Chapter 24 The Delphines
Eva
I stood before a massive skyscraper, staring at the address. I looked back at my phone. Yes, this was the place. I stepped up, my overnight bag on my shoulder, and spoke to the doorman rushing to greet me.
“Hi, I’m here to see David,” I said. “I’m supposed to go up.”
“Ah, are you Miss Pavlak?” He asked, expression cheerful.
“Yes,” I answered. “Do I need to do something or—”
“No, no,” the man wrestled the bag from my shoulder. “He said to expect you.”
“I can carry that—”
“Absolutely not,” the man insisted. “I will carry it and escort you up.”
“I’m confused. I thought this was the wrong place. Because it’s connected to the hotel,” I explained as we stepped on an elevator.
“The penthouses have a private entrance, miss. This is the right side—side B.”
My ears popped as we climbed. How far up was this place?
“This is the tallest hotel in the city,” the man said. “The penthouse suites are on the last ten floors.”
“Ah,” I said. “It is… up there.”
The elevator stopped at what I supposed was the top floor.
“And we’re here,” he declared as the elevator doors opened.
The scene here was one of panoramic windows to the front and left. A living room sat to one side and a wall the other. I wasn’t sure what was over there. Davey came around the corner to greet me, dressed only in a robe.
“Oh, thanks, Vince. Sorry. It’s chaos up here.”
“Not a problem, sir,” he boarded the elevator.
I stared in disbelief until Davey pulled me into a kiss. How did anyone live like this?
“So, this is it. You made it. Apologies because I’m not ready, but you look lovely,” Davey said.
“Thanks,” I blushed.
“I’m going to go change quick but look around and make yourself at home. I’ll put your bag in my room?”
“Sure,” I agreed.
He wound up a set of stairs behind the wall.
A kitchen and small informal dining room sat to the left.
Around the corner were the stairs and two small but well-appointed bedrooms. The rearmost room was an office chock full of beautifully preserved sports memorabilia, toy trains, and the biggest monitor I’d ever seen.
I practically drooled at the sight even if everything else was disharmonious.
Every surface was pristine from the white and blue walls—colors alternating flawlessly in complementary gradients—to the beautiful marble floors.
On the second floor, I came across the formal dining with views of the Hancock building and Lake Michigan like I’d never seen.
The formal reception room opened onto a roof deck.
Down the other hall, I assumed I’d find Davey’s room.
I proceeded through a massive door into a hallway.
A beautiful dark marble-clad bathroom was the first I saw.
The way the bathtub angled, you could see more gorgeous views of the Hancock.
A shower big enough for 10 people took up one wall.
I walked past, finding his bedroom to the left—huge and with beautiful lake views.
I found him in nothing but underwear in a room that served his closet. The assortment of suits and ties astounded me.
“You’re like James Bond,” I laughed. “Jesus Christ, this is too much.”
“It’s a disaster.”
“Davey, if this is a disaster, we can never live together. You’ll fucking kill me,” I said.
“I have a housekeeper,” Davey explained. “She’s here mostly when I’m not. I credit her with organizing everything.”
A housekeeper for one person? It baffled me.
“What, does that bother you? I promise she is very fastidious. I don’t like things being untidy.”
“We’re about to have infants.”
“Well, I like to know surfaces are clean.”
I snickered.
“What?” Davey scoffed, running his hands through his hair defiantly.
“You… there are two very different versions of you, David.”
“How so?”
“There is the Davey who got me off in a grungy men’s room and keeps a bunch of trains littering one corner of his office and the man who still thinks he can bubble wrap the world from germs and two tiny humans. What is up with that?”
“First of all, my goal is to bubble wrap them since they have a genetic predisposition to asthma, and I don’t want them to suffer that.
Second, I like things neat. Third, I love your pussy and wasn’t thinking about the room.
Fourth, you leave my trains alone. I enjoy them.
I am passionate about them. Don’t go there. ”
“Are you… serious?”
“Yes. My father and I always built those trains growing up. And, it might surprise you to know that I am actually a devoted trainspotter when I travel.”
“A what?”
“Look it up.” Davey pulled on pants, shaking his head. “I had a bit of an issue with that acquisition in London. I’m due to go back in a week. I’ll be back in time for the wedding, no doubt, but legal is playing hardball.”
“Ah,” I said. “And there is no Daphne to smooth things over?”
“Exactly.”
“You’ve got this,” I said. “It will be fine.”
“You’re sweet.” Davey buckled his belt.
