Sex Addict (35 page)

“Now
that
is a fancy-looking bottle of water,” he said, turning it in his hands.

“Screams ‘buy me,’ don’t you think?”

“Eh, I wouldn’t go that far. I would’ve been just as happy with a chea—ow.”

Reagan swatted him again. “Don’t you dare say you’d be happy with a cheaper brand, or I’ll dump my expensive water all over that gorgeous head of hair.”

Evan looked down at the bottle again. “On second thought, it is excellent packaging.” He opened it and took a swig. “And an undeniable, thirst-quenching taste that anyone would be crazy not to pay an extra dollar for.”

She gave him a smug smile. “Thank you. I’m glad you see that I was right. Go ahead and say it. Yes, Reagan, you’re a genius. I should just bow down now and—”

Evan tackling her to the ground had the breath rushing out of her lungs. He pinned her in, his hands on either side of her head.

“What was that about going down?” he asked, a flicker of lust in his hazel eyes.
 

“I said you should just bow down and accept defeat.”

“I could admit that…maybe if you admitted something in return.”

Reagan’s heart skipped in her chest, but there was no way she was giving in so easily. “Okay. I admit it. You don’t really snore in your sleep like I said you do.”

“Reagan—”

“And I might’ve lied when I told you I love eggs Benedict. I don’t. I hate it.”

Evan’s eyes went wide. “I thought we’d cured you of that.”

She squirmed underneath him. “I didn’t want to hurt your feelings. It looks so pretty, but there’s just all this sauce, and I can’t…” She twisted up her face.
 

“I’m not sure I can continue this relationship anymore. That’s a deal breaker.”

Reagan pouted and rose up to her elbows. “But I do love your beef Wellington…and your filet mignon with mushroom-wine sauce…and the way your bacon is always so”—she kissed his lips—“perfectly”—another kiss—“cooked.”

“So you’re saying you love my meat.”

She grinned under his mouth. “I fucking love your meat.”

He took her lips again in a scorching kiss, and she slid her tongue inside. She wouldn’t admit it, but Evan tasted better than any meal he could whip up.
 

“Get a room!” A shout from across the green had her breaking away from him before she wanted to.

“Now that I’ve worked up an appetite, we should probably eat,” she said, pushing against his chest until they were both sitting up. She took out two plates and unwrapped the sandwiches while Evan reached inside the basket and pulled out—

“White macadamia cookies. You’re a goddess.”

“You can say that again.”

“You’re a goddess.”

Reagan laughed and handed him his plate.
 

They both sat comfortably, munching on their food, as they eyed one another thinking about later. She loved moments like this with him. They’d become a “thing” for them. He’d do his weekly afternoon meeting, and she’d take the opportunity to snap some photos around the area before they’d meet up and have lunch. Which had her glancing down at the camera resting by her side.
 

She put her plate down and picked the camera up, pressing her eye to the viewfinder and aiming it toward the relaxed man lounging back on the blanket. He was so very different to the man she’d met back when he’d first applied for the job. He’d changed, yet at the same time—

“What are you looking at?” he said, interrupting her train of thought.

She peeked out from behind her lens and smiled. “You.”

He unscrewed the cap of the water and took a drink, and Reagan watched his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed.
Damn, he is one hell of a sexy guy.

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah,” she said, zooming in on his face. He was squinting against the afternoon sun, and the highlights in his hair shone. He was extremely attractive, there was no denying it, and when he flashed that smile at her, she was totally sunk.

“And what do you see when you look at me, Ms. Spencer?”

She took a few snapshots, the clicking and whirring of her camera the only thing she could hear over the beating of her heart, and for that moment it felt as though everyone else in the park had disappeared.
 

“I see a man who just ate all my cookies.” She paused as he popped the final piece of one into his mouth.
 

“And?”

“
And
”—she grinned as she lowered her camera—“he’s lucky I love him.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

EVAN BLEW OUT a silent breath as he walked alongside the snow-shoveled path that led to the Spencers’ modest home outside the city. Fuck, he was nervous. He’d been putting off this moment for as long as he could, but seeing as it was Christmas, the time had come to finally get the fuck over his trepidation.

