Chapter 11
Mary Cahira O’Hara- present day-Las Vegas, Nevada July 8th, 2016
Tattoos transform us from raw animals into cooked cultural beings
CLAUDE LÉVI-STRAUSS, attributed,
Inked: Tattoos and Body Art around the World
“I know you’re awake Cahira.”
Crap. I really, really don't want to have this conversation. I try to regulate my breathing to make it sound like I'm still asleep.
Chuckle. "Nice try, but you snore a little when you are asleep."
I bolt upright. "I do not! No way do I snore."
Oops.
Evan is looking at me with a grin on his face and a hungry look in his eyes. I follow his gaze and notice Evan’s t-shirt is pulled up to just underneath my breasts. My face heats up again, and I jerk it back down. Jeez. Why am I always blushing around this guy?
"I already ordered breakfast for us, Sunshine. Why don't you put on this robe and we will sit at the table and enjoy the sunrise?" Evan asks as he throws me a terry cloth robe the hotel distributed. I notice he isn't wearing anything but a pair of boxers.
"Umm, why do I have to wear a robe but you get to wear nothing but a pair of boxer briefs?" I ask with indignation.
"Well, to start with, my virtue is long gone. Yours is not. If you have any hope of keeping it that way you need to put on the robe."
"I don't want to keep it that way," I murmur.
"Cahira put on the robe. Now. We will talk about this over breakfast," Evan barks out.
"Fine. But only because I want to."
Evan just chuckles and shakes his head. He walks over to the breakfast table and pours us some orange juice and coffee. I watch him for a few moments, taking the opportunity to study his intricate angel tattoo but it's hard to see the details from this distance. I'm so lost trying to study Evan's tattoo that I forget about the robe.
"Robe," Evan barks out again in frustration.
I hastily put the robe on and jump out of bed with my hands on my hips. "I've got the damn robe on!" I practically shout at him.
Evan turns around and grabs me by the waist. "I think I'm going to call you firecracker when you get like this little warrior. The only thing to do is kiss all that sass away." Then he proceeds to kiss my mouth like he is dying of thirst and I'm the only drink of water around for miles. Evan pulls me to him, pushing my body into his while we both moan into each other.
"Always look on the bright side of life…" my cell phone text notification goes off. Evan jerks away from me and starts to laugh.
"Ahh, Cahira. Only you would have Monty Python as your ring tone."
I smile, but I'm still a little pissed. I walk over to the bed with a flounce. I have five missed messages from Rebecca and eight from Sarah.
Cahira: I'm fine. With Evan. Will text U later.
I type out my message quickly and send it to both of them.
"Sit down and eat Cahira. Let's talk over breakfast," Evan says, his bronze eyes twinkling with humor.
For some reason, his good humor just pisses me off even more, "I'm not hungry and I'm not in your damn Navy Seal unit. You are NOT my commanding officer," I actually am shouting now. Unfortunately, my stomach takes that opportunity to rumble. Loudly. Because I really am hungry.
Evan just raises his eyebrow, points to my chair and sits down in his. I hastily sit down when he rumbles out, "Want another spanking, firecracker?”
I hiss and stick my tongue out at him, then bean him with a packet of sugar.
"You're really sexy when you're angry," Evan says, a look of pure lust on his face as he undresses me with those bronze eyes.
I glare at him again and turn my attention to my food. Shoveling my food into my mouth like it's about to run away from me. Nothing can improve my mood as much as bacon. I love bacon. Almost as much as I love chocolate croissants. Evan sits on the other side of the table and quietly eats his breakfast while I pout and refuse to look up. I feel less hangry when I finish and look up to see him watching me.
"Love that mouth Sunshine."
I blush again. DAMN IT.
"So, let's talk about last night. I want to apologize for what happened at the cabana. I should never have let myself get so carried away. It is just, well you looked so damn sexy and I… Ahh, hell. I'm screwing this up. You are not responsible for me losing control of my sex drive. I apologize Cahira. Won't happen again, I promise."
"What if I want it to happen again?" I ask quietly.
