Finding Eva (Highland Creek Series) (22 page)

Aaron slumped deeper into the couch, frowning. “It’s ok. I just really like this girl and don’t want to let her go. I mean, I could really fall for this girl. Hell, I am half in love with her already. I don’t know what I am going to do come July, short of tying her ass up and making sure she stays here.” He sighed deeply, shaking his head in frustration.

Bryan snorted, kicking Aaron in the foot. “It’s not worth it if it’s forced. Trust me, I know. Although I will admit mine and Ashley’s situation was a bit different, we always knew the score, and she was always a bitch, but I tried to do right by her when she happened to get pregnant. Learn from me though, all she will do is resent you if she feels like you took her choices away and made her stay somewhere she doesn’t want to.”

Aaron kicked him back, irritated at his brother and the situation in general. “I got it, and I’m hoping that she will come back with the shit figured out about her mom. Speaking of Ash, not that I ever want to, but have you heard from her?” Bryan cringed as he often did whenever his ex-wife was brought up.

Bryan focused on peeling the label off his beer bottle while he talked. “Nah, not since she signed the papers last week. I tried to get in touch with her one last time, see if she wanted to at least see Kelly, but she was a bitch about the whole thing. I knew she was a bitch, but damn. I know this sounds bad, but I am just glad to be rid of her.” He looked up from the beer bottle, Aaron and Conner thankfully ignoring the sheen of moisture in his eyes, before he clenched his jaw and swallowed deeply. Aaron felt bad, not noticing the dark circles under his eyes, because she was so worried about Eva.

Aaron quickly moved to reassure Bryan, patting him on the back. “At least Kelly never has to worry about her being in her life. And you are a great dad, so Kelly will be fine.”

“Has she even asked about Ashley?” Conner spoke up. Everyone knew that Ashley paid little attention to Kelly when she was married to Bryan, so who knew if she even missed her mother.

Bryan shrugged. “Not really, and that is really telling. Ash never really played with her or anything, and Mom or one of the girls had her more than her own mother. She was more excited to see the girls today than she ever has been to be with Ash. I figure that I will cross that bridge when I get there. My only concern is that she is old enough to know that her mother was a bitch, and I hate that for her.”

“Damn, dude.” Aaron shook his head.

Bryan stared at Aaron pointedly. “Yeah, so when I say don’t force it, I am speaking from experience.”

Aaron nodded. “Well, if you ever want to talk about it, just let me know.”

Bryan stared out the window, pensive as always when he thought about Kelly, making Aaron wonder what the hell had happened between his brother and his wife that put that look on his face. “Thanks. You guys want to order pizza?”

Aaron knew that he wouldn’t say anything else about it, he never did, and while he respected his brother’s boundaries, he hoped that he was at least talking to someone.

Dinner was a noisy affair, especially when all the Sawyer boys got together, and Aaron was glad to just shoot the shit about anything and everything. He felt good to get the stuff about Eva off his chest, although he was a bit concerned that he was starting to sound whiny talking about his feelings. He just wanted his woman back in his arms, so she could stop hurting. He had always loved Elizabeth, but her ghost was really starting to piss him off. Beer, pizza, and a baseball game, all in all a great evening with his brothers. Still, he couldn’t help but feel like he was missing something. He tried not to look eager when his phone beeped with a text message, but he smiled when he saw Eva’s name.

Eva: Hey, handsome. How’s it going?

Aaron: Good, with my bros. You feeling better?

Eva: Much :). Thanks for understanding. I’ll fill you in when I see you.

Aaron: Anytime, babe. You back tomorrow?

Eva: Yep. Can’t wait to see you. Missed you. You better be ready for all this.

Aaron: lol. I’m always ready ;)

Eva: Promises, promises. See you tomorrow.

Aaron: I’ll be waiting.

“That your girl?”

Aaron looked up to see Conner watching him. “Yeah.” He smiled. “She wanted to see how I was doing. She said she will tell me everything tomorrow.”

“Good. Do you know if she’s heard from Gwen?” Conner gnawed on his lip nervously.

Aaron studied his brother, wondering what brought that on. “She hasn’t said, but I am sure she probably saw her when she was home. Why, what’s up with you two? You looked real chummy at the cookout and then later at Boot Scooters.” He knew that Conner was attracted to Gwen, especially given the blush that overtook his face when Aaron asked the question, but since she was married he would never mess that up. Gwen had left the same morning Eva had, and he knew his brother was headed for trouble if he tried to continue to pursue a married woman.

Conner tried to brush it off like it was no big deal. “I was just wondering. I haven’t really heard from her since she’s been back and I was curious. No reason in particular.”

“Right.” Aaron believed that like he believed cows could fly. His brother was fishing. “I thought you guys were friends. Weren’t you guys talking pretty often the past week or so?”

“Yeah.” There was that damn blush again, and that said something since Conner was rarely embarrassed.

