There Evelyn stood startled, looking into his blue eyes. And there Rick stood transfixed, looking into her hazel eyes.
She was standing in the tub. Stark naked. Hair dripping wet. Stark naked. Body covered with water droplets. Stark naked. Body glistening like a rare gem. Stark naked.
Rick could not help but smile as the sight before him ignited a pleasant ache in his groin. His eyes slowly trailed down from her eyes to her pink lips and then down the column of her throat. His gaze swept over her two luscious mounds of delicate flesh to the rosy peeks of her nipples. He began to salivate as he stared at the hardening tips. After his gaze lingered over one breast and then the other for enticing moments, his eyes continued their downward descent to her smooth, white abdomen then to her navel. Rick's grin fixed on his face as he remembered the last time they had made love. After nibbling on her stomach, he had used his tongue to invade the crevice of her navel and was happy to know that he had found yet another one of his wife's pleasure spots.
Then his eyes went lower and Rick thought fleetingly of the child that was in her womb. At that moment, he found it hard to believe that a kid, his kid was in there because Evelyn did not look any different, any bigger. Then his gaze landed on the triangle that sheltered the essence of her womaness and Rick was ready to split his pants. It had been close to two weeks since they had made love and his body was now acutely aware of its abstinence.
Evelyn had jumped when the door opened. She knew it was not Jonathan because he had his own bath down by his room. So that meant that the intruder was Rick. Even though she had been married for almost three months now, she was still a bit bashful about standing in front of him completely naked. Her first instinct was to hop out of the tub, grab her towel and cover herself. But when she saw the look in his eyes, a warm feeling spread over her and she was paralyzed where she stood. She watched his expression as his eyes slowly trailed from hers down her body. Goose bumps crawled over her skin as his gaze lingered here, then lingered there. Evelyn could feel the touch of his eyes as they made love to her. She trembled inside as her body screamed for more than just a look. Her body wanted more than just his eyes on her. It wanted his hands, his lips, his tongue, his everything on her everything. Evelyn's cheeks heated up at the thoughts that ran through her head but she wanted him, needed him to cool the fire that was building inside her. A fire that he was igniting.
Evelyn caught her breath as the sensation in the pit of her stomach slithered down to the center of her womaness. She felt herself tingle and moisten and she wanted to scream out at the torture he was inflicting on her. 'It was unfair!' her mind shouted. Not too long ago, he had said he was fed up with her and now she was standing there ready to beg him to take her, touch her, taste her, love her.
Then she saw the smirk on his face and pride and stubbornness rose up in her. If he thought she would beg him to make love to her, he was sadly mistaken. If he wanted her, he would have to do the begging. She would, of course, give in because she wanted the ache, the yearning that was deep inside her appeased. But he would have to make the first move.
As she watched his eyes slowly travel back up her body, Evelyn wavered in her decision. Maybe she should go ahead and make the first move. Maybe... AH! He was making her weak and she hated it when he did that! But... She loved him. She wanted him. She needed him.
When their eyes met again and she saw a look of smug satisfaction in his eyes, Evelyn's wavering stopped. She might love him. She might want him. She might need him. But she would never give him the gratification of her surrender. With her pride in tact and firmly at the forefront again, Evelyn said not a word as she stepped out of the tub and reached for her towel. As she dried herself, she waited. And waited. And waited. And waited.
Rick never said a word.
After Evelyn finished drying, she wrapped a towel around her wet hair and put on her bathrobe. As she walked past Rick out of the bathroom, he still did not say a word and neither did she.
Rick had been standing there enjoying the sight of his wife's naked body. He knew she was still a little shy about being naked in front of him so he waited for her to tell him to get out. At least then she would be talking to him. But when she never said a word, Rick was taken by surprise and he was not sure what he should do. Should he take a chance and ask to join her in the tub or should he say 'excuse me' and leave?
When Evelyn stepped out of the tub and began drying herself off, Rick wished he could trade places with the towel and rub himself all over her. He thought about suggesting it but he had had much too much rejection in the last week and his ego was not ready for another blow. So he stood in silence and watched her. After she walked past him, Rick mentally kicked himself for his lost opportunity. He could have at least tried. What's one more blow to an already battered ego?
When Evelyn shut the door to the bedroom, she wanted to cry in frustration and disappointment. She saw the look in his eyes and she knew what that look meant - he wanted to make love to her. She wondered why he didn't say anything. When it came to making love, he was always very vocal and very aggressive about what he wanted, when he wanted it and where he wanted it.
'I'm fed with her!'
That was it, Evelyn thought sadly. He was fed up with her. But it just was not fair. He was the one who had wronged her. He had no right to be fed up with her did he? Of course he didn't. He should waiting patiently until she was ready to talk to him and ready to forgive him. He was the one in the wrong, not her. She was the innocent in all this. So why, then was she the one being punished?
He was fed up with her. That was why.
But... that look in his eyes. He might be wrongly fed up with her but Evelyn could tell that he had been aroused. Maybe his pride had kept him from making an advance toward her. She surely knew a thing or two about that dreadful nuisance called pride. And she was fast learning that pride was a cold, unfeeling bedfellow.
Evelyn wondered if Rick would hold on tight to his pride as she had been doing for the last two weeks. Her only hope tonight was that he would not be able to deny himself, that he would throw down his pride and come knocking. Evelyn left the door unlock as she lotioned herself and put on her nightgown. She got in bed and waited for Rick to come.
But he never did.
Dreams. Evelyn only had her dreams. Dreams of him whispering her name. Dreams of him touching, caressing her sensitive places. Dreams that could never satisfy the need she had.
*********************
As Rick bathed, he wondered if he should try giving his body wanted it wanted. Evelyn had not blasted him and thrown him out of the bathroom. Instead she had stood there and let him get his fill looking at her. Maybe she was softening up toward him. Maybe this was the light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe his hands and body could do the talking tonight. Maybe that was the way to break through the icy exterior to the passionate woman he fell in love with.
By the time he got out of the tub, dried off and put on his tee shirt and boxers, Rick was not sure if he wanted to chance another rejection from Evelyn, so he went back downstairs to think. As he sat on the sofa, his libido debated his ego.
