Engaging Evelyn (Blissful Bets #1) Read online

  Evelyn’s mind screamed. No way was this possible. Words were jumbling around her head a million miles a minute. She wanted to believe both of these men were playing a trick on her, but they hadn’t talked to each other in the last few minutes. How could this happen? How was this possible in today’s world and no one knew about it?

  “Stephen, it doesn’t matter who told me,” Evelyn said, trying to get control of her voice. “It just matters that you confirmed it.” Again, her thoughts searched for some logical sentence for her to say. If it was true and something he had done to her was making her unable to let him go, it was beyond cruel. “Release the bond. I can’t believe you would make it impossible for me to move on after all this time. That’s what it’s there for, isn’t it? To keep us bonded to each other. You’re a werewolf, yes?”

  “Yes, I am.” Silence filled Evelyn’s ear. How would she know if he released whatever bond they were talking about? Would she feel something upon it happening? Looking for something that might indicate what she was missing, she jerked the robe open. Creamy ivory skin was perfectly flawless. The only “mark” she had was…the bite Stephen had given her when they first started dating. It was barely noticeable, and just looked like a scar of teeth marks.

  “Release the bond, Stephen! No more fucking with my life. It’s not fair to me. You’ve hurt me enough. I can’t do this anymore!”

  “I will not release the bond. Not until you give me another chance,” he breathed out heavily. “I didn’t put you through all of this just to let you go. My love for you never wavered in the last two years. Can’t you see why I had to lie to you? I’m not letting you go, now or ever.”

  Evelyn screamed and slammed the phone shut. This was not how things were supposed to happen. Yes, she loved Stephen, but how much of it was her and how much was the bond that was holding them together? Brandon had mentioned a guy named Ayden. Maybe he would know what was happening. It was about time she found out for herself.

  Maybe once the damn thing was gone, she could leave town. Running away from reality seemed pretty good about now. Werewolves and vampires! She still couldn’t believe it. Damn, if she wasn’t about to go into a full-blown anxiety attack.

  Could she possibly ignore the thoughts while she dropped off Bill’s key? There’d only been one way she’d known to block out the pain. The answer was one she was starting to dislike.

  Chapter 10

  Evelyn squeezed the red tag tightly in her palm. The metal door loomed before her. She couldn’t decide whether to knock or just go in. Well, shit. She had to make up her mind before someone she knew came driving by. True, she was close to the ferry. As long as no one came this way, she’d be safe, unless of course whoever came driving by was heading for Aransas Pass.

  She could always leave the key at the front desk, but that was chickenshit, no way. Comfort was something she needed after finding out the news from Stephen, and Bill could take her mind off things. Why had it come to this? Why was it that she used other men to numb the pain?

  The key slid in the lock, and Evelyn eased her way inside and shut the door quietly behind her. The shower was running, a soft splashing of water on porcelain. She dropped her purse on the bedside table and, resting against the headboard, crossed her feet at her ankles. Thoughts of what she’d just learned made her breathing almost stop. No, she wouldn’t think about it!

  Here, she would forget and take charge, like her old self. Unlike with Brandon, she would do as she pleased and dominate. She needed to be back in control. Nothing else was an option. Her sanity pleaded for normal, and unfortunately, to her, this was it.

  Looking down, she took in her appearance. Today, she wasn’t dressed like she was the previous day. No business clothes, just a pair of tight-fitting jeans and a long-sleeved University of Texas T-shirt. If one was from Texas, it was a rule—you had to have at least one Longhorn shirt in your closet or you were officially not a Texan. Evelyn had about eight.

  The water shut off, and it took everything in her to suppress a smile. Damn it, if she wasn’t having fun trying to forget. Breaking and entering was so much more exciting than she would have thought.

  Like a golden god, Bill walked out wearing just a towel low around his slim waist. The muscles in his chest rippled with each step. Evelyn traced her lips with her tongue while she watched the tiny beads of water run down his body. Hell, if she didn’t want to go and lick them off.

  Bill stopped, two feet out the door when he noticed her. The look of shock lighting his face couldn’t have been more amusing.

