Evan's Addiction (13 page)

     I was both pleased and bothered by this; pleased because she was
obviously sexually agitated around me, but it bothered me that she was always
running from it…from me.

     After hearing about her life I understood Shaw a little better,
why she was so snarky and skittish. She wasn’t a person who let many people
into her private life, she didn’t like opening up about herself, and it was all
a product of her upbringing.

     Knowing about her crappy life hadn’t dampened any of my desire for
her. I wanted to fuck Shaw; every way possible for a few weeks, maybe several.
She had me so twisted up with lust I could barely think and that wasn’t like
me. Women didn’t muddle my wits; my corporeal response to women stayed separate
from my mind. Shaw stimulated me more than just physically; she also got my
mind energized.

     Damn, but that female had me unsettled. For some strange reason,
every time she put her eyes on me I felt…charged…alive—like someone attached
spark plugs to me lighting up all my neurons.

     She was exceptionally intelligent and I wanted to share more than
droll superficial banter with her. I truly liked Shaw, more than any of the
other females I’d hooked-up with. I wanted to know things about her I hadn’t
with the others, and it wasn’t because she’d told me she’d been left at a
McDonald’s as an infant…my chest had hurt for her when she’d revealed that and
acted like it meant nothing…or because she’d been shafted on getting adopted…and
again acted like it was no big deal…or when she’d told me about her shitass
waste of life foster family.

     Shit, she’d had a run of bad luck.

     However, Shaw had been blessed with an uncanny ability with
computers and was making something of her life, and everything she’d been
through had probably added to what was an already remarkable person that I
wanted to know better. And after we slaked our lust for each other I could see
Shaw and I staying friends afterwards.

     The idea of the two of us slipping into a distant association like
my other relationships was unexpectedly and exceedingly dissatisfying.

     It was nearly eight-thirty when I pulled into the driveway of our enormous
rented Victorian residence. I parked behind Landon’s vehicle. He’d been
spending his nights back here since the bachelor party, leaving the house he
now lived in with Maya soon after his daughter was put to bed…and that he had a
daughter still stunned me sometimes. He said he wanted to build up some heavy
sexual tension for the honeymoon. I didn’t think they needed more; they were
always all over each other every time I saw them.

     I walked into the living room to find Nic, Carrie, and Landon
relaxing and watching television. I still needed to hit the small gym we’d
established in one of the extra rooms to work off the built-up lust and
frustration from today but I decided to hit the couch first.

     Wearing a smirk Nic gave me a once over. “Another long day
grinding the wheel?”

     “Some of us can’t live off our trust funds sitting around watching
television all day.” I ribbed good-naturedly. I knew he wasn’t being a complete
slacker. He working on getting his new sporting line started.

     I did question Nic about Shaw’s dating history and all he’d been
able to tell me was that no guys had ever shown up at the apartment and Shaw
had never talked about any. That information had been both informative but
useless. Shaw was the type of person to keep things to herself, possibly even
from Carrie.

     Nic did give me one piece of interesting information; that fact
that Shaw had furnished him with a thick folder of data for his new business.
That she’d done this from what appeared to be the goodness of her heart
was…revealing.

     She was a softy under all that attitude.

     “I didn’t sit around watching television
all
day. Carrie
got here at twelve and then at six and we…” Carrie, blushing hotly, elbowed Nic
in the stomach interrupting I’m certain what would have been a PG version of
their activities. Nic never shared anything of their sex life.

     He laughed and squeezed his arms around her making her squeal
softly.

     Landon shook his head at them but his expression was slightly
forlorn. He was evidently missing Maya. He switched his attention to me. “How’s
Shaw doing at finding our thief?”

     “She has high expectations of finding where the program was
uploaded tomorrow.” I informed him.

     A surprised expression crossed his face. “Already. I’m going to
head over tomorrow then. I want to be there for that. I wasn’t sure she really
had the expertise to do it, but she must have some mad skills on a computer.”
Landon’s tone was impressed.

