The Running Series Complete Collection: 3-Book Set plus Bonus Novella (56 page)

A
fter dropping off Emmy and Adam, Evan pulls into our driveway a little after midnight.  He’s been cleared to drive for a little over a week now, and he’s like a teenager with a new driver’s license.  I really enjoyed driving his Porsche, but I think it will be a very long time before I’m permitted to drive it again.  However, on the plus side, being a passenger allows me the luxury of enjoying the closeness with Evan without distraction.  The Pink Floyd classic rock anthem, “Another Brick in the Wall”, is playing on his satellite radio, and Evan is singing along, drumming the steering wheel, unaware of my watchful eye, and I am enveloped by the simple joy he brings me.

Once we’re safely inside the house, Evan locks the front door while I take our dog, Maddy, outside.  I let her run around on the beach while I sit on the deck watching her and enjoying the view.  The surf is rough tonight and the crashing waves are sending a mist into the night air, carried by the breeze right onto the deck.  The salty sea spray feels refreshing after a long intense night.

After a few minutes of exercise, I whistle for Maddy to come inside with me.  She gallops onto the deck and follows me in.  I engage the alarm system and wander around the house looking for Evan.  He’s not in the shower, in bed, or in the kitchen.  I seriously doubt he’s in the weight room at this hour.  The only other place I haven’t checked is his home office. 

His office is in the back of the house near the garage.  As I get closer, I can hear the tap, tap, tap of keys on a keyboard.  Evan must be checking his e-mail.  Once I find myself standing in the doorway, the tapping has stopped and I can hear he’s watching a training video.  The coaches record some of the players during their mini-camps, and Evan is most likely reviewing clips from the session he missed today. 

He’s sitting at his desk, a beautiful black panel desk with square tapered feet and a dark cherry desktop.  The only possessions on his desk are his laptop and a picture of us taken at his sister’s house.  His suit jacket has been removed and is resting on the back of his leather chair.  He’s still wearing his black dress shirt, now rolled up to his elbows, revealing a beautiful platinum watch.  He reaches up to scratch his chin, clearly deep in thought. 

Quietly, I slip into his office unnoticed and sit on one of the large leather club chairs situated directly in front of the desk.  Evan is so completely focused on the images on the screen that he doesn’t even notice me sitting there.  I shift around in the chair, changing into provocative poses hoping to get a reaction from him, but nothing.  I dramatically swing my bare legs over one arm of the chair and toss the hair off my shoulder, but the only thing he sees is the video playing on his computer. 

Maybe my voice will tear him away from work.  “Evan, honey, can you take a break?  I have something I want to show you,” I plead with him, breathily.

“Yeah, sure.  No problem.  Give me another minute, will ya?” he responds without even looking up.

Not to be discouraged, I quickly change my approach.  This man will need something more direct to get his attention.  I stand up and saunter over to his side of the desk.  I shimmy out of my panties, step out of them one leg at a time and dangle them in my hand.  With a lascivious grin, I take them and toss them onto his keyboard, waiting for his response. 

His eyes open wide and a grin stretches across his face, matching my own.  Oddly, he says nothing.  Not a word.  He closes his laptop, opens one of the desk drawers, and places the laptop inside.  Then he slides his chair back, giving me just enough room to slide between him and his desk.

“Okay, Juliette, you have my undivided attention.  Is there something you need?”  I don’t answer.  I look deep into his expectant eyes and shake my head. 

“Oh, wait.  You said you wanted to show me something, didn’t you?”  I bite my lip and nod.  Before I can calculate my next move, he’s on top of me, sliding me up and onto his desk.  His lips crash onto mine, claiming me, speaking volumes to me without uttering a word. 

My legs open for him as he wraps his arms around me, positioning our bodies until I can feel him press against me.  My mouth opens to greet him as our tongues frolic hungrily.  My hands fly across his neck, arms, and chest, rubbing and massaging his muscular form as I return his hungry kisses.  My fingers twist and weave through his hair, causing him to release a groan that vibrates through my entire body, awakening every muscle and spiking currents that reach to my core. 

