[WARNING: SOME MATURE CONTENT IN THIS CHAPTER]
While she was lost in her thoughts, her phone rang again. This time it was Jinhai. She cleared her throat before she picked up.
"Hello?" She answered, lifting the phone to her ear.
"Hey, where are you?" He asked her. She was bewildered.
"In my bed at the hotel," she replied slowly.
"Great! Can you come open the door?" He said. She shot upright in the bed.
"You're here?" She asked suddenly feeling very awake. She looked down and saw that she wasn't quite dressed properly. She was in her underwear and cami tank top. She quickly grabbed a long thin satin robe and went to the door.
After pulling it on and tying it around her waist, she opened the door.
Jinhai stood on the other side of the door. He ended the call and lowered the phone. He had a bag in the other hand.
"Uh, come in," Evelyn said stepping aside to let him enter.
"Thanks," he said as he stepped past her to walk in. He went straight for the kitchen to set the bag down on the counter. Then he took his blazer off and hung it off the back of a chair. It was different than what he wore this morning so Evelyn could only assume he went home to change.
"What are you doing here?" She asked him. She was surprised to see him but also happy. He unbuttoned the sleeves of his shirt and folded them up to his elbows before answering her.
"I brought tiramisu, would you like some?" He dodged her question. He went to the sink and turned his back to her to wash his hands.
"Sure, but why did you decide to come here?" She pressed him for an answer. He finished washing his hand and dried it on a towel before turning to answer her.
"I thought maybe you might not want to be alone tonight." He avoided looking at her. He instead reached for the bag to take out two slices of tiramisu in its plastic container and two plastic forks. He took a container and opened it before placing a spoon inside and setting it in front of her.
She didn't want to be alone but she wasn't sure how she felt about him being here. She took a seat and picked up the fork and took a bite of the cake. He opened his container and took a bite as well.
"How is it?" He asked her. She nodded, swallowing her bite.
"It's good, where did you get it?" She asked him.
"Moonlight Café," he answered. The fork in her hand slipped and clattered. He looked up at her. Her face had frozen.
"Evelyn, what's wrong?" He asked setting his fork down.
"Nothing," she answered and shook her head. She grabbed the fork and shoveled a big bite into her mouth. He placed his hand on hers and lowered them.
"Evelyn." He said, his eyes searching her's. She avoided his gaze doing her best to block out the onslaught of memories and emotions.
"Evelyn," his voice rose as he reached a hand out to cup her face to make her look at him. She shook her head out of his grasp.
"I'm fine, Jinhai." She said. She took a deep breath and regained her composure. He tried to pressure her a little more but finally dropped it when she refused to answer him.
They finished their slice of cake in silence. Jinhai cleaned everything up then brought two bottles of tea from the refrigerator and handed one to her. He took his seat again. She drank the tea before speaking.
"Thank you for the tiramisu," she said to him.
"You're welcome," he took a sip as well.
"It was an excuse to see you." He said to her. She looked up at him.
"Why?" She asked. He took a breath.
"I don't want you to be alone," he said.
"Jinhai, I appreciate that. But," she said.
"But what? You don't want me here?" He asked, he smirked at her teasingly.
"I do. It's just, what am I supposed to think?" She asked him. She was happy he was here but she still didn't trust that he would stay.
He seemed to understand what she meant. His smile slipped from his face.
"You haven't forgiven me," he said in a low voice sitting back down.
"I do forgive you. I just don't know how to trust that you won't leave again." She said in an equally low voice.
"I swear to you I won't. Not unless you ask me to." He declared.
"How can I believe that? When you left last time, Jinhai, you didn't even say good bye!" She jumped up walking from him. He followed her and grabbed her arm spinning her around to face him before she could take two steps.
"I'll regret that forever. I'll regret walking away and not saying good bye. I'll regret not telling you how I felt about you then." His voice rose with conviction. Her heart sped up at his words. He paused a moment before speaking again in a low voice pulling her closer.
"But it's because I have that regret that I know I can never let it happen again." He whispered. Her eyes became moist at his confession.
"I can't walk away from you again. I made the mistake of waiting too long before and I lost you. I will never make that mistake again." He vowed moving even closer to her, his gaze dipped to her lips. He couldn't help it. They were full and he wanted to kiss her so badly.
"Stop," she raised a hand against his chest to push him away. He spun her and her back pressed against the kitchen island. She gasped at the sudden vulnerable position he put her in.
"Tell me you don't want me. Tell me you don't think of me the way I think of you." He demanded. He was incredibly close.
"Tell me and I'll stop," he whispered lowering his head. 'I don't want you!' A voice shouted in her mind. But she knew that was a lie, the words wouldn't leave her lips.
"Tell me, Evelyn," he was so close now. Her head tilted upwards, unconsciously angling her lips perfectly for his.
"Jinhai," she whispered. He closed the distance between them, sealing her lips with his. She stood there at first her eyes wide. After a moment she relaxed and closed her eyes. His arm wrapped around her bringing her closer. His other hand went into her hair as he deepened the kiss.
She relented and parted her lips for him. His tongue dove in and attacked hers. One swipe, two swipes. She kissed him back, using her tongue to spare with his. They stayed like that for a while, giving and taking, demanding and surrendering. When she moaned he tore his lips from hers breathing hard.
"I'm not walking away. I'm yours. But I'll wait for you to be mine." He said panting. She looked up at him dazed from the kiss. It's been a long time since she was kissed so passionately. She swallowed trying to catch her breath. He held her face in his palm.
"Promise me you won't push me away." He demanded. She nodded.
"I want to hear you say it," he said.
"I promise I won't push you away." She whispered. He nodded.
"I'm staying the night." He stated. She hesitated before nodding.
"I'll behave myself." He promised her.
"Was this behaving yourself?" She asked before she could stop herself. He smiled a roguish smile before running his thumb over her lip.
"Don't be so tempting." He replied. He let her go and turned to the door.
"Where are you going?" She asked.
"Downstairs. I need to get my stuff from the car." Without waiting for her reply he opened the door and closed it behind him.
When the door closed she sat down on the seat hard. She brought her fingers to her lips. They were swollen. 'Did that really happen?' She thought. A small smile spread on her lips.