  “I didn’t really think you would come back,” he said, staring at her in awe.

  Evelyn raised an eyebrow but, other than that, kept her emotions off her face. “Are you expecting company? I could just leave.” She cleared her throat, trying her best to sound at least a little seductive.

  “No, no company. Please don’t leave,” Bill pleaded.

  Well, that was a little panicky. What was the matter with him? He couldn’t be too lonely.

  Shit, he’d already fucked all her friends.

  “I think you left something in my purse.” Evelyn held up the key by the red tag and let it dangle from her fingertips.

  Bill looked at it and then back to her. “You can’t blame a guy for hoping.”

  A smile lit her face. It was about to get fun. She was a truthful person—was Bill? “So how was your night? Did you do anything interesting?”

  He fidgeted under her penetrating stare. “I went out.”

  “That’s all. Did you meet anyone… appealing?”

  He smiled. He actually fucking smiled. That only told her one thing. He wasn’t going to lie. Good boy.

  “Yeah, I met someone. She was very cute. Fucked real good, but she wasn’t you.”

  Evelyn let her lips twist before she could stop them. “I’ll be sure to tell her you thought she fucked real well.”

  His smile disappeared instantly. “You mean you know her?”

  A wicked smile crossed Evelyn’s face. “Oh, Julie? Yeah, she’s one of my best friends, along with Melissa and Sarah. I think you might remember them, too.”

  “What the hell has been going on? You and your friends used me?” Bill asked, shocked.

  She could tell that he was hurt. Evelyn hadn’t meant to hurt him. Maybe she was more twisted than she had thought. “For pleasure, of course. You don’t mind, do you? I’m really sorry if I just hurt your feelings. You have to know, I’m not good with emotions.”

  He slowly shrugged, lying at the end of the bed, looking at her. “I guess I don’t mind, although it’s kind of weird for best friends to be sharing a man. Don’t you think?”

  “Not really, my friends and I don’t mind.” The more she looked at his body, the more she wanted to take off his towel. Yet, she wanted it to be Brandon wearing the towel or maybe Stephen. Oh shit, that thought had to go. She needed to be running away from them, not toward them.

  “When are you leaving, Bill?”

  His head fell to the bed, blond curls resting on his bicep. Evelyn threw a pillow at him.

  He smiled, caught it, folded it in half, and continued staring at her. “I leave tonight, back to Houston.”

  Her head nodded as if somehow she already knew this. “It was a pleasure meeting you,

  Bill.”

  Faster than she could blink, he bound across the bed and was hovering above her, He

  pulled her beneath his now fully nude body. Tightness made her nipples tingle at the thought of his chest pressed up against hers.

  “Let me have you again before I leave, please.” His lips were hovering so close to hers.

  All she would have to do was lean forward the tiniest fraction of an inch and their lips would touch.

  “One more question.”

  She looked into his eyes. Now, as they were filled with emotion, it was hard not to get lost in them.

  “Ask anything, just let me have you.” Bill breathed into her face. Mint wasn’t anywhere near invigorati
ng as peppermint.

  “Do you act this way with all women? What is it about me that you like?”

  He looked away from her eyes. Something that looked like raw pain filled his features. She knew that expression all too well. Her heart went out to him. “Tell me,” she whispered, using her fingertips to make him face her again.

  “Grace, she was my wife. You look so much like her. I can’t help it, I’m sorry. I just miss her. I understand if you want to leave now.”

  “What happened to her?” Evelyn prayed that she hadn’t passed away. That would make her feel like the biggest monster in the world. Yes, it was wrong to pity people, but she could see the amount of pain he held inside. She knew that pain, and she wanted to take it away.

  “Grace divorced me. Said I worked too much and she needed someone who was there more. I travel a lot. She’s already remarried…”

  Evelyn’s heart broke for him. The softness of her lips brushed against his. “I’ll give you this because I know how it feels for your heart to break, but remember one thing. I’m doing this for your desire, your companionship. I’m not your wife. I want your eyes open and on me as much as possible.”

