Page 92 of Sweet Wicked Vows
“She is one of the cutest kids I’ve ever met. Honestly, I’m not just saying that. She is the sweetest,” Evelyn said. “Your whole family is the sweetest, actually.”
I frowned at my father standing in the veranda watching us. “For the most part.”
“Your father?”
I nodded, the familiar throbbing returning as my back teeth clenched together. “He always comes when he knows he is as welcome as a bad smell. We simply tolerate it for ourGrand-mère’ssake.”
“I’m sorry, that mustn’t be easy on any of you. Maybe he keeps coming because he wants to try and make amends with you all?”
I tried to shrug off the tension gripping my spine. “He’s an alcoholic who refuses to admit he has a problem. He gave up his right to make amends with us all when he decided a bottle of vodka was worth more value than his sons.”
Her hand slipped into mine and squeezed gently.
“It’s fine,” I said. “He will be no more than a shadow in the background. He’ll sit at the table, eat his dinner, and then vanish before tea and coffee is served.”
“Well, I seriously hope there is a special outfit you wear whenyou are making your famous fairy tea,” she teased gently. “A frilly sparkling skirt and some glittery wings?”
“In your dreams.”
“Do you have a magic wand? Maybe some fairy dust hidden up your sleeves?” She giggled in delight. “Oh, do you have a special fairy name? Like sugarplum or dandelion?”
“I’d stop if I was you,” I said, my tone lacking any threat. Her ability to soothe the brewing storm within me had not gone unnoticed. The corners of my mouth hurt from trying to suppress the smile threatening to break free. “Or else.”
“Or else what? Are you going to put a fairy curse on me?”
“That’s it. I warned you.” I lunged for her.
Evelyn squealed as she narrowly escaped my grasp. My fingertips brushed the strands of her flowing hair. I moved again and she dipped out of the way with a cackle.
“What happened? You all out of your fairy powers?”
“You have an awfully wicked tongue. Makes me wonder what other wicked things it can do.”
The two of us stared at each other. Mischief and delight swirled in her green orbs.
“I’m too fast for you, old man.”
“Old man?!”
She nodded with a devilish grin.
“You better run fast,ma douceur.Because when I catch you, I will take great pleasure in punishing you.” My pulse quickened as her bottom lip disappeared between her teeth. “Run.”
She was off in a blink of an eye, tearing through the gardens, grabbing the hem of her dress and giving me the perfect glimpse of her curved thighs.
Blood thrummed through my ears and straight into my cock. Thoughts penetrated my mind of all the things I wanted to do to her the second I got my hands on her.
I took off after her, chasing her to the bottom ends of thegardens and behind the sea mallow shrubs.
Evelyn was either the worst at trying to run and hide, or she was deliberately taunting me and wanting me to catch her. Primal need fueled me, tracking her through the shrubs and around the trees, her spiced sweet scent teasing me along the way.
Red curls darted around a wilting rose bush. I followed, my own heart beating so loud that I wondered if she too could hear it.
Another near miss, the material of her dress teasing my palms.
Her breathless laughter filled the silence.
A left turn.