'Come on. Let's go back up there' libido said.
'Not gonna chance it' ego said.
'Damn it! I NEED you to chance it!'
'Why?'
'Do you really have to ask WHY?!'
'You've been without before'
'Not when we got a wife upstairs'
'A wife that's been locking us out of the bedroom'
'Minor barrier'
'Minor?'
'Yeah, minor. Now get up there!'
'You like ME gettin' beat like I stole something don't ya?'
'That's neither here nor there. The main objective is to get some relief'
'Relief for who?'
'Me!'
'What about me?'
'What about you? If you weren't so sensitive...'
'Sensitive? I'm the one that's been taking a beatin' for the last week. Not you'
'And I'm the one who's been deprived of sustenance for the last TWO weeks'
'Well it looks like we're both shit out of luck'
'I can't believe you're gonna let a little thing like her being mad get in the way. You saw that look in her eyes. She's probably up there waiting to be wooed'
'You really think so?'
'Hell yeah!'
'What if you're wrong and she kicks us out?'
'What if I'm right and she lets us in?'
'But what if you're wrong?'
'What if I'm RIGHT?'
'But...'
'Right or wrong, we'll NEVER know till you try'
'True'
'So... what's it gonna be? Going up there like a man or sitting down here like a sissy?'
'Insulting me won't get you anywhere'
'There you go being sensitive again. Nobody's insulting you. I'm just calling it like I see it. So... you gonna be man?'
'What part of 'Insulting me won't get you anywhere' don't you understand?'
'Will you stop it with the sensitive sissy syndrome. Are we gonna make a move or what?'
'Let me think about it'
Wooing Evelyn into making love. The thought had merit. It was not like he had never done it before. However, 'before' she was talking to him and now, now he wondered if he even had a marriage left.
Then Rick thought of the look in her eyes. He had caught the look just before she averted her gaze and stepped out of the tub. He was sure he saw longing there. But then Rick wondered if he was just seeing what he wanted to see. It took him a � hour before he finally made up his mind.
With his course of action settled, Rick got up from the couch and headed upstairs. He stood in front of the bedroom door for a moment before he reached up and grabbed the doorknob. A smile spread across his face when he found it unlocked. But then his heart sank when he saw that the room was dark. Maybe Evelyn was not even in the room. Then his eyes went to the bed and he saw the lump of mass that was her. Rick walked over to the bed and sat down next to her.
Evelyn's light snoring floated up to his ears and Rick could not help but smile. He leaned down and kissed her cheek and whispered her name, hoping to stir her. When Evelyn did not move, Rick stood up, took his tee shirt off and dropped his boxers. He walked around to his side of the bed and climbed in. He fitted himself nicely against Evelyn's backside and started pulling up her nightgown until his hand felt the cool flesh of her thigh. As he rubbed the soft skin, Rick felt himself begin to grow and his groin automatically began to grate against the soft cushion of her posterior.
"Evy?" he breathed in her ear before nibbling on the lobe. "Evy... wake up" he whispered as his hand moved to slide inside her underwear. "Come on Evy... wake up" he murmured as his fingers moved to frolic in her hairy triangle. "evy..." he whispered again as his fingers pried their way into her folds to touch the tip of her bud. "Evy..." he moaned then slid his tongue along the edge of her ear. "Wake up baby..." he pleaded as he his hand left her core and moved up her stomach and grazed his palm over the peaks of one nipple then the other.
Evelyn moaned incoherently. The sensations she was feeling began to build. If only it was real and not a dream, she thought in her sleepy mind. 'Don't' her mind began.
"Go..." her mouth uttered. "Away."
'Don't' her mind said.
"leave me... alone" her mouth said in a hushed tone.
'Go away. Leave me alone.'
Rick was stopped cold at the words he heard. Even in her sleep Evelyn was refusing him. Rick gritted in teeth hard as he realized that the increasing throb in his groin would go neglected. Rick turned on his back and blew out a breath that was filled with frustration. He propped his head up on his hands and looked up at the dark ceiling. It was bad enough that Evelyn was not talking to him and now when he took a chance and tried to wake her for the sole purpose of making love, she shot him down cold. Rick wondered how much more of this his ego could take. With a sigh, he got out of bed.
'You sure she said 'go away'' libido said.
'You heard her' ego said.
'Damn!'
Wishful thinking. Rick only had his wishful thinking. Wishful thinking that he was in bed making love to his wife. Wishful thinking that she was calling his name as he brought her to peak. Wishful thinking that he was deep inside her easing the burden of his gorged flesh. Wishful thinking that could never satisfy the need he had.
Chapter 12: I Love You
The next morning, Evelyn woke up frustrated. Frustrated that all she had to hold on to during the night was her dreams. And that was hardly fulfilling. If she were talking to Rick, she would give him a piece of her mind. How dare he ignite her passions and leave her alone in bed. It did not matter that she was not talking to him. He should have known, he should have read her mind and known. Known that she wanted him, wanted him more than anything.
Not only was she frustrated but Evelyn was also hurt that Rick had abandoned her. Again, it did not matter that she had spurned his every attempt to apologize. All that mattered was that she needed him last night and he was not there.
Not only was she frustrated and hurt but Evelyn was also ashamed of herself. She had been so willing to give herself to him all because he looked at her with an undeniable craving in his eyes. She was angry with herself because she was so weak for him.
Nothing had changed between them. He was still the man who had gone seeking another. She was still the woman who no longer trusted him. So why was she so willing to surrender to him? Why had she wished with all her heart that he would come and satisfy them both?
Evelyn did not know why. But as she hovered over the toilet, expelling her dinner from the night before, her pride decided Rick would pay for what he did to her last night, for what he did not do to her last night and for the torment he put her through.
After she got up from the bathroom floor, Evelyn washed out her mouth then her face and went back to her bedroom. Her room had become her haven to pout, feel sorry for herself and cry. Things she decided she needed to do before going downstairs. Things she was becoming quite proficient in.
*********************
The morning after his valiant attempt to woo Evelyn out of sleep and into lovemaking, Rick was awakened by a noise. His legionnaire instincts still very prevalent, Rick shot up into a sitting position on the couch and looked around. Then he heard it again and realized that the sound came from the kitchen. It was the cabinet door being slammed. He threw his legs over onto the floor and got up and walked sleepily into the kitchen.
