Chapter 42
CHLOE
I burst into tears as I wrapped my arms around him. “Evan!”
He expelled a long breath onto my skin as if he’d been holding it all the way to Chicago.
Despite what I knew had to be a long day of travel, Evan looked incredibly hot. His dark hair was tousled, his beard a bit more grown out than usual. His sleeves were pushed up, and I’d nearly forgotten how much I’d missed those veins on his arms.
But a jolt of panic hit me after the initial shock wore off. What if this visit didn’t come with positive intentions? Had he come in person to break my heart?
I moved back to look into his eyes. “Why are you here?”
His smile faded. “Isn’t it obvious?”
“I need to hear it,” I demanded.
Evan’s eyes glistened. “I’m here because I love you, Chloe. I love you so much, and I don’t want to lose you.”
He exhaled.
He traveled halfway across the country to tell me that. “What about Effie?” I asked.
“What do you mean?”
“She wrote to me and told me her mom mentioned trying to get your family back together. I know she’s hoping for a reconciliation. She said—”
“I know what my daughter said. She told me what she wrote after she sent it to you. That was the catalyst that got me on a plane, actually. I could only imagine what you were thinking, and I wasn’t going to let you assume the wrong thing.
Based on everything I’ve told you about my rationale for decisions in the past, you had every reason to believe I might try to get back with Katerina for Effie’s sake. ”
Evan placed his hands on my shoulders and looked me straight in the eyes.
“But I’ve learned a lot since we reconnected, and especially since Judy died.
Life is fleeting. It’s too short to live inauthentically.
” He shook his head. “I can’t be an example to my daughter if I’m not true to myself.
I sat Effie down last night and explained to her that while I’ll always love Katerina for being her mother, I don’t love her the way a husband loves a wife—or the same way that I love you.
” He nodded. “Yes. I told her I love you, Chloe. And I know that’s a little messed up considering I’d never even said those words to you. ”
My eyes watered. “What did she say?”
“She understands. After I properly explained the different ways to love someone, she was happy about it.” He kissed my forehead. “And I love you in the highest way, Chloe.”
I closed my eyes to relish those words.
“I made it clear to her that even if you’d never existed, her mother and I wouldn’t be getting back together,” he continued.
“She and I don’t have that kind of relationship anymore.
I tried my best to explain that just because two people have a child, it doesn’t mean they’re right for each other.
Seriously, Chloe, I couldn’t have Effie go another day thinking there was a chance of me getting back together with her mother.
The fact of the matter is, I’m so head over heels in love with you that I can’t imagine my future with anyone else. ”
My heart felt ready to burst. “I love you so much, Evan.” I threw my arms around him and could feel how fast his heart was beating. That only proved the authenticity of his words.
He groaned against my neck. “I’ve also been dreaming about fucking you every minute of the day. I think I’m addicted.”
I ran my fingers through his thick black hair. “Well, then let’s get you a fix.”
Evan lifted me and carried me across the room. He’d never been here before, yet he figured out where the bedroom was and headed straight for it.
As I wrapped my legs around him, he lifted the thin nightgown I’d been wearing and shoved my panties to the side. I fumbled with his belt and reached for his cock, directing it inside of me. How I’d missed the burn of him entering my body. I circled my hips over him as he carried me.
We were still one as we landed on the bed.
I slipped my nightgown over my head. He pulled out of me just long enough to tear off his clothes, his belt landing on the floor with a clank.
I pulled off my underwear and watched as he lowered his boxer briefs, his huge cock bobbing out, so hard and dripping with precum.
The muscles between my legs contracted as I yearned to have him inside of me again.
Evan took a moment to run his calloused hand down the length of my body. “I can’t believe you’re mine,” he murmured. He cupped my pussy. “Open those legs for me.”
After I did, within two seconds, he’d pushed all the way inside. Evan moved in and out of me slowly at first, swearing under his breath. Then every movement was faster, harder than the last.
