by L A Cotton
“Just give me a second, okay.”
I nodded, hurt by his dismissal. Evan stared ahead, his chest heaving, breath coming in short, sharp bursts. He looked ready to implode … or worse. Without saying a single word, he turned the key, and the car roared to life, and we peeled out of the parking lot.
Evan didn’t take me home.
Ten minutes after leaving The Vault, we were parked outside his house. He still hadn’t spoken, and I was beginning to wonder if I should leave.
“Evan, I—”
He opened his door. “C’mon.”
I climbed out, arms still wrapped around my waist. I wasn’t used to this Evan, not anymore. Not since he’d let me in and opened up a little. Unsure what to do, I waited. Evan locked the car and took my hand, leading me to the house. Tension zapped between us, my heart like a runaway train in my chest.
“You’ll need to be quiet.” Evan pushed open the door and stepped to the side, letting me inside.
It was dark, no sign of life. I figured either Eli was at Mellie’s … or his mom was home. That was too weird to consider, so I shut down the thoughts. After locking up behind us, Evan moved by me, taking my hand again, and led us to his room. Light streamed in from the street lamp, cascading a soft amber glow around the room. The door clicked shut behind me, and I turned to face Evan.
“Ev—”
He stormed toward me, and the words died on my tongue. His hands cupped my face, sliding into my hair, and he captured my lips. With a mind of their own, my hands dipped under his form-fitting white t-shirt and stroked over his ribs, relieved that he was okay. Electricity sparked between us. Dangerous and powerful. It was always intense between us but never like this. This was different.
Evan’s mouth broke away. Pressing kisses down my neck and along the hem of my tank top, his hands slid to my stomach, and he tugged it up over my head. The storm in his eyes ignited into a fire. He stepped back, removing his own t-shirt, and reached out for me, brushing my hair over my shoulder. Looping an arm around my waist, he curled his fingers around a pink strand of hair and drew me against him. “Did he hurt you?”
“N- no,” I choked out.
“I’ll never let anyone hurt you, Becca.” He sealed his promise with a kiss over the curve of my breast, right near my heart, and I felt certain he would hear it beating.
Evan moved us to the bed, pushing me down, making easy work of stripping me of my skirt, leggings, and boots. I sat up, my fingers looping through his belt holes, yanking him closer. Looking up at him, I popped the button, sliding the jeans off his hips. His dick sprung free, straining against black boxer-briefs. Something about the way his body responded to me sent a shiver through me, and I closed a hand around him. Evan sucked in a sharp breath, the muscles in his thighs tensing.
But it wasn’t enough.
Pushing his boxers down, I took him in my hand again.
“Fuck,” he rasped out. “You don’t need to do this, Becca.”
I knew that.
Evan had never pushed me for anything. Encouraged, maybe, but never pushed. I knew I could stop at any time, but I didn’t want to. Leaning down, I flicked my tongue over the head and then opened my mouth, guiding him inside with my hand. Evan’s legs quivered, and he groaned, burying his hands into my hair. But he didn’t move. He let me set the pace, bobbing my head up and down in a slow rhythm, my tongue licking like he was a melting popsicle.
“Jesus, that feels good.” His fingers gripped a little tighter, but he didn’t take control. This was about me calming him. Easing the storm that raged inside him.
Finding my stride, I worked Evan with my mouth and hand, gliding up and sucking him back down. His muted groans gained momentum, encouraging me to go faster, harder, until he was panting and his whole body tensed. He pulled out on a growl, wrapping a hand around himself. “Fuck.”
I let out a small laugh, unable to take my eyes off him as he crashed over the edge. “Feel better?”
His eyes slammed to mine, dark with lust. “Much. Let me clean up, and I’ll be back. Don’t. Move.”
Evan pulled up his jeans and disappeared into the hallway. I shimmied back onto his bed, pulling a pillow over my almost-naked body. When he reappeared a couple of minutes later, he closed the door behind him, kicked off his jeans, and came to the edge of the bed.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to.” I reached out to him, and he lay next to me, tucking an arm behind his head. “You seemed really angry.”
