A/N
This chapter, at least the last 1/2, was inspired by Buffelyn's story 'The Rule of Three'. When I read it, of course I loved it and thought the idea of Rule would fit perfectly in P2P. So, Buffelyn, thanks for helping me with this chapter :)
"You love me huh?" Rick said with a smile after a few moments.
"A bit" Evelyn smiled back.
"And you trust me?"
"Completely."
"You won't ever regret it. I promise you that."
"I know I won't."
Rick moved in and captured her lips to seal the reconciliation between them. They shared a sweet kiss for many moments before Jonathan's voice disrupted their serenity and they pulled their lips apart.
"Well now" he said as he stepped outside onto the porch and walked toward the steps. "I see things may finally back to normal. Are they?" he asked once he was standing next to Evelyn on the top step. "I see they are" he said when he looked at his sister and O'Connell, foreheads touching and dreamy eyes staring into dreamy eyes. "I hope I don't live to regret it" he said as he rolled his eyes and walked down the steps.
"Your brother can be a real pain in the..." Rick said.
"I know" Evelyn said after she put her fingers up to Rick's lips to hush him. "I'm hungry" she said in the next breath.
"How about we go into town to that café you like" Rick said once Evelyn dropped her fingers from his lips.
"um... I'd rather stay at home today. There are leftovers from last night's dinner."
"You sure you don't want to go out to eat?" Rick asked as he squeezed her around the waist.
"I'm sure" Evelyn said as she hugged his shoulders. "I just want to spend a quite afternoon here with you."
The O'Connells shared another sweet kiss before going back inside to have lunch. After lunch, Evelyn reminded Rick that he had not finished washing his car and volunteered to help him complete the task. While washing the car, Evelyn had gotten into a playful mood and decided Rick needed washing also. She took the bucket of soapy water and splashed him with it causing him to yell out at his sudden state of wetness. Rick chased her around the car a few times before catching his wayward wife.
"aahhh!" she yelled when his arms wrapped around her arms and pinned them to her sides. "You're wet!" she exclaimed when he pulled her back into his soaking wet front.
"Really?" Rick said in her ear before pinching the lope between his teeth.
"Yes really! Now let me go!" Evelyn laughed as she struggled to free herself.
"You really think I'm gonna let you get away with what you just did to me?" he asked as he tightened his bear hug around her.
"What did I do?!" she said with all innocence. "Nothing that's what. I didn't do anything. It was an accident. The bucket slipped..."
"And the water just happened to land in my face?"
"Yes" Evelyn shook her head. "That's exactly what happened."
"Well" he said, then kissed her cheek. "We beastly Americans don't take kindly to 'accidents'. And we always want retribution."
"Don't be silly" Evelyn laughed nervously. "Retribution isn't necessary."
"Sure it is" he said as he started walking forward.
"No it's not" Evelyn said as they walked toward the bucket.
"Sure it is" he said again.
"It's not. Really."
"Well... maybe not here in Cairo or in England. But in the States, retribution is quite necessary."
"But you're not in the States" Evelyn reasoned.
"But American blood runs through my veins no matter where I am."
"Yes, but..."
"And..." Rick said as he kept his hold on Evelyn and reached down and picked up the bucket. "Retribution is a must."
"But it isn't! It really isn't!" Evelyn insisted as she was turned toward the well.
"Being married to an American, you're gonna have to get use to American ways" Rick said as he started walking them toward the well.
"American ways are barbaric."
"Really" Rick laughed.
"Yes, if this" Evelyn said as they got closer to the well. "Is the 'American way'."
"Disappointed that you're married to a beastly American barbaric?" Rick teased once they reached the well.
"You're quite civilized" Evelyn complimented, trying to escape her immediate peril. "And that" she continued. "Is why I love you so much. You're quite civilized."
"Retribution is a civilized notion you know" he said as he set the bucket on the well wall and started pumping the water into it.
"Maybe in the States" Evelyn said as she watched the bucket fill with water. "But we live in Egypt now and in Egypt, retribution is quite uncivilized."
"Never thought I'd see the day when something in Egypt was considered uncivilized" Rick said as he finished filling the bucket.
"Well, we live in a new day. A new CILIVIZED day. A new civilized Egypt. A new civilized Cairo" Evelyn said in a rushed as Rick picked up the full bucket.
If she could just break free, Evelyn thought, she would run. But she knew he would catch her, so another plan was needed. As Evelyn quickly thought, Rick released her and she thought about flight for just a moment and then rejected the idea.
"So..." Rick grinned at Evelyn as he turned her around to face him. "We live in a new day?"