He sighs and runs his hand through his hair, "Then it will happen in a place with some privacy. Somewhere I can treat you with the respect you deserve. Somewhere I can make it special. After you have honestly thought about what you are offering me. When you can make a rational decision to give me your virginity. No decisions made in the heat of passion. I want you to be sure Cahira," Evan says.
Evan's voice is so filled with tenderness that I find I can't stay mad any longer. Instead, tears start to well up in my eyes.
"Shit. Now I made you cry. I'm really screwing this up," Evan growls and balls up his fist in frustration.
"No, you are patient and thoughtful, you're not messing this up," I shake my head and reach for his hand simultaneously.
"Thank you." Evan blows out a relieved sigh. Cahira, I guess it is really none of my business but… Well, do you want to tell me why you waited so long? Are you religious?" Evan asks carefully.
I let out a sigh. I'm still not ready to get into my brain tumor and David. Whenever I shared my history of cancer with a guy before, it ended badly. Either the guy took off practically running for the hills, or he started looking at me with pity. Neither of which I want from Evan. I decide to pick my words carefully.
"I am a practicing Catholic, and I did always want to wait until I was married. But… I don't know. Somehow, it just feels like a lodestone around my neck now instead of something that should be cherished. Honestly, there was someone special a long time ago. I was waiting for him. But he died before we could well… Have sex. I haven't dated seriously since then. You are the first guy I have really wanted to go out on a date with. I mean, I have been asked out before," I add hastily, "I just rarely said yes."
"As I recall, I didn't exactly ask," Evan says, tipping a half grin my way.
I smile before answering, "Yeah, I guess that's where you went right."
"Ok, we have twelve more days and eleven more nights before I have to fly back to Norfolk and you have to fly home to Frederick. If you still feel the same way next Friday, I will be happy to relieve you of your, umm, lodestone. Agreed?" Evan asks in the same tone of voice my dad used when he wanted Quinn and me to clean the garage.
"Agreed," I say quietly. Then I add, "But don't expect me not to try hard to change your mind."
Evan just lets out a long-suffering groan. "Sunshine, please don't try any harder. I'm already hard enough," then he grins and flashes his dimple at me. "Innuendo totally intended, by the way. I got a couple of errands to run this afternoon, but I want to take you out tonight. I'll meet you at your room at 1800. Oh, and wear a dress again."
"What is it with you and dresses? Not to mention the way you order me around?" I ask with mock indignation.
"Guess I just like the idea of easy access to what's underneath it. As for the ordering around, you already know I'm an Alpha Male. Of course, you can always refuse and turn up in pants. Just be sure you want to deal with the consequences," he says throatily. "Now, come here Baby."
I sashay my way over to Evan with my heart pounding in an entirely visceral fight or flight response. My skin is prickling; my senses sharpen, my body hums and my hands tremble as I stare into bronze eyes that have turned molten with dominance and arousal. The connection between my heart and my soul really feels in jeopardy. Because for the first time in over ten years, there is also a tether leading away from my soul to another human being. The tether feels fragile and tenuous, and it scares the heck out of me. The desire, attraction, hope, and happiness that twisted together to make the first strands twist together with words and emotions I am afraid to give voice to. Words like…LOVE. NEED. FUTURE. I feel Evan yank on that cord, and I stumble a little, my eyes locked on his.
Evan waits patiently for my approach, a hunter stalking his prey, his body completely motionless except for the hungry way his eyes raze my body. I whimper a little, and Evan launches himself from the counter in one effortless movement, his body crashing into my own. Evan growls like the predator he is and grabs me by my hair, wrapping it around his hand in a fist and yanking my head to the side to expose my neck. His teeth graze my neck and nip at the hollow of my throat. My hair is used as leverage to tug my body even closer. I feel the heat of his bare chest, the press of his long, thick erection, and the heaviness of his arm and shoulder muscles. I instantly feel like I'm on fire.
I'm a strong, confident woman in every other aspect of my life. But in Evan's arms, all I want to do is submit. Instead of scaring me, the realization makes my blood roar in my ears and burn through my body. My moan of desire swallowed as Evan kisses me, ravaging my mouth with his tongue and lips. Soon, I completely forget why I was indignant in the first place.