(Sleep Lingering With Your Taste)

NOW

(Adena)

I wasted no time. I grabbed the bottom of my shirt and ripped it up over my head. I had to break our kiss, which I hated. That was a second wasted I’d never get back. Our lips collided again, his tongue touching mine, my body melted as though the floor beneath our feet was made of lava.

His hands against my bare skin made me shiver. I broke out in goosebumps as he went for the clasp on my bra. The kiss grew hotter, faster, implications that I had only ever dreamed about.

Evan knew how to kiss. Forcefully but not drowning me. He pulled away at the right time, letting me gasp for a breath. Our eyes would lock for a split second, flirting, and then we went right back to kissing. The kisses echoed in the small bathroom.

He unhooked my bra and his fingertips glided up my back behind my shoulders. He gently pulled at the straps of my bra, guiding it down my arms as I lowered them, letting him expose me.

When his hands touched my waist again, I shivered and jumped.

I broke the kiss so I could groan.

My head was spinning so fast. I tried so hard not to sway.

Why the fuck did I drink that wine?

I felt drunk, sloppy, and stupid.

But I felt good. Really good.

I had Evan all over me.

He pressed his body to mine, kissing me even harder, walking back until I hit the shelf behind me. I jumped and knocked stuff off the shelf.

Evan backed up a little bit, giving us just enough space to allow his hands to slide up my body and cup my breasts.

His hands were rough, strong, everything man. Everything protective. Everything I had ever fantasized about. And he was touching me. He was cupping me. Holding me. His thumbs easing over my nipples, making me sigh.

“Evan… yes…”

I finally got the nerve to reach for him.

He kissed me as I grabbed his hair. Curling tight, pulling, wanting him to go down…

I purposely broke the kiss and thrust my chest at him.

“Yes,” I whispered. “Fucking yes…”

I heard the way the word fucking came out of my mouth. I missed the u and most of the ing as my tongue felt four times its size.

Evan then slid his hands down to my waist again and straightened his arms.

“Fuck,” he said. “Dena… we can’t…”

“What?” I asked.

I stood there, topless, exposed, vulnerable.

“You’re drunk.”

“So what?”

“You’re emotional. You’re…”

“What?” I asked.

“Getting back at her. You don’t need to do that.”

I gasped. “What did you say?”

“Dena, not like that.”

I made two fists and pressed them against his chest as hard as I could.

“Get out,” I said. “Get out now.”

Evan ran a hand over his face and jaw. “Dena, listen to me.”

I grabbed for a towel behind me and opened it, covering my chest. “You’re an asshole. Why’d you even come here?”

“You think I don’t want this?”

“Then what are you doing?”

Evan closed in on me again. He put his hands against the shelf behind me. Almost smothering me. He was so sexy even though he looked so mad.

“I didn’t know about the dress,” he said. “If I did, I would have never let it happen to you. And I didn’t come here just for this… but this… you have no idea where it could go.”

“And what if I said I’m ready to go there?” I asked.

“You’re drunk,” he said. “You tell me this when you’re sober, Dena.”

“Then what?”

“Then I’ll take your broken heart, piece by piece, and put it back together. Even if it takes the rest of my life.”

I gripped his shirt with my free hand. I felt the tears fill my eyes again.

He moved closer to me and kissed me. A soft kiss. A gentle kiss. A kiss like he loved me.

But he stopped the kiss too early.

Tears fell from my eyes.

Evan crouched and picked up my shirt.

“Come here, sweetheart,” he whispered.

He put his hands to my hips and turned me around. With a quick pull, he tore the towel from my hands. It fell to the floor. He couldn’t see my breasts, even though a minute ago he was touching them.

Evan helped me put my shirt on. He pulled my hair out from under the shirt. I turned around and touched his chest.

“You know, I’ve been in love with you from the day I met you,” I whispered. “You were the forever thing in my heart, Evan. I wanted you that night, Evan. I bought that dress for you. I thought if you saw me in that dress you’d forget about Anna and want me.”

Evan swallowed hard. “Fuck, Dena…”

“But she took the dress. She looked better in it. And you went with her.”

“I didn’t know any of that,” Evan said. He reached behind him and pulled the picture out of his pocket. He unfolded it so I could see it. Then he ripped it in half. “This is what I think of it. Fuck that night. Fuck everything that happened.”

He ripped the picture two more times and threw it out.

“Evan…”

He shook his head. He took my hand and led the way from the bathroom to my bedroom. He pulled the covers back for me.

And before putting me into bed, he grabbed my hips one more time and held me.

“We have to stop meeting like this,” he said with a grin.

“I’m sorry, Evan. I thought I was doing the right thing.”

“You are. Give it time.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

“Right now, you need to sleep.”

“Are you leaving?”

“No, sweetheart. I’m not leaving.”

He guided me down to the bed. I threw my arms around his neck and pulled, demanding another kiss. And not that sappy tear filled kiss. I wanted a real kiss.

And I got it…

I led with my tongue and Evan took control a second later.

We started to breathe really hard and fast through our noses.

Yes, yes, yes… right now…

I grabbed for his right hand and forced it to my chest. It was just my shirt stopping him from touching bare skin. His hand grasped tight, leaving my heels pulling at the bed, shaking with need.

Evan broke the kiss again and jumped back. “Christ, Dena…”

My right hand touched my bottom lip. The trembling sensation going through the deepest parts of my core was nothing like I’d ever felt before.

“Goodnight, sweetheart,” he said.

“Evan,” I called out when he got to the door.

My body was in this terrible battle. The wine wanted me to sleep. My eyes were heavy. But my heart was racing. My body aching for him.

“Dena,” he said.

I opened my mouth and knew what I wanted to say. But I didn’t say it.

I turned my head and shut my eyes.

I heard the door click shut.

That’s when I found the words.

“I’m still in love with you, Evan…”