Chapter 10
“Mrs. Harding,” Michael said like a sigh. “Evie, you look lovely. Quite conservative compared to what you’ve worn for our previous public engagements.”
Michael met her at the bottom of the stairs, offering his hand. Her short, white cardigan, held together by a brooch-like clasp at the top, covered most of the skin her sundress would have left exposed.
“It is a family outing. I was told to exude femininity and motherhood befitting a princess.” She gestured to the wide-brimmed hat with a ribbon that matched her dress.
“Exemplary work meeting the requirements. I assume you are responsible for my new suit, since it coordinates with your ensemble?”
“I didn’t make it but they wanted us to match. I argued against a pink shirt to match the flowers on my dress.”
“I’m grateful. I’ve never considered magenta in my color palette.” Michael did a model spin, showing off the white button-down under his beige linen jacket.
“I brought you something. Since you aren’t wearing a tie for the first time maybe ever, I thought a little pop of color might be acceptable.” She gave him a handkerchief, decorated with the same watercolor fuchsia peonies as her dress.
“A Lady Catherine original? I’m honored.” He folded it into a fan shape and placed it in his front breast pocket. She fixed the collar and smoothed her hands down his lapels, feeling his heart racing.
“Save it for the cameras, people,” Ethan hollered from across the room.
“Watch out, coming through,” alerted a tall man in dungarees, carrying poles and something like lampshades to where they would be taking the first pictures of the day.
“I have something for you too. As much as I appreciate the ring you created. I thought it would be more apropos if you wore my mother’s set.” Michael lifted her hand between them and replaced the simple band. The large round ruby was mounted in a gold and diamond filigree ring. With its matching band, it sparkled in the light of the grand chandelier of the foyer.
“How fantastic! That will be so eye-catching in the photos.” Sabrina interrupted before Evelyn could ask about the ring, but apparently it was just a prop for the day.
“Places please! We’re burning daylight!” a long-haired blond in a black tank top and shredded jeans shouted to the room. Michael kissed her palm and led her into the melee of lights and equipment.
The rest of the day proceeded similarly when the entourage was relocated to the National Mall. Micah ran across the lush grass and around the trees, chased by a bodyguard and the photographer’s assistant. They would eventually rein him in for a posed picture in front of one of the memorials before he took off again.
Michael was the relaxed self he had transformed into after their confrontation about her files. If he wasn’t holding her hand, his arm was around her waist. They laughed at Micah’s exuberance and reminisced about when they had danced until dawn by the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
“Ready to take a load off?” Meghan asked, still carrying the basket Cora had packed.
Evelyn was relieved they had come to the picnic part of the planned activities. It was a beautiful summer day with a light breeze blowing, but the Mall wasn’t meant for high heels, no matter how cute they were.
“Do we have video rolling?” the photographer called out. “Action,” he yelled like he was a Hollywood director when he got the thumbs up from another assistant. Meghan straightened Evelyn’s hat and sweater, while someone pushed the hamper into Michael’s arms.
“We need smiles people. You’re thrilled to be here.”
She grabbed Micah’s hand as someone shoved them toward the marked area on the grass in front of the Washington Monument with the ivory dome of the Capitol in the background.
“Fucking overjoyed to be primped and posed, right?” Michael murmured to her.
“Fucking yeah!” Micah repeated.
“Micah, you know better. And you should too, Michael.” Evelyn reprimanded, trying not to laugh.
“We need you to speak up so we can hear you on the video,” Ethan announced. Evelyn and Michael guffawed but gave them a thumbs up and plastered their most pleasant smiles on.
“This looks like a good spot.” Michael went off script, but no one stopped him. He laid out the blanket and sat down with the basket.
“I bet you two are hungry after all that walking. I can’t wait to see what Cora packed for us.” Evelyn tried to stick to her lines, but make it sound natural, kneeling between them.
“I know this is your favorite,” Michael held a strawberry to her lips and she was obliged to taste it. He stared at her a moment longer before taking a bite himself. She watched his lips close around it, sucking on the juices, then his teeth sunk into the flesh. Swallowing hard, she turned her attention to her son.
“Did you find a sandwich you like?” she asked, seeing him take the last bite of one.
