Because of Lucy (6 page)

Chapter 11

NESS

Abby drags me home, and for once I don’t want to leave at the end of one of Abby’s nights out. The tiny part of me that had wished Evan would be at the Union was evidently bigger than I thought, because seeing him again brightened my evening. I hate to admit the fact but it’s true. Maybe because instead of just looking at me as a prospective conquest, he held a conversation with me. Other guys came on to me tonight, and male attention flattered me. But Evan told me he wanted to get to know me. Which puts him in a different box to the one I originally placed him in. I’m confused.

Abby foregoes the ice cream for wine and chips. And yet another viewing of her favorite chick flick. I think that’s her problem, someone forgot to tell her reality isn’t like the movies. I can’t stand to watch the same movie again so I curl up in the sofa, head in a book.

I also think I had one too many vodkas, the words on the page are blurring. I’m reading one of Abby’s romance books. Ridiculous girls, falling for buff men, who can magically give the girl multiple orgasms the first time they get down and dirty. No wonder Abby is delusional.

Abby’s phone rings and I jump out of the book, about to get into the steamy part. She puts down the bag of chips and picks her phone up, licking salt off her fingers as she looks at the screen.

“Bastard.”

She puts it down again. The phone rings out, then starts again. A feeling of déjà vu comes over me. But I doubt Abby will kiss me like Evan did.

“Going to answer that?”

“It’s him. Dick brain.”

“I kind of got that. But if you don’t tell him to stop, he might keep ringing.
”
All nigh
t
.

Abby pulls the blanket up to her neck. “Nope.” She throws the phone at me. “You answer it.”

“You’re not twelve!” I switch the phone off and put it on the table.

An hour later, the doorbell rings. Abby pauses the television and her arm hovers in the air, remote outstretched.

“Abby!” Matt’s voice. Something crashes against the door. Not a fist. Probably his whole body.

I look at frozen Abby. No response. I groan.

“Matt, come on. Let’s go.”

My stomach twists at the sound of Evan’s voice.

“Oh yay, it’s both of them,” says Abby.

One of them hammers on the door. “Abby! Baby! Let me talk to you!”

The banging takes on a rhythmic beat. I can’t stand the noise for longer than a few minutes and give in, open the door. Predictably, Matt falls through the door onto the carpet. Evan hangs behind him, leaning against my car.

“Take him home?” I ask. “I don’t think Abby’s interested.”

“I tried. He’s out of it, refuses to listen.”

“Try harder.”

Evan steps forward into the light of the doorway and pushes past me, the rough cotton of his jacket scraping my face. I catch a hint of Evan’s scent, sending memories of his kiss scattering across my mind.

“Come on, man, you’re not wanted.” Evan grabs Matt’s shirt and pulls him into a sitting position.

Guys frequently say how pathetic girls are after break ups. In my experience, scenes like this occur more with guys than girls. Sure, girls sometimes cry and eat junk food until they’re sick, but in the privacy of their own homes. Pathetic, blubbering messes like Matt? That’s a guy thing. Matt mumbles something to himself.

Abby remains on the sofa, no use whatsoever, blanket tucked under her chin. I give her credit for not rushing over to Matt and welcoming him back into her life. But this doesn’t solve the problem of what to do with him.

“How pissed is he?” I ask Evan.

“Do you even need to ask? I’m surprised he made it here.”

“You could’ve stopped him.”

Evan leans against the front door, pushing his hair from his face. “Yeah, right. He weighs twenty pounds more than me and his determination outweighs my upper body strength.”

I consider the eloquence of Evan’s words. He’s not as drunk as his friend. “Good job you’re here to look after him.”

“Story of my life,” he mutters.

Matt slumps back to the floor.

“Sorry. I did try and stop him, I was worried what he might get himself into.” He pokes the now snoring mass with his boot. “I think he’s harmless now.”

A strange noise escapes the blanketed figure behind me, and a wailing Abby disappears upstairs. Evan blinks and I tip my head to indicate the empty bottle of wine besides the chip packets.

A loud burp from Matt alerts Evan and he crouches back down.

“Fuck my life,” says Evan as he maneuvers Matt into the recovery position. The ease in which he does this suggests he’s had practice.

“Do you want a drink?” I ask, unsure what we do now.

“Water, please.” Evan sits back on his heels.