"Yes" Evelyn said quickly and shook her head as she looked from the bucket dangling in his hand up to his dancing eyes.
"A CIVILIZED Egypt?"
"Yes" she said as she took a step to the left. "A VERY civilized Egypt."
"A CIVILIZED Cairo?"
"Yes" she said and took another step to the left. "Very civilized."
"Are you trying to get away from me?" Rick asked in a husky voice as he eyed his prey.
"No of course not! It's just a bit hot out here" she fanned herself. "And I think it's time for a nice cool glass of lemonade" she said as she continued to take tiny steps away from the well and away from her stalker.
"The water's cold. It'll cool you off" he said as he began advancing toward Evelyn.
"You wouldn't" Evelyn said as she realized he was really serious about dousing her.
"I wouldn't?"
"No" she said as she continued to retreat and he continued to advance.
"And why wouldn't I?"
"Because... because you love me" she offered.
"Guilty as charged" he smiled, still advancing. "But those pretty hazel eyes aren't enough to change my mind."
"What will change your mind?"
"Hum... Let me see..." Rick said with mock concentration. "I can't think of anything" he looked at her with as much seriousness as he could.
"I though you loved me."
"I do."
"Well, how could you do this to me?"
"Retribution doesn't stop for love."
"It should."
"But it doesn't."
"I'll get wet" she said.
"I'll dry you off" he returned in a sexy voice.
"I'll get a chill."
"I'll keep you warm."
"I love you" she said sweetly, hoping her words would change his mind.
"And I love you..." he said and she knew his mind was not changed.
"Richard Ulysses O'Connell!" Evelyn changed tactics and feigned anger. "If you douse me with that water... I swear... I swear I'll NEVER speak to you again!"
"Evelyn Louise O'Connell. You drive a hard bargain."
"I swear it" she proclaimed once she had backed herself up against the bottom step of the porch.
"You know" he said as he lifted the bucket. "I love a challenge."
"Rick" Evelyn said as she watched the bucket. "You wouldn't."
"I would" he said, then let the bucket 'slip'.
"Aaaahhh!" Evelyn squeezed her eyes shut and screamed as the water hit her in the face and ran down and soaked her front.
In the next instance, her scream was silenced with a kiss. A kiss that was teasing and tender, sweet and sensuous. It did not take long before Evelyn gave up her feigned anger and melted in the arms of her husband. The kiss lasted many many moments before their lips parted for a brief second only to come back together and resume the kiss.
It did not take much for Rick to meet Evelyn's challenge of never speaking to him again. It only took a few sincere, heartfelt words.
"I'm crazy about you Evy" Rick breathed after the kiss finally ended.
After those words, words so sweet, so sincere, how could she hold onto her pseudo threat?
"And I'm crazy about you" she said softly.
********************
Two weeks had past and things were better than normal. Both Evelyn and Rick had a greater appreciation for each other. They both had learned how important it was to communicate, no matter the circumstances.
Rick opened up to her more about his feelings of abandonment. Evelyn saw how truly vulnerable he had been as a child and how vulnerable he was still as a man. Rick shared with Evelyn his overwhelming fear of failing as a father and then the even greater fear he felt when he thought she had gotten rid of the baby.
Evelyn apologized again and again for saying she wanted a divorce and Rick would tell her again and again that she had nothing to apologize for. She assured him more than a few times that she believed in him and that she was more than confident that their child could not have a better father.
The young couple was growing up. They were growing closer together and growing stronger.
**************************
"Rick" Evelyn said in a soft voice as she lay on his naked chest.
"Hum?" he said as he ran his hand down her naked back and rubbed her bare rump.
"How many women have you been with?"
"What" he said, sure he had not heard her right.
"How many women have you been with?" she said again.
Rick did not want to answer the question. Not when it came from his wife. So he said nothing.
"Well?" Evelyn asked after she got not answer.
"Well what?" Rick said, dreading where this conversation was going.
"How many women have you been with?" she said after she lifted her head and looked down at him.
"Evelyn" Rick looked up at her. "This is not a conversation we need to have."
"Why not?" she asked as she rolled off of him, sat up against the headboard and pulled the bed sheet up to her chest.
"Because" he said as he put his hands beneath his head, locked his fingers together and looked up at the ceiling.
"Because what?"
"Just because!"
"BECAUSE what?"
"Because I said so."
"Well, that's not a good enough reason" Evelyn returned. "So how many?"
"How many what?" Rick said, stalling.
"How... many... women... have... you... been... with?" Evelyn said slowly, as if she were talking to a child.
"Evelyn" Rick said. "We just made love. WHY are we talking about other women?"
