4 Part Two

               One Month.

       They'd been dating for a month and counting. And she had to admit, first impressions were definitely false impressions.

            Apart from his insatiable appetite, or desire for copulation, Evan was a good guy. Owned a successful carpentry business; which explained the muscles and all; visited the orphanage every Friday; he was adorable with kids; and sucked at being funny... Although his attempts to be were funny.

           "Okay so here's one, what do you call an alligator wearing an E vest?"

           They sat in her living room, supposedly watching a movie.

            "Uhm.... An abnormal reptile?" she asked eyes fixed on the TV. She knew one glance at him would send her flying into his arms. Damn him for smelling so good and making her want to cuddle with him forever. But then that would be breaking the rules that guarded her heart. Not like she hadn't snapped any of those shackles.

           She had broken Don't number one. Not like it was her fault. He had looked so adorable stuffing his cheeks with cupcakes, she couldn't resist taking a picture and posting it on the media. A part of her had wanted to flaunt him.

             Don't number two was next. He was good with kids. Too good. The kids at the community orphanage completely adored him. So she'd gone ahead and thought about his babies. And how he'd be such a good father. Like her dad. And what their family photo would be like. Yemi was right anyways, thanks future was bleak. But a woman could dream.

              "Nooo! An Investigator!" he replied laughing like he had hit the jackpot.

               "Yeesh! You're terrible."she replied shaking her head, her eyes still glued to the screen.

         Don't look at him Ella. Don't look at him and all will be fine.

               "Come on! That was funny!" he whined nudging her softly.

                Noella stifled the gasp that threatened to escape when his skin touched hers but couldn't resist throwing a glance at him.

            What was the essence of a cuffing buddy if there was no cuddling? 

          She wondered staring at him curiously. His eyebrows were furrowed in concentration as he tapped his phone probably searching for more ridiculous jokes. His chest constantly heaving as if trying to breathe through the fitted top he wore.

         "Okay here's one, what horses only ride at night?"

            "Oh that's easy. The night mares." she stated dryly eyes back on the TV where some actor was heavily surrounded by enemies. Hence where the movie industry fools everyone and the actor conquers all.

             "Jesus! Woman!"

             "What?! I have a Google assistant too."

             "I'm trying to impress you here!"

             Now Noella could definitely not resist. She reached across, pulling at his cheeks.

             "Awe. You big soft bear. Consider me impressed." she teased.

             "Are you? Because you're like a hundred meters away. Not the good sign of being impressed."

             "I'm right beside you Evan."

              "And it feels like you're a thousand light years away." he reached out then enveloping her in his arms. "There."

              "I.... I should go check... um....check on my cats." she stuttered hating how her body melted in his embrace.

             "Why? I'm sure they're having fun with that string thingy I bought them. Those crazy things." he murmured in her hair sending shivers down her spine. "Darn all good things, you smell so fuckin good. Had to get them scented candles, so my house smells like you. That's funny since I hate lemons. They make your teeth prickly."

          He shouldn't be saying things like this.

         Noella sighed within. She knew herself. There was no way she could do the 'no emotions involved' relationship. She wore her heart on her sleeve virtually all the time, and fell faster for words than she could say boo! But that didn't stop the words that tumbled out of her mouth.

          "I could lend you my shampoo. Or the perfume."

              Evan gave a deep rich chuckle that sent a part of her anatomy transforming into the Niagara Falls.

               "No way in hell. And then every one starts explaining how whipped I am or something."

             She rolled her eyes then tracing the circle patterns on his top.

            "So...what are you doing next Saturday?"

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            Evan hoped his voice didn't come out strangled. Blame her finger doing wonders on his chest and brain. He could already forsee a cold long shower when he was out of this place.

             "Nothing really. Staying home... I guess." her voice was small, soft. Like the genie Ali baba had wanted to protect.

              "Well cancel all your plans. We're going hiking."

               "Really? Evan we both know I am not an outdoor person. We already did twenty one questions." she protested pulling away and he wanted to whine and grumble at the loss of her warmth.

           "Oh come on. It will be fun. And it's that small hill a few meters from here. Now come back here will you?"

            "Ughhh.... It's being long I went up that hill. My dad and I used to back in those days." she grumbled burying her face deeper in his chest.

               He had to admit, her in his arms was perfection.