There she was stomping around the kitchen preparing her breakfast. Rick stood at the door watching at her. The silk robe she wore was clinging to her body and his body began to warm up as he thought of the night before.
Evelyn knew he was standing there watching her and her heart began to pound. Her pride be accursed. She loved him and she was weakening in her decision to make him pay for what he had done to the night before. Just knowing that he was standing there watching her crushed Evelyn's pride and she prayed that he would say something, anything. The moment he opened his mouth, she would turn and run into his arms. She waited and waited and waited for him to say something. Then she prayed and prayed and prayed that he would.
The seconds passed by painstakingly slow as she waited and he watched. Rick fought with himself again but this time his ego won and against the will of his heart, he turned and walked away.
When Evelyn could not stand the waiting any longer, she turned to the doorway, only to see it empty. Her heart sank and two big teardrops rushed to the edge of her eyelids and cascaded over and down her cheeks.
Evelyn felt completely despondent as she sadly gazed at the vacant doorway. She felt as if she was losing Rick and every bit of the fault lay at her door. She was foolish, foolish, foolish for saying she wanted a divorce. Condemnation and panic assaulted Evelyn with a vengeance as she thought about the damage she had done.
Maybe she deserved to be an old spinster. Maybe she was getting her comeuppance for treating him so badly for the past weeks. Maybe a na�ve, bookworm librarian like her did not deserve an experienced, gun-fighting adventurer like him.
Rick felt utterly dejected as he climbed the stairs. He felt as if he was losing Evelyn and every bit of the blame lay at his door. He was stupid, stupid, stupid for getting drunk. And heaven only knew what he was thinking when he went to that whorehouse. Guilt and fear assaulted Rick with a vengeance as he thought about what he had done and the damage he had caused.
Maybe he deserved to be alone again. Maybe he was about to pay for all the hell he raised in the past. Maybe a hard, corrupt devil like him did not deserve a soft, innocent angel like her.
*********************
For the next three days, the mood in the house got even more somber. Evelyn spent most of her time at the museum and Rick spent most of his time under the hood of his new car. Though they lived under the same roof, they had not seen each other since the morning after Rick walked in on Evelyn's bath. They both did everything they could to avoid each other. And both felt as if they were slowly dying inside.
In the private recesses of their minds, Rick and Evelyn thought of life apart from one another. They saw less and less hope of finding their way back to each other. And though it was painful, they both could not help but think about the ugly truth that they might not have a life together anymore.
Losing hope of reconciliation caused Evelyn even more tears. And even Rick, battle hardened Rick, had more moments than he would admit where there were tears in his eyes. The couple was miserable, broken-hearted and extremely unhappy. But neither seemed to have the fortitude to confront the other and save their young marriage.
*********************
It was Sunday morning and Rick had gone into town and Evelyn was sitting in the polar reading. She looked up in surprise when Jonathan walked in and called her name.
"Evy?" he said as he walked over to the couch and sat down next to her.
"Jonathan, what are you doing up so early?" she asked her brother.
"It's not THAT early. It's nearly noon" he said.
"It's early for you. Especially on a Sunday morning."
"You got a minute?"
"Sure" she said as she closed her book.
"I need to talk to you" he said and Evelyn could hear the worry in his voice.
"Is everything OK Jonathan?" she asked, thinking he had gotten into some kind of trouble
"Not really."
"What is it Jonathan?" Evelyn said, her worry beginning to rise.
Jonathan paused, wondering if his decision to intervene on Rick's behave had been wise. Then he thought of Evelyn and how sad he knew she was and all the tears he heard her crying.
"Evy..." he began.
"Yes" she answered anxiously.
"I need to talk to you."
"You've already told me that. What is it Jonathan" she said nervously as she thought the worst.
"You're being selfish Evy..." he said without preamble.
"What?" Evelyn was taken by surprise. This conversation was about Jonathan not her.
"You're being selfish Evy" he said again. "Don't you think it's about time you forgave O'Connell?"
"Jonathan" Evelyn said with as much patience and calm as she could muster. "I don't want to talk about him. And besides that" she said as nicely as she could. "It's none of your business."
"Yes, well that may be true but..."
"But what?" she interrupted Jonathan. "I said I don't want to discuss him" she said tightly as she felt her temper rising.
"Well, I'm sorry Evy, but we're going to discuss him."
"NO we are not!" Evelyn said defensively. If she talked about Rick she knew she would cry and she did not want to cry in front of Jonathan.
"Yes we are" Jonathan said stubbornly, surprising Evelyn.
"Oh no we are not!" Evelyn frowned at him in an attempt to intimidate him.
"Oh yes we are" Jonathan shot back. "AND we are going to discussing you're acting like a spoiled brat" he said firmly.
Evelyn gasped. She was in a state of shock. Jonathan. Her brother Jonathan was asserting his will above hers. They were going to discuss Rick. And he had insulted her. She was acting like a spoiled brat. Evelyn's only option was to get up and walk out on him. After giving him a look of defiance, Evelyn stood to her feet.
"Evelyn Louise Carnahan" Jonathan said as he stood up with her. "Sit! Now!" he demanded in his most forceful voice and prayed that she would heed his command.
Evelyn looked at Jonathan with total surprise. He had spoken to her like that only once before in her life. It that was not too long after their parents had died and Evelyn had retreated into herself. She was not eating and all she did was stay in her room. Jonathan came to her and demanded that she eat so that she could remain healthy and he told her in no uncertain terms that she would not stay cooped up in her room forever. He made her leave the room and slowly she began to live her life again.
Jonathan mentally let out a sigh of relief as he watched the look of defiance on Evelyn's face slowly turn to a look of resignation.
"Now" he said in a softer tone after she, then he sat back down. "Why won't you give him a chance to explain?"
"You don't know what he did Jonathan" Evelyn said in a pitiful voice as she began to cry.
"He told me."
"He told you?!" Evelyn looked at Jonathan and felt embarrassed that he knew that her husband had gone after another woman.
"Yes and I think you should forgive him..."
