22
CASH
THE PAST TWO WEEKS HAVE flown by. Everly and I have spent most of our free time together, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
She asked to join me in the gym today, and now I’m regretting saying yes because I’m having a hell of a time concentrating.
I use every ounce of willpower to stay focused while running on the treadmill. Unfortunately, it’s impossible when she decides that the section on the mat a few feet in front of me is the perfect spot for yoga.
Everly’s dressed in tight black yoga pants that showcase her perfect ass and toned legs. Her neon green sports bra does nothing to hide her pebbled nipples, and she’s barefoot, her red-painted toes matching her fingernails.
I push a loose strand of hair back under my hat as I watch Everly bend forward into a downward dog pose. She has her backside turned toward me, giving me the perfect view of her ass. My cock strains against my shorts, eager to play.
It’s a damn good thing I have a private gym because there’s no chance in hell I would allow another man to see her like this. She’s mine.
In the past two weeks, she’s been insatiable. We’ve fucked on every surface of the apartment and once in the stairwell when we couldn’t wait to get up the last flight of stairs.
Sex used to be a fleeting thing—a single night of untold pleasure. Anyone I took to bed knew my terms—no strings attached and no misconceptions of a commitment. Not because I didn’t care for the women I’ve been with but because I refused to give anyone the chance to break my heart.
With Everly things are different, and not just because we’re married. She’s given me a renewed sense of purpose, something that has long been absent in my life.
She peers at me through the gap between her legs, a smile on her lips.
Fuck, I love that smile.
“Enjoying the view?” she calls out in a sultry tone.
“What do you think?”
She releases from her position, lowering herself to the ground. I’m riveted as she lies on her back with her knees bent and her hips and breasts lifted toward the ceiling in a bridge pose.
I slam the stop button on the treadmill and snatch the towel draped over the handrail, unwilling to watch from a distance for another second.
She raises a brow. “Yes?”
“I think you need some help with your posture.” My voice comes out husky as I dab away the sweat dripping down my forehead and toss the towel into the nearby bin.
Everly gazes up at me with an impish smile as I cross to her. “And you think you can help me fix it, Stafford?” She keeps her hands at her sides.
When I get to her, I kneel down and slide my hand under her lower back, encouraging her to lift her hips upward, and put my other hand on her stomach to keep her steady. Her posture was already perfect, but I couldn’t resist the urge to touch her.
She watches me closely as I lean down to kiss her exposed belly. I trace my tongue across her navel, drawing out a soft moan which goes straight to my dick.
She lowers her back slightly, and I apply pressure to keep her in place.
“Maybe working out together wasn’t such a good idea,” Everly whispers as I press a kiss to her hip.
“It’s the best idea,” I say. “But I should let you finish because you’re mine for the rest of the day.”
“I’ll have to check my schedule,” she says, taunting me.
“In the meantime, be a good wife and finish your yoga flow,” I order playfully, planting a kiss on her other hip.
She gives me a pout when I move my hands away, forcing her to hold her bridge pose on her own. After grabbing a water bottle from the nearby mini fridge, I sit against the closest wall.
Everly tilts her chin up to look at me. “Are you going to watch me the whole time?”
“Absolutely.” I grin as I take a swig of water.
Once Everly is finished with her yoga sequence, she comes to sit next to me against the wall.
I take my hat off and sweep my hair away from my face.
Everly nibbles on her lower lip before she says, “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything,” I answer, taking her hand in mine and giving it a reassuring squeeze.
“Is there a reason you keep your hair longer?” She tenderly cups my cheek, caressing my scar with her fingertips. “I like it, but I remember you wore it short in high school, and I was just curious.”
I nod slowly, considering my response. “Growing my hair out didn’t start on purpose. I didn’t get it cut for a while and discovered it drew attention away from my scar. It became a protective shield against unwanted stares and questions from people who were quick to judge me based on my appearance.”
Similar to Everly, I’ve masked my true identity, afraid of getting hurt and not wanting to burden anyone with my insecurities.
A part of me believed being different was a negative, that I was flawed, and I constantly compared myself to those around me. I overlooked the reality that everyone faces internal conflicts, each trying to overcome their own challenges. I’m starting to realize that standing out because of my differences isn’t a bad thing.
“Oh, Cash,” Everly utters, leaning her forehead against mine. “I’m sorry you felt like you had to hide who you are. Your scar is an important part of your story.”
“Thank you,” I murmur. “From day one, you treated me like I was still Stafford , the captain of the lacrosse team and the guy who could make you laugh.” I tip her chin up so I’m met with her warm brown gaze. “Since our paths crossed in that bar in Vegas, you’ve continued to remind me that it doesn’t have to define who I am.” Everly rests her head against my shoulder.
Even around my family, I’ve sometimes hidden my insecurities or true feelings about my scar. Everly is the only one I feel like I can truly be myself around. Like I’ve become her confidant, she’s becoming my safe haven. She once asked me if I believed in soulmates, and I said I wasn’t sure. Now, I’m beginning to think they might exist after all.
