by Lilly James
I kissed him back, then moved my lips from his so I could talk. “You have to promise me you won’t leave me again, because I can’t go through it a third time.”
His soft lips pecked at my throat as he slid his hands to my hips. “This time is forever.”
Chapter Nine
Wade
I’m awake before Evelyn, so I take the time to swipe my eyes over every inch of her perfect face. Her head is resting on my chest, her beautiful, naked body only half-covered by the bedsheets. Fuck. My dick is so hard, it hurts to continue looking at her sleeping when all I want to do is make morning love to her. Looks like I’ll just have to jerk off in the shower before work. Fuck, it’s not the same. I wouldn’t wake her up, though.
I check my watch. I have five minutes to spare. But I wish I had more than five minutes to lie with my princess and stare at her all morning. She is beautiful in every way. There is nothing in this world that can keep me away from her, except, maybe myself.
I gently kiss the top of her head, wishing I could kiss so much more. But I don’t want to disturb her peaceful slumber. She is like a sleeping angel, her cheeks rosy and flustered, her chocolate hair a tangled mess of delight. She is a complete work of art. She doesn’t think she is worth it, but she is. She is simply extraordinary and worth every breath I breathe. She doesn’t believe in herself, but she needs me to believe in her, and us. And I do, so fucking much. But I have to prove it with words, prove my worth. Prove she deserves everything in the fucking nightmare world we have been brought up in. I couldn’t protect her when she was young, but I sure am going to do it now she is mine.
I’ve had some women in my time, but fuck, I’ve never met anyone like my princess. The way she pushes my buttons and purposely disobeys me drives me insane. But I love that about her. Love that she keeps me on my toes and questions almost everything I do. No woman has ever questioned me, disobeyed me. Mocked me. When she does it, I crave her even more. A woman who is strong-minded, takes no crap, and stands her ground is so fucking sexy to me. Shit. She is my saint and sin, and just thinking about her makes my dick ache. I have to get out of this bed and into that fucking shower.
Slowly, I lift her wrist and remove it from my waist, trying to shimmy out of bed while making sure her head hits the pillow gently after coming off my chest. She groans in her sleep, and fuck, the sound sends a pain straight to my dick. I look down at her in bed, catching her turning on her back, exposing those pert-as-fuck tits I love to wrap my lips around. I close my eyes and shake my head, mentally warning myself to be a gentleman and let her sleep instead of thinking about my cock.
I change back into my suit from last night, not even feeling dirty because I have the scent of Evelyn all over me. The sweet scent of vanilla and cocoa butter. Oh, let’s not forget the scent of her come. When she sat on my face last night…
No…fuck off, Wade. Stop torturing your dick and go home.
I lean down to kiss Evelyn good-bye, and her lashes flutter open just slightly. Her amber eyes stop my heart, and I wish I could change her low breathing into heavy, ragged breathing against my neck.
“Morning, Princess.”
“Hmm,” she murmurs.
“I have to go, but pack a suitcase for someplace hot. I have a surprise.” When Evelyn did another disappearing act yesterday, so many unpleasant thoughts ran through my mind. The thought of not knowing her whereabouts, who she was with, what she was doing, if she was in danger or not drove me out of my mind. But her going missing yesterday gave me a kick up the ass that I needed. Hell, if I can’t go another day without this woman; I can’t live my life without her in it. I know I should be sorting my shit out alone so I can be that man she needs me to be when I go back to her. But fuck that now. I need her by my side, day and night, always. Now I just need to give her words, give her anything she wants because she deserves that.
I need to make a few calls this morning that are going to make me sound crazy—shit, maybe I am. Crazy in fucking love. Jesus, I hope I can pull it off. Fuck me, I scoff mentally, of course I can pull it off.
“Hmm,” she repeats and falls back to sleep.
Evelyn’s friend Steph is sprawled on the sofa when I walk out of the bedroom, but when she spots me, she sits upright, pushing her messy, curly, blonde hair into a hairband.
