I think about you and stroke myself until I’m squirting my desire all over the shower wall.”His words triggered a visceral response that I had zero control over. I bucked, exploding around him. I shouted out his name and a lot of other words that made no sense. He was yelling right ba
XanderI dropped Evie off at her apartment and immediately headed over to Charlie’s place. He was probably still in bed, but I was going to wake him up. I had an idea and I wanted him to be the first to see it.After talking with Evie a little, I knew I was on to something. She didn’t understand the mechanics and all the little intricacies of a ship’s propulsion system, but Charlie would. He would be able to offer advice and help me make this thing real. My week had been relatively productive, and I couldn’t wait to show him what I had.I pounded on his apartment door. “Charlie, get up.”There was no answer. I knew he was inside. At least, I assumed he was inside. His car was in the usual spot. I supposed he could have gotten a ride. I slapped my hand against the door again.One of his neighbors pulled open their door and glared at me. I smiled in return. “Charlie, I’m not leaving. Open the door.”I heard the lock on the door finally turning. When Charlie pulled open the door, he loo
Xander“Show me where?”“Down at the docks,” I answered.He did not look impressed. “I don’t want to work. I want to relax.”“You don’t have to work. I want you to watch. I want you to observe and give me feedback. I trust you to tell me where it’s wrong. I need a second pair of eyes and only your eyes will understand what you are seeing.”“Can you tell me what you’ve got up your sleeve?”I winked. “I have to show you.”“Where’s your girlfriend? Can’t you show her?”“I just dropped her off. She is working today, and she wouldn’t understand like you.”He grinned. “You had another sleepover.”“I did.”“Damn, one more and I think that means you are official,” he said. “I knew you liked her.”I wasn’t afraid to admit it. “I do like her.”“Are you going to tell her?”“Tell her what?”“That you like her,” he answered.The conversation was very strange. It felt like we were in the sixth grade, talking about a girl. “I think she figured that part out all on her own.”He crumbled up a sandwich
EvieI finished my usual morning walk. I went alone. I thought about inviting Xander along, but I needed some time to think. This thing with my dad was really screwing with me.I didn’t like us being on the outs. It made me feel icky. I couldn’t shake the heaviness of it and it was affecting my work. I had to settle things. I knew there was a chance we would never have the relationship we once did. I didn’t like the idea, but I couldn’t change his way of thinking.Just like he couldn’t change mine. I felt we were both intelligent, responsible people and we were always going to have our own opinions. I could respect his and I needed him to respect mine. At least, that was what I was going to say to him. I had been practicing what I would say all morning.I parked my car in the driveway and fought down the nerves that erupted in my belly at the thought of confronting him. I was nervous and apprehensive. I didn’t stand up to him. The day in his office had been a first. While it had felt
EvieDad took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair. “I don’t want to fight with you either.”“Good. Let’s agree to disagree and move on.”“Evie, it isn’t that simple. I know this kid. He is bad news.”“I don’t understand how you can say that. You don’t know him. You knew him for five minutes in your classroom ten years ago. He is not the same person he was. I’m not the same person I was ten years ago.”He shook his head. “A leopard doesn’t just lose his spots.”“What does that even mean?”“It means the man is incapable of thinking of anyone except himself. He will hurt you. He’s only using you. You are a pretty young woman and that’s all he sees. I can’t stand the thought of that punk touching my little girl.”“I get that this might be hard for you to hear, but there have been other men in my life. You have never reacted so strongly to any of them.”“Because they weren’t him,” he spat.“No, they weren’t. Xander isn’t selfish. Not by a long shot.”“That kid thinks it is funny to
XanderI checked the time and cursed. I didn’t know how to get myself to be where I was supposed to be at the right time. I was blaming the project this time. Once again, I had gotten caught up and lost all track of time. I whipped into the parking lot of the casual restaurant where I was meeting Evie for lunch.I walked inside and scanned the restaurant. Her black hair immediately caught my eye. She was looking down at her phone, probably wondering where in the hell I was. I made my way to the table. She looked up and smiled.“I’m sorry,” I blurted out. “I tried to get here.”“You’re right on time,” she said, getting up and giving me a quick kiss before taking her seat again. “Your time, that is.”I laughed and sat down. “I have tried every trick in the book. I set my watch ahead. I have my phone give me ten-minute warnings. Nothing works.”“It’s really okay. I plan for you to be a little late and get some work done while I wait.”I wrinkled my nose. “I really am sorry.”“Don’t be.”
