Chapter 16: Crave

Thane Drogos It would have been nice to stay at Sam's all night. Drinking and catching up, trying to forget about Evelyn. Forget about her curious brown eyes and how she stomped her feet when she didn't get her way. I needed to pick Evelyn up from Desmond's. I'm sure Bells wouldn't mind if she stayed with them for the night, but she was my problem. Des and Bells deserved to enjoy the little time they had together before we disembarked again. Evelyn wouldn't be here for much longer. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy the banter. The fast thinking quips. Made it even more satisfying when I rendered her speechless. I shouldn't have baited her earlier. But I loved to get a rise out of her, see bits and pieces of that defiant little brat I found so appealing. How I would love to lace my fingers through her hair, pull her head back and watch her wide eyes glaze over with defiance. It was a good look on her. And I would do anything to keep the fire inside of her burning. But it's not my place. I couldn't protect her from the future her parents had planned for her. The beast writhed under my skin, the ink tingling and undulating. How the dragon within me wanted to protect her like she was a part of my hoard. The treasure amongst the gold and jewels. I could imagine Evelyn, with freckled thighs and sun-kissed cheeks, lounging across the gold like she belonged there. The image sent sparks of pleasure across my arms. Evelyn had burrowed beneath my skin. I craved her. Fuck. Dangerous. Somehow despite my thoughts, I ended up at Desmond's door. I knocked once and Rio answered. She crossed her arms and arched a playful brow. "How was your evening with my wife?" Instantly, I fired back, "Fiance, Rio. Sam is fair game until you're married." Rio laughed. "Oh, okay." She stepped to the side so I could come in. Under her breath, she muttered, "Jackass." "I heard that," I shot over at her before my younger nephew bombarded me. "Uncle Thane!" Baby William shouted. Hardly a baby anymore, but I would always see him as a baby. It didn't matter how old William got. He will always be Baby William. "Hey, kid!" I greeted, scooping the five-year-old up and balancing him on my hip. "What're you still doing awake?" "Playing with Auntie Evie." "Auntie Evie?" I asked. "You've only known her for a few hours." It seemed like Evelyn let everyone call her Evie but me. It bothered me more than it should. "And I like her! She's funny," Baby William declared. "I'm going to keep her." Hearing such conviction in his little voice made me laugh out loud. "Sorry, buddy, I gotta take Evelyn back with me. I'll bring her for breakfast tomorrow though." "Why? Is she your girlfriend?" he asked, crossing his arms. Kids. No boundaries. "Where is she?" I deflected the question. I knew how kids worked. They'd only ask more questions like answers were never enough. "She's in the kitchen," Rio answered, taking William from me. "Playing chess with your mother." She directed her attention to the little boy. "Time to take you to bed, kiddo." I could vaguely hear William's argument. About how his brother, Roger, got to stay up, so why couldn't he? I chuckled. I actually really liked kids. Shame there wasn't any room for them in my life. So I made do as the best uncle to William and Roger. I turned the corner to the kitchen. The room dead silent. Locked in a focused chess move. I didn't think anyone else was in the kitchen, but Desmond watched intensely over a glass of rum. Bells leaned on him, awaiting the next move. Even Roger seemed enthralled by the match. More soft-spoken than his younger brother. Shy, but always nice to see him light up when something excited him. I had never seen a chess game as intense as the one between my mother and Evelyn. Equal pieces on either side. Evelyn's eyes narrowed as she examined the board. I could see the gears turning in her brilliant little head. I leaned against the doorway, waiting and watching. A smile played on my lips. My mother canted her head to the side, taking a healthy drink of her spirit of choice. Evelyn made her move. "Check." The entire room gasped, and my mother moved her piece. I watched Evelyn's lips quirk to the side in a smug smile as she slid her bishop over. "Checkmate, Katarina." My mother rarely looks impressed. Her lips curled into a smile, tongue pressed against her teeth in satisfaction. "You got me." The kitchen roared with excitement. Evelyn beamed as Desmond clapped her on the back. She looked up and noticed me standing in the doorway. Almost immediately, her cheeks blossomed with the pink hue I liked so much. Desmond turned. "Oh, hey! Thane! You missed a riveting game of chess." I chuckled, "Looked like it." After goodbyes and friendly chatter, I escorted Evelyn out the door with me. "I'm by the beach. Not far." She didn't reply, following me out the door. The island was blanketed in silence. The only light on the pathway was the moon's reflection off the sand. I glanced back at Evelyn, who looked at the stars. Glittering and shiny, revealing a vast galaxy above us. "Nothing like it," I murmured. "Can't get a view like that in Avalon." "No, you can't." She paused, following me down the dimly lit path. "You lied to me earlier." I opened the door to my cabana and lit an oil lamp resting on my modest dining room table. Much smaller than Desmond's family table, but Rio built mine too. I turned around to see Evelyn leaning against the wall, arms crossed as if