“When I saw him put his hands on you…”
The storm had calmed in Evan, but it was still sweeping through me. I pushed up onto my knees and looked at him. “I’m fine.” My hand drifted to his abs. “See.”
He caught my wrist and tugged. I rolled onto him, straddling his waist, and pressed a kiss to his mouth. “He didn’t hurt me.”
“But he could have.” Evan’s voice was thick with something, but I didn’t want to talk about it anymore. I didn’t want to tell him that I was pretty sure Kendall was behind the whole thing. I just wanted … him.
I wiggled closer to Evan, grinding against him. His hand curved around my lower back and splayed out on my butt. “Becca,” he warned, but I flashed him a coy smile and rolled my hips again. He hardened underneath me, and my smile transformed to a grin. But Evan had other ideas, and in one swift move, he’d flipped us so that I was underneath him.
“Do you know what you do to me?”
“Show me,” I begged, needing him to ease the feelings pulsing through me.
Holding his weight on his arms, Evan slid forward, pushing against me, and I arched into him both relieved and frustrated by the contact. We were still partially clothed, and although it felt incredible, it wasn’t enough. Looping my arms over his shoulders, I pulled him down to me, finding his lips. Our tongues glided against one another, mirroring Evan’s torturous movements until I couldn’t bear it any longer.
“I want you, Evan.” The words tumbled out, and he tensed above me, but I gripped tighter, refusing to let him stop play this time. I needed this.
We both did.
He just had to give into it.
“Please,” I urged, rubbing myself against him. An indecipherable expression twisted on his face as his eyes pinned me to the bed.
“Becca.” It sounded too much like an excuse, and I shut my eyes tight, shaking my head. This couldn’t be happening, not again. Didn’t he feel it too? Cold air replaced his warm body, and I didn’t dare open my eyes to see his expression. But then the bed dipped, and his hand brushed over my stomach causing the muscles to contract. And then his mouth was there, between my legs, his hot breath sending my heart into a frenzy. I peeked an eye open. Evan was kneeling over the end of the bed, his hands about to slide down my panties. As the material disappeared and his tongue connected with my wetness, I gasped and rolled my head back. Almost forgetting that he’d evaded giving me what I really wanted—again.
“Morning, ba—oh, oh my.”
I raised a hand to my face to block the sunlight streaming through the window, and my eyes went wide at the sight of a woman standing the doorway.
“Ev, Evan, c’mon, it’s time to get up and pray.” Eli peered around his mom. “Becca. Yay, Becca’s here.”
“Come on, baby boy, let’s give your brother some space.” His mom didn’t sound like a drunk—in fact, she sounded perfectly normal as she shot me a raised eyebrow and ushered Eli away from the bedroom door.
“Please tell me I imagined that.”
Turning into his arm, I nestled there and let out a soft sigh. “Nope. Will she be mad?”
I hadn’t intended on staying over, but we’d gotten carried away. Evan did everything in his power to distract me, coaxing orgasm after orgasm from my body. If I hadn’t been so consumed with his touch, I probably would have felt embarrassed, but Evan worshipped me until every shred of the incident at The Vault was erased.
He dropped a kiss on my head and said, “Nah. Surpr
ised, I guess, but not mad.”
“Surprised?” I hated sounding so needy, but we hadn’t had the ‘talk.’
Evan left the bed, pulling on his jeans, and glanced around at me. “I don’t make a habit of bringing girls home.”
“Oh.”
His lips tugged up in a smile, and he laughed. “C’mon, get dressed. She’ll want to meet you.”
With a groan, I climbed out of bed and fumbled around for my clothes. Once we were dressed, Evan helped me sneak into the bathroom to clean up and finger brush my teeth.
“Ready?” he asked, leaning back on the counter.
I double checked myself in the mirror and grimaced. “I guess.”
He wrapped his arms around me from behind and dropped his chin to my shoulder. He looked like a sculpted god, and I looked … like a hungover mess. Dark rings circled my eyes, and my hair was out of control, but he didn’t seem to care.
“If it makes you feel any better, this isn’t how I wanted it to go.”