He gazes down at me, eyeing me suspiciously.  “So, what exactly did you want to show me?” he whispers in my ear.  Just the sound of his strong sexy voice is enough to make me wet with desire.  The smell of him, the taste of him on my lips, the feel of his hands all over me invade my senses. 

“I wanted to show you exactly how proud I am of you,” I confess.  He stares at me, seemingly surprised by my response.  “You were completely amazing tonight,” I tell him as I wrap my legs around his waist and pull him closer.  Our bodies are now moving slowly against each other, creating the most delicious friction.  I look into his eyes, deep pools of infinity shining with wanton lust for no one but me.

“Let me show you exactly how amazing I can be,” he murmurs in my ear, nibbling and biting his way down my neck and onto my shoulders.

Suddenly, he backs away from me and unzips his pants, allowing them to fall to the ground.  I greedily start on the buttons of his shirt, anxious to tear it away and reveal the glorious flesh that resides beneath it.  His shirt joins his pants in a crumpled pile on the floor.  Evan is now standing before me in nothing but his boxers.  My eyes gaze at his muscular frame, and then immediately dart to the treasure trail that leads below his waistband.  My body aches for him, tension pulsing through my veins.  Unable to hold back, I lean in towards him, ready to remove the small piece of cotton that hides my desired target.  “Anxious, are we?” he teases as I rip the boxers from his body. 

He holds his hand out to me, helping me to stand on my feet.  “Turn around,” he demands.  I turn, and he begins to unzip my dress slowly, placing soft, gentle kisses inch after inch down my spine.  Slowly, Evan removes the dress from one shoulder, then the other, drawing it down my arms until it falls to the floor.  He returns to kiss his way along my shoulder, up my neck, and finally nibbling on my ear, sending a shiver straight through me.  His hands cup my breasts, immediately causing them to swell and tighten from his touch.  His hand works its way back down my body, caressing and teasing the fleshy folds of my sex.  Slowly, he dips one finger inside and releases a moan of satisfaction.  “You’re ready for me, aren’t you, baby?” he utters in my ear, his hot breath sweeping across my cheek.

“I’ve been ready,” I tell him, turning around to face him.  His hands quickly move to my backside, lifts me, and place me back upon his desk.  Again, I open my legs, inviting him in.  He saddles up to me, holding his firm erection in his hand, and teasing me with the tip.  I close my eyes to enjoy the feeling of his flesh pressing against me, sliding up and down, stopping at my entrance, but not yet pushing inside.  I open my legs wider as he spreads my creamy fluid all around, sighing with a combination of intense pleasure and impatience.

My breath is now coming in short pants.  I lean back on my elbows and allow Evan to take me on this glorious ride of pure pleasure.  I move my hips to guide him along as he continues his slow, careful exploration, writhing on the desk in half-fulfilled pleasure.

Without warning and with a single unexpected thrust, he’s inside me.  The shock of it sends waves of heat through me, eliciting a loud moan of delight.  “Oh, yes!” I call out, urging him on, my body shaking from the impact.  Fully focused on the feeling of his hardened length introduced deep inside me, I grasp Evan’s thick arms to steady myself.

I throw one arm over my head and clasp the edge of the desk to keep my position firm as Evan begins moving his hips from side to side as I match his motions, reveling in the delightful sensations coursing through my body.

Evan wraps each of his arms under my knees, lifting them into the air, providing him greater access.  He slowly presses deeper, filling me completely, as my body stretches to accommodate this familiar invader.  I grind my hips into his, trying desperately to feel every inch of him. 

He moves with such grace, performing his own sensual dance of fornication.  Slowly he builds a rhythm as I match his moves.  His breathing becomes erratic and the expression of lust and hunger etched across his face is exquisite.  A growl vibrates from his mouth sending another surge of pleasure and arousal through me.  I revel in his passion, igniting a fire deep within me.