“Fuck me hard, Evan,” I begged, digging my nails into his back.
“I missed this so much.” He groaned, pulling out slowly, then thrusting into me again.
His eyes locked with mine, and I could see the love reflected in them. This time felt different. It came with a knowing that this man was truly mine, a feeling of contentment and certainty I’d never experienced before.
“I love watching your face when you take my cock.” He grinned.
This time I closed my eyes, running my hands everywhere they could reach, his hair, down his back, to his muscular ass.
“I can’t wait to fill you with my cum,” he hissed.
His words tipped me over the edge. I opened my eyes to find him smiling down with a mischievous grin.
He could tell I was coming. As my muscles squeezed around him, I felt the heat of his load as his eyes rolled back in ecstasy.
The world faded away for a moment until we both came down from the high.
When he finally turned to me, I could once again see the love in his chocolate brown eyes. He pressed his lips to my forehead.
“You might not believe this,” I admitted. “But I was going to call you tomorrow and figure out a way to tell you how I felt. But I was scared that you didn’t feel the same.”
“You’re right. I don’t feel the same.” Evan shook his head. “I probably love you more.” He winked. “But actually, I think Judy might be working some magic from above, helping to get both our heads on straight at the same time.”
While I hated to bring this up, I was curious. “Katerina knows where you are right now…with me?”
He nodded. “I have nothing to hide, Chloe. I’m done putting my happiness last. I can be the father that Effie needs and have love in my life, too. It doesn’t have to be either/or. It just has to be with you because you’re the only woman I love.”
***
Evan stayed with me at the Chicago apartment for three days.
It was the longest he’d ever been away from Effie.
While he definitely felt guilty about that, I did my best to distract him.
I’d shown him around the city here and there, but we mostly stayed holed up in my apartment, ordering takeout and making love in between my work obligations.
Evan said he felt like a teenager again, with no responsibilities.
This morning, though, he was packing to catch his flight back to Wyoming this afternoon. Or he was until a phone call from home interrupted him.
I watched Evan pace as he spoke. I couldn’t make out what he was saying, but at one point he flashed me a worried look. Uh-oh.
After he hung up, Evan laughed angrily and said, “I can’t believe this.”
“What?”
He scrubbed a hand over his face. “It’s happening again.”
“What’s happening?”
“That was Katerina.”
“Okay…” I swallowed.
“She’s leaving Dry River.”
While my immediate reaction was relief, it was quickly followed by pure anger. “I thought she said she was staying for good this time.”
“That’s what she said, yeah.”
I covered my chest with my hand. “I don’t understand. What changed so fast?”
“When she first came back, she’d said she’d broken up with her boyfriend, Xavier. But he’s apparently in Wyoming now and has convinced her to reconcile and go back to California with him.” He shook his head. “She was calling to make sure I was coming back tonight as planned.”
I shook my head. “Not that it could be any worse, but right before Christmas?”
Evan rolled his eyes. “Xavier apparently surprised her with a trip to Germany to see the Christmas markets. She says the tickets are non-refundable and claims she’ll make it up to Effie in the new year. Can you believe that?”
“She’s unreal.” My hands balled into fists. “What did you tell her?”
“I told her the only person she owes an apology to is her daughter.”
I stared blankly out my apartment window. “Effie is going to be devastated.”
“She’ll be upset, but unfortunately, thanks to Katerina, Effie’s been conditioned to brace for this.”
I walked over and placed my hand on his chest. “You think on some level she was expecting her mom to leave again, even though Katerina said she wouldn’t this time?”
He let out a long sigh. “Despite what Effie wrote you in that email, when we talk at night before bed, she’s expressed that she was worried Katerina would take off.”
My heart broke for that little girl. But more than that, I felt a love so strong in my heart—for both of them.
“I need to pack,” I announced, racing to my closet to grab my suitcase.
“Why?”
“I want to be there for Effie. I’m going to try to get a seat on your flight.”