AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He saw her face change as she considered what he’d said. She was quiet so he said, “Think about it. Come see me later if you want to.”
Nodding, she said, “Okay.”
One of her coworkers shouted her name, and he saw her head turn, so he gave her a small wave and wandered back over to Jamie. He said, “I’m going to head out. Sorry, man.”
“No worries,” he said. “Everything okay?”
“I think it will be,” he said. “Tell Cora I said bye.”
Grabbing his jacket, he slid it on and left Darla’s. Walking across the street he felt like he was able to breathe for the first time in a while. He wasn’t entirely sure this was the wisest move, but at this point, he didn’t care. He wanted her so badly that he ached with it.
Unlocking the outer door to the apartment, he went inside and climbed the stairs to his apartment. He didn’t know what to do now. He was pretty sure she’d stop by at some point. The question was when, though.
He walked into his office and turned on the light. He’d put off setting up his accounting software. That would occupy his mind. The last thing he wanted to do was to sit around and wait for her to come by.
Twenty minutes later, he was on the verge of calling technical support when he heard a knock on his door. He closed his laptop and went to answer the door. He was both relieved and anxious.
“I didn’t realize you were just going to leave. I figured you’d at least stay and shoot pool,” she said, somewhat confused.
“I wasn’t really in the mood to go out. Jamie kinda dragged me,” he said. Backing up to let her in, he added, “Come on in.”
She entered the apartment and turned to face him. Picking up the thread of conversation exactly where they left it, she said, “I’ve done nothing but think about this for weeks, Evan. What I don’t understand is why you’re trying to talk me out of it in the same breath as you’re telling me that you want me, though.”
Evan rubbed his hand through his hair. On a sigh, he said, “I thought full disclosure was a good idea. I don’t know that I have a whole lot to offer right now. I was trying to be a gentleman, because this is probably a bad idea, but you’re making it really hard.”
She stared at him for a moment, silent again. Then her lips quirked and she let her eyes roam down his body to settle on his zipper. Smirking, she asked, “Am I? Making it hard?”
As some of the tension dissolve between them, he rolled his eyes. He said, “You’re killing me, here. Be serious.”
He was a little shocked when Taryn reached out and placed her hand on his chest. She pressed him back against his front door and slid her hand down until it rested on his zipper. Wrapping her hand around him, she squeezed. The teasing grin gone from her face, she said, “I am being serious.”
Apparently, he realized, the conversation was over. His hands reached up to grip her shoulders. Even through the cloak, he could feel the warmth of her skin against his palms. He closed his eyes for a moment, unable to focus on anything except the sensation of her hand as she gently squeezed his cock. After a long moment, his hands tightened on her shoulders as he said, “Last chance to walk away, Princess.”
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you. I don’t want to walk away,” she said, staring at him intently.
On a groan of surrender, he snaked one arm around her waist to tug her closer as the other slid into her hair. Giving it a sharp tug, he tilted her head back and crushed his mouth down on hers. Hungrily, he nipped at her lips until she parted them on a sigh and wrapped her arms around his neck.
His hands roamed restlessly over her back as he continued to devour her mouth. The myriad of reasons that they shouldn’t do this flew out the window the moment she’d pressed her lush curves against him. He really hoped she didn’t change her mind, because he had a feeling that after tonight he’d have one hell of a time walking away.
Chapter 7
When they finally broke apart, they were both breathing heavily and her pulse was racing. She backed off slightly, so he wasn’t trapped against the door and watched as he appraised her slowly.
“I think this costume was my undoing, sweetheart,” he said.
She saw the pure hunger in his eyes now. She had moved her hands up to untie the ribbon knotted at her throat when he placed a hand over hers and said, “No, let me.”
Her hands stilled and she dropped them to her side. He reached up, gently tugging on the ends of the ribbon. Slipping the cape from her shoulders, he let it fall to the floor. As he took her in, she heard him suck in a ragged breath. He reached out, tracing his fingers across her now bare shoulder. Shifting his eyes back to hers, he eventually asked, “Were you really interested in that frat boy tonight?”
“No,” Taryn said quietly, “I was just hoping for some distraction.”
Evan gave a sardonic laugh and said, “That’s why I went out tonight. I wanted to shoot some pool, relax, and not think about you. I’ve been going slowly insane since the day I met you.”
Taryn felt her pulse begin to race as his finger dipped to trace along lacy edge of her bodice. Looking into her eyes, he said, “Your skin is so soft. I want to taste every inch of it.”
She let out a shuddering sigh as her body came to life under his fingertips. He was only lightly touching her and she already ached. The way he watched her with barely leashed desire was almost overwhelming. Her voice thready with need, she said, “Touch me, Evan.”
“I am, Princess,” he said as he moved his hand to toy with one of the straps of her dress. “I’ve been thinking about this moment since I first saw you in that ugly khaki polo on the stairs. I’m going to take my time.”
