Nowhere to Run - Chapter 15

“Dimitri Michaels was my name until three years ago.” Michael said as Evie came out of the shower.

     They were in a motel room just east of Tucker’s Point, West Virginia.  It was small, but clean and the sweet old couple who ran it were very nice.  Michael had told them that he and Evie were newlyweds and had been driving for hours.  The old woman had smiled and brought them extra towels and a bottle of wine she had been saving for a special occasion. She insisted they take it.

     At Michael’s declaration Evie stopped, one hand on the towel wrapped around her body and the other on the towel she was using to dry her hair. She purposely had avoided asking about the other name the men had called him. She had come to grips with the fact that he had another life, another name and decided it didn't matter. Her life wasn't exactly an open book. And she knew that if Michael had another life, he might also have another love. In spite of her resolve not to get involved with any man ever again she felt herself falling in love with him. It was crazy, she knew. But she didn't care.  After all they had been through she was beginning to realize how short life really was and she didn't want to waste a minute of it. Tomorrow they might meet up with the Team again and ….she just couldn't…wouldn't think of that. Instead she thought of his kiss and how it made her forget everything else.

     “Dimitri?”

     “Yes,” Michael explained, “I changed my name from Dimitri Michaels to a dozen different pseudonyms and then to Michael Connors. I moved around just enough to keep one step ahead of them.”

     “Dimitri Michaels?”

     “Yes,” Michael explained with a half smile, “My mother was Greek and my father Irish. Hell of a combination.”

     “Dimitri.” Evie said again.  She traded the towel she was using on her hair for a comb.

     “I thought I was done with them.  I got sloppy.  I’m so sorry I dragged you into this mess.” His anguished blue eyes locked with hers for a moment, then he looked down. It was hard to face her. He had almost gotten her killed this afternoon and now here she was standing there in just a towel. Too fresh, sweet, and tempting. He let out a shaky breath. Did she have any idea how crazy she was making him?

     Evie finished running the comb through her hair and tossed it aside. Her decision was made. After what she had been though today, she knew what she wanted.

Michael.

She felt she had known him a lifetime in just one short week. He was everything she had been looking for before she had even known she was looking. He had saved her when he could have just kept on going. She knew she had only slowed him down and caused problems, but still he came back, risked his life to save her.

The logical side told her it was only a reaction to all she had been though. But something in her heart told her that wasn’t all it was. There was so much more.

Slowly, she walked to the bed and stood before him. Edging closer, she moved between his legs and put her hands on his shoulders.

“Evie...” he said as one hand reached out of its own volition to touch her waist. She swayed toward him, his blue eyes pulling her in. Unable to stop, his hand slid down her soft curves to the hem of the towel. Feeling the silk of her thigh was almost too much for him.  Resolve crumbling at his feet his hand rose up under the terrycloth to caress the soft curve of her hip, sliding farther he found the pliant swell of one full breast.

Something between a purr and a moan escaped Evie's lips and he couldn’t help himself, he had to see her. He tugged the towel down, letting it fall to the floor as he feasted on her beauty.

     Taking his face in the palm of her hands, she kissed him deeply.

“Hello Dimitri Michaels.” And she kissed him again.

     Wrapping his arms around her, he leaned back on the bed, pulling her down on top of him. His hands skimmed over her from her hips to her breasts and back down to caress her buttocks. Like liquid fire, they burned every inch they touched, setting her alight with passion. 

     Turning over and pinning her beneath him, he lowered his head to kiss the soft fullness of her breasts. Moaning, Evie arched against his lips. He inhaled her sweet, pure scent, imbedding it in his mind. It tormented his senses like an intoxicating wine.

     It took all of his control to ask, “Are you sure?”

     She answered him with a kiss, but he pulled away.

     "No, Evie, I want you to be sure. I don't want you doing this for the wrong reason."

    "I…I want you, Michael." Evie said, biting back the word "love" as she trailed hot, damp kisses down his neck. "I've never wanted anyone more."   

     "Evie," he whispered, pulling her back up so he could claim her warm, full lips once more. “Oh God, Evie.”

For a brief second Evie wondered if the word love was behind his words too. Then, as his hands and lips grazed over the more sensitive parts of her body she lost all conscience thought and gave herself over to the sensations setting her body aflame.