"Forgive him?!" Evelyn cried. "Jonathan how could you say such a thing when you know what he did?" she said, feeling like her own brother was turning on her.
"He really didn't do anything Evy. Not really"
"You call seeing another woman not 'doing anything'?!"
"Evy, he wasn't 'seeing another woman'. Not in the carnal sense of the word anyway."
"I can't believe you're taking his side. How can you take his side in this?" she cried.
"I'm not taking his side..."
"Yes you are" Evelyn cried, feeling betrayed.
"No I'm not. I love you Evy. I'm on your side and I want to see you happy. But you're miserable..."
"Because of him!" her pride asserted.
"Because of you Evy" Jonathan said.
"Me?" Evelyn said dejectedly. She could admit to herself that she had played a part, a small part in the rift between her and Rick but for Jonathan to say she was the cause of her misery was just too much to take.
"Yes, you Evy. O'Connell loves you. He's tried to get you to talk to him but all you do is ignore him. He tells you he loves you, he tries all he knows to try to make things up to you and all you do is give him the silent treatment. He made one tiny mistake Evy. Why can't you forgive him?"
"You call what he did a 'tiny mistake'?" she asked, not believing all of what he had just said.
"Evy, most men, practically all men would have..." Jonathan said, feeling very uncomfortable discussing sex with his sister. "Would have... you know, most men would have, uh" he said trying to find the right words. "Committed the act with the woman."
"And I'm suppose to be grateful that he didn't?!"
"Let me finish Evy. These same men swear they love their wives. Well, I have to give O'Connell credit because he stopped short. And you know why? Because he loves you. I know... I know he shouldn't have gone there in the first place, but haven't we all done things we shouldn't have? Especially me. And you always forgive me."
"But he betrayed me Jonathan" Evelyn bemoaned pathetically.
"No he didn't Evy. He chose NOT to betray you. He was tempted yes. But, as the old hymn says 'Yield not to temptation for yielding is sin.'" Jonathan said. "He loves you Evy and that's why he walked away from the woman. Most men don't walk away from willing women, even if they do love their wives. He walked away from her and on top of that he told you the truth about it. Don't you think life would have been easier for him if he would have lied to you?"
"He couldn't lie about it because I caught him red handed!"
"Trust me Evy. Men can come up with some pretty believable lies when they're caught in a pinch."
"But..."
"No buts Evy. You need to go and talk to him. Listen to him and work things out."
"How am I suppose to forgive him Jonathan?"
"Do you love O'Connell?" Jonathan asked the question he already knew the answer to.
"Yes" Evelyn said without hesitation as she wiped her tears.
"That's how you'll forgive him. And remember" he said as pulled her close and kissed her forehead. "Blessed are they that forgive..."
Jonathan squeezed Evelyn tight before getting up and leaving her alone in the polar.
*********************
Do you love O'Connell? Yes. Rick was sure he had heard right. She did still love him. Rick felt as if he had been rejuvenated. She still loved him. He was sure that was what he heard through the open polar window.
He had been walking past the window when he heard his name and stopped. He listened intently as Jonathan asked 'Do you love O'Connell?' His heart pounded in his ears as he waited for her answer. Yes. He barely heard it but he was sure he heard a 'yes'.
His ego, still badly bruised from the past several days, wanted to be cautious. That was the only thing that kept him from running inside the house and confronting the wife that still loved him. He wanted to take it slow because he did not want to get his hopes up only to have them dashed if the 'yes' he heard was only wishful hearing. Rick turned from the window and headed back to his car. He needed to think of how to approach Evelyn and he needed to prepare himself for the worse.
An hour later, Rick walked into the house and looked in the polar but found it empty. At the growl of his stomach, he decided to go to the kitchen and fix himself a sandwich. When he got to the doorway, he saw Evelyn standing at the sink looking out window.
Evelyn had been mulling over Jonathan's words for the last hour. Her own brother, her only brother had turned on her and sided with Rick. She had tried to convince herself of that but her heart knew it was a lie. Her heart knew Jonathan was right.
As Rick watched her, his heart struggled against his ego.
'There she is' his heart smiled.
'Maybe it's not such a good idea to talk to her now' his ego frowned.
'It's as good a time as any'
'What if you heard wrong'
'I heard right'
'How can you be sure?'
'I just know'
'What are you going to say?'
'I don't know'
'Maybe we should wait'
'Why?'
'So you can think about what you will say'
'I don't think. I just feel'
'Well I need to think about what you will say'
'And you will mess things up with all your logic'
'At least we won't look like a fool when you open your mouth and nothing comes out because you didn't let me think about what you would say'
'Let me handle this'
'You sure?'
'I'm sure'
With his heart made up, Rick walked into the kitchen. Evelyn was in such deep thought that she did not hear him approach and jump when she heard his voice.
"Hey" he said in a soft voice as he walked up behind Evelyn. "I, uh I..." he started.
'I knew we should have thought about this!' his ego said.
"I need to talk to you" Rick said as he moved from behind her to stand beside her.
Rick's hopes were lifted higher when she did not turn and walk away from him. Maybe his heart had heard that 'yes'. Rick then turned, leaned against the sink, his back facing the window, and looked at Evelyn's profile.
"Evy, you know how I feel" his heart began. "I love you more than anything. You know that. I feel like I'm losing you and that's something I'd cut off my right arm to keep from happening. I don't wanna lose you. I don't want to go back to life the way it was before I met you. Just tell me what I gotta do to make it up to you and I'll do it."
Evelyn remained silent but Rick's heart refused to give up this time.
"If you need time, I understand. I'll give you all the time you need as long as we can work things out. I'm desperate Evy. Desperate to get back what we had. The last two weeks have been the worst weeks I've had to go though my whole life. Even worse... than when I was a kid.. and my Pa... left me at the orphanage" his voice cracked, exposing the well of emotion that was inside of him.
When Evelyn again remained silent, Rick became more determined. He would not give up on her this time. All he wanted, all he needed was for her to say something, anything. So without another thought he grabbed one arm then the other and began to pull her in front of him. With a firm but gentle hold, Rick pulled her into his chest. His gaze was tender as he put his finger under her chin and lifted her head and looked into her eyes.