That made two of us.
Twisting in his arms, I tiptoed up and met his lips in a gentle kiss. “It’s fine. I want to meet her.” She was Evan’s mom. I wanted to know everything about him—the good, the bad, even the ugly.
He returned my smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes, and my heart ached for him.
“Hey.” I palmed his cheek. “It’ll be fine. Besides, there’s a hyper three-year-old waiting for me.”
That earned me a grin. “He’ll be stoked. This will earn me definite brownie points.”
My mouth dropped open, and he laughed, taking my hand in his and pulling me out of the bathroom.
“Hey Mom, this is Becca. Becca, my mom, Ellen.” Evan didn’t release my hand, and I was grateful given the frosty reception his mom was throwing my way.
“Becca,” she said curtly and then a little voice shrieked, “Becca! C’mon, it’s time for Paw Patrow.” He ran up to us and grabbed my free hand, yanking me forward. I looked at Evan, and he smiled, nodding for me to go on.
He leaned down and whispered, “I’ll be right over, go.”
I smiled at Ellen and turned my attention to Eli. “Sounds good, buddy. Lead the way.” Resisting the urge to look back at Evan, I followed Eli to the living room portion of the house. He chatted excitedly about his adventures since I’d last seen him. But curiosity got the better of me, and I discreetly looked over at the kitchenette. Evan and his mom were in hushed conversation, but I could see the tension between them. Ellen talked with hands, quick exaggerated movements, and at one point, her voice raised enough that I just made out the word ‘family.’
“Becca, what are you doing?” Eli tugged on my hand, staring up at me curiously, and I dropped down onto the floor. “Nothing, buddy. Can I take a look at that?” I flicked my head at the toy pup in his hands, and he beamed, “Sure.”
“Wow, I love his little outfit.”
“That’s Chase. Ev says he’s leader of the pat.”
“Do you mean the leader of the pack?”
“Yeah, leader of the pat.” He nodded eagerly.
I smiled. He was so innocent. So unaware of everything going on around him. In a strange way, I envied him. Life was still all roses and sunshine through his eyes.
“Well, I think Chase is pretty cool.” I handed Eli back his toy.
“So what does Becca think about Chase?”
Eli jumped up and tackled Evan. He swept up his brother in his arms and dropped down onto the couch.
“She thinks he’s awesomes.”
“Shall we let her in our club then?”
Scrunching his little face, Eli looked at me and back at Evan, a mischievous grin on his face. “Yeah, she can be in the cwub.”
I had no idea what club they were talking about … but I wanted in.
After checking in with Mom and Dad, we took Eli to the park to play ball. I lied and said I was hanging out with Lilly for the day. Mom didn’t believe me—I heard the doubt in her voice—but Dad had shouted for me to have fun with the girls and that was that.
“Can Becca come play ball with us every Saturday?” Eli tugged on his brother’s arm. “It's more fun when she comes.”
“What are you saying, little guy?” Evan swept Eli up in his arms, tickling him. “Am I not good enough anymore?”
Eli's deep belly laughter filled the parking lot. “Time, time,” he snorted. Evan dropped him between us, and Eli grabbed my hand. “You have to come, Becca. You're in the cwub now.”
I leaned down and smiled. “Well, if I'm in the club”—my eyes flickered over to Evan—“I guess I'll just have to.”
“Yay! Becca's in the cwub, Becca's in the cwub.” He leapt around us, cheering.
“You just made his day,” Evan whispered, pulling me to his side. His warm breath danced over my skin, causing me to shiver.
“He's impossible to refuse.”
“Thank you.” His lips connected with my head, and I smiled at how easy it was between us. “Do you want to come home with us? Mom has a shift at the store, and Eli will probably want a nap after we feed him.”
“Sure.”
I heard his unspoken meaning. Once Eli was asleep, the house would be ours.
“Dinner first, then marshmallows.”
Eli grumbled, “’Kay,” as he pulled me toward the door.
Evan pushed open the door, and his whole body went rigid.
“Baby, that you?” a female voice slurred.
