Chapter 19
Excitement ricocheted through her. She tapped the toe of her sneaker against the carpet in the hallway of Mark’s building as she waited for Connor to unlock the door. She pressed herself against his back, needing to be near him.
Heat poured between them in waves and combined with the warmth in her belly. The locks clicked, Connor opened the door, and yanked her inside. She slammed the door and he pushed her against the hard wood. He fisted his hands in her hair and crushed his mouth on hers.
Evelyn slid her palms over his pecs and around his neck. He pressed his tongue into her mouth, licking and moaning, encouraging her to reciprocate. She met his strokes with her own, relishing the taste of him.
Ruff, ruff!
Connor groaned and dropped his head to the crook of her neck, gently nipping her shoulder. “Dammit, Porkchop. Again, with the bad timing.”
Evelyn laughed and struggled to catch her breath. “Can you lock him in the bathroom or something?”
“Give me a second.” Connor scooped up the dog and hurried off.
Evelyn ran a hand through her hair and blew a breath through barely parted lips. She pressed her hands to her belly to try to stop the stupid butterflies from dancing along her stomach.
Lust wasn’t the only thing driving her into Connor’s arms right now. She’d waited her entire life for a man to show her she was worth something. He didn’t want to swoop in and be her knight in shining armor, he wanted to give her the sword to slay her own dragon.
Having his hands on her earlier, showing her how to use her own strength to defend herself, had driven her to brink of insanity. If people hadn’t bustled around on the other side of the glass at the gym, she wouldn’t have been able to stop herself from taking him right there.
A door slammed, and she held her breath while she waited for Connor to appear. He turned the corner and extended his hand. “Come here,” he said, nodding his head toward the bedroom. “Unless you prefer the hallway.”
His crooked smile broke the tension, and she laughed. “I think we can find some place a little more comfortable.” She took his hand and let him lead her down the hall.
He opened the bedroom door and waited for her to enter before following behind her and closing the door.
She turned toward him, and anxiety stole her nerve.
She dropped her gaze to her feet and scratched the soft fabric of her hoodie.
Being in a bedroom alone with Connor brought all her insecurities crashing down.
It’d been a long time since she’d let a man get this close, and the outcome had never been great.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have closed the door.” He opened the door, leaving only a crack of light filtering into the room.
His consideration calmed her anxiety, but her nerves still shook. He came toward her. She focused on the soft lines around his sapphire-blue eyes. He stopped in front of her, and she lifted her chin to keep their gazes locked.
Summoning her courage, she slid her hand up the front of his shirt and flattened her palm on his rock-hard abs. Connor sucked in a breath, his stomach constricting. Awareness zipped through her. His reaction to her simple touch made her feel like a goddess.
For the first time in her life, she held the power. Inching her palm higher, she spread her fingers over his pec and rubbed her thumb over his nipple, drawing it into a hard nub.
She wanted more—wanted the afternoon sun seeping through the thin curtain to show her every line of his body. Tearing her fingers from his smooth chest, she glided her hand down his stomach. She grabbed the hem of his T-shirt and lifted.
Connor allowed her to guide the shirt over his head. He stood still, letting her gaze travel over his broad shoulders and ripped arms.
He pulled on her baggy hoodie and brought her to him. He inched her hoodie up her torso and over her head, throwing it to join his shirt on the floor.
He circled her waist with his hands.
She tilted her head back to gaze at his face. “Your hands almost go all the way around.”
The side of his mouth hitched up. “I’ve got big hands.”
A burst of excitement tingled between her legs, and she tucked her bottom lip between her teeth. Leaving one hand on her waist, Connor brought the other to her mouth and freed her lip. “If anyone gets to taste your mouth, it’s me.”
She shivered. Oh Lord, what have I gotten myself into?
He dipped his head and his tongue, hot and wet, delved into her. No gentle meeting of lips or slow easing into the moment. It was an all-consuming, gut-twisting, I-need-you- now kiss.
