Dark Thief (The Two Sides of Me Book 2)

by Garcia, Amy Lynn

  Everything is heightened for me by taking one of my senses away and forcing the others to focus. I know now what Evan meant when he once said that he could die a happy man at that moment because I feel the exact same way right now.

  Chapter 23

  “Undressed”

  Kim Cesarion

  Waking in Evan’s arms is an addictive experience that I’ll never get enough of. Drawn in tight, my back to his front, we have both slept hard through the night, something neither of us is accustomed to doing. I blink a few times trying to focus, I’m still a little confused when I wake up. I’ve gone from sleeping in my own apartment for 10 years to Evan’s Seattle home back to my childhood home, Evan’s Aunt’ Sophia’s home and now yet another mansion of Evan’s in Italy. I stare out the window that faces the lake and see a light snow falling outside, how many days until Christmas? I count in my head, shit 10 days away? Can that be right? I repeat the count and realize that yes indeed I only have 10 days to figure out gifts for my family and friends and Evan.

  Good lord, is there anything you can even give a man like him? I’ll have to be very creative and sneaky, now that he has his sight back he’s not going to miss a thing, as if he ever did. I toss around gift ideas for a while and develop a plan to order Christmas online and have the gifts shipped to the states. Evan still has a steady breathing pattern and I assume he’s sleeping, I want to call Dr. Carter and see how soon he will be arriving but leaving the warmth of Evan’s embrace is impossible.

  First, because who would want to and second, because he’s incredibly solid and I can’t lift the leg he has wrapped around mine. “You’re gears are really turning this morning.” I jerk at his unexpected words. “You’re awake?” “Mmhmm, I’ve been watching the snow with you for 5 minutes.” How did I miss that? His body gave no indications that he was awake. “What are you thinking about?” “You mean you don’t already know? Usually it’s you who tells me what I’m thinking, sometimes before I realize myself.” “Well I have an idea but I thought I would give you an opportunity to tell me for a change.” “Gee thanks, what was your idea? Now I’m intrigued.”

  “We’re watching it snow, thousands of miles from home with no definite return plans, you’re missing your family and friends, it’s almost Christmas so that’s on your mind and finally I’d say you are figuring out how you’re going to get gifts dispersed to them. How did I do?” I roll my eyes and twist in his arms to face him, his beauty stuns me, even after all this time he’s still majestic, beautiful. God must have been in a special mood the day he created Evan. “You’re too much.” He kisses me on the nose. “But I’m right aren’t I?” I wrinkle my brow and admit “Yes, yes you are.” “So, online shopping today?”

  I bury my face in his chest and he draws me in closer. “Yes, if I ever get out of this bed.” “Not happening anytime soon baby.” “So, what are your plans for today?” “To stay right here and make love to you as long as you can tolerate it, and then an hour or two longer. Maybe a bite to eat, a bath with you and then back to bed. What do you think?” “Sounds like heaven.” And with a moan he’s on top of me and we start our day off with a bang, making love.

  We snack in bed, soak in the tub and then you guessed it, back to bed. I could get used to this. It’s always when things seem too good to be true that I get smacked across the face with a big fat dose of reality, so I have never completely allowed myself to be happy.

  The snow has stopped but more than I had expected accumulated and I have the urge to go outside in it. Even snuggled in the warm cocoon of love and sex I feel an unexplainable urge to throw a snowball at Evan which makes me smile. I’m sitting cross-legged in the center of the bed with the soft blue sheet over my shoulders. I know Isaac and Mr. Saint have seen me from more angles than I’ve ever seen myself courtesy of the security cameras but I try to get lost in the moment when Evan and I are intimate so I don’t feel their eyes on us.

  Just sitting here talking I feel more vulnerable. “Why do you love purple so much, and why have you strayed from it in this room?” I’ve been wondering about the purple forever but never actually posed it as a question. Evan leans against the headboard, fingers laced behind his neck and ankles crossed. “I told you it represents royalty remember?” “No, I mean the real reason, I know there’s more to it than that, and nobody chooses one color so often without a special reason.”