     I grinned, experiencing that proud sensation for her again. “I
have no idea what she’s doing but what she does do looks mega impressive. It’s
like watching a magician do a trick that you have no idea how they pulled off.”

     “Did you give her a ride home again?” Nic asked with a curiously
probing look. 

     “Yes.”

     “You’re late again. Did you stop and get something to eat?”

     Nic sudden display of fatherly tendencies had my brows knitting.
“Yes dad, but I took her straight home after, I promise.”

     He frowned. “Shaw’s a gray area for what I think you’re
contemplating. She’s Carrie’s friend and mine; which means if Shaw gets hurt,
then Carrie gets upset, and it ends with me kicking your ass.”

     Carrie smiled smugly at me which was slightly surprising since
Carrie wasn’t keen on violence.

     “When was the last time I upset a girl. I’m not like you or
Landon…” They each gave me a scowl, but they knew I was speaking the truth.
Both of them had been the proverbial bad-boy man-whore. “How you used to be
like.” I amended. “I’m nice to the girls I’m with, and we end our associations
amicably. And Shaw is one girl that can take of herself. I’ve never met anyone
tougher.”

     “You know what they say about hard exteriors.” Nic warned.

     Everyone had varying degrees of soft centers, but I think Shaw had
a realistic view of what we could have. She seemed pretty damn worldly and it
wasn’t surprising with what she’d lived through. My chest pinched again at her
story, and her brave face.

     “Why the sudden caution?” I asked curiously.

     His lip twisted. “I really didn’t think she’d give you the time of
day, but…” He left it hanging.

     This was interesting. I leaned forward. “What did she say?” I
looked at Carrie because it was more likely Shaw had spilled to her.

     Nic was the one who answered though. “Ohh…Shaw was vehement in her
disinterest in you. Extremely vehement.” He stressed with a smirk.

     I grinned with him.

     “What are you both grinning about? Evan, you better be nice to
Shaw. Nic won’t have to kick your butt because I will if you hurt her.” Carrie
growled cutely.  

     I raised my hands in innocence. “Why does everyone think I’m going
to hurt the girl? I’m one of the nicest guys around. I like her and just want
to have some fun with her.” As soon as those words left my mouth I felt a stab
of discomfort in my gut; they just didn’t sit right. 

     “Just…be nice,” Carrie sputtered. “And you better not lie to her.
She hates liars, and jerks, and…and assholes.”

     The three of us gaped at her in exaggerated surprise. Profanity
from Carrie was like a unicorn fart. 

     “I promise I won’t lie to her, but I think she actually likes it when
I’m a bit jerky and assholy to her.” I replied with a laugh.

     Carrie’s mouth twitched. “Those attributes are like a coin;
there’s an amusing side, and then there’s an awful side. Make sure you stick to
the amusing side.”

     “I always do.” I assured her standing up. “Now I’m going to go get
in a quick workout before my butt adheres to this chair.”

     Landon stood with me. “I’m coming with you; I need to exorcise
some frustration as well.”

     I snorted inwardly wishing my frustration was only from a couple
of days of no sex. If this weekend didn’t go like I was hoping with Shaw I
might have to set my sights on more willing action, because I was close to
busting a nut.

     Once more, unease settled heavy in my gut. I frowned at the
atypical feeling and rationalized it as a result of having waited for Shaw for
almost a year. My cock was eagerly looking forward to her, it didn’t want to
settle.

∞                   
∞                    ∞

     I waited impatiently for the elevator to reach the top floor. Dan
and Landon were meeting with Landon’s mother who was making a big fuss about
not being invited to the wedding. Why the woman thought she would be invited I
can’t imagine. What she’d done was pretty unforgivable. Landon had basically
cut her from his life because of it, and it was also why Dan had divorced her. 

     Since they were gone I was in-charge and had been called down to
the plant because of a problem. A part had broken and while normally the plant
manager would have handled it this component was particularly expensive and I
had to sign-off on it before he could order it. The manager could have come up
to me but I needed to get out from behind my desk and away from Shaw for a
short while. Being in the same room with her, watching her, and not being able to
touch was hell on my nerves…and dick.

