“What the fuck just happened?!” Maggie says as soon as the front door closes. Everett doesn’t say a word, walking to his bike and climbing on silently. His hands grip the handle bars roughly, knuckles white as anger rolls off him in waves. He waits silently for me to say goodbye. “Is he okay?” She asks, gesturing to the brooding man waiting at the curb.
“Malcolm crossed the line. I think he’s lucky he got off that easily,” I whisper, looking over my shoulder at Everett.
“Ok, this goes against every feminist bone in my body, but that was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. I want a man who threatens to murder people for me,” she smirks and I laugh, leaning in to give her a hug.
“Yeah, my lady bits are screaming at me right now,” I sigh and wave at her as she walks to her car, making sure she’s safe inside with the door closed before turning around and walking to my man.
“You okay, Ev?” I ask, placing my hand over his on the handlebar, feeling him tense under my touch. His gaze is locked on something or nothing at all, staring straight ahead.
“I’m sorry,” he says, and I’m shocked. He’s apologizing to me?
“What? Why? You have nothing to be sorry for,” I reassure him.
“You shouldn’t have to put up with that guy, but you shouldn’t have to see me like that either. I know I have issues keeping my anger in check. I never want to scare you.” His words surprise me, but I understand why he’s worried. He doesn’t want to be seen as the rough, tattooed bad boy everyone thinks he is.
“Honey, look at me,” his eyes lock on mine, uncertainty clear in them. “You have nothing to be sorry for, Ev. He was out of line. I’m honestly glad you were there.” I place my hand on his shoulder, feeling the hard definition and heat of his muscles flexing under the smooth leather of his jacket. “If anyone should apologize, it’s me”
He looks at me, confused about what I could possibly have to be sorry for. I lean into his thigh, almost straddling his leg as I bring my lips closer to his. “I’m sorry that we have to get all the way home before you can feel how wet I am over what you just did.” Fire blazes in his eyes as he searches my face, trying to discern if I’m serious or not. I’m dead serious. Right now, I want to climb this man like rock wall he is. I’m practically dry humping him in the street in front of my workplace, for god’s sake.
“Are you for real?” He asks, cocking an eyebrow up in shock.
“You tell me, honey.” I flick my tongue out, our lipsclose enough that I barely brush his. Before I can take another breath, he threads his fingers through my hair, pulling my lips down roughly against his in a desperate kiss. My mouth opens instantly, allowing him to explore me from the inside out. His taste, his smell, his ruthless energy flares all around me. I’m all-consumed by this man. It’s a heady feeling that I’m more than happy to drown in as he pulls me closer, dragging me under his waves.
“I swear, you’re a fucking dream, goddess. I don’t deserve you.” Pulling back, he stares into my eyes, searching for any sign of uncertainty or fear. He won’t find any.
“You’re right, you don’t. But you got me, baby. You’ll never get rid of me now,” I smirk against his lips, peppering kisses as I giggle. He tugs on my hair, harsh but gentle all at once. Running his nose down my jawline, nuzzling into my neck, he gives me a sucking kiss on the sensitive spot right below my ear, and I shiver. “Everett Wayne, do not give me a hickie. That is just not attractive after high school.”
“No promises. If I could mark every inch of your perfect skin, I would. I’d make sure the entire world knows you’re mine. Then no one would ever fucking dare to touch you.” His words elicit a moan from deep in my chest and he laughs against my skin. “Would you like that, goddess? You want me to make you scream my name from the fucking rooftops, so thiswhole town knows who you belong to?” He places soft kisses across my throat, my jaw, my neck, leaving goosebumps in his wake. God, I love it when he talks to me this way. He awakens every dirty thought or fantasy I’ve ever had, turning them all into a reality.
“What I want,” my voice is thick with lust and I try to force my racing heart to slow down, “is for you to take me home and bury yourself so deep inside me, we can’t tell where either of us ends and the other begins.”
His grip on my hair tightens, a growl erupting from the back of his throat. “Get on this bike, Kelsea. Now. Before I take you right here in the fucking street.”
I smirk at my ability to throw him off. I enjoy making his head spin the way he does mine. As we pull away from the curb towards home, I realize just how far gone I am for this man. I’m in love with him. He’s become a part of me. There’s no coming back from the way he’s etched himself into my heart.
fifteen
I startle awake hours later,my body deliciously sore from overuse. The remnants of a nightmare cling to the edges of my mind, but they don’t feel as vivid lately as they usually do. My hands reach out for Everett’s comforting body, desperate to feel his skin against mine. I keep reaching and feel the cool emptiness of his satin sheets under my fingers. He’s gone and apparently has been for some time. I reach for my phone and squint against the harsh light of the screen. Its 3:16 am. Where the fuck is my boyfriend? I hear the mumbled deep bass of his voice behind the bathroom door. Climbing out of bed, I make my way across the room and lean into the closed door. Am I eavesdropping? Yeah, I am. I know I should respect his privacy, but who the hell is calling him at 3 am?
“I told you, I’m not worried,” I hear him say. Worriedabout what? “No, I haven’t said anything to her or anyone else. This isn’t something I’m entirely proud of, B.”
The jealous girlfriend side of me wants to know what the fuck is going on. Who is so important that he left me alone in bed and answered a call at 3 am? I press my ear to the door to hear more details, but suddenly all I hear is silence. Before I can jump back into bed, the door falls open and my face crashes into the hard planes of Everett’s chest. Embarrassment at being caught floods my system as I jerk upright, smoothing my hands over my hair in an attempt to play it cool. It’s no use. There’s no denying I was snooping.
“Um… what the hell are you doing?” He asks. His tone has an edge to it, but it isn’t angry. He doesn’t seem to be pissed off at me for eavesdropping, just tense.
“I just woke up, and you weren’t there. I heard you talking to somebody so -”
“So you thought you’d listen in on my call through the door?” He’s very abrupt. Not rude, but definitely not beating around the bush. Everett’s never been one for lies or games. He appreciates straightforwardness and honesty.
“Well… yeah. I did. I mean, it’s a little strange to wake up in the middle of the night alone and hear my boyfriend on the phone with somebody else, locked in the bathroom like it’s the Fortress of Solitude. Something you need to tell me?” I cross my arms over my chest and he seems surprised by my attitude. Honestly, I’m surprised too. I have no reason to feel defensive. He’s been nothing but amazing and open with me over the past few weeks.
“Why are you pissed off, Kelsea?” His stance mimics my own, and internally, I feel a little embarrassed. But now we’re locked in a battle of who apologizes to whom first, even though I’m not sure either of us has anything to apologize for.
“Well, excuse me if I find it a little strange to hear you having clandestine phone calls in the bathroom while I’m still naked in your bed, Everett.” I know I sound like a brat. It’s like I’m watching a train wreck of my own making and I can’t look away.
“Clandestine phone calls, huh?” His features are emotionless, but I see humor dancing in his eyes. His lips tip up at the edge, suppressing a smile. He’s enjoying making me squirm. “Are you trying to imply something? Because if you are, I’d rather you just ask me.”
“Who were you talking to, Everett?” I say, placing my hands on my hips with an attitude. I realize this puts my entire body on display from him like a fucking buffet, but I choose to ignore it. Surprisingly, his eyes never stray from mine.