“Morning.” She smiles, but it’s not a genuine smile. I can see that a mile away. She looks tired. Maybe I kept her up all night by fucking Evelyn so damn hard it was probably impossible for her neighbours to get some sleep. Oh fuck. My dick is hardening at the thought, and I do not want to be having a conversation with Steph with a hard cock.
“Do you want a coffee or anything?” Steph asks, about to get to her feet.
I shake my head, trying to discreetly pull my trousers by my dick to hide the evidence. Or better still, get the fuck out of here, Wade.
“No, I have to run. Thanks for the offer.” Things are excruciatingly awkward between us. I know I stole Steph’s best friend from her brother and fucked her while Alex was still in love with Evelyn, but hell, how could Alex ever compete with me?
My smartphone bleeps, so I shove my hand in my pocket to answer it, but Steph calls me again.
“So are you and Evey back together?” she says as I turn my back, thinking I’d gotten out of having the “best friend lecture.”
I reject the call, turn, and smile at her. “Something like that.” Why the fuck do women think it’s an immediate pass to know all personal details just because they’re the best friend? Well, fuck if I was going to tell her anything deep.
“You know, Evey latches on to anything that helps her cope. Right now, that’s you.”
I frown and cross my arms. “So you’re saying I’m just a coping mechanism for Evelyn?”
“I’m saying she needs you. She finds peace and serenity with you.”
“If she says I help her cope, help her squash those addictions, then I have every intention of helping her forget her past and come into a bright future with me.”
“Really?” She crosses her arms too. “Then where have you been these past couple of weeks, sending flowers and apartment keys when she really needed you? Evey acts fine, she puts up that brave face, but inside you’re tearing her apart.”
What the—? Is she really chewing me out for something that has fuck all to do with her? Okay. Rein in that temper.
“You either want to be with Evey or you don’t, Wade. And if she means as much to you as you say she does—”
I grit my teeth. “She does.”
“Then you will do right by her. What she needs is you. With her. So stay. Don’t let her down.”
I was about to tell her that thinking Evelyn had left me the night before last changed my plans completely. I’d thought about what would happen if I continued to treat her this way; if staying away meant pushing her away completely.
“About that—”
“Yes?” Steph is confused. I can see it in her face.
“I need you to do something for me. It’s sudden, but I think I can pull it off.” I scratch my chin. “But I need your help.”
She perks up, finally. “I’m all ears.”
Chapter Ten
My alarm woke me up the next morning, and as I tried to stretch out my body, I winced at the soreness down below. It even stung when I went to the toilet, and I was walking around my bedroom like John fucking Wayne.
It took me more time than it usually did to get ready. Even the shower stung my swollen sex. Poor thing.
However, I’d had a night of passionate, rough, hard sex. The things Parks could put my body through were unbelievable. He took the temperature of my desire soaring to new heights. He wiped my mind of everything, all except every hard inch of his magnificent body. The way his muscles flexed, the hot rasp of his words as he said my name. The growl when he came. The way his fingers dug into me and held me as he lost control. The way he said I was the only woman that can make him lose it. Hot damn. I am one lucky daughter
of a bitch.
I hated that he left early that morning. He mumbled something to me, but I couldn’t remember what it was because I was half-asleep.
A quick glance out of my bedroom window showed me a rare sunny day. It was the best summer London had seen in years. Due to the gorgeous weather, I pulled on a sleeveless, mint-green dress. It wasn’t office-type clothes, but Adele—our new office manager since Carla had been moved to another part of the building—was quite lenient when it came to work attire. As long as we looked presentable, she didn’t mind. I kept my makeup light and pushed my hair into a ponytail.
Since Parks had called the break, he’d changed office buildings and was working at The Shard. Knowing Parks wasn’t on the top floor anymore was strangely devastating. I liked him near…just because.
I pulled my work bag from my drawer and quickly filled it with my essentials, then opened my bedroom door. I shit a brick when Steph was already up and sitting on the sofa.
I gasped. “Shit. Why are you up this early mooching around?”
