Sins from Her Past (Scandalous) (13 page)

Tears pricked her eyes as she slid a finger over the cover of a book by her favorite author. She pulled it out, beneath that was another and by the time she’d finished, she’d pulled out eight books, all by her favorite author.

“I know you more than likely have most of those,” he told her, pushing off the doorframe and coming to sit beside her on the bed. “But the one on top doesn’t come out for another month and I had them all personally autographed to you.”

Her gaze jerked up to his. “No, you didn’t.”

That cocky, mouth-watering grin spread across his face. “Yes, I did.”

Juggling the box on her lap, the comforter between her hand, Evelyn used her free hand to flip open the front of one book. There was a message to her, with her name and everything, signed by her favorite author.

Evelyn searched the rest of the books, not caring she’d lost total control over her shield, the comforter. Modesty be damned when there were books in her hands.

Those tears that pricked her eyes spilled over and she knew that hot mess she’d thought she was only moments ago had just gotten another level hotter because she was so not a pretty crier.

“It’s just books, Evie.” Vin chuckled. “There’s no need to cry.”

She shifted on the bed to look at him. “It’s not just the books, Vin. You went to so much trouble for me. You actually put thought, a lot of thought, into what I’d like and… How in the world did you get an early copy and signatures anyway?”

He shrugged. “I sent an email, explained who I was and asked for it.”

She quirked a brow. “You just asked for a new copy and signatures and, just like that, you got them? Tell me the rest of the story.”

“I offered her a week’s stay at the new resort when it opens at Christmas.”

Evelyn studied him, unable to even fathom the fact he cared for her on a level she hadn’t thought possible. Yes, they’d been friends for years and he’d gotten her birthday presents before, but this present… God, this was simply the present to beat all presents.

There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that he wanted to be with her, not just in the intimate sense, but Vin wanted her. He wasn’t lying when he’d said she was worth waiting for. A man who went to these lengths to get such a personal, heartfelt gift would do anything for a woman he…loves?

No, he couldn’t love her. He wanted her, he may want to explore a relationship, but love was just a whole other level and one they weren’t anywhere near.

Evelyn set the books back in the box and placed them on the bed beside her. When she turned back to Vin, she reached out to cup his cheek. Coarse, dark stubble tickled her palm as she looked into his gray eyes.

“You’re an amazing man, Vincent Hawk. I can’t believe a woman hasn’t scooped you up.”

He covered her hand with his and smiled. “Maybe there’s only one woman I’ve been waiting on.”

Her heartbeat sped up as the lump of fear formed in her throat. She swallowed it, refusing to let her past enter into her decisions, her future.

Gathering courage she could only feel radiating from Vin, she leaned forward and slid her lips over his. Softly, tenderly. He didn’t reach for her, didn’t take over the kiss.

Evelyn eased back, looked into his eyes and when she saw desire beneath those heavy lids, she moved back in to taste him again.

She could do this. She
wanted
to do this. She reached for him, thrilled when he met her halfway and took her hand in his. The comforter eased down her shoulders and pooled around her waist. Their intertwined hands rested in her lap as she coaxed his mouth open with her tongue.

Vin’s soft moan aroused her even more. His gentle touch, his willingness to let her set the pace, only proved she wasn’t making a mistake with him.

“I can’t think past this moment,” she told him against his lips. “I want to, but I—”

He kissed her, a full-on attack, wrapping one hand around her waist, one sliding up into her hair and easing her back onto the bed. When he lifted his head, he was smiling. “I don’t care about tomorrow or even this afternoon, Evie. Right now, the fact that you’re willing to give me something so precious is all that matters.”

The weight of his strong body didn’t scare her like she’d imagined it would, but rather it thrilled her, excited her and totally turned her on.

“I want you, Vin. You deserve more, but that’s all I can offer right now.”

“I’ll take anything I can get.” He glanced down between their bodies and laughed. “Can we get rid of the bulky comforter?”

She pulled the bed cover away from where it had wrapped around her legs. Finally she was wearing only the cami-and-panty set she’d slept in.

“Much better,” he told her, trailing a fingertip up one bare thigh. “I nearly came in my pants when you opened the door dressed like this.”

“I was in the middle of dreaming—” her body trembled beneath his featherlight touch as his finger continued up over the silky material to her breast, “—about you.”

His hand still at her taut nipple, he slid his thumb back and forth over the silk barrier, making the sensation even more erotic.

“What were you dreaming about?”

“This,” she told him, looking into his eyes. “In my dream I was fearless, I let you do anything you wanted. But you interrupted when you knocked on the door.”

He eased the strap down her arm until the material fell away from her breast. “So you were left aching? Ready to come?”

Evelyn bit her lip and nodded.

“I’m sure I can finish where the dream left off.”

She placed a hand over his on her breast. “I can’t let you have complete control, but I can let you do what you want. I just need to know you’ll stop if I tell you to.”

His eyes closed, then opened. “Evelyn, I would do anything for you. I just want you to be comfortable and I guarantee, if you’ll let me, I’ll make you very, very comfortable.”

She smiled because everything about him put her at ease. She wouldn’t be lying on a hotel bed wearing nearly nothing if he didn’t.

“I trust you,” she told him. “Just go slow. Please.”

“I’ve waited for you for years.” He came to his feet, took her hand to pull her up too. “And if we’re going to go slow, we better not start out on the bed.”

He’d waited for years. God, all that time she could’ve been…

No. She wasn’t even going to go to that place in her mind. Today, right now, was all about Vin and all the wonderful ways he was going to make her forget the ugliness in her life.

He took the hem of her cami and slid it up and over her head. Silk in hand, he looked directly into her eyes.