"I love you Evy. You know that. You mean everything to me and my life isn't worth much without you" he said. "What I need more than anything right now is to hear you say you love me."
As Rick waited to hear the words, he saw the conflict in her eyes. It was as if she was fighting against saying the words. A bit of desperation and doubt crept in.
"Tell me Evy" he begged. "Tell me if you still love me."
When she did not answer immediately, Rick, desperate to get a reaction of some sort from her, lowered his head. His mouth touched hers and he used his lips to open hers. He invaded her warm mouth with his tongue and felt as if he were in heaven. All his frustration, all his desperation, all his love was in that one kiss as the intensity increased and he hungrily devoured the inside of her mouth. He pulled Evelyn even closer and held Evelyn even tighter as his tongue possessively took hold of hers and mated passionately with it.
Evelyn could not resist him. She did not want too. Yes! Yes! Yes! She loved him. She just could not seem to find her tongue to tell him. And right now, her tongue was otherwise occupied. Evelyn began to yield to his kiss the moment his lips touched hers. And his love. How could she stand against it any longer? She went soft in his arms and moved her hands up his chest. Just as her fingers were about to snake around to the back of his neck, he pulled away from her. Evelyn was left breathless as she slowly opened her eyes and saw the set of blues that were staring back at her.
"Tell me Evy. Say it" he demanded. "Tell me you love me."
"I love you" she whispered as her tears started.
Chapter 13: Reconciliation
Jonathan had headed to the kitchen to get a bite to eat before going out for some Sunday afternoon carousing. The sight that greeted him as he stepped into the kitchen stopped him. A smile settled on his face as he watched his sister and brother-in-law. Happiness for his sister leaped up inside him as he watched the couple kiss. She seemed to be back where she belonged - in the arms of her husband. And nothing, not even the most expensive bottle of liqueur or the most lavish hoard of treasure, could make him happier, though they would run a close second.
Though Jonathan always feigned disgust at their shows of affection, in reality, he was happy that his sister had found a man to love her as much as O'Connell obviously did. And, if truth be told, he was a bit jealous of that special something that his sister and O'Connell shared. When the kiss stopped, Jonathan quickly backed out of the doorway and left the house.
"Tell me Evy. Say it" Rick had demanded. "Tell me you love me."
"I love you" Evelyn whispered as her tears started.
Rick rested his forehead against hers as relief washed over him. He had heard her right. She did still love him.
Evelyn rested her forehead against his as relief washed over her. She did love him and that admission to him lifted a heavy weight off her shoulders. Confession was good for the soul.
The two stood there, Rick with his arms circling around her waist, Evelyn with her arms resting on his shoulders. Strong forehead leaning against soft forehead, piercing eyes looking into crying eyes. Hard pectorals pressing against soft bosom.
Heart beating against heart.
His soul yearning hers. Her soul yearning for his.
"Evy, I'm sorry..." Rick began.
Evelyn put her fingertips up to his lips to quiet him. At that moment, words were not necessary. The rift between in their souls was mending and the powerful love they shared was drawing them back to one another. For the moment, they had everything they needed - each other.
And for the moment, nothing else mattered. Time seemed to stand still as they stood, gazing into one another's eyes and letting the force of their love bind them even closer, knit them even tighter together. The love he felt for her and the love she felt for him was the only thing that existed. The love he felt was conveyed to her as he looked at her with naked eyes that poured out his emotions better than his words ever could. The love she felt was conveyed to him as she looked at him with yielded eyes that expressed her feelings in a way she had never expressed them before.
Rick felt overwhelmed at boundless love he saw radiating from her eyes. He could not stop the tear that welled up in his eye and trickled down his face. Evelyn moved and reached up and kissed his tear, then his cheek, then her lips found his. The kiss was soft and gentle and Rick let Evelyn take the lead for as long as he could. But it only took seconds before...
His body was yearning for hers.
Rick broke the kiss and bent down and picked Evelyn up. As he started walking toward the kitchen doorway, Evelyn laid her forehead against the side of his face and closed her eyes. They still had some things to talk about and work out, but right now...
Her body was yearning for his.
Rick took the stairs two at a time as the blood rushed through his veins. Since words were not needed right now, he was anxious to tell Evelyn in other ways how much he loved her. He wanted to leave her with no doubt about how he felt about her. He wanted her to feel his love from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet.
Rick opened the bedroom door, stepped inside, turned back to the door and kicked it shut. The bedroom was Libido Rick's domain and he took over. He set Evelyn on her feet then backed her up against the door. With urgency, Rick leaned his body into Evelyn's and lowered his head. With possessive aggressiveness, he covered and parted Evelyn's lips and slid his tongue into her mouth. As the duration of the kiss grew, he could not seem to get enough of her sweet mouth. The sighs coming from the back of her throat and the feel of her fingers at the nape of his neck ignited the fire in his blood even more. Rick reached up and roughly put in hands in her mass of hair. His fingers searched for and found the pins that held her hair up and he pulled them out and dropped them to the floor. Then he used his fingers to comb her hair down her back.
Then all of a sudden, Evelyn felt was cold. The kiss had ended and Rick had pulled his warm body from hers. Before Evelyn could open her eyes good to see why Rick had ended the kiss, she was being turned around. Her hair was pulled to the side and slung over her left shoulder as lips landed on the backside of her neck. Evelyn closed her eyes as Rick pulled her back into his chest and wrapped his arms tightly her around the waist. After minutes of kissing, suckling and nibbling on her neck, Rick reached up and began unbuttoning her blouse. Within seconds, the blouse was hanging about her waist and the snaps of her brassiere were being undone.
Rick's lips never left her neck as the palm of one hand glided up her stomach. His finger crept up then down the crevice of her bosom and hooked onto the brassiere. He pulled the brassiere down and off of her then threw it to the side.
Next, the shirt was pulled out of the skirt and dropped to the floor. Then the skirt was unzipped and pushed off of her hips. Evelyn's � slip and underwear soon followed the skirt to the floor. Both of Rick's hands then moved to cupped and squeeze her soft breasts. When he heard a moan from Evelyn, Rick abandoned one breast and moved his hand back down her stomach. His fingers moved through her triangle of hair to the space between her legs. His fingers spread the folds of her flesh and stroked her sensitive spot. Evelyn swallowed hard at his touch and laid her head back on his shoulder. Rick's fingers worked their magic and his lips moved from her neck to her shoulder. Soft moans escaped Evelyn as he rubbed and caressed her.