When I return from the kitchen with the water, Evan is sitting in the armchair, staring at the ceiling.

“Will he be okay?” I pass him the water.

“Yeah.”

“You’re a good friend.”

He makes a small noise in his throat. “Yeah, too good. Who knows how long it’ll take for him to come round.”

“Stay here. You’re welcome to the sofa.”

He turns his brown eyes to mine. “Maybe I should go. I don’t know.”

“Staying has never bothered you before. Our sofa was your new best friend a few weeks ago.”

“I feel awkward now.” He looks down at Matt again.

Awkward is the best word to describe the whole situation, from inebriated guy on the floor, to the unspoken situation with Evan.

“Because you kissed me?” I ask, surprised by my words.

“Partly.”

This newer side to Evan intrigues me. Caring for his friend like this. Asking me out in the Union. The guy I thought Evan was would’ve left Matt and sloped home with a girl. He didn’t. And now my softening heart - and a lot of vodka - means I want to kiss him again.

I flop onto the sofa and look at him. “Got some poetry for me, bad boy Byron?” 

The troubled look on his face is replaced by curious interest and he moves to the edge of the sofa arm. Like I did, last time we were in this situation.

“I don’t bite,” I say.

He grins. “That’s predictable.”

There’s something cute about the way he remembers our old conversations. Most guys don’t even listen. Evan drops into the small gap between me and the edge of the sofa. His muscled thigh pushes against mine and my arm is trapped against his side. I wriggle uncomfortably and he shifts around to look at me.

“So, can we continue our conversation from the Union?” he asks.

I’m overwhelmed by the sensation of his body touching mine, wishing my breathing would return to normal. He makes me dizzy, and with the alcohol flowing inside me, I want to lean into him and hope he kisses me.

“Sure.” I say instead.

“I have something I want to say to you, Ness.”

I can smell spicy him, evoking memories of sitting in exactly the same place once before. Apart from last time with his lips on mine. “What?”

“I let you get the wrong impression about me, and I wish I hadn’t.”

I focus on his mouth
.
I don’t care, just kiss me agai
n
. “Mmm?”

He pulls his head back a little. “You’re quite monosyllabic tonight.”

“That’s a big word for 1 AM on a Saturday morning.”

Evan smiles and reaches out a hand, fingers touching my face. “And that is one of the reasons why I want to get to know you. You’re so…you.”

I can’t concentrate on anything apart from his touch and remembering to breathe. But I have a nagging question. “How many girls have you had sex with since you came to Leeds?”

“One.”

I expected a retort at my intrusion into his sex life, but I have my reasons for wanting to know. “One?”

“That’s the truth. You’ve seen the state I get into. How many times would I have been capable, even if I wanted to? I was so bloody wasted I fell asleep most times I had the chance.”

I giggle. Quietly at first, and then I start snorting in an unladylike manner.

“What’s so funny?” Evan’s smiling too, and laughing at me.

“Those poor girls, getting a piece of Evan’s sexy fit body and then you pass out.”

“You’re a maddening girl.” He gets hold of my face and holds me so I have to look directly at him.

“Maddening?
”
Kiss me. Now.

“You are so smart and so funny and it’s wonderful.”

“Wonderful?
”
Now. Pleas
e
.

“Because you don’t care. You do what you want and don’t let anyone stop you. You don’t pretend to be something you’re not.”

I take hold of one of his hands and move it from my face, lacing my fingers through his. In his eyes, the intent is barely hidden behind his seductive words.

Evan’s mouth hovers close to mine, his warm breath on my skin. The effect on me is weird, different to before, with other guys. Abby once told me she met this guy who didn’t even need to touch her and she got aroused. At the time, I concluded Abby was exaggerating. Now I think maybe there is something primal, where that can happen between two people. Because the heat floods through my body towards the surface, searing where his hand touches my face.

Evan’s eyes focus on my mouth. “Sorry I left last time.”

“Who said I was inviting you to stay last time?”

“Okay, sorry. But I did kiss you goodbye.”

Is he teasing me again? Because Evan’s mouth remains a tantalizing distance from mine, and he’s not kissing me. I shift, trying to disguise my rapid breathing and realize he’s waiting for me to make the move. Fine. I place my mouth on his, wriggling into him. Evan winds his hand into my hair, and gently holds my head to his, kissing me lightly, lips sparking power across my skin.

