Adam’s parents, as well as Max and Tia and a few colleagues from Adam’s current workplace, all shook his hand and greeted Lily. But his eyes soon settled on his most desired guest.
Eve.
His breath caught and most of his blood made a rapid journey south when he saw her. She wore a fitted silver dress that showed off the curves he adored to perfection. On her dainty feet were silver stilettos, and she carried a jewel purple clutch. Long silver strand earrings fell to her shoulders and her golden blonde hair had been straightened, hanging just below her shoulders. A heart-melting smile spread across her face as his eyes trailed up her body to meet her shimmering blue depths. Quickly he made his way over to her and slipped his arm around her waist.
“My goodness you have to be the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he breathed into her ear and felt her shiver at his words.
“You look rather gorgeous yourself. I can’t wait to get you home.” She playfully squeezed his bottom. It didn’t help the rush of blood below his belt-line. He kissed her neck and waited for his insides to settle before turning to greet her parents.
♥♥♥
The meal was as wonderful as they had all hoped. Everything cooked to perfection. Portion sizes meant everyone was satisfied but not overly stuffed. Everyone was happily chatting and drinking while Massive Attack’s Teardrop played in the background. Adam smiled as he lazily stroked a finger up and down Eve’s wrist.
After the whole party was finished with desserts, Adam nervously stood and clinked his glass with a spoon. The tables closest to him quieted. “Sorry to interrupt your wee chats everyone, but I just wanted to say a few words if that’s okay.” He smiled as he looked around the area of the restaurant where his nearest and dearest sat. “I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to have you all here with me to celebrate tonight. Getting this role as English teacher in such a fantastic high school is a massive thing for me and I’m absolutely thrilled about it.” Rumbles of appreciation travelled amongst his friends and family.
Adam took a deep breath. “But I’m afraid I lulled you all here under false pretences.” Confused looks were exchanged but he continued. “Getting this job means the world to me…obviously…but there is one thing that means even more to me than that…well I say one thing…I mean one person.” The Wannadies began playing in the background and Par Wiksten’s quirky vocals filled the air with the sweet lyrics of You and Me Song as it floated out above the low mumblings of the restaurant clientele.
Adam turned toward Eve and took her hand. “Eve, you mean more to me than any job…than any other woman…than anything in this whole world, in fact. I wasn’t unhappy before I met you but I was incomplete. Meeting you wasn’t just an accident. We were meant to be. We go together like…like haggis and tatties…like bees and flowers…like fish and chips… Okay, enough with the food comparisons when we’ve just eaten.” Giggles and chuckles traversed the group. He fumbled about in his pocket and retrieved a small box.
He dropped to one knee in front of Eve and gasps filled the air as he spoke with trembling lips and fingers. “Eve, if I’m honest, I think I’ve loved you since the moment I first met you that day Lily brought you into the refectory, and if it’s possible, I love you more each passing day. You’re the sun in my sky…my light in the darkness. Okay, the clichés are coming out now but… Well I don’t care. You’re the most stunning woman in any room you walk into. You make me laugh. You even laugh at my jokes and that’s a sure fire way to show you’re a keeper. You rein me in when I’m impulsive…but I really hope you don’t rein me in this time. You’ve filled my heart with a love I could never have imagined feeling. And if you’ll have me, I’ll try my very best to make you as happy as you make me feel with just one of your beautiful smiles. Eve…will you marry me?”
Eve’s eyes were glassy; her fingertips were resting on her lips. Her bottom lip quivered. “Yes, oh yes.” She lurched forward and wrapped herself around Adam as the whole restaurant burst into spontaneous applause. Adam and Eve kissed passionately to seal their engagement.
♥♥♥
Tears streamed down her face, as Lily watched the scene unfold before her. She didn’t try to stop them. People hugged her, presuming she was overcome with happiness for her best friend and his romantic proposal. After all, she’d been the one to introduce them. But deep inside, unbeknownst to anyone else, her heart broke all over again. The ache in her chest was almost unbearable, but she put on a brave face and applauded along with the rest of the witnesses to this magical event. Her smile was forced and felt like a mask. But it was a mask she would have to wear for the rest of her life. And wear it she would. Just for Adam. Just because all she wanted, apart from Adam, was his happiness.