He felt Reagan’s gaze on him, and then she said, “You’re cute when you’re nervous.” Her words came out as small puffs in the frigid air. “But they won’t bite.”

“Promise?”

“Promise. They’d never bite someone who brought them so many gifts.” She nodded at the two enormous bags in his hands and shook her head. “A little over the top, but it’s kind of adorable.”

Evan stopped where he was and looked down at the dozens of presents. He
had
gone a bit overboard, but wasn’t that what you did to overcompensate? Here, have a shit ton of gifts and please try to forget that my family took all your money once upon a time. No big deal.

Reagan turned around and came back to stand in front of him. “They’re dying to see you. Just be the charming bastard I know you are, and make sure to get second helpings of Mom’s soufflé. You’ll make her year.”
 

She gave him a quick kiss and then pushed open the front door. “Merry Christmas,” Reagan called out, and in an instant, the whole family rushed into the entryway, armed with hugs and hellos.
 

Evan lingered in the doorway watching the happy scene before him. It was so strange to be there, and even more strange was the way they all looked the same as he remembered them, apart from a few more laugh lines on their faces and the grey sprinkled through her father’s hair.
 

“Evan, good to see you.” Troy gave him a hug and slapped him on the back. “Glad you made it. Are these for me?” He took the bags out of Evan’s hands and winked before carrying them off and placing them next to the other gifts lining the huge Fraser fir tree.

“Mom, Dad, you remember Evan,” Reagan said, wrapping her arm around his waist and pulling him inside.
 

Here we go…

Mrs. Spencer was the first to step forward. She opened her arms up in an automatic welcome gesture, and the words that came out of her mouth had Reagan giggling behind him.

“Rocky. It’s so good to see you.”

He felt Reagan’s hand on his back as she shoved him in her mother’s direction, and when he aimed a glare her way the giggle turned into a full-on laugh. He stepped up to her mother then, and when she hugged him he heard her say, “My, you’ve gotten so tall,” and then she peeked around his shoulder and said to Reagan, “And so handsome.”

“All right, Mom, hands off,” Reagan said, and moved forward to rescue him. “Don’t think you can steal him away from me. After all, it took me this long to get him.”

Mr. Spencer wrapped an arm around his wife then gave a broad smile and held his hand out to Evan. “It’s so good to have you back in our home. You were always one of the family, and now it feels complete.”

Evan shook his hand and gave a quick nod. “That’s very kind of you to say, Mr. Spencer—”

“There’s nothing kind about it, son. It’s a fact. And if I didn’t approve, do you think I’d be so nice to the man Reagan brought home to meet us? Count yourself lucky we already know you and don’t have to give you the third degree.”

As a booming laugh left Reagan’s dad, he gave his wife a squeeze and headed down the hall. Evan glanced at Reagan and she just shrugged and said, “See, what’d I tell you? Nothing to worry about…
Rocky
.”

“Okay, you need to forget that nickname.”

Reagan took his hand in hers and steered him through the house and back to the kitchen where everyone was bustling about.

“Oh, I don’t know,” she said. “I kind of like it. Reminds me of a boy I used to know. He was very sweet to me.”

Evan tugged on her hand and pulled her into the empty living room to give her a quick kiss. “He is
still
sweet to you.”

“Sometimes…” she said, and twined her arms around his neck. She brushed another kiss along his lips, and he groaned when she sighed into his mouth. “Sometimes he’s
not
so sweet too.”

“Are you trying to say I’m on the naughty list this year? Because I
have
been behaving,” he reminded her.

“You’ve been behaving with others…but not so much with me.” She gave him a flirty wink, and he coughed a little, putting his hands on her waist to push her back from him.

“Are you crazy? Your family is just through that door.”

When she stepped back in close to him and pushed her hips against his, he knew the playful tease was dying to come out and play. “I know. That’s what makes this so fun.”

“Reagan…” he said, knowing full well he found it close to impossible to resist her when she acted this way.