  “So now you can look into my mind as well?” “Yes, I can.” I nod my head once curtly and cross my arms over my breasts. “Chilly?” “No, just, I…” “The cameras?” “Yea, I know they’re watching us, it’s weird. Now out with it, purple, what’s up with that?” He sighs, “Ok, it’s not that big a deal, really. My Aunt Sophia wasn’t always blind, she lost her sight when she was 14 and her favorite color was purple. She often asked me to describe it to her, she always wanted to know what color something was, especially if it were purple.

  I described it so many times that it easily became my favorite color. She told me fairy tales and described the royals clothing...always purple. So there’s the mystery of my color preference.” “What about this room, no purple in here.” “I didn’t decorate this room.” “Who did?” “Cameron. She got sick of purple. I allowed her to change this room a few years ago.” Not particularly the answer I was expecting, and also not something I want to know but I asked didn’t I?

  Sensing the tension he removes his hands and extends one to me, I rise to my knees taking the sheet with me. I crawl to him and straddle his hips. “Open the sheet.” Something about this man and his bossiness turns me into a compliant submissive puddle of obedience. I open the sheet and he takes the two corners from my hands pulling it over our heads.

  I giggle and he smiles the warmest of smiles, all tension dissipates as he presses his lips gently on my mouth. My lips are swollen, partially from the vicious bite I received from him yesterday and partially from the hours of making love today. Remnants of the two sides of this man that I try unsuccessfully to figure out each day we are together. “I want to do something.” he says quietly as he tangles my hair in his fingers and backs away from my face enough to look me in the eyes.

  Oh those eyes, under the blue sheet his sharp green eyes take on the color of the deepest part of the ocean making me willing to agree to anything. “Ok, like what?” “You trust me, yes?” Oh crap, why does he continue to ask me that? It’s such a loaded question, maybe that’s the reason he keeps asking. “Yeesss.” I say, with the slightest bit of hesitancy.

  “Don’t be all fidgety about it Mia, I’m not going to ask anything of you that I don’t think you can handle.” Now what does he mean by that? Handle? As in tolerate? “Just trust me ok?” “I said I did. Now what are we going to do?” “You don’t have to do anything, except close your eyes and lay down, without the sheet.” I chew on my bottom lip instinctively and hiss when I feel the sharp pain of the bite mark. “Come on.” He bucks his hips up indicating we are doing whatever it is he’s got planned.

  I lift my bent knee and roll over onto my back with the sheet still around me in one big dramatic swoop. “No sheet.” Ok, ok, geesh. He better be planning on keeping my mind on something so I can forget the prying eyes of my assigned protectors. I spread my arms wide opening the sheet exposing my body completely. He’s off the bed getting something out of the night stand drawer, curiosity has me tied in knots, and I’m dying to open my eyes.

  The mattress dips when he returns and he straddles me now, protecting me from his full weight he hovers lightly. “Keep your eyes closed.” “I will.” He bends close to me, I hear a click and feel something tickling my belly, like well I don’t know maybe like he’s writing on me. “Wha…” “Shhhsh, just trust me and be still.” So I do, it’s hard though, to be still.

  Whatever he is writing I begin to realize it’s the same thing over and over just on different parts of my body, everywhere, arms, legs, breasts. He’s writing all over me with a pen. Sometimes the script feels small sometimes larger but always th
e same swish and scroll. I giggle a time or two and each time he shushes me gently, never ceasing his project. He’s even turned me over and is working on my backside now. I’m starting to wonder how long the pen will hold out, he’s used a lot of ink.

  I’m getting sleepy, if this didn’t tickle so much in certain areas I’d probably be out, he’s seriously worn me out today, but I love it. “Ok.” “Hmm? All done?” “Yes, but I want you to wait to open your eyes for a minute ok?” I groan with impatience. “Come on...” I whine. “Stay. Wait.” He moves off of the bed, I could sneak a peek but somehow he would know…he just would. He's in the closet opening a drawer, what the hell is he getting? Every time he asks me to close my eyes I think he’s going to do something kinky. Which I wouldn’t necessarily object to, I just don’t know how comfortable I’d be with any of that and I know he’s experienced well beyond what he’s shown me.

