Evan's Addiction (37 page)

     Turning toward her I cupped the side of face as she stared at me
in confusion. “Thank you for giving me a second chance.”

     “You’ve already thanked me for that.” She was still confused and
her skin was pinkening at my focused attention.

     “I know, but I really want you to know that I mean it. I’m not just
spouting platitudes. I am fucking thankful as hell that you are giving me a
second chance.”

     Her face heated more. “Okay.” She whispered.

     Leaning forward I took her mouth and poured all that gratefulness
into her. She returned it and had to grip my shoulders as I thrust deep,
searching for more. I always wanted more; I wanted everything.  

     A car horn blaring past was the only thing able to pull me away.

     With one last gentle kiss to her puffy, delicious lips I sat my
ass back in my seat. “We’re giving the passer-byer’s too much of a show.”
Adjusting my rock-hard junk I looked for an opening in the traffic.

     “You know they have a cream for that itch.” Shaw joked huskily.

     “Unfortunately the cream I want on it is tucked away in those
black short.” I eyed her shorts and legs heatedly.

     She shook her head with a laugh.

     “Holy shit! Did I just get the last word?” I exclaimed in true
amazement.

     “What are you talking about?”

     “That was the first time you haven’t had a comeback to something
I’ve said.”

     She rolled her eyes grinning. “It’s sad that you’ve kept track of
that. Don’t you have a business and school work to keep that genius brain
occupied?”

     “Are you kidding?” A space opened between vehicles and I stomped
on the gas to get us back on the road. “You’ve had the last cutting remark for
over a year. This is fucking momentous. My genius has finally been validated.”
I did a fist bump in the air.

     She snorted. “Sounds like you need more
hobbies
in your life. Maybe you should take up golf or scab collecting.”

     I laughed. “There’s quite a distinction between those two
hobbies.”

     “Not to me; they’re both lame.”

     “Hey, golf isn’t lame.” I protested with a laugh. “It’s not as fun
as racing, but I like it.”

     The next couple hours flew by as we discussed and argued several
other topics of conversation, and it just confirmed to me that no one kept me
engaged like she did. When I finally pulled in through the open privacy gates
of the McKay’s beach house I watched as astonishment washed over Shaw’s face.

     “They must be so crammed in this little shack. How can they stand
it?” She snorted sarcastically.

     I chuckled as I parked next to one of the several vehicles
loitering the driveway. I didn’t see Nic’s truck, but they’d had to pick
Samantha up so that would put them slightly behind us. Grabbing our bags from
the back seat we walked up to the front door. It was unlocked and I pushed it
open directing Shaw inside ahead of me.

     Snagging her bag I set it next to the others by the stairs and
then hauled her through the house toward the back patio where Landon, Blake,
Amanda, Noah, Seth, Nadia, her brother, Luka, another young guy—probably a
friend of Luka’s—and Maya’s stepbrother, Greg were congregating. Playing in the
sand down on the beach I could see Maya with Nola, her mother and stepfather,
and Nadia’s sister, Izzy. The three siblings were easy to tag because all three
were blonde, tall, and striking with their Russian features.

     It looked like the only people that weren’t here were the Cruz
brothers—if they were coming—Gabby and Lon, and of course Nic, Carrie, and
Samantha.

     “Shaw!” Both Amanda and Nadia rushed forward arms out and smiling.

     Nadia got to Shaw first and pulled her from my grip to embrace
her. “When I was told that Evan arranged this whole thing I was hoping he was
bringing you.”

     Shaw’s arms were awkward as they patted at Nadia’s shoulders and
then Amanda’s when she elbowed Nadia out of the way. Seeing her discomfiture as
they hugged her really brought home to me how ill at ease she was with
touch…that it wasn’t just me.

     A pang shot through my chest at everything Shaw had been denied.
It made any kind of complaint I’d made in my life seem selfish. All I wanted to
do was grant her all the desires she’d ever had but not been granted.

     “Evan arranged this whole thing, did he?” Shaw drawled as the
girls pulled back.