“Cash Stafford, you are sexy as hell. Scar and all,” she murmurs as she straddles my hips. “And I’ll say it as often as I have to until you believe it.”
“In that case, I’ll never believe, so you’ll have to stay here forever.”
Everly leans in to kiss the puckered skin of my scar, her lips tracing the uneven ridges and the distorted edge of my mouth. My pulse races as she grinds against me, and I capture her mouth in mine, grinning when she moans. All these endorphins have me in a cloud of euphoria, and the smoldering desire I’ve tamped down bursts to life, igniting like a fuse.
She tangles her fingers in my hair, holding on tight to keep me close. In response, I grip her hips in a firm hold, pressing my thumbs into the supple flesh of her thighs, secretly hoping there are faint bruises tomorrow as reminders that this is real… that she’s real.
Everly slips her skilled tongue inside my mouth, leaving me breathless. Our electric chemistry is all-consuming and I’m prepared to rip her clothes off when she tugs on my hair, triggering a thought to cross my mind that I can’t ignore.
“Hey, Ev?” I say it like a question as I pull away from her pouty lips.
“Yeah?” She blinks up at me.
“I want you to cut my hair.”
She gives me a puzzled look. “Cash, I didn’t ask about it because I thought you should cut it. I’m sorry I gave you that impression.”
“You didn’t,” I assure her. “It’s time for a change.”
“I’ve never cut hair before. Let me call August and see who he recommends in the city.”
I shake my head. “No.” I tug her closer, my hands securely wrapped around her back. “I want you to do it… please,” I add when I sense she might say no.
She gives me a soft smile like she knows how important this is to me. “Okay, I’ll do it, but don’t come complaining to me when you end up with a botched haircut.”
“I’ll show it off with pride because you’ll have been the one who cut it,” I say with a playful smirk.
An hour later, I’m patiently waiting on a bar stool in the kitchen. Several towels are spread out on the ground beneath me, and I’m wearing the barber cape that came with the hair-cutting kit my mom gifted me this past Christmas—a not-so-subtle hint if there ever was one. I’ve used the scissors to trim my ends, but for the most part, it’s remained stashed away in a cupboard.
Everly leans against the counter, her lip caught between her teeth in deep concentration. She’s watching yet another tutorial on her phone, determined to do her research before she starts.
After several more minutes, she puts her phone away and looks over at me. “Okay, I’m ready. Last chance to back out, Stafford.” There’s a hint of hesitancy in her tone.
“Let’s do this,” I say, glancing over to give her a reassuring smile.
Everly carefully examines the contents of the kit I laid out on the counter.
She picks up the spray bottle and comes to stand in front of me, moving her hand to shield my face. “Close your eyes,” she cautions.
I follow her instructions, and once my entire head is damp, she runs her hands over my hair, smoothing out the strands. When she kneads my scalp in a small, circular motion, a sigh passes my lips. I’m lost in the feel of her touch, the tension melting away like ice under her warm fingertips.
“Okay, you can open your eyes now,” she says, making me wish the moment could have lasted longer. I wouldn’t mind if she spent the whole day exploring me with her hands.
My gaze briefly meets hers before she turns her attention back to the counter. Her hands tremble as she picks up a pair of scissors and an alligator clip.
I reach out my hand, giving her wrist a reassuring squeeze. “Thanks for doing this.”
“Wait to thank me until I’m finished,” she teases.
“I’m going to like it no matter what,” I promise.
She steps behind me, and then uses the clips to section off my hair. Tentatively, she picks up a strand, taking a deep breath before making the first snip. Her initial hesitation is palpable, but with each cut, her movements grow more fluid, reflecting her growing confidence.
My eyes drift to the growing pile of hair on the ground—a tangible symbol of the cathartic release I’ve put off until now. Each strand that falls makes me feel lighter and freer than I have since before my accident.
I stiffen in my chair when Everly softly blows hair off the nape of my neck, her breath grazing my skin, sending a tingle up my spine. It requires all of my self-control to stop from turning around and fucking her like I’ve wanted to do all morning.
After finishing the back, she steps around to face me, tilting my chin and directing my gaze ahead before starting on the front.
I place my hands on her hips, needing to touch her, but she gives me a warning look before going back to the task at hand.
My eyes drift to her tits. In this position, they’re just inches from my face, and her rosebud nipples are visible through her sports bra. I hold back a groan when she moves closer, fighting the urge to yank her bra down and put one of her nipples in my mouth.
I allow my hands to wander, sliding down her back toward her ass.
“Stafford,” Everly warns with a gasp. “Do you want me to mess up?”
“You won’t.”
“You should keep your hands to yourself just to be sure.”
“I can’t,” I admit, giving her ass a squeeze to prove my point.
Her breath hitches, but she keeps her eyes on my hair as she cuts. I occupy myself by tormenting her as I run a hand along the outside of her legs, following the curve of her hip. Goosebumps spread across her skin. I occasionally lean forward to kiss the swells of her breasts peeking out from her bra. When it comes to Everly, I have no control.
