“Casey,” she sighed happily just as he murmured, “Evelyn,” against her lips before taking them in a deep kiss filled with satisfaction. She sensed his every feeling in the way his mouth moved against hers. The way his tongue tangled with her. Each nip was one filled with wonder.
He pulled away with a smug smile. “You’re a screamer,” he teased.
She felt her cheeks bloom red. “I didn’t mean to.”
“I’m gonna make you scream again, sweetheart,” he kissed her cheek. “As many times as I can.”
Her pussy contracted at his words, and if his groan was any indication, he obviously felt it as well. Collapsing on top of her, he buried his face in her neck, and she could feel him murmuring something but couldn’t hear the actual words.
“What are you saying?” She finally mustered the courage to ask him.
Turning his head so his lips were at her ear, he whispered what she thought might be a prayer. “Thank you for giving me such a perfect creature. For giving me the other part of my soul.”
“Oh Casey.” Sighing, she brought her hands up to his face, telling him, “Thank you for not giving up.”
“I will never give up on you, baby,” he promised. “Your mine, and I fully intend to capitalize on that every chance I get.” She couldn’t help but laugh. She knew he would, too.
They must have fallen asleep because Ev was awoken by loud moaning and groaning from Casey. Rolling over to face him, she watched as his back bowed off the bed and a pain-filled moan was torn from his throat. Every twitch of his body burst in agony. His hands were balled into tight fists, ready for whatever fight he was battling.
An ear-piercing scream ripped from his body as she finally realized what was happening. He was reliving the worst day of his life. The day he not only lost his leg but himself as well.
She was terrified. Should she wake him up? Should she run to the big house and get Dom? So many questions and no answers had tears welling in her eyes.
“Casey?” she cried out, wishing she could help him. She’d heard of things like this happening, and fear held her back. What if while he was locked in his mind and she tried to wake him, he thought she was whoever he was battling? She wouldn’t be able to defend herself against him, but she also couldn’t let him suffer, either.
Taking a fortifying breath, Ev straddled his waist, lowering her body to his. She lay on his chest listening to his erratic heartbeat. His struggling picked up, and she became nervous.
“Please come back to me, Casey,” she whispered, running her soft hands up and down his coarse chest hairs in a soothing caress. “I need you.”
His thrashing finally calmed down some, and she was thankful for that, but he was still stuck in his mind. She felt helpless when he needed her most. Hot tears began to streak down her face, landing in small pools on Casey’s chest as his breathing labored.
“I can’t lose you as well,” she said. “I have never been good enough for anyone, and then you came along and pushed your way into my life. I finally see a spark of hope, Casey. Don’t snuff it out, please.”
Ev knew she was babbling a bunch of nonsense. It wasn’t as though he were dying. The nightmare would eventually end, and he’d wake up, but her helplessness had her spilling all of her fears out to him.
“When my mom left, I was so lost. I didn’t think I’d ever let anyone in again and fought so hard against ever feeling that kind of pain in the future. I didn’t want the impression of abandonment to be all I knew.” She had to force back the tears. “When Lacey didn’t try to come back for me, I thought I could live with that. I could move forward. I didn’t. I searched for her for years. When I finally found her, she asked me what I wanted. Can you believe that?”
Taking a few deep breaths, she didn’t realize his body had relaxed, or that his breathing had evened out. She just talked to him. “When I met Andy, I knew I had to be in their lives. I’d like to say it was because I wanted to make sure he was happy and healthy but the reality was, I was tired of being alone. I wanted to be around people again.” Bitter laughter left her at the thought. “I know, I know. I dance in a strip club and am around people all the time. But they don’t give a shit about me. They just want what I can give them.”
Dance, I love to dance.
“There was this one foster home I stayed at…the mom, she loved ballet. I think it was the only time I’d ever felt loved or wanted. She used to dance with me. Taught me everything she could. Her mom was a true ballerina, and I weaved this whole life I would have if only I could be one, too.” Tears clogged her throat again as she thought of that home. “It lasted for six months before she passed away from undiagnosed breast cancer. I mourned her loss more than my own mother.”
Remaining silent for a while, Ev closed her eyes, picturing what it would be like to have a little girl of her own. She would teach her to love, to laugh, to live life to the fullest, and to embrace whatever made her happy. Featured in her dream was Casey, a wonderfully caring and encouraging father. He would show their children that the sky wasn’t the limit, and they could conquer the world.
“Is that why you dance?” His rumbled question took her off guard.
Looking up his chest to meet his tortured gaze, she told him, “Yes, Annie was a graceful dancer. Dancing keeps me close to her.”
Running his fingers through her hair, the sun hit his face just as he told her, “I love you, Evelyn.” Her breathing stuttered. She was held frozen in his hypnotic gaze. “I love how selfless you are. I love that you give your all to those things you’re passionate about—even when you think you aren’t. I especially love that you know exactly how to handle me.”
How was she supposed to respond to that? Was he expecting a declaration from her? She couldn’t say she didn’t love him; she just wasn’t sure she knew how to. She just wasn’t. She didn’t know what the emotion of love even was, not being raised around any type of affection at all.
Case must have seen the fear in her eyes because he smiled and assured her. “I don’t need the words back, Ev. What you did just now? Not trying to force me out of hell. It brought to light just how much I need you. Your pain drew me back better than if you’d blown a horn in my ear. I
need you in my life every bit as much as you need me.”
“I’m scared,” she whispered in the now bright room as the sun set.