Champagne Toast by Melissa Brown Read Free Book Online

other guy I ’ ve ever been with.  He has no idea just how much his interest means to me.  I am savoring every last bit of his exuberance as if I may never experience it again.  Perhaps I won ’ t.  I ’ d better enjoy it while I can.
    Evan turns on the overhead light and we sit cross-legged on my bed. I take the lid off the box, inhaling deeply as I smell the familiar scent of the chemicals. One of my favorite smells in the world. Evan looks down at the box, tapping his fingers quickly on his knees, showing just how eager he is to dig into the photos.
    “ Can I? ” he gestures to the box.
    “ Sure, ” I shrug, placing the box in front of Evan.  He smiles widely as he pulls a stack of photos gently from within the cardboard box.  He holds them in his hands and gazes down at them with such a sweet expression on his handsome face.  He studies each shot before moving on to the next.  My heart thuds in my chest as I watch him.  All of my insecurities bubble to the surface , as I scrutinize Evan ’ s face while he examines my work.
    “ I love the texture in this one, sweets. It ’ s really beautiful, ” he says, holding up a shot I had taken of textiles hanging in the sunlight.  He shakes his head in disbelief.  “ I ’ m so impressed, seriously.  You have a gift. ”
    “ You think so? Really? ” I ask, shocked at his compliments.  I feel like my soul is exposed , and rather than cowering , I am shining and Evan is basking in my glow.  I never want to lose this feeling.  Ever.
    “ Thank you for sharing these with me.  I can tell you were hesitant.  I don ’ t want you to ever hold back with me.  Show me your talents; show me your weaknesses.  I want them all.  We all have many sides to us.  And I think that you ’ ve gotten so used to having your guard up, that you ’ ve suppressed all of the things that make you unique, ” Evan says, taking my hands in his.  Quickly, I feel the need to avoid where this conversation is headed, even though I am amazed by his words in the best possible way.
    “ So, you ’ re saying you didn ’ t find me unique when you first met me at Molly ’ s?  You were a total flirt. I caught you checking out my ass! ”
    Evan shrugs as he scratches the back of his head. “ Well, I ’ m not gonna lie.  It is a mighty fine ass, Miss Armour.  In fact, I think I ’ d like to take a better look at that ass right now, if you don ’ t mind, ” he says as he tackles me onto the bed , flipping me over as I pretend to struggle against his touch.
    “ God, you ’ re such a goddamn alpha, ” I laugh. 
    Evan chuckles slightly to himself as he rubs the cheeks of my ass softly. “ Nah, a real alpha male would spank you right now. ”
    “ I dare you, Ev ,” m y voice is strong, confident.  I am up for the challenge.
    Evan flips me over again and gazes into my eyes.  “ Not my style, sweets. ”
    “ I knew you were a tease, ” I smirk.
    Evan licks his lips seductively before laying down beside me once again.  He begins to gently stroke my abdomen, playing with the waistband of my boy shorts.  He really loves to tease me.  We already had sex twice this evening, but I have a feeling we ’ re working up to a third.
    “ Thanks for sharing your photos with me, seriously. I like knowing more about you, and I really like when you let me in.  You ’ re so tough on the outside, but I like when you sh ow me the soft side of yourself.”  H e smiles warmly as his fingers graze my belly button.  A delicious shiver runs up my spine.
    Suddenly, I feel the need to share something with Evan.  Something that has the potential to make or break us. Something that I ’ ve tried to hide for months since we got together.  Something that could threaten everything we ’ ve started to build.  I ’ m terrified, but I know he wants to know more. He needs to know more. I need him to know me, the real me.
    “ Hey, what ’ s the matter? ”   Evan asks, placing his hand softly