Evin's Fight (Southern Charmers Book 3)

by Ahren Sanders

  “Evin, he’s Dante’s friend, meaning he’s not the kind of friend interested in women.”

  “Bullshit, he takes one look at you and bet he’s rethinking that.”

  “I’m sitting here, in my bed, locked in my house, safe, talking to you. Calm down.”

  It’s apparent I said the wrong thing when he roars again. “Do you have any idea what it would do to me if something happened to you?”

  My brain is screaming at me to be pissed, but my heart swells at his worry.

  “Okay, sweetheart, it won’t happen again. But stop yelling at me or I’ll get pissed.”

  He blows out a breath, and I can picture his beautiful face grinning at my statement.

  “Now, are you ready to hear about your options?” I bite my lip, hoping he likes what I offer.

  “Nope, did you find something you like?”

  “I found two. One had a fabulous kitchen, but no office space.”

  “Your kitchen is more important. I’ll make a workspace anywhere. Pick it and send me the paperwork. I’ll sign and give the deposit.”

  Suddenly, my plan takes a nosedive and I try to evade the last part. He picks up on it. “Fuck me, Poppy, if you even try to pay for this, I’ll lose what’s left of my cool.”

  “You have something left? That is surprising because you’re acting like a Neanderthal again!” I snap.

  “Did you pay for anything?”

  “I gave a binder to hold the two until we spoke.”

  He’s quiet again, and I fidget. Maybe my way of working around was a bit risky.

  “Tomorrow, you’re going on my accounts. I’ll order you a credit card and have it rushed. And when I get there, we’ll talk about your bills.”

  “Do you want me to roll my direct deposit into your account?” A slight wave of panic sinks in. We have spoken briefly about finances but never delved deep into the subject. He’s got money, and from what I can tell, he has a lot. My accounts aren’t slim, but for years I’ve been stowing money in an account with Dante.

  “No, I want you to keep your money. You’ll need it with the influx of gifts that hit Charleston today.”

  “They came? They weren’t scheduled until later this week.”

  “When my phone wasn’t blowing up with the drama, it was blowing up with messages of deliveries.”

  “They were just pictures.”

  “They were pictures of our wedding, which makes everyone happy. They provided a perfect distraction.”

  “I’m glad.” My eyes go to my nightstand and the shot of us in the garden. It’s one of my absolute favorites because it’s candid. In this shot, Evin is the star. He’s gorgeous any day, but his expression at this moment was exquisite. There’s also something intimate happening. Something that will forever be between us. Every time I see it, I’m back in that moment.

  “Did you get your delivery?”

  “I did and was waiting on you to open it.”

  “Are we out of the danger zone with your hissy fit to open it now?”

  “Shit, Poppy, men don’t throw hissy fits. I will not apologize for being protective.”

  “We are not going there again. Get the gift and open it.”

  There’s rumbling on his end, and then the sound of crinkling paper and bubble wrap sets my heart racing.

  “Jesus, fuck.” The emotion in his voice is undeniable.

  “I have the same one at my bedside. I thought it would be beautiful on the far wall between the windows.”

  “You building us a collage of memories?”

  My gaze hits my wall. “If you want me to.”

  “Have at it.”

  “Evin, it’s late and you need to get back to sleep, but what happened with the Connie situation?”

  “I got enough sleep.”

  “It’s three a.m.; you have to sleep more.”

  “Baby, tomorrow night, I’ll be on a plane. If my body needs rest, it’ll be after I walk through your door.”

  “Tomorrow night?!?” I squeal excitedly.

  “Connie may fuck with everyone else’s plans, but that bitch doesn’t get shit from me. All the adults and Maya shifted their travel plans to take a later flight on Thursday. It was easy to move my plans up.”

  “Did Pierce give in into Connie?”

