16. Harper #2
“One of his men, yes. The tattoo proves she was theirs at some point. She escaped, and they killed her for it. Trafficked girls don’t get to just leave.
They don’t get to decide they don’t want that life and pick up and walk away.
If they try to escape, or if by some miracle they actually do escape, they’re killed for it. ”
“You sound like you know a lot about this kind of thing,” I say, watching his body language. His hand tightens around the handle of the knife, but he stays quiet, the only sound coming from the blade cutting through the tomato and hitting the cutting board.
“Want to talk about it?” I ask when it’s clear he’s not planning on saying anything else.
“No.” The clipped, one-word answer is all he gives before turning his back to me and checking the oven.
Undeterred, I say, “If you change your mind, I’m here.”
“Until you leave to tell the world my secrets,” he says.
“This isn’t my fault,” I remind him. “All I did was reach out to grab onto you. My only sin here is excessive horniness. You can hardly blame me for that.”
“Is?” he questions with a raised brow. “I guess I didn’t do a good enough job last night if you’re still suffering from it.”
“Well, you didn’t magically wake up ugly, so that one’s on you.” I gesture to myself and say, “I’m at least trying. You don’t see me getting all dolled up and cooking supper.”
“I changed out of my suit,” he says in his own defense, but as he’s saying it, I’m trailing my eyes up the tight, white T-shirt and black sweats that are clearly designed to entice and magnify all the good stuff.
Ev doesn’t have love handles or loose flesh.
The only thing I’m getting glimpses of are hard abs, a trim waist, firm, thick thighs, and broad shoulders.
If this is his slumming-it look, then he needs to learn a few things from me.
Running my eyes over the hard planes of his chest, I sigh and force my attention back to the salad he naively thinks I’m going to eat.
“Yeah, you look awful in that shirt and sweats, Ev. I’m surprised I haven’t lost my appetite yet.”
The corner of his mouth lifts up the tiniest bit. He points the tip of the blade at me. “You’re one to talk. You already know seeing you in my hoodie drives me crazy. I thought we established that last night.”
His blue-green eyes do a slow perusal of my body, and the desire in them makes me feel like I’m wearing a slinky black dress and no panties. I shake my head, confused and trying to figure him out.
“It’s for the best, remember?” I remind him.
I swear I see a flash of pain cross his face before he returns his attention back to the salad.
This time I don’t fill the silence. When supper is ready, he makes me a plate, does the same for himself, and then sits down on the couch, choosing to eat in my nest instead of at the island.
I follow him, making sure to keep a cushion of space between us.
If he notices, he doesn’t show it. I grab the remote, putting it on a movie I think he’ll like and then sit back and eat my supper.
I must be feeling guilty because I even eat most of the salad he gave me.
Later on, when it’s time for bed, he goes up to his room, and I head for the spare room down the hall. It’s lonely and quiet and even with Watson sprawled across the bed next to me, I hate it. I’d rather be upstairs with Ev, and I keep wondering if he’s feeling the same way.
The next morning, I walk out into the kitchen to find a note on the counter.
Harper,
I’m not sure if you still want a note, but I had to leave for work early. I’ll be back as soon as I can.
Ev
It’s not the love note I’ve always dreamed of, but at least he didn’t just walk out again.
With a sigh, I make some coffee and let Watson out to use the bathroom.
The next few days pass by in the same routine.
He goes to work and comes back, fills me in on what’s going on, and then I write my articles and text people back.
I’m still sticking to the story of being really busy and I add in a detail about getting a source who’s very worried about getting caught, so it’s required me to sneak around a bit and meet at odd hours.
I assure everyone I’m fine and I’ll be back in the office soon.
It’s not a long-term plan, but it’s working for now, and that’s really all I care about.
The silence with Ev is another story. That’s what’s threatening to drive me crazy, and after a week of this stupid game, I finally decide I’ve had enough.
When we finish our usual nightly routine of me sending off texts and the article that he gives me just enough info to write, I watch as he pours himself a drink, something he’s been doing a lot lately, and then collapses onto the couch with a sigh.
It’s obvious he’s exhausted, and when he takes a drink and then leans his head back and closes his eyes, I feel a wave of concern flood through me.
