Shadows (30 page)

"Eve, come sit with me. I want to talk to you
about Theron."

"Oh, I brought a photo album for you to look
at, but I forgot it in the foyer."

"It's fine. Evan, please see to the
album."

Evan stands, briefly glancing at me, and
leaves reluctantly to get the album. I take a seat on the leather
sofa next to Isa. She grabs a box of tissues from beside her.
Handing them to me, she takes my hand. "Just in case."

I try to smile, but I can't. I'm a nervous
wreck. My stomach is doing backflips, and I'm now regretting eating
so much. "Did you know who I was when we first met?"

"No, I had no idea he had found you. I knew
you were someone special though, because he had never brought a
girl here before, not even the whore he was forced to be engaged to
before."

Her words pierce my thoughts. "What do you
mean forced?"

"I was hoping he would tell you, before this
all blew up in his face, but he wouldn't listen. He was so intent
on not upsetting you. I'm sure you know he is not his father's
biggest fan."

"He's mentioned it."

"Thomas was very jealous when Theron was born.
Theron had all of his mother's attention, it didn't sit well with
Thomas. As Theron grew, so did Thomas' jealousy. When Angela
starting getting sick, Thomas was lost. He blames Theron for taking
her energy and overworking her. Poor Theron was just a child, he
couldn't understand why his father was so angry with him all the
time. Then Angela was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia when
Theron was twelve. She did her best to fight it, but the last few
months were the worst on Theron. She died when he was only
fourteen. He was completely heartbroken, and became a mere shadow
of the boy I knew and loved. Thomas blamed Theron for everything,
and sent him away to boarding school."

"That's just awful."

"Yes, well, his father is an asshole. Anyways,
Theron went to college and received his business degree. His father
had been seeing a therapist, and it was suggested he make amends
with Theron. So Theron, being the sweet boy he is, didn't turn down
his father when he offered him a position at his company. What
Theron nor I knew at the time was Thomas' true intentions. He hired
Theron so he could make it appear Theron was to eventually take
over the company. Thomas had a business merger he desperately
wanted. He couldn't offer the man, what he was asking. However, the
man had a beautiful daughter and Thomas had Theron. So, he arranged
a business deal with Theron being included. Theron would marry the
daughter, and in turn she would eventually inherit some of the
company as well."

"Are you serious? Who uses their kid as a
business deal?"

"Well, that's just one of the many reasons why
he's an asshole. Theron and the girl dated for a while, and
eventually proposed to her. He was under the assumption she loved
him. He was wrong. He later found out about the deal, and when he
questioned her about it, she didn't deny it. She knew all along of
the arrangement. He was furious. He immediately called off the
engagement, sold his stocks in the company, and left for two years
traveling around the world. He would send me postcards to let me
know he was okay. I had a heart attack last fall, and somehow his
father found him. Theron came to stay with me, to make sure I was
okay. I didn't need his help, but I loved having him around.
Eventually, I gave him a job working for my company. He works for
me, but at home. Thomas doesn't know of my company or that Theron
works for me. I'm going to keep it that way as long as I
can."

"That's just crazy. This all seems so
insane."

Evan appears in the doorway, clearing his
throat. "Your book, Miss Davidson."

“
Please, just call me Eve.” Evan
doesn’t say a word. He just stands there holding the book out for
me. I take it from his grasp and hand it over to Isa. "This is a
photo album my friend Matt gave me. I loved him very much, he was
one of my best friends. He's always been so good at helping me. I
think this is his way of helping me now." Isa holds the book open,
and turn to the pages with boy in the sunglasses. "I know it's him,
but I need you to confirm it for me. We've met before, haven't we?
I didn't remember Theron when we met. If I had seen his eyes when
we were younger, I'm sure I would have immediately recognized him.
I've dreamt of the boy with sunglasses before. I always thought
they were just dreams, until recently. Then I start putting all the
pieces together. They aren't dreams, they are memories."

Isa wipes a tear from her cheek. I don't want
to upset her, but I need to make sure I know everything before I
come back to him. "That's my sweet boy. He would never take those
damn glasses off. That's the summer his mom died. He never
mentioned your name, but he would talk day and night about the girl
he met at the beach. He named you beautiful. You were his first
true friend. You knew nothing about him and accepted him for who he
was. You changed his world." Reaching up, Isa grabs my hand. "When
I heard him call you, beautiful, that's when I knew who you were.
I'm sorry he didn't tell you. He can be such a stubborn ass
sometimes."

There's a commotion in the hallway. Isa and I
both turn our attention to the doors. The doors open and my world
falls apart. Theron stands in the room, his fists clenched at his
sides, trying to catch his breath. "What the fuck is going
on?"

I look over to Isa and back to Theron. Isa is
obviously as shocked as I am to see him.

"I find out from Robert that she's here. When
I ask Evan about it, I'm told not to come in here. He tried to
block me from opening these doors. What the fuck is all
this?"

I'm frozen still, standing in front of Isa. I
can't move any part of my body, let alone speak. He's furious. I've
never seen him this angry before, even when it involved his
dad.

"Neither of you are going to say anything?
You, I expect sneaky shit from. It's who you are." He points to
Isa, then slowly approaches me. I still can't move. I'm mentally
pleading with my legs for them to run, but they ignore me. "But,
you…I never thought you would be capable of hiding from
me."

A soft whisper escapes my lips, "I wasn't
hiding from you."

He steps closer, his hands brush my cheek.
Heat curses through my body. I can feel my heart thumping in my
chest. Traitor. "Then what do you call this?"

"I don't know. I'm just trying to figure
everything out on my own. I want to see everything
clearly."

"My love for you is clear." He holds my face
in his hand, stroking my cheeks with his thumb. "How clear do you
need it to be?"

"You lied to me."