Chapter Eleven
Move On Up (Curtis Mayfield)
August 2003
“How many more boxes are there, Adders?” Lily called from the top of the staircase. Her arms felt like jelly and her legs weren’t much better. Eve was in the kitchen unpacking all the necessary bits and pieces to make cups of coffee for everyone.
“Oh, only another fifty or so. Don’t worry…it’ll keep you fit,” Adam mumbled over the top of the large box marked CDs that he was manoeuvring through the front door of the new house.
Lily sighed and growled. “Why did I stay for this? I could be sunning myself on a beach in bloody New Zealand next to a half-naked male underwear model right now.” She had extended her stay long enough to help Adam and Eve move into their new place. They were renting with the option to buy, which meant things were easy and would speed along nicely once their finances were all in place.
Eve came through with two mugs of coffee and the end of a packet of chocolate cookies grasped between her teeth. “Awww, Willy, we weally appweciate dis you know.” Lily came sliding down the stairs on her bottom and took the packet of biscuits from Eve’s mouth. “Thanks, I’m not sure if you caught any of that but I was just saying—”
“You appreciate it. Yes, I got it. And I know you do. And I honestly don’t mind. I’m just knackered.” Lily ripped open the packet and shoved a cookie into her mouth. Whole.
Adam returned from the lounge and took a mug from Eve, kissing her on the cheek. “Thanks, gorgeous. Have I told you today how much I love you?”
Eve rolled her eyes. “Yes about a million times.”
Lily’s stomach lurched as the happy couple kissed. “Oh good grief, get a bloody room. In fact, there are three of them upstairs, go take your pick.” She slapped Adam around the head.
“Ouch! Watch it or you’ll get all the heavy boxes next.”
She huffed. “Yeah? Like I haven’t been getting them already?”
“You two have a wee break, and I’ll go out to the van and bring some stuff in,” Eve suggested.
“No, you have a break too. We’ve all been working bloody hard this morning.” Adam glanced around the hallway. “Awww, Evie it’s going to be fantastic, this house. I can just see it now.”
The terraced cottage was fairly plain which—Eve had insisted to Adam—was a very good thing as they could easily put their stamp on it. They had both been saving for a while and had managed to purchase some extra pieces of furniture to make the house feel like a home. Their home.
Downstairs had a small entrance hallway and to the right was a good-sized lounge. Through the lounge was a newly fitted kitchen. It was fairly modern but had a country feel to it. Cream shaker style units sat under solid wood block work surfaces. Silver coloured appliances finished off the smart room nicely. The previous owners had bought the cottage as a shell and had gutted the insides, modernising it with a view to sell it for profit. The cottage garden at the back had an area to sit and a small lawn. Right at the back was a veggie plot that Adam couldn’t wait to get stuck into. It was an exciting prospect, growing his own spuds.
From the small hallway led a wooden staircase and on the top floor was a small but perfectly formed bathroom complete with roll-top bath. There was a small room that w
ould be great as an office and then two further bedrooms, one of which Lily had named as her room and the other which was earmarked, obviously, for Adam and his gorgeous future wife.
♥♥♥
After unloading the last of the boxes, Lily had declined the offer of a take-away, a bottle of wine, and crashing at the new house. She had informed Adam that he should spend the first night in his new home with his fiancée. He hadn’t taken much convincing.
He stretched and looked at the clock. It was only ten thirty, but he was keen to get to bed. He yawned dramatically and slipped his arm around Eve’s shoulders, leaned in, and whispered into her ear, “I think I’m going to turn in. Can I tempt you?”
She visibly shivered, turned to him, and breathed, “I don’t think I’ll take much tempting.”
Leaning forward he covered her mouth with his own and slipped a hand through her hair. “I want to take you upstairs, undress you, slide inside you, and stay there all night.” His voice was a low growl.
She gasped as she ran her hands up his chest. “Well, what are you waiting for?”