XanderEvie burst into laughter. “I might have to ask him to find other ways to get back at you. I like all of your body parts right where they are, as they are.”I grinned. “Me too.”“Is he helping you?”“Yes, for the most part. The guy is a genius when it comes to the mechanical side of things. He could put together a boat with his eyes closed. He knows what will work and what won’t. He’s my sounding board. My ideas can be a little wild at times.”“I’m glad you have a friend like that.”“He’s demanding a percentage of the profits,” I told her.“Are you going to concede to his demands?”“Of course. I really couldn’t have done it without him. I’m not going to tell him that. Not yet. I still have a long ways to go before I can get this on an actual ship and in the water.”“How long did it take you to get your first design sold?” she asked.I blew out a breath. “Years. Probably about five years. Even after I got the design sold, it took another two years before it hit the water. None of
EvieNelle was scowling at something behind me. I turned around to see what had her encouraging premature wrinkling. “Will you stop?” I scolded.“I can’t help it,” she muttered.“Yes, you can. This is why I didn’t want to come here. You are going to be picking apart that poor bartender all night. Give him a break.”“He sucks,” she said. “No wonder he doesn’t make any tips. I wouldn’t tip him a penny.”I sighed, sipping on the drink that really wasn’t all that good, but I was not about to tell her that. “If it wasn’t for him, you would never have a day off. He is a necessary evil.”“Evil maybe, but I’m not sure how necessary it is.”“Pay attention to me,” I demanded.She finally looked at me. “You are a needy date.”I laughed. “You have no idea just how needy I am.”“Gross.”I shrugged. “It’s true.”“I guess that means you guys still haven’t managed to find some alone time this week?”I groaned. “No. He had to go out of town to talk to someone about something that had something to do w
XanderLaughter floated out of the ballroom behind us. I was glad everyone was having a good time. It was the culmination of a lot of hard work over the year. Every person in there deserved to celebrate their success, including Charlie’s crew.“What kind of business?” she asked. “Are you guys cooking up another scheme to make ships even faster?”“No. I think I’m good for a while now. I have more important matters to focus on.”She touched my cheek. “I better be one of those matters.”“You are. You absolutely are.”“My dad is pretty excited to be a part of all of this,” she commented.“He should be. He made it possible, which is why I gave him a check for his cut of the profits.”Her mouth fell open. “You did what?”I shrugged. “Without him, I never would have gotten those first few ships to try out the new hardware. He offered suggestions that made it work even better. He deserved—no, he earned—that money.”“Wow. Did he accept it?”I laughed and nodded. “Oh yeah, he did. His name is a
XanderOne year laterPride. That was what I felt in that moment. My ships were heading out to sea. Everyone else was already making their way back away from the dock. I couldn’t leave just yet. I watched the ships navigate out to sea one at a time. I didn’t have children, but I imagined what I was feeling was similar to what a proud papa would feel.I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Charlie next to me.“This is a big day,” he said.“It is. You pulled it off.”“You pulled it off.”“What do you think?” I asked him. “Is it going to work? Do you foresee them falling apart halfway around the world?”He shook his head. “My guys did excellent work. That shit is solid.”“Good. Those test ships seem to be holding up.”“Of course, they will. My team is the best. Your idea wasn’t half-bad either.”“Thanks,” I said, watching as one of the ships cleared the harbor.“You know, you could have made a lot more money with that plan,” he lectured.“I could have but I already have a lot of
Evie“I’m going to make love to you all night,” he promised. “This is just the beginning. This is to tide me over until we get home. I want you in my bed. I want me inside you.”“Yes,” I gasped, my head dropping to my chest as he slid in and out of me. Every stroke touched new places. Every stroke sent my body into a wild tailspin of desire and need. “Please. Please. Don’t stop.”He didn’t speed up his pace. He kept moving in that slow steady rhythm, sliding in, grinding his hips, and then gliding out and leaving just the tip inside me. The spasms rocking through me made it difficult for me to remain standing. I wanted to crumble in a heap at his feet with him still inside me.“This is just the first,” he said, his voice strained. “I can’t hold back. Your body is milking me. You are too tight. Too hot. Too fucking wet.”“Don’t hold back,” I told him. I needed his release. I could feel mine hovering just out of reach as if my body refused to give in until it had his complete surrender.
