Chapter 13
Billy
After we finished eating, Everleigh headed back over to the creek and started wading around in the water.
She looked so beautiful, so young and innocent, dancing around in that creek.
I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. I might’ve been a little jealous of the fact that she seemed so carefree as if she didn’t have a single worry or an ounce of trouble weighing on her, but I knew better.
She was just as worried as I was about DeLuca and what he might do next, but our little outing had given her a much-needed reprieve from the all-consuming dread we’d both been feeling.
It was the reason I’d suggested it. I knew she was terrified, and rightly so.
Now that he knew she was alive, Antonio wouldn’t stop until he found her, so he could finish the job he’d started the night he’d shot her.
But I was going to do everything in my power to make sure that didn’t happen.
I was thinking of all the ways I’d like to wipe DeLuca from the face of the earth when I heard Everleigh ask, “If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?”
“Are there any parameters that I need to be aware of, or are you talking about any place on Earth?”
“I wasn’t thinking I’d need parameters,” she scoffed. “I was just asking if there was a place you’d like to travel to sometime. You know, like Switzerland or Greece.”
“Well, when you put it like that... I’ve always wanted to go to the cliffs of Moher in Ireland.”
“Oh, that’s a good one. I’ve always wanted to see the Dublin castle.”
“Maybe we could go there sometime.”
“I’d like that.” She splashed the water with her toes, then suggested, “Maybe we could start with something simple like dinner and a movie first.”
“Yeah, I think we could manage that.” I started gathering all the food and our drinks as I told her, “For now, how ‘bout we continue with our ride around the lake.”
“I’d like that.”
Everleigh slipped on her shoes, then helped me put everything back in the truck.
Seconds later, we were both back in the truck and making our way around the lake.
She thought we were just taking a causal scenic drive, but it was much more than that.
It was my opportunity to check our surroundings and make sure there were no unexpected guests.
Thankfully, the only thing I saw was a few deer and some ominous clouds rolling in.
I didn’t want us to get caught out in a storm, so I decided to head back. By the time we got to the cabin, the clouds had grown even darker, and the wind was starting to pick up. Everleigh sounded a little nervous as she said, “It looks like we’re in for another storm.”
“Yeah, we better get inside before the bottom falls out.”
I grabbed the stuff from the backseat, then we both raced up to the front porch.
I unlocked the door, and we’d just started inside when the clouds broke and rain came pouring down.
A loud rumble of thunder had Everleigh bolting into the living room with a shriek. “Wow, this storm isn’t messing around!”
“No, it isn’t.” I carried the cooler into the kitchen and started unpacking it as I told her, “I’ll light a few candles in case the power goes out.”
“I can do it. Just need to know where I can find a lighter.”
“There should be one in the utility drawer.” I motioned my hand toward the end of the counter. “Pretty sure the candles are in the storage closet down the hall.”
“Got it.”
I finished unloading the cooler and put everything away while Everleigh took care of the candles.
The thunder continued to rumble and roar as she placed them throughout the cabin, and just as I feared, it wasn’t long before the power went out and we were both encased in darkness.
With the light of a candle illuminating her face, Everleigh smiled and said, “Just in time.”
“Yep, you did good.”
I thought she would go over and make a spot on the sofa.
She didn’t.
Instead, she simply stood there staring at me with a look of wonder in her eyes. It was the kind of look dreams were made of, and it stirred something inside of me. I felt more alive than I had in years. I held her gaze for a moment, then shook my head and asked, “How do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“You just look at me, and then I suddenly feel things I never thought I’d feel again.”
“Like what?”
“Hope.” I brought my hand up to her face and gently ran my knuckles across her cheek. “I really never thought I’d feel it again.”
She placed the palms of her hands on my chest as she whispered, “You make me feel it, too.”
Her eyes darkened, and her gaze drifted to my lips. That’s all it took. I couldn’t wait a moment longer. My hand dove into her hair, and I pulled her close, crashing my lips against her in a hungry kiss. The kiss quickly became heated—our hands wild and possessive, our hearts racing with need.
I gave her hair a firm tug as I delved deeper into her mouth, and she inched even closer, making my cock throb.
My hand dropped to her shorts, and after a quick twist, I’d undone the first few buttons.
A light moan vibrated through her chest as I slipped my hand down between her legs and eased her lace panties to the side.
I grazed her center with the tips of my fingers—my already-hard cock pulsed against my jeans when I found she was soaked.
“Do you have any idea how bad I want you right now?”
“I think I have a good idea.” She inched her hips forward. “I want you, too, Billy. More than you know.”
There was no better feeling than being with someone who wanted you just as much as you wanted them.
Her eyes were locked on mine as I reached for her shorts and slid them down her long legs.
Desire flashed through her eyes as I quickly shed her panties and lifted her up, then guided her to lay back on the kitchen table.
Her eyes locked on mine as I slipped my hands under her ass and pulled her to the edge of the table.
Fuck. She looked so damn beautiful sprawled out bare on that table, waiting for me with that wanton look in her eyes.
It had been so long since I’d felt anything close to what I was feeling at that moment.
This woman has me so tangled up I might never get free, and I was beginning to think that wasn’t a bad thing.
In fact, Everleigh might be the very thing that makes my life worth living.
She inhaled a deep breath when the bristles of my beard brushed against her soft skin.
A feeling of satisfaction washed over me when I skimmed my tongue across her clit and she arched her back toward me, urging me on.
I spread her trembling legs wider, and a needful moan echoed through the room as I began nipping and sucking her sensitive flesh. “So fucking addicting.”
Everleigh’s breath became uneven and hitched as I slipped my finger deep inside her. Focused and unrelenting, I teased her g-spot with a slow and steady rhythm, and it wasn’t long before her hips inched forward and her body began to tense.
