A WOMAN APART: Chapter 9 - THE PALACE
by tarskeewee08
John sat at the table waiting for Evangeline and was pleasantly surprised when she entered. She wore a nicely fitted black cocktail dress that plunged invitingly low in the front making her cleavage appear appetizing to him.
Her hair was flowing as always beautifully on her shoulders and the smile she gave him melted his heart. He got up from the table as she approached.
"You look great" he said taking her hand and turning her around.
Evangeline blushed "Thanks so do you" she said bashfully
John pulled out her chair for her to sit down. "I already ordered a drink for you" he said gesturing at the martini.
Evangeline looked at it and smiled "You remembered my favorite drink?" she said laughing softly
He nodded "Of course, I try to remember everything I can about you"
Evangeline took a sip from the glass. She'd started not to come tonight. It took her time to regain control after talking with Lisa.
John looked at her. How could a woman this beautiful and warm be so closed off to men? He wasn't a fool. He knew that even with inviting him into her bed she kept him at a distance. Pacing himself with her would be the only way to keep from scaring her off completely. But when he was with her in moments like this he wanted to tell her all the things in his heart.
Like how he loves the way she places her hand on the top of her head when she gets uncomfortable around him. Or how he loves how she tilts her head to the side when she looks to challenge him.
Also the little mole he discovered on her right cheek that disappears when she smiles, or the beauty of her body and the softness of it when he touches her.
The way her eyes roll in her head before she climaxes. And how she bites her bottom lip to keep from vocalizing her passion in their most intimate moments.
Evangeline saw him staring at her and shifted uncomfortably "What? Is something on my face?"
John snapped out of it. "No, just admiring the most alluring woman in this room tonight" he said blushing at getting caught.
Evangeline lowered her glass and looked at him "Exactly what do you hope to accomplish tonight detective?"
John smiled "Now would I reveal my hand to you this early in the evening?" he said seductively
She laughed. "On a serious note I need to talk to you about Layla"
John looked at her "Okay"
"I think I got something that can be used to track down who is handling the transportation and pickup of these girls trafficking drugs in the country,"
John blinked "What? Are you serious? That's really big Van,"
She nodded. "The thing is if I do this and use it to get Layla out I still have to wonder what's really at play here" she said cautiously.
John frowned. He didn't understand where she was going with this.
"Something you said has me worried. If we believe that Barkers set Layla up, then they knew I would pull out all stops to get her released. They left her with that number so that has to be a get out of jail free card. It appears that I'm being used for another purpose," she said swirling the vodka in her martini glass while staring at it.
John still marveled at how brilliant she was. She was absolutely right and he didn't like it one bit. "Can you tell me anything about the Barker boys and what they are capable of?"
She looked back into his eyes "Not really, but I can tell you that the investigation you and Antonio have launched against my clients doesn't even scratch the surface" she said taking another sip of her drink.
John shook his head "What I'm about to say to you I don't want you to take offense, but I have to know" he said staring at her.
She nodded and lowered her glass
"With the brilliance you have, why do you defend these people? Don't give me the standard right to a fair trial crap. There has to be a reason you do this,"
Evangeline decided to share a truth with him "I told you that night in Mary's basement how my father had great hopes for me. How he sacrificed to see me reach my full potential. We didn't have much money but he made a decent salary. Instead of vacations and birthdays I got tennis, ballet and piano lessons. I was to be the very best. He'd hoped that someday I'd become a Supreme Court Judge, hell mom still does," she said sullenly
John frowned "Well with all that, then why?" he asked
She looked back at him and tried to find the words. She tried to tell him the truth but they wouldn't come out
"Because it's all a lie. I'm a lie,"
John sat back up. He knew it took extreme effort on her part to share that with him.
"Well as for the Barkers I think we need to let Antonio and Nora know about your suspicions," he said changing the subject
Evangeline looked at him relieved that he dropped it "Well that's enough about business, tell me something about you" she said
John looked at her surprised "You know all there is to know about me" he aid.
