Page 13 of This I Promise

When Evan steps away to get me another bottle of water, I find myself alone with Cici. “So,” she begins, rocking back on her heels. “What’s going on between you two?”

Seriously? This again?

I sigh, trying not to be annoyed with my friend. “I’ve told you. Nothing is going on. We’re just friends.”

“Pfft. Friends my ass.” She snorts. “That man hasn’t taken his eyes off you this whole time.”

“He’s always like that. Been that way since we were kids. He’s just protective—that’s all.” I feel like a broken record, because I know I’ve told her this before.

I glance at Evan across the room, next to the buffet table, talking to Miles. When his gaze lands on mine, his full lips part into his signature charming smile, the one that reaches his eyes and shows the slight dimple in his right cheek.Man, he’s hot.

Not now, hormones! Keep your panties on!

“Look at you,” she scolds, and brings my attention back to our conversation. “You have hearts in your eyes.”

“I do not. You’re being ridiculous.”

“Oh, am I?” Cici lifts her eyebrows and catches me staring at Evan again. “I’m just saying, Abby. It’s not a good idea to live with the guy if you’re not ready to admit that you want more. Because I’m pretty damn sure that he does.”

I’m still staring at him while he ignores Miles’s disapproving expression before strolling over to me.

“He doesn’t, Cici. He’s fine with things the way they are,” I say, but my voice lacks conviction. God, what would she say if she knew we were having sex too? She’d probably tattle on me to my mom.

But… is he fine with things the way they are?

He promises he is, and he hasn’t said anything otherwise. I know I’m starting to feel more than just friendship toward him, but I chalk it up to hormones and the constant proximity. I refuse to allow my heart to feel hope that this could be something more than it is, because I’ll only end up crushed when it isn’t.

Cici doesn’t say anything else, and someone calls her away just as Evan approaches with my water. I take a moment to appreciate how sexy he looks in jeans and a fitted black Henley shirt. I picked it out last night after we took a shower together.

Heat stirs in my belly as sordid memories come flooding back. I’ve gained some weight over the last six months, but Evan had no problem lifting me up and fucking me against the tiles. It was spontaneous and erotic. I mean, how could I saynowhen a hot naked man offers to wash my hair for me?

“What are you thinking about, Sunshine?” He removes the lid from the bottle before handing it to me, but the smirk on his face tells me that he has a pretty good idea as to what’s going on in my head.

“I’m not thinking about anything,” I lie with a coy smile while batting my eyelashes.

“Hmm… I guess I should fix that, huh?” Mischief shimmers in Evan’s eyes as he grabs my hand and tugs me along behind him. He glances around the room to see who might be watching, and when he’s confident the coast is clear, he pulls me down a deserted hallway that leads to the back of the building.

We reach a large empty conference room and he guides me inside before quietly shutting the door behind us. “Smallbusinesses rent this space sometimes,” he explains as he locks the door.

“Do you have business to attend to, sir?” I feign innocence as wetness pools between my legs.

“Veryimportant business.”

He drags my body flush against his, crashing his mouth to mine while his rough hands skate across my skin beneath my dress. This man is obsessed with my ass, so I’m not surprised when he slides his palms over my hips and grabs two handfuls of my pillowy flesh.

As soon as he touches my bare flesh, his dark eyes pop open and he breaks our kiss with a wicked grin. “You naughty girl. Prancing around a party with no panties.Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

My only response is a warm heat that rises to the surface of my skin on my neck and face.

His eyes flash with desire. Then he walks us to the massive table in the center of the room. I rise on the balls of my feet to kiss him, but he sets me on the cold surface and presses on my chest until I’m lying on my back. Dragging my ass to the edge, Evan lifts the skirt of my dress, exposing my naked, wet pussy before throwing my legs over his broad shoulders.

My body trembles when he strokes my glistening slit with the tip of his index finger. “Better keep quiet, Sunshine,” he warns. “Unless you want everyone to hear how I make you come with my dick.”

I bite my lip and groan, but nod my compliance. The thrill of getting caught sends a current of electricity through my veins, and I grip the side of the table as I wait with heated anticipation.

He teases my entrance, plunging two fingers deep inside me. Curling them in a come-hither motion over the sensitive spot that has my back arching off the table.

“You’re so wet,” he whispers in my ear, his voice full of lust. “Have you been thinking about this all day too? Aboutme fucking you senseless while everyone enjoys themselves outside?”

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