Sins from Her Past (Scandalous)

by Jules Bennett

  Heat blasted him about halfway up. No wonder Dylan had started downstairs. Hades was probably cooler than the second story of this home.

  Whoever had lived here last had not taken care of the place. The old wooden rail was squeaky and wobbly and the carpet in the upstairs had been stained and half pulled away from the floor beneath.

  “The original hardwood is all under here,” Dylan told him. “I’ll pull this shit up and make sure it’s still in good condition to be refinished.”

  There was an impressive master bedroom and three smaller bedrooms and one more bath. Vin couldn’t imagine taking something as large as this and doing it alone.

  “You’ve got your work cut out for you,” Vin said as they started back downstairs.

  “It’ll all be worth it,” Dylan told him. “I love the work and I’m just happy to have my house back.”

  “Has Evie been by yet?”

  Dylan came to the bottom of the steps and headed back to the kitchen. “Not yet. I think it’s still too hard for her.”

  She hadn’t even mentioned it to him. Just another part of her past she was suppressing and trying to keep out of their future.

  “She’ll come around,” Vin said. “She’s been really working hard on this project of mine.”

  Dylan turned and smirked. “You sorry I asked you to give her a chance?”

  “Hell no.” If Dylan only knew how much he meant that. “Her ideas are fresh. Nothing at all what I was envisioning, but better. She’s got an amazing talent.”

  “I’m glad you guys are getting along so well.”

  A twinge of guilt irritated Vin, but he couldn’t say anything, not without knowing what Evelyn wanted. If she wanted her brother to know, either she could tell him or they would tell him together. This relationship was still so new, he wasn’t quite sure how to handle things and he sure as hell didn’t want to screw anything up.

  “So where do you want me?”

  Chapter Fifteen

  By the time Vin got home, he was already sore, tired and sweaty. He loved working with his hands. Reminded him of years ago when he and Dylan had worked for that construction company during the summers between college terms. Getting back to his roots was very humbling and made him respect his best friend all the more.

  He smiled at the black Jeep in his drive. Evelyn was here…where she belonged.

  When he went into the house through the garage and into the kitchen, he didn’t see her. He worked his way through the whole downstairs and still didn’t see her.

  It was getting late, maybe she’d already gotten in bed. His bed. Also where she belonged.

  He stripped off his shirt, jeans, shoes and socks and left the smelly pile in the laundry room. Wearing only his black boxer-briefs, he made his way up the steps to his room. By the time he hit the second floor, a floral scent of…jasmine?…hit his senses.

  Off-key singing came from his room and he smiled. Lord, she was a terrible singer, but her flaws were so few, how could he complain? The singing was so bad, in fact, he couldn’t even identify the song she was butchering.

  He walked through his room, grinning when he saw a small purple suitcase with her things in it, open and on the floor beside the bed. She should go ahead and unpack. She wasn’t going anywhere if he had any say-so.

  Vin propped a shoulder against the doorjamb and watched as Evelyn shaved one shapely leg. Her body was covered in bubbles as she continued her bath in his oversized garden tub. With her back to him, and that singing that only dogs could identify with, he knew she hadn’t heard him approach.

  He waited until she was done shaving before he entered, because if he startled her, he sure as hell didn’t want her to cut herself.

  “Ma’am, I believe you’re breaking and entering,” he said as he came to stand beside the tub.

  Evelyn sat upright, then laughed. “God, you scared me. I wasn’t sure when you’d be home and I wanted a bubble bath. Hope you don’t mind.”

  “A naked woman in my house? Yeah, I really mind.” He laughed, shucking his underwear. “I’m so pissed.”

  She scooted up when he slid into the tub at the opposite end. “You look filthy,” she told him. “All sweaty and…sexy.”

  He grinned as his legs intertwined with hers beneath the girly bubbles. He’d be more than happy to smell like a flower garden if it meant having Evelyn comfortable enough in his home to let her guard down.