"R I C K..." she quietly moaned from deep within her throat as the sweet essence of her body began to flow.
The pressure was slow but steady as Rick moved his fingers against her. Tiny cries of pleasure were heard as an urgency began to build in Evelyn. She grabbed his forearm, wanting his fingers to move quicker against her. Rick, however had other plans and kept his pace nice and slow. As her heated juices flowed heavier, Evelyn's hips began to move against Rick's hand.
"R i c k... p l e a s e..." Evelyn begged as her body burned for quick release.
"g o d... I love you Evy" Rick whispered in her ear as he increased the pressure of his fingers and brought her to climax.
"r i c k..." Evelyn groaned as his hot breath, his words and his fingers caused her body to go into pleasant, very pleasant convulsions.
"Feel good?" Rick breathed in a husky before sticking his tongue in her ear.
"oooohhhh..." Evelyn answered as her body spiked with the pleasantness of culmination.
Rick held her close until her aftershocks subsided, then her turned her back around to face him. Evelyn reached up and began to unbutton his shirt as Rick pulled the shirt out of his pants and started unbuttoning it from the bottom. In no time, his shirt was on the floor, his belt was unbuckled and his pants were unzipped.
Rick then took Evelyn's face between his hands and smothered her with another passionate, wet kiss. After long moments of mating with her tongue, he left her lips to explore other parts of her body. Rick's lips kissed bottom lip then her chin before moving lower. He kissed down the center of the column of her neck, then down between her breasts. His lips moved to suckle and nibble the flesh of one breast then the other. Then he licked over one nipple then the other, going back and forth between the two.
Evelyn grabbed his head and held him close to her breast, reveling in the sensations her was invoking in her, wanting more of him. As if he read her mind, Rick, with his lips still attached to her breast, slid his fingers into her moistened orifice and began his erotic ministrations again.
"R I C K!" Evelyn cried out at sharp feeling of pleasure.
Rick moved his finger up and down, left and right, back and forth. When he felt her begin to quiver, he moved his fingers faster and suckled her breast harder.
"ooooohhhhhh!!!" Evelyn groaned as she reached her zenith.
Rick moved both hands to her hips as he kissed between her breasts one last time before lowering himself to kiss down her stomach. By the time he reached her navel, he was on his knees. He licked and kissed feverishly over her womb as her body spiraled down from its zenith. Once Evelyn's tremors waned, Rick lifted her left leg, draped it over his shoulder and wrapped his arm around it to keep it stationary.
"R i c k?" Evelyn breathed, remembering she was still a bit shy was being this exposed to her husband. "What... what are... you doing to me?" she sighed as she put her right hand on his shoulder and her left hand on his head to steady herself on one leg.
Instead of answering her, Rick turned his head and began kissing the inside of her left thigh. He slowly, very slowly kissed and nibbled back and forth over her inner thigh. Rick used his finger to invade her sweet, wet body and caress her insides while his thumb brushed over her erotic bud.
"R i c k... p l e a s e... p l e a s e..." she begged in a low, rasping voice. "aaahhh!!" she shouted as her body reached another pinnacle.
Rick pulled his finger out of her and rubbed up and down her right thigh as Evelyn came down from her high. When she was close to recovering from his onslaught, Rick started in on her again.
With her leg still over his shoulder, Rick used his fingers to open her to his seeking mouth, causing Evelyn to gasp. She dropped her head back against the door, closed her eyes tight and began to tremble at his touch.
"ooohhh! aaaahhhhh!" she groaned as Rick's tongue moved on her. "r i c k!" she cried helplessly as he relentlessly caressed her. "p l e a s e... r i c k... p l e a s e!" she screamed as her body exploded in another climax. "p l e a s e" she whimpered. "p l e a s e..."
Evelyn was begging Rick to give her what she wanted - him. But Rick had other plans. As her body spiraled down from its ecstasy, Rick did not ease his caress. He intensified it. He removed his mouth from her sensitive place and put his fingers there. He rubbed against her almost roughly as he kissed over her womb.
"Rick, P L E A S E" she begged again as she labored to breath and tears formed in her eyes. The ache in her could only be soothed by him. She needed him to fill her, fill her with himself.
Rick ignored her pleas and continued to massage her with his fingers, causing her body to climb the mountain of gratification again. After long minutes of caresses, Evelyn's body became taut as she neared release. When Rick felt her body nearing eruption, he slowed his movement to prolong the sweet agony.
Evelyn thought she would expire from the pleasure. She moaned and moaned and moaned. Then she begged and begged and begged, until finally her body stiffened and found release again.
Rick let go on her leg and let it fall to the floor. He put his hands on her hips and continued to kiss and lick across her stomach. Evelyn put both hands on his shoulders and tried to calm down. As her euphoria subsided, she dropped her head and looked down at the top of his head. When she found her voice, she spoke.
"Please, Rick" she breathed out as her body continued to tremble from his touch. She was begging him to fill the void that was inside her.
As his kisses climbed up her stomach, Evelyn knew Rick would carry her to their bed and satisfy the urgent need she had for him. However, Rick had other plans. He had kissed his way up to her neck and suckled it as he put his hands on her buttocks and pulled Evelyn into his hardened manhood.
Evelyn sighed as she wrapped her arms around his neck and waited to be carried to the bed. Rick moved his hands over her derriere for several seconds as he rubbed his groin against her.
"P l e a s e Rick" Evelyn crooned. "P l e a s e" she begged as she moved her hands to push his unzipped pants and boxers off his hips.
When she did that, Rick could no longer hold himself back. He reached down and put his hand in back of her knee and lifted her left leg.
"Wrapped your leg around me" he whispered in her ear.
Evelyn wrapped her arms around his neck then did as he instructed as Rick held on to her thigh. He then lifted her right leg and Evelyn wrapped that one around him. Rick held her up by her buttocks and pinned her against the door. Evelyn held on to him for dear life as her legs tightened around his hips and her arms tightened around his neck.