He scooped her up in his arms and made his way to the hall. Careful not to drop his precious cargo, he climbed the stairs and pushed open the bedroom door with his foot. Placing her on the floor he gazed down, deep into her vivid blue eyes, which had darkened slightly now that lust had taken over. Her hands slipped around his waist and tugged at the old T-shirt he wore. She pulled it upward and he stooped to help her remove it.
He inhaled deeply as she smoothed her hands over his bare chest and around his neck. She laced her fingers, tugged at the dark strands of his hair, and pulled him down so that his mouth was over hers again. He went willingly, darting his tongue into her mouth, desperate to taste her. Everywhere. Slowly he pulled her tank top over her head until her lace-covered breasts were revealed to him. He dragged his fingertips down from her collarbone to the rise of her soft curved mounds. “You have the most beautiful breasts I’ve ever seen, Evie,” he said as his thumbs circled her hardening nipples through the lace. She moaned. He hardened.
Slipping the straps of her bra down, he freed each breast, caressing each nipple in turn with his tongue. Her head rolled back and she sighed her pleasure. Sliding down her sides and enjoying the curve of her hips, his hands dipped into the waistband of her yoga pants and down to her perfectly rounded bottom. He squeezed and slowly descended to a kneeling position in front of her. “I want to taste you.” He gazed up at her through hooded eyes. She leaned on his shoulders whilst she stepped from her pants. The lace panties followed very soon after. Adam kissed her smooth skin just below her naval making her groan again.
She grasped his hair as he peppered kisses across her lower abdomen until he slid his tongue into her sensitive flesh. She gasped and he felt her legs almost buckle. Lightly he pushed her back so that she tumbled onto the bed directly behind her. He moved forward to blow through the soft curls at the apex of her thighs and she grasped at the soft, silky comforter.
“Adam…please…I need you…now.” Her breathing was ragged and her voice huskily caressed his senses. Kissing all the way around the tops of her thighs and prolonging his own delicious agony, he eventually slipped his tongue into her heat again and groaned as he took his prize. He could stay there all night, just tasting, kissing, and caressing her with his tongue, but he had promised her other gifts. Once she had cried out his name, he stood and removed his jeans and fitted boxers. Never taking his eyes from hers, he climbed onto the bed between her thighs and lay on top of her. He rolled onto his back taking her with him until she straddled his waist. And then he guided her down onto his arousal, gripping her hips so that he could move her. Her head rolled back, and it was evident she was beginning to climb once again. He could feel her tightening around him and it pushed him over the edge. His hands reached for her and pulled her into his chest as he thrust into her one last time, calling her name and then kissing her deeply.
He stroked her back as they both fought to calm their breathing. “Evie.” She pulled herself back to look into his eyes. “Evie…don’t ever leave me. I don’t know what I’d do.”
She smiled as she stroked the hair back from his damp face. “I’m going nowhere, Adam.”
“I…I just…I could never love someone as much as I love you…you’re it for me. This is it. I don’t want to be without you. You’re my life. You have…all of me.”
“And you have all of me. I’m yours.”
Chapter Twelve
Don’t Say You Love Me (Free)
September 2003
Lily nervously walked through arrivals towards the meeting point at Christchurch airport. The spring day was bright and sunny, quite a contrast to the autumnal temperatures beginning to occur back home. She scanned the crowd looking for Chris and eventually her eyes fell on a tall, blonde, handsome man holding a single red rose, a wide, gorgeous grin fixed in place on his flawless features. Her heart skipped ever so slightly, filling her with a tiny shred of hope. Could she begin to love him?
He began to walk toward her, his steps faster the closer he got. She stepped out from behind her trolley and was immediately scooped up by strong muscular arms.
“God, Lily, I’ve missed you so much. I got scared,” he whispered into her hair.
Pulling away from him, she peered into his bright green eyes, which were now filled with emotions that she didn’t want to read. “Scared? Why?”
He tucked her hair behind her ear. “You stayed away so long I thought you weren’t going to come back to me.” His jaw clenched. “But I would have had to come and find you, Lily. I…I—”
Dreading the next words to fall from his mouth, Lily interrupted, “Well, I’m here now,” she trilled, “and I’m shattered. Can we go home so I can sleep?”