  It made no sense what she was doing. He wanted to fuck her because she reminded him of his wife, yet Evelyn wanted him to know it was her. Great going, Evelyn, you make great fucking sense.

  “Did Julie make you come?” She couldn’t help but ask. Damn, her voice was going out again.

  He shook his head no. That had surprised her. Julie did have dark hair. Maybe the blond

  highlights threw off the appeal. Oh well, fuck it. Who was she to judge? Didn’t she search for pieces of Stephen in other men?

  Wrapping her fingers in his baby-fine curls, she pulled his lips to hers. They were so soft, yet firm. Bill still felt tense. Evelyn let her tongue brush across his lower lip and sucked it into her mouth. His groan pushed through her throat, and the weight of his chest finally settled against her.

  True to his word, Bill was watching her, just as she told him to. Never before had she tried kissing someone with her eyes open. Evelyn wasn’t sure she liked it so much. It was way too intimate for her at the moment. For some reason, it felt right kissing Brandon, and knowing it was him. Knowing she was kissing the man lying on top of her just wasn’t the same.

  “Take my clothes off, Bill.”

  He obeyed, easing them off at a slow pace and tracing her body with his fingertips. She let him run them up the insides of her legs until he lowered his head against her pussy. Evelyn moaned, feeling him separate her folds with the pads of his thumbs.

  The first lick was slow and gentle, from her opening to her clit. He moved back down, inserted his tongue inside of her, and moved it in a circular motion.

  Evelyn buried her fingers in his hair. The moans poured out of her while he began to thrust his tongue, putting pressure on her clit at the same time. With a near silent scream, she pulled him up to her lips and kissed him deeply, tasting herself on his tongue. Sucking his tongue into her mouth, she felt him groan all the way into her chest.

  Not wanting to take her eyes from him, she reached for her purse. Protection was something she was never without. She was always safe. The purse fell over, its contents spilling all over the small table and the floor. Evelyn felt the package, reached for it, and opened it as fast as she could. His cock rested heavily on her lower stomach. Wetness from his excitement let her know he was ready.

  Evelyn slid the condom on him and felt him plunge inside of her. The majority of the time, she was on top. She liked the control, but today, she let him lead. This was, after all, for him.

  Bill stared into her eyes, never looking away from her face. She almost wished she hadn’t asked him. Once again, things felt way too personal.

  The length of his cock surged deeper at his increased pace. A moan came out at her when he hit her sensitive spot. Evelyn wrapped her legs around him and dug her nails into his back, not scratching but definitely leaving indentions. She could feel herself grasp around him at the pressure building.

  Evelyn’s tightness was being pulled with every slight withdrawal of his cock. It was sending little currents to her core, pushing her closer to the moment that her orgasm would explode and she would lose complete control.

  Bill’s hips dipped, causing the lower part of his stomach to brush her clit. The time was now, and her orgasm exploded. Evelyn dug her nails deeper, urged him to go faster. He did, with hard, swift thrusts that put her over the edge into pure bliss.

  It wasn’t long before he was convulsing on top of her, sweat causing their bodies to stick slightly to each other.

  In one swift movement, Bill collapsed next to her on the bed. Surprised, she turned on her side, looking at his features. His eyes were still on her, but a smile was starting to form on his lips.

  A curl fell across his cheek. Evelyn twisted the silky hair around her finger until a frown stretched across her face, and she tucked the hair behind his ear.

  “Thank you, Evelyn.”

  The words, whispered so softly, still had the power to flip her stomach. They held so much meaning, so much pain, buried underneath it all that she couldn’t say anything. She just nodded her head and gave him a tight smile.

  If she was anything, she was good at slipping out the moment things got too serious. Evelyn stood, grabbing her clothes. She could take a shower at home. Right now, she just wanted to leave.

  “I should go. Have a safe trip back to Houston.”

  Bill smiled with heavy lids, still in such a relaxed state that he didn’t sit up. Evelyn slid her clothes on as fast as she could without looking like she was trying to escape some sort of fire that had spontaneously erupted in the room.

  “I guess you won’t be giving me your number?”

