Falling In (29 page)

That evening after the servants moved the tree to the foyer, boxes were placed all around and she and Lucian decorated it. Each ornament was made of glass or crystal or some other fragile material. They reminded Evelyn of jewels. They were beautiful.

Carols played, but other than that the house was quiet. “Where is everybody?” she asked, realizing she hadn't even seen Lucy in some time.

“They went home to be with their own families. They won't be back until the first. What? Why are you laughing?”

She pressed her lips tight, but her amusement was impossible to disguise. “Lucian, you'll starve. How are you going to make it a week without people waiting on you hand and foot?”

He smiled and grabbed her by the waist. His fingers dug into the tender, ticklish skin at her side and she squealed. “It just so happens, Ms. Keats,” he said, pressing his lips against her neck. “I'm a wonderful cook.”

His mouth sealed to her throat and his hold gentled. Her body went slack in his hold as he kissed her. Breathlessly, she whispered, “I doubt there's anything you don't do wonderfully.”

He gazed at her. Twinkle lights reflected in the black of his eyes. Evelyn's lashes lowered as he pressed his lips to hers, and her body sang as he deepened the kiss. He lifted her off the floor and she held on to his shoulders, legs wrapped tight around his hips, as he carried her up the stairs, never once breaking the kiss.

Fingers tugged at buttons and zippers until they were both naked. Lucian kissed her with such passion, she slowly melted into a puddle of wax. His palms turned her hips until she faced the tall post of the four-poster bed. He guided her hands above her shoulders and pressed his fingers over hers until she was holding on to the post.

His mouth traced the gentle curve of her neck. The heat of his tongue trailed down her spine. She yipped when his teeth pinched her ass, but he soothed away the bite with languid kisses.

Shivers scattered up her back and over her breasts as he continued to kiss her everywhere with those soft lips of his. She was wet and needy. Her breathy moans whispered through the room. He licked at the backs of her knees and ran the tips of his fingers over the swell of her hips. His eyes caressed her right alongside his fingers and mouth.

When he had her truly trembling with need, he turned her toward the high bed and planted her palms on the edge of the mattress. Her feet were nudged apart and his finger trailed down her spine. She arched with his touch, completely under his seductive command.

He filled her in one hard thrust that had her up on her toes. It was intense, but not what she would consider rough. His body blanketed hers as he took her from behind, possessed her. His cock sank deep into her sex and his arms wrapped around her waist, holding her tight. Fingers grazed her swaying breasts, and her nipples sent shock waves to her center every time he pinched the tender tips.

She was grateful Lucian had taken her to visit with Dr. Sheffield. The birth control she was now on was a forgotten matter she wouldn't have to readdress for another year. The doctor had inserted something inside of her that pinched for only a minute, and now they were safe to touch each other freely and as often as they pleased.

Lucian drew her hips back forcefully, possessively. He owned her body in that moment, and she never enjoyed surrendering more. Slow, deep thrusts filled her and soon she was crying out her release. He withdrew and her sex was suddenly lonesome and cold.

The mattress pressed into her back as she was lifted and turned. Lucian raised her ankles and kissed the soft spot just below where his thumbs held. He pulled her legs into a wide V, and she was full once more. His gaze never left her, and she felt as if he were looking into her soul.

His dark throat worked and his jaw ticked as he filled her with his hot release. Her body was no longer her own. Her body felt free and cherished, as did her mind. A tremor of fear slipped past her contentment. This feeling she kept hiding from, the one that kept chasing her thoughts into corners, was becoming too big to ignore. It made her want to place distance between Lucian and herself, yet at the same time, the thought of even a brief moment without him terrified her. Giving up Lucian, she feared, would be worse than living without air.

***

Evelyn awoke to something tugging at her hand. Turning, she blindly felt for Lucian, but his side of the bed was cold. Something tugged at her finger. As she rubbed her eyes, she heard the quiet hum of Christmas carols. She could smell the piney fragrance of the tree from downstairs and the trace of fresh-brewed coffee.

