Kitabı oku: «The By Request Collection», sayfa 9
He started to laugh, but his robust chuckle quickly turned into a coughing fit. Eve rushed to the wet bar in the corner and refilled his water. She hated seeing him suffer even the slightest bit. For a man who was known to be a ruthless shark in the real estate world, he was now as weak as a baby. The vulnerable side of Sutton Winchester would only be known to his family, though. He’d never let outsiders see him in such shape.
Eve let him hold the cup while she took the framed picture and set it up on the table near the sofa.
“Thank you,” he said after taking a few sips. “Damn disease.”
Eve went back to his side and took his cup. She placed it on the small table next to him.
“You girls don’t have to lie to me,” he went on, taking her hand and squeezing it between both of his. “I know what I look like.”
Eve kissed the top of his head. “Like my handsome father.”
“You’re going to find some man and charm him one day,” her father teased. “Just make sure when you do that you don’t leave my company in a bind.”
As if she’d ever settle down and take the time to nurture a relationship. A global company and a new baby were definitely enough to keep her occupied. “I’ll never leave Elite,” she promised.
“I hate to bring this up—”
“But you will because you’re honest,” she joked. “Go ahead.”
“I know that before all the questions came up about me being the Newport boys’ father, you and Graham were—”
“Nothing,” Eve interrupted. “We were nothing.” And that was the truth. It was after the paternity test results came back that they tore each other’s clothes off.
This conversation was entering dangerous territory, and that was putting it mildly. Guilt squeezed her chest like a vise. There was no way to avoid it much longer, but she wasn’t going to tell anyone about the baby until after the party. No way was she going to ruin Nora and Reid’s evening. There would be enough time to discuss it after the guests were gone and only family remained.
“I saw how he looked at you, Eve,” her father went on. “Getting involved with a Newport would be the biggest mistake you could make.”
Eve bit the inside of her cheek to keep from saying anything. What could she say? She could deny that she was involved, but that would be an obvious lie. She could even pretend they weren’t going to be anything more than parents sharing a child, but since they were still flirting and she couldn’t get him off her mind, it was only a matter of time before her control crumbled and they ended up intimate again.
Pulling her hand from her father’s grasp, she leaned down once more and kissed his head. “I’m going to go see if Nora needs help since the guests should be arriving any minute. I’ll be back in a bit.”
To tell you I’m expecting a Newport’s baby.
“You’d better,” her father winked. “But keep in mind what I said, Eve. Graham and Brooks have an agenda. They think I know their father’s name and they’ll use any means necessary to get it. I wouldn’t put it past him to use you to get to me.”
Eve stilled. She’d never thought for a second that Graham was using her for anything other than a bedmate...and she’d used him right back. But did her father’s words hold any truth? Nora had hinted at the same thing the other day. Was her family just being overly cautious or did they truly believe Graham would use her to get to Sutton?
No. Graham wasn’t the type of man to play games. He was a lethal attorney and when he wanted something, he went straight at it. He wasn’t the type of man to hide behind a woman and let her do the work.
Eve let herself back out into the hallway and pulled in a deep breath. Voices filtered through the house and it was clear guests had started arriving. Giving her cleavage one last glance in a mirror, she gave a mental shrug and headed toward the formal living room.
Grace, Nora and Reid stood near the mantel, talking and laughing. Grace was dressed as a sexy witch with glittery hose, a sparkly black hat and some killer black stilettos. Their guests were dressed in various fun costumes. Eve glanced around the room and saw an oversize Mrs. Potato Head—presumably the Mr. Potato Head by the wet bar with an appetizer in his hand was the spouse. There was another couple dressed as Vikings and a few others in glamorous gowns and masks. Some reminded her of Mardi Gras with their ribbons and gems.
Eve was stopped by Lucinda Wilde and Josh Calhoun. Lucinda was their father’s main caretaker and had pretty much morphed into being one of the family. She and Josh had fallen in love recently and Eve smiled as the couple approached her.
“If there’s a contest for best costumes, you two win hands down.”
Lucinda smiled as Josh wrapped his arm around her waist. “Josh isn’t one for dressing up, so he basically threw on things he already owned.”
Eve gave him an approving nod. “The cowboy look works. And your saloon girl is perfect,” she told Lucinda. “I could never pull that off, but you guys look so authentic.”
“I’m here for the food,” Josh joked as he tipped his hat down in a typical cowboy fashion. “And I’d use any excuse to have Lucinda dress up like this.”
Lucinda gave him a playful swat. “Eve, you look amazing. This is such a fun party, and I think it’s just what Sutton needs. He may come out later.”