Our position on the sofa allows me to lean against Evan, half on top of him and I push myself into him, not taking my mouth from his. Evan’s arms wind around my waist and pull me closer. Where I’m lying on him, I can feel his erection against my thigh. Wow. I’ve hardly touched him - maybe I do the same to him? I pull my head back and meet his eyes, the hungry look I expected is held in them.

“Are you pinning me down so I can’t leave this time?” he asks.

I smile. “No. You can go now.”

“I think I’ll wait for Matt to wake up.”

With strong, rough hands he holds my face again and his tongue darts into my mouth. He tastes less of beer than last time. Our teeth collide and I move away from him, holding my mouth. He watches as the dress rides up over my legs.

The short black dress isn’t very decorous when it comes to lying on top of a man. But I’m not behaving very decorously. Evan’s hand slides up my leg, stroking gently.

And I’ve definitely had too much vodka but screw it. He’s here and he’s fucking hot and it’s my choice. I’ll deal with the emotional fall out later. I don’t know if it’s the alcohol, or the sexual confidence I’ve found from tonight - guys watching me in the Union and Evan wanting me - but I make a snap decision.

“Do you want to make it two?” I ask.

“Two?”

“Girls. You’ve slept with in Leeds.”

I’ve seen the look on Evan’s face before, the night in the pub when his mask slipped a few seconds. He hesitates.

“Ness…”

“You’re saying no?” I remove my hand from where I’m trailing fingers across his muscled stomach.

“Honestly, I don’t know what to say.”

I tug him towards me by his shirt. I’m a bit drunk and a lot reckless but what the hell, it’s about time I had some fun. “How about you hit me with some poetry, I hear the girls really…”

“Ness. Shut up.” He drags me onto him and crushes his mou
th on mine, the breath sucked from my lungs as the urgency of his kiss overwhelms me. The tiniest amount of self-control I had just disappeared.

Chapter 12

EVAN

When Matt pulled his stunt tonight, I almost managed to stop him. At one point I calmed him down enough to edge him towards the bus stop. Apparently the pull to see the girl he dumped several weeks ago became too much, and he staggered off. He’d be an easy target for any lurking gangs looking for a student to bash, so I didn’t have a bloody choice. I followed him.

Man, I was fucking furious, I wanted to continue my evening into the city with our mates. But now I could run downstairs and kiss him. Because Ness, spilling out of her sexy dress, and taking control, is straddling me as I lie on her bed. She leans over, and as she kisses my neck her soft hair tickles my face. I want to ask her why she’s doing this, but know asking girls why is a bad idea. And she might stop.

Ness pulls her mouth away and sits back up, running a finger down my chest. Deftly, she unbuttons my shirt, her delicate fingers warm on my skin. Pushing the shirt to one side, Ness places her warm lips on the cool of my chest and her tongue darts out, licking me.

“Holy crap, Ness,” I growl and tip her over so she’s lying on the bed. “I’m trying to keep control of myself here.”

She looks up at me, hair splayed on the bed behind her. “Why?”

“Because I don’t want to be accused of anything tomorrow.”

“I won’t accuse you of anything. I want to do this.”

I’m fighting with myself, with the whole respect thing girls go on about. Situations like this confuse the hell out of me.

“Ness…”

“So you don’t want to?”

Ness’s eyes shine as her hands slide my shirt off my shoulders. She digs her fingers into the sinew before tracing lightly down the center of my body, towards the edge of my jeans. My heart slams against my chest, and the blood pools away from my head. I am so damn hard, it hurts.

I squeeze her thigh through her dress and push the material up, sliding my hand around her waist and pulling her into me. I’m used to girls giggling, and wriggling around but she stares at me with an amused determination on her face. I need to step it up a notch.

“Jeez, Ness, of course I want to…”

The strap of her dress pushes down easily and I nip her shoulder with my teeth, nudging my nose into her neck. Ness makes a small noise, low in her throat as I trace kisses towards the top of her breasts. My fingers slide along her warm skin, following the direction of my mouth. As I reach her breast, I rub her nipple through the lace of her bra and Ness pushes herself into me. I hook the other strap of her dress down and she shifts so I can move the dress to her waist. Easing down the fabric, I follow the dress’s path to the floor with small kisses on her impossibly soft, fragrant skin. Ness tugs my hair, pulling me back upwards, towards her face.

