Chapter Fifty One

"Evan?" Dora called. "I asked if I did something wrong"

Evan slowly raised his head, but he didn't turn to look at her. He just couldn't. "No you didn't" he replied stiffly. "This isn't about you"

"Then what is it about?" she pressed.

"We shouldn't have.... I shouldn't have" he paused, his shoulders heaving as he finally met her gaze. "I'm married Dora. I don't know if you were aware but I should have... I should have stopped you. I shouldn't have come up here with you in the first place"

Dora shrugged. "So you are married... So what? If you are worried about people finding out, then don't worry. I'm not a snitch and I do not kiss and tell. No one will find out. I'm good at keeping secrets like that..."

When he didn't reply, she added "You can come over to my place if you want... So you can spend the night. We both know it would do you some good. Besides, I know enough to know that if you were... Happily married, you wouldn't be at this party alone or up here with me for that matter... The Mrs isn't here, is she?"

Evan glared at her. Suddenly he wasn't attracted to her any more but completely irritated by her presence. He couldn't stare at her without getting angry at himself and he couldn't wait to get away from her.

"That's none of your business" he said. "Please drop it, and yes I would be grateful if you just keep this between us. I'm in a lot of mess right now and I would really appreciate if you don't make things worse for me.

Dora nodded." I'm guessing this is over then "she said.

"Yes it is" replied Evan. "Please go back to the party"

Or home… he thought, hoping she'd leave the party.

"Don't beat yourself up" said Dora as she took her leave. "Regardless of all these, I had a great time. Too bad we didn't get to finish"

Evan winced at her words. It wouldn't look right if people saw them returning to the party together, he thought, and then remembered that in their hurry, he hadn't even thought about the people who might have seen them leaving the party together. He hadn't even been careful. Damn! He wanted to punch something. How could he have been so stupid and selfish?.

He regretted his actions, but he knew he couldn't let Christina find out about what he had done. She was going be so mad. She could break down again and the little progress she had made would all be for nothing. He had screwed up big time... And beating himself up wouldn't change that fact but only cause more harm.

He straightened up his clothes and when he was sure that there was some reasonable distance between him and Dora, he returned to the party. Halfway to his seat, he bumped into Ann.

"Hey. Been looking all over for you. You won't guess who finally came" she said smiling excitedly at him.

"Who?" Evan asked abruptly, clearly in no mood for games.

"Go check and see" Ann said, gesturing towards his table with a smile and slipped away.

Evan frowned and hurried to his seat. Ann was always like that. Thinking everything was a game. On other days, he found her playfulness cute and endearing, but today he found it annoying. Whatever she was referring to better be something worth it.

And yes, Ann was right when she said he couldn't guess, because honestly he would have been able to guess right.

"Tina" he said in surprise as his wife turned to stare at him.

Christina smiled at him as she stood, while Evan just stood and stared. Unable to move, confused, filled with shame and regret, but still happy that she had shown up.

"You came" Evan finally managed to say as she moved forward to give him a hug

"Yes, I did" Christina replied.

"You came" Evan repeated as he planted a kiss on her forehead. "I can't believe you did."

Christina smoothened her palm on his tux and smiled at him, and Evan noticed how beautiful she looked even with her simple make up. She was wearing a red dress that he had bought her on the last marriage anniversary and she looked stunning. He was dumbfounded... If only he had been a little patient, he thought regretfully.

Christina noticed the worried look on his face. "What's wrong?" she asked. "Are you mad at me? Because I said no at first?"

Evan shook his head quickly. "No honey. That's not it at all"

But that gloomy face was coming back already. "I'm sorry. I didn't think that I was ready, but I was sitting at home and I thought about what you said and I realized that I should be here with you.... I could go home if you....."

Evan didn't let her finish. Instead he pulled her closer and crushed his lips to hers. Leaning closer towards her, he tilted his head slightly and took possession of her lips with firm, certain purpose— not tentative or gentle, but he was.... rough and demanding.

Christina gasped in surprise, and his tongue slid between her parted lips, exploring and tasting as if she were some new delicacy he was eager to relish. It sent ripples of heat pulsing through her body to pool in her breasts and loins. It whetted a ravenous craving that shocked her with its intensity. She could not seem to inhale enough air through her nose to feed the blaze he had kindled.

But god! She liked it... There was something different about him tonight... About the way he kissed her, and she felt something in her come alive for the first time in a long time that she

welcomed this different side of him.

Evan's breath hastened too, gusting from his nostrils like a hot wind against her cheek. His hands moved over her body, spreading a sultry yearning wherever he touched. Overwhelmed by the potent, bewildering sensations that possessed her, Christina pulled back abruptly from Evan's embrace.

"Oh, what's come over you, Evan" she gasped and hid her face in his chest while he held her closer. "Oh my God! I think that was a little too much. I'm sure people are staring at us now"

"I don't care" replied Evan as he cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to look at him. "I don't care about anyone else. People can look all they want. I'm so glad that you decided to come."