Sins from Her Past (Scandalous) (14 page)

Vin reached up, cupped her face and leaned closer. “I’ve wanted you for so long, Evie. You have no idea. I’m barely hanging on here, but I’m not going to rush you. You matter too much to me and I can guarantee you that there’s no man who has desired you more than I do right this very moment.”

Evelyn smiled, sliding her hand up Vin’s well-defined bicep and over his sculpted shoulder. “Then why are we still talking?”

“Because I don’t want to pressure you.”

“All I feel right now is excitement and an ache that only you can fix. I want this, Vin. I want you.”

He hesitated for about a second, but Evelyn couldn’t wait any longer. She’d put her life on hold long enough. With a hand on his shoulder, she eased him back on the rumpled bed and captured his lips.

Taking control wasn’t something she’d planned, but the feeling was almost liberating. Not to mention she felt like the vixen she wanted to be for Vin. He was such a…man. He wouldn’t want some weak, vulnerable woman in his bed.

Clutching both of his shoulders, Evelyn thrust her tongue into his mouth as his hands roamed up and down the dip in her waist. She loved the feel of his hands on her, loved the feel of his body beneath hers.

She truly never thought she’d enjoy this so much…or crave more.

Vin reached down, clutched her ass and tilted his hips.

“I need you, Evie,” he murmured against her mouth. “You’re killing me.”

“Where are the condoms?”

“In my bag.”

He eased from her as he hopped off the bed and reached into his black travel bag on the dresser. In no time he’d torn open the foil and dressed for the occasion. And the longer he stood there, the more anxious Evelyn became.

She lay back on the bed and reached for him. “I’ve waited for this, Vin. I didn’t know who I was waiting on, but it was you. All this time, it’s been you.”

The muscle in Vin’s jaw ticced, his eyes held hers as he crawled across the bed and rested a hand on either side of her head. He lifted a leg and straddled her body before slowly, gently, kissing her.

Little by little Vin lowered his body against hers. Evelyn spread her legs, pulling her knees up and letting him get comfortable. His erection brushed against her, sending shivers throughout her body.

“Wrap your legs around my waist,” he told her. “Unless you want to change positions. I want you to be in charge.”

She grinned. “I’m pretty happy right where I’m at.”

Evelyn gasped as he eased into her, filling her. Her back bowed as she bit her lip to keep from crying out.

“Am I hurting you?” he asked.

“No,” she panted. “Feels so good.”

She’d barely adjusted to his size when he began to move, pumping slowly, purposefully. He captured a nipple in his mouth, causing her to forget finesse. A scream tore from her lips as she locked her ankles and gripped his shoulders.

Vin palmed the other breast as his mouth came back up to hers, capturing it as his hips jerked faster. Another orgasm built within her and Evelyn relaxed her body, waiting, wanting the euphoria to take over. Never before had she welcomed such abandonment.

“I’m not going to last, Evie.”

Her knees tightened against his waist. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

He pumped again, kissed her lips, her neck, back to her lips. She’d never seen him so…restless, so out of control. And she loved knowing she’d rendered him powerless.

Tilting his hips just enough to hit that perfect spot, Vin’s body stilled just as her orgasm consumed her. She cried out, but her vocal ecstasy was swallowed by his mouth as it claimed hers once again.

Chill bumps spread all over her body as her climax came to an end. When Vin stopped trembling, he looked down at her, nipped at her lips and grinned.

“I knew you would be worth the wait,” he told her. “But now that I know how good you feel, I don’t plan on waiting much longer to have you again.”

Evelyn couldn’t believe how happy she was, how content and perfect her world seemed right at this second.

“So I shouldn’t get dressed?” she asked.

He raked his thumb across her nipple. “I prefer you just like this.”

Chapter Twelve

Evelyn’s cell blared through the open doorway connecting the two rooms. She jumped out of Vin’s bed and ran to get her phone. She always made herself available in case a new client was calling.

Of course she couldn’t really pride herself on professionalism, considering she’d just spent the entire morning in the bed of her highest-paying client.

“Can’t you let it ring?” Vin called after her.

Ignoring him, she grabbed her cell where it had been charging on her nightstand. Unplugging it, she hit the button to turn it on.

“Hello.”

“Happy birthday, Evie.”

Evelyn sank down on the edge of her bed and smiled. “Thank you, Dylan.”

“Hope I didn’t interrupt anything.”

Evelyn smiled as she spotted Vin lounging in the doorway between their rooms, wearing nothing but a grin.

“I’m a little busy, but never too busy to get birthday wishes from my big brother.”

“Little?” Vin whispered. “Nothing little here.”

Evelyn couldn’t help but laugh as she tried to shoo him away.

“Sounds like you’re having fun,” her brother told her. “You and Vin still getting along?”

Flashes of what they’d just experienced together flooded her mind. “Getting along perfectly. I can’t wait for you to see this resort.”

“I’m sure it’ll be amazing,” he told her. “While I have you on the phone, did Alan call you about Rick’s party coming up?”

A shiver rippled through her at just his name…especially since she was sitting naked. She refused to allow any ugliness to creep into the beauty that had just transpired.

“Yes, I’ve talked to him. I’ve got the caterer covered and Rick’s assistant has the invites ready to send.”

“Alan wanted me to ask if you’d be willing to meet him at the house about an hour beforehand. I’m getting Rick out of the house and I’ll see if Vin will come with us.”

That sixteen-year-old living inside her shrank back in fear, but the woman she’d become, the woman who’d just overcome a huge hurdle only moments ago emerged and took control.

“Fine,” she told him, knowing she’d never be the victim ever again. “Anything to surprise Rick.”