"So there have been more than one?"
"I don't want to have this conversation."
"It wouldn't be a conversation if you'd just answer the question."
"Why do you want to know?"
"Because I want to know."
"Why?"
"Just curious. So how many?" Evelyn persisted.
"You aren't gonna let this go are you?"
"No."
"I don't know" Rick said honestly. "I wasn't keeping count."
"It's been THAT many?" Evelyn asked and Rick thought she sounded appalled.
"Noooo" he said defensively. "Just a few. WHY are we having this conversation?!" he said in the next breath.
"How many is a few?"
"I don't know. Three, four, five. I don't know" Rick said, knowing that since loosing his virginity at age 15, he had been in and out of whorehouses more times than he could count. And that was a bit of information he did not relish sharing with his wife.
"Does that number include me?"
"No. It's different with you. I..." he said then stopped short of 'only screwed them'.
"You...?" Evelyn prompted.
"Tell me again why we're having this conversation."
"Curiosity. What were they like?"
"Who?"
"The women."
"Evelyn, is this necessary?"
"Yes it is. I'd like to know about the other women you were interested in."
"They were just women. No big deal."
"Something about them caught your eye. Were they professional women?"
"You could say that."
"What type of work did they do?"
"All types."
"And these types were...?"
"Evelyn, I'm not about to go through and list every profession of every woman I know."
"Were they pretty then?"
"What?" Rick turned and looked up at Evelyn.
"Were they pretty?"
"Who?"
"The women that you were interested in."
"Evelyn. My past is just that. My PAST. WHY do you need to know this stuff?!"
"Just curious. So were they pretty?"
"Who?" Rick said, wanting to forget their present conversation.
"The three, four, five women you've been with."
"I thought you said this wouldn't turn into a conversation once I answered the question."
"That was before you made it difficult."
"They weren't as pretty as you" Rick said, knowing Evelyn would not let this question go either.
"So you thought they were pretty?"
"Pretty" he said as he turned to his side and laid his arm across Evelyn's lap. "But not gorgeous" he said then kissed her arm. "Like you. And" he said as he began pulling the bed sheet down to expose her breast. "I feel like showing you how gorgeous I think you are" he said then leaned over and took a nipple into his mouth.
That conversation ended and another, more pleasing conversation ensued.
This chapter, at least the last 1/2, was inspired by Buffelyn's story 'The Rule of Three'. When I read it, of course I loved it and thought the idea of Rule would fit perfectly in P2P. So, Buffelyn, thanks for helping me with this chapter :)
"You love me huh?" Rick said with a smile after a few moments.
"A bit" Evelyn smiled back.
"And you trust me?"
"Completely."
"You won't ever regret it. I promise you that."
"I know I won't."
Rick moved in and captured her lips to seal the reconciliation between them. They shared a sweet kiss for many moments before Jonathan's voice disrupted their serenity and they pulled their lips apart.
"Well now" he said as he stepped outside onto the porch and walked toward the steps. "I see things may finally back to normal. Are they?" he asked once he was standing next to Evelyn on the top step. "I see they are" he said when he looked at his sister and O'Connell, foreheads touching and dreamy eyes staring into dreamy eyes. "I hope I don't live to regret it" he said as he rolled his eyes and walked down the steps.
"Your brother can be a real pain in the..." Rick said.
"I know" Evelyn said after she put her fingers up to Rick's lips to hush him. "I'm hungry" she said in the next breath.
"How about we go into town to that café you like" Rick said once Evelyn dropped her fingers from his lips.
"um... I'd rather stay at home today. There are leftovers from last night's dinner."
"You sure you don't want to go out to eat?" Rick asked as he squeezed her around the waist.
"I'm sure" Evelyn said as she hugged his shoulders. "I just want to spend a quite afternoon here with you."
The O'Connells shared another sweet kiss before going back inside to have lunch. After lunch, Evelyn reminded Rick that he had not finished washing his car and volunteered to help him complete the task. While washing the car, Evelyn had gotten into a playful mood and decided Rick needed washing also. She took the bucket of soapy water and splashed him with it causing him to yell out at his sudden state of wetness. Rick chased her around the car a few times before catching his wayward wife.
"aahhh!" she yelled when his arms wrapped around her arms and pinned them to her sides. "You're wet!" she exclaimed when he pulled her back into his soaking wet front.
"Really?" Rick said in her ear before pinching the lope between his teeth.
"Yes really! Now let me go!" Evelyn laughed as she struggled to free herself.
"You really think I'm gonna let you get away with what you just did to me?" he asked as he tightened his bear hug around her.
