Holy fuck. She was perfect. She was just as hungry as I was and feeling her soaking wet pussy wrapped around my dick was heaven.
I know she thought my promises were meaningless, but I was going to prove to her they weren't. I'd been her rescuer for nine years. Thought I was still trying to make it better, but I was so wrong.
There’s no way I was going to let her work in that strip club. Over my dead fucking body. I would do whatever it takes to keep her out of there and stop stripping and keep men from eye-fucking her night after night. She’s a gorgeous woman who had heads turning her way anywhere she went. Even the women looked at her—with jealousy.
I let her body fall to the mattress with a gentle flop. A small whimper passed her lips as I withdrew from her body, and as each inch left her, my cock was coated with her juices. And it might sound like I’m a complete douchebag but seeing her red, swollen lips almost raw from my dick made me feel ten feet tall.
She said she’s only had sex once and the guy was a complete cocktail weenie. Basically I had several more inches than that guy. Looking at her right now in all her spent glory is bringing my semi-hard-on back to half-mast.
“Evony?”
“Mmmm…”
“Did I leave you speechless, honey?”
“Fuck you.”
“Love it when you talk sweet to me. I would love nothing more than to fuck this tight little pussy all night long. And I will. I just thought you'd like some recovery time. You might not technically be a virgin, babe, but I did basically take something no one’s ever had. You might feel a little sore.”
Her face was smushed against the blankets and her hands let go of the edge, and she flipped me the bird.
“Evony. You are a sweet talker.”
I gave her ass a light tap and she plopped down, her body spent.
I eased her onto her back, the tattoo there a plain slap on the face.
“Why French?”
“I got my tattoo when I was sixteen and I was taking French and my mother’s ancestry has French in my blood. Why not?”
“Evony?”
Her eyes had drifted closed, one hand laid on her stomach, the other over her head.
She’s completely comfortable with her naked body. Not that she should be ashamed. It was toned, her curves all natural and I swear that bare little mound that was coated with our juices looked like the tastiest fucking treat. Sweet Jesus, she made me fucking hunger. Just for a taste. I leaned up on my elbow and let my hand trace over her succulent curves. Her breath hitched and she bit her lip.
Only one thing was burning in my mind right now.
“Where's the locket I gave you? Did you—?”
Her eyes flashed open and she shook her head quickly and I swear I could see tears burning but she took a deep breath.
“It's safe. I wanted to get rid of it. Thought about it a thousand times. Just couldn’t bring myself to…
“Let go?”
She turned to me, her eyes filled with tears, but none ever spilled free. She shrugged, not responding but that was okay.
“It's in my safe.”
“I am sorry.”
“Don't be. I survived. I'm strong, independent. Life is just what it is, Gavin. I don't blame anybody. Neither should you.”
“But my mother—
She placed her hand over my mouth and said, “She did what she thought was right. Don't judge her because that's no way to live. I'm over it.”
Her voice was steady and straight and hell I almost wanted to believe her, but I knew better. She loved my mother deeply. Looked up to her when she couldn’t look up after her own. She must have been devastated. Twelve years of doubting and I guess it’s true enough. That she’s over it and that she was okay. But not for me.
“Well I'm not.” I brought myself half over her body where she curved into mine naturally like she’s been doing it for years. Caressing her soft silky skin with my fingertips until I cupped her cheek. “The last twelve years I thought you were happy. Taken care of. That my mother was going to be there for you and it turns out all of that was a lie.”
She turned away from me and closed her eyes. With a small shake of her head she said, “And I just learned my mother spent whatever money you sent me. She stashed the letters in her room. I didn't know about them.”
I couldn't help but cup her cheek and turn her so she would look in my eyes. It took a minute, and like a slow motion camera, her eyes slid open nice and slow. I wanted to see her pale blue eyes soft and sweet all for me.
And I told her exactly what I thought the first time I seen her at my mother’s funeral. What I wanted most of all.
“Come home with me.” And that softness faded into steel blue irises ready to argue once more. “Don't. Why is it hard for you to just leave this place?”
“Because one, I'm not ready to leave. I have plans, Gavin. Two. You are not the boss of me. Just because we fucked, doesn't give you any damn right.”
