A Little Harmless Obsession (12 page)

She could not stop the feeling of abandonment that swelled. He had pushed her through submission, something so intimate, and he’d left her. As if she were no different than any other woman, which she figured to him she wasn’t. Tears pressed against the backs of her eyes and she willed them way. It was just what she’d gone through, and she shouldn’t expect him to feel what she did. He had given her something she had never really had before. Nothing could have prepared her for that, and she knew now it was just the start. So she would not fall apart because he disappeared.

The door opened and May’s heart jumped in excitement, only to have it plummet when she recognized the sub who had led her to the room earlier. The smile she offered May was one of understanding.

“Micah thought you might need this.”

May looked at the thick, soft black robe the woman held out to her. Without a word, she stood and almost collapsed back down on the bed. With determination, she steadied herself and took the robe.

“Your clothes are in the closet.”

May nodded silently as the door shut behind the sub. For a moment, the wonderful tingle her orgasm had given her seemed to fade, the enjoyment turning to numbness. She pulled on the robe, her mind unable 66

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A Little Harmless Obsession

to form a thought. When she saw Cynthia’s head pop in, she couldn’t stop the disappointment from crashing in on her. Before she could stop them, tears welled up in her eyes.

“Oh, honey.” Cynthia rushed forward as the door shut behind her. She sat next to May on the bed and slipped an arm over her shoulders. “It’s okay.”

She turned her head into her friend’s shoulder and allowed all the emotions she’d felt bubble up and take her over. It only took a minute or two for May to bring herself back in control. She pulled away from Cynthia.

“I’m sorry.”

Cynthia shook her head. “No. Don’t be. While it is liberating, it can be emotionally draining.”

“I thought…”

“What, honey? What did you think?”

That Evan would be here comforting her. But she didn’t want to say that out loud and embarrass herself further. It was bad enough he’d run out on her. She could never voice her deepest need and embarrass herself. She needed him, needed his arms wrapped around her, comforting her. That would never happen.

“Would you mind waiting outside?”

“Not at all. Get dressed and meet me outside the door.” She nodded and waited until Cynthia left her. What the hell had she thought would happen? So he gave her an orgasm. So what? It had been the most powerful, knock-her-socks-off and leave-her-dying kind of orgasm, but she could handle it. Tonight had proved two things. One, she was a sub. That she knew in her heart and soul now. Secondly, Evan Chambers would never be the man for her. She wanted the man she thought Evan was, and he just didn’t exist. The cold shell of a man who could give her an experience like that without it affecting him was just not for her.

Now she just had to figure out how to find a man who could make her come like there was no tomorrow. She sighed, pushed her thoughts aside and started to get dressed. She would focus on the positive. She knew she was a sub, and now all she needed was her Dom.

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67

Chapter Nine

Evan poured three fingers of whiskey and knocked it back. When he lowered his hand, he realized it was shaking. Jesus. He was a mess. He had never had such a reaction when performing in the club. When he was on display, he never had sex, not once. That smacked too much of doing porno, and while he knew it didn’t bother others, Evan had never wanted to go that far. Until tonight.

He heard the door to the office open behind him and without turning around he knew it was Micah.

Evan poured himself another shot.

“I haven’t seen you drink that fast in years.”

Shit, he didn’t need this. He wasn’t in the mood for dealing with Micah, or his speculation. He knew it would end in a fight.

“Leave it.”

“It wasn’t that long of a performance for you to be this thirsty.” Slowly, he turned around. “I’m not in the mood, Micah.” His friend cocked his head and studied him. “Apparently not.” Evan tossed back the shot and set it down with a click, but he said nothing else.

“You rushed through that like you couldn’t control it.”

“You’re critiquing my performance?”

“I’ve seen you work a sub over for much longer. This was…well, faster than everyone expected.” He said nothing, didn’t so much as flinch. He refused to explain it. How could he? In all the years he had been a Dom, he had never had a sub get to him. She had been completely under his power. But from the moment he’d touched May, he had barely held onto his own control. Even now, his body vibrated, and he figured he could hammer a ten-inch spike into the ground with his cock.

