Chapter 11 #3
When I got out, I saw that Everleigh had also changed out my bedding and was getting ready to load the dirty sheets into the washing machine. I stepped up behind her, and she nearly jumped out of her skin when I said, “That can wait until tomorrow.”
“Sorry,” she panted. “You startled me.”
“No reason to be scared. You’re safe here.”
“I really want to believe that, but after what just happened, I’m not so sure.”
I reached over and placed my hand on her shoulder. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you, Everleigh. You have my word on that.”
“Okay.”
“Now, go get some sleep. We’ll talk about things tomorrow after we’ve both gotten some rest.”
She nodded, then turned and walked back across the hall to her room. Before she closed the door, she looked at me and said, “Thank you, Billy. Thank you for everything.”
Before I could respond, she closed the door and went to bed.
I was still pretty wired, but knowing a long day was ahead, I turned out the lights and crawled into bed.
As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was back at the house, and I was holding my knife against that guy’s throat.
My heart was pounding, and I could feel my blood run cold the second I ran my knife against his throat.
As much as I didn’t want to kill him, I knew he was there for Everleigh, and there was no way in hell I was going to let him hurt her.
I didn’t want to admit it—not to anyone, especially myself—but she’d come to mean something to me.
Hell, she invaded my every thought, haunted my dreams, and made me want things, long for things I’d given up on wanting years ago.
I wanted to hold her, touch her, feel her body pressed against mine, and it was driving me crazy that she was right there, just a few feet away. And instead of doing anything about it, I just laid there, staring up at the fucking ceiling as I imagined all the things I wanted to do to her:
Bruise her full, pouty lips with a kiss that would have her knees trembling.
Taste her warm, wet heat as I teased her with my tongue.
Make her come undone with a simple curl of my finger.
Fuck her, deep and hard, until our pasts were all but forgotten.
Damn. It was enough to drive a man insane.
I would’ve spent the entire night just lying there with all those wicked thoughts racing through my mind if I hadn’t heard a knock at the door.
I got up and opened it to find Everleigh standing in the hall. She was wearing a pair of my old sleep pants and a tank top, and her arms wrapped tightly around her as she stood there shivering. Her voice trembled as she whispered, “I couldn’t sleep.”
“Wasn’t doing much sleeping myself.”
“Oh?”
“Got a lot on my mind.”
“Yeah, me too.” Her entire body was trembling as she whispered, “He’s not going to let me go, Billy. He will keep coming for me, and it’s all my fault.”
“None of this is your fault, Everleigh.” I slipped my arm around her waist and pulled her close. “None of it.”
“I’m just so tired of being afraid.”
“It won’t be forever, Everleigh. You’ll see.”
“I just don’t get it.” She looked up at me with a soul-searching stare as she whispered, “Why is it that the only time I’m not afraid is when I’m with you?”
“Probably the same reason why the only time I feel anything at all is when I’m with you.”
“Oh, Billy.”
“I’ve tried, Everleigh. I’ve tried so damn hard to resist you for so many reasons.
I’m too old for you—much too old, and my line of work is dangerous for those around me.
I don’t want to put you at risk, and yet, I can’t keep fighting this.
” I brought my hand up and rested my palm on her cheek.
“Resisting you is just too fucking hard.”
She slipped her arms around my neck as she pulled me close and whispered, “Then stop resisting.”
Without saying anything more, her lips met mine in an explosive kiss, so eager and full of hunger, and every touch of her tongue only made my need grow more intense. It felt fucking incredible. Hell, it was all I could do to keep myself from taking her right there in the doorway.
Having her so close set me on fire, making every nerve in my body burn with need.
Feeling the heat surge through me as I deepened the kiss, our tongues twisted, tasting each other as we let ourselves forget about the danger we’d just been in.
I was quickly losing control, and I liked it.
I liked it more than I thought possible.
I wound my hand around the nape of her neck and tangled my fist in her hair, letting out a low growl as I gave it a firm tug. Everleigh’s lips opened in a small gasp, giving me even better access to her mouth, and I delved deeper, letting all the passion I’d been holding back come pouring out.
She ran her fingers through my hair, pulling me closer and returning my kiss with fervor.
From the start, I’d suspected the pull I felt toward her was mutual.
I could feel it lingering under the surface, just begging to be released, and if this kiss was any indication, Everleigh wanted me just as much as I wanted her.
“Mmm…” She moaned into my mouth as my free hand grabbed her ass and pulled her closer. I felt a slight smile play on her lips as she ground her hips against mine, clearly enjoying my growing arousal. My cock throbbed against the fabric between us, aching to be buried between her legs.
I gave Everleigh’s hair another slight tug, forcing her head back as I trailed my lips down her throat, nipping and sucking at the sensitive flesh. Her breath caught as I reached the dip between her neck and collarbone. Her hands gripped my hair, and I could feel her heart hammering in her chest.
Fuck. For reasons I couldn’t begin to explain, I burned for this woman, and with every touch, she stoked the fucking fire.
She shifted her hips forward, grinding herself against my ever-hardening cock.
I gave her hair another tug as I warned, “We start this, then there’s no going back. I’m going to want you again and again.”
“I want this, Billy.” I could hear the desire in her voice as she added, “I want you.”
She rocked against me, taunting me to give her what she so desperately desired, and with one last shift of her hips, all of our inhibitions disintegrated into the darkness.
I stepped forward, pinning her back against the wall, then trailed kisses to her earlobe.
My voice was low, “There are no words to describe how incredible you are.”
Everleigh’s soft sighs fed my desire, but I hungered for more. More of her little whimpers. More of her intoxicating scent. More of her touch. I wanted to explore every inch of her body. I ran my tongue along the curve of her neck as she moaned, “Oh, Billy.”
Eager for more, her hands slid down my chest to the hem of my t-shirt.
A sexy smirk crept across her lips as she lifted it over my head and tossed it to the floor.
Her pupils grew wide as her gaze burned across my muscular chest and various tattoos.
If the expression on her face was any indication, she liked what she saw.
Everleigh slowly slipped off her tank-top and then my sleep pants. She looked absolutely stunning as she stood there in only a white lace bra and panties. Her eyes remained fixed on mine as she eased her panties down her hips, then let them drop to the floor.
After she did the same with her bra, I took a step forward and pinned her back against the wall. “So fucking beautiful.”
I lowered my hand between her legs, then slid my fingers across her warm, wet pussy. With my other hand, I cupped her breast, brushing the pad of my thumb over her hard nipple. I nipped and sucked along the curve of her neck as I started to tease her clit.
I began trailing kisses along her collar bone, then slowly made my way down her stomach as I lifted her left thigh and hooked it over my shoulder.
I brushed my fingertip up and down her center before slipping a finger inside and kneading her clit with my thumb.
She moaned as she rode my fingers, and by the sound of her rapid breaths, I could tell she was getting close.
I moved my mouth to her clit, nipping and sucking relentlessly as my fingers continued their torturous rhythm.
“I’m... I’m... I’m... Oh, God! Don’t stop,” she cried out, her fingernails digging into my shoulders, desperate for something to hold on to. Twisting her fingers in my hair, she succumbed to her release. She continued to chant curses as she fell into the haze of her release.
Her body grew limp, but I wasn’t done with her yet—not even close.