Evangeline shook her head "Not true, like why is it your not married" she asked
John smiled "Be careful, don't ask questions you aren't prepared to answer yourself" he said laughing
Evangeline laughed, "Okay good point, how about what's it like being the sexiest man employed by the LPD" she said seductively
John blushed "Well, I didn't know I was but thanks for the compliment" he replied
The waiter appeared and took their orders. They spent the rest of the evening talking about movies and politics. John suggested that he even take her to a football game.
Evangeline frowned and agreed if he would accompany her to a ballet. John laughed but finally gave in.
When dinner arrived they ate in a comfortable silence both afraid to reveal too much about the growing desire between the two of them. Once they finished John asked if she would go out on the terrace with him. She agreed and followed him outside.
It was August and the summer night was warm and inviting. Evangeline looked up at the stars that lined the night. It was a cloudless night and it appeared almost magical to her. John stepped up from behind her and put his arms around her waist resting his chin on her shoulder to look into the sky.
"My father told me when I was a kid that nights like these are god's way of showing his vanity," he said in her ear.
"But I think that if god were vain he wouldn't use stars in the night to showcase it. He would express it in the beauty of a woman, whose skins like caramel and breath like honey. Who can make a man weak with a smile and strong with her love. I think his proof of beauty would be you," he said kissing the inside of her neck.
Evangeline closed her eyes and melted deeper into his arms. In this moment she didn't care that her mind said it wasn't right. She felt her heartbeat for a man again.
He turned her around to face him "Evangeline," he said stroking the side of her face.
"I've fallen in love with you"
She looked at him shocked. Fear and regret gripped her making her want to escape but she felt him tighten his grip on her so she couldn't flee.
"It's okay if you can't say it back. I just want you to know how I feel," he said pulling her into a kiss.
Evangeline draped her arms around his neck and matched the intensity of his kiss. She felt his hand slide gently down the curve of her back and her need for him became more intense.
Finally breaking away from him she looked back into his face "Take me home" she said breathlessly. He smiled and grabbed her hand leading her out.
When they arrived at her place in separate cars she couldn't wait to get the key into the lock. He stood behind her and moved her hair so he could kiss the back of her neck. The feeling of his breath and lips on her skin in made her drop the keys.
"Stop, wait" she said laughing.
He turned around to him and pinned her up against her door kissing her feverishly on the lips and then the neck while caressing her body. She tried to resist him to get her bearings but each time he kissed her she lost more and more control. "John" she said trying to catch her breath "Let me open the door"
He released her and moved his hair from his face. "Okay" he said wickedly still fixing his eyes on her. They were a deep shade of blue now and she knew that meant trouble. She laughed and picked up the keys and opened the door quick. Before she was in good he had her in his arms again.
Backing toward the bedroom she helped him out of his suit jacket as he worked the zipper that ran down the side of her dress.
She almost fell from his pursuit of her but he swiftly scooped her up in his arms and carried her the rest of the way to the bedroom.
She helped him out of his shirt and pants as he kissed her face and head. She turned him around and pushed him back on the bed. John looked up amused and scooted toward the headboard. Evangeline stepped out of what was left of her dress and crawled toward him. She licked his chest paying attention to his nipples. She felt his hands in her hair and soon he pulled her head up and forced her mouth to his.
She straddled him and maneuvered so he could penetrate her. She saw him close his eyes and she smiled. He reached to pull her to him and she moved his hand. Laying her hands flat on his chest she found her rhythm and smiled even wider when she watched as him lose control.
He panted beneath her and said her name a couple of times. But she controlled his passion and demanded that he succumb to her need for him to remain inside of her.
He opened his eyes and gave her a pleadingly lustful look and she shook her head. Their lovemaking would not end until she was ready. While keeping her pace she lowered herself and stuck her tongue in his ear. He grabbed her and held her tighter to his chest and she knew by his quicken thrusts he couldn't survive much more "You can have me" she whispered in his ear.
With that said he rolled her over and pinned her beneath him. She closed her eyes and let him give her what his body demanded and they melted into each other.
After their explosive love session, they laid in each others arms exhausted. He pulled her face up to his and kissed her nose "I love you" he said.
She smiled and lay back on his chest. She welcomed sleep tonight because her heart started beating again.