Chapter 12
Everleigh
I’d imagined this moment a thousand times, but never once had I dreamed it would feel so incredible.
I was still spinning from my release when he lowered my leg from his shoulder and stood.
I watched with anticipation as he removed his jeans and boxers, then immediately reached for me.
His eyes were locked on mine as he placed his hands beneath my thighs and lifted me.
I wrapped my legs around his waist, and Billy thrust every glorious inch of his length deep inside of me.
I’d never felt anything so incredible. I was in heaven—absolute heaven.
After giving me a minute to adjust, he placed his hands on my hips and started to move, slow and meticulous.
Consumed with lust and emotion, I arched my back against the wall and held on to his strong shoulders, rolling my hips against him as he took my breasts in his hands and squeezed them as he trailed kisses along the curve of my neck.
I could feel the heat of his breath on my skin as he whispered, “My God, woman.”
While still planted deep inside of me, Billy carried me over to the bed and lowered me onto the mattress.
His eyes slowly roamed all over my body, and the heat of his stare caused goosebumps to prickle against my skin.
Then he lowered his mouth to my shoulder and trailed kisses past my collarbone down to my breasts.
Heavy breaths and low moans filled the room as he took my nipple into his mouth.
While he continued to nip and suck along the curves of my breast, he moved inside of me with slow, shallow thrusts.
It felt incredible to be there in his arms, to have his body so close to mine, but I needed more.
Sensing my struggle, he pulled back and plunged into me.
“Yes!” I pleaded as he drove into me again and again, dominating my body in the most primal way.
It didn’t take him long to find that spot that made every nerve in my body tingle.
I dug my fingers into his back as he continued to drive into me with the relentless rhythm he’d set, and with each shift of his hips, I could feel my climax building, burning through my veins.
“Don’t stop!” I cried as I tightened around him. Knowing I was getting close, he slid his hands underneath me, lifting me higher as he angled his position. His movements suddenly became rough and demanding as he took me deeper and harder, plunging into me again and again.
A deep groan resonated through his chest as my orgasm crashed over me, causing my entire body to tense around him. He thrust into me one last time, finally giving in to his own release. After several moments, he slowly eased off me and laid back on the mattress, then pulled me over to him.
I rested my head on his chest as I listened to the sounds of our ragged breaths echo throughout the room. After several minutes, the room grew quiet, and Billy whispered, “I never planned on this happening.”
“I know.”
“No, I don’t think you do. At least, not the way I meant it.” He turned and looked down at me with emotion-filled eyes. “I spent years putting up walls. Made myself quite a tower, but I didn’t make it for two. Never planned to let anyone in, and then you come along and make me doubt everything.”
“You’re not the only one with walls, Billy. I have them, too,” I admitted as I strummed the tips of my fingers across his chest. “This thing scares me just as much as it does you.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Then don’t.”
“I’m not sure it’s that simple.”
“It is if you want it to be.” I looked up at him and smiled. “Not everything has to be difficult.”
“True, but I can’t promise you that I won’t fuck this up.”
“Let’s just see how things go. No promises.”
He nodded, then repeated, “No promises.”
I felt hopeful but wary as I lowered my head back down to his shoulder.
I wanted to believe that I’d found someone special who’d make me blissfully happy for years to come, but I knew that was just a schoolgirl fantasy.
I wasn’t na?ve enough to believe that it would be that easy, but I felt something with Billy—something I knew was more than some idle fantasy.
I felt a smile sweep across my lips as I closed my eyes and nestled closer to him. I listened to the soothing sounds of his breathing, and it wasn’t long before I drifted off to sleep. It had been quite a day, and night, and I was pretty wiped. I thought I’d sleep like a rock. I was wrong.
I’d only been out a couple of hours when the nightmares began.
It started with my father, and my own rendition of DeLuca killing him in cold blood.
It seemed so real; as if I was actually there, and I was desperate for it to end.
But it didn’t. I was stuck there watching the man who loved and raised me take a bullet to the chest, and after a great deal of agony, he took his last breath. It was gut-wrenching.
I didn’t have time to recover before I was back at DeLuca’s place, and he was yelling at me to leave.