  I’m not thinking about that, nope, think black wall, empty room, the beach…anything other than Evan with another women! I hear him padding across the room back to the bed where he steps up and walks across the mattress where he stops and stands over me. I can feel his ankles brushing against my own. And then I hear a click, what the hell? He’s taking pictures of me! I jump and flip to my back opening my eyes to Evan towering over me with an enormous professional looking camera.

  “What the hell Evan? I’m naked!” “I’m well aware baby, now close your eyes and relax, I want some of this side.” “Evan! No!” It’s then that I look at my arms, and then propping up I see my legs, hell every inch of me! I’m covered in his signature! Evan Lawson is scrawled across my skin in various sizes but the same name over and over, delicate looking font in some places and bold in others.

  He’s claimed me, quite literally. Shocked and confused, mouth agape I look up at him as he stands there awaiting my cooperation. “Close your mouth baby, a bird might…” I cut him off, “Evan! Why…why is your name…everywhere?” I lift my arms as if to show him what he’s done. “Because you are mine.” “And you couldn’t think of a better way to show that?” “No, I like you covered in my autograph and I’m taking you out tonight to Dominus for dinner and drinks. I know all too well how my customers gawk and I don’t want anyone’s lustful eyes on you.”

  I think my mouth is hanging open even wider, if that’s possible. He wants me to go out like this, covered in his signature, so that no one will look at me. Ok, he’s totally lost it, I’m not going anywhere like this. “Uh uh, no way, I can’t go out all marked up like this!” “Lay down Mia, I want to get a few more shots.” “What? Are you listening to me?” “Yes, you are yelling how could I not be listening to you? Lay back and close your eyes, now.”

  I’m fuming inside but if its pictures he wants then I want some guarantees. “Nobody sees these right? Like nobody.” “Of course! Why would I show anyone nude photographs of you when I’m trying to keep people from looking at you?” Well, he’s got a point. “Why do you want the pictures?” “Because you’re lovely, and mine, and covered in proof.”

  Ok well I guess, as long as they are for his eyes only. I lay down on my back and shut my eyes while he begins clicking away, bending and getting every angle humanly possible before stopping. “Ok, let’s get dressed. I have a car coming in about an hour.” “I’m not going out like this Evan.” I say flatly. “Yes you are, no one will see it. I’ve got your clothes set out in the closet, all of this will be covered.”

  The audacity of this man, I can’t believe him! He thinks he can just choose my clothes? It occurs to me that we have never been out in public together on an evening date. Is he worried about me showing too much skin? And so what if I do? It’s my body. “So what’s the purpose of covering me in your name?” I ask full well knowing the answer but wanting to hear him say it. “You know why. I just told you. The people at my club are…well…they have dark tastes. All eyes will be on us because of who I am, they all know I’ve been away for a while and gossip will be rampant. I don’t want to share an inch of you with them.” “Then why go there?” “It’s my first business, I want to show off, brag if you will. I’d like you to see one of our shows in the club.”

  He sits on his knees with his hands on his thighs at my feet and places the camera carefully beside him. Biting his lip in a rare moment of insecurity I hear him say that magic word all mothers pray their child will use in public. “Please.” Throwing up my arms buckling under the power of all that is Evan I agree. “Oh all right!” My reward for submitting? The smirk and wink that melts my heart. “You’re incorrigible.” “You wouldn’t want me any other way baby.” And it’s true, I wouldn’t.

  Chapter 24

  “Latch”

  Sam Smith

  I’m glad we bathed because there’s no way he will let me now. I stand in front of the full length mirror in the walk in closet staring at my skin, turning and cranking my neck to see my backside. This is going to smudge if I get hot, and smear if I sit down, I think. Oh my god, I hope he didn’t use permanent ink! I bend over and lick my thumb to rub a small place off of my foot and its gone easily…well at least I can be relieved about that!

  The dress he’s put out for me is really quite stunning I can’t be upset with his choice, he has exquisite taste. On a large free standing hook hangs a floor length black sequined dress that has a high neck line and long full length sleeves. It’s got plenty of coverage that’s for sure but at the same time very sexy. There is a slit cut all the way up the center of the dress and he has black stockings and a garter belt with panties and bra to match all set out on the island. And as if I couldn’t have handled choosing shoes he’s taken care of that too.