“Really?” Eve asked. “I hope he does. Everyone here loves him and I know it would do him good.”
“I agree,” Lucinda said. “I’m going to talk to him in a bit and coerce him to join the party. I even dressed him up.”
“I saw,” Eve laughed. “I love the pirate.”
“It’s all he would agree to.”
Lucinda glanced around the room, pushing her curls to the side so they slid over one bare shoulder. “If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to talk to Nora and Reid. They look great, too.”
Eve watched as the two couples met in the middle of the room. They laughed and chatted. Eve stared for a moment too long because she caught Grace’s curious look and quirked brow, silently asking if Eve was okay.
Eve pasted on a smile and gave a brief nod. Everything was fine. Seriously. Just because she was expecting a child by a man who was an enemy of her father, just because the two families would go ballistic once the pregnancy was revealed, and just because her father was dying...why shouldn’t she be fine?
Thirteen
She needed air desperately. The more guests that filled the house, the more Eve felt as though she was suffocating. She’d spent over an hour smiling, making small talk and wondering if anyone noticed how she kept her water glass full and ignored the wine.
The Winchester mansion was vast, but still, the walls had been closing in on her.
Escaping out the back patio doors, Eve slid off her gold sandals and padded barefoot around the pool. The stones were cool on her feet and for once she welcomed the brisk breeze. She’d started getting so warm inside, but then her body temperature had been off lately. Thank you, hormones.
When an arm snaked around her waist, Eve gasped.
“It’s me,” a familiar voice whispered in her ear.
Her entire body tingled at the warm breath against the side of her face, the taut chest against her back. But as much as she relished the feel of Graham against her, fear gripped her. “What are you doing here?” she whispered.
“My invitation got lost in the mail.”
Eve smiled, but quickly composed herself before turning in his arms. “You’re—”
Words died on her lips when she realized he was wearing a mask...one of those Mardi Gras masks she’d seen a few of the guests wearing earlier. And a tux. Mercy sakes he had on a tuxedo and looked just as perfectly packaged as he had the night of the charity ball.
Graham slid the mask over his head and took her hand. Without a word he pulled her toward the pool house. A thrill of excitement rushed through her as Graham tried the knob and it turned beneath his palm.
He ushered her inside, closed the door and left the lights off. She waited for him to devour her, to run his hands over her heated body. But nothing. Her eyes hadn’t adjusted to the darkness and she couldn’t see him.
“Graham?”
“I’m right here.”
His voice was close. The heat from his body had her shifting, hoping to brush against him...waiting for him to make contact somehow.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I told you, my invitation got lost in the mail.”
Eve rolled her eyes, even though he couldn’t see her. “No. What are you doing in here?”
Material rustled. Something, his sleeve maybe, brushed against the back of her hand then was instantly gone. Her body was wound so tight in anticipation of his touch. What was he waiting on?
“I wanted to see you,” he said in that low tone that had shivers racing through her. “You sent me that picture and I knew I had to find a way to be at this party.”
“Did anyone—”
“No. Nobody saw me. I even talked to a few guests, but no one caught on.”
Relief washed over her, but was quickly replaced once again by arousal. “Are you...why are we...”
“Are you achy, Eve?”
That sultry voice filled the darkness. Her eyes were finally starting to adjust somewhat, but there were no outside lights coming in because the entrance to the pool house faced the back of the property. Damn it. She wanted to see him better, to touch him. What game was he playing?
“Have you thought of me these past few days?” he continued. “I know you have or you wouldn’t be sending me pictures of you in that sexy costume. Did you think I’d come begging for you? I told you, you’d be the one begging.”
She was damn near ready to do just that. “Is that why you’re here? To get me to beg?” she asked, hoping her voice sounded stronger than she felt.
“I’m here because I told you I wanted to be your date.”
Eve eased away from the door, only to stop short when she ran into Graham’s hard chest. “So what are we doing in the pool house?” she asked, holding her hands up to steady herself. She couldn’t stop herself from gliding her palms up the tux jacket toward his broad shoulders.
“Your call, Eve. I told you I won’t be the one to make a move.”
Why did life have to be full of so many tempting choices? Why was her greatest need the exact opposite of what she should be doing? But the lengths he went to in order to be with her was rather...oh, fine. It was flat-out arousing and exciting.
“You’re quite cocky to come into my family’s home,” she told him, roaming her hands up toward his neck, her fingertips teasing that smooth jawline.
“Call it what you want, but there was no way in hell I was going to let some damn picture pacify my need for you.”