"No, I didn't and you wouldn't let me
explain."

"You kept things from me, it's the same
thing."

"Is it?"

I'm at a loss for words, his touch has me
frozen in my place, and my heart is pounding in my ears. I want to
feel him so badly. "Kiss me,” I whisper. Our eyes meet as he leans
his head down, slowly meeting my lips with his. His touch is so
addicting, it scorches me, leaving me desperate for more. Wrapping
my hands around the back of his neck, I pull him closer me. His
hands twist in my hair, tipping my head back allowing him complete
control of our movements. He slowly breaks the kiss, resting his
forehead against mine, and looks me in the eyes. His eyes are
swimming with emotion. I run my fingers over his stubble to make
sure he is real.

"Is this not clear enough for you? Tell me you
don't feel this. Tell me, and I'll leave you alone."

"It's not that simple."

"It is and you fucking know it. You are
overthinking all of this. Just stop it, come home with me where you
belong."

I want to, I so badly want to go with him. My
body wants to, my heart wants to, but my mind is so confused and
hazy. I can't tell which way is up anymore. "I can't." I look
around for Isa, but it seems she has escaped the room without me
knowing. She really is sneaky. "Theron."

"What, Eve, what's keeping you from
me?"

"I don't know. I think I should
go."

"I'll drive you."

"No, its fine Evan can give me a
ride."

"He's with my gram. Please, Eve, just let me
do this for you."

His eyes are pleading with me. His brown one
is almost completely gold, and contrasts with his bright green one.
It's mesmerizing and once again he holds me in a trance. My body
and heart betray me as the words leave my lips. "Okay."

Chapter 18

N
either of us spoke on
the drive back to Robert's. I wasn’t sure what to say. I know he
wants forgiveness, but I'm not ready for that yet. Theron is
sitting on the futon in my room. His feet are spread and his head
hangs in his hands between his knees. I'm standing, staring at him.
Never in a million years, would I have pictured tonight ending like
this. When he pulled in the driveway, he just looked at me. I
opened my door and walked into the house. He followed me. I
couldn't tell him to leave, my voice and body will not cooperate
with my mind.

"What are we doing, beautiful?"

"Stop. Just stop calling me that."

"No." He looks up at me, his eyes are dark,
almost black.

"What?"

"No, it's your name."

"It's not my name, Theron. Stop calling me
that. I can't keep my thoughts straight when you call me
that."

"You want to know why that is? It's because we
can't fight this. I don't want to fight this."

"Theron."

"I need you."

I shake my head no. If I go to him, it will be
over. I will lose this battle, and I will ultimately be
his.

"I need to feel you."

"No," I whisper, my voice quiet, but
firm.

"Beautiful. I love you. I'm done with this.
You want to fight me, fine, but I will not deny my feelings for
you. You've pushed me too far." He stands, with determination I've
never seen in his eyes, and forcefully pulls me to his body. I slam
into his hard, firm body. I brace my hands on his chest, my fingers
spread feeling his muscles beneath his shirt. "You cannot deny
this. I won't let you." He grasps my face in his hands. His lips
crash into mine, demanding entrance to my mouth. My head is
screaming no, but it's too late. I succumb to his touch.

My lips part and his tongue fiercely takes
control. I don't notice his hands moving, until my shirt is ripped
over my head. His teeth rake my bottom lip as he hastily works the
buttons of my jeans, roughly dragging them down my legs. I cannot
deny this intense feeling of warmth, and love that pouring through
me. I kick my jeans off, spinning us around as he pushes me onto
the bed. I pull at his shirt, my nails raking his skin.

"Fuck, baby." He pushes himself off me,
pulling his shirt over his head. He desperately pulls his jeans
off, kicking them to the side along with his boxers. He stands
above me stroking his hard cock in his hands. I don't need his
mouth or any foreplay, I'm soaked. Just the touch of his lips, has
me willing and ready for him. I try to scoot back, allowing him
room to join me on the bed, but he grabs my ankle.

He pulls me towards him, until just my ass
cheeks are resting on the edge of the mattress. Running his hands
up my legs, he spreads them apart. He pushes on the back of my
thighs, stretching me wider for him. I feel the tip of his warm
cock rub against my clit. I flex my hips trying to feel more of
him.

"God damn, I need to feel you. Tonight you are
mine!" With his last word he slams into my wet pussy, filling me,
stretching me. Tears spring to my eyes. I've missed his touch, our
connection. He slowly pulls back and thrusts back into me, pushing
me into the mattress. "I can feel your pussy gripping my cock. You
need this. You want this."

I bite my bottom lip, holding back my screams,
but he doesn't give up. He spreads my legs further, my muscles
burning from being stretched.

"Tell me you need me. Tell. Me. You. Want.
This." Each word is followed by a thrust of his cock, hitting my
nerves sending me close the brink of orgasm. "Fucking tell me!" He
yells as his hand moves to my clit, pinching it and rolling it
between his forefingers.

I scream the words he so desperately needs to
hear, and the words I so desperately need to say. "I need you! I
want this! Oh, fuck! Don't stop, Theron. Please, don't fucking
stop!" My climax rips through my body completely shredding any
anger I have left. His name leaves my lips as I close my eyes with
a moan of pure ecstasy. My walls clench around him, grasping his
cock, clinging to him with everything I have to offer.

"Open your eyes. Now." My eyes fling open, I
stare into his mesmerizing gaze. Sweat slides down his brow, as I
watch his jaw clench tight. He tips his head back
moaning.

"Eyes, Theron."

His gaze snaps back to mine, and something
shifts between us. Forgiveness, maybe? I don't have time to dwell
on it. My body is quickly catching up to his. The familiar warm
feeling is spreads up my body from my toes. I grasp onto his
forearms as he leans into me, never breaking eye
contact.