I leaned on the doorway, not even caring if I stared at his bare torso. The man only got hotter when he was a supposed disaster. His flustered look made him touchable. He wasn’t The Boss like this—just a man trying to win me over.
“Actually,” Davey sensed I was ogling him, “you aren’t sweet, Eva.”
He sidled over, grabbing my hips.
“I’m not?”
“No,” Davey said, “You’re sexy as hell and I cannot have you right now, but damn I want you. We’re running late.”
“We don’t have to be there for another thirty minutes. It’s like a ten-minute drive. How long does it take you to put on a shirt, David?”
“Fifteen minutes early is on time with Mum. On time is late, baby.”
He kissed me slowly, then backed off.
“Do you genuinely want to fuck me right now?” I asked.
“As much as ever, yeah,” Davey said. “I have no idea what you’ve done to yourself. It’s not the dress alone. But, damn! You’re very fuckable right now.”
I bit my lip.
“Don’t do that,” Davey said. “No. That’s not helpful.”
“Take your pants off,” I said.
“Eva, I—”
“Take your pants off!” I repeated, kicking off my shoes.
“Eva,” Davey groaned. “We cannot—”
I doubled down, taking my panties off and holding them up for effect. “Do what I say or fear my wrath for the rest of the evening. I’m much more pleasant when satisfied.”
“Oh fuck,” Davey tossed his pants and boxers. “I love it when you get demanding.”
“I know.”
Davey pressed me against the wall with his naked body. I felt his cock against my stomach and initially pulled back. Was this weird? Davey pulled me back in. He ran his hand up my dress, finding my wet clit.
“Oh, God,” I moaned.
“Yeah, you like that?”
I nodded.
“Where do you want me to fuck you?”
I thought for a minute. “In the dining room—on the table.”
“Bad girl,” Davey growled. “But, I’ll bite.”
Panties in hand, we raced to the dining room where he had to help me on the table.
He pulled me by the legs to the edge and slipped his hard cock inside.
I gasped, throwing my head back as he pumped into me.
Davey leaned me back, pressing my body down with an almost gentle hunger.
I moaned louder, my nails digging into the table.
Davey played with my clit, throwing me over the edge.
Waves of pleasure rolled over me as I arched my back, staring just past him at the skyline. Now, this was a fantasy.
Davey moved my legs up to his shoulders, pumping harder until he came, falling forward to kiss me. My legs were pinned in a way that should have been impossible, but I felt sufficiently lithe in the moment. Slowly, he dropped my legs to the side, sliding out of my wet center.
“That was… fucking good,” Davey said. “Fuck.”
I snickered. “Yeah?”
“We definitely have to run, though, Eva.”
I followed him to the closet where I reassembled myself as best I could. As Davey dressed, I tried to sort my hair in the bathroom mirror.
“Eva, can you grab the gift from my office downstairs?” Davey called. “I’m almost ready. I’ll meet you down there.”
“Sure,” I agreed.
I wound back down, picking up a gift bag from Tiffany.
Whatever was in it was heavy. The tag on the bag read, “To: Mum, From: Davey, Eva, and The Twins.” Somehow, that warmed my heart most of all.
I wondered if he did it on purpose. But, as he arrived in the foyer, looking hot as ever, I realized he wasn’t looking for props, just help getting out the door.
“Great. Thanks,” Davey said as we climbed on the elevator.
He pressed the button for the basement. I assumed that’s where the car met us.
“What’s the gift?” I asked.
“Mum loves silver picture frames,” Davey said. “Dad always got them for her. I figured I’d continue the tradition.”
“That’s really sweet,” I said.
“I’m a Mummy’s boy. You can fucking say it.” Davey laughed.
“A Mummy’s boy who likes trains,” I snickered.
“Don’t start. They are a wonderful, green form of transport—”
“I’m not judging apart from the fact that your crown jewel is a sustainable building firm we bought out and now you are worried about trains? Davey, honestly, it is incongruous.”
He pulled me closer by the hips. “I like classic cars and trains. Electrics don’t have to be toasters. And, anyhow, yours isn’t. You taught me something. I can be that and sappy about family. That won’t change.”
His gaze lingered on me in a sweet way. Yes, he was still thinking about fucking me on his table. He also dropped back into that precious vulnerable state I adored.
The elevator doors opened, shaking us awake.
“It’s okay. I wish America had more trains. Also, I’d rather see you be good to your mother and sisters than be an asshole, David.” I squeezed his hand tight in mine while leading the way. “It’s nice that you care so much.”
