21. Evan #2
“God, Gemma looks just like her.” Val set it back down and pointed at another—three rough-and-tumble, dirty kids. I was young, grinning up at the camera, flanked by two older boys. A muscle worked in my jaw. “Is this you?”
I could feel my smile, a tiny tug at the corner of my mouth. “That’s me, my brother, Parker, and that’s Michael.”
The way Val’s deep caramel eyes glittered at me over the dim lighting in my own kitchen churned something deep within me.
Maybe if I could keep her look of adoration, it could erase the memories of who I used to be. I reached forward, grabbed her ass, and hauled her into my lap. Her strong legs straddled me as I ran my hands up her back, eliminating any space between our bodies.
I ran hot, hard kisses up her neck, slowing at the sensitive spot just below her ear. My cock thickened at the low, needy sounds that purred in her chest. She felt it and tilted her hips to grind against me.
“I can’t believe you’re here. It’s unreal.” I felt like I had swallowed rocks, my voice grating against her delicate skin.
“I’ll be wherever you are.” If I wasn’t already sitting down, with Val’s legs locked around me, her breathy words would have knocked me on my ass. Even if I could have her for only a little while, I was going to worship her.
I stood, carrying her weight against me and not releasing my tight hold as I walked through the small cabin toward my bedroom.
When my knees found the bed, I lowered us both to the mattress, covering her body with mine.
Her sensuous moans made me feel ravenous, but I took my time, dragging my fingertips achingly slow down her rib cage.
Since the moment I’d seen Val at the bar and then later discovered she was the officer from Chicago, I’d been drawn to her. A surprising dichotomy of hard lines and supple curves. I wanted to explore and treasure every one of them.
I paused, forcing her eyes to meet mine. Hardworking, funny, resilient. I placed my hand at her temple, brushing my fingers in the soft hair that framed her face. I was lost in her. Nothing mattered but the feel of this woman in my arms. I would ruin my whole life for her and beg to do it again.
“I ...” Dangerous words were recklessly close to pouring out of me.
Val was everything I never deserved and more than I could have ever hoped for.
I knew, if I could never say the words, I could show her.
My fingers wound around the hem of her shirt as I peeled it up, burning a path with hard, wet kisses.
I teased her nipple through the thin fabric of her bra and was rewarded with a quick intake of her breath .
“Take off your shirt. I need to feel you.” Val’s hips tilted forward as she pulled at my T-shirt. I pushed my hips farther into her, pressing my hard cock against her clit. I sat on my heels to remove my shirt but quickly covered her body with mine and grabbed a handful of ass.
Val’s hands smoothed over my bare shoulders. She stopped at the angry scar and feathered her fingers over the small, uneven circle.
Her brow was furrowed. “You were shot because of me.”
I kissed her forehead where it wrinkled. “I was shot because of my own shitty choices.”
Her beautiful brown eyes met mine. “You saved my life.”
Now you’re saving mine.
I smothered the thought with a kiss, and I moved my hands to unbutton her jeans and pull them down her thighs, along with her lacy panties. I moved slowly, taking my time to appreciate her soft skin, how her breasts moved higher with every soft gasp.
I kissed her shoulders, dipped my tongue into the valley of her collarbone, and sucked on the pulse point that hammered in her neck.
As I traveled down the curves of her body, I slipped her bra down, exposing the rigid tips of her nipples.
My tongue dragged across them, one by one, sucking and teasing gently with my teeth.
“You’re going to fucking kill me.”
I chuckled at her words. I was determined to take my time with her.
She was here, in my space, and nothing was going to rush me.
Val’s sensitive skin prickled, and I used my body to give warmth to her.
I sank my teeth into the inside of her hip bone, and my cock pulsed at how she bucked beneath me .
Farther and farther down, I moved my mouth over the valley of her thighs as I inched lower.
My tongue dragged a wet line across the thin skin.
Val was exposed to me, in every way, and I had never seen anything more stunning.
My rough palms traveled back up her inner thighs as I pushed them apart and nestled closer.
My hot breath moved over her, and I moaned the second my tongue felt her slick heat.
I pressed a firm kiss at her clit, nestling my face into her. Her hands tangled in my hair, and I knew exactly what she wanted.
I lavished hot, open-mouthed kisses across her clit, teasing and sucking it into my mouth. I dipped my head lower, licking her pussy with the gentlest touch. Her hands pressed into my hair as her hips lifted to meet me.
“I know what you need, baby girl. I won’t even make you say it this time.”
I drove my tongue across her, wide and flat, the sound of her strangled cry muffled by her strong thighs pressing against my ears. My head moved upward in slow, languid strokes.
“Your pussy tastes so fucking good.”
Val’s hands clutched the sheet beneath her as she moaned.
“I’ve got you. You don’t have to be quiet here. Tell me.”
“Yes, Evan. Holy shit that feels good.” Her pussy pulsed around my tongue as I dipped it inside her. I wanted to taste her as she came. I moved upward. I licked my lips and sucked her clit into my mouth again, teasing and sucking and flicking it with my tongue.
Val drove her hips farther into me, a hot ball of pleasure tightening my back. On a cry, Val’s pussy clenched, and I moved lower, drawing out every pulse and spasm .
My kisses turned light again as she came down. She was limp on the bed, and pride tugged a smile as her thighs still quaked. Her arm was flung over her eyes, and as she relaxed, she peeked at me from under her arm.
“You are a dangerous man.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I palmed my cock, desperate to drive into her and feel her pussy wrap around me. Val watched in appreciation as I stroked the outside of my jeans.