Loving how her beautiful body responded to my touch, I continued grazing and teasing her clit with my tongue, tormenting her as she writhed beneath me.
Overcome by her impending release, Everleigh’s hips lifted up from the table, begging me to give her more, so I placed the pad of my thumb against her clit, teasing her until she got exactly what she needed.
Her head thrashed back as she gasped, “Yes!”
“That’s right.” I slid my tongue over her as I continued moving my fingers inside her, tormenting that spot that was driving her to the edge. Adding more pressure, I demanded, “Come for me.”
That’s all it took. While muttering my name incoherently, she submitted to her release and clamped down around my fingers. Damn. Nothing turned me on more than watching her come undone. I couldn’t wait a moment longer. I had to be inside her.
She was still in the throes of her release when I started to undress.
My cock was hard as steel as I stood there in front of her, letting her greedy eyes soak in everything before I went to her. Everleigh lowered her gaze and watched as I stepped closer. Her expression changed from wonder to hunger as I slipped my hands beneath her and lifted her from the table.
I carried her over to the end of the sofa, then slowly lowered her feet to the floor.
Like she could read my mind, she immediately turned and leaned over the arm of the sofa, positioning her perfect ass in the air.
Damn. She looked so fucking beautiful as she glanced over her shoulder and watched as I rolled a condom over my throbbing cock.
A look of anticipation flashed through her eyes as she watched me inch toward her and place my hand on her hips.
I raked my cock against her clit. She was warm and wet, and I ached to be inside her. Clearly feeling the same, she arched her back toward me and moaned as she waited for me to enter her.
“You want my cock?”
She glanced back at me as she purred, “Yes, you know I do.”
Without any further hesitation, I fisted my hand in her long hair, giving it a gentle tug, and she cried out in pleasure when I plunged inside her.
I froze. She felt too fucking good. Fuck.
I couldn’t imagine a better feeling. I slowly drew back and slammed into her again and again, giving her everything I had.
Our bodies met in a punishing rhythm that quickly had us both gasping for air.
Everleigh cried out my name as she tightened around me.
With one hand on her hip and my other teasing her clit, I took her from behind with slow, deliberate strokes, savoring each delicious thrust. She arched her back and turned her head, and a slight hiss slipped through her teeth as I drove into her again and again—each time a bit faster and more unforgiving.
She was so damn hot, so tight, like her body was made just for me.
I slowly withdrew as I asked, “You like having my cock inside you?”
Everleigh managed a slight nod and muttered, “God, yes.”
A small whimper escaped her slightly parted lips as I increased my pace. Her fingers clutched the sofa cushions as she shouted, “Oh God!”
As much as I loved having her this way, I wanted more.
I needed to feel her, touch every inch of her gorgeous body, so I withdrew.
She immediately glanced back over her shoulder, her eyes marked with confusion as I slipped my arm under her waist and lifted her.
Once she was standing, I led her over to the sofa and sat down, guiding her to straddle me.
With her hands on my chest, she lowered herself down on my cock, then started rocking forward.
Every shift of her hips was slow and seductive, and while it was fucking hot, I needed more.
I dropped my hands to her waist and started guiding her over me in an unforgiving rhythm.
She placed her hands on my shoulders, trying to steady herself as she shouted, “Billy!”
There was something about hearing her call out my name that sent an intense heat coursing through my body. I didn’t expect to feel like this for her. I didn’t think it was possible to burn for a woman like I burned for her. Hell, every fucking inch of me was consumed by my need for this woman.
As much as it terrified me, I knew there was no way in hell I could ever let her go.
Everleigh would be mine—all mine.
Shifting her hips upward, she continued to gyrate against me, grinding her warm, wet pussy over my cock.
When I rocked against her, I could feel her muscles contracting all around me as her second orgasm started to take hold. My body grew rigid as my release inched its way through me. Her head fell back as she cried out, “Oh my God, Billy! I’m coming!”
I fisted my hand in her long hair, giving it a gentle tug, as I thrust forward, driving inside her once again. She was so fucking hot, so tight, and it was all too much. Damn. I couldn’t imagine a better feeling. I drew back and slammed into her again, taking her harder and deeper.
“Fuckkk!” I shouted out as my throbbing cock demanded its release. My fingers dug into her hips as I guided her forward in a feverish rhythm until I finally let go, coming inside her, shedding the past and promising myself that I would give this thing between us a chance—a real chance.
We both stilled, fighting to catch our breaths, and after several moments, our heartbeats began to slow. Everleigh reached for the blanket, then eased it over her before curling up next to me. “That was incredible.”
“Yes, it most certainly was.”
Everleigh laid her head back on the cushion and closed her eyes, quietly listening to the sound of the rain against the tin roof. After several moments, she looked up at me with a curious look in her eyes. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure. What’s on your mind?”
“This is probably a bad time to ask, but I was just wondering...” Her eyes drifted to the floor and then slowly back to me. “Have you been with many women? I mean since your wife.”
“Well, I don’t know. I’d have to think about it.” I could feel her entire body grow tense as I looked up at the ceiling and pretended to count in my head. “I guess there’s only been one.”
“One?”
“Yeah, one.”
“I know you said no girlfriends, but I didn’t realize.” Her brows furrowed, and then a slight gasp slipped through her lips. “Wait... You mean me? Am I the one? The only one?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean.”
“But how? It’s been...”
“You don’t go through hell and back without acquiring a few scars.
Mine ran deep. They cut right through to the soul, and there were times when I thought I might not survive.
But God didn’t want me and the devil was still playing me like a puppet, so I was stuck here living in my own version of hell.
” I raked my knuckles across her cheek as I whispered, “And then there was you.”
“Oh, Billy. I don’t know what to say.”
“Nothing to say. Just know I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” I leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. “Not now. Not ever.”