I swallow and meet her eyes. God, I hope she’s not about to change her mind.

****

NESS

Evan looks down at my half naked body, and hesitates. I prop myself up on my elbows and look at him kneeling shirtless on the floor. The light from the open curtains highlights the curves of his abs and it takes every ounce of control not to throw myself at him.

Evan’s going to change his mind, maybe he doesn’t like what he sees because he’s not touching me anymore. “What’s wrong?” I ask.

Evan’s eyes shine. “I’m worried you won’t respect me in the morning.”

I open my mouth to reassure him, then see the hint of a smile curving Evan’s lips. “Okay, go home if you want to, I’ll just go to bed.”

Eyes fixed on his, I reach my hands behind my back, and unclasp my bra, pushing the unwanted item to one side. I want his mouth on me again, his body covering mine. Every touch, every caress sends intense desire to have him possess me. Let’s see if he wants to leave now...

Evan exhales my name and suddenly his hands are back on me, heading towards my breasts, and his tongue trailing back up my stomach. His mouth caresses my breast, and he sucks my nipple into his mouth. I dig my nails into his shoulders as the pleasure buzzes into me and I tighten my legs around him. In response, he nudges my knees apart and I push myself against him, feeling how hard he is behind the barrier of his jeans.

Evan kneels again, and pulls my legs towards the edge of the bed, kissing from my ankle to my thigh. I tense
.
Holy cra
p
, I know what he’s about to do. He gently strokes me through my cotton panties before slowly pushing them down. Jolts tear through my body as he teasingly dips a finger inside me. I gasp for air, as his thumb rubs against me too, the sensation overwhelming me. I’m barely coping with the pleasure from his fingers, when his warm breath hovers against me, tongue stroking my clit.

“Oh
my god, Evan!”

I wriggle in pleasure but he grips my hips, pins me to the bed. Still holding me with one hand, he relentlessly laps at me, moving his fingers inside. My body takes me by surprise, my orgasm sudden and dizzying, and I’m left a tingling mess panting on the bed.

Evan moves upwards, kissing my belly and breasts with feathery kisses. I grab his hair and pull him towards my mouth. Evan’s breathing is ragged and eyes dark, questioning me. I fumble with his belt buckle and the questioning in his face turns to understanding.

“We don’t have to do this yet,” he says.

“I know. But I want to.”

Evan moves away I lie with my eyes closed, missing the heat of his body on mine and trembling. I don’t think I ever wanted Josh as much as I do Evan right now. I hear rustling as he takes off his jeans, then the rip of a condom wrapper, and push aside the connotations of Evan carrying condoms he has easy access to.

“Are you sure, Ness?” he whispers, leaning over me a few seconds later.

“If you don’t stop asking me, I’ll think you don’t want to,” I growl.

And I don’t believe a simple yes will assure him so I dig my nails into his back, sliding my hands to his backside.

“Oh god, of course I want to, Ness, you’re amazing,” Evan whispers against my ear as he pushes himself gently into me.

He looks down at me with a barely controlled need I’ve seen in guys before, then lowers his face to mine. Convinced he’d be one of those guys who pins you down and grunts into the bedclothes, Evan surprises me. He covers my face and any visible skin he can reach with kisses, sending the buzzing sensation through my whole body. Carefully, he moves inside me, holding himself back and I can’t stand it.

“Evan, please…”

I dig my hands into his skin, gripping him to me, wanting to consume every part of him as he does me. Evan finally lets go, losing himself in his own pleasure as he thrusts with the urgency I’ve been waiting for.

Afterwards, Evan wraps his arms around my waist and we spoon on the bed, pulling my sheets over our glowing bodies. The damp heat on his chest cools and Evan’s heart hammers into my back. I trace my fingers along the muscles in his forearms and lean forward to kiss his skin. Being here, held in the aftermath of the best sex I’ve had in a long time, warms me as much as his embrace.

“I told you,” he says in my ear.

“What?”

“Evan fits into Vanessa.”

I make a mock gasp and turn to hit him playfully. Evan laughs at me and catches my hand before I can make contact with his skin. He laces his fingers through mine.

“Or maybe the other way round. Because your hand fits in mine, as if it were made for me.”

Kissing my palm, he rests my hand over his heart. I lie down and snuggle into his chest, listening to his heart rate slow as we drift to sleep.