"ooohh!!" Evelyn moaned when Rick guided himself into her.
Evelyn was complete once Rick was planted deep inside her. When Rick began his amorous movements, Evelyn felt as if heaven had come down to earth. She never dreamed her husband could make love to her against a door.
"You feel so good baby" he breathed in her ear as he nibbled on it.
"So do you" Evelyn sighed. "I missed you" she groaned as her body found satisfaction from his standing invasion.
They both moaned and groaned their delight as Rick's hips keep up a steady rhythm. They both lost themselves in each other as their bodies became one. They both felt intense pleasure as their love juices began to flow then overflow. They both shouted as their bodies constricted, shuttered and then exploded from the rapture of their lovemaking.
Both had labored breathing as Rick released Evelyn's legs and they slid down the sides his body onto the floor. Rick leaned into Evelyn, resting the side of his face against the side of hers and resting his forearms on the door on either side of her head. Evelyn left her arms hanging over his shoulders as she let out a satisfied sigh.
Chapter 14: Back Where They Belong
The only sound each of them heard was the rapid pounding of their heartbeat and their heavy breathing. They stayed in their respective positions as they caught their breaths and their bodies simmered down. It took a few minutes before heart rates, breathing and body temperatures to return to normal. The void of the past couple of weeks between husband and wife was now filled again and both were glad for that.
Rick could not be more thankful that things were back the way they should be. He had been so afraid that he was going to lose Evelyn and now everything fine. He was not losing Evelyn. She was still his.
He grinned at the thought that she was still, completely his and he turned his head and kissed her ear. He then placed tiny kisses from her ear, across her cheek, to her lips. Rick covered her lips with his, gently opened her lips and drew her tongue into his mouth. He used his tongue to caress hers as he savored her sweet taste. Rick stole back all the kisses he had missed in the last couple of weeks as his mouth devoured hers.
At that moment, Evelyn was where she needed to be, where she wanted to be. In the loving arms of her husband.
'What about the woman?' her mind suddenly asked. 'Can you trust him?'
Evelyn's heart and body did not want to answer those questions. Not now. So she pushed the thoughts out of her mind and allowed herself to succumb to the heated kiss her husband was giving her.
Evelyn reached her hands up and circled his neck and pulled him closer as she pressed herself into his hard body. She sighed as Rick kissed her harder. Then, without breaking the kiss, wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her off the ground. Their lips and tongues never parted as Rick turned and walked over to the bed.
Rick pulled away from their kiss as he bent over and laid Evelyn down on the bed. As Rick looked down at her, all he wanted to do was love her. He spent the next several minutes doing just that. Carefully caressing, tenderly touching.
He covered Evelyn with his body as he placed kisses over her face. He kissed her forehead. He kissed each eyelid. He kissed the tip of her nose. He kissed her left cheek. He kissed her right cheek. He kissed her chin. He kissed her lips.
His every caress, his every touch said 'I love you'. He was gentle as he moved his hands over her body, caressing her breasts, her rib cage, her inner thighs and her womanhood. He used his lips and tongue to suckle her neck, her breasts.
As he hands rested on her hips, Rick used his tongue to trace letters across her stomach.
'I' he traced, then kissed her stomach.
"I" he said gently.
'L' he traced, then another kiss.
'O' he traced, then another kiss.
'V' he traced, then another kiss.
'E' he traced, then another kiss.
"Love" he said softly.
'Y' he traced, then another kiss.
'O' he traced, then another kiss.
'U' he traced, then another kiss.
"You" he said tenderly.
Evelyn was brought to tears as his words touched her in a way they had never done before. She believed every syllable. She believed every letter. She believed every word.
Evelyn basked in the glow of the tender love Rick was making to her. His every caress touched more than just her body. His every caress touched her heart, her very being. Whenever they made love, Rick always touched something deep within her. This time she recognized that he not only made love to her body, he also made love to her soul.
Rick poured himself out for her as he refused to satisfy his need. He simply wanted to satisfy her. Evelyn would not be satisfied, not completely, until Rick filled her with himself.
"Rick..." she whimpered when it seemed as if he would never consummate their lovemaking.
Rick knew what she wanted and he could no longer deny himself. If he denied himself, he would deny her. Rick moved up her body until he was settled over her and between her legs. He put his hands underneath Evelyn's hips and lifted her as he entered her body, slowly and deliberately.
"aaahhh" he moaned as his pleasure increased as he moved deeper inside of her.
Evelyn closed her eyes and relished the feel of him. As he inched his way inside of her, Evelyn felt more complete, more satisfied.
When he was fully embedded inside Evelyn, Rick lowered his face near hers and his lips hovered just above hers.
"Evelyn" he breathed as he ran his finger across her bottom lip.
Evelyn opened her eyes. He looked into her beautiful hazel eyes. She looked into his beautiful blue eyes.
"Promise me" he said with urgency "You won't ever leave me alone."
"I won't" Evelyn promised.
"You own me Evelyn" he moaned as he pulled half way out of her. "You own every part of me" he groaned as he pushed himself back into her. "My heart is yours" he pulled out. "My soul is yours" he pushed in. "My mind is yours" he pulled out. "My body is yours" he pulled out and pushed in.
Rick's lips then met hers and opened them. He caressed her tongue with his as his slow, long strokes paralleled the strokes of his tongue. As their bodies responded to the friction Rick was causing, his strokes increased in speed. He moved his lips to kiss her cheek before he rested his cheek against hers. Evelyn felt his hot breath in her ear as he pounded her body and his breathing became labored.
Their love dance became wild as moans of pleasure escaped their lips. The closer they got to their peak of pleasure the more sensual their moans became.
"aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh" they both moaned when sweet release was found and bodies trembled with the pleasure of it.
When his body stopped it tremors, Rick rolled onto his back and carried Evelyn with him. He kissed her forehead, held her close, and was glad that she was back in his arms.
Evelyn snuggled her head under his chin and closed her eyes. She was home again and it felt good.
Rick lay with Evelyn in his arms until his stomach started growling. He knew Evelyn had fallen asleep because he had heard her snoring. He rolled over on his side and Evelyn rolled on her back, not waking up. He eased out of bed and pulled the covers over Evelyn before pulling on his boxers and heading down to the kitchen.