There was a thin, red satin bow tied to her ring finger. The ribbon hanging from it pulled taut and her finger pinched. She stood. Inching one hand over the other, she followed the red ribbon trail out of the bedroom. Once she reached the hall, she unraveled the ribbon from where it looped over the clawed foot of a chair and discovered a note. Evelyn collected the slip of paper and followed the ribbon farther down the hall.

The carols grew louder, but still remained only a soft part of the background. She discovered one note after another, wishing more and more that she could read just one of them. When she approached the top of the stairs, she found Lucian sitting in a chair that had been moved to the foyer. He wore a satin robe and held the other end of the long ribbon. Smiling, he gave the ribbon a tug.

He was like no one else in this world. Common sense told her nothing lasted forever, and sublime happiness only meant the sadness that followed would hurt all the more. But Evelyn recognized how happy she was and pushed away her ever-present trepidation.

As she stepped off the bottom stair, she gathered the bundle of ribbon and walked to Lucian. He tugged until she leaned down and kissed him. “Merry Christmas,” he whispered.

“Merry Christmas.”

He took her hand and traced a finger over the bow. “Just what I wanted, already wrapped for me in a pretty bow.” He undid the bow and pulled her to his lap. He kissed her soundly and left her dizzy. “Now that I've opened my present, which I cannot wait to play with all day, how about you open yours?”

She tilted her head and he tipped his chin, gesturing toward the tree. She swiveled in his lap and gasped. Boxes and boxes of beautifully wrapped gifts covered the skirt of the tree, spilling onto the floor.

“They're not all for me . . .” Evelyn said, a bit overwhelmed by such grandeur.

“Of course they are. I had twenty-two Christmases to make up for. Come on.” He pulled her to the floor and she sat paralyzed. There was just so much.

“Here,” he said, placing a small box in her lap. “Open this one first.”

She hesitated. “Wait. I have something for you too.”

Slipping off his lap, she returned to the bedroom. She quickly used the bathroom and went to her bags stowed in the closet. There, inside her small, rumpled sack sat his gift. It was not enough to fill beneath a tree or even weigh down a single branch, but it was what she could afford and she put a lot of thought into it.

Her lips thinned nervously as she made her way back down the grand staircase. Lucian looked up, his expression curious and adorably childlike. He smiled. “You got me another gift?”

He'd worn the belt she'd purchased often. This was nothing as extravagant, but she hoped he'd like it all the same. She handed him the small box. “It's nothing special.”

He took the package and glanced down at it then back to her. “Of course it's special. People don't give me things often. Your thoughtfulness is a gift in itself, Evelyn.”

She lowered her gaze, his praise warming her heart. “Open it.”

The sound of paper tearing played over the soft hum of carols. He lifted the lid and stilled. “Oh, Evelyn.”

“I saw it at a pawnshop months ago and asked Dugan to pick it up for me. It isn't new, but I liked it and thought you would too.”

She held her breath as he lifted the vintage pocket watch out of the box. It was scratched and slightly tarnished, but it still told time. She wanted him to always remember their time together, even if a time came when they were no longer a part of each other's lives.

“It's beautiful. I love it.” His expression was sincere. As a matter of fact, he seemed beyond moved by the gift.

“It really isn't much.”

His gaze shot to hers and his brow lowered. “I think it's one of the nicest things anyone's ever given me. I'll keep it with me always.” He pulled her to his lap and kissed her. Tucking the watch into the silk pocket of his robe, he leaned over and handed her the gift she'd left on her chair. “Here. Open it.”

Her fingers trembled as she carefully undid the tapings. She had never unwrapped a present before. It made her sad to destroy such lovely coverings. Some odd hoarder part of her personality that she didn't know she had wanted to save every bit of paper and tuck it away to look at on rainy days, memories of brighter times.

Once she had the box opened she peeled back the tissue and pulled out a canvas bag. “It's a bag.”

“A
new
bag,” Lucian stated the obvious. “You can finally get rid of that ratty old thing you take everywhere.”