“That’s lunch!” a faceless voice declared. Micah jumped up and ran toward the Monument, the bodyguard following more slowly than before, while the crew dug into their cooler of food.
“I think we may finally get a couple of minutes uninterrupted,” Michael uttered, removing Evelyn’s hat and releasing the pins from her hair.
“Did you eat enough?” She asked, trying to think clearly, as he combed his fingers through her hair, letting it fall around her shoulders.
“What I want is not in that container.” He hummed, holding up her oversized hat and blocking their view of his team and the photographers. His lips brushed across her like he was asking for permission. She leaned into him, capturing his full bottom lip between her teeth. His hand clutched the back of her head, his tongue invading her mouth, searching for more.
“Eww! They’re at it again.” Micah complained, with good reason.
Since the day he first joined them for breakfast, Michael had been attentive and supportive as he promised. Her walls crumbled a little more each time he showed up for them. But he also took every opportunity to express his affection to the point of frustration. He declared that he wouldn’t take her to bed until he won her heart again.
“Geesh, one little kiss, and an entire production is made.” Michael pulled away and winked at Evelyn.
“That was off the charts hot. Don’t think you're hiding it from anyone,” Meghan grinned, standing unnoticed next to the blanket.
“How about one quick game of soccer before we call it a day?” He said to Micah, ignoring Meghan’s comment or the hoots from the crew who had likely gotten a picture.
Evelyn watched Michael give her son pointers on how to control the ball more easily. Ethan and the photographers joined in for the fun until Micah started yawning and Michael proclaimed the outing complete. He led them to the car, nodding a quick hello to Stevenson, letting everyone else clean up.
Getting out of town took longer, needing to navigate around tourists and school buses. By the time they were crossing the bridge, Micah had fallen asleep in the seat facing Michael and Evelyn.
“I should give these back to you before I forget.” She handed the rings to him.
“Or we could play a question game.” He said with a mischievous glint in his eye.
“YOU MEAN LIKE 21 QUESTIONS?” She looked confused, still holding the rings out to him.
“I hope there won’t be that many to get to the good stuff.”
“There can’t be any good stuff with Micah here, besides you said—” She didn’t sound horrified at the idea, so it gave him hope.
“I guess it depends on the answers to your questions and how creative we can be.”
“What does that have to do with these?” She asked, shaking her hand in frustration.
“Well, it has to do with this little document.” He drew out a thick, folded sheaf of papers from the side of the seat and unfolded it.”
“Our prenup? I thought things were going ok. Please don’t do this. Don’t pull the rug out from under us,” she begged. He didn’t mean to make her panic, but with their history, he should have known better.
“Shh. Evie, I’m not. I want to give you the option to make some changes to it.”
“But you said—” Dropping the papers, he cradled her face and pressed his lips to hers. He moved back when he felt her body relax and her breathing slow.
“Option one. You can keep the current arrangement but add some benefits of the intimate kind.” He ran a finger up her thigh, stopping at the fabric of her dress.
“Not an unbearable idea, but I’d like to hear the other choices.” Evelyn placed her hand on his knee.
“Option two, the only other one. We burn the prenup and you keep the rings.”
“But...how would that work? I need the income for Micah’s surgery.” She reeled back. He decided he needed to be more direct to help ease her anxiety.
“Funding comes into a later part of our program. At the moment we are discussing transforming this arrangement into a true partnership of marriage.” He held her hand to his chest.
“Michael, are you asking me...”
“I thought it was obvious. From the day you walked into that meeting, I realized there has never been anyone else for me. My mother’s rings were always meant for you.” He opened her hand and placed the rings back on her finger.
“Are you sure about this? Heath isn’t going to let you get rid of the prenup.” She asked, admiring the gleam of the gems.
“I fired him. You don’t ever have to worry about him or anyone else terrorizing you. If anyone does, they’ll feel my wrath. I want to spend the rest of our lives loving you. The question is if you want the same thing.”
“Michael, I’ve always wanted that, but I’m still afraid you’re going to change your mind.” She clutched his leg in emphasis.
“I am too, Evie, but life was shit without you. So if you love me, I’ll do everything in my power to allay your fears.”
“Ok.”