“Pull that cock out.”
I lifted an eyebrow at her command.
“You heard me.” Val pulled herself to her elbows and smirked. “Last time you insisted I tell you what I want. I want to feel your cock in the back of my throat.”
I stood at the side of the bed, unbuttoned my pants, and slid down my black boxer briefs. Val scooted off the bed and kneeled in front of me. The sight of her looking up at me, her mouth slack with desire, was enough to almost finish me. I swallowed thickly.
Val gripped the base of my cock with a firm hand as she dragged the flat of her tongue up the underside of my cock, teasing the vein that ran its length.
I released a deep, throaty moan. Val sucked and stroked, her soft lips stretched around the thickness of my cock.
I watched her beautiful face as she sucked me to the back of her throat and swirled her tongue.
As her fingertips teased my balls, she worked the muscles in her mouth and throat to pulse around me, and I nearly came undone.
I pulled her from her knees and gripped her ass, lifting her off her feet. I needed her— now— to be buried so deep in her I couldn’t remember anything but her wild black hair and her body wrapped around me.
“Evan, there’s one more thing I want.”
“Anything, baby girl. ”
“I want to feel you. I’m on the pill. Clean. Please let me feel you.”
My jaw ticked. I had never fucked without a condom, but with Val, I didn’t want anything between us either. I looked deep into her eyes. “You’re safe with me.”
Hovering over her—her on the bed, my feet planted on the floor—I lined the head of my cock to her entrance and pushed in, just the first inch.
With quick pulses, I teased her, reveling in how hot—how wet—she was for me.
Unable to take any more, I surged forward, bottoming out as her legs wrapped around my hips.
Together we bucked and moved as I pumped into her.
I watched with reverence as we moved together. My hand planted against her ribs, the other teasing and rolling her nipple through my fingers. I was spiraling out of control, chasing my own release.
“I’m close, baby. Can you come with me?”
“Yes, Evan.” Val bucked harder as I moved my hand lower to find her swollen clit. “More.”
“Tell me, baby. Tell me what you need.”
“Harder.” Her ragged, needy breaths pushed me over the edge.
A few slow presses of my thumb as I pumped into her, and her pussy clenched and throbbed around me. Pressure built until I was right there with her, releasing everything I had as I continued to move in and out.
My hands dug into her hair at the base of her neck as I deepened my last thrust and held her onto me. The cabin was silent, our panting breaths the only sound that filled the air. I moved again, my cock hypersensitive to every flutter of her pussy around it.
I released my grasp on her hair and slid my hand down her throat and settled it on her chest. Val’s heart pounded under my palm.
She gulped in a breath. “That was ... intense.”
No better word could describe my feelings.
I could only nod in response. Easing back, I took a deep breath to steady myself.
Val sat up, her long legs dangling on the edge of the bed, and looked around.
I was usually the one who reminded her that we needed to be cautious, but in that moment, fear danced over me that she would stand up, gather her clothes, and slip into the darkness.
“Let’s get cleaned up. Take a shower with me.”
Val lifted an eyebrow but didn’t object.
After leading her to the bathroom, I let the water get as hot as we could stand before pulling her close and letting the water run in rivulets down her back.
I held her, stroked her back, and stayed silent.
My heart thumped hard in my chest, and I knew she could hear it.
Her contented sighs released the tension in my shoulders.
I took care in washing her hair and letting my soapy hands caress the contours of her hips.
It was getting hard to do the right thing.
Instead of getting dressed and saying our goodbyes, I crawled into bed and lifted the sheet and comforter, nodding toward the empty space beside me.
“Hop in.”
“Evan, I ...” Val toyed with the inside of her lip. A sick part of me loved that she was just as torn as I felt.
“Just for a minute. I’m dog-tired.”
Without another word, Val slipped into bed beside me.
The smell of my body wash on her skin caused a tingle in my spine as I breathed her in.
I curled into her, tucking my arm beneath her head and lifting my knees, molding her to me.
Val relaxed into me, the entirety of my front formed to her back from chest to toes.
I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her even closer.
Her soft voice broke the silence. “Did you ever want to quit?”
My lips pressed together as I struggled to find the right words. In my silence, Val rolled to look at me, her dark-brown eyes serious in the dim light. “I thought about it a thousand times. Every day. But thinking like that will get you killed.”
In her silent understanding, I found the bravery to keep going. “I learned to bury it so deep no one could see it. I held on to the things that made the life bearable—food, clothes, money, power.” I faltered on that last one, but I’d promised her nothing but the truth, and I was stripped bare.
“Do you miss it?”
I exhaled heavily. “I miss a good hot dog.”
Val pushed against me. I pulled her closer.
“I don’t know. I don’t miss hurting people. I don’t miss watching my brother change. I don’t miss worrying that my best friend will put a bullet in me one day. That’s what’s funny. I know right now I have a target on me, and I feel safer than I ever have.”
“You are safe. I can protect you.”
I smiled, pulled her close, and kissed her forehead as she nestled in closer. In our quiet bubble, I could pretend that this was real. That this thing between us didn’t have the power to absolutely destroy me.
Propped on my elbow, I spent entirely too long memorizing the lines of her face and the swoop of her eyelashes. I kept the conversation light despite the thunderous thoughts pounding in my skull. Eventually Val drifted off to sleep.
I gently kissed the curve of her bare shoulder. “I know you should leave, but if you go now, you’d be taking my heart with you.”