Evelyn raised on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck. His arms connected at the small of her back and he lifted her to him, pressing his long shaft against her stomach. She wrapped her legs around his waist, and he cupped his hands against her ass.
Evelyn moaned. If Connor had big hands, they had nothing on what hid beneath his gym shorts.
Step by step, he headed toward the bed. She unhooked her legs and settled them back on the floor, the backs of her knees pressed against the mattress. He pulled away and stared at her with raised brows.
She panted. “What is it?”
Connor released his hold around her and brushed a long strand of hair away from her face, tucking it behind her neck.
“Absolutely nothing. I want you so damn much, but I need to make sure this is what you want. That you’re ready.
I plan on being in your life for as long as you want me. This doesn’t have to happen now.”
How in the world could this man continue to surprise her with his kindness?
She smiled and scooted toward the headboard, climbing to her knees, her gaze locked on his.
She wanted him more than she’d ever wanted anything, and she needed to show him.
Needed him to know without a single doubt this was her choice, and she would never regret it.
“I want you, too, Connor. Now.” She didn’t want to waste any more time with words.
They had all the time in the world to talk... after.
Pushing past the hesitation stealing her courage, she pulled her T-shirt and sports bra over her head then straightened her shoulders and sat in front of him.
The beams of light shone on her bare skin, and she lifted her chin, unafraid of the scars she’d always kept hidden. She wanted him to see her—all of her.
Connor climbed on the bed, stalking toward her on his hands and knees. His gaze stayed fixed on her face.
Her heart hammered against her rib cage, and she swallowed hard. He gently grazed his fingers over the puckered scar on her abdomen. Over and around the lightened skin that taunted her daily.
“What happened?” His thick voice made the words small in the quiet room.
She didn’t want to talk about it. Not now. She’d tell him everything later. For this one moment, she just wanted to enjoy being a woman in the arms of a man she was falling for. “Later. I promise.”
He grabbed her hips and pressed his lips to the scars. He kissed away any self-consciousness still clinging to her psyche.
“Connor,” she said on a rush of breath.
He raised to his knees and held her close.
Her breasts pressed against his ribs, their hearts pounding together.
She raised her mouth to meet his and ran her hands over the rigid muscles in his shoulders, lowering her palms until they hit the elastic band of his shorts.
She dipped her fingers into the thin material and pushed down until it slipped over his ass.
Connor growled and made quick work of releasing himself from the rest of his clothes. “Your turn,” he said with a wicked gleam in his eyes.
She nodded, unable to glance away from his thick cock.
He pounced, crushing her to the bed. His lips brushed against her ear, nibbling at her lobe, then trailed down her jawline and over her neck.
He slid his hands over her thighs, parting her legs so his hand could dip between them.
He cupped her center, rubbing his thumb against her yoga pants as his mouth captured her breast. She arched her back and squirmed against his fingers.
“I thought it was my turn,” she said between ragged breaths. “Let me take off my pants.”
Connor didn’t move his hand, just continued to torment her through the thin black fabric. The combination of his fingers pressing against her clit and his tongue flicking over her nipple caused a wave of pleasure to overtake her. Her thigh muscles clenched, and she squeezed them against his hand.
His warm breath poured over her skin. “Oh, this is fun.”
She dug her hands into his firm ass cheeks and whimpered. “This is torture.”
He blew a breath across her other nipple before taking the tender nub between his teeth.
He brought his hands to her hips, dipped them into her pants and panties, and slid both over her legs until nothing separated his body from hers.
The hardness of his shaft pressed against her, and she ground against him, needing him to be inside her.
“Hold on a second.” His hoarse voice caused gooseflesh to erupt over her skin. He leaned to the nightstand and opened a drawer. “Thank God.”
He straightened and fell back on his knees at her feet.
The air cooled without his hot skin pressed against her, but it did nothing to extinguish the flames licking to life inside her.
She kept her gaze on him as he ripped open a foil packet and pulled out a condom.
Thankfully, one of them had kept their wits, because no way had she the awareness to stop him from plunging inside her without protection.
She hoisted herself up on her elbows and grabbed the condom.
