“You won’t hurt me.” She truly believed those words. She didn’t know how, but she knew. “And if you suddenly shift, I’ll know. I’ll run the moment anything goes wrong.” He hesitated, but she sealed her mouth to his again. “I’ll be safe with you. I’m always safe with you.”
“Okay,” he finally said. “Will you stay with me tonight?”
“Yes.”
***
Evie wasn't sure what to expect when Connor brought her home. For one thing, ‘home’ was the W Hotel on the Upper West Side. It was a luxurious place for sure, but, for a moment, she was confused.
“Connor, where are we?” she asked when they entered the elevator. “Are you taking me to a hotel?”
He nodded, and Evie noted the look on his face. At first, she thought it was sadness, but seeing the way the muscles in his jaw twitched and the way he kept rubbing his hands on his pants, it was something completely unfamiliar. Was Connor nervous?
She followed him out of the elevator and down the hall to the last room on the left. He took out a keycard and opened the door, then let her in first.
The room—or rather, from the size of it, the suite—was sumptuous. It was modern and sleek, and, as she stepped out into the plush living room, she noticed it was decked out with the latest gadgets. Turning to the large window, she let out a little gasp when she saw the amazing view of Central Park.
“Wow,” she said. “It’s great … but I don’t understand.”
“I live here,” he said, shoving his hands into his pockets as he approached her.
“You live here?” she echoed.
He nodded. “I can’t stay in one place. It’s too suspicious, and my wolf won’t let me. It always wants to be on the move in this city. And, like I said, it’s always destroying things. It’s easier to just let the management deal with it than having to change furniture or explain to the neighbors.” He shrugged. “It’s another reason I couldn’t bring you here. I didn’t want you to see how fucked up I really am.”
“Connor …” She moved closer. “You’re not. You’re doing the best you can. And what you said back at the restaurant … it’s not true.”
He looked up at her, his green eyes burning bright. “About what?”
"That you failed your family," she said. "They're still here. You're all together again, and you've kept them together and safe. I know what you do for Killian and Quinn, how you've saved them on lots of occasions." When he opened his mouths to protest, she put her finger on his lips. "I've read those reports about your ops and missions for Creed. And I bet you've also helped protect Meredith. She's special to you, right?"
He nodded, and his Adam’s apple bobbed when he swallowed. “She was so young when she came to us—much younger than any one of us—and we could tell she wasn’t treated right. I swore, when she came to us, that I would always take care of her and protect her.”
“But who takes care of you, Connor?” She really did wonder. This big, burly, giant of a man might think he was everyone’s protector, but someone had to take care of him, too, right?
He didn’t answer but, instead, leaned down to kiss her. His mouth was warm, sweet, and gentle, yet sent swirls of delight through her. She felt light as a feather, and she realized only moments later that he had lifted her into his arms.
Connor carried her into another room—the bathroom she realized—though this room was just as luxurious as the other room. There was a large jacuzzi in the corner and an enclosed shower in the opposite corner. He placed her on her feet and began to unbutton the front of her dress. When the fabric fell to the tile floor, she stepped out and reached behind her to take off her bra. Then, she stepped out of her panties. Meanwhile, he grabbed the bottom of his shirt and stripped it off, then made quick work of his pants and underwear, shucking them off in one motion.
God, he was magnificent. She realized this was the first time she was seeing him fully naked. Her mouth went dry as her eyes traced along the muscled planes of his broad shoulders, admiring the tattoos on his arms. A light sprinkling of hair dusted his well-formed pecs, and she couldn't help but look lower to the perfect set of eight-pack abs and the deep V of his hips. She lingered on the wolf's head tattoo on his rib cage, her heart aching when she remembered what he had told her. No, she would not let that happen, wouldn't let it get to that. Connor had spent the last few years protecting those he loved, and she would be damned if she let him throw his life away.