  “No, Darby had a solution. Darby is the only person on this earth able to calm Pierce down and make him listen. Since Connie’s fake problem was Maya missing math, Darby called Maya’s teacher and arranged for Maya to meet with her after school the next two days, complete her assignments, and even go half a day on Thursday. Pierce took that shit straight to Connie and already contacted his lawyer. He played her at her own game because now she’s fucked. Pierce’s lawyer keeps an open file on Connie’s bitch-filled antics. He’ll be sending a message to her lawyer with no specific terms, but it creates paperwork. Paperwork means billable hours, which will invoice directly to Connie. Not to mention Pierce is adding in the cost of the ticket change fees.”

  “Darby is brilliant.”

  “She is. She’s also a new mom and pregnant again. Today set her over the edge, and when I got to her house, she was barely hanging on. My sister went through hell partly because of Connie, and Pierce isn’t happy.”

  “I hate it happened.”

  “Me too, but in a way, it worked out in my favor. If things go well, you’ll see me in the lobby after your show. If not, I’ll meet you at your place.”

  Excitement ripples through my system. “That is awesome.”

  “Yeah, and fortunately for me, Ryanne is gone. I’ve got three weeks to make up for.”

  The excitement shoots straight to my core, and a faint moan purrs from my throat.

  “Hell, I know that sound.”

  “Three weeks is a long time.”

  “I know that, too. But the way you left here, I’d hoped you were good for a bit.”

  “I was fine,” I lie. It took me days to recover from my last night in Charleston. We didn’t explore my adventurous side in one of the guest rooms. But when we got home, Evin didn’t hold back. My bikini didn’t survive, my dress was shredded, and at one point, I blacked out for a few seconds. He was ruthless, losing all control, and I loved every second.

  The next day, I was weak, limp, and exhausted. Every muscle in my body ached and burned, but it was worth it.

  “Good the next day? I need to up my game.”

  I’m not sure I’ll survive if he ups his game, but it will be fun to try. “Yep.”

  “Baby, you are full of shit, but I’ll enjoy testing your limits. Especially fucking you in that bed for the first time.”

  “Can’t wait,” I whisper in a raspy tone, my body turned on.

  “That right there is why I’m leaving all this drama behind and getting my ass on a plane. Not sure how I went from pissed as hell to hard as steel. Fucking addicted.”

  “Love you.” A giddy-gooey warmth slides through me.

  “I love you, too. Now, I’m headed to the shower to take care of this problem that only fucking teenage boys should have.”

  We hang up and I tuck my pillow close, completely wired.

  This weekend will be epic. Next week, I’m going to hopefully set up a second home for Evin and me when he’s here.

  Out of nowhere, the date July twenty-ninth pops into my head. Tasha’s birthday. I haven’t forgotten that date in forever. Karen and Marco’s birthdays rarely pop in my head. But I never forget Tasha.

  Maybe it’s because she demanded over-the-top parties and gifts. Maybe it’s because she was always ecstatic to leave behind the weeks we were the same age. Whatever the reason, my brain reminds me, and I light lavender incense to clear the negativity. This year, it didn’t occur to me.

  Maybe I should have lit that incense.

  Chapter 21

  Evin

  “Now,” I demand, threading my fingers through her hair and pressing on her scalp.

  She shakes her head, rising to her knees, licking around the ti
p before swallowing so deep my cock hits the back of her throat.

  “Fuck, fuck, fuck, get up here.”

  “Hmmm.” Her moan vibrates, and my hips reflexively surge upward.

  She grins, her eyes dancing with excitement, and speeds up, increasing her suction at the same time. She expertly works me, bobbing up and down, stroking the base in rhythm to her mouth.

  A fiery knot coils low in my stomach as sparks burn through my veins. I grind my teeth, clenching my jaw tight. She’s testing me, seeing how far she can go before my control snaps.

  After the night Poppy gave me her virginity, my body became accustomed to having her all the time. Three weeks missing her with nothing but my hand has my dick ready to go. Especially remembering the way she let loose the night of our party.

  She said she wanted wild, and when we got home, she followed through. Outside of this, it was the best blowjob in my life.