“No comment?”

“I said to leave it. Now I’m going back down there—”

“She’s already gone.”

“What the hell do you mean?”

“Jesus, Chambers, you left her down there after you made her publicly submit for her first time.”

“I didn’t come up with the damned idea.”

“But you know how vulnerable she was at that point and you left her alone down there. After cleaning up, which you should have helped with, she dressed and left. I let her out the back way.”
A Little Harmless Obsession

“And you didn’t think to let me know?”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “Why would I? You acted as if you didn’t give a damn about her.

You treated her like a whore.”

“Fuck you.”

“What would you call it?”

“I think you have it wrong. It wasn’t about my satisfaction.” Micah opened his mouth, but Evan didn’t want to hear it.

“Just let it go.”

He closed his mouth and gave Evan a short, abrupt nod. Without another word, Evan left his friend and used the back stairs to leave the club. He didn’t think he could handle any other questions or comments from anyone else. But he should have known better. When he stepped outside, Chris was standing by Evan’s truck.

“I already went through this with Micah and I am not in the mood to deal with you.” Chris nodded. “Just wanted to make sure you’re okay. Cynthia was a little worried.” Evan unlocked his door. “There is no reason to worry.”

“Evan.” Chris waited until he looked at him. “I love you like a brother, you know that. I just wanted to remind you I’m just a phone call away.”

Lights shone in the parking lot as Cynthia’s car drove up. She rolled down the window and smiled at him. “Hey, Evan. You ready, babe?”

Chris nodded and headed toward the car. Evan felt the familiar envy twist in his gut. But he couldn’t let Chris go like this. Micah wouldn’t worry about Evan, but Chris would.

“I’ll call if I need you.”

Chris raised his hand over his head and Cynthia smiled at him as she shifted the car into drive and headed out of the parking lot. Evan slid into the cab of his pickup, slammed the door and started the engine.

He knew that Chris would happily snuggle up to Cynthia and never think about another woman, never need one. Evan had never thought he wanted that, but he did now. But with his background, his tainted blood…he just couldn’t risk it. Didn’t want to.

Wishing for things he could not have, would never have, was a waste of time and energy. He had come to terms with it years ago and he would deal with it, but not tonight.

May rolled over and winced at the bright light streaming through her window. She pulled up her sheets and sighed with pleasure when it offered some relief from the blazing intensity of the midmorning Hawaiian sun. She shifted her weight to settle more comfortably into the mattress.

Lord, her body felt used. Not in a bad way. But in a pleasant, thoroughly satisfying way. The experience last night with Evan went beyond anything she had ever imagined. Her sex clenched at the

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memory of her orgasm. No one, not one man, or even May herself, had ever made her come so hard. She’d lost her virginity at the ripe old age of eighteen, years behind most of her friends. She hadn’t been a prude, or innocent for that matter. There’d been a few men, many of them clueless to what she needed, but she couldn’t really blame them. She hadn’t really had an inkling to what she needed until a few months ago.

Last night cemented her opinion that she needed something more from her lover. Now she just had to find one that would understand.

Her door flew open, slapping against the wall. Damn, there was going to be another hole from the doorknob.

“Hey, May, you getting up anytime soon?” Her eighteen-year-old brother bellowed.

She snuggled deeper beneath the covers. “Bite me, Danny. It’s my day off.”

“Dad says you need to get up because the contractor is comin’ over.”

“And this is important to me why?”

“Dad took Granddad to his doctor’s appointment.”

Crap. That was supposed to be her job this morning. Pulling down the light blue sheet she squinted at him. He was leaning against the doorjamb, munching on an apple.

“Can’t you take care of it?” She knew the answer even before she heard it, but she thought she’d give it a try.

“No. Dad said that you needed to deal with him because you know what he wants done.” The door bell rung, the dogs sent up the alarm, and May groaned. Damn, she was stuck dealing with the contractor.

