Running Back to You (The Running Series, #1) (29 page)

“Officer Harper, I’m sure you know who I am.  I don’t want any of this
leaked to the press.  I need to know that all of this will remain completely
confidential.”

The two men shake hands, “Of course, Mr. McGuire.  You have nothing to
worry about.  Have a good night.”

I
t’s almost ten o’clock at night when Adam leaves.  Evan walks over to the
front door and sets the alarm.  I guess that means we’re in for the night and
I’m not happy about it.  I’m definitely not going to be able to make dessert
for tomorrow.  Evan agrees to take me to the bakery early in the morning so at
least I can bring something fresh, if not homemade.

“Evan, I’m sorry I ruined our night together.”  The more I think about
it, I have to admit to myself that I haven’t been making good choices lately. 
When faced with new information about Evan, I took everything at face value and
denied him an opportunity to explain things.  I find myself on the receiving
end of inappropriate, unwanted attention that could quickly turn dangerous, and
I ignore it, putting myself and my loved ones in harm’s way.  A man that I am
crazy about tells me he only wants to take care of me and I challenge him on
it.  Throughout it all, Evan has been steadfast and unyielding in his
devotion. 

“You’re right.  You did ruin everything.  I think you should be punished
for your appalling behavior.”  He lunges for me, but I wriggle away, trying to
evade his advances.  “I don’t think so, young lady,” Evan retorts.  I try to
run away, giggling, but I don’t get very far.  He leaps in front of me, sweeps
me into his arms, and swiftly deposits me onto his bed.  Next thing I know,
Evan has me pinned beneath him, kissing me with a hunger and passion that makes
me feel weak.

His hands move over me, gently stroking my hair, kneading my breasts, and
cupping my heat.  Our hips begin rocking against one another, needing and
wanting more.  Desire is pooling in my stomach, and I cannot stop my hands from
finding his hair and holding his face tightly to mine.

Our breathing becomes erratic, and I find myself struggling for breath. 
Evan takes my hand and places it over his chest.  “Do you feel that, my heart
is racing.  That’s you.  That’s all you.”  I sigh at how good it is to feel his
touch again, to hear his breathless confessions.

His hands move towards the button on my jeans, but he hesitates, unsure. 
He looks up at me with smoldering eyes, seeking permission.  “Evan, make love
to me.  Please.” 

Silently, he slips from our embrace and stands at the foot of the bed,
his eyes never leaving mine.  I lean up on my elbows, watching his every move
with fervent desire.  First, he removes his shirt, stripping it up and over his
head, and then tossing it to the floor.  My eyes linger over the indent in his
hips, forming that sexy v-line that extends beneath the waistband of his
jeans.  Looking at the ripples in his muscles sends tingles down my spine.  He
unzips his jeans and slips them off his long lean legs.  He now stands before
me only in his boxer shorts, and the sight of him is unnerving.  It feels as if
I could explode from the tension building up in my body.  Finally, he removes
his boxers and crawls back to me.

He trails kisses along my neck as he presses against me.  He finds the
hem of my shirt and pulls it up and over my head, tossing it to the side.  I
remove my bra, and his lips find one breast while his hand claims the other. 
“Mine,” he mutters against me as he gently teases my nipple with his teeth. 

“Yours,” I repeat as I rake my nails across his back.  He lets out a
whimper that travels right to my sex, causing me to become even damper with
want.

Evan kneels above me and begins to remove my pants so slowly it is almost
torturous.  I lift my hips to help as he slides them down and off my legs.  He
sweeps kisses up my leg, stopping at my hipbone, whispering “mine” again and
again.  When he finally reaches my ear, he gently nibbles and hisses, “You are
so beautiful.”

Lying there together on his bed, completely exposed to one another, we
take time to explore each other’s body.  I discover I can make him groan when
my fingers, lips, and tongue explore his abs and the cut in his waist.  He
revels in delight when whimpers of pleasure ripple from my lips as he tugs on
my nipple with his tongue and teeth. 

We lie on our sides, face to face, and kiss slowly.  Our hands continue
to explore each other’s bodies, all the while, our eyes gazing into one
another’s, filled with desire.  His hand travels down my navel and he slowly
slips one then two fingers deep inside me.  I am so wet with need, it is almost
unbearable.  Instinctively, I find his firm erection and begin stroking his
length, slowly and deliberately.

I close my eyes so I can shut out everything except the feel of our hands
caressing each other.  I open them again to take another look at the beautiful
man in my arms.  The realization that he is mine and I am his washes over me
and overpowers me.  This must be what true love feels like.  A lone tear
escapes and I bite my lip to keep from losing control.  Evan gently sweeps away
the tear and reassures me, “I know, I feel it too.”