  On the floor under the dress are a pair of elegant black stilettos that immediately catch my eye and make my heart beat faster. He knows I love shoes and he has outdone himself. Delicate rhinestone straps start around the toe and wrap around to the back where the shoe is more enclosed and black, a silver heel ties the look together and I’m forgetting the pen marks all over my body in no time. I slip into the undergarments and just as I’m stepping into the dress Evan enters with only a towel around his waist and damp hair.

  “So you get to shower do you?” “Just a quick one. Do you like the dress?” I notice his change in subject but I ignore it. “Well, it certainly covers all of me. It’s beautiful though, yes I like it.” I continue to pull the dress up and slide my arms inside, he gracefully steps to zip me and we stand looking in the mirror together. His eyes are bright and full of adoration reflecting back at me.

  “I love you, you know.” he says. “Yes I do.” That’s all that is said. I slip my feet into the glorious shoes and do a couple turns to see how they feel, unbelievably comfortable for stilettos, but I’m used to them. I’ve not been working for so long now that I wear heels more times than not. Now what to do with my hair. “Your hair?” he says buttoning up his crisp white tuxedo shirt. “Yes, it’s kind of a mess.” “Come with me.” He says while he continues to dress tucking in his shirt.

  I follow and can’t help but to watch his perfect form ahead of me, every muscle working together fluidly. It’s so difficult to believe he is having such an enormous health issue right now, he looks like a cover model for GQ. In the bathroom he pulls up a high stool in front of the mirror. “Sit.” he gestures toward the seat and I must make some sort of doubtful facial expression because he rolls his eyes and repeats the gesture. I click across the bathroom floor and perch on the stool. He takes out a brush and removes my rubber band holding the mess atop my head and it falls heavily down my back.

  He works the brush through every strand, occasionally looking up into the mirror at me, smiling a tiny satisfied smile until it’s as smooth as curly hair gets without a straightener. It’s not the first time he’s brushed my hair but he sets down the brush and picks up a curling iron that I didn’t notice had been heating on the counter.

  “Uh…you know how to use that thing? I don’t want chunks of hair being burned off.” He looks at me, disappo
inted in my lack of faith but doesn’t say a thing, he just continues on with my hair like a professional, separating sections, wrapping them around the iron and slowly moving it down the hair until my head is covered in ringlets. “How do you know how to do that?” I ask looking at the lovely end product. “Practice.” “On whom?”

  He sets aside the iron unplugging it and turning it off as well. Looking at my hands in my lap he admits softly. “Cameron. She liked her hair this way.” I’m not really sure how to respond to that, he just gave me his ex-girlfriend/little sister’s hair style. “Oh…does it remind you of her? Do you miss her?”

  Neither question do I want the answer to, I asked because I couldn’t think of anything else to say and he looks so sad. “A little, her hair wasn’t blonde or as beautiful as yours and yes I miss her.” I appreciate him being honest. “Thank you.” I say and he turns leaving me there to stare at the hairstyle of a dead woman from Evan’s past.

  Sitting there daydreaming about Cameron I suddenly realize I need to pick up the pace. Evan took quite a while with my hair, I still can’t believe he did that, and so well. I grab my makeup and carefully apply evening smoky eyes and a touch of powder. I’m not big on painting my face but the dress and occasion call for it. I find Evan in the living room standing in the semi-circle of windows that look out over the water, one hand in the pocket of his beautiful black tuxedo pants.

  We will make a pretty good looking couple tonight, no chance of people ignoring us, he would be recognized even if he dressed like a homeless man so there was never any chance we would remain anonymous. I still feel strange knowing I’m covered in Evan’s signature under this dress, in fact you can see through the hose a little. It looks like I have tattoos all over my legs but its only visible when I jut my leg out of the front slit. He’s lost in thought and I wonder if he’s thinking about Cameron. That relationship was unhealthy to say the least and I wish I hadn’t asked about the hair but curiosity is my weakness.