He sucked in a breath, and she could feel the heat of his gaze as he looked at her. She lifted her head up, and their eyes locked. Picking her up again, he took her to the shower and closed the stall behind them. He reached behind her and turned on the rainfall showerhead, stepping in front of her to test the water before adjusting it and pulling her under the stream.
The water was the perfect temperature—not too cold but hot enough to soothe her aching muscles. She moaned when two large hands grabbed her breasts from behind. Connor had some bath soap on his palms, and he kneaded the soft flesh, lathering her up. His fingers teased her nipples, and she felt his cock, fully hard, pressing up against her ass. One hand moved lower, between her thighs and down to her slickness. He probed her, moving his forefinger up and down her slit before slipping inside her.
"Oh …" She rubbed her ass on his cock. It was his turn to moan. His hips thrust forward, the ridge of his cock planting between her ass cheeks, moving in time with his fingers. Soon, she felt the pressure building inside her, and she couldn't stop it. Pleasure crashed over her, and she was gasping as the warm water continued to rain down on them.
He slowed down, withdrawing his fingers from her. She whimpered in protest, but he turned her around and gave her a rough kiss before pulling back. “Let’s get to the bed.”
She didn't argue when he lifted her up again, then walked to the bed, grabbing a towel as they left the bathroom. He planted her on the edge of the bed and wrapped the towel around her, gently drying and buffing her body. She scooted back, watching as he quickly dried himself before tossing the towel aside.
Connor moved over her, sliding his body against hers. Feeling his skin on hers made her shiver. He captured her mouth in another searing kiss as he got between her legs.
The tip of his cock nudged at her slick folds. She was still wet from her earlier orgasm, so he slipped into her with little resistance. She pushed her hips up, trying to get as much of him inside her. God, she'd never been filled like this.
“Connor,” she gasped when he gave a small, experimental thrust.
“I don’t wanna hurt you,” he said. “Can’t get too rough.”
“You don’t have to be rough,” she whispered. “But you don’t have to hold back with me. Make me feel good, please.”
"Evie … so beautiful …" he murmured against her skin. He moved his hand under her ass, scooping her up and bringing her hips higher. As he thrust inside her, he hit her just right, and she let out a small cry, her nails raking down his back as a shudder of pleasure shot through her.
“Fuck …” He gasped. “So tight … wet … perfect.” She couldn’t help but blush at his words. He made another low, guttural noise, and one hand moved to the front, skimming over the skin of her pussy where they were joined.
She let out a whine as his thumb brushed her clit—the pleasure almost too much—even as his hips pummeled into her, his cock dragging along her inside passage.
"Come for me, Evie," he commanded, and her body had no choice but to obey. His fingers continued to stroke her clit, and she screamed as he pushed her over the edge. Her back arched, her arms swung backward so her hands could grip at the soft, silky sheets.
He let her recover, slowing down his thrusts until he stopped completely. When she opened her eyes, he was gazing down at her, his eyes like twin orbs of green fire.
"Connor, I—" Before she knew what was happening, he had flipped them over, so she was on top, straddling him. His hands traced up her waist to her breasts, cupping them and brushing the nipples
with his thumbs. She suddenly felt self-conscious, but, when she saw his face, the look he gave her made her heart melt and she forgot about her insecurities. It was like she was the only woman in the world, and she had never felt so beautiful.
She moved her hand to his cheeks, cupping his face and gently tracing the scar over his eye. He flinched and tried to turn away, but she held him still.
“No, don’t turn away.”
“It’s ugly,” he said with disdain.
“No, it’s not.” Evie leaned down and kissed the scar over his eye, continuing lower over his cheek to his jaw, stopping only to give him a soft peck on the lips. She touched her mouth to the pulse on his neck, to his shoulders, all the way to his pecs. When she was done, she straightened her back, planted her knees on either side of him, and began to move.
