Page 39 of Five Days to Be Mine

I can’t stay with Evan. The one night we shared together was amazing and everything I wanted. He was tender and caring and so intense I thought I'd combust from how hot his tongue was on mine, his every touch setting me on fire, followed only by orgasms that made me leave my body. But the next morning, I ran out.

“Take care Mara.” Arthur gets in his car and drives away, leaving me alone with Evan.

“Mara?” Evan steps close to me as Arthur drives away.

“Yes?” I step back.

He grips my arm, lightly. My skin feels hot and clammy, even in the cool rain.

“Stay with me.”

“I can’t stay with you.” I cross my arms over my chest.

“Why can’t you?” Evan steps even closer to me.

I back up, because I'm a chicken like that. My back hits the garage door.

“Evan, I have work.”

“You can stay with me and work.” He leans forward, a breath away from my lips.

“My storage is here.”' I pat the garage door awkwardly.

“I want to hire you for Sinful Bites.”

“I don’t believe you,” I spit out.

He cocks an eyebrow and takes another step. “Are you calling me a liar?”

My head swims with heat, with intensity. I remember when he asked me exactly that, in that tone the first night we met.

“Evan, thanks, but I need to find somewhere to stay. I’m busy.”

“You don’t look busy to me,” Evan says, sliding both hands on my arms.

“You don’t know my schedule.”

“Tell me why, Mara. Why did you run out the next morning? Why won't you come and stay with me?”

Oh god, I want the ground below me to open up.

“I don’t…because I can’t. I don’t like the sex stuff, the restaurant.”

I bite my lip because that is a lie and by the huge grin on his face, he knows it.

“You lie again, my sweet girl.”

My cheeks are flaming. “Evan…I appreciate the effort, but I can't.”

He takes a step back, shoves his hands in his pockets. “I will pay triple whatever your client is paying you if you come and stay with me for five days.”

My thoughts tumble together, remembering that night how slick my fingers were with my own juice, as Evan pressed a vibrator into them and told me to hold it there.

“You’ve lost your mind. You can’t buy me.”

His eyes darken, his lips press together tightly. “Now you’re making me want to throw you over my knee and spank you, Mara.”

“You couldn’t lift me.” I manage to step aside, out of his gaze and shove my hands into my pockets.

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