“Yay, Mom's home.” Eli was too quick. He slipped out of my grasp and ran straight past Evan and into the house.
“Shit,” he murmured, dropping the bag of groceries and disappearing inside.
I hovered by the door, collecting up the spilled food, trying to figure out what to do. It felt like a private moment, something that had nothing to do with me, but I couldn't just leave. Not until I knew Eli was okay. That Evan was okay.
“... I'm not leaving him here with you while you're like this.” Evan's raised voice drifted out to me.
“Baby boy, come to your momma. Evan doesn't know what he's talking about. I'm fine. See, baby. Momma wanted to stay at home to tuck you into bed.”
Without thinking, I tiptoed into the house. Tension rippled in the air, but that wasn't the only thing. The stench of liquor lingered.
“Mom, don't do this,” Evan pleaded, and my heart cracked for him. “... let's get you to bed, and we can figure something out in the morning.”
“Always trying to get rid of me,” she hissed, her words barely audible.
“Mom—”
Something crashed, and Eli’s scream filled the house. Without thinking, I ran into the kitchen, slamming to a halt to take in the scene before me. Ellen was slumped up against the counter, her eyes narrowed to thin slits, her head rolling on her shoulders. Pressed into Evan's side, Eli sobbed, watching his mother, while Evan stood there like an emotionless statue, his steely gaze trained on Ellen.
Noticing me, Evan bent down to Eli and whispered something. He nodded and came to me. I opened my arms, wanting nothing more to shelter him from this.
“Take him to his room, I'll be there soon.”
I nodded and ushered Eli away.
“Who the hell ... think she is... my house.”
“Mom.” Evan's voice was cold.
“Taking my ... Doesn't know who ... Lose you.”
We entered Eli's room, and I closed the door to shut out her drunken ramblings, trying to remember they were the words of a bottle and not Evan's mom.
“Are you okay, buddy?” I crouched down to Eli, his little face pale.
“Ev says Momma gets sick sometimes. Is she sick again? I don’t want her to be sick.” His glossy eyes dropped to the floor, and I reached out to him, laying a hand on his shoulder.
“Your mom loves you very much.” My eyes scanned his room, noticing the small television. “Hey, I know, shall we watch a movie?”
Eli lifted his head and nodded. His lips quivering from the unshed tears. “O- okay. Do you lik
e Toy Story?”
I smiled. “I love Toy Story.”
Eli helped me find the DVD, and I started the movie while he collected his stuffed animals to watch the film with us. It felt a little weird sitting next to him on his toddler bed, but when he snuggled into my shoulder, I relaxed. Eli just needed to feel safe, and Evan was that person for him. Brother, protector … father figure. The more time I spent with the Porter brothers, the more I realized the extent of Evan’s responsibilities to his family.
After a while, the door creaked open, and Evan slipped into the room. He looked down at Eli, who was snoring softly beside me after falling asleep only minutes into the film. “How long has he been out?”
“He didn’t even make it to Buzz’s grand entrance.”
Carefully, I slid my arm from under him and shuffled to the end of the bed. “Is everything okay?”
Evan dragged a hand over his face. “I guess.”
“And your mom?”
“Sleeping it off at Mellie’s.”
“I can go if you want?”
He came to me, and I went willingly into his open arms. “Stay. I thought we could hang out, watch a movie?” Evan dropped his chin onto my head, and I breathed him in.
“Okay.”
“C’mon. He’ll be out for a while.”
We moved into the living room. Evan fetched a bag of chips and some soda, and I picked a film from the pile of DVDs beside the television stand. Evan wrapped his arm around my shoulder, pulling me to his side, and we sat like that in silence, pretending to watch the film. Because although I saw the moving images and heard the conversations, I wasn’t paying any attention. My heart was too busy breaking for Evan and Eli and their situation, wondering how long Evan had been cleaning up after his mom while trying to protect Eli from everything.
“I can feel your mind working overtime from here,” he said in a flat voice.
“Sorry, I can’t help it.” I pressed further into his side, dropping my head onto his shoulder.
“She wasn’t always like this. She used to be great. Fun and always smiling.”
“What happened?”