  Near-silent laughter poured out of her before she could stop it. “I’m sorry, Bill. No, I don’t think that’s a good idea. You know where to find me if you ever come back. The Martini Bar is one of our haunts. We’re there every weekend. I really do hope I see you again.”

  He nodded, laying back his head. Bill’s eyes closed and the lashes cast shadows on the tops of his defined cheeks. Evelyn took one last look and piled everything into her purse that had been dumped out. Without looking back, she left.

  Three was now back down to two. Shit. She liked having none better. At least the odds of her getting hurt in the long run, wasn’t a risk. Brandon, she wasn’t so worried about. He would be gone before long, she was guessing, but that didn’t eliminate Stephen.

  What the hell was she going to do about him? Evelyn’s mind blanked. When in doubt, sleep on it. Yeah, right. Why did she feel she was going to be just as fucked on that decision tomorrow as she was today?

  Chapter 11

  Brandon clenched his fist from the sofa as he watched Stephen burst through his door. The man had serious issues, but Brandon wasn’t afraid of him. There was no way Stephen alone could take him down. Brandon had been a vampire for far too long to be outsmarted by a werewolf. If it had been Ayden or Trevor, then that would have been another story.

  Ayden and Trevor had been friends of his for weeks. They had met at a club called Essence, toting their lovely Nicole with them. Wow, she was gorgeous. Evelyn’s and her resemblance was uncanny. Nicole was exactly who he had thought he was looking at before he realized it was his Evelyn.

  Stephen’s panting brought him out of his thoughts.

  “Why in the hell did you tell her? Now she wants me to remove the bond. It wasn’t your place to tell,” Stephen growled.

  “Oh, come on, Steve,” Brandon said, smiling as Stephen stiffened at the name. “Do you really think it’s fair to drag her along when she’s been so unhappy for the last two years? Do you have any idea what she’s been through? What do you think Ayden would do to you if he knew what you have done? Ayden is very serious when it comes to mates. You should know this.”

  “It’s none of your fucking business, or Ayden’s, what I do with my mate. Evelyn is
mine. Do you understand that? I’m not about to relinquish my mark just so she can run off with some fucking bloodsucker. I felt you take her blood. What does she think about that? Did she enjoy it?”

  Brandon didn’t move. Evelyn didn’t know, but what would she think if she did? “Did you enjoy it, Stephen? Is that why you’re so upset?”

  Stephen studied Brandon’s face. “She doesn’t remember, does she? You did something to her. That’s why I got a bad migraine this morning. You fucked with her head, didn’t you?”

  “Do you really want her to remember? Think about it, Stephen. You may have told her what I am, but what happens if she remembers a bite? Are you willing to let your mate be turned into a vampire? I’ll happily do it—perfect sex slave,” Brandon said, narrowing his eyes.

  Stephen growled, and they were flying into the living room wall before Brandon could blink. Damn, Stephen was quicker than he gave him credit for. With a bone-crunching hit, Stephen punched him in the mouth. Good thing he didn’t feel it, although he could taste the blood on his tongue.

  “You will not touch her again. If you do, I’ll kill you. Do you hear me?” Stephen yelled into his face.

  Brandon laughed, feeling the blood trail down his chin. Stephen’s eyes were glowing a vibrant blue. He was close to shifting, which, any other day, would have been fun to fight, but not with Evelyn so near. If he killed Stephen, she’d go through extreme pain at the break of their bond by his death.

  “I can’t promise you that, Stephen. You see, I have my own thing going with Evelyn that I can’t just walk away from. If you’re smart, you’ll stay clear of me.” Brandon threw him against the other wall. Stephen’s body left an imprint. Great, this was going to cost a fortune.

  Both of them were running at each other when a yell stopped them.

  “What in the fuck do you both think you are doing,” Evelyn hoarsely screamed. “I can’t believe this shit. I’m gone for an hour, and you go at it like fucking high school kids. Stephen, look at your uniform. It’s covered in white now. And if you think you’re getting out of paying for the damage to Brandon’s walls, you’re sadly mistaken.”