There was something indefinable about Evelyn, something no other woman had. She was strong, yet fragile. He could help her in ways others didn’t need, yet she didn’t need him either. Convincing her to take from him was never an easy task, and now he might never be able to give her anything again.
Stubborn woman.
He tried to convince himself that she’d be back, but the unfamiliar presence of fear weighing in his gut told him otherwise.
Standing out there until his fingers felt bloodless, waiting, watching for any sign of her, Lucian’s mind scrambled for a solution. She’d come back. She had to come back. Eventually able to admit to himself that she might never come back and that was for the best, he shut his eyes, swallowed back the lump of pain in his throat and returned to the warmth of the condo.
A small black package sat on the side table. He hadn’t noticed it there before. His brow creased as he slowly stepped closer. Ominous and finite, the little package was incredibly intimidating. A gift. His fingers ran over the sleek black paper and silver ribbon.
Lucian couldn’t recall the last time he had opened a present. Visions of childhood holidays with Isadora and Antoinette took him to another place and time. Jamie handing him a pack of baseball cards on his thirteenth birthday he had subtly slipped a mint Mickey Mantle into, Monique giving him a new set of dishes because she didn’t care for the old ones. There was nothing in the past several years. How vacant and meaningless his life had become. His existence had turned into something utterly superficial.
Evelyn was so different from Monique. She lacked the sense of entitlement Monique had always displayed. He’d admired that greatly about Monique, saw it as confidence, but looking back it was more spoiled petulance than anything else. If she hadn’t been so all determined to have everything how she wanted it, when she wanted it, she’d likely still be alive today. But he wasn’t sure if they’d have stayed together.
Slade was always more indulgent when it came to Monique’s tantrums and demands. He’d been the one that bought her that damn bike to begin with. She should have never gotten on that thing, but after getting her way for so long, she accepted the word no less and less.
Evelyn, although stubborn in her own way, had a more rational side than Monique could have ever possessed. Evelyn listened and observed and, many times, he could see her brain processing new things she otherwise wouldn’t know about. He liked that about her. Years ago he would’ve referred to Evelyn’s outward personality as meek, but now he knew better.
Of the two, Evelyn was definitely the stronger. He hoped she wasn’t so strong she’d stay away for good. Maybe she was stronger than him, because while she decided she didn’t need him, he very much felt like he still needed her. She saw him in a way no one else did and he didn’t want to lose her.
Lucian’s presence was sought after for functions in which the purpose had lost all meaning. He couldn’t even recall what he was supposed to be supporting last Monday at the museum. Details of Evelyn’s crystal eyes and her ice blue gown ate up his memories of that night. It had been so difficult not to maul her the moment he set eyes on her. The memory of her soft skin as he zipped her gown still took his breath away. In that moment he had never wanted anything more than to peel that zipper down instead of up and splay her naked body wide for his pleasure.
Gazing down at the gift box, his finger slid under the silver satin ribbon and tugged. It slackened and slid from the box in a loop closely resembling a noose. He carefully peeled back the heavy paper, recognizing the name on the box from the boutique downstairs.
Plucking the box open, Lucian found crisp black tissue folded, covering a tiny nest that held a treasure inside. Without seeing what the actual gift was, he decided to love it on principle. Evelyn had picked this out. She had seen it and thought of him and that made it special.
As he peeled back the tissue he spotted polished, sleek leather, coiled like a snake. It was a belt, the brushed nickel clasp faded metallic, like gunmetal. Gently, his hands pulled the gift from the box.
As if he’d been given a ribbon of honor, he smiled and wanted to put it on immediately. It was a badge, proof that she thought of him even when he wasn’t there. Gingerly placing it back in its box, he shut his eyes, overwhelmed with gratitude for the thoughtful gesture.
This was not an inexpensive gift for someone of Evelyn’s means. Scowling at the incredible gift, he wondered if she’d charged it to the room or foolishly used her own money.