she wanted me to admit something. "And?" "You wanted to upset me. Why?" She demanded an answer with how she rested her hand against her hip, big doe eyes narrowed. My breath hitched when I realized how breathtaking she looked standing there, bathed in soft yellow light. I made a throaty noise, stepping next to her and hanging my jacket on the door-side hook. I leaned against the wall, facing her. "So it upset you?" Even in the dim light, I saw how her cheeks darkened. Her lips parted, but she would not back down from her question. She looked up at me, those innocent brown eyes flickering down to my mouth if only for a moment. "Stop dancing around my questions, Thane," she said, her voice quiet, breathy. Like she was afraid of being too loud. "Maybe I enjoy getting a rise out of you, sweetheart," I replied, keeping my voice equally quiet. Not wanting to break the spell she cast between us. "Why?" I couldn't help myself as I reached across the gap and ran the pad of my thumb down her flushing cheeks. Just as warm as I thought they'd be. Silky and soft under my rough hands. "No telling." My fingers trailed lower, feeling her pulse slamming against the vein in her throat, proving to me I had as much of a powerful effect on her as she did on me. My skin tingled with even the slightest touch. She would destroy me. I would let her. "Tell me, Evelyn. Did it bother you to think I had a lover back home?" Her breath came out quickly. "No." My eyes were drawn to her pretty pink mouth, wanting nothing more than to capture it. Tangle my tongue with hers. Drag her lithe body against mine to see how badly I could make her tremble. My cock stirred in my pants, eager to see how she felt underneath all her clothes. Feel all of her softness. God, how I yearned to slide my hands up her blouse and play with her hardening nipples. Tease the peaks with my tongue and hear how badly I affected her. Those decadent noises she made while pleasuring herself lived in my head. I could never escape them. They plagued my dreams, tempting me at every moment. I wanted her. Fuck. I craved her. Craved her touch. Her taste. My desire to be her first struck me hard, the longing to show her how I could please her. Teach her how to touch me. Learn what she likes and fulfill it for her. Fantasies I didn't deserve to have. I could feel myself get caught up in her loveliness, but I couldn't stay there. Regret always followed too closely behind. I couldn't have her. I drew away, fighting against myself. Every fiber of my being wanted to stay, trapped under her presence, breathing her in. "Now, who's lying?" Evelyn gaped as I pulled away, stepping further into my cabana to light a few other lanterns. The space in my cabana wasn't very large, but it had high ceilings, a loft for my bed, and a sitting area for me to enjoy my beverage of choice. Evelyn followed me. "I'm not lying." The waver in her voice gave her away, but if she wanted to stick to that story, then she could lie to herself as much as she wanted. "Sure, sweetheart." "I'm not!" She slammed her foot down, crossing her arms. I turned around, greeted by her tapping her foot, arms crossed with an adorable scowl on her face. She looked like such a fucking brat. A jolt of desire shot through me, causing my cock to harden further in my pants. "Keep acting like a brat, and I'll spank you like one," I stated. Her eyelids fluttered, pupils, eating the brown of her eyes. Darkening with lust. Fuck. Don't look at me like that. The quip was supposed to scare her, not tempt her. Another pang of desire stroked me, carnal hunger pounding beneath my skin. My cock throbbed, eagerly awaiting the chance to throw her across my lap. Evelyn thought of it too. I could tell by the way her nipples tightened under her blouse. I could see how my words affected her. And that only turned me on more. I wondered if she was getting wet. I wanted to see for myself. Bury my face between her thighs and taste her. My entire body thrummed, the desire bubbling under my skin. "Admit it, princess. You were only angry because you want me too," I said. Her lips parted, and her tongue licked her bottom lip. "Too?" I didn't mean to say it, but I couldn't take it back now. I leaned down, only a few inches from her face. "Do you want to know who I was thinking about the other day?" Rosy cheeks darkened even further. "I don't know what you're talking about." "You're a terrible liar. You remember. You watched. I could hear how much you enjoyed the show." She gulped, her breath fanning my face. "Who were you thinking about?" I paused, debating whether I should fan the flames. But I wasn't thinking with my head. I wanted to watch that flush travel down her elegant neck, pinken her skin across her collarbone. "You… I imagined you." Her breath hitched, her eyes searching mine for the lie. Her eyes widened when she realized she couldn't find it. "But I can't have you, Evelyn." I pulled back, trying to shake myself of her intoxicating scent. The sweetening of the surrounding air. I could practically smell her arousal. Her sweet brown eyes darkening with excitement, beckoning me to drop to my knees in front of her. But it would be a mistake. Evelyn's hand shot up, and she gripped the collar of my shirt. "I'm tired of people deciding for me," she breathed, eyes unbelievably dark. "Call me Evie." With all the strength she could muster, she pulled me down, capturing my lips with hers in a forceful kiss. Fuck. The taste of her mouth set me on fire.