“We are, and we had been talking all last week and then when she first got home we kept talking. Last night, though, I just asked her about her day and she texted and said she is trying to make it work with her husband so she doesn’t think talking to me is a good idea.”

He furrowed his brow, wondering why his brother was asking if they decided to be friends. “Were you guys trying to start something?”

“No, not really. We were just friends, but I get why she can’t talk to me right now. She is committed to making it work and feels like a friendship with me would be a bad thing.”

Aaron didn’t know why, unless some shit went down that they weren’t saying. He figured it was their business, and they would work it out on their own. “Damn, dude, that sucks.” Even if he didn’t know what was going on, he still felt bad about it.

“What the hell are we doing?” Bryan asked. “In a minute we are going to be swapping recipes and asking about bras. We have never been this strung out by women at the same time.”

“We can’t help it. There is something about a woman that tends to tie you up in a thousand knots that makes you want to simultaneously get free and be wrapped tighter. Women…” Aaron took a deep gulp of beer “…what the hell would we ever do without them?”

Aaron didn’t know how he got through the day, but somehow he was able to get some work done. He couldn’t wait to hear all about her trip home, but he figured she needed a little loving tonight so he spent some time setting up what he hoped would be a romantic dinner. He may have gone a little overboard, but he really wanted to make sure that she had a good time.

The doorbell rang a little after dark. Aaron opened it, ready to have her tell him everything. He was a bit taken aback when she launched herself into his arms, her lips claiming his in desperation. Aaron quickly gripped her, his hands bunched in the back of her shirt, as he deepened the kiss.

“Hey, you.” His lips brushed hers when he finally pulled away.

“Hey back.” She nibbled the corner of his lips. “I missed you.” She didn’t stop touching him, rubbing her hands through his hair.

“Did you have a good trip?” She nodded her head and leaned closer to nibble the side of his ear.

“Can we talk later?” She breathed in his ear, licking the shell of his ear, causing Aaron to shiver. “I want to forget.” Although this was not what he wanted—Aaron wanted to know what happened—all the blood rushed from his head to his penis, and he stopped thinking about his quest for information. She half-pulled, half-dragged him into the living room, pushing him down on the couch before she unbuttoned his pants and freed his member. Aaron didn’t know what she wanted until she leaned down and licked the length of him, causing him to jerk up before he gripped the back of his couch.

“Babe,” came out in a groan. He wanted to touch her, but Eva clearly had other ideas as she continued her ministrations. He fisted his hands in her hair as she cupped his balls, massaging them, as she continued to lick the length of him. He felt himself getting close as she licked the precum, and he tried to give her a chance to pull back before he blew his load.

“Babe, I’m close,” he said, pulling her back slightly, but she shook her head and continued to suck.

He gripped her head and rocked his hips to match her movements, feeling the pressure building as he shot his load into her mouth. She seemed to be on a mission, taking it all as she sucked him dry, and he leaned back and groaned her name loudly. He lay there unable to move before she kissed his now flaccid penis and tucked it into his boxers before looking up and smiling at him. Aaron held out his hand and somehow found the strength to pull her up so she could rest her head on his chest, reaching to kiss his jaw. He rubbed her back, still trying to come down from the amazing orgasm she had just given him.

“Not that I’m complaining…” he kissed her hair and continued to touch her, not getting enough after she had been gone for a couple of days “…but what was that about.”

She laughed softly. “I don’t know, I just wanted to. I missed you,” she leaned her head back as he moved down and kissed her deeply.

“Missed you too. Wanna talk about it?” He stroked Eva’s hair, not wanting to stop touching her.

She crinkled her nose as she stared at him from where she lay on his chest. “Yes, but not tonight. I just want to lose myself in you for a couple of hours.”

His mouth fell open, brown eyes widening. “I thought you said it wasn’t bad?”

“It’s not, but it was harder than I thought, and I am emotionally wrung out. Talk tomorrow?” She looked so cute he couldn’t tell her no. Plus, he had missed holding her and knew whatever she had to say could wait.

“Of course.” He smiled and kissed her before scooping her up and carrying her upstairs to make love to her.

E
va stretched sleepily, glancing to the left when she hit a hard body.
Aaron
, she thought with a smile, who made good on his promise to make love to her all night. Her body ached in the best places because he always seemed to know what she needed. He anticipated her needs before she did, and she had never had a more generous lover. Not wanting to think about the fact that it was the best sex she had in her life, she decided to wake her lover so she could get some more of his delicious body.

She studied her prey, not knowing where to begin. Aaron was sprawled out on his back, his head on his pillow with his arms and legs spread wide. Eva kissed his chest, looking up to see if he responded. Nothing. She decided to kiss farther down, loving the way that his muscles rippled as she moved. She reached down and gripped him and could feel him harden in her hand. She looked up to see him smiling down at her and couldn’t help the grin that covered her face.