“The hell it does. Once I took you to my bed, I became your lover. I have every damn right.”
“Not to tell me what I can and cannot do!”
She started rising from the bed, but I grabbed her arm and brought her back down, throwing my thigh over hers.
“Do not go back to that place, Evony.”
“You are not going to tell me what to do, Gavin. I have a life here.”
“A shitty one. You can just come with me. Pack up whatever you want and get a regular job that doesn’t have you stripping for men who only want a piece of your ass.”
“I have a shitty life? Gee, tell it to me straight why doncha? Are you trying to make me feel like shit? Some white trash nobody who doesn’t have any sense? And no, I just can’t come with you. My job pays very well.”
“Job? That is not a job you should be having, baby. All those men want to fuck you and disrespect your body and yell out lewd names at you trying to get your attention. And I never called you that. Don’t put words in my mouth, Evony Ann. That will get you spanked.”
“Asshole. Obviously, you’re no stranger to a strip club.”
“I’ve been to a few, but I have never spoken to women like that. And you should know me better than that. I might have been gone for a decade, but I haven’t changed that much that I’m disrespectful to the opposite sex. That’s the life you want? I don’t think so. I know you, Evony. You want more than this. You told me so long ago.”
“Gavin, just stop. You know this wasn’t going to be anything more than just sex. That’s all we have here. There is no relationship forming, no long lasting affair. We fuck, and we move on. Your life is in Kansas. Mine, for now, is here.”
“What-the-fuck ever. I’ll fix this. Don’t worry. And I pretty much took your v-card, Evony Ann Summers, you’re mine. Born to fucking be mine.”
“Fix what? And I wasn’t a virgin. And—
“When you claim the only other dick you had barely slipped between those soft, juicy lips between y our thighs, you’re basically a virgin. And—
“AND NO! I’m not yours. You know what?”
“What?”
I couldn’t help the growl that burned through my throat.
“I knew this was nothing but a big fat mistake. Get off!” She shoved my thigh off and rolled off the bed and I’ll be damned, she stood with her ninja stance and I couldn’t help the smile that lit my face. “What’s so funny? Nevermind. Don’t follow me.”
I laid back down, wiping a hand down my face. Lord, help me out here. I need a Hail Mary pass or something.
“Evony, don’t leave.”
She was tugging up her leggings, and had to hop up and down to get them over her lush, voluptuous hips.
“Why shouldn’t I?”
“Please. We’ll order some dinner, eat and just not talk about anything if you want.”
Although there was plenty I wanted to say. And hopefully the plan I was forming in my head would turn out the way I wanted it to. If I had my way, she’d never step foot in that club again. She’d come home with me where I showed her exactly how happy I could make her and then everything would fall into place.
She stopped. Sighed. Thinking it over. She wasn’t looking at me yet but she raised her hands in a what-the-hell-should-I-do gesture before running those long, delicate fingers through the softest hair I’ve ever felt. It ran down her back, the tips in an arrow shape that pointed straight to her behind. Then she slapped her hands on her hips, knowing she was going to give in. I could tell.
She looked back at me with curiosity and asked, “More sex?”
“Hell yes.”
“Only sex, Gavin. That’s all I’m willing to give.”
“Then I’ll take what you give me.”
She huffed and dropped her bag on the floor. “Fine. Okay—
“For now.”
“Gavin!”
“Don’t worry, Ev. You’ll fall helplessly in love with me one day.”
“Not today, Gavin Mark Winters.” Her tone was bristly but she was giving in. I wanted to tell her I knew how to make her happy. That that’s all I ever wanted to do.
“I can live with that.”
She rolled her eyes and grabbed her shirt and slipped it on. “Okay. First things first then. I’m hungry.”
Chuckling I got up and walked over to the small menu on the table.
“You have no shame, do you?” She said this with exasperation and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Shame for what?” I turned back to her, to see a pretty little blush rise up her neck and cheeks.
She raised her hands and gestured to my body. “All…that.”