He’d never admitted he needed her before. Granted he was talking in physical terms, but the words still sent a thrill of desire through her.
Eve leaned in until her lips barely brushed against his. “So you’re here to give in after all? Dare I say, beg me?” she whispered.
With a groan, Graham snaked his arms around her waist and gripped her backside, pulling her flush against him. “Hell no. I’m not begging. I’m taking what I want, what you’ve teased me with, and I’m saving your pride so you don’t have to beg.”
Eve laughed. “So this is all for me?”
“I’m a selfish man, Eve. Never forget that.”
His lips crushed hers as he backed her up a few steps to the door. She hit with a thud, but she barely noticed. With the way Graham’s hands were wrestling the hem of her dress up her thighs, she couldn’t concentrate on anything but the endless possibilities of what was about to happen.
“Never tease me again,” Graham muttered against her lips. “Did you think I’d avoid you, knowing you looked like this?”
His mouth made a path down her neck, to the deep V of her dress. For the first time tonight, she was all too happy to be this exposed. Better access for Graham was exactly what she needed, what she ached for.
Eve arched her back, cupping the side of his face as he jerked the thick straps down her shoulders. The second her dress fell to her waist, Graham filled his hands with her bare breasts.
“If I’d known you weren’t wearing anything beneath this, I would’ve intercepted you at your house before the party and we never would’ve left.”
Eve gasped as his lips found her sensitive tip. “The dress...it has...um...”
“Yes?” he asked, a smile in his tone. “How close are you to begging?”
About a second.
“The dress has a built-in liner. No bra necessary.”
“It’s my new favorite.”
When his hands trailed up the back of her thighs, Eve had to bite her lips to keep from crying out. He knew every single place to touch her and have her squirming. He knew she was on the brink of begging and he was practically gloating over it.
Time to turn the tables, so to speak.
Eve reached between them. The second she stroked her hand up his length, Graham let out a hiss.
“I’m not playing games, Eve.”
She couldn’t help but smile against his mouth. “You wouldn’t have come here if you weren’t playing.”
* * *
She. Was. Killing. Him.
And his slow descent had started the second she’d sent that picture of her wearing the dress. But, seeing her in person, touching those curves, was absolutely everything he’d ever dreamed and fantasized about. Yes, he’d had her multiple times, but knowing she was carrying his child bumped up the sexual appeal. There was something so primal, so...damn it, his. She was his. That child was his. There would never be another man coming into her life, into their child’s life. Not so long as Graham was around.
Maybe he’d come here to seduce her, most likely. But he’d intentionally decided to crash the party simply because he knew he could. He’d taken matters into his own hands.
Speaking of matters in hand...
“Take off your dress.”
Eve stilled. “Here?”
“We can go back inside to the party to do this, but I’m sure your family wouldn’t approve.”
Graham backed away and waited until the rustling and soft swoosh of fabric indicated she was indeed bare for him. Closing the space between them, Graham wasted no time in grabbing hold of her and lifting her until her legs wrapped around him.
He eased over slightly so her back wasn’t against the grooves in the door. But once he had her against the wall, he reached between them, unfastened his pants and kissed her. Hard. This wasn’t a sweet encounter; he didn’t have time for gentle touches and nurturing words. He was in this dark pool house with his own goddess for one reason only.
“Hurry,” she panted against his mouth.
Clearly Eve was in here for one reason, as well. This was why they got along so well. Their needs, their wants were identical in nearly every single way. Convincing her to be his wife would be the easiest case he’d ever made.
The soft pants, the occasional groan from Eve were begging enough. Graham slid into her, smiling when her fingers curled around his shoulders and gripped tighter. The way she whispered his name as she threw her head back and closed her eyes only fueled Graham to move faster.
“It’s been too long,” he growled as he kept a firm hold on her hips. “Never again.”
“No,” she murmured, her eyes locking with his.
Graham couldn’t go another day without touching her, let alone several. His stupid pride and the ridiculous game he’d played...it had backfired in his face. Now he was the one needing her, but damn if he’d admit it.
“I’m the only one, Eve.” He didn’t know why he needed to express this, but damn if another man would be keeping her bed warm. For now, she was his. “Say it.”
Nodding, she gasped when he pushed harder. “The only one. Only you.”
Feeling too vulnerable, way too close to the edge of exposing feelings he wasn’t ready to come face-to-face with, Graham angled his mouth across hers once more. His hips quickened, and her knees tightened around his waist.
When her hands came up to frame his face, Graham ignored the tingle of awareness. He wanted it fast, hard, intense. Little sweet gestures weren’t for him. They weren’t for them.