             "Same here. It was a spot for family vacation. We lived in this neighborhood some eighteen years ago. You were probably in momma's womb." he jeered.

              "Oh shut it. I was a solid five year old with cute pigtails and no front teeth."

              "Hmm... sounds much more attractive than you are right now. Why hadn't we met then? I could have fallen deep and down for your lack of dentures."

          That made her throw her head back in laughter and Evan did not bother hiding his fist pump.

               "Score! There's the laughter I've been trying to bring" he grinned and watched her roll her eyes smiling up at him. Her dark eyes luring. Beautiful. She was straddled directly on him, their position not helping his wayward thoughts.

             "Shit! Shit shit!" he cursed as his friend rose to the occasion. "Ella, if you keep looking at me like that. I can't guarantee that I will continue being a gentleman man." he warned, and could not hide the laughter that spilled when her eyes widened and jaw slacked.

            "You sex crazed bastard!" she jumped out of his arms like they had fire in them. Her face burned as eyes unconsciously flew to his groin.

             "Ouch. That's mean honey." he gasped clutching his chest.

             "Don't call me that!"

             "Okay. Whatever you say sugar."

             "That too!"

             "Come back here and I'll consider it."

              "Never! You need to go home." she warned gesturing at his situation.

              "What about the movie?"

               "Forget the movie! Get your ass home!"

                "Hmm.... I like em' bossy." he teased wiggling his eyebrows loving the way her face flushed in discomfort. Was it sick that he was getting turned on from all this?

               "Yuck! Now get going or I'll go get the cats."

          Evan sprang to his feet immediately like his butt was on fire. His first day at her house, those nasty creatures had attacked him, gnawing and clawing. Ever since, he made sure to avoid direct encounter with them. Hated them so much, he'd cook them as soup if it were up to him.

             "Alright. Alright. I'm leaving. I'll pick you up on Saturday." he grumbled walking begrudgingly towards the door before turning to take his full of her.

          Beautiful! So fuckin beautiful.

           Her hair was let down, her lips pouted in concentration. Her ever so seductive body in shorts and a fan shirt. He grinned when he saw her eyes flash in annoyance.

            "Don't I get a hug girlfriend?"

            "Tabby!"

             "Oh for fuck's sake woman, I'm leaving okay? I'm leaving, just tell those damn cats to stay away or they'll be meeting my pot of soup!"

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             Noella had known she wasn't an outdoor person but she hadn't known she was this bad. Ten minutes up the hill, she already collapsed on the ground panting like an idiot with Evan's smiling face above hers.

            "How much longer Evan? God I am so tired."

         He rolled his eyes but his smile was still there.

        He'd been giving that creepy smile since morning.

              "It's supposed to be a thirty minute walk Ella. But at this rate, I'm certain we'll be there by midnight."

        Now it was her turn to roll her eyes.

           "I'm not that bad"

           "Suuuuuuure. Can we move now?" he asked pulling her to her feet.

           "We can't. I'm tired. Can't I rest for a bit?"

            "You already did. For five solid minutes. That is more than a bit."

            "You're mean." she pouted trudging slowly behind him.

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             He would dash Mikhail's face to pieces if the jerk ruined his surprise.

          "He better not even touch that basket at all!" he muttered to himself. He threw a look back at her and frowned when he saw her flat on the floor again.

           "Ella?"

           "Please...Van. Please. I need a breather." she panted giving him wild dishonourable thoughts on how he could make her pant.

          "Ella we have to move before I lose my edge."

And he was damned close.

          "What edge?" her lips in a pouty frown.

So fuckin innocent.

           "My edge of sanity babe." he replied then stalked towards her picking her up and flipped her over his shoulder.

           "Hey! This is not a good way to treat a woman!" she yelled struggling furiously.

            Evan didn't think the twice before spanking her huge rack and the soft whimper that escaped her lips made him wish he had. His jeans had tightened in response. Just how many more kind of sounds could he draw out her? He threw his head back in a guttural groan as his boner grew.

              "Shit!"

              "Are you okay?" her voice was timid and Evan flinched at the thought of scaring her.

              "Yeah.... Yeah I'm fine." he replied huskily, increasing his pace up the hill. "We'll be there in no time."

            "Riiiight. Cause you're Berry Allen."

             "Oooh, look who knows Flash."