It’s impossible to be heartless when you genuinely care about someone, and as fucked up as our situation is, I do care for this man.
I no longer bother kidding myself about that undeniable truth.
Walking around to stand in front of him, I watch his throat as he swallows, and the urge to kiss him, to taste that skin again, is too strong to resist. With his head still back and his eyes closed, I lean in and run my tongue up his neck.
He stiffens in surprise right before a deep groan escapes his lips and his hand reaches around to pull me down on top of him so I’m straddling his lap.
“Took you long enough,” he growls, fisting my hair and pulling me back so he can see my face.
“You could’ve closed the distance at any time,” I remind him while I feel him grow hard beneath me.
“It had to be you.” His eyes run over me like he’s starved for the sight of me as he trails the pad of his thumb across my cheek. “It had to be your decision, Harper, because this is not going to end well, and believe it or not, I’m trying to protect you.”
“And now?” I ask, rocking my hips just enough to remind me of how badly I want him inside me again.
His eyes go heavy-lidded at the sensation of me grinding against him before he says, “You’re an intelligent woman with a mind of her own. I’m going to trust your judgement on this one.”
“And what about you?” I ask. “What do you want?”
“You,” he says without hesitation. “I’ve wanted you since the first second I saw you, and that feeling just keeps growing stronger.”
“That must be incredibly frustrating for you,” I tell him, making his mouth curl up in a sexy grin.
“You have no idea.”
Wiggling out of his grasp, I slowly slide down his body until I’m kneeling in front of him.
I can tell he’s trying very hard to not look too excited, like he doesn’t want to assume anything, but when I reach for his belt and start to undo it, he lets out a soft groan that’s filled with need and a desperation to have my mouth on him.
Working the button free, I slowly start to unzip his pants. He ditched the jacket and tie when he came in, and he’s already rolled up the sleeves of his white dress shirt. The man looks downright delicious, and I’m eager for a taste of him.
Before I can start to tug his pants open, he stops me by brushing my hair back and cupping my face, tilting it up so our eyes meet.
“There are so many things I wish I could tell you,” he says. “Things I wish you could know.”
“I understand why you can’t, and it’s okay,” I say, actually meaning it.
For the first time in my life, I don’t want to pepper him with questions until he spills all his secrets.
I don’t want to dissect this man. I don’t want to pick him apart until there’s no place I haven’t forced my way into.
I want him to tell me things as he’s able to, and if that day never comes, then I’ll live with it.
I’ll learn to accept that Ev will always remain a mystery to me, that he’ll always keep parts hidden from me.
When I try to dip my head lower again, he stops me, tightening his grip on my face.
His blue-green eyes stay locked on mine when he says, “I want you to know this means something to me, Harper. I may not be able to tell you everything, but I can at least tell you that. This isn’t something I usually do. ”
I give a soft laugh. “You don’t usually let women fall to their knees and try to take your pants off?”
“No, I don’t.”
I know he’s a guarded man, but I am a little surprised by his serious response. Hesitant, I ask, “Do you want me to stop?”
The intensity leaves his face when he can’t help but grin and say, “No, I don’t.”
I smile back at him and tug his zipper down the rest of the way, splaying his pants open while my eyes run over the hard length that’s pressing against the fabric of his black boxer briefs.
He watches me reach a hand in, groaning when my bare skin meets his.
He’s not the only one mesmerized by this moment.
I can’t take my eyes off his thick size when I free him from his boxers and he’s standing fully erect between us.
Pre-cum coats his head, and my mouth waters at the sight. Sliding my hands up his powerful thighs, I lick my lips and dip my head for a taste. He hisses out a breath when I stick my tongue out and slowly drag it along his crown.
“Fuck,” he groans, fisting my hair and keeping it out of my face so he can watch me circle my tongue along the ridge of skin and then give it a kiss.
“This isn’t going to take long,” he warns.
“I feel like you’ve been edging me this whole goddamn week, walking around in my shirts, taking baths in my tub and then walking past so I can see your wet skin and smell your scent all over my fucking bedroom.
You drive me crazy, and watching you suck my cock is threatening to completely undo me. ”
I give him a slow lick from base to tip and grin up at him. “You’re watching me tease your cock, Ev. Now, you’re about to watch me suck it.”