“What?” she asked innocently, batting her eyelashes for good measure. When the flush of arousal stained her cheeks, he almost caved until she relented with a sigh. “Oh, okay. Your virtue is safe.” She let him go, and he was tempted to pull her back.
Don’t do it. You have a dinner to get through.
When she glanced over her shoulder and ran her eyes down his frame, she said, “For now.”
 

He hoped like hell he had the fortitude to hold back.

* * *

TWO HOURS AND a large glass of spiked wassail later, and Evan had relaxed enough that he was actually enjoying himself. Being with Reagan’s family was comfortable and easy, and he wasn’t sure why he’d been dreading it so much in the first place. They’d welcomed him with open arms, telling jokes while passing rolls at the dinner table, making fun of the red and green striped candy-cane socks Reagan had kindly suggested he wear, and laughing when he ripped into the gag gifts they’d given him.
 

Bill had arrived not too long after they did, and Evan was only slightly surprised to learn the man came there every holiday. It seemed he really was part of Reagan’s family. As he looked at the smiling faces gathered around the tree, the blinking colored bulbs cast a soft glow over them. Reagan was seated across from him on the floor. Her legs were crossed, and she had a Santa hat on her head with a present between her hands. Around her neck she wore that elegant strand of pearls, and she was laughing at something her mother had just said. She’d never looked more beautiful. When she caught him staring at her, the mischievous twinkle in her eyes made him want to go over to her.
 

Before he got the chance, Bill clapped him on the back. “Glad you’re here, son. Even if you did let your woman dress you.”

“Only my socks, old man. Speaking of old, how’s your leg doing with the cold air out there?”

“Oh, it’s fine,” he said, rubbing his knee. “Been that way for years. Used to it by now.”

“I never asked, but what happened?”

Bill chuckled. “Remember when I said your father wasn’t too happy when he found out about your mom and me?”

“Yeah…”

Bill massaged his knee again. “Let’s just say he’s got a really good batting arm.”

Evan’s eyes widened and he shook his head. “Jesus. And on that note, I’m going to get myself another drink. Does anyone want anything?”

Everyone shook their heads except for the little minx on the ground, who looked up at him when he stood.

“I’ll come with you. I’m not quite sure what I feel like.”

He was pretty sure by the way her lips curved into a seductive-as-fuck smile that she knew exactly what she wanted to swallow, but he extended his hand to her and felt the thrill of anticipation rush through him when she slipped her palm into his. She got to her feet then laced her fingers through his as they exited the living room and made their way down the hall.

When they were out of earshot of her family, he squeezed her hand. “I’m glad I’m here.”

A brilliant smile lit up Reagan’s face, and she kissed his shoulder. “We’re glad you’re here too.”

When they entered the dimly lit kitchen, they headed straight for the bar set up in the corner.
 

“Hmm. Looks like we’ve got two options,” Evan said, fingering the top of an empty glass and nodding at the wassail in the Crock-Pot. “You could do hot and spicy, if that’s what you’re in the mood for…”

“Spicy is always good,” she said. “And I do feel a bit hot.”

Evan cocked an eyebrow. “I think I’m in the mood for something a bit more…creamy.”

“Is that right?”

“It is.” As Evan stepped forward, Reagan moved back, her ass hitting the dining room table. “And while eggnog doesn’t sound terrible, I doubt it’s going to quench my thirst.”

“Did you have something more…specific in mind?”

Evan thought back to where this all began. That moment Reagan had stepped back into his life, gone home with him, and shed her skin, inviting him to be a part of her life once more. He’d been a disaster back then. A desperate shell of the man he was now striving to be. Someone who’d hit rock bottom and had been searching for a lifeline to pull him out.
 

He looked at the woman pushed back against her parents’ dining room table and felt everything fall into place. Reagan was it for him. She was his lifeline, she was his hope, and, as she crooked a finger up at him, inviting him down to play, she was also his every fantasy wrapped into one delicious package.

He leaned down over her and placed his hands by her head, and when their mouths touched and a wicked-as-sin smirk hit her lips, he knew she was waiting for him. For the darker, more depraved side of his soul to rise to the challenge. He loved that about her. She loved every single part of him, and he knew he’d found his perfect match.