“You did what?!” She sat up, spinning around to look at him.
In a completely calm voice, he said, “The guy was drinking screwdrivers. Screwdrivers, Penelope. I mean, it might as well been an Appletini. You couldn’t sleep with a guy like that. So I kept feeding him doubles, hoping he’d pass out and wouldn’t touch you.”
Penelope stared at him openmouthed. He had. He’d passed out in the middle of the bed and couldn’t be moved. She’d gone and slept with Sophie.
She wanted to be mad. Should be mad. But she couldn’t deny it gave her a perverse pleasure. She climbed on top of him, straddled his thighs, and straightened until her spine was ruler straight. She gave him her most stern expression and plastered her hands on her hips. “You’re telling me that you intoxicated my date, then went and slept with a model?”
“Nope.” Evan slid his hands onto her hips. “When I told her I was staying up with my brothers, she told me she was taking an Ambien.”
“And that’s the only reason?”
“I wouldn’t have touched her anyway.” He squeezed. “If I couldn’t sleep with you I liked the idea of both of us sleeping alone.”
“I can’t believe you.”
“I didn’t want him touching you.”
She shook her head. “You certainly got your wish.”
He grinned. “I’m not even sorry.”
“You’re the worst.”
He ran his hands up her sides. “I am.”
“You need to pay.” And she knew exactly how. Not that it was much of a punishment. She just knew what she wanted. It had been a long time, but she still remembered the taste of him, still remembered his fullness in her mouth, the expression on his face. And she wanted it. She leaned in close, ready to shrug off the civility between them. She trailed her lips along his jaw and his grasp on her tightened. She traced a path to his ear and when she got there whispered, “I should be really mad at you.”
A low sound vibrated from his throat. “You should.”
“I should make you suffer.” She followed the sound, licking down his neck and slithering on top of him. “But I want to taste you.”
“Christ, Penelope.” He gripped her hips, and rocked up. “I don’t think I can take it.”
“Please.” The word a purr, and when he groaned she couldn’t help the surge of empowerment. She slid down his legs, her mouth trailing down his chest. She flicked her tongue over his flat nipple and he cursed, tangling his hand in her hair and holding her firm while she scraped her teeth over him.
Breath coming fast, he said, “You’ll be the death of me.”
An insatiable hunger swept over her, and she fumbled with the button and pulled down the zipper on his pants.
He ground out in a strangled voice, “Penny, trust me, this isn’t a good idea.”
“I think it’s a fine idea.” She met his dark gaze as she encircled his shaft, squeezing the way she knew he liked. Long ago he’d taught her exactly how to please him and she hadn’t forgotten. Her grip firm, she stroked up, twisting over the head of his erection.
His hips jerked and his head fell back as he fisted her hair. “God, you drive me so crazy.”
She slithered farther down his body. Still stroking him with a firm grasp, she leaned down and licked the slit where moisture had already pooled, before covering the head and sucking him deep into her mouth. He mumbled something unintelligible and she took it as a compliment, and hummed in appreciation in a way she knew would vibrate down his shaft.
He moaned. She slid down the length of him and he filled her, stretched her lips, and she took him in as deep as she could before slowly sliding up the length of him, her tongue swirling a path.
“Stop,” he said, his voice so hoarse it cracked. He released his grip on her hair, sending waves tumbling over her shoulders.
She looked up at him, expression a silent question.
His features were almost pained, the skin pulled tight over his sharp cheekbones. “Let me look at you.”
She licked her lips, nodding.
His gaze roamed all over her, as though drinking her in, as though he couldn’t believe she was here in front of him. He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “You are, by far, the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
The man had been with supermodels, and she opened her mouth, unable to stop the protest forming on her lips.
He shook his head. “Yes, Penelope, you are. All this time, right here, right now, is what I thought about. Everything else paled in comparison.”
The words. The sincerity and desire ringing in his voice filled her chest. She couldn’t help it, her throat locked up and her eyes brightened.
His thumb brushed over her cheek before he twined his fingers around her neck and pulled her up. Their lips met and it was like being sucked into a storm. The mad, crazy rush of the elevator overtaking them once again.
Their mouths fused.
Their tongues met.
The kiss turned rough, and greedy. She clutched at his shoulders. Desperate to get closer. His hard cock brushed the inside of her thigh as she straddled him, and she shifted, until she sank into that spot only he seemed to fit. He groaned and his fingers sought the zipper of her dress. When it was finally undone, he said, “I’m going to at least get you naked.”
Then the fabric was whisked over her head and was gone.
Their mouths met before the fabric even hit the floor. Nipples aching, she pressed her breasts against his chest, rubbing against him like she was in heat. He growled, reached between them and plucked the hard bud, rolling it between his thumb and forefinger.
He tore his mouth away, and her head fell back as his lips sucked her nipple into his mouth. His tongue teased, swirled, before his teeth nipped and pulled.
Lust and need roared inside her and she clasped his head, pressing him closer as she cried out. Through panting breath she said, “I-I can’t wait.”