     Uh-oh. Busted.

CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN

SHAW

     I turned to Evan with an inquiring brow. “
You
put this
together?”

     “Maybe.” He grinned, looking not at all repentant that he’d
omitted that interesting fact about this weekend.

     “When did you arrange it?” I asked. And why wait to the last minute
to tell me?

     Nadia laughed. “He told us all last night…late.” She gave Evan a
mock glare. “Talk about last minute plans, but I guess it tells you how boring
we all are that we dropped everything we weren’t doing to come.”

     Amanda gave Nadia a girl slap on the shoulder. “Hey, call yourself
boring. I had plans to get my hair cut and buy a new pair of shoes.”

     “I can give you that hair cut.” Nadia raised both hands scissoring
her fingers.

     Amanda grimaced. “Auhh, no thank you. I can wait.”

     “Come on. I’ve cut Izzy’s hair. You know how good I am with sharp
blades.” Nadia grinned evilly.

     Amanda backed away. “Yeah, that’s why I’m declining. Your ability
is a little too…slashy for my taste.” 

     Smiling at their banter, I looked back at Evan. “What made you
suddenly decide to do this?”

     His expression weirdly tender he tapped my mouth. “This right
here. I want to see this smile on you all weekend.”

     My chest exploded. He’d arranged all this for me. I didn’t even
know how to process that. I knew my mouth gaped slightly under his finger
though.

     “And now I’ve made you speechless. I’m on a roll today.” He chuckled.

     “Like a square rock.” I mumbled.

     Evan’s arm slid around my waist and he tugged me into his side,
nuzzling his chuckling lips into my neck. A shiver of hot desire shuddered
through me.

     Amanda and Nadia had halted in their exchange and were staring at
the both of us with raised eyebrows and smiles. This time a rush of
embarrassment washed over me heating me even more. I was not used to being
touched like Evan touched me; especially not in front of other people.

     “Evan.” Blake, Samantha’s brother and Carrie’s cousin, walked over
with a smile. “This weekend may have been last minute but it was a hell of an
idea. One last hurrah before the cold creeps in.” His gaze settled on me, wandering
with surprise down to Evan’s arm around my waist. “Shaw, how are you?” He asked
with a cautious smile.

     Blake came around the apartment quite a bit so I knew him pretty
well. After reconnecting with Carrie he’d been trying to rebuild their
relationship. I liked him for that, but my affability had been mixed with my
ever-present enmity so I’d kept a partial wall between us. It had waned as the
months had passed but I couldn’t ever let it completely disappear.  

     “Good. You?” I asked.

     His brow rose at my inquiry because I normally didn’t care enough
to ask. “I’m good too. Thanks for asking.”

     I shrugged. “I was bound to ask at some point.”

     Laughing, he shook his head gazing over my head. “It figures you’d
hook up with Shaw, Evan. You’re both slightly off your rockers.”

     Evan’s arm tightened around my suddenly stiff frame. “We aren’t
hooking up, we’re dating. And thanks for the compliment.”

     Blake’s brows rose as he examined us. “Cool.”

     I liked it that Evan had corrected Blake, because I loathed the phrase
‘
hook-up’
.

     Just then Nic, Carrie and Samantha strolled in and we were soon
all climbing the stairs to the second floor to pick our rooms for the night. I
ended up bunking with Samantha and Evan with Blake in the room next to ours. We
all changed into our bathing suits and met down on the beach minutes later. It
was late September and the day was eighty-three degrees and sunny.

     The next several hours consisted of the most fun I’d had in a long
time. I went jet-skiing and water skiing…or I at least tried, getting up for
about a minute or two…played some volleyball, and fooled around in the water.
There was no denying that toys were fun.

     I could feel the walls surrounding my heart lower, and it didn’t
require alcohol this time. These girls, and even the guys, were great to be
around. Evan was at my side during everything; touching me, kissing me, and
soon I wasn’t thinking twice about it, or anyone witnessing it. Evan became my
alcohol of the day, lowering all my inhibitions.