She chatted a few minutes more before hanging up. When she placed the phone back on the nightstand, she sighed. Alan may think he was being slick, but she knew how he worked. How many times had he manipulated time alone for the two of them? Did he honestly think that after all this time she’d fall prey to him again? Did he truly believe that she hadn’t taken control of her life, moved past that innocent, naïve, vulnerable teen she’d been?

“You okay?”

Evelyn focused her attention back to Vin. She hadn’t even noticed he’d come to stand right beside her. His hands were fisted on his naked, narrow hips, his brows drawn together.

“Um…yeah.” She forced her eyes to stay on his face and not on his already impressive erection. “That was Dylan and… Are you just going to stand there like it’s normal to walk around like that?”

He laughed. “Well, it is normal considering you’re sitting there naked. Did Dylan say something to upset you? You got this look on your face like, I don’t know. You were scared.”

Worried he could read her so well, Evie offered a smile. “Oh, he was discussing Rick’s surprise party. I’m just nervous about pulling it off. He’s going to know something is up.”

Vin took her hands and pulled her to stand with him. Pulling her against that hard, warm chest she’d already grown to appreciate, he wrapped his arms around her.

“He may, but he’ll still appreciate the fact you all went to this trouble.”

Evelyn smiled up at him. “I’m afraid I could get used to this.”

Vin’s hands roamed over her back, down to her rear as he tugged her even closer. “I’m counting on you getting used to it, Evie. I want you in my life. I know you’re not ready for something more, but I won’t ever lie to you and I want you to know where I stand.”

His honesty was going to break her. And the fact he’d wanted her for years still plagued her mind. If only she’d known…

“Now, why don’t you put on your bathing suit and let’s lounge on the beach.” He kissed her softly. “Bring one of those books and do nothing today.”

“But what about work?”

He grinned. “Didn’t you know? I always give every one of my employees their birthday off. It seems only fair. So relax and let me enjoy the view, looking at you in a bathing suit. It’ll be foreplay for my mind.”

Evelyn laughed and swatted at his bare chest. “You’re crazy if you think me in a suit is attractive.”

“Everything about you is attractive,” he told her. “Now let’s get our suits on before I change my mind and give you another birthday present in bed.”

As he walked away to his room, Evelyn laughed. It felt good to be this happy. She never thought happiness in the form of a relationship was for her. But were they in a relationship outside business and friendship?

Yes. He’d made it clear he wanted her in his life, not just in his bed, and he’d made it clear he’d wait for her.

God help them both because she may never be ready. How could she fully invest in a lasting commitment when Vin didn’t even know the whole truth about her? How could he forgive her if he ever found out what she’d done?

More importantly, how could she forgive herself?

Now that they’d become intimate, the stakes were higher. She couldn’t just come out and tell him what had happened to her. She truly didn’t know if she could handle the pity he would offer. Or worse…what if he was repulsed by the sight of her?

Beyond her own insecurities, Rick meant the world to her. Could she really just destroy him by dropping a damning bomb about the man’s son? Especially with the election coming up. The timing was not good—then again, when would the right time be?

She couldn’t think of all the reasons it was wrong for her and Vin to move forward. For right now, she just wanted to bask in this happiness, to know that this is what intimacy was supposed to be. If that made her selfish, then she didn’t care. For once, she was going to let herself be loved—the right way.

Evelyn knew the secret wouldn’t stay buried for long. Eventually, she’d have to come clean.

After their time in Hawaii, Vin was itching to get back home. While he loved the islands, he loved his home even more and he was looking forward to having Evie in his home, in his bed. In his life.

He’d wanted to bring her straight here after their plane landed, but she’d informed him she had work to do on the surprise party.

He couldn’t fault her for wanting to make this party for Rick the best. Rick had taken her in when her and Dylan’s parents had been killed in a wreck when she’d been sixteen. Dylan was getting ready to leave for college and she’d had no one. He admired the way she’d survived through such a hard time, but Dylan had always said how different she’d been before the accident—more outgoing, more vibrant.

Of course she’d been outgoing—she’d been a teen. Now that she was in her midtwenties, even Vin noticed her coming out of her shell more and more. Especially in Hawaii.

Mercy sakes, that woman had been worth waiting for. He, honest to God, hadn’t known those books would be so touching to her or he would’ve done something like that years ago. Seriously, though, he was glad he’d made her smile. She didn’t do that near enough. Of course, if he had anything to say about it, she’d be smiling more and more.

She promised to be by his house later tonight, so he’d have to deal with the fact she couldn’t be with him twenty-four seven. Pity.

As soon as his luggage hit his bedroom floor, his cell rang. He fished it from his pocket and answered.

“Hello.”

“Hey, I’m in the neighborhood,” Alan said by way of greeting. “Care if I run by?”

“Sure. Something up?”

“Nah. I was out and thought I’d discuss the party and your resort with you.”

Interesting that Alan would want to discuss the resort. “Come on by. Door’s open.”

He disconnected the call and headed downstairs to pull out a couple of beers. Vin wondered why Alan would want to discuss the resort. Granted, his dad, Rick, had invested in it, and Alan had bought very little shares and ended up selling them back to Rick recently. Maybe he wanted to buy more? Who knew?

He’d just taken his first swig of beer when he heard the front door. “Back here,” he called.

Alan stepped into the kitchen. “Greeting me with a beer? You’re going to make the perfect wife someday.”

“Kiss my ass,” Vin laughed. “Let’s go out by the pool.”

Alan followed Vin outside to the patio where they each took a seat opposite each other with an impressive built-in fire pit between them.

“What’s up?” Vin asked, tipping back his bottle.

“You spent the past few days with Evie, right?” Alan asked.

Vin nodded.