I looked over my body, not seeing anything wrong. I shrugged and picked up the menu. She huffed, walking away. My eyes followed her until she bent—sweet fuck her ass looked killer in those leggings—she bent down and grabbed my jeans from the floor. She tossed them over to me with a glare.
“What? Can’t handle all this hotness, honey?”
“Ha. I can handle it just fine. You should be more modest.”
“Modest? Babe, I’m a man. I don’t care what I look like.”
“I call bullshit.”
I rolled my eyes but did as she asked. I shuffled them on, leaving the top button undone. “There. Your sensitive sensibilities are safe, Evony.”
“Thank God. I was about to go blind.”
“You’re funny. Now, what do you want?”
“To go home?”
“To eat, Miss. Sassypants. Get on over here or you’ll be sitting in my lap as you eat.”
“I don’t think so, Gavin.”
I lifted a brow, challenging her. And that red blush flared up her cheeks harder and with wide eyes, she hustled over to the chair and table set close to the door. I passed the menu over to her so she could look first. She skimmed over the items, her lip caught between her teeth. Her eyes brightened and she handed it back to me, pointing at the breakfast foods.
“Can I have breakfast?”
Damn, she looked fucking adorable. She thought she was a hardened woman, but there was still so much innocence inside her it was obvious that this was a new experience for her.
“Evony, you can have whatever you want, babe.”
“I’ll have the pancake plate deluxe.”
I nodded, already knowing what I was getting and I called up room service.
I pulled out a chair for her and poured her a glass of cold water from the ice bucket and water bottle I had brought earlier. I sat across from her and she was drumming her pointy ass nails on the table, looking everywhere except at me. Like I said. Fucking adorable. Sweet. Innocent.
Mine. This woman was all mine.
“So, how did you get into teaching pole dancing?”
Her eyes narrowed on mine, suspect of my intentions, but I honestly wanted to know why she would chose to do that on the side.
“Don’t say anything snide, understand?”
I brought my hand up to my heart and x’ed it. She rolled her eyes but didn’t change the subject.
“As I told you already, I was just sixteen when I started. For like the first six months, I only like twirled around it. I mean, I had no idea how to use one, but I knew how to dance and that was good enough. At the time. One of the other dancer’s skits, required more than one woman working the pole. She had actually volunteered me to be one of her other performers, but since I didn’t know what the hell I was doing, she had said ‘meet me here and we’ll get you squared away.’ I did and it was a class full of strippers. Trust me, these women worked that pole like they were right at home on that thing. But I had learned the moves she wanted done for her routine and the instructor had said if we wanted to return, then classes were these days and we were more than welcome to come anytime. I’ve been going there for about eight years. I loved dancing. There’s so much control in the movements and takes a lot of strength to work it really. I didn’t start teaching until maybe a year ago. I had begun by helping out her beginner classes that didn’t have any strippers and found out how much I enjoyed it. All ages came. Kids to young adults. Older women. Even men. Shapes, ages, all ethnicities. I don’t teach the advanced stuff, but she lets me teach women who want to try something new. It been pretty fun. I like it. I try and get out there twice a month. I would love to go more, but there’s no way I’m driving out to almost Downtown Houston every day for an hour and a half.”
“Why don’t you open your own dance studio?”
That brought her up short. Her mind seemed to actually mull it over.
“Hmm. I guess I never thought about it. I mean, come on, Gavin. Look where I live. Not much choice here and hello, the label this town has given me, who would go?”
“You are not a whore. You are not a slut. You are not some white trash trailer park nothing. I grew up there too, you know? I never thought of us like that and I hate it with every fiber of my being that people in this town are so small minded.”
“Gavin. You’re traveling into territory that is old news and will hit a sore subject if you start talking to people around here.”
Sighing, I unclutched the fists that had tightened into my palms.
“You are still none of those things. Even if it takes the rest of my life to prove it to you.”
“You won’t be here.”
“I—
KNOCK! KNOCK!
She was saved by the knock. I gave her a searing, irritated look and got up to grab our dinner. But unlike last night, when the waiter stayed outside the door, he now pushed inside, slowly laying the food out on the table. Laying my food down first and then slowly placing hers in front of her. Giving her salacious looks that had my hands ready to ring his skinny little neck.