"What did I do?!" she said with all innocence. "Nothing that's what. I didn't do anything. It was an accident. The bucket slipped..."
"And the water just happened to land in my face?"
"Yes" Evelyn shook her head. "That's exactly what happened."
"Well" he said, then kissed her cheek. "We beastly Americans don't take kindly to 'accidents'. And we always want retribution."
"Don't be silly" Evelyn laughed nervously. "Retribution isn't necessary."
"Sure it is" he said as he started walking forward.
"No it's not" Evelyn said as they walked toward the bucket.
"Sure it is" he said again.
"It's not. Really."
"Well... maybe not here in Cairo or in England. But in the States, retribution is quite necessary."
"But you're not in the States" Evelyn reasoned.
"But American blood runs through my veins no matter where I am."
"Yes, but..."
"And..." Rick said as he kept his hold on Evelyn and reached down and picked up the bucket. "Retribution is a must."
"But it isn't! It really isn't!" Evelyn insisted as she was turned toward the well.
"Being married to an American, you're gonna have to get use to American ways" Rick said as he started walking them toward the well.
"American ways are barbaric."
"Really" Rick laughed.
"Yes, if this" Evelyn said as they got closer to the well. "Is the 'American way'."
"Disappointed that you're married to a beastly American barbaric?" Rick teased once they reached the well.
"You're quite civilized" Evelyn complimented, trying to escape her immediate peril. "And that" she continued. "Is why I love you so much. You're quite civilized."
"Retribution is a civilized notion you know" he said as he set the bucket on the well wall and started pumping the water into it.
"Maybe in the States" Evelyn said as she watched the bucket fill with water. "But we live in Egypt now and in Egypt, retribution is quite uncivilized."
"Never thought I'd see the day when something in Egypt was considered uncivilized" Rick said as he finished filling the bucket.
"Well, we live in a new day. A new CILIVIZED day. A new civilized Egypt. A new civilized Cairo" Evelyn said in a rushed as Rick picked up the full bucket.
If she could just break free, Evelyn thought, she would run. But she knew he would catch her, so another plan was needed. As Evelyn quickly thought, Rick released her and she thought about flight for just a moment and then rejected the idea.
"So..." Rick grinned at Evelyn as he turned her around to face him. "We live in a new day?"
"Yes" Evelyn said quickly and shook her head as she looked from the bucket dangling in his hand up to his dancing eyes.
"A CIVILIZED Egypt?"
"Yes" she said as she took a step to the left. "A VERY civilized Egypt."
"A CIVILIZED Cairo?"
"Yes" she said and took another step to the left. "Very civilized."
"Are you trying to get away from me?" Rick asked in a husky voice as he eyed his prey.
"No of course not! It's just a bit hot out here" she fanned herself. "And I think it's time for a nice cool glass of lemonade" she said as she continued to take tiny steps away from the well and away from her stalker.
"The water's cold. It'll cool you off" he said as he began advancing toward Evelyn.
"You wouldn't" Evelyn said as she realized he was really serious about dousing her.
"I wouldn't?"
"No" she said as she continued to retreat and he continued to advance.
"And why wouldn't I?"
"Because... because you love me" she offered.
"Guilty as charged" he smiled, still advancing. "But those pretty hazel eyes aren't enough to change my mind."
"What will change your mind?"
"Hum... Let me see..." Rick said with mock concentration. "I can't think of anything" he looked at her with as much seriousness as he could.
"I though you loved me."
"I do."
"Well, how could you do this to me?"
"Retribution doesn't stop for love."
"It should."
"But it doesn't."
"I'll get wet" she said.
"I'll dry you off" he returned in a sexy voice.
"I'll get a chill."
"I'll keep you warm."
"I love you" she said sweetly, hoping her words would change his mind.
"And I love you..." he said and she knew his mind was not changed.
"Richard Ulysses O'Connell!" Evelyn changed tactics and feigned anger. "If you douse me with that water... I swear... I swear I'll NEVER speak to you again!"
"Evelyn Louise O'Connell. You drive a hard bargain."
"I swear it" she proclaimed once she had backed herself up against the bottom step of the porch.
"You know" he said as he lifted the bucket. "I love a challenge."
"Rick" Evelyn said as she watched the bucket. "You wouldn't."
"I would" he said, then let the bucket 'slip'.
"Aaaahhh!" Evelyn squeezed her eyes shut and screamed as the water hit her in the face and ran down and soaked her front.