  “I was helping your brother,” he told her. “We ripped up the old kitchen tile and started tearing out the cabinets.”

  Sadness flashed through her eyes. “Was it terribly run-down?”

  “Yes,” he told her. He had never lied to her and wouldn’t start now just to sugarcoat things. “But Dylan has some great plans and it will be amazing when he’s done.”

  “He’s so talented,” she said with a grin. “I just don’t know if I can go see it yet.”

  “Nobody said you had to.” Vin scooted up, gripped her thighs and pulled her so her legs were back behind his waist. “Have I mentioned how glad I am you’re here?”

  “No.” She rubbed against him. “But I can tell you’re pretty excited to see me.”

  “You have no idea.”

  With his hands around her waist, he eased forward until his lips gently touched hers. Her hands came up to cup his shoulders as he coaxed her mouth open and slid his tongue in. She tasted of ice cream.

  He eased back and grinned. “Help yourself to my rocky road in the freezer?”

  “Maybe,” she replied with a grin. “You know it’s my favorite.”

  “Mine too. You better have saved me some.”

  “I may have left a bite or two.”

  He laughed and moved his hands to her shoulders and she winced.

  “You okay?” he asked, swiping away the bubbles that had covered her.

  Small round bruises stared back at him and Vin saw red. “What the hell happened, Evie?”

  “It’s nothing. I just bruise easily.”

  “Like hell, Evelyn.” He looked into her eyes and was surprised she wouldn’t meet his. “What the hell happened? Those are finger marks. Who touched you?”

  She turned her face away and sighed. Silence slid between them and before he knew what she intended, she pushed up from the tub and got out.

  Damn it. What asshole had done that and why the hell did she feel the need to cover for the bastard?

  “Evie—”

  “No.” She turned to face him with her hand up. “I said it’s nothing, just leave it at that.”

  He came to his feet and stepped out onto the mat, grabbing a towel from the rack. After he rid himself of all those damn bubbles, he felt he could actually man-up and talk to her.

  “I can’t let this slide,” he told her. “I love you and if some asshole touched you, hurt you, I have the right to know.”

  After wrapping herself in a towel, she glared at him. “You have the right? Because we have sex? Because you love me? I’m not owned by you or anybody else and I’m sick of people thinking I owe them anything.”

  Her voice cracked on that last word and she fled from the room. Vin clutched his towel and watched her until she disappeared. The slam of the door from one of the guest bedrooms soon followed.

  While he didn’t want to push her, he also refused to allow anyone to hurt her. Ever. She might not tell him now, but he would find out and he would tear apart the bastard who had the audacity to put his marks on her.

  He knew storming after her would only make the situation worse, but he didn’t want her to think he’d let this go either. He hopped into the shower to wash off the sweet floral scent.

  When he was done, he hadn’t cooled off any over seeing Evie’s tanned skin marred by some bastard’s fingerprints, but he had calmed enough not to yell at her for protecting the jerk.

  Vin pulled on a pair of cotton shorts and went out into the hall. The room across from his was the only one with the door closed. He knocked and waited. He tried the knob and was sur
prised she hadn’t locked him out.

  When he pushed open the door, he found her lying on the bed. Asleep. Her towel had slipped somewhat and the swell of her breasts was exposed as were her shapely, sexy thighs. As always, his body responded, but he wasn’t going to wake her for make-up sex. Especially since he’d moved closer and now saw the tear tracks on her cheeks.

  Her damp hair hung in ropelike masses across the pillow and comforter. Vin moved around the other side of the bed and came to lie behind her. When he wrapped an arm around her waist, she sighed in her sleep.

  Vin vowed to defend her, to protect her, and to guard her from here on out. Whatever the hell she had faced in her past, he had a gut-wrenching feeling they were about ready to come face-to-face with it before they could move on to their future.

  “Come on, Evelyn.”

  Tears streamed down her cheek. She had no choice. What should she do? If she didn’t let him have his way, his father may not believe her, then where would she be? In a foster home at the age of sixteen? What would happen to her brother’s college tuition?

