The Other P-Word(58)

He caressed my breast, evaporating all my concerns. I crawled out of the  bed. His look of disappointment bored through me. I turned around at  the door, clicking it in place and checking it.

"Come here, beautiful."

I twirled the blinds closed and slipped off my shoes.

He sat up in bed and brought me to his lap. He bunched my skirt around  my waist. His hands worked up the sides of my legs, until they grasped  my hips.

"Unbutton your shirt."

"You're bossy."

He licked his bottom lip, his hands tightening suddenly. His eyes blazed  at me with an expression that hovered around lust and exasperation.  "Don't make me ask for what's mine again."

I unsnapped my shirt. He kissed the outline of my bra until his teeth  gripped the edge of the material, pulling it away from my breast. He  sucked each nipple slowly, taking it into his mouth and flicking it  against his tongue.

I forced his head up. I needed to kiss him. To feel his mouth against mine.

"I missed this," he said, kissing my jawline. "You're a craving that just won't quit."

"Me too, Evan. Take it easy though. I don't want anything to happen to you."

He smiled that wicked smile, arching an eyebrow. "What a way to go." He  slid his finger beneath the elastic band of my panties. He stroked my  pussy. "You're already wet."

"Of course I am."

I ground myself against his finger.

"I want to fuck you."

"Yes," I panted.

He slid us down the bed. "With my tongue."

I crawled up his body at the same time as he slid my panties off. There  was nothing to hold onto as he slid his tongue inside me. His strong  hands kept me in place, though. My body quivered as he inhaled me. Then  he impaled me with his talented tongue while his fingers dug into my  hips. I trembled as he stroked me.

"Oh God."

"I'm going to gag you if you're not quiet," he said, slapping my ass.  "You taste so damn good." The vibrations of those words filled my whole  body with raw, tangible heat.

"Evan, I need you … please." I moved from his grasp.

"All right, then you fuck me," he commanded with clenched teeth. He slid  his cock against me. "You don't need permission to take what's yours  either."

I sank onto him, feeling every increment of the long journey. I wrapped my arms around him.

I leaned against his forehead. His eyes never left mine. "I love you," I said.

He grunted in approval, smacking his lips against mine. "I love you too."

I rolled my hips, not releasing my grasp on him. "I'm yours, Evan."

He sucked in a deep breath, pulling me against him.

I raked my nails across his back. I rolled, bounced and shifted. He  crushed his mouth against mine, swallowing every sound between us.

I lifted my knees, feeling that final thrust in every cell. I didn't let go. I embraced him-kept my body entwined with his.

"I should clean up." My voice was thick with satisfaction.

"Are you still on birth control?"

I backed away from him. "Yes. Don't worry. We're safe."                       
       
           



       

I stood and ran to the bathroom. I had to splash cold water on myself-I  was a little surprised by his question. I gripped the edge of the  countertop and told myself to be strong. He came up behind me, wrapping  his arms around me.

"None of that, Price. We're done crying."

"Do you think I'd try to trick you into having a kid?"

He stiffened around me. "You misunderstand, angel. I was hoping you'd say you weren't on birth control."

"You were?"

"It's ridiculous, but I want my baby inside you."

I choked something back.

"I want you to have something that's us. That's you."

"We will one day." Where had this conversation surfaced from? I should  end it. But I suddenly wished I wasn't on birth control either.

"Time is an unknown variable, isn't it?"

I buried my head in his chest.

"But you're right. I'm going to fight like hell to give it to us."

"We'll have children one day."

He nodded, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "I hope they're like you  inside and out. I want them to have your goodness and grace. I want them  to have your optimism and faith."

I swallowed the huge lump in my throat.

Evan was making plans. That was a good sign … I thought.

"They'll be like you too-brave and strong and talented."

"Maybe a little bit. As long as they make you laugh once in a while,  I'll be happy." He turned me so I was facing the mirror. He kissed my  shoulder before slipping a gold chain around my neck.

"What's this?"

"Merry Christmas."

"Christmas isn't for two weeks yet." I didn't want to look at it.

"Billie, I don't know what state I'll be in when it's over. I just want  to see your face when I give you this. I want to see it on you."

I opened my eyes, staring down at the intricate gold leaf pendant  handing around my neck. "It's beautiful," I said, clasping my fingers  around it.

"That leaf won't ever turn. And I won't turn away from you ever again."

He picked me up and sat me on the countertop and made love to me again.  Slower this time, with less urgency and a gentleness. The back of my  head leaned against the bathroom mirror. His fingers curled against  mine. Even our grunts sounded rhythmic.





Chapter Forty





We fell asleep on the bed. Thankfully, we were both clothed. A clearing throat jerked me awake.

"Morning, Billie," Derek said.

Oh God, I unlocked the door last night. Does the room smell like sex? I  thought so, but then again, being a participant, I wasn't sure. I wished  the damn windows opened. I scrambled to get up from the bed, but Evan  held me against him.

"I'm sorry. It's past visiting hours."

Derek opened the blinds. "Actually, it's visiting hours all over again."

"Why didn't they kick me out?"

"I have a little influence around here. How are you feeling, Evan?"

"Ready."

"We have you scheduled for the surgery tomorrow morning."

"Will you be there?" I asked.

"I'll be observing only. But there will be two other surgeons and the  anesthesiologist. I don't have the experience to do this kind of surgery  yet." He turned toward Evan. "You're in good hands."

"Thanks, brother. I believe that."

"Don't you think this is too soon?" I asked.

"In this type of case, the sooner the better."

I extricated myself from Evan to use the bathroom. Derek chatted with us  a little longer. Evan and he bantered about college football standings.  I read over the instructions Derek had provided.

"I think the doc has a crush on my girl," Evan said once Derek had left.

I sat on the edge of the bed, putting my shoes on. "We're just friends."

"Yeah, well, he's still crushing on you."

"I only have eyes for one guy."

"Oh yeah? Who's that?"

"Charlie Hunnam."

It felt good to hear him laugh, even if my joke wasn't funny.  "Seriously, Derek's a really good guy, Billie. He's nice, successful and  he cares about you. That's obvious to me. And I'm a little jealous, but  I can't blame him. You're very easy to fall for."                       
       
           



       

"What are you doing, Evan?"

"Just talking."

"Stop it."

"I have some things to say to you, Price."

"I don't want to hear it." Go back to laughter, Evan. I craved keeping us from all the sad conversations.

"I need you to hear it. Please listen to me."

I held up my hand. "Don't do this. Don't say your goodbyes."

Evan chuckled and pulled me against his chest. "Just relax, Leonardo  DiCaprio. We're not a sinking door in the middle of the Atlantic. And if  we were, I'd think you'd be nice enough to scoot your ass over for me."

"I would."

"Okay, then let me say this because I only have the strength to say it once. I need you to listen."

"I already know what you're going to say. You're going to tell me if you  don't make it, I should find someone else and move on with my life. I  get it. There's no reason to have this conversation."

He pulled me against his chest. "That's not what I was gonna say at all, Price."

"Then what?"

"Only love me. I don't want any other man in your life."

I lifted my head. "Seriously?"

His serious expression broke into a laugh. "No, smart-ass, I was  kidding. Mourn me and then move on. I know what it's like to lose  people. Don't do what I did, Billie Marie. Don't let me haunt you. But  you make sure when you do find a man worthy of you, that you tell him  about me."

"Like on the first date?"