  “Baby, you want me to blow down your throat, we’ll do it with you on my face. Right now, I want to be inside you.”

  Her eyes flicker with defiance before she drops her head and all I can see are waves of colorful hair spilled out on my stomach. Her fingers wrap around my balls, rolling them gently. She’s got me where she wants me, powerless as she works my cock.

  “Oh, shit,” I growl, knowing this is it. My restraint shatters. I knife up, releasing her head and sliding my hand between her thighs, hoping she’s ready. The instant I pinch her clit, she groans, and I take advantage, hauling her up. “Get on me,” I demand and she links her arms and legs around me, positioning herself and drops, taking me in one thrust.

  “God, yes!” She throws her head back, arching in an invitation to take her nipple in my mouth. It doesn’t matter we spent the last ten hours making up for lost time. Seeing my marks all over her in the morning light, the familiar sense of possession scores through me.

  “So fucking wet, did you wake up like this baby?”

  “Yes,” she rasps. “I wanted you.”

  “You fell asleep less than two hours ago with me inside you.”

  “Wanted more…”

  I gather her hair, pulling lightly to hold her head back and run my lips up her chest and the column of her neck, then back down the other side to suck her nipple back in my mouth. “You woke up wanting my dick in your mouth?”

  She whimpers her answer, grinding down.

  “Did you taste us?”

  “Harder.”

  I ram up, driving into her harder and faster, tugging her hair tighter.

  “All day today and tonight, until I can get you back to our room, I want you to feel me inside you.”

  “God, yes.” She pivots her hips, shoving forward.

  “Swear to God, baby, got you deeper than ever right now. You feel it.”

  She clenches, her muscles tightening like a vice, and I hiss, unable to stop the knot from uncoiling. “Get there, Poppy. Come for me.”

  Her head shakes back and forth. “More.”

  I pummel her from below, losing my mind. The pressure builds inside with each stroke. My limits are snapping, the little brainpower telling me it’s time. I flick her clit at the same time pulling her nipple through my teeth.

  She thrashes and screams out, her cries echoing around the room. My cock swells and I join her, feeling the walls of her pussy convulsing and taking everything I have.

  Her heart races against my lips, her chest heaving and body going limp. I release her hair, urging her face to mine, and kiss her.

  “You good?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  “Never going that long again without seeing you.”

  “Does that mean you like my idea of a morning wake-up?”

  “Baby, your mouth around my cock as the first thing my eyes land on? Fucking brilliant. But with you, it’s always brilliant.”

  “I almost made you lose control.”

  “It was a choice between tossing you on your back and pounding into you or having you ride me. That was the extent of my brain capacity. I’d say that was losing control.”

  “You had the capacity to decide; that’s not a total win. I’ll try harder tonight to awaken my savage beast.”

  She smiles and my blood burns for a different reason. “How bad is my chest?”

  I drop my eyes and smile wide. “Looks perfect to me.”

  “Meaning my breast are completely covered with hickeys, bites, and scratches?”

  “Like I said, perfect.”

  She laughs, placing her forehead to mine. My cock twitches with her vibrations. “Seriously? Are you taking something? You can’t be ready to go again.”

  “It’s you. That smile, the way you’re looking at me right now, the feeling of being inside you. Shit, baby, you fucking own me. My dick has a mind of its own.”

  “I’ve waited a long time to break in my bed. There were a lot of things to cover and memories to make.”

  “While we’re at making memories, let’s make a rule. Anytime I come to you after being apart, you greet me like last night. Naked.”

  “I got creative knowing you were holding back.”

  “I’m not complaining, but I’m also not apologizing for wanting to make sure you’re ready for me.”

  “Sweetie, stop worrying I’m going to break. I’m athletic and my muscle memory is strong. It may have been a few weeks, but my body is used to you. You’re big, but I can handle it.”

  “You saying I have a big dick?”

  Her face goes blank and she shrugs. “I have little to compare it to, but guess I could have done worse. Maybe Dante can tell me about sizes.”

  “You are not talking to Dante about my dick. Or any other dick, ever.”