A low, animalistic sound emanated from the back of his throat. “Someday I will get you into a bed.”
Then he took her. And she didn’t think of anything but him, and them, for the rest of the night.
Chapter Seventeen
Curled into the thick, fluffy hotel robe, Penelope stretched out on the chaise longue and squinted into the bright sun. Last night had exceeded even her wildest fantasies. They’d been insatiable, unable to get enough of each other. She’d lost track of how many orgasms she’d had. He’d taken her in every conceivable way and in every conceivable place. On the couch, against the wall, on the floor, in the bathroom, her hands splayed on the mirror, in the shower. Their movements rushed and frantic, as though if they weren’t connected somehow they’d be ripped apart.
Deep into the night, they’d finally made it to the bed and some of their urgency melted away. Their touches turned long and slow, their mouths fusing for languorous, exploratory kisses. They couldn’t stop touching, and when they’d fallen asleep they’d stayed together, limbs locked, arms intertwined, bodies pressed together.
It had been the best night of her life. She was sore and bruised, her skin marked and tight, her mouth so swollen there wasn’t a person alive who wouldn’t know what they’d been doing.
She stared out at the skyline, a crystal blue, the weather warm and mild.
It was a perfect day to follow a perfect night.
But reality refused to be delayed any longer.
They still had to go to his mom’s later this afternoon.
And Evan was out buying the morning-after pill.
She took a long, deep breath. It made perfect sense to take the pill. It was logical, pragmatic, and perfectly safe. This niggling would go away as soon as she swallowed them down.
Behind her the door to the penthouse opened and Evan came through. Penelope took a sip of coffee and waited for him to come outside. He was dressed in his clothes from the night before, and he looked rumpled and wrinkled and so damn beautiful it almost hurt to look at him.
He sat down o
n the edge of the lounger facing her before dumping the contents onto the space between them. A box with the words Plan B on the label, and a box of condoms.
Evan’s expression was chagrined. “I got quite the look from the pharmacy tech.”
She laughed. “I can imagine.”
She stared at the box, with its bright purple and green, springtime colors. Happy, cheerful colors to distract you from the inevitable. She bit her lower lip and tried to ignore the knot in her stomach. She was just nervous.
Evan cleared his throat. “It said to take it within twenty-four hours to be most effective, right?”
She nodded.
“So, you could technically wait? Until later?”
She instantly relaxed, and the sense of relief frightened her. Of course she wanted to take the pill. There wasn’t even a question. Yes, the odds were against pregnancy, but any chance was an unacceptable risk. She was a responsible person. She didn’t play with chance if she could help it.
She looked at the box again. She could wait. She looked at Evan, who watched her with such intensity she didn’t know what to make of it.
The decision was made, but it didn’t hurt to wait on the off chance it made her feel sick. Nausea was the most common side effect and did she really want to waste the rest of their time in this fantastic hotel room, ill? No, she didn’t. She had plenty of time to take it. “I can wait.”
His expression cleared. “So we wait?”
She nodded. “We wait.”
Evan scooped the contents into the bag and dropped it to the patio floor.
Out of sight, out of mind.
He pointed at her phone sitting next to her on the table. “How many messages have you gotten?”
A smile lifted the corners of her lips. “About a hundred.”
He sighed. “Yeah, me too. Have you read them?”
She shook her head. “Not yet. I guess I’m not ready to deal with them.”
He dragged his hand through his hair. “I suppose we’ll have to soon enough.”
“I know.” She took another sip of coffee and stared off into the distance.
“Are you upset I outted us?”
“I’m not sure upset is the right word.” She pressed her lips together. “I would have liked to have a plan. Been prepared. Had explanations ready for Maddie and Shane.”
Evan rubbed a finger down her arm. “I hadn’t thought of that. You deserved a grand gesture, and that’s what I was going for. And I’m not going to hide how I feel about you anymore. To anyone. Regardless of the consequences.”
All this time, that’s all she’d ever wanted, but now it thrust her into a spotlight that made her uncomfortable. She liked being on the sidelines, liked being the person behind the scenes. Unlike Evan, who was always the center of attention.
She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “Those consequences affect me too.”
He nodded. “I know. In my mind, a public declaration seemed like the only thing you’d believe.”
It was the last thing she’d ever expected. That thing she’d always secretly pined for but never believed he’d do. “You’re probably right.”
“Does it bother you that they’re not going to be happy about this?”
She looked back at him and could tell by his expression it bothered him plenty. “I don’t know. I wish I didn’t have to explain, especially when I have no idea what to say.”
“I’d love to say we don’t have to explain anything but, as we both know, that would be a lie. And I know it’s on me. I mean, would your parents even know who I am?”
She laughed. “Probably. But they wouldn’t question it or, God forbid, ask for details. Besides, they’re off in Florida and with my dad wheelchair-bound, they won’t be coming to Chicago anytime soon to check on me.”
“We’ve always been your family.” It wasn’t a question.
“I suppose that’s true.”