Eve tore her mouth from his and squeezed her eyes tight.
“No. Look at me,” he demanded. His eyes had adjusted to the darkness and he wanted to see as much of her as possible.
When her body convulsed, Graham could no longer hold back. He buried his face in the side of her neck, inhaling that familiar, jasmine scent. Holding tight, he waited until their bodies ceased trembling before he lifted his face. Her heart beat so fast against his chest, matching his own frantic pace.
“My family is going to wonder where I went,” Eve murmured, breaking the silence.
Graham nipped at her lips. “Tell them you needed some fresh air.”
“I don’t even want to look in a mirror. They’re going to wonder why I’m so messed up.”
“Then leave with me.”
Why had he said that? They weren’t inseparable. But there was something about knowing they shared this baby...the bond was already too strong. Graham needed to rein things back in or he was going to find himself in a position he wasn’t ready for.
Eve slid her legs from his waist. “We’ll both pretend you didn’t say that.”
Once she was standing and had her balance, Graham stepped back and adjusted his clothes. He’d barely taken the edge off and if he stayed at this party, he was going to have to find a spare bathroom or walk-in closet to drag her into.
He pulled out his phone to use as a light, shining it on Eve. The instant the glow hit her face, she froze and blinked at him. But it was the tousled hair, the swollen lips and pinkened cheeks that held him captivated. There was no denying what she’d been up to and the thought of her putting that dress back on while looking so rumpled sent a jolt of desire through him.
“I can’t see your face with that light in my eyes,” she told him, holding up a hand. “But if I don’t get back in there, my family is going to worry.”
Angling his phone toward her body as she pulled her dress back up, Graham reached a hand out to help her. “I’m going in, too. I’m not going to leave.”
“Why would you want to stay?”
Because he wanted to touch her, he wanted to catch a glimpse of her across the room...because apparently he was a masochist. Mostly because she was trying to push him away when she clearly didn’t mean it, and he wouldn’t let her.
“Because I can,” he said simply.
Once she’d adjusted her dress, she pushed her hair back behind her shoulders. “I’m going to tell the rest of my family about the baby after the party.”
He tightened his hold on his phone. No. He had to get her to agree to marriage before she told her family. They would instantly tell her what a mistake it was to be involved with him. They’d get inside her head and have her doubting.
“Are you sure that’s a smart move? They already think I’m using you.”
“Are you?”
He couldn’t blame her for asking. Apparently they’d already gotten to her. “If you thought I was, you wouldn’t be in here with me,” he countered. He hadn’t used her, not by any means. But now that she was having his baby, he would marry her to ensure that their child had a Newport name. A detail she didn’t need to know.
Yes, he could’ve used her to get to her father, but he hadn’t. Didn’t that count for something?
“Regardless of what they think, they need to know,” Eve continued. “There’s so much worry with my father, fear of the unknown, and now with Carson finding out he’s our half brother. My family needs to know exactly what they’re dealing with. Besides, maybe this baby will be the bond that brings our families together and resolves this ridiculous feud.”
Graham wasn’t so sure of that, but if she wanted to tell them, he’d support her...after that ring was on her finger.
“Let’s wait a few days,” he said, holding up a hand when she opened her mouth. “I want you to come away with me.”
“What?”
Yeah, what did he mean? Where had that come from? He hadn’t planned it. But now that he’d offered the trip, he had to admit it was a brilliant plan.
“We’ll go away for just a couple days,” he hurried on. “Nobody has to know, and when we get back, you and I can tell them.”
“I’m telling them tonight, Graham. I’ve waited long enough.”
Her inflexible tone told him this battle would be more difficult than he’d thought.
“I need to get back inside,” she told him.
“I’m coming in, too.”
Eve hesitated, but finally nodded. “Just keep your mask on until after the party, okay? I’d hate to have a scene with so many people here.”
Graham would love nothing more than to cause a scene, but out of respect for Eve, he’d keep the mask on. He searched the floor, then found it. After sliding it back into place, he bowed toward her.
“You go on,” he told her. “I’ll be in later. You won’t even know I’m there.”
With her hand on the knob, she threw him a glance over her shoulder. “I’ll know you’re there. I’ll feel you.”
With those parting words, she was gone.
She’d feel him? Of course she would. And even across the room, he’d undoubtedly feel her, as well. The line he’d been teetering on, swearing he wouldn’t cross it, was starting to waver. He was losing his grip and it was only a matter of time before he lost his balance and fell face-first into emotions he’d purposely dodged.
This entire situation was messy and if he wasn’t careful, someone was going to end up hurt.