I felt so torn. I knew if I stayed, I’d never get out of there, and if I left, I was as good as dead.
I couldn’t bear the thought of spending one more moment in that house under his rule, so I took a chance and ran.
Seconds later, I was on the ground with three bullet wounds to the back.
Everything went black, and then, I was at Billy’s, and there was the sound of gunfire—gunfire that was meant for me.
I was overcome with guilt. Not only because I’d caused it by transferring that money from DeLuca’s account but also because I hadn’t told Billy about it.
It was my fault.
All of it.
I woke up with all intentions of telling Billy everything, but when I rolled over, I discovered that I was in bed alone. I sat up and was about to call out to Billy when I found a note on my pillow.
Morning,
I had to run into town for a few supplies. I’ll be back soon.
Billy
After I placed the note on the bedside table, I got up and took a quick shower.
I put on a pair of the knit shorts I’d bought with an oversized t-shirt of Billy’s, then pulled my damp hair into a messy bun.
Once I’d made myself look presentable, I gathered the rest of my clothes and took them over to the laundry closet.
I put the sheets in the dryer and started it, then loaded the washer with my things and started it as well.
As soon as I was done, I went to the kitchen to see if there was any tidying up that needed to be done there, but the place was practically spotless. Billy must’ve gotten up early and taken care of it. I shouldn’t have been surprised. The man really liked for things to be clean and in their place.
Since there was no coffee to be made or muffins to bake, I decided to go sit out on the porch, but I hadn’t gotten far when the front door flew open, and Billy charged inside with his hands full of groceries. I rushed over to help him as I asked, “What’s all this?”
“Just a few things to get us through the next couple of days.”
“I didn’t know you were going shopping.” I placed the bag down on the counter and started pulling everything out. “I would’ve gone with you and given you a hand.”
“I know. I just hated to wake you.” He placed the milk and eggs in the fridge, then started on the dry goods. “How did you sleep?”
“Not that great.”
“I was afraid of that.” When Billy got to the coffee, he lifted the container and asked, “You up for a cup?”
“Absolutely.”
“Great.”
He stepped over to the counter and put a fresh filter in the coffee maker as he announced, “You were talking in your sleep.”
“Oh, really? What was I saying?”
“I don’t know. I couldn’t make it out, but you seemed pretty upset about something.” He placed the bread on the counter as he told me, “I’m sure it had something to do with our unwanted guests last night.”
“About that...” As much as I was dreading telling him about what I’d done, I knew I couldn’t put it off any longer, so I asked, "Do you remember when we were at the diner, and I told you that I had something to tell you?”
“Yeah, I remember.”
“Well, I think it’s time we talk about that.”
“Okay. What’s on your mind?”
“I did something that I shouldn’t have.” I backed up against the counter and let out a deep sigh. “It was stupid and rash, and I’m pretty sure it’s why those men came to your house last night.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I was frustrated, and I wanted to make DeLuca pay for all the horrible things he’d done.”
“I’m not following.”
“It happened the day that Viper and his brothers came to the house. I was already feeling a little vulnerable, and then I overheard you all talking about getting me gone sooner than later... which stung a little.” I couldn’t even look at him as I continued, “So, I went downstairs to put some distance between us. And that’s when I saw your computer. ”
“What the hell did you do?”
I inhaled a quick breath, then let it out as a grumble before admitting, “I took some of his money—a good bit of it, and I moved it into a private account that he couldn’t access.”
“I made him all that money,” I continued. “Not because I wanted to, but because I had to. I was trying to keep my father alive, but he’d already killed him. And then, he tried to kill me, too. I wanted to make him pay, so I got him where it hurts him the most. His pocketbook.”
“Dammit, Everleigh.” He ran his hand roughly down his handsome face. “What the hell were you thinking?”
“I was upset, and I wanted to make him pay for the hell he’d put me through.” I hated seeing Billy so angry, so I tried to calm him down by adding, “I was really careful. I made sure there was no way he would know it was me.”
“Clearly, you weren’t as careful as you thought,” he snapped. “I’ve done everything in my power to make sure he couldn’t get to you, and you just invited him right in.”
“That wasn’t my intent.” My voice trembled with guilt. “I thought I had covered my tracks.”