“I think we have that in common,” Davey said. “Our families mean a lot to us.”
“That may be all.”
“Nah,” Davey said. “We’ve got a company and two babies that also tie us together. That is not nothing.”
“Also, our shared desire to have the Cubs shatter our dreams annually.”
“This is the year. I swear,” Davey chuckled, turning and meeting my gaze. “I love you, Eva. I really, really do.”
Davey
“She really cleans up well,” Mum said. “She’s glowing.”
Mum’s eyes watched as Eva crossed the room, greeting Lanie as she came downstairs.
“She’s wonderful,” I said. “And the babies are doing great.”
“Perfect.”
“I am not pleased. I’m still very angry with you,” Mum said. “But I refuse to take that out on your children. I would suggest you do the right thing and marry her—”
“I’m not doing that right now. That is not a conversation even on the table,” I said. “I do not want to rush things.”
“You’d have children with her, but not marry her?”
“Mum, I never said that. Today, I’m not talking about this. If I proposed, she’d say no. She’s too smart for that. She’d want an earnest proposal, not an invitation to be my bride at a shotgun wedding.”
“Well, the priest—”
“We’re not discussing this,” I said. “And no priest would marry us right now. Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I am sure we could—”
“No,” I said sternly as Eva’s gaze turned to me.
I smiled and beckoned her. I said a silent prayer that Mum left her alone.
“Eva, you look beautiful,” Mum said warmly. “David says the babies are doing well.”
“They’re great,” Eva agreed. “Measuring well. Everything is going according to plan.”
“You don’t have pictures?” Mum asked.
Eva looked to me.
“They’re at home,” I said.
“Why on earth would you have another scan and not bring me pictures?” Mum smacked my arm. “David, that’s cruel.”
“What?” I asked, confused.
“Did you not think I would want to see them?”
Eva pulled out her phone, scrolling through the pictures of the scan. She even played the video of both heartbeats. Mum fawned over it in a way I never expected. Who was this woman? She was supposedly angry with me about everything but now cooed at an ultrasound picture.
“So, are you finding out if they are boys or girls?” Mum asked.
Eva glared at me.
“What?” Mum asked.
“We know. David said that would be a distraction, so we didn’t want to tell you.” Eva sold me out.
I cleared my throat. “I thought you’d hate that idea. We had the genetic tests that came back.”
“Of course I care! I’d like to call them the boys or the girls, obviously! Come on!”
“We’re having boys,” I answered.
Mum gave me a big hug unexpectedly, “Oh, so we’ll have one girl and two boys. Good. That’s incentive enough for someone to try for a girl to even out the ranks!”
“Mum, we don’t need this to be about competitive conception,” I sighed.
“Well, any excuse to move this show along. Do your parents know, Eva?”
She nodded. “They’re happy with the news. Davey actually met them this week.”
Astonished, Mum said, “Really?”
“Don’t seem so surprised, Mother,” I sighed. “I’m not completely uncultured and uncouth.”
“I never know. If someone did what you did to one of the girls, your father would have lost his mind,” Mum said.
“Well, Lady Danna, I’m not sixteen, and he’s nearly forty, so… I think we’re good. Their main concern is that he is reliable and shows up. So far, he’s doing well,” Eva said.
I rubbed her back. “They are nice people. I did have to sleep in the guest room, though. That was a first for at least the last twenty years.”
“Mom is… very Catholic at times.”
Mum exchanged a glance with me.
Eva read that as a negative. “Oh, sorry, you’re… are you not? It’s okay. I’m not religious. My parents—”
“No, darling,” Mum said. “That is nothing I worry about. I am practicing even if my children are making it nearly impossible to stay in the good graces of the diocese. We were raised in the Church, no matter what the English would tell you.”
As long as the checks keep coming, they will keep you around. My mother’s Scottish exceptionalism knew no bounds, and the guilt came in waves.
“Mum, it will be fine. Buy them some more kegs for a fish fry and no one will care,” I sighed.
“There are not enough kegs in the world some days,” she grumbled before changing the subject. “Will you be coming up to Michigan in two weeks?”
“We are attending a wedding,” I said. “Her best friend’s wedding.”
“I’m the Maid of Honor and Davey offered to go.”
“That’s nice,” Mum said, surprised. “Well, we will miss you, but I understand. Behave yourself, David.”
“I plan to,” I said.
Eva smiled at me, softer than ever before. What was this magic? And why, oh why, did she make me so fucking happy?