In the next instance, her scream was silenced with a kiss. A kiss that was teasing and tender, sweet and sensuous. It did not take long before Evelyn gave up her feigned anger and melted in the arms of her husband. The kiss lasted many many moments before their lips parted for a brief second only to come back together and resume the kiss.
It did not take much for Rick to meet Evelyn's challenge of never speaking to him again. It only took a few sincere, heartfelt words.
"I'm crazy about you Evy" Rick breathed after the kiss finally ended.
After those words, words so sweet, so sincere, how could she hold onto her pseudo threat?
"And I'm crazy about you" she said softly.
********************
Two weeks had past and things were better than normal. Both Evelyn and Rick had a greater appreciation for each other. They both had learned how important it was to communicate, no matter the circumstances.
Rick opened up to her more about his feelings of abandonment. Evelyn saw how truly vulnerable he had been as a child and how vulnerable he was still as a man. Rick shared with Evelyn his overwhelming fear of failing as a father and then the even greater fear he felt when he thought she had gotten rid of the baby.
Evelyn apologized again and again for saying she wanted a divorce and Rick would tell her again and again that she had nothing to apologize for. She assured him more than a few times that she believed in him and that she was more than confident that their child could not have a better father.
The young couple was growing up. They were growing closer together and growing stronger.
**************************
"Rick" Evelyn said in a soft voice as she lay on his naked chest.
"Hum?" he said as he ran his hand down her naked back and rubbed her bare rump.
"How many women have you been with?"
"What" he said, sure he had not heard her right.
"How many women have you been with?" she said again.
Rick did not want to answer the question. Not when it came from his wife. So he said nothing.
"Well?" Evelyn asked after she got not answer.
"Well what?" Rick said, dreading where this conversation was going.
"How many women have you been with?" she said after she lifted her head and looked down at him.
"Evelyn" Rick looked up at her. "This is not a conversation we need to have."
"Why not?" she asked as she rolled off of him, sat up against the headboard and pulled the bed sheet up to her chest.
"Because" he said as he put his hands beneath his head, locked his fingers together and looked up at the ceiling.
"Because what?"
"Just because!"
"BECAUSE what?"
"Because I said so."
"Well, that's not a good enough reason" Evelyn returned. "So how many?"
"How many what?" Rick said, stalling.
"How... many... women... have... you... been... with?" Evelyn said slowly, as if she were talking to a child.
"Evelyn" Rick said. "We just made love. WHY are we talking about other women?"
"So there have been more than one?"
"I don't want to have this conversation."
"It wouldn't be a conversation if you'd just answer the question."
"Why do you want to know?"
"Because I want to know."
"Why?"
"Just curious. So how many?" Evelyn persisted.
"You aren't gonna let this go are you?"
"No."
"I don't know" Rick said honestly. "I wasn't keeping count."
"It's been THAT many?" Evelyn asked and Rick thought she sounded appalled.
"Noooo" he said defensively. "Just a few. WHY are we having this conversation?!" he said in the next breath.
"How many is a few?"
"I don't know. Three, four, five. I don't know" Rick said, knowing that since loosing his virginity at age 15, he had been in and out of whorehouses more times than he could count. And that was a bit of information he did not relish sharing with his wife.
"Does that number include me?"
"No. It's different with you. I..." he said then stopped short of 'only screwed them'.
"You...?" Evelyn prompted.
"Tell me again why we're having this conversation."
"Curiosity. What were they like?"
"Who?"
"The women."
"Evelyn, is this necessary?"
"Yes it is. I'd like to know about the other women you were interested in."
"They were just women. No big deal."
"Something about them caught your eye. Were they professional women?"
"You could say that."
"What type of work did they do?"
"All types."
"And these types were...?"
"Evelyn, I'm not about to go through and list every profession of every woman I know."
"Were they pretty then?"
"What?" Rick turned and looked up at Evelyn.
"Were they pretty?"
"Who?"
"The women that you were interested in."
"Evelyn. My past is just that. My PAST. WHY do you need to know this stuff?!"
"Just curious. So were they pretty?"
"Who?" Rick said, wanting to forget their present conversation.
"The three, four, five women you've been with."
"I thought you said this wouldn't turn into a conversation once I answered the question."
"That was before you made it difficult."
"They weren't as pretty as you" Rick said, knowing Evelyn would not let this question go either.
"So you thought they were pretty?"
"Pretty" he said as he turned to his side and laid his arm across Evelyn's lap. "But not gorgeous" he said then kissed her arm. "Like you. And" he said as he began pulling the bed sheet down to expose her breast. "I feel like showing you how gorgeous I think you are" he said then leaned over and took a nipple into his mouth.
That conversation ended and another, more pleasing conversation ensued.