  “Why are you doing this to me?” she pleaded. “I don’t want to do this again.”

  Alan’s fingertip slid over her shoulder and down to the V in her T-shirt. “You’ve only done it once. I think you’ll get the hang of it. Besides, there are new things I want to show you.”

  She cried harder. Being sixteen and having your virginity stolen was nightmare enough. Why did he want more?

  “I can’t,” she told him.

  In a flash, his smile turned to thinned lips. His hands gripped her shirt and tore it down the front.

  “You can and you will. You owe me for all those times you flaunted this body in my face. Those little bikinis you wear, and these tits you show off when you wear tight shirts.”

  Because she’d never been ashamed of her fuller figure like most teens, she’d always worn the latest styles. God, had she known how he thought—

  He jerked her shorts down, taking her underwear too.

  “Don’t act like you don’t find me attractive, Evie.”

  At one time she had, but that had been a girlish crush and before she knew the monster that lurked beneath that handsome façade.

  “I hate you,” she cried. “Why do you do this to me? I trusted you. We’re like family.”

  Gripping her shoulders, he jerked her against his body. “I do this because I can and because we’re meant to be together. You’ll see.”

  He unhooked her bra and Evelyn tried to hang on to it to keep her breasts covered. “Stop. Please stop.”

  “Evie.”

  This wasn’t happening.

  “Evie.”

  Why would he hurt her like this? Why?

  “Evie.”

  Evelyn swatted at the hands on her shoulders as she jerked up in bed. Her heart beat fast in her chest, and her stomach roiled with bile. God, she was going to be sick.

  “You’re all right. I’m here.”

  Evelyn turned in the dark to Vin, who was by her side. She couldn’t remember where she was for a minute, then recalled the guest bedroom. She looked down to her towel and their argument came back to her.

  Not only was Alan invading her dreams, he was invading the bed she and Vin shared. She knew she either had to tell Vin what was going on or leave this relationship. This damn secret wasn’t fair to either of them.

  But fear of so much held her back. So many lives would be ruined once she revealed the darkness that plagued her.

  “Whatever you’re battling, it’s not going to go away without help,” Vin whispered as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “I can’t help you if you won’t talk to me.”

  Guilt washed over her, fear gripped her at how real, how vivid that memory had been.

  “Can’t you just trust me to deal with this on my own?” she asked, her face resting against his warm, bare chest.

  He kissed her forehead. “This has nothing to do with trust. I’m sick of seeing these demons torment you, I’m sick of seeing that flash of fear in your eyes, and don’t even get me started on those bruises.”

  She needed to get rid of the ugliness, the evil that had penetrated her life. There was only one way she could think of.

  Tilting her face up, she nipped at his jawline. “Make love to me, Vin.”

  “That’s not the answer.”

  She pulled her face back to look him in the eye. “I need you. I need the goodness you bring into my life.”

  With the moonlight slicing through the crack in the curtains, she could see the torment and anguish that settled into his eyes.

  Without meaning to, she’d brought him into her nightmare and he had no idea the battle he was facing. And it was up to her to protect him.

  “Please,” she whispered against his lips, “love me.”

  Vin reached up, cupped her face in his palms and smiled. “I do, Evie. God help us both, I love you more than I ever thought possible.”

  He captured her lips, slowly at first, then as if he couldn’t hold back any longer his touch became frantic as he slid the towel from her body, eased her back down onto the pillows and covered her nakedness with his strong, heavy body.

  She wrapped her arms around him, loving the strength he provided. She never felt safer than when she was in Vin’s arms.

  He lifted just enough to slide his shorts down and wrestle them off and onto the floor to join her towel. As he lay his body fully against hers, Evelyn sighed, looking up into his eyes.

  “I love you, Vin.”

  He stilled, closed his eyes and smiled. “Say it again.”