She appreciated the practicality of the gift. When the time came, a new bag would come in handy. She tried not to overanalyze the fact that Lucian had just given her a gift that would only be used if they separated.

“Thank you.”

“Here, do this one next.” He seemed to enjoy giving the gifts as much as a little kid opening them.

The next was a gorgeous sweater, after that, a pair of sapphire earrings. She didn't mention that her ears weren't pierced. They were as lovely in their velvet box as they would be on her lobes.

The morning continued in the same pattern. She'd open a gift, thank Lucian, and then she'd find another in her lap. She simply couldn't comprehend such generosity and indulgence. The pile never seemed to end. She'd been given clothes, gowns, shoes, jewelry, an iPad, perfume, expensive soaps and lotions, a robe, and more. It became so overwhelming, she lost track.

She peeled back the paper of a heavy box and lifted the lid. Books. Her smile trembled nervously and Lucian said, “It's Henry David Thoreau.
Walden
is by far one of the most eloquently written pieces of literature I've ever read. I think you'll like it.”

It was simply too much. Her eyes stung and she blinked. “Oh, Lucian . . .”

“What's the matter? Have you read it?”

Emotion choked her. She worked to make her voice audible. “No,” she whispered. “I've never read it.”

He pulled it from her lap and placed a thinly wrapped package in her lap. “Open this one.”

Her fingers trembled. She didn't want to open any more presents. As the corner tore and the pretty paper was spoiled, she stopped. She just couldn't do anymore.

“Evelyn?”

Lifting her brow, she looked at Lucian apologetically. “Can we stop for a while?”

She saw his confusion, but he nodded. “Okay, baby. How about I make us some breakfast?” She nodded, needing to get away from all the gifts for a while.

Lucian made French toast for breakfast. It was delicious. She loved watching him cook. He seemed so relaxed, so ordinary. She found herself wishing he were.

“What time will your sisters get here?”

He glanced at the clock. “Probably sometime in the next two hours.”

A nervous tickle danced across her chest. “Should we be cooking something?”

“The turkey's been in the oven since five. Isadora will bring the sides, and Antoinette will bring the desserts. I provide the booze, and Lucy dressed the formal dining room before she left.”

“What should I wear?”

“Wear whatever you're comfortable in. It's just family.”

Yes, but not her family. Evelyn thought about Pearl and wondered how she was enjoying her holiday. So much time had gone by since she spoke to her. She'd never been away from her mother for more than a few days. “Lucian, can I call my mom?”

He stilled as if he hadn't considered Pearl. “Of course. I'm sorry, Evelyn. I should've let you do that first thing. If you want, we can go see her before my sisters arrive.”

She shook her head. “No. I don't think I'm up for that. I just want to call and wish her a merry Christmas.”

He handed her a phone and a business card with a number hand written on the back. He busied himself with the dishes as she made the call. Pearl sounded . . . anxious.

She was very curious about how long she'd stay at rehab and when Evelyn was coming to visit. Evelyn promised they'd come in the next couple of days, and in a paranoid whisper Pearl asked if she could come alone. She figured that would be okay, so she said yes. Her mother admitted she was very tired and they ended the call.

That was the first time she had ever talked to her mother on a phone. It was impersonal and distant. Evelyn didn't like not being able to see her face. She thought hearing her voice would help her awkward mood, but it didn't. She felt . . . lost.

Everything was unfamiliar. Even Lucian wasn't being his usual self. He was doing dishes for Christ's sake! She excused herself to go take a shower, thinking that might help.

After her shower she selected a burgundy sweater dress paired with black tights and spiked black leather boots that went to the knee. She wore her hair down, not because Lucian preferred it that way, but because it acted as a shield. With every minute that ticked by she grew more and more nervous.

Lucian entered the room and eyed her curiously. She had been sitting on the edge of the bed staring at nothing for the past twenty minutes.

“Evelyn?”

“Hey.”

“Baby, what's wrong?”

She shrugged. “I don't know. The best way I can explain it is . . . I feel . . . homesick. I know that doesn't make sense because I don't have a home, but that's the best way I can put it.”