His grip loosens the slightest bit, as if he senses whatever I’m going to say is more serious than flirtatious. “Of course, goddess. Always.”
“I want to make you forget every other girl before me. I know it sounds like a jealous and irrational thing to say, but that’s what I want.” he reaches out a hand to help me onto my feet.
“Kelsea, I forgot every woman but you the second I fell in love with you.” His golden eyes bore in to mine,truth and intensity swirling behind them. My breath catches in my throat as I absorb what he just confessed.
“You love me,” it’s not a question. It’s a statement. A repetition of what he just said. A confirmation.
“I love you, goddess.” He pulls my lips to his, placing a sweet, soft kiss against them. But I want more.
Pulling back, I tear at the button of my jeans, my fingers failing me when I need them most. Finally, I get my pants unbuttoned and peel them down my legs, dragging the lace scraps of my panties with them and kicking off my heels. Everett pulls his shirt over his head, revealing every inch of ink and muscle that is all mine. I reach behind my back to untie my corset top, but Everett stops me.
“Leave it on. It’s hot as fuck, Kels. Red has always been your color, baby.” He spins me around in front of him, placing a firm hand on my back and bending me over his tattoo chair so my ass is on display for him. “So fucking perfect. So wet and ready for me.” He plunges one thick finger inside me, the sudden intrusion making me yelp in surprise, my back arching in response. He slides a second finger in and I see stars. I’m so close to the edge, the slightest motion would push me into oblivion. An unintelligible sound escapes my lips, something between a groan and a squeal, as my inner muscles clench around his fingers.
I’m balancing on a knifes edge, teetering on the cliff of euphoria, when he quickly withdrawals his hand.Shamelessly, I whine at the loss of his fingers. I’m seconds from begging him to fuck me. But before I can, he slams into me from behind, my hips colliding with the edge of the chair as he seats himself inside me completely.
“Oh fuck, oh fuck, Ev. I’m gonna come.” He pistons into me. The sound of our bodies pounding against each other fills the space around us. I feel my core quiver slightly before I combust, muffling the scream of my release. I know every person in the building can hear us, but I don’t care. Everett owns my body, pushing buttons I didn’t even know I had.
“Thats it, goddess. Come for me.” His fingers flex against my skin, gripping my hips with a punishing pressure. His pace picks up as he chases his own climax. I clench my inner muscles in time with his thrusts and his rhythm stutters. Slamming into me one final time, I feel the heat of his release pulsing inside me.
The sound of our frenzied breaths slowly evening out is all I can hear. He slides out of me, quickly grabbing a towel from the table next to us and cleaning me up. No one has ever taken the time to show me this level of care and intimacy. It’s almost uncomfortable for me to let him continue, even knowing everything we just did. As if he senses my anxiety, his rough hand smooths over my back gently.
“Relax, Kels. Let me take care of you.” He kisses my shoulder softly and my muscles slacken slightly.
“Hey Ev, can I ask you something?” I question as I search the room for my discarded clothes. He nods in response, pulling his jeans back up and sitting down on the tattoo chair. He props his arm behind his head, looking every bit like a casual Abercrombie model as he lays there in his dark washed jeans, no shirt, and delicious ink staining almost every inch of his chest and arms.
“Of course, babe. Anything.” He flashes me his genuine smile, the one he reserves just for me. It reaches all the way to his eyes and warms my heart.
“Did you mean what you said?” I ask, looking anywhere but his eyes as my insecurities get the better of me.
“Look at me, goddess,” he says, his voice unwavering. Fixing my gaze on his, his trademark cocky smirk slides over his mouth. “I’ve never said anything to you I didn’t mean, Kelsea. I love you.”
I cross the small space between us, stopping next to the chair and leaning down to kiss him. Running my hands across the stubble on his cheeks, I pour every ounce of emotion I’m feeling right now into this kiss. Pulling back, I rest my forehead against his, closing my eyes and breathing in this moment. “I love you, too, Everett.”
He kisses me again. Sweet, gentle kisses that are nothing like the passionate ones we shared only moments ago.
“I know you do, goddess. I’m very lovable.” He brags, smiling against my lips.
I pull away and roll my eyes at him. “And moment over. You’re such a cocky asshole sometimes,” I say jokingly.
“You like it,” he winks at me and I just shake my head. “You ready to go home?”
“Ooooh yeah, we gotta hurry. There’s a new episode of The Bachelorette on tonight!” I bounce on my toes and he gives me a look that says ‘no fucking way’. But I know he won’t complain once we’re cuddled up on the couch at home. He puts on a big show of acting like he hates my reality dating shows, but I know the truth. Sometimes I think he’s more invested in them than I am, asking me questions about the contestant’s lives like I’m the expert.
“Lets just pick up some dinner and see where the night takes us,” he wraps his arm around my shoulder, pulling me into his side as we walk into the lobby and out to the truck. This feels so normal and domestic. I wonder to myself if this is really my life. I don’t think I’ve ever been so content and excited to actually think about my future with someone else.
eighteen
In a miraclebigger than all miracles, I actually convinced all of my friends to come out for drinks tonight. Amelia, Elijah and Rory’s amazing mom, is in town and jumped at the chance to spend all night with her sweet grand babies. I was even more surprised when Everett told me Breaker was actually going to leave his lair and come out with us, too. The few times we’ve all hung out together, I’ve really liked him. He’s older than us, older than Elijah, too. But it doesn’t really seem to bother him and we don’t care. The slight salt and pepper at his temples is honestly kinda hot, and he’s really notthatold at almost 36. My amazing powers of observation have already deduced that Rory has a serious crush on him. I think the feeling is mutual, but I wonder if his hesitation is because of the almost sixteen year age gap.It obviously doesn’t phase Rory, so I don’t think he should let it get to him. She is far more mature than most girls coming into their twenties. But it’s not my relationship and I don’t have the energy to play matchmaker right now.
As we walk into the only bar worth going to in Grovewood, Pop’s, there’s already quiet the crowd lining the bar top and the small stage in the corner. On Friday nights, Pop’s has live music and always draws a huge crowd from the colleges.
“Let’s grab one of those tables!” Ember shouts over the noise and music, pointing to a high top table to the left of the stage.
On the inside, Pop’s is not what you would imagine when you see the front of the building. With the tin siding and exposed wood panels around the entrance, I expected to walk into a country dive bar the first time Ember brought me here. But I was shocked to find that Pop’s is super edgy inside. The bar top is a black lacquered wood with natural brown trim. Plush black leather stools line the counter and surround each of the dozen or so tables scattered throughout the building. The right side consists of four rolling garage style doors that open up onto a spacious courtyard where they have games and picnic tables set up. It’s an awesome hangout for any crowd.
Tonight, a local country singer is playing, and he’s drawn a huge following of fans. The dance floor is jam-packed, and the energy is high. Couples grind against each other to the gritty, half-rock, half-country sound of the performer’s voice. I have to admit, it’s sexy and so is he. But he’s got nothing on the man who is currently undressing me with his eyes.
I knew when I picked out the red wrap dress and black heels, Everett wouldn’t be able to keep his eyes off me. That was the whole point. His eyes on me, the heat from his gaze trailing slowly across my skin, is everything I could ever want. We take our seats around a bar height table, huddling in closely to each other to keep from bumping into any of the hundred other bar patrons.