“I’ve been up for ages. I couldn’t sleep.” She pulled her eyes away from the TV and narrowed them at me.
“Why?” I knew why, but I turned away from her and grabbed a croissant from the bread bin.
“Evey, you and Wade were at it all night. All. Fucking. Night. How are you not hanging?”
“I am. But some of us have to work.” I quickly finished off the croissant and looked through the cupboards for something else. I settled on a cereal bar and made a mental note to grab something more fulfilling along with my coffee at Starbucks.
“Couldn’t you have put a pillow behind your headboard?” Steph added. “Or made Wade gag you?”
She made me laugh. “I didn’t think we were that loud.”
Steph scoffed. “You’re kidding me? Now I definitely know his cock is sore-pussy big.”
I swooned, taking a seat next to her so I could eat the rest of my breakfast. Thinking Steph was going to leave it at that, I started watching the breakfast show she had on, but she was pondering. I sensed it. “What?”
Her gaze quickly shot back to the TV, acting like she wasn’t looking at me. “I saw him this morning. He came out of your bedroom, hair messy, tie loose.” She smirked.
I turned my eyes to the TV. “Did you talk?” There was a pause, which made me look at her, but her gaze purposely shot back to the TV.
“No.”
After taking another bite of my breakfast, I continued to prod her. “Bullshit.”
“We didn’t,” she continued, her voice high-pitched. “He just went on his way.”
“So why do you look sheepish? Tell me, Stephanie Lloyd.”
Sighing like she had something on her mind all morning, she shot out her worry. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but Wade seems so possessive. I mean, God, I was so mad at you yesterday too. All sorts of thoughts ran through my mind.” My brow raised because I knew exactly what she had in mind, but I let her finish, even though my knee was bouncing restlessly. “But the way he first barged in here, I thought he was going to knock the front door down. Then he fucks you all night? I don’t understand.”
It really got to me how annoyed and uncomfortable I got from trying to explain anything about what me and Parks had to anyone. “What matters is that we understand how we both work, Steph. Wade is possessive, dominating, he has a temper. But he loves me. He would never hurt me. Ever.”
She studied me, her eyes hiding so many questions. “Do you have a BDSM relationship?”
After a beat, I shrugged a shoulder. “Not really. I mean, he’s dominating, an alpha. It’s the spanking and discipline he likes the most.”
Steph nodded, soaking up all this news and brewing with intrigue. “So he has a spanking fetish?”
I set down my breakfast on the coffee table and wiped the crumbs off my lap. “I thought it was a fetish at first, but it’s deeper than that. It’s deeper than sexual.”
“But he likes to be the dominant one in the bedroom?”
Her question made me scoff out a laugh. “Hell yes. So what?”
“Are you ever the one who has the control in the bedroom?”
“Steph, where are we going with this?” I wasn’t sure how I felt about telling her about our sex life; however, telling her, someone who knew her shit, seemed appropriate. It wasn’t really healthy to remain in our bubble, not talking to anyone about us but each other.
“I’m just curious, that’s all. I just want to make sure he’s the right one for you, for myself.”
I glanced at my watch and pushed to my feet. “I have to go. I’ll see you later.”
“Just tell me you’re happy. That’s all I ask,” Steph called as my back turned. It was like she needed me to clarify it to calm her own insecurities about him.
My shoulders sagged, but as I turned, a smile curled at my lips. “I’m happier than I’ve ever been. He loves me, and I love him. That’s all anyone needs to know.”
Steph clapped her hands, a sure sign of joy. Finally. “Then I’m so happy for you.” She jogged towards me and hugged me tightly, even ignoring my grimace.
“Happy for what?” I laughed.
She cleared her throat, almost like I’d caught her out on something. “Just happy you’re happy.” She smiled. Her eye contact lost its cool.
“Thanks.” My words came out slow because I was curious about her sudden sheepishness. She was hiding something, but I wasn’t going to push because I had to get to work. “Right, I’m off.”