             "Oooh, look who's head I'm going to hit when we get to the top of this stupid hill."

              "Specify honey. I have two heads."

              "Hardy har har. Very funny. Like you'd suddenly sprouted one" her voice was breathy and Evan realized she couldn't exactly speak normal with her head upside down.

           "Stop talking. You'll choke on air." he cautioned and was rewarded with a hum.

               Finally, he saw the picnic basket, the mat and a glimpse of Mikhail's bike raising dust down the other side And the stupid smile found its way back his face again.

             "We're here."

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               "Oh. My. God! This is ah-mazing." She moaned as she sank her teeth in the chocolate cake. "Did you make this?"

                 "Yep."

                 "Really?"

                 "Noooo... I can't even make soup."

          She gave a short laugh and smacked his head.

                 "Ow."

                 "You're a jerk."

                 "A jerk who makes you happy." he threw a wink her way.

             Noella felt her stomach drop then. He did make her happy. Really happy. Her eyes widened and her heart rate picked up.

        She was getting attached.

         Yemi and Aare had confronted her the day before claiming she was breaking Don't number three.

          ""_Don't get too wrapped up okay? You do not want your heart getting smashed. The relationship goes but everything else stays.""

         Of course she had denied it. She wasn't falling for Ethan, or getting wrapped up in anything. Sure she hadn't hung out with them recently. But that was or should be expected from her. It was her first relationship in three years. It was okay if she forgot her friends for a moment. But that didn't stop her from closing her eyes tightly trying to stop picturing forever with him.

         This was normal. She would get tired of him soon. This was entirely normal.

             "What are you thinking about?" he whispered against her ear sending warmth down her toes.

             "Nothing" she whispered back.

             "I don't believe you." his lips pulled at her ear lobe eliciting a small gasp from her and his eyes gleamed at her arched body.

             "Too bad I don't care if you do."

              "Smart ass."

              "Dumb butt."

         Evan cackled in reply.

              "How original. Now you steal comebacks from eight year olds. Pathetic." he teased.

              "Whatever." she replied rolling her eyes then polished off the rest of her cake then grabbed a glass of vine wine.

            "Do you want kids Ella?" he asked randomly his hands wrapped around her waist while she tried not to choke on wine.

            "No."

           "No?"

             "No, I don't want to have kids. I'm planning to adopt like four though. There are too many parent less children in the world, why over populate again?" she stated then heard him grumble underneath.

              "Yeah. Though I'll prefer having at child of my own,then I'll adopt. It's what my foster parents did anyways."

               "Foster parents?" she asked startled. "You... Well you never told me you were adopted."

              "Yeeeaah....." he drawled sheepishly. "My parents died before I was two. Or so I was told. I was dropped off at the orphanage when I was two. The Adebayos anyways wanted to adopt a baby and I was the fortunate kid they picked."

               "Wow."

               "Yeah."

                "I didn't know."

                "Well now you do."

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              Evan wanted nothing more than to close the few inches between them and kiss the living shit out of her. Their eyes still locked on each other, he stroked her chin softly then moved his hands, freeing her locks from their pony tail. He gave a low growl when she closed her eyes, lips parted in pleasure of his hands on her scalp. He leaned closer, trailing kisses up her neck ready to claim her when in a flurry of movements and a sharp cry; "NO!" ;she was meters away from him.

             Pain throbbed through him. Literally.

            "Noella," he sounded strangled, his voice hoarse. "Please. I need to kiss you."

              "No. No you can't. We can't."

               "Fuck! Fuck! Why not?" He didn't mean to yell. But he was in a messy haze and she was killing him. He had never gone that long without kissing anyone, not to mention sex! He felt deprived of everything at the moment. The long showers and his hand was getting him no where. And all he wanted was a kiss. Just a fuckin kiss.

               "Because it leads to sex! This relationship is simply platonic! You know that."

               "I promise I'll only kiss you. I swear Ella." he reached for her but she would have none of it. She stood up scrambling away from him.

                "I know you Evan. I'm sure it won't end as only a kiss."

             Evan groaned, biting his lip in frustration as he stood up too.

              "Fuck this! I'm your boyfriend Ella. I am supposed to-"

              "You are not my boyfriend."

            Her blatant declaration washed over him like a bucket of ice.

            "The hell are you saying?" he asked his voice an octave lower, looking confused.