She politely said thanks but didn’t acknowledge him otherwise and I made my way over to the table, glaring holes at the guy who was staring at Evony like she was a tender lamb and he was the big bad wolf. Fucking little dipshit.
“That’ll be all. You are no longer needed.”
“Just call when you’re ready for the table to be cleaned.”
“Uh, how about I just place the cart outside, like everybody else in this hotel and you get the fuck out before you over step your place.”
The guy paled and hurried out of the room.
I sat down and looked over to see Evony giggling.
“What’s so damn funny? Guy was trying to get into your pants.”
“Yes, actually. One. He had no chance. Two. I don’t really notice them. A lot of times they’re too scared to even approach me. And the whole you know town harlot thing. They think they have a chance. It’s not a big deal, Gavin. I’m used to it. Most of the time I don’t even pay attention. I got too much shit to do to deal with them. If they try and make a pass, I politely decline and if they try to force my hand, I dropkick them.”
“Good. Did you take self-defense?”
“Nope. It’s just instinct I guess.”
“Well, you need proper training. So you know how to defend yourself properly instead of trying to scare them with your silly ninja act.”
“It’s not silly, it’s a scare tactic.”
“Scare who?”
“Scare them so I can make a getaway.”
I couldn’t not laugh at her logic. I began eating my steak, when I said, “You’re incorrigible. I’m just glad you’ve never been in any serious fights.”
When she didn’t laugh or respond in anyway, I laid my fork down and looked at her. She didn’t look at me; just kept eating silently.
“Evony?”
“Only with my mother.”
“And?”
“You really want to know?”
I pushed my food away and folded my arms against my chest, getting relaxed.
“Of course, Evony. Our mothers might have painted a very different world for you here, but I never stopped thinking about you. I care for you as I always have. So yes, I want to know any and everything.”
“I almost killed her.”
That definitely was not what I was thinking she’d say.
“Come again?”
“One night, it had gotten really bad. I was about twenty-one, twenty-two maybe? I had come home, only to find an eviction notice on our door. I’m like what the fuck right? This couldn’t be right. Turns out, my mother took the money I gave her to pay the rent and used it on blow. Or whatever kind of drugs that hit her fancy at the time. Three months in back rent. When I started working and making the money, I had paid it myself, but for those few months, I had been working a lot. Too tired to do anything. I mean I basically slept, ate and danced for three months until Coach finally hired two girls to let the rest of us up you know. It was a lot. But that night, it was like I snapped. Seven years busting my ass trying to make sure we had food, a roof and whatever we needed and there she was, buying fucking drugs. I made enough that night that I could pay the back rent, but it just, pushed me past my limit. I walked in and there she was, you know just sitting on her ass on the couch, not really doing anything. I showed her the notice and asked what she did with the money I gave her to give the landlord and she had the fucking balls to tell me she doesn’t remember me giving her any money. Fucking cunt. We go back and forth and then she’s swinging at me and I’m swinging at her and then…my hands find her neck and I just don’t stop squeezing. When I saw her eyes roll back and her body slowly become lax I let go. I smacked her face to get her to come to and when she did, she coughed really badly and I told her if she ever tried shit like that again or ever raised her hand to me I’d kill her.”
Jesus Christ. She was so lost in the moment that it took her a moment to hit the reset button. She took a deep breath and shrugged her shoulders at me.
“So she doesn’t touch me but likes to run her mouth and since I run it right back we just go back and forth until one of us wins. Mostly me. She’s old and worn out. Not much go in her these days.”
I had no idea what to say. My mind has been blown away. Once again, guilt and shame burned through my gut at knowing this woman had to grow up too young and always waiting for the other shoe to drop.
I had to get her away from here. If that was the only mission I had in life that was it. Getting her the hell out of this miserable fucking place.
“Don’t.”
I looked up at her and crunched my brows, “Don’t what?”
“Don’t you feel sorry for me. I don’t want your pity. I handled my business like a big girl.”
That was just it though, she shouldn’t have had to handle it all alone. That’s what really dug deep at how much I truly failed her. No more. I knew what I had to do.