********************
Evelyn woke up two hours later. She felt pleasantly exhausted as she stretched her sleepy muscles. She smiled as she thought about what transpired just a few hours ago. Evelyn turned onto her side and ran her hand over the spot where Rick had been. She wondered where he had gotten off to as she grabbed his pillow and hugged it to her chest.
Rick.
The man she loved.
Her husband.
The father of her child.
The man she...
'Can you trust him?' her mind intruded.
The smile on Evelyn's face dwindled as reality set in. Yes, she loved him. But did she trust him?
"Hey sleepy head" Rick interrupted her thoughts as he walked into the bed.
Chapter 15: Tug Of War
Evelyn lifted her head and turned toward Rick and watched as he approached the bed. He was dressed and he had that smile... that smile that melted her heart on his face.
'Looks are deceiving. Don't be fooled by that smile' her logical mind reasoned.
'But I love him' her heart rationalized.
'But can you trust him?'
'I want too'
'But can you?'
At that moment Rick sat down on the bed next to her. He leaned down and kissed her naked shoulder, then her cheek. The touch of his lips on her shoulder and on her cheek weakened her logical mind's resolve for a moment. Evelyn laid her head back down on the pillow and closed her eyes as the kiss moved from her cheek to her neck.
'It would be so easy to just forget the last two weeks' her heart reasoned. 'So easy'
'Do you really think you CAN forget?' her mind quickly countered.
'I could try'
'Is that wise?'
'To follow me instead of you?'
'Yes'
'I always follow you. Why can't you follow me sometimes?'
'Following you got us in this mess in the first place'
'I'm not the only one that loves him. You love him too'
'Yes I do but I'M not a fool for love. He was unfaithful...'
'HE WAS NOT! And I'm NOT a fool for love either'
'Just a fool for him'
'I HAVE to forget! WE have to forget'
'Forget that he was unfaithful?'
'HE WAS NOT... he was not unfaithful!!'
'Well... what do you call it?'
Silence...
'Are you going to answer me?'
'We have to forget'
'Why?'
'Because we love him'
'Forget what he did?'
'Yes!'
'What happens the next time there's a fight?'
Silence...
'Will he go running after another woman?'
Silence...
'Will we be in a quandary thinking he had?'
Silence...
'Will we worry ourselves sick every time he walks out of the door?'
Silence...
'Will we torment ourselves wondering whose bed he was in?'
"Rick" Evelyn said as her logical self gained the upper hand.
"hum?" he mumbled as he pulled a patch of skin between his teeth and suckled it.
"rick..." she groaned as she fought against the effect of his ardent kisses on her neck and the hand that had reached up and cupped her breast. "We..." she said weakly as he started rubbing her nipple with the palm of his hand. "We... we need... we have to talk" she sighed as her body began to surrender to the ministrations of his lips and hand.
"Later" he breathed into her ear before latching onto her lope.
Evelyn made her decision in an instance and her logical self no longer had the upper hand.
Later. It would have to be later. Later they would talk. Later she would tell him what she was feeling, how she was torn. Later she would tell him she was afraid she might not bet able to trust him any longer. All that would have to happen. But it would happen later.
But now...
Now Evelyn would push her logical mind aside and follow her heart.
She wanted him. She craved him. She would have him.
Logic, reason, wisdom be cursed!
She allowed herself to forget and she would surrender herself to him.
Rick turned her over onto her back and covered her lips with his and it seemed as if only seconds passed before his body naked covered hers. Rick took his time as he explored her body again and she, though timidly, explored his. When their time came, they both wailed loudly as their bodies found gratification.
Rick rolled off of Evelyn onto his back with a sigh of satisfaction. Evelyn pulled the bed sheet up to cover herself and they both lay there, remaining silent, looking up at the ceiling. Both thinking about the love they had and the love that had been shared between them that afternoon. Only the growl that emitted from Evelyn's stomach broke their tranquility.
"Hungry?" Rick said as he rolled onto his side and laid his arm across her waist.
"A bit" Evelyn laughed lightly.
"Want me to go put some leftovers in the oven for you?" he said as placed a lazy kiss on her cheek.
"Would you? While I hop in the bath."
"Sure thing" he smiled then lifted his head and leaned over and kissed her lips.
Evelyn watched as he got out of bed and pulled on his boxers and pants. After he left the room, she threw the covers off, got out of bed, grabbed her silk robe and went to the bathroom. When Evelyn was finished with her bath and came out of the bathroom, Rick was coming down the hall with a tray in his hands.
"I was coming down" she told him when they met at the bedroom door.
"Thought you might like to have supper in bed" he grinned a lecherous grin.
Rick pushed the door open with his foot and motioned for Evelyn to go ahead of him then he followed her inside. As Evelyn walked toward the bed, she tightened the belt on her robe and took a deep breath. She would not be waylaid this time. After she finished eating, right after she finished eating, she would remind him of the talk they needed to have.
After she settled herself against the headboard, Rick set the tray on her lap. He then went around to his side of the bed, stretched out on his side, propped himself up on his elbow and helped Evelyn eat the food on the tray. Rick did most of the talking, telling Evelyn about all the things he was learning about his new car. Evelyn commented every now and then but her mind was on their pending talk.
When they had finished eating, Rick took the tray and put it on the floor on his side of the bed. As he turned back to Evelyn, she was throwing her legs over the side of the bed.
"Hey" Rick reached out and hooked his arm around her waist before she could stand up. "Where you going?" he asked as he moved to sit behind her, his legs hanging over the side of the bed, snuggling her legs. "I thought we could stay in bed for awhile" he said huskily as he moved her hair to the side and kissed her neck.
His plan was to keep her in bed for the rest of the evening.
"Rick..." Evelyn said. "We need to talk."
"We've... been... talking" he said between kisses.
"Rick..." Evelyn felt herself weakening. "Really... we HAVE to talk. Rick please!" she said when he pulled her belt loose and slid his hand beneath her robe. "It's important" she said as she pulled his hand from beneath her robe, pulled it together and retied the belt. "We have to talk" she said as the stood up and walked out of his reach. "We have to talk" she said again after she turned and faced him.