  She presses her lips together until she loses it, bursting into giggles.

  “I’m serious.”

  “So am I! Dante does not need to know how lucky I am.”

  Pride surges in my chest, and I swing my legs off the bed, carrying her with me. “We’re done discussing my cock and Dante unless you want to lose me for a while.”

  “That would be a shame.”

  “After we shower, you’re making me those cinnamon rolls I spotted in the fridge last night, then we’re looking at apartments so I can put the deposit down and get your binders back.”

  She sifts her hands through my hair. “I missed you. Bossiness and all.”

  “Glad to hear that, baby, because when we get checked into the hotel, we’re back in bed until you have to work and I go to the airport.”

  Her eyes flare before growing soft and she bends in to kiss me.

  “Uncle Evin, please hurry. I don’t want to miss a thing,” Maya pleads for the umpteenth time.

  “Know that, sweet girl. That’s why I got us the best seats in the theatre. But we also have a lot of time. The first show is still going, and they have to clean the theatre when it’s done. Go shopping. I’ll meet you all after I drop Poppy off backstage.”

  Maya throws her arms around Poppy’s shoulders, muttering something that sounds like ‘best trip ever’ before she lets go. Mom, Jill, and Lynda pull her with them, everyone giving their good luck wishes to Poppy on their way to the theatre.

  “Boys, tell me you’ll give me boys.” I bend to Poppy’s ear.

  “Can’t promise that.”

  “Can’t believe she’s dating.”

  “Attending an eighth-grade football game to watch a boy is not considered dating.”

  “I don’t like it. Pierce is out of his mind.”

  “Pierce is going with her. So is Miller.”

  “Don’t care.”

  She giggles softly, but something is off. I twist her to me and notice her face pale. “You okay? You barely ate anything.”

  “I’m nervous.”

  “Nervous?”

  “That has to be it. My stomach is swirling, my palms are sweating, and my nerves are on overdrive.”

  “Because of the family?”

  “Maybe? I was relaxed after our day. Then we got to din
ner and it all went away.”

  “Maya laid it on thick. She’s young and has experienced nothing like this. Her exuberance is over the top.”

  “It’s flattering. But I want this to be perfect.”

  “It will be. You’re working yourself up for nothing. Maybe when you see Dante, it’ll disappear. We threw you off your game tonight, only doing the late show.”

  She nods, unconvinced. “I’m running up to the room.”

  “I’ll go with you.”

  “No, stay here and get another drink. I’ll hurry, but I need a few minutes to gather myself and refresh.”

  “No,” I deadpan.

  “Please don’t get upset. I just need to talk to myself.”

  “Talk to me.”

  “It’s not the same.”

  It’s against everything in me to let her go, but she’s got a show, and the last thing I want is to stress her out more. “You have ten minutes. Keep your phone on you. If you need me, call.”

  She flashes me a grateful grin and squeezes my side before scuttling out of the restaurant.

  I make my way to the bar, noting the crowd has increased since earlier. A large group of men and women are in a roped-off section that is flanked with suited security. It’s a toss-up between high-rollers or celebrities.

  “Hey, man,” the bartender approaches. “The woman in red wants to buy you a drink.”

  I spot an attractive brunette staring openly with obvious intent. “Appreciate it, but no thanks. I’ll take a Black Label on the rocks.”

  He’s unfazed at my dismissal of the woman, serving my drink and moving to the next customer.

  I sip the whiskey, watching the entrance and forcing myself to give Poppy ten minutes of privacy.

  “Must say it’s a first for me,” a female voice purrs from behind. I glance over as the woman in red slides onto the empty stool. “Never had a man turn me down for a drink.”

  “I’m married.”

  “Shame. I spotted you in here last night with your daughter and didn’t see a woman.”

  “She’s my niece,” I correct her without thinking.

  “Ah, that’s a relief.”

  I snap my head to her and, immediately, my skin crawls. Her eyes are filled with heat and familiarity. “Relief?”