"Evie … Evie …" He moaned her name like a reverent prayer as she rode him. From this angle, he seemed to fill her up even more, and she ground against him, seeking the friction that made her body shiver and shake. She leaned back, moving her pelvis back and forth, feeling the drag of his cock in her. She squeezed tight, which made him gasp and grab for her hips. His hands cupped her buttocks and lifted her up, then slammed her down on him.
It was her turn to moan and throw her head back as he fucked into her. His thick cock surged inside her. His fingers found her clit again, and she cried out another orgasm.
“Fuck, Evie … I …”
She could feel him, knew he was almost there, and she wanted nothing more than to make him come, to hear him grunt and moan his orgasm, knowing she did it. She moved her hips faster, squeezing him tight until he clutched at her hips hard. His fingers would leave bruises later, but she didn't care. The feel of his cock twitching and jerking as he filled her with his cum was all that mattered. His face twisted as the orgasm hit him, and she could feel the wetness inside her, flowing out and painting her thighs.
She collapsed on top of him, breathing heavily. His chest was damp with sweat, but it didn’t matter as she was slick with perspiration, too.
Connor rolled them over, his softening cock slipping out of her. He turned her over, so her back was pressed to his chest, and he cuddled her, his arm wrapping around her and pulling her close. She lay still for a long time, listening to the sound of his breath. When it became steady and even, she closed her eyes and drifted to sleep.
Chapter Fourteen
Connor watched from off stage as Janelle floundered around like a fish out of water. At least she wasn’t ‘singing.’ He gave an annoyed snort. Why anyone would choose that talentless woman over Evie, he didn't know. Evie had explained something about social media followers and ticket sales, but he still didn't understand. Wasn't this professional theater? Shouldn't they be getting the best singer, actress, and dancer (i.e., Evie) for the job?
Plus, there was the fact that he wanted to wring Janelle's neck for the way she treated Evie. He had to be civil to the girl, at the very least, but he didn't even try to be nice. He also made it a point to never be alone with her, not even for a second. A couple of days ago, she tried to pull some trick where she was changing into her costume and ‘accidentally' dropped her towel. He quickly turned around and marched out of her dressing room.
This entire job was torture, and he couldn't wait for it to finish. Right now, he'd rather be facing South American thugs or insurgents in war-torn countries than having to spend another minute around that crazy pop star, her adoring fans, and the frenzied press camping outside the theater. Why anyone would want or need such attention was beyond him. Who the hell wanted this kind of life? Being hounded by photographers and autograph-seekers all the damned time?
Of course, there was one advantage to working here. His eyes locked on Evie, who was standing by the stage, talking to a couple of her castmates. He looked appreciatively down the line of her body, admiring the curves and dips. Her ass looked particularly biteable in her yoga pants, and he had to adjust his crotch to make sure no one saw how turned on he was.
Connor couldn't remember feeling as content as he had in the last week. He also couldn't remember sleeping as soundly as he did when Evie was in bed next to him. After that first night together, he wouldn't let her sleep anywhere but in his bed (though, truthfully, they spent more time not sleeping in it).
As if she read his mind, Evie turned in his direction. Their eyes locked, and her skin got that pretty blush she always got when she caught him looking at her. She bit her lip, and he let out a small groan.
"Connor, Connor. Connor!" Janelle stamped her feet, and Connor snapped his head back.
“What?” He could barely contain his annoyance.
"I'm ready to go back to my dressing room," she said. Her eyes followed his gaze, and, when they landed on Evie, her eyes turned into narrow slits. "Let's go," she huffed and flipped her hair.
“Fine,” he said through gritted teeth as he followed her.
The rest of the day's rehearsal progressed much too slow for Connor, and all he wanted to do was get the fuck out and take Evie home. Tomorrow was Saturday, which meant they were both off. He was looking forward to an entire weekend of staying in bed. Hmmm, maybe a nice dinner at the Mexican place near the hotel, too. Evie sure had an appetite, and he was more than happy to make sure she was properly fed before going back to bed. She needed her energy, after all.