     There was no denying that all the guys were hot in varying ways
and degrees with amazing bodies, but I barely noticed them; all my focus centered
on Evan. Everything about him pulled a response from me; his wit, intelligence,
and seeing him in just a pair of shorts with his naked, muscular, tattooed
chest had my mouth watering and womb fluttering.

     The fact that he’d put together this last minute gathering for me
tumbled through my head all day. David threw gamer parties because we both
enjoy them, but this was different. Evan said he’d done it because he’d wanted
to see a smile on my face all day. It was so crazy…but I believed him. 

     No guy had ever put such an effort into wanting to be with me. In
high school I’d catch up with the guys I was hanging with at parties; they
didn’t come to my trailer, I didn’t go to their homes, and we certainly didn’t
date. Stupid me, I thought that was enough back than. We’d party, drink,
make-out, and I’d get them off. That would last for a short time until they
moved onto some other girl, and I usually found that out by catching them in
the act. I’d feel used and discarded, but then another guy would show interest
and I would fall for the lies all over again. A few guys later my reputation
was shit, and I heard that everyone was laughing about how easy white-trash
Shaw was.

     To this day I still felt like a fucking fool for how stupidly
needy I was.

     I wasn’t accustomed to all the attention and consideration Evan
was showing me; he came over each night, he brought me flowers and churro’s
from that Mexican restaurant we’d eaten at, he texted me randomly with humorous
lines throughout the day, he’d taken me out to an expensive dinner, he asked me
about my day and my life…not something I really wanted to talk about but tried,
and he’d taken steps to make sure the guys on campus left me alone.

     There were still a few guys, not part of the Fraternity, who continued
to bother me, but I kept that to myself because I could handle it myself.

     What I
was
having a hard time handling were the emotions Evan
brought out in me. I didn’t like this feeling of want he inspired inside me.
When I wanted things I was generally let down. It was terrifying contemplating
letting my walls down, allowing him in, but I couldn’t fight the feelings I had
for him…it was one of the most powerful cravings I’ve ever experienced.

     I was so screwed…and that was another thing that was messing with
me. Evan was keeping his dick in his pants. I didn’t know that was possible for
a guy, but he was doing it for me, and I could tell he was suffering for it.
The guy seemed to have a hard-on all the time.

     I had to admit I was going through my own case of girl blue balls.
My body was craving him to such an extent that it was a constant ache inside
me. I didn’t know females could feel that. 

     It was a little after six p.m. when Dan and Landon started BBQ’ing
some food while the rest of us drank and mingled. Greg had left to go pick up a
girl he seeing in town and bring her back to the house. Apparently it was the
same girl from the wedding. I remember her name was Anthea and while her
appearance screamed gregarious, the girl was actually pretty quiet, but she
seemed nice. Someone mentioned she was a singer and that shocked me. I would
think a singer would be more sociable and maybe even a little bit
self-important. 

     Suddenly, more people joined the celebration; Gabby, Lon, and the
Cruz brothers walked out onto the veranda.

     “Hey, look at this; we’re just in time for dinner.” Trey strode
over to Maya pulling her in for a hug.

     The rest of them were right behind him offering their own hugs at
having her back home from her honeymoon. Gabby was the only one to give Landon
a hug, and he appeared fine with that, but not all pleased with all the hugs
Maya was receiving. He gave each of the Cruz brothers a scowl.

     “How did you do today? Did you win?” Maya asked Juan during his
embrace.

     Juan grinned down at her his expression exuberant. “Of course I
won.” 

     “What did you win?” Blake asked looking confused.

     “My race today. I’m racing legally and professionally now, boys.”
He informed us all.

     He looked Evan’s way and my brow puckered at the look of gratitude
and nod Juan gave him. Evan tossed back a nod of his own. My brows shot up. It
appeared he wasn’t caught by surprise by Juan’s new career move.

     “When did this come about?” Noah asked as the brothers, Gabby and
Lon grabbed some plates and began filling them.