     But now I was eager to get back. It was messed up.

     The elevator opened and I walked briskly past the secretary with a
smile toward my office door.

     However, Diane raised her hand. “Mr. Micheals…”

     Whatever Diane was about to say was interrupted by... “Evan?”

     I turned in surprise at my mother’s voice. She was rising from one
of the chairs in the secretary’s plush sitting area.

     “Mom, what are you doing here?” I changed directions and enfolded
her in a hug. She squeezed her arms around me tightly.

     “I’ve missed you, and since Mohammad won’t come to the mountain
then the mountain must come to Mohammad.” Keeping hold of my arms she leaned
back to look me over. “You look good, and your mouth, hands and legs appear in
good working order, so why haven’t you called more or come to see me lately?”  

     She gave me a mock glare but I could see a hint of sadness behind
it, and that had me skimming her frame as well in automatic concern. Jasmine
Meadows was a beautiful woman at forty-one years old. She didn’t look past her
mid-thirties with her light brown shoulder length hair, bright blue eyes, clear
smooth skin only slightly lined near her eyes from of all the smiles she’d
given me throughout the years, and her lithe figure kept in shape with regular
exercise. She was in an expensive light summer dress that showed it to its advantage.

     My mother may have ended up as a trophy wife but she was a great
mom, and that sadness had me on alert. I guided her into the office for privacy
as Diane looked on with interest, but once through the door I abruptly recalled
that Shaw was on this side. I glanced toward her area and was surprised to see
she wasn’t there. She must be either in the restroom, or she’d stepped out. She
better not have snuck away. She’d been extra restless around me today and it
had me hopeful.

     I guided her further into the room. “Mom, I’m sorry that we
haven’t communicated as much this summer, but I’ve been really busy with this
new job and I’m working a lot of overtime learning the in’s and out’s of everything.”

     She sighed. “I understand that, but this is the first summer where
you haven’t come home and it’s harder than I thought.”

     I narrowed my eyes on her. “Kyle’s not being an ass because I’m
not there to slave for him, is he?”

     I had never called Kyle dad. He’d never earned that title from me.

     Now asshole, he’d unquestionably earned that one.

     My first summer back from college he’d had me working shit jobs
without pay under his other sons in his businesses. He knew how astute I was
and he’d wanted to utilize it. I’d grudgingly accepted it because he was my
mom’s husband and he had provided for us through the years. What bothered me
was that he knew how close mom and I were and it was something he’d exploited
throughout the years; with both of us. He’d also never put his other sons
though any of the same shit, or treated them with such dick’ish imperiousness. The
worst of it was that I had a feeling he was cheating on my mother and that made
dealing with him all that harder.

     At least I hadn’t had the added weight of him paying for my
college. I’d gotten a scholarship because I’d been valedictorian and also
because of lacrosse.

     Mom’s gaze flickered telling me he was indeed being a dick. “He
was disappointed that you decided to work for someone else.”

     I snorted derisively. “I’m sure he is. He lost his whipping boy.”

     I’d put up with a lot of bullshit from that man because he was
married to my mother. She had implored me to deal with it just until I
graduated. She knew I didn’t want to work for him and she was fine with that,
but she’d infused in me that we all had to deal with certain hardships before
earning our payoffs.

     “He better get over it quickly. I don’t want him harping on you
forever because if it.” I didn’t like the idea of him bitching to her because I
wasn’t slaving for him.

     Her expression turned nervous and she paced away. “Actually, I’ve
been thinking about…separating. I think I need to put some space between us and
get some perspective on my life.”

     I was stunned at her announcement because it was coming out of
nowhere, but I was also secretly thrilled. Kyle was just as autocratic with her
as he was with me.

     “Six months ago you said you loved him and was happy…What happened
since then?” I didn’t really want to question why she was leaving him because I
thought it would be good for her, but the disclosure was so out of the blue I
couldn’t ignore it.