He pouted. “Sleep? I haven’t seen you or held you in weeks and you want to sleep?”
She bit her lip. “Well…sleep first and then…” She kissed him deeply, igniting a passion in him that she knew she would definitely benefit from later. He groaned into her mouth as he held his hand knotted in her tangled curls.
They arrived back at his rented apartment and she dumped her bag in the bedroom. He followed her in and slipped his arms around her waist again, nuzzling her neck.
Turning in his arms, Lily looked up at him. “What do you see in me, Chris?” she asked.
His brow furrowed. “Are you kidding me?”
She shook her head. “I don’t get it. You’re a bloody model, and I’m…well—”
“And you’re a sexy, talented, intelligent, and fun woman with an incredible body who drives me insane in bed and who I love spending time with.” He kissed just below her ear and she shivered. “Does that answer your question?”
She scrunched her face. “I have an incredible body?” She found that very hard to believe. She had always thought herself rather ordinary in the looks department and felt her hips were too big and her breasts matched her hips. Hourglass was what people called it when they were trying to be nice. Fat was what Lily called it on her off days.
“Take it from me, Lily, you have the most sexy curves…and your breasts…” He slipped his hand inside her shirt and caressed one as if to prove his point. “Are just my favourite part of you…apart from your mind of course.” He chuckled. “And your smile.” Shivers travelled down her spine as he continued to caress her. “And your hair…and—”
“Okay, okay I think I get it now.” She smiled, feeling boosted by his words.
“Good…well that’s why I’m attracted to you, but I love you for all of that and more.” Lily gasped. Shit…what do I say?
He must have noticed the look of horror on her face as he cupped her cheek with his free hand. “Hey…it’s okay. I know you’re not…you know…in that place yet and that’s fine. I’ll wait. No matter how long it takes, I’ll wait. Because you’re worth waiting for.”
She felt the familiar sting of threatening tears as she gazed up at the handsome, caring, sweet man befo
re her. More than anything, she wanted to feel the same. Maybe in time. But why the hell did this keep happening to her? Why couldn’t she give her heart? It was so unfair.
Once again, he noticed the change in her emotions. “Hey, shhh, don’t cry, babe. You can’t help wanting to take things slow and I accept that. Come on, let’s have a nap, eh? I probably shouldn’t have dropped that on you when you’re suffering from jet lag, eh?”
She smiled. He was probably right for the most part. Jet lag always made her emotional. That and leaving Adam. But she really wasn’t good company when she was tired. After slipping out of her clothes, she climbed into bed. Chris followed suit and climbed in behind her. He snuggled up to her, and with his arm around her waist, he pulled her back into his front. It didn’t take long before she drifted off.
Sometime later—she had no clue how long—she was awoken by the most amazing feelings of pleasure radiating from her core and stretching all the way to her fingertips. She let out a long croaky, sleep-filled groan as she felt pressure building deep within her. She gripped the sheets as Chris continued with his amazing ministrations from somewhere under the bedclothes. She exploded in an intense orgasm, which sent her soaring above the rooftops and up into space. He knew how to play her body like an instrument. He climbed back up toward her face as she gasped, eyes closed. She opened them and looked up into vivid green eyes smiling down at her.
He kissed her nose. “Thought that might be a nice way to wake you up.”
She stretched, allowing every muscle in her body to lengthen. It felt good. She felt good. His arousal pressed into her stomach, and with a grin she wiggled her body, causing Chris to close his eyes and emit a low growl. Opening and keeping his eyes locked on hers, he reached down and fumbled around in the nightstand drawer. Once he was sheathed in latex, he slid himself into her and began to move.
♥♥♥
Chris really was amazing. He seemed to understand Lily’s need to take things slow better than she could have expected or hoped. She pondered explaining to him why she was so filled with trepidation about their relationship but worried that perhaps her admission would do more harm than good. Perhaps he would run a mile. That wouldn’t be good. The fact that she was worried about losing Chris made her smile. Perhaps she was beginning to have feelings for him?
The Girl Before Eve Page 8