Just as I begin to inch my hand up her thigh, she steps back.
“Okay, I’m finished.” Her voice is breathless. “Why don’t you take a look.” She moves behind me to remove the cape, then offers me a handheld mirror from the counter.
I tap my foot against the stool, anxiety coursing through me as I stare at her outstretched hand. Our eyes lock as I summon my courage and steal a glance in the mirror.
My hair falls below my ears, still long enough to run my hand through it. The only difference now is my scar is fully visible with no way to hide it.
I remain motionless as I study my reflection. My hand trails along the jagged scar, starting at my left eyebrow, moving over the rough ridges along my cheek, and down to the corner of my mouth. After fifteen years, the once angry red has faded to pink, but it doesn’t make it any less a part of my identity.
For the first time in my adult life, the sight of it doesn’t evoke a sense of dread.
Somehow, it’s been transformed from something I once found repulsive into a hopeful reminder that healing can take many forms and that it’s never too late for a new beginning.
And I want Everly to be a part of mine.
“Are you okay?” She asks, tightening her grip on the mirror. “If you don’t like it, we can find a barber to fix it.”
I shake my head, pulling the mirror from her hand and setting it on the counter.
“I love it, Ev.” I draw her close, giving her a kiss.
I think I’m falling in love with you.
“I’m glad.” She smiles as she traces my scar with her finger. “You’re incredibly handsome.”
“I need you right now,” I say, my voice hoarse.
“You had your chance to tease me. Now it’s my turn.”
Everly’s gaze is unwavering as she steps away from me to take off her yoga pants. She shimmies them down her legs, kicking them off to the side. Next is her panties. She slides them past her hips, toying with me as she slowly lowers them down far enough for me to see her pussy. Once she pulls them off, she holds them out toward me.
My patience has reached its limit, and I get up to close the distance between us. I grip Everly’s hand in mine, pushing her panties to my nose, drawing in a deep breath. She drops them to the floor, her brown eyes filled with lust.
I tug the bottom of her sports bra, lifting it over her head to expose her full breasts.
“Damn, these tits are perfect, Ev. I’ll never get enough.”
I lift her onto the island counter and eagerly suck a nipple into my mouth, biting down on the soft flesh just the way I know she likes.
“Oh, god,” Everly cries out as I lavish her breasts with attention. “Fuck me, Cash. Don’t you dare hold back.”
“I don’t have a condom.”
“It’s okay, I have an IUD.”
I furrow my brow. “Are you sure?” We’ve been using condoms religiously up until now. “I’m clean, and I’ve never gone without a condom before. But if you’re not ready…” I trail off, my hand twitching slightly.
“I’m positive. I want to feel you without any barriers,” she says, giving me a soft smile. “I trust you, Stafford.”
A warmth spreads through me when those words pass her lips. Until now, she’s been battling her conflicting feelings toward me, and I’m aware of the magnitude of her putting her full trust in me like this.
Within seconds I have my shorts and boxers shoved down, my rigid cock springing free. I drag Everly closer to the edge and push myself to the hilt in a single thrust. She throws her head back, crying out as she clenches around me. Fuck, she feels so good without any barriers.
Something spurs me on as if we’re in a race against the clock as I fuck her hard, letting go of my last ounce of self-control. With every thrust, I revel in the feeling of my dick shoved deep inside her.
My senses become heightened, and I’m acutely aware of her sweet groans as she flies higher into oblivion, her arms wrapped around my neck, her fingernails sinking into my skin, holding on to me for dear life.
Everly has breathed new life into me; reawakening my heart, mind, and soul, and I don’t know how I’m ever going to let her go.
“Damn, you were made to take my cock.” I slant my mouth across hers, kissing her fervently as I buck my hips, picking up my pace. We kiss roughly and I’m aware of the faint, metallic taste of blood when she bites down hard on my lip.
The tinge of pain causes my release to barrel forward like a freight train, and I reach between us, moving my thumb in circles against Everly’s clit until she’s writhing beneath me, begging for her release.
“That’s it, beautiful, come for me,” I say.
She calls out my name as she chases euphoria, and I roar as unfiltered pleasure surges through me at the intoxicating sight of her unraveling beneath me. As we come crashing down together, she cries out.
“You’re a fucking vision, coming all over my dick, Ev.” I rest my head against her shoulder and carefully pull out of her, not wanting to cause her pain. I stifle another groan as I watch our mixed cum drip down her thigh.
“You’re only going to fuck me once?” she pouts, teasing me with a glint in her eye.
It’s adorable that she thinks I’m done with her. We won’t be stopping until we’re both boneless and sated.
“I’ll never be done with you, Ev,” I vow.
She is my wife in every sense of the word. There’s no chance I can let her go when the acquisition is finalized. I’ll have to do everything I can to show her this is real and that we belong together.