“Say it,” he pleaded.
Climbing across him, she straddled his legs and held his face in her hands.“Michael, I love you and I want us to be truly married.”
“Yes!” She crushed her mouth over his, whether in excitement or to keep him from waking Micah, he didn’t care.
He slid his hands up her legs, pushing her dress up higher until his hands curved around her well-defined, uncovered ass. She leaned back, grinning at his discovery, and removed her sweater. Her shoulders were bare as the thin straps fell to the sides. Her breasts pressed at the front of her dress, exposing her ample cleavage.
He flicked one of the small buttons straining at the fabric open and then another. He licked up the cleft, digging his fingers into her backside. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she ground against his erection through his pants.
“Ahem. Mr. Harding, we’ve arrived.” Stevenson’s voice came over the car intercom. Evelyn flew back to her seat, buttoning her dress.
“Micah, buddy. We’re here.” He picked the sleeping child up and carried him into the house, Evelyn following closely behind.
“Shall I take Micah to his room, sir?” Banner asked, opening the front door.
“That would be outstanding.” Michael eased the boy into Banner’s arms. “If you need us, we’ll be in the west wing.” He picked Evelyn up, tossed her over his shoulder, and skipped to the stairs.
“Don’t need us,” she stage-whispered to Banner.
Michael proceeded to climb the stairs two at a time. Arriving in his room, he threw her on the bed and locked the door.
She scrambled to her knees and started reaching for his belt. He dragged her dress over her head and then removed his shirt.
“God bless thongs,” he stated, seeing that she wasn’t completely naked under the dress.
She smiled, sliding her fingers under the elastic of his underwear and pushing them to the floor with his pants. She leaned back, admiring his body. He was happy to let her do so as long as he got to touch and taste her. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her down on the bed. He moaned at the feel of her soft, naked flesh against him, her squeezing his ass. She rolled them over and slid down his body, eliciting a gasp from him as her lips closed around the tip of his cock.
“It occurs to me that we still have the “get out of debt” portion of our game to co- oh, that’s so good,” he stated trying to distract himself from the thorough licking of his shaft. “Ok, I said we’d talk about finances.”
“Mhmm,” her mouth on his sac, she sucked on one of his balls and then the other.
“Now that we have the marriage question finished, tell me... do you want more children?”
“Haven’t really thought about it.” She swirled her tongue around his tip before he grabbed her hair and pulled her off him.
“I’m not coming that way the first time back in your bed. Come back up here and think about the question.”
“Without funds or a partner, more children wasn’t an option. But sure, I think it could be an option. At least practicing is fun.” she smirked as she reached for him again. He positioned himself between her legs, stroking her with his erection, nibbling her breast.
“Beautiful.” His tip rubbed against her clit. “What do you think about eradicating one of your debts for every baby we make?” He thrust deep in one smooth stroke.
“Ah!” she sighed. “You’re trying to take advantage of my lust-filled brain.”
“Let’s see if it works, shall we?” He slammed into her, his pelvis hitting her clit with a twist of his hips.
“Mmm, I hope you want a big family if that’s the case.” She strained to speak with another thrust.
“With the first baby, we’ll cover the entirety of the hospital bills.”
“But that’s Micah. Are you counting after him?” She writhed, trying to get him to move again.
“Finally, a definitive admission that he’s mine! That also means you just permitted me to pay his medical debt.” He drove deep, finding his rhythm.
“There wasn’t much of a way to deny you on either count.”
“So good. Baby two. That should be the credit...ah...cards?” He pressed her legs close to her chest, fully sinking into her.
“And three?” He scraped his teeth across her nipple and then sucked hard until she mewed.
“We’ll pay the next categor...y.” he strained to hold back and finish his sentence.
“What if the debt is gone?” she put her ankles over his shoulders.
“There are always charities to donate to. We fill this house with as many children as you want. But I need you to come now. I can’t hold on much longer.” he rubbed her clit, moving faster, feeling her pulsing around him.
“Oh, god! We may never...mmm... be able to leave the bedroom. Michael!” Her muscles contracted with her orgasm, squeezing his release too. He pulled her close, covering them both with a blanket.
“There are worse problems than having a devil in the sheets.”