Chapter 24
twenty-four
Still jittery from the evening, I decide to run.
My feet pound the asphalt as I run in the chilly night.
It’s after eleven, and there aren’t many people out.
There’s a high chance of rain, and it’s colder than it has been all October, which means everyone’s preparing to hibernate for the oncoming winter.
I dart down foggy roads, across quiet intersections, and sprint through damp alleys, determined to run past my house. Now that it’s within my grasp, I need to see it for motivation to stay the course. Tonight, my visit is quick, enough time to take a mental snapshot and move on.
The hum of the city falls away when I enter Lincoln Park, replaced with the sound of dry tree leaves tinkling like glass. I burrow into my heavy shirt and shiver as a new sound emerges. Footfalls matching mine, step for step.
Glancing in the direction of the sound, I find a silhouette running far behind me. My cowardly heart hammers at a quick pace, even though I know it’s nothing to be concerned with. But still, I lower my chin, dig in, and extend my stride, my arms pumping at my sides until crisp air stabs my lungs.
I sprint beyond the park, returning to the main street in search of activity.
When I reach a well-lit area, I let out a long breath of relief.
Signs of life appear in the form of a city bus streaming past, a blinking red stoplight, and several bundled dog walkers.
I slow my pace but jolt when a person appears at my side like a ghost. Anxiety clogs my throat, but it flips to anger when I see who it is.
“How was your business date?” A dark hoodie conceals Evan’s face, but I’d recognize his deep voice anywhere.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“You shouldn’t be running at night by yourself.”
“And you shouldn’t be stalking me.”
I take off when the light changes at a busy intersection, leaving him behind, but Evan doesn’t get the hint. He returns to my side, matching my stride. So I run faster to drop him, but he speeds up to catch me. The entire process is infuriating, and our run escalates into a race.
My blood boils as if fueled by the moment. My legs strain under the pressure, the muscles blazing with fire, and my chest tightens, but I ignore it all. I’ll be damned if he’s going to beat me, especially after what he said earlier tonight. I’m still mad.
The sky opens up and the clouds spit rain.
It intensifies to a deluge, drenching us both.
Raindrops trickle into my eyes and I have to squint to see, yet another challenge I have to overcome to win.
We turn onto our street and the apartment building appears, illuminated by bright floodlights behind a curtain of rain.
I bite my lip and pump my arms until they feel like they’ll break free.
“Are you dating that guy?” Evan gasps the words out between ragged breaths.
“I told you. He’s a client.” I’m growing more irritated by the second. I’m ready to explode.
We reach the stoop at the same time, both requiring several steps to slow. Evan hooks a hand on my upper arm and swings me into his chest. His free hand slides behind my nape, and my traitorous mouth collides with his.
Our lips touch, and I want to hate him but I can’t.
After all this time, I don’t expect it, but I feel sheer relief when his body presses against mine.
My fingers grasp his soaked shirt, tugging him closer.
The emotions I’ve been fighting to control release, frantic and burning.
I don’t want to want him, but I do. All my body does, from my curling toes to the tips of my fingers sliding through his wet hair.
My mind protests, begging me to protect myself.
When he coaxes my mouth open and sweeps his searing-hot tongue across mine, my frustration fades. How can I stop when I’m so love-starved? When we’re entangled, wrapped in each other’s arms, I’m spellbound by his touch.
He lifts me. My legs wrap round his hips, and he pins me against the wall of our building.
As he presses into me, his hardness thrusts between my legs, connecting with my spot.
Even with clothing between us, I grind into him, recalling how he filled me.
A haze of ecstasy blooms behind my eyes as I hold him close and nibble on his ear, making him moan.
“Jesus, Cait.” His voice is husky and eyelids heavy. His dark lashes stick together in thick points, like dripping starfish. Water rivulets stream down his face and gather between his swollen lips.
I lean in to suck the pooling salty water between them. He responds by tugging my lip with his teeth. Greedy for a repeat of our one night, I slide my hands under his wet shirt and trace the muscular ridges of his back.
A car drives past. Its headlights blind me, delivering a flash of sanity. I remember why I swore him off to begin with.
My whispers wrestle their way to the forefront of my mind. This is a bad idea. If I’m with Evan, I’ll have to let him in, but it’s about more than that.
I release him and unhook my legs, sliding away until my feet are planted on the ground. I press a hand to his chest, putting a safe distance between us.
“What?” His shoulders rise and fall with his ragged breathing. His eyes are glazed with desire. He presses forward, but I hold him firmly in place.
“I can’t.” Each time a raindrop hits my eyes, I blink, and the veil of lust slips further.
“You could have fooled me.” With a grin, he stares at my wet top. My nipples are hard, giving me away.
He reaches for me again, unwilling to relent, and I grab both his hands, stopping them. This time, he jerks back like I’ve slapped him again.
I turn away to compose myself. He watches, waiting. I focus on forming a coherent sentence, or anything that will makes sense. My anger builds again at recalling everything that’s happened. It’s the only thing that will get me through this.
“You disappear right after we sleep together, and all of a sudden you want me again because you’re jealous of James? A client? What the fuck, Evan? Is this a game to you?”
“If you weren’t trying to make me jealous, why did you bring him home? And what about the red suit? The no panties? And breaking your own shower? Who’s playing games now?” His voice rises to meet mine.
“I did not break my own shower!” I stomp my foot. “Everything I do isn’t about you, and you believing it is, is exactly why you’re an asshole.”
He doesn’t respond, doesn’t even bother to defend himself. He glances away as though he can see something between us I can’t.
I wish I could see it too, because under the glow of the streetlight, he’s achingly gorgeous, but right now I hate him for making me want him. I hate him more for making me give him up a second time.
My arms flapping in the rain with frustration, I ramble, spilling more secrets than I intend.
“You know, you were right from the beginning. Somehow, you know me better than I know myself. The truth is I can’t handle one night with you, because I’ve been dreaming about you nonstop.
If we do this again, it’ll wreck me, and that’s exactly why I’m done. ”