Chapter Fifty-two Evan Sterling's POV (Ten Years Before)

My time with her in Paris was the most beautiful I have ever spent on earth. It was hard, damned hard to stop myself at times from slipping deep inside her, and submitting to the euphoria she kindled in me, but I always stopped myself. I have no idea how, but I did it, time and time again day after day. The intimacy between us grew and it was almost as if we have being a couple for years.
We did almost everything together and my favorite highlight of each day was the few minutes we spend having pillow talks, arguing over silly things before we cuddle and slept.
“Why can’t I get a tattoo though? What do you have against it?”
“Nothing! I just like your skin the way it is!”
I could hardly envisage my life without her now and I abhorred the thought of returning to Charlestown. Because that meant a return to reality where we would be forced to live separate lives and sleep on separate beds miles apart.
The night before we left Paris, I went out to get an engagement ring. I tried to keep it simple but elegant, and of course expensive. I needed her to know that each time I said she was mine. I meant it. And to reaffirm again and again that I want forever with her. But this time I wanted something tangible that would remind her every single second that I am hers and she was taken.
She was in the kitchenette in our suite when I returned. She wore one of my shirts with her hair held up in a ponytail. I went to stand by her side, and she tilted her face up for a kiss. I leaned forward, smiling and quickly removed my suit to place it on the marble-covered island table beside me.
Reaching forward to frame her waist, and catching her unawares, I lift her up to sit on the island table.
"I want to make dinner, baby," she protested.
"I don’t want you making dinner tonight on our last night here," I replied, pressing a kiss on her lips.
"But I love cooking for you."
"I know, love, and I also love eating your food—you want to know what else I love? Eating the cook," I teased. She giggled and then shivered as I caressed her naked thighs, trailing my fingers up to the apex of the slim pair. My heart quickened when I discovered she wasn't wearing underwear.
I made her move forward and perched on the edge as I snuggled in between her legs, raising my right hand to frame the side of her neck, I kissed her on the lips. She moaned into my mouth when my thumb stroked her vulva and brushed gently against her clit.
"Evan--" she moaned, clutching the front of my shirt. She then raised one hand to wrap around my neck, kissing me back fervently.
I almost forgot why I had made her sit on the table in the first place. My cock throbbed.
"You are dangerous, beautiful," I mumbled against her lips.
"I was here, minding my business, and you came and started something you must now finish — my love," she replied. I laughed. Giving her a love bite on her lips.
"Fine, I will, but first, I have something for you," I said, and my eyes grew dim as she unbuckled my belt, pulled out my shirt to start undoing the buttons and then wrapped her long slim legs around my hips.
I had to shut my eyes and count from 1 to 10 to calm my emotions. She always does that--tempt me to take her. And gosh, how I loved it when she did. Knowing she wanted me as hopelessly as I craved her.
I removed the ring box from my jacket, letting her see it. The action made her stop. Her quiet gasp filled the room as she darted widened gazes at me then to the red, velvety box.
Under her scrutiny, I opened the box, letting her see the ring. The white diamond shone, beautifully under the kitchen light.
"Do you like it?" I asked. She raised misty eyes to meet mine and she nodded. I beamed at her. Taking her left hand, I lowered my head to press a kiss on the back of her hand, while holding her gaze. "I want you to wear it for me. I want it to serve as a reminder of the promise you made to me, to be mine forever--" I said, and had to pause to swallow. The swell of emotions clogged my throat, making it hard to continue. She raised her right hand to cup my jaw, looking intensely into my eyes. I could see her love for me in those beautiful eyes and I knew she could see mine as well.
"You will marry me, wouldn't you, my darling?" I asked.
"I want nothing more--" she whispered in a shaky voice and tears spilt down her face I was certain I was crying too cos my face felt wet and my eyes were blurry. I took out the ring and slipped it on her ring finger. Then dropped the case and lunged forward for her, kissing her as if my life depended on it. I was so happy. I felt utterly complete. There was nothing I could compare to it.
I later took her out for dinner in the hotel restaurant. She wore a white dress with a bare back. The front had a plunging neckline and showed ample cleavage, displaying her lovely golden skin tone, and accentuating the seductive swell of her breast. She packed her hair in elegant French braids, exposing her high cheekbones and her exotic hazel-colored eyes.
She was exquisite and I couldn’t take my eyes away from her. Most of the other guests in the hotel that met us thought we were newlyweds and we didn’t bother correcting them. It was after all what we wanted — what we wished for. I supposed it was because I couldn’t take my hands off of her or bear to have her leave space between our bodies. What can I say? I couldn’t help myself.
After dinner, we strode to the open patio of the expansive space with our drinks in hand. The extended paved outdoor overlooked a wide swimming pool area with white lounging chairs framing it. The night light coupled with the dim shine of the outdoor lamps created a magical ambience of glittering water on the shadowy grounds. The weather was cold but bearable. I took in a deep breath drawing in the cool fresh air. We both walked close to the guarding rails, and I reached for her to wrap a free arm around her waist, drawing her close to my body.
In response, she tilted her face up and I craned my neck to drop a kiss on her lips. I could taste the red wine she opted for on her lips and tongue as I explored her mouth, kissing her and slowly drowning in the euphoria kindled by the taste of her and her scent.
“Estera—” I whispered and the need to have her was evident in the soft sound.
“I love you,” she whispered in reply. I lost my head. If I could I was sure I would have pulled her to a corner of the open space, make her lean over the railings, and fuck her in the open. She affected me in ways I could not explain.
Returning back home felt strange to me. I kind of hated it, knowing I would have to go and stay with my parents and Estera would have to stay at the chalet with her Aunt. As we got closer to the point when we would have to separate, the conversation ceased. The ride home was the worst. At least on the plane, we were alone and I could hold her, touch her and kiss her unending.
I had called Henry to come to get us. And she left a wide enough space between us, sitting right behind the driver's seat staring out of the window. I was behind the passenger seat, impatiently tapping my right leg for no reason. And just when Henry veered through the back estate gate, heading to the chalet, the thought that her Aunt may be at home waiting for her, which would prevent me from saying a proper goodbye, made me snap, "Stop!" The car came to a sudden halt, causing us to jerk forward. "Excuse us for a minute, Henry,” I said in a tight voice.
"Yes, boss," he said promptly and stepped out of the car, shutting the door firmly behind him, he went to stand right in front of the car, backing it.
"Evan?" Estera called and I turned my face to meet her gaze.
"I feel like the closer we get to parting ways the more I find it hard to breathe," I said through clenched teeth. And she lunged forward to press her lips against mine. Her arms wrapped around my head and all I could do was wrap my arms around her, lifting her to straddle me and just hold on tightly as she kissed me with an impassioned urgency, sobbing quietly.
"Shh … " I whispered against her lips. "It's a good thing your Aunt knows. I suppose she would not mind having me come around—"