Rising to meet him, she placed the condom on the head of his penis and slowly slid it over the ridges of his shaft.
Connor shuddered, and his chest rose and fell with each ragged breath he took.
She tightened her grasp around him, his thick width making her pulse quicken.
“God, Evelyn. I want to be inside you before I cum.”
She glanced at him with rounded eyes, trying to appear innocent. But how innocent could she really look when she sat naked in front of him with his hard penis in her hand? “I don’t know what you mean.” She squeezed his penis and rubbed the thick pad of her thumb across his length.
A deep, lusty chuckle poured from his throat, and he leaned forward, pinning her back to the bed again. “You know damn well what I’m talking about.” He reached down and found her center with his fingers. Her muscles quivered, and moisture flowed from deep inside her.
She bucked her hips, pushing him deeper and deeper. But it wasn’t enough. “I want you now. All of you.”
Connor pulled back, gripped her hips, and repositioned himself between her legs.
Evelyn wrapped her legs around his waist, drawing him deeper inside her.
He felt so damn good. She curled her fingers into his shoulders, and he stared deep into her eyes.
Her heart flipped, and fireworks exploded in the pit of her stomach.
Happiness engulfed her and moisture threatened to fill her eyes. She blinked it back.
He wouldn’t understand it wasn’t sadness or regret, but a fierce, raw joy she’d never imagined she’d find.
He rocked his hips forward, plunging deeper, harder, faster.
They moved together, their bodies becoming one.
She kept her gaze on his face, not wanting to miss one second of his pleasure.
Beads of sweat dotted his forehead. She grabbed the back of his neck and brought him to her, tasting the salty sweat and the warmth of his mouth.
She licked into him, her tongue diving, devouring, demanding.
He thrust hard and rocked against her clit.
Her muscles spasmed on a delicious wave.
She dug her nails into his back and squeezed her legs harder around him, holding on as he pushed her over the edge.
Pleasure shot through her, and she threw her head back, savoring every blissful moment.
He pressed his lips to the curve of her neck and continued thrusting.
Her pleasure grew, spiraling higher and higher until she thought she’d never come down.
One more plunge, one more kiss, one more mind- shattering sensation and her body went limp. Connor grunted and groaned, the lines of his face clenched, and her name slipped from his lips. He collapsed on top of her, his body still, his breathing hard.
He rolled to her side and tucked his arm behind her head. She struggled to catch her breath and snuggled into his secure arms. “That was amazing,” she said, speaking each word between ragged pants.
Connor grazed his fingers up and down her arm. “Amazing is an understatement.”
Evelyn laughed. Her spirits lifted higher than ever, the baggage weighing her down slipping from her shoulders.
Turning toward her, Connor gazed at her, his eyes darting from side to side as if searching for something on her face. “Are you all right?”
She smiled and her heart swelled with happiness. She cupped his cheek, swiping her thumb across his chiseled cheekbone. “I’ve never been better.”
A wide grin lit his face, and he slowly came toward her.
Ruff, ruff, ruff!
Connor groaned and nuzzled his face in her hair. “That damn dog will be the death of me.”
“Poor guy’s trapped in the bathroom. Put on some clothes and grab him.”
He circled his arms around her and nipped the tender skin of her neck. “I don’t want to ever leave you or this bed. We have too much fun.”
Ruff, ruff, ruff!
“I think he’s scratching the door.” She giggled and swatted his ass. “Besides, we can’t stay here all day.”
Connor reared back and stared at her with solemn eyes. “You’re right. As much as I’d love to, we have work to do. But I’ll warn you, as soon as that asshole is found, you better take some time off.”
She tilted her head. “Why?”
“Because I plan on keeping your ass in bed for a week.” He smacked his lips to her cheek and jumped off the bed.
Evelyn lifted the blanket over her chest and sat, keeping her gaze on him as he pulled on his clothes.
Connor was unlike any man she’d ever met. He was magnificent, and he was all hers. Ugly circumstance might have brought them together, but nothing in this world would keep them apart.