***
The ringing in the middle of the night startled him, and, for a moment, he thought the nightmares were coming back after not having them for a while. Instead of grasping for the digital watch under his pillow, he reached across the bed. Evie. He breathed a sigh of relief as he felt her soft body next to him. But what was that ringing?
He sat up and looked at his phone. Not his. Glancing over at Evie’s bedside, he saw her phone glowing.
"Evie," he whispered, shaking her gently on the shoulders. "Evie, your phone's ringing."
“Hmmm?” She muttered in a sleepy voice, brushing her hair off her face. She sat up slowly, glancing around and then grabbing her phone. “Hello? Arthur?”
Arthur? Connor felt ugly jealousy rising in him. Who the fuck was this other man calling Evie in the middle of the night?
“Slow down …” Evie said. “What …” She paused. “Tell me again.” Reaching for the bedside table, she switched the light on.
Connor watched as Evie listened to the caller and slowly grew pale. Something was wrong, he could feel it.
“I’m on my way,” she said in a shaky voice. “I’ll take the first flight I can.”
"Evie?" Before she could explain, she jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.
What the heck was going on? Connor rolled off the bed and lumbered to the door. "Evie?" he called, knocking on the door.
He opened the door and saw her scrambling for her discarded jeans before slipping into them. “Evie?”
She looked up at him, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. "It's my brother. I mean, he called. My dad …" She choked up, then went very still, then sank down on the toilet. "He had a heart attack and …" A cry tore from her throat.
Connor crossed the bathroom in two strides and gathered her to him. "I'm sorry." She let out a sob and buried her face in his chest.
“I … I have to go and make sure … airport …” she said between hiccups.
A fierce, protective feeling washed over him. No way was he letting her go to the airport by herself. “Evie, I’ll take care of this okay? Don’t you worry.” He rubbed a soothing hand over her back. “Just relax. Everything will be okay.”
Chapter Fifteen
The entire trip back home was a blur to Evie. She wasn't even sure how it all happened. First, it was that call all adult children dread getting in the middle of the night, then, all of a sudden, she was sitting in the private jet next to Connor on their way to Kansas City.
She was getting ready to leave the hotel and make her way to the airport, but Connor said he'd take care of it. She thought he meant he'd d
rive her there, not hire a private plane to take her all the way home. The jet must have cost a fortune, but she was too weak to protest. Connor later assured her that he only borrowed the plane from Sebastian, who was happy to lend it to them.
They landed on the private strip just outside Kansas City, and there was already a black SUV waiting for them. Connor opened the door for her, helped her into the passenger seat, and then slipped into the driver's side. She mentioned the name of the hospital to him, and he drove her directly there.
“Charlie King,” she said to the nurse at the reception area, who directed her to the cardiothoracic ICU on the fifth floor. They ran to the elevators in the lobby and made their way to the ICU, where another nurse pointed them to her father’s room.
"Arthur!" she called to her younger half-brother. Arthur King was sitting on the bench outside the room, his face in his hands. He looked up and, when he saw his sister, got to his feet.
"Evie!"
Evie threw herself at Arthur. Long, gangly arms wrapped around her and, when she finally let go, she looked up at him. "You've grown again,” she said, her smile tight.
He gave a short laugh. "Yeah, puberty's coming at me with a vengeance," he said, his voice low. "Mom's livid. She had to buy new clothes twice this year."
“Where is Stephanie?” she asked, looking around for her stepmom.
"Talking with the doctor. Dad's almost out of the treatment room and …" Arthur's brown eyes, so much like her own, narrowed and looked behind her. "Who's he?" he asked, his shoulders straightening and chest puffing out.
Evie had nearly forgotten about Connor. She turned back and looked at him. He was watching them with a curious look on his face. “This is—”
“Connor,” he said, stepping forward and offering his hand to Arthur. The younger man took it and returned the handshake. “Good grip.”
"I'm Arthur. Who are you exactly?"
All for Connor: The Lone Wolf Defenders Book 3 Page 13