Steph glanced down at the last piece of cereal bar I quickly threw into my mouth. “You never eat in the morning, and you haven’t stopped filling your face.”
“I’m hungry,” I spoke with a full mouth. “What’s wrong with that? Oh wait.” I rushed into my bedroom. “I have these.”
Steph beamed as I held up the box of cookies I bought her. “Wait.” Her smiled faded. “You went to Convent Garden without me?” Her sulk was pathetic.
“I went yesterday. Told you I wasn’t lying.”
Her hands went to her hips. “Who with?”
I rolled my eyes. “Tabby.” Steph frowned, annoyance and childlike jealously written all over her face. “Steph, just take the cookies and shut up.”
She contemplated between arguing and taking the cookies, so I held out the box, knowing she couldn’t resist them. On a stubborn huff, she took them out of my hands.
“Wait,” I told her before she disappeared with them. I opened up the lid and snatched out a cookie before she swatted my hand away.
“Thank you.” I laughed, eating away greedily.
Opening the door, I was greeted with the sight of Cleaver’s Jaguar. During the weeks Parks had a break from me, he’d still sent Cleaver to pick me up, even though I’d always refused. Even though I never took the ride, I always chatted with Cleaver, striking up a close bond with him. He was such a great, loyal man and one of a few who could give Parks a little lecture now and again. Maybe Parks looked up to him like a father figure, seeing as he didn’t really have a father to look up to?
“Evey.” Cleaver tipped his hat before opening the car door for me, looking as shocked as he must have felt. “You’re accepting? Are you sick?” He chuckled, a sound I rarely heard from him. It was at my expense, because the half of the cookie I rammed in my mouth stopped me from answering him back. “Clearly not.”
“Sorry.” I apologized on a laugh and slid into the front seat. “I’m good.”
“No suitcase?” he queried, glancing over me in case he missed it.
“Suitcase?” He was confusing me. I buckled up my seat belt, and he began to drive out into traffic.
“Did Wade not inform you of his intentions?”
Okay, he was definitely getting me in a fluster. “What intentions?” Suitcase. Intentions. What the hell was going on?
Cleaver laughed. It was an old sound, throaty but soft. “Give me a moment.” He did something he had never done in my presence and called Parks from his hands-f
ree system.
“She’s not refusing to ride with you again, is she?” Parks’s voice came down the speaker loud and firm, and because of what he said, I burst out laughing. “Evelyn?” The confusion in his tone made me laugh harder. Cleaver cleared his throat after trying to suppress his own smile.
“No, Wade. Evelyn has no suitcase with her. I was wondering if you had informed her of your intentions.”
“Oh.” Parks gave out a loud sigh. “Evelyn, I’m seriously thinking about taking you somewhere to get your memory checked.”
“My memory?” I gaped at the phone, then saw Cleaver smirk out of the corner of my eye. “Unless I am developing some sort of severe memory loss, I cannot remember a thing about suitcases and intentions.”
Parks told someone to hold in the background and came back to my call. “Evelyn, before I left you this morning, I told you to pack a suitcase.”
“This morning?” Was he serious? “I was half-asleep and still intoxicated by you.” Cleaver’s eyes remained on the road ahead, but his lips curled.
Parks cleared his throat, not comfortable by what I was insinuating in front of Cleaver. “Doesn’t matter. Cleaver?” Cleaver tuned in again. “Would you stop by my apartment and collect Evelyn a few things?”
My cheeks burned red, and I started whispering to the speaker like Cleaver wasn’t next to me. “Cleaver cannot go through my underwear drawer.”
“Who said anything about underwear?” Then it was my turn to feel uncomfortable by what Parks was insinuating. “I think we need to terminate this conversation and get back to where the hell you’re taking me.”
“It’s a surprise. Cleaver.”
“Sir.” And Cleaver hung up. My curiosity grew even more. I opened my mouth to ask Cleaver what it was about, but he held his finger up.
“Ah. Ah. You won’t get anything out of me.”
I slumped down into the seat, wearing a permanent frown. I bloody hated surprises.