Slowly, he rolls me onto my back, placing his knees between mine, opening
me up to him, and he slides into me.  Inch by inch, our bodies expand and
contract to accept one another until we are as tightly bound as any two people
could be.  When it feels like I can take no more, I call out his name and grip
his ass tightly in my hands.  I hold him to me, moving ever so slightly in
order to feel all of him as he glides in and out.

Our hips rock together, finding a rhythm.  “Juliette, don’t ever leave
me again,” Evan pleads.

“Never,” I promise.  I reach up to touch his face when he takes both my
hands in his and pins them to the bed above my head.  Holding me in place, he
grinds his hips into mine, creating the most delicious friction.

“Oh, my God, Evan, please.  I’m so close,” I moan into his mouth. 
Without needing any more encouragement, he thrusts inside me over and over
again.  He wraps his fingers around mine as we both move closer and closer to
the edge.  “Harder,” I plead, arching my back to welcome even more of him
inside me.

“Juliette, come for me,” he demands.  He groans against my neck as he
thrusts into me, bringing the most exquisite release from deep inside me.  I
cry out for him as I begin to tighten and pulse around him.  “Oh, baby,” he
calls out as his body tightens and his hips jerk against me.  I can feel his
release inside me and the look on his face is the sexiest thing I have ever
seen in my life.

He collapses on top of me; our muscles and limbs forming a languid
tangle.  We are a mess of sweat and sex as we struggled to breathe.  Carefully
and slowly, he pulls out of me and rolls onto his side.  Turning to follow him,
our eyes meet and we smile at each other.  He reaches up to touch my face, and
kisses me. 

For the longest time, we just lie in each other’s arms, staring at each
other and enjoying the post coital warmth of our lovemaking. 

I turn away from him so he can snuggle up behind me, wrapping his arms
around me.  He whispers in my ear, “I’m never letting you go.  Just so you
know.”

I smile at the thought and simply reply, “Okay.”  I hold his arms that
are held tight around my middle as he pulls me closer.  I can feel him
breathing against me, our chests rising and falling in unison.  “Good night,
baby.”

“Good night, baby.”  The heaviness of sleep is overwhelming and I drift
into a blissful sleep, cradled in the arms of the man I love.

Right as Rain

M
y eyes open and it takes a moment for me to process the sights and
sounds surrounding me.  The sun has yet to rise and the predawn orange glow in
the sky is casting the room in dark shadows.  Slowly, realization sets in and I
recognize the beautiful simplicity of Evan’s bedroom.

I check the clock and it’s a few minutes past five in the morning.  Once
my eyes adjust to the lack of light, I focus on the gorgeous man lying beside
me.  Evan has his hand resting on my hip and is mumbling something incoherent
in my ear.  With a loud grunt, he rolls onto his back, removing his hand from
my skin.  I ache from the loss of his touch.

I watch as he sleeps and dreams.  Soft snores escape from his lips, with
an occasional mumble and sigh.  Whatever he’s dreaming about, he seems to be
enjoying it.

Without fear of embarrassment, I take the opportunity to study him.  His
thick chestnut hair is a mess, sticking out haphazardly in all directions.  His
perfect skin is just beginning to bronze with a sun-kissed glow.  Scruffy
stubble covers his jaw and I cannot resist reaching over to feel the soft,
scratchy hair. 

I trace a line from his chin, down to his chest, and between his pecs.  Well-sculpted
lines direct my path through his tight abs, leading me directly to his navel. 
I lay my hand flat across heart, and I can feel his heart beating. 

Evan’s chest rises and falls deeply as he releases a soft moan.  His eyes
are still closed, but a grin has etched itself across his face.  I allow my
hands to explore further south, and I am pleased to discover that his morning
glory is ready to greet me.

I crawl on top of him and kiss him on the tip of his nose.  My lips and
tongue follow the same path my fingers trailed.  After taking from him exactly
what I want, he holds me in his arms and whispers, “Good morning.”

We spend the next hour enjoying each other’s body, rolling around the
bed, recreating our own intimate game of Twister.  Just like last night, there
is no rush and no hurry.  As the sun finally rises, basking the room in warm,
bright light, we lie in bed together, head to toe, wrapped in sheets that will
most definitely need to be laundered.

“So, what were you dreaming about?” I ask him.  “It sounded like you were
really enjoying yourself.  I almost didn’t want to wake you.”

“I’m so glad you did.  I dreamt I was lying in bed with a beautiful,
naked, woman,” he tells me, “but the real thing is so much better.  A man could
get very accustomed to waking up like this.”  He takes one of my feet into his
strong, muscular hands, and he slowly, deeply, forcefully rubs the bottom of my
foot.  I am in heaven.