I laugh at her tame response. I love that she’s so shy. I got a tiny glimpse of her sexual side in the car today, and I’m looking forward to bringing that part of herself out in the open again.
Get some sleep, Evie. I’ll see you again soon, beautiful. ;)
Night, Valeri.
I toss my phone aside and drive back into downtown. She’s not the only one who needs to get some sleep. I’m going to need to figure something out because this schedule is going to kill me. I’m guessing she won’t appreciate me barging in and changing her life, but it’s coming because I’ll be damned if I’m going to let her stay in a house with some raving, drunk jackass and continue to let her work a job that forces her to stay up all night long doing janitorial work. Some big changes are coming Evie’s way, because I like her. I like her way more than I should for only knowing her a few days, but there’s no denying that I want her, and I’m not so sure I’m going to want to let her go.
Chapter 5
Evie
I’m still riding the high from our date when I get off work the next morning. I’d been so scared my dad would know I was late coming in, but he’d been passed out on the couch and none the wiser. I’d woken up to several texts from Valeri, and not even a night of cleaning up other people’s messes had been able to put a damper on my mood. After I say goodbye to Jerry, who’s clearly curious about my unusually good mood but too sweet to pry, I shove my coveralls into my bag and make my way out of the building.
We haven’t officially made any plans for today, so I’m trying to not get my hopes up, but as soon as I step outside and see Valeri, it’s like every cell in my body lights up. A voice in the back of my head is warning me to not get too attached to him, but when he cups my face and brings his lips to mine, that voice is quickly silenced by the taste and feel of him. He cups my face so damn sweetly, slowly leading me backwards until I’m flush against the building and he’s cocooning me with his much larger body. I’ve never felt so safe in my life.
He’s careful to keep a few inches between our bodies, and I wonder if he has any idea how inexperienced I am. I’d like to think I’m doing an okay job of hiding it, but I really have no fucking clue what I’m doing. All I know is I’ve never felt like this before, and I want more. His tongue runs over mine, sending another spark of pleasure straight to my pussy, making me think it might actually be possible to orgasm from just a kiss. Something tells me that if anyone could do it, it would be Valeri. The man is obviously quite skilled.
When he pulls back and rests his forehead against mine, I’m out of breath and feeling a little lightheaded. “Wow, you’re really good at that,” I tell him.
He smiles and gives my top lip a soft bite. “It’s all you,lapochka.” His tongue runs lightly over my lips. “I’ve been thinking about kissing you all fucking night.”
“You told me you’d tell me what that word means.”
Pulling back, I smile when I see his dimple. “Is this a date, though?” He checks the large, black, military-style watch on his wrist, the one that looks like it costs more than I made all of last year, and looks around. “I’m not so sure it counts as a date if it’s not even seven in the morning.”
“I think it does. We’re together, aren’t we?”
He leans closer and cups my face. “We’re definitely together, Evie.”
I blush because I’m not sure if he means that we’re together as a couple or if he’s just talking about us being together here, and I’m too embarrassed to ask. His finger lightly runs over the bruise that’s still covering my cheek.
“Lapochkais similar to sweetheart in Russian,” he murmurs, studying my face and smiling when I feel my skin heat up, knowing I’ve just turned a deeper shade of red. People who don’t blush have no idea how embarrassing it is. I have absolutely no control over it, and it’s always giving my awkwardness away, making it impossible to just play it cool.
“It just so happens that I planned ahead, and I have a way to officially turn this into a date. Do you have a couple of hours?”
“Yeah, that should be fine.”
“Good.” He gives me one more quick kiss and then grabs my hand, threading his fingers through mine before leading me down the concrete stairs and to his car. He opens the door for me and helps me in, and once again I’m surprised by how sweet he is. I’ve never met or been around anyone like him. He makes me feel special and cared for and not like I’m poor, pathetic Evie. He has no idea that Evie exists. I can be myself with him and not the person that everyone else sees me as. It’s like being given a clean slate.
While he drives us across the city, I keep looking around, trying to figure out where he’s taking me. When he’s not shifting, he’s resting his hand on my thigh, and I love how he always reaches out for me. I hadn’t realized how starved I’ve been for affection. Aside from the little side hugs I give Gale sometimes, I don’t get touched. My mom was affectionate, but she died when I was ten, and it’s hard to live off memories because they will never be enough.
Valeri turns down a gravel side road that leads into a forest before opening up in front of the ocean. I stare out my window, watching the waves crash against the beach before turning to look at him. He’s studying my reaction, trying to gauge if I like it or not. My face must say it all because he smiles before popping the trunk and getting out. I quickly follow, meeting him behind the car.
He laughs and hooks a finger under my chin. “You really don’t like waiting for me to open the door for you, do you?”
“I just forget,” I tell him. “Plus, I’m really curious what you have back here.”
Giving me a wink, he opens the trunk, and I clap my hands in excitement when I see the picnic basket and plaid blanket. He laughs at my reaction and then reaches down to untie his boots.
“Come on,” he says when I keep standing there. “You’re not going to want to get sand in your shoes.”
I tug off my old sneakers and tuck my socks inside, thanking whoever is listening that I’m not wearing a pair of holey socks today and set them inside next to his black boots. We both roll up our jeans before he grabs the basket and I grab the blanket. Walking out onto the sand, I look up at him and smile. It’s been years since I’ve been to see the ocean, and I’ve missed it. The sun isn’t high in the sky yet, but it’s out, and I can tell it’s going to be bright and sunny later on. The nice cool breeze coming off the water makes the long-sleeve tee I’m wearing perfect, and when Valeri’s satisfied with the spot, he helps me spread out the blanket before sitting down and patting the space next to him.
“It’s so beautiful here,” I tell him, looking around at the empty beach. “How’d you find it?”
“I know a lot of interesting, private places,” he says, giving me a smile. My traitorous mind immediately assails me with images of him bringing all kinds of other women here, and the place suddenly doesn’t seem all that awesome. He notices my mood change, even though I try to hide it. Reaching out, he cups the back of my head and pulls me closer. “You’re the only woman I’ve ever brought here, Evie.” He points to the right. “You see that big rock down there by the fence line?”
I look over and nod my head.
