CHAPTER 52
Evander
“How would you like to handle this?” I ask. “I’m fine with whatever you think is best.”
She reaches for the body wash sitting on the shelf and holds it upside down over my upturned palm. She squirts a large dollop in my hand and then one in her own. And without saying anything, we begin soaping each other up.
It’s like we’ve done this a hundred times, but it’s the first. It’s the way it is with Phoebe and me… natural. Right. Easy.
Phoebe’s my easy button. I hope she won’t bust my balls over that.
She takes long strokes of her hands along the wet skin of my chest, upper arms, and shoulders, then down my stomach.
I start with the corresponding areas on her body but spend way too much time on her breasts.
I see a few love bites along the underside and around the nipple. I should feel bad about that, I guess.
I don’t. I like it.
Because she’s mine.
“We’re going to be at the eye of the storm when everyone arrives, including my ex-boyfriend, which I cannot even believe is happening.”
“He simply assumed he was still invited?”
“I guess.” She lifts my injured arm and carefully washes around the plastic.
Then she reaches up into one underarm and then the other.
“It’s my fault. I should have been clear that he wasn’t invited, but I kept forgetting to do it.
And now he’s been snowed in with my entire family and I have no idea what he’s told them. But I’m sure of one thing.”
“What’s that?”
She reaches for the body wash again and loads us both up. She drops to a squat on the shower floor and begins washing my feet, ankles, and legs and she continues to talk.
Unfortunately, the view from up here is making ole Captain Blackbeard sit up and pay attention. That’s not a reaction I’ve ever had while a woman’s talked about her ex.
“If Rick’s here, it means he thinks there’s a chance he can change my mind.”
“Is he right?”
She stares up at me, then slides her hands up the front of my legs to my thighs. “Evander MacLaine, are you jealous?”
“No.”
“Good. Because trust me—there’s no reason to be.
” She lets out a sigh as she stands and takes my dick in her hot, soapy hands.
“But emotions will be high. No doubt my mom will be hysterical, and my brothers will use that as an excuse to be hot-headed know-it-alls who feel obligated to protect me. Because that’s the Travis family dynamic. ”
“If your brothers get snippy with me, my brothers will come to my defense.”
“Is your whole family coming, too?”
“Probably.” Since I’m about ready to cum into her hands, I take my handful of bodywash, kneel down, and start with Phoebe’s feet and lower legs, then slowly work my way up. I feel her rest her hand on my shoulder for balance as she lifts a foot.
I can’t wait till I get her in my bed, where I can take my time, kiss and lick every inch of her body.
“I don’t get it.” Her voice has that far-away rasp that I’ve learned means she’s getting sexually charged up and ready to go. “What’s the deal with all of you men, anyway?”
“Do you know what we call your brothers?”
“No,” she says. “What?”
“‘The Travassholes’.”
I look up to find her staring down at me, mouth open. She snaps it shut and pulls me to a stand. I slide my soapy fingers up her inner thighs.
“And do you know what my brothers call you and your brothers?”
“I do not,” I say.
“The MacLames.”
We both bust out into howls of laughter until we shush each other because the sound is echoing off the tile walls.
“Those are excellent eighth-grade insults,” I say.
“Do you even know what started all this crap?”
“That’s a good question. I don’t.” I very casually drag my fingers up to the vee between her thighs, and slowly massage the outside of her sweet little pussy.
She hisses with pleasure.
“In fact, I don’t even know if there was one specific event. Except maybe how one of your brothers beat the shit out of Declan on the regular at Carla’s Creamy Cone, which he no doubt deserved.”
“Which of my brothers did that?” She grabs my wrist and pulls my hand from her, while smiling at me. “Turn around.”
I do. Then I feel her slick hands all over my ass. Damn. I release a breath I’ve been holding before I can answer her question.
“I think it was the same brother every time. Who’s the boxer?”
“Mason.”
I shake my head. “Doesn’t sound right. Who’s the MMA fighter?”
“Ryder.”
“Yep. That’s the one.”
She slips her hands around the front of my hips and cradles my dick again. I lean a hand against the wall and let the hot water roll down my face.
“You good?”
“Great,” I say with a croak.
“You know, it seems the Creamy Cone has been the backdrop for a lot of very important moments in the history of the Travassholes and MacLames.”
“True.” I spin around and her hands fall away from my dick.
“So what’s the plan, Phoebe?”
She looks up at me and scrunches her nose. “We could always just tell them the truth.”
I feel myself smile. “Why switch it up now.”
“Right? So how about I say, ‘Oh, by the way, Evander and I are a thing. Get the fuck over it.’”
“Mmm,” I run my hands along her sides and reach up to cup a breast, then tweak the nipple. “Have I ever told you that I love it when you talk dirty?”
“You may have mentioned it.”
With that, I crush my mouth to hers and walk her backwards until her shoulder blades tap against the tile shower wall.
I lift Phoebe at the waist. She knows the drill and immediately wraps her sweet thighs around me. I loop my forearms under the back of her knees to her to keep her in place. Her arms slip around my neck.
I kiss her. I kiss her with everything in me, knowing that all I want is to adjust her position and get my dick back inside her. I’m blind with the need to fuck her again. But we can’t.
Right?
Not now, anyway.
But babies with Phoebe? Absolutely, I can see that happening. Someday.
It’s nuts to think that only four days ago, as I drove out to Prospector’s Creek in search of Finn’s damn wedding reception centerpiece, I had it all figured out.
Never falling in love.
Never getting married.
Never having kids.
And now?
Never say never, dumbass.
Phoebe drags her soft lips from my mouth and nibbles along my jawline, then down the side of my neck.
“I’ll shave as soon as I can,” I tell her.
She lifts her lips from my skin and gives me a sly smile. “Don’t do it on my account.”
“You don’t mind it? I know I’m scratchy and scruffy.”
“You make a very attractive wild man. Scratchy and scruffy is incredibly sexy on you, Evander. I can barely control myself.”
I stare at her, my heart pounding. “Fine. I’m never shaving again as long as I live. In about a month, I’ll be a ZZ Top-looking motherfucker just wandering aimlessly around the ranch.”
She laughs. “You’ll be Yosemite Sam! Literally!”
I spin her around in the water as we both laugh until it hurts.
We stop when we hear a loud banging on the bathroom door.
“Phoebe!” a woman yells. “The helicopter’s landing. Your family’s here.”
“Aw, shit,” I mumble. “I really wanted to wash your hair.” I let Phoebe slide down the front of my body and make sure she’s steady on her feet.
“Be right out, Ginny!” she yells.
I grab two towels, hand one to Phoebe, and use the second to dry myself off as quickly as I can. Then I put the stupid gown back on even though it’s clinging to my wet skin.
I leave one last kiss on Phoebe’s lips. “Truth it is, then.”
“Nothing but the truth.”
She smacks me on the ass before I run out of the bathroom. I nearly slip in the water dripping off my legs as I race down the hallway, doing my best to keep myself covered.
I hear giggling coming from the nurse’s station.
“Mr. MacLaine!” I turn to see Ginny running after me. “Here’s a set of scrubs. Please put something on. Some of us have underlying medical conditions.”
“Thanks.” I check the tag, and it’s labeled 2XL, which might work.
I make it to my room and get the door shut just as I hear a commotion in the hallway.