“Let him in,” she said, sitting up and stretching. “Please tell me there’s some coffee.”

“Yeah. Dad said you had a late night and started it before he left fifteen minutes ago.” After he left her, she slid off the mattress and headed to the bathroom. Within five minutes, she’d pulled herself together, brushed her teeth and thrown on some clothes. She might look like death warmed over, but she would handle it.

The murmur of voices reached her as she rounded the corner. She couldn’t distinguish between the two men, other than one was deeper, more mature. She wasn’t prepared for the sight of Evan Chambers leaning up against her kitchen counter sipping coffee.

She came to an abrupt stop in the doorway and blinked, thinking he would disappear and it was all a dream. But there he was, joking about something with Danny.

“Evan?”

He jolted at the sound of her voice, a bit of his coffee spilling out of his cup onto his T-shirt. When he turned to her, his eyes narrowed in disbelief. “May? What the hell are you doing here?”
Dying of embarrassment, that’s what
. Heat filled her cheeks and she knew she was blushing. Dammit, life wasn’t fair. She wasn’t ready for this, to see him, to deal with what had happened last night. Or the way 70

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he’d left her there. She needed time to get her armor back in place before handling the sight of him. And he had the nerve to show up looking gorgeous. Wasn’t that just like a man? He looked refreshed. The blue T-shirt stretched across his well-muscled chest. The soft worn jeans hugged his hips and cupped his sex, leaving little to the imagination.

“May?”

She shook herself out of her thoughts. “Um, my house, bruddah.”

“I had no idea.”

Even hearing the disbelief in his voice didn’t convince her.

“How many Aiona’s do you know?”

Evan’s eyebrows knitted together as he frowned. “It isn’t like it’s an uncommon name in Hawaii. And seriously, I would’ve put it together if you had talked to me about the renovations, but I’ve never met your father. Still haven’t.”

“You two know each other?” Danny asked. The rigidness of his posture told her he was ready to jump into the middle and demand answers. She definitely didn’t need that.

She glanced at Evan. “Yeah. Evan is Chris’s friend.”

Evan cocked his head to one side, studying her. “I thought we were friends.” She closed her eyes and rubbed her temple. “Yeah, of a sort. I need coffee.” After pouring and doctoring her coffee, she leaned against the opposite counter from the one Evan had claimed.

“Did my father tell you what he wanted?”

Evan nodded. “Yeah. Well, sort of.”

She snorted. “That’s Dad for you.” She took another sip and then pushed away from the counter. “I’ll show you what he wants out back.”

“I’ll help.”

She stopped and looked her brother. The suspicious slant to his eyes made her want to sigh, but she didn’t. It’d make him even more defensive. “Danny, I think I can handle it.”

“He’s a strange man.”

Irritation slipped over her but she fought back the need to smack him. He wasn’t even looking at her now but was engaged in a staring showdown with Evan. God, she was getting sick of men telling her what to do. They all acted as if she were in idiot. Not in the mood for fighting egos, May stepped into his line of vision.

Settling one hand on her hip, she said, “Listen, bra. I can take care of myself. Don’t you have a final today in American History?”

He blinked and looked down at her. A blush crept up his cheeks, and she realized she’d embarrassed him in front of Evan. She kept forgetting he wasn’t a little boy anymore. As the youngest of the Aionas, he

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was just starting his adulthood, but he would always be the baby. He might have four inches on her, but she’d practically raised him. She’d be damned if he would tell her what to do.

“Um, yeah.” He cleared his throat. “I’ll be in my room, so call if you need me.” With one last hard stare at Evan, Danny left them alone.

“Sorry about that. He’s at that age where testosterone surges and he does stupid things.” She turned toward the sliding glass door that led to the lanai. “But then, that describes most of the male population.” Evan chuckled, and just like always, her pulse scrambled. No matter what the situation, he always sounded like slow and easy sex when he laughed. After his abandonment last night, she should be able to control herself, but apparently that didn’t matter. It should have reminded her just how he viewed women.

They were interchangeable in a situation like her submission.