Pushing faster, harder, deeper, we both begin chasing our own release.  I grab hold on the edge of the desk as Evan takes me higher and higher, thrusting forcibly against me.  His groin slaps against me again and again and I can feel my entire body begin to tense. 

He looks down at me with hooded eyes, a look of love, lust, and exultation painted across his face. Through gritted teeth he stammers, “Juliette ... I love you ... so fucking much ... it hurts.”

That’s it.  His confession sends me right to the edge.  All it takes is a few more thrusts before an uncontrollable wave of pleasure rocks my body, ripping through me, overtaking me completely, and making my body spasm uncontrollably.  My back bends into shuddering arches, my body tensing in the rigidity of climax. 

As I call out for him, I can feel Evan’s body quiver and quake as he finds his own release, closing his eyes and exploding inside of me. He pushes forward, pressing himself inside me as deeply as he can, lifting me partially off the desk as his throbbing length pumps me full. 

He releases my legs without breaking our connection and collapses on top of me, breathless. Still pulsing slowly inside of me, my muscles lightly clench in reaction to each throb.  I slowly rake my nails up and down his back and whisper in his ear, “I love you, Evan.”

Evan looks down at me, smiling and satisfied, "Juliette, you have no idea what you do to me."

"I think I have an idea," I counter, purring in contentment.  I still can’t believe that he is mine and that I am the only one who gets to see him this way, completely raw, unrestrained, and sexy as hell.

I
wake naked and alone early the next day.  The sunrise casts a beautiful glow into our bedroom.  I glance out the window and I can see the sun is shining brightly, just hovering over the horizon and reflecting gloriously on the ocean surface.  It’s only about seven in the morning and Evan’s gone for the day.  He has to be at the training center by six o’clock five days a week.  Today’s meetings will be brief thanks to the arrival of the Memorial Day weekend. 

I like to begin each day with an invigorating run on the beach.  Every time I take to the beach for my run, I’m reminded of our fateful meeting here.  It’s where everything began.  Evan still calls me Running Girl, and he’ll always be my Bossy Man.  These events are woven into the fabric of who we are and I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.

Maddy knows our routine, too.  She’s sitting at the bedroom door, anxious for her morning romp.  After a quick visit to the bathroom, I brush my teeth and get ready to go.  I walk over to my dresser, the one Evan bought me a month ago and compliments his armoire perfectly, and I begin to rummage through the drawers.  Mornings in May are unpredictable.  Some mornings are cool and crisp, while others are warm and muggy.  Maddy is sitting patiently beside me, wagging her tail and watching my every move, so I quickly get dressed, toss up my hair, and throw on a pair of sneakers.  I grab Maddy’s leash, and off we go.

Since I’ve only barely just woken, I take a few minutes to stretch my muscles, concentrating on my quads and hamstrings.  Once satisfied, I plug in my earphones and crank up the music.  Daft Punk starts off my run with a high-energy techno pop song and I quickly set a good pace. 

As usual, the shoreline is dotted with the occasional surf fisherman sitting on a beach chair with a long surf rod dangling in the ocean.  There’s one fisherman who’s here most days, sitting alone in the same spot each time.  He appears to be in his thirties with jet-black hair, obviously here for some solitude.  Every morning I greet him with a cheery, “Good morning,” and each time, I am rewarded with nothing but silence.

Maddy and I continue to traipse along until we reach the boardwalk.  This is my stopping point, the point at which we stop to rest and play.  As soon as I take Maddy off her leash, she starts sniffing around, looking for an odd twig or small piece of driftwood to play catch with when she begins barking at something under the boardwalk.  I whistle and call for her, but she will not be distracted from her find.  Needing to investigate, I head over to where she is and I hear a voice call out, “Get the fuck out of here!”  As I step closer, I see a young couple, no older than sixteen, wrapped in a blanket, hidden beneath the boardwalk, just waking up.  I mutter my apologies and drag Maddy away. 

Well, that’s a first for us.  Now that summer is approaching, I wonder to myself if that is something that will become a common occurrence.