“Okay?” he asked.

Evelyn nodded. “You don’t have to ask with every step. I promise, you’ll know if I’m going to freak out.”

A flash of hurt shot through his eyes a moment before he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his hard, bare chest. God, the feeling of being skin to skin with him was better than her dream, beyond arousing.

He tipped her face up and took her mouth, plunging his tongue in and sweeping it along hers. The crisp hair on his chest tickled her nipples and she arched against him, wanting, needing more.

Feeling braver by the minute, she slid her hands down his chiseled abdomen and to the top button of his jeans. When she unsnapped it, he brushed her hands aside and unzipped his jeans. He broke the kiss and was out of his pants in record time.

“Now, no more touching or this will be over before I can really enjoy myself,” he told her.

But that didn’t stop her from stepping back and taking in her fill. Oh, she’d seen him in swimming trunks, but what this man did for a pair of black boxer-briefs was so much more intoxicating than trunks.

She hooked her thumbs in the waistband of her panties and looked up at him. Knowing he was physically holding back told her she had all the power here. He might be a foot taller than her, with many extra pounds, but he wouldn’t hurt her. Ever.

The silky panties slid down to puddle at her feet and she kicked them aside. Vin’s eyes gave her body a visual lick as his nostrils flared, his eyes darkened.

“You’re the most beautiful woman, Evie.”

Crossing her arms around her chest, she tried to smile. “I’m not built like those models you like to date, but I won’t apologize for my body. I’m just…bigger. It’s who I am.”

“I love who you are.”

Shock filled her. “You—”

He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her again, cutting off anything she was about to say regarding his declaration. Did he love her? Was he trying to tell her that? He couldn’t be serious. He was just saying that to make her feel better.

His hands cupped her ass, pulling her against his bulging erection. Evelyn gripped his broad shoulders. God, those muscles were bigger than they looked.

Vin kissed his way down her neck to her breast and Evelyn arched into his touch. His hands seemed to be everywhere—roaming over her back, her waist, her ass. When he moved to suck the other breast, his palm came up to cup the one he’d just thoroughly loved.

“Vin,” she panted.

How could something so simple feel so damn good? Moisture pooled between her legs. She’d never been turned on like this before, never craved feeling a man slide into her.

As if sensing her thoughts, his hand slid between her legs at the same time his mouth traveled back up to hers.

“Step out wider,” he muttered against her lips. “I want to feel you.”

She eased her legs apart and nearly buckled to the floor when he eased a finger between her damp folds. Slowly, agonizingly slowly, he rubbed back and forth. Her hips jerked, her breath quickened.

Vin’s warm breath against her face, his strong hand being so gentle between her legs and his soft whispers had her nearly going mad.

“I need…”

“Tell me, baby.”

“I don’t know,” she told him as her hips picked up speed. “It just feels so good.”

He backed her up until she dropped to the bed. When he went to his knees between her open thighs, she gasped. “Vin, you can’t.”

“Oh, I can. And I will.”

“But I’ve never…”

He grinned. “Good. I like being first.”

Evelyn kept herself propped up on her elbows as she watched Vin move closer to her aching spot. And then with one quick, very well-placed swipe of his tongue, she groaned and fell back onto the bed. Mercy…

He slid his arms behind her knees and tossed her legs over his shoulders. At this point he could do what he wanted with those legs because they’d turned to rubber.

She fisted her hands in the sheets at her sides when he spread her apart and made love to her with his mouth. Flickers of anticipation spread through her. Instinct had her placing her feet on his shoulders, letting her knees fall to the side.

Vin slid his hands beneath her butt, tipping her up higher. When he groaned against her, Evelyn couldn’t hold back the rush of the climax that slammed through her. Her body arched as Vin continued to thoroughly love her body. Hands, lips, tongue… God, he was good at this.

When her tremors died down, he crawled up her body with a wry smile on his face.

“You’re so damn sexy,” he told her as his hands slid up her sides. “I can’t get enough of this body, those soft moans.”

She cupped his face. “I can’t believe…I just…”

He smoothed the hair from her face. “I know. I feel the same.”

When he eased back and came to his feet, Evelyn sat up. “You’re leaving?”

“Hell no.” He scooped her up, one arm behind her back, one under her knees. “We’re going to my room where we can continue and where the condoms are.”

A bit of fear spread through her at what was to come, but excitement quickly took its place. She nestled her head against his warm neck, surprised at how easy he was to trust, to feel secure around…to care for on a level she wasn’t ready to identify.

He took her into his room, his bed was still rumpled from his night of sleep. When he lay her down, he stood over her, a look of desire filling his dark eyes.

She couldn’t believe she was doing this, couldn’t believe after all this time she was letting down the steel wall she’d erected. But this felt right and she knew Vin would be gentle, loving.

Surprisingly, right at this moment, she had no fear. Nerves had settled in, but fear was totally absent.

“No thinking,” he told her, smiling. “This is just me and you.”

“I know. That’s what makes this so special.”

Placing a knee beside her hip, Vin eased onto the bed and stretched out beside her. All that glorious, toned skin pressing against hers made her ache in places she thought were already satisfied.

“Tell me if I do something wrong,” she told him.

Vin’s fingertips trailed across her collarbone, down between her breasts and continued to her lower abdomen. “There’s nothing you could do that would be wrong, Evie. Nothing.”

Her eyes sought his and her breath hitched. His fingers kept traveling in a pattern across her stomach, over her rib cage and back down, but his gaze never wavered from hers.

“I’ve never wanted to make a man desire me,” she whispered. “But I want you to find me attractive, desirable.”