  “I love you,” she whispered. “I can’t hide behind my pain or my fear anymore. I want to be honest about my feelings.”

  He settled his lips over her mouth, then trailed down her neck to the swell of one breast. Taking a nipple into his mouth, he sucked, licked and palmed her other breast until she arched her body, silently begging him to continue sliding his hands all over her body.

  Evelyn shivered. He always seemed to manage to touch her or kiss her in a way she felt all over her entire body. How did he do that?

  He eased down her body, kissing her slightly rounded stomach and settling those nice broad shoulders between her thighs. Using his big hands, he massaged up her legs and toward her inner thighs. His thumbs kept stroking dangerously close to the part of her body that ached for him most.

  “Please, Vin.”

  She hated begging, but he was being such a tease and she didn’t know how much more she could take. Her hips tilted at the same time his thumbs spread her apart. Just as she gripped the comforter beneath her, he slid his tongue over her in one very slow, very agonizing swoop.

  His fingers dug into her hips as he continued to hold her open and the assault with his mouth continued. She shifted her body, rocked her hips and cried out as the climax slammed into her. Bursts of desire shot through her as her body stiffened and finally settled.

  Vin kissed his way back up her tingling body and before she could return the favor, he’d pushed deep inside her. Evelyn wrapped her legs around his waist as he slowly moved in and out.

  The man was purposely torturing her.

  Every time he entered she clenched her muscles until she knew she’d gotten to him. Finally he started pumping his hips, meeting her frantic pace. Sweat broke out on his back beneath her fingertips. Evelyn closed her mouth over a delicious spot on his throat and tasted saltiness.

  In no time she was building toward another climax and just as she cried out again, Vin’s body stiffened over hers. From the small amount of moonlight filtering in through the curtains, she saw he had his eyes locked on hers. She held his gaze as they rode out their wave together.

  In those brief moments, she saw so much in his eyes—hope, love, passion and a hint of danger. She knew he’d protect her from everything and everyone, she knew he loved her unconditionally and she knew he’d probably kill Alan if he ever learned the truth.

  Chapter Sixteen />
  Vin knew something was up when he stepped inside Dylan’s house and took in the silence mixed with a room full of testosterone. Dylan was clenching his fists and Alan had his arms crossed over his chest.

  “Something wrong?” Vin asked—stupid question.

  “You screwing my sister?” Dylan asked.

  Vin glanced at Alan and back to Dylan. “What Evie and I have going on is her place to tell you.”

  Before he saw it coming, Dylan charged and landed a right hook so well placed Vin’s face jerked back with the force.

  Vin shook his head and stepped back. “You hit me again and you’re going to regret it.”

  “Tell me the truth,” Dylan growled. “Are you screwing my sister?”

  Vin couldn’t help it—anger, rage, Alan’s silence in the background, but most of all Dylan’s choice of words pissed him off. He hit Dylan back, giving him the same right-hook treatment.

  “Don’t talk that way about your sister again.”

  Dylan spit blood and placed his hands on his hips. “Tell me what the hell is going on and why I had to hear about it from Alan.”

  Vin’s gaze swung to his friend. “What the hell, man? Why’s it your business to tell?”

  Alan shrugged. “I assumed he knew by now.”

  Vin had confided in Alan nearly a week ago. Yeah, Dylan should know by now, but he didn’t and that was partially Vin’s fault.

  “Well he didn’t,” Vin said. “Damn it.”

  He raked a hand through his cropped hair and mimicked Dylan’s stance. “Listen, I know you’re pissed but before we throw any more punches or say something that we don’t mean, you need to hear me out and then talk to your sister.”

  Dylan’s eyes narrowed. “I’m listening.”

  “Yeah, I can see just how open you are to the possibility of me and your sister together.”

  “Talk.”

  Vin sighed. “I’m not going to lie. I’ve been in love with Evie for years. But when you asked me to help by hiring her, I knew I should turn you down, but I couldn’t. I wanted another reason to be close to her.”