EvieI was being terribly irresponsible. I was not the girl who got naked in the park and had sex. Unfortunately, when I was with Xander, all bets were off.And he loved me. The words echoed through my mind over and over. He loved me. I would follow him into the fires of hell knowing he loved me. I didn’t realize just how badly I needed to hear those words from him.He loved me. I loved him. I didn’t know what that meant for the two of us, but damn if I was going to pass up the chance to find out. The way he was kissing me was different. Maybe it was mind over matter, but I could practically taste the love on his tongue. It was in the way he touched me. The gentleness of his hand on my cheek, holding me steady while his tongue plundered inside my mouth.“Over here,” he said as he broke his mouth away from mine.I felt a little dazed. His kiss made me feel drunk on lust. Again, I was ready to follow him anywhere if it meant I got more kisses like that. He took my hand and led me away f
Xander“Xander, I want to believe you, but I’m hesitant.”“I know. I expect that. It isn’t just the memories of Kade that brought me back. You. Memories of being with you. Thinking about this place and our time together. Those are all really good memories. I want more memories like that.”“You are saying all the right things,” she said with a smile. “You know I can’t resist you.”“I’m counting on it.”“I’m glad you are back,” she said.“Me too. Does this mean you will entertain the idea of having a relationship with me?”“I could be convinced,” she said.“I am going to work very hard to convince you,” I vowed.She sipped her wine. “How are you doing? Like really doing?”“I’m doing a lot better thanks to you.”“Thanks to me?”“You are a sneaky little lady,” I told her.She raised her eyebrows. “Me? Sneaky?”“I got a call yesterday.”“Congratulations.”“Oh, you’re cheeky too.” I laughed. I opened the picnic basket and pulled out the small cheese tray and peeled back the plastic. “You ho
XanderI was so close to losing her. I sensed it in her voice. I wasn’t expecting her to jump at the chance to see me, but I wasn’t expecting such resistance either.The sense of urgency I felt was making me anxious. I couldn’t imagine my life without her. It had taken me way too long to realize how I felt about her. Anytime I thought about my life in a month or a year or in ten years, she was there. I wasn’t sure how it happened, but I knew she was a person I wanted in my life. It wasn’t even a want. It was a need. I needed the woman like I needed air.I was prepared to chase her down if I had to. I would do whatever it took to make her hear me out. I knew there was still a chance she would kick me to the curb. I wouldn’t blame her if she did. I had fucked up. A lot. I would spend the next year trying to convince her to give me a chance. I couldn’t explain when things clicked but they had.It was like the light went on. I hated that I was so ignorant for so damn long. I hated to thin
Evie“I don’t know,” I answered. “I didn’t take the call. I was in a meeting. And it wasn’t the kind of meeting that allowed me to answer my phone.”“Did he leave a voicemail?”“Nope.”“I hate that,” she groaned.“Me too. If it was important, he could leave a message. The guy has fallen off the face of the earth again. He hasn’t called or texted and now he blows up my phone? I’m not interested.”“Liar,” she shot back.“Okay, I am interested but I don’t want to make it too easy.”“You know you’re never going to be able to think of anything else if you don’t call him back and find out what he wants.”“Won’t that make me sound like I’m desperate for his attention?” I asked.“No. The man called you. Calling him back is just polite.”Truly, I was looking for her approval. She had given it to me and now I was anxious to call him and find out. “I’m going to do it.”“Let me know,” she said and hung up.I held the phone in my hand, tapping it against my forehead. I needed to mentally brace mys
EvieI pulled up the images from a sweet-sixteen party I had planned about six months ago before I turned my laptop for the new client to see.“Oh wow, that is stunning!” the mother exclaimed.“I don’t want pink,” the spoiled princess pouted.I smiled, remaining calm. “You don’t have to have pink. You can choose any color you want.”“No,” the mother quickly interjected. “We are not having black.”The girl scowled. “I wasn’t going to say black.”I kept my smile in place. The affluent family had reached out to me last week. Initially, I didn’t want to do it. I was in no mood to deal with a spoiled teenager.“What colors were you thinking about?” I asked.“Purple,” she answered. “I want several shades of purple.”“Oh, that’s very regal,” her mother said with a relieved smile. “I like it.”“I was at a party you planned for my friend like a year ago,” the young girl said. “She said you were really good. My party has to be better than her party.”Ah, teenage envy. “We will do our best.”“We
Xander“No, I don’t suppose it was. You did it for yourself. You made something of yourself. I’ve kept my head in the sand, trying to ignore what you’ve been doing. I did a little research. You have changed the world, just like you said you were going to. You really did something remarkable. Your mother used to show me newspaper clippings with your name. I know I didn’t say it, but I’m proud of you. I’ve always been proud of you.”I put the bottle of beer down. I could not continue to drink it if he was going to send me into coughing fits every time he dropped one of his little bombshells. “You are?”“I am. I should have told you before. You are my son. I’ve said some pretty shitty things. I don’t know how to make them go away but I was hoping we could try and start over.”I felt like I was being pranked. Maybe I was dreaming. In thirty-two years, my father had never believed I was worthy of his last name. “You want to start over? I’m sorry, Dad. This is all coming out of left field.