“I don’t want to do anything to ruin that.” His expression turned serious. “We can create your plan now, before we go to the party later.”
Surprised, she blinked. “Really?”
A smile quirked his lips. “Let’s tackle the biggest issue first. Shane will clearly be the worst. He’s not going to be happy.”
She twined her fingers with his and he squeezed, holding fast and tight and strong. “He won’t be.”
“Do you think it will affect your working relationship?”
The concern etched into his features touched her. She’d been living with his coolness, distance, and cocky attitude for so long she’d almost forgotten he could be like this. Thoughtful. Considerate.
She blew out a long breath. “I don’t think so, but I don’t know. When I first started working for him we had a long talk about boundaries, and he tries to respect them. But sometimes it’s hard to separate when we work together so closely. The last time we had a serious issue was when Maddie ran off to Revival. I didn’t know where she was because she wouldn’t tell me, but I refused to let him talk to her when she called. We also fought about him using Logan to find where she was, and I lost that battle. We were both stubborn in our positions, but it didn’t impact our working relationship. Of course, we were always talking about Maddie, not you. So I don’t know what he’ll say.”
He squeezed her hand again. “I’ll take the fall for it. All right?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll take the blame. He’s already going to be pissed as hell at me, so just let me take the brunt of it when we get there.”
“I’ve been dealing with your brother for a long time. We’ll see how it goes.”
There was a hard glint in Evan’s gaze. “I created this mess and I will deal with it. And that’s final.”
She knew how complicated his relationship with Shane was and hated she would be another source of contention between them. “I don’t want you using me to hash out your issues with your brother.”
He shook his head. “I’m not, I’m taking responsibility.”
She believed he thought that, but she’d also had years of watching the two brothers interact, and Evan sometimes seemed determined to take Shane’s protectiveness the wrong way. Just like Shane seemed determined to treat Evan like he was still a college kid. They were strong-willed and hardheaded and it would play out regardless of what she said, so she opted for levity. She raised her brows. “Final, huh?”
His features relaxed and he cocked his head. “Too much?”
She opened her thumb and forefinger an inch apart. “Just a bit.”
“I just don’t want you to have to deal with it, Pen.”
She tugged at his wrist, and he scooted closer to her. “That’s unrealistic. I’m going to have to deal with it, same as you.”
His brow furrowed. “But you shouldn’t have to.”
This was new for him, this desire to take responsibility. “You have to understand, my relationship with Maddie and Shane is not an extension of you. It’s separate, completely apart from you.”
His gaze met hers. “I just want to take the brunt of the backlash.”
“Evan. We’re both responsible and we’ll deal with it together.”
He sighed and wrapped his fingers around her neck, his fingers shifting through the strands like he’d been doing for what felt like a million years. “Someday I’d like to be a positive influence on your life. Is that too much to ask?”
She smiled, moving closer. “You have your uses.”
His attention shifted to her lips. “Do you have any idea how obscene your mouth looks right now?”
She shook her head.
“It’s swollen and red and looks like sex.” He trailed over her neck and collarbone, pausing at the V of her robe. “Are you naked under here?”
“Yes.”
Gaze hot, he met her eyes. “Are you sore?”
“Yes,” she said, her voice a whisper.
He bent down and brushed his lips over hers. “Should I just lick you to orgasm then?”
She curled her hand around his neck and tugged him close. “That’s certainly a start.”
* * *
Later that afternoon, Penelope once again stared at the morning-after box. Although this time, instead of sitting on a gorgeous terrace overlooking the city, she was in her kitchen.
The time had come to take it.
Evan walked into her kitchen and his gaze narrowed on the box, then shifted to her. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, swallowing past the lump in her throat. “I should probably take it now.”
“Technically you still have time.”
She did. It was the best, most logical solution to rectify their mistake. But staring at that box she knew the truth.
She didn’t want to.
Based on timing alone, the chances of her actually being pregnant were incredibly small. This was just an extra precaution.
An extra precaution she didn’t want to take.
She looked at the package. She wanted to play the odds.
It’s not like she’d actually get pregnant. The timing was off.
The thought was crazy. Insane. Not like her at all.
But with Evan she’d never taken the rational path. She always followed her heart. And in her heart she did not want to take those pills.
“Pen?” At the sound of Evan’s voice, she tore her attention away from the box.
He stood there, dressed in an evergreen T-shirt that matched his eyes and a pair of faded jeans that molded to his powerful body like a second skin. The corners of his mouth dipped. “Are you okay?”
She couldn’t tell him. God, he was an athlete. Women probably tried to trap him into pregnancy every day of the week. She took a deep breath. “I should take the pill.”
His expression clouded. “I’m sorry you have to.”
They hadn’t used protection all night. He’d come inside her over and over again. He’d known the risks as well as she had, but they had been operating under the assumption that she’d take the pill. She cleared her throat. “We’re both at fault. I didn’t think about it any more than you did.”
He studied her for several long beats. “We’ll use condoms from now on.”
No more reckless behavior for her. She nodded sharply. “Yes.”
As Good as New Page 20