             "You are just my cuffing buddy. I had to give in to the season urges and you agreed to give me company. Nothing more." she stated frostily. And Evan had never felt more compelled to chuck an hammer at someone.

        Way to make a guy feel special. She'd had just referred to him like he was an object. Something to be discarded after being used. Like he was one of her cats who gave company.

           Just my cuffing buddy.

          The phrase incited anger and something else close to heartache.

             "Right." he gave a short sad laugh. "How could I have forgotten? We are just cuffing buddies."

           Resentfully he reached for the picnic basket.

            "Meet me at the end of the hill." he spat.

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               "You are a terrible bitch!"

               "Yemi!!!" Noella gasped. Her friend had never insulted her in terms like that. Ever.

               "I'm afraid I agree with Yemi. You sounded like he was a tool it something. I'm sure he feels that way." Aare added.

                "I... I only reminded him what we were!"

                "More like reminding yourself." Yemi threw back. 

           Noella willed the tears to stay back but she could tell she was succeeding less and less by the second.

             "I was only following the rules! You guys warned me not to get attached. If we had kissed, I would've broken that rule!"

             "Oh Ella. It's a Flippin relationship. It's the same as having a boyfriend but you know when it ends. Of course there should be kissing involved." Aare chastised.

               "What if he wanted sex then?"

               "Well did he?"

       Tears fell in drops then.

              "I just... I just thought I was doing the right thing!"

              "Well you could've done the right thing without making a guy feel like a stuffed teddy bear."

          "Were sorry Ella. But really, you need to remember Evan's human. The guy sacrificed his shagging life for you. You owe him that tiny bit of pleasure."Aare counselled.

           "And yourself. You owe yourself that too. Some how I think that's the problem."

           Noella remained silent.

            "That's it isn't it? You love Evan?"

            "What.. What? No. I'm not there..."

             "Yet." Yemi finished then let out a whoosh of air. "This is bad."

            "Now you know."

            "C'mon Ella I'm sure you couldn't help it. I've met him and he's a total charmer." Aare tried to console.

                 "I don't know what to do." She groaned placing her head on the table. "He didn't even  speak to me. Not a word when he dropped me off. I was even surprised he waited for me to get down the hill."

        There was a brief silence before Aare spoke up.

            "There's only one solution I see here."

             The other two waited expectantly.

            "Time."

            "Huh?"

            "Doc. We get you're old and all sage, but please break down to words we can understand."

            "Never! call me old. Ella, what I mean is, let time decides what happens. This Evan guy is worth a shot."

             "What if he wants to call it off?"

             "Girl are you crazy? You are fuckin hot. If he wants to call it off then too bad for him. You, babe, can find another man in one snap." Yemi prepped.

             "Agreed. And if you want to change his mind so bad, I have a couple of lingerie that I've never worn..." Aare trailed off with a wink.

           "Oh exactly! And I could totally lend you a bottle of wine. And some James Arthur. Aaand a box of -"

           Noella face palmed then rolled her eyes at the duo.

            "Thanks. I'll pass. I should get going before its too dark. His estate's gate locks by eight." She remarked standing up.

             "Oooh...look who knows his schedule. Should I watch your cats for you till tomorrow?"

           "God no Yemi! I'll be back today. The highest we'll do is Kiss anyways. Geez!"

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           She had been to his house a few times to remember it's location. Some thirty minutes drive away from her apartment. It was six in the evening and the weather as always was chilly. She knew he was home because his car was in the garage and so made her way to his bungalow, clutching the present she had for him tight.

            "Uhm... Ahem. Evan, I am so sorry I acted like a bitch and was selfish. I was kind of scared... I think. So let bygones be bygones and kiss me already....

....Nah. That sounds desperate." she murmured, took a deep deep breath and knocked on the door.

  Groan.

         Noella froze for a moment knowing that he had made that sound. She pushed the door open ever so slowly hoping against hope that it wasn't what she was thinking. Then and there did she know she was a goner. That she had broken Don't number three. Because she had a complete breakdown at the sight of Evan balls deep in another woman.

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Finaaaalllly! 😰

Chapter two is updated.

Who blames Evan?

Who blames Ella?

Who blames me? 😂😂😂

Please comment what you think about this chapter. And the book as a whole. I'll be grateful if you did.