Chapter 20
Everleigh
It was clear from his unwavering silence that Billy was upset with me.
Heaven knows, he had every right to be mad at me, but I’d hoped that we could talk about it and try to sort things out.
But every time I tried to approach him, he would find some excuse to disappear into the basement or slip outside to fish for hours on end.
It was frustrating the hell out of me, but I didn’t push. I hoped in time that he would finally open up, and we could put this whole thing behind us. But one hour rolled into the next, and he was still hellbent on avoiding me.
He was still giving me the silent treatment a day later.
I was at my wit's end when Kiersten and Country came by to drop off his truck.
Kiersten pulled it up to the rear of the garage and got out, then waited for Country to park his bike behind her before heading up to the porch.
I was sitting on the swing, and she came straight over to me and gave me a big hug.
“Hey, girl. I was hoping you would be here.”
“Yeah, I haven’t run off just yet.” I glanced over at Billy, and my stomach sank when I saw that he had absolutely no reaction to my comment. “What are you two up to?”
“We had some things to tend to at the clubhouse and saw that Dad’s truck was still there, so we thought we’d drop it by.”
“I would’ve taken care of it.”
Kiersten looked at her father and smiled as she told him, “Yeah, but then we wouldn’t have an excuse to come out and see you.”
“Didn’t realize you needed an excuse,” Billy snipped.
“Whoa.” Kiersten’s eyes narrowed. “Someone’s in a mood.”
“No, I’m just stating a fact.”
“Yeah, you’re definitely in a mood,” Kiersten teased. “Maybe some coffee would help. You got any?”
“Yeah, I just made a pot.”
“Great. I could use a cup, too.”
Without waiting for an invitation, Kiersten opened the door and marched right into the kitchen. Country glanced over at Billy, then over to me. “You two good?”
“We’re fine,” Billy grumbled as he opened the door and stormed inside.
“Oh,” Country groaned. “It’s like that, huh?”
“Yeah, apparently, he’s pretty upset with me.”
“Apparently so.” He reached over and gave me a consoling pat on the shoulder. “But don’t worry. Even a man as stubborn as Billy will give in at some point.”
“I don’t know. He’s really digging his heels in on this.” I felt my throat tighten as I told him, “It makes me wonder if I should give the guy a break and just go.”
“You aren’t giving up that easy, are ya?”
“I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“You love the guy?”
“Yeah, as a matter of fact, I do.”
“Then, you gotta see this thing through.”
I let out a deep breath, then mumbled, “You’re right.”
“I usually am.” He scoffed, then his smile faded as he added, “It’s not about finding someone who gives ya butterflies and all that shit. It’s about finding someone that you’re willing to feel pain for and fight for. That’s when you know you got something worth holdin’ onto.”
“Well, that’s Billy.”
“Then, I guess you best be holdin’ onto him.”
“I will... if he’ll just let me.”
“Oh, come on now.” He gave me a wink. “Use some of that female persuasion and get that man back on track.”
“Yeah, I think it’s time for us to head inside.”
I chuckled as I opened the door, but my smile faded when I stepped inside and found Billy looking at me with that same cold expression he’d had all morning.
I tried to ignore it as I walked over and poured myself a cup of coffee.
I’d barely taken a sip when Kiersten stood and announced, “Well, I guess we better get going.”
“So soon?”
“Yeah. I’ve got some work I need to finish up at the Manor.” She came over and gave me a hug as she whispered in my ear, “Hang in there.”
“Gonna try.”
Country gave Billy and me a quick wave; then he followed Kiersten out to his bike.
Billy and I were still standing in the kitchen when I heard his bike roar to life.
Moments later, they started down the driveway, and in a blink, they were gone.
I’d hoped them being there might ease some of the tension that had settled between us, but Billy wouldn’t even look at me, much less talk to me.
He simply put his cup in the sink, then disappeared back to the basement. At that point, I’d had enough. It was time for us to hash this thing out once and for all, so I followed him down the stairs and stormed over to him with a huff. “How long are you going to punish me?”
“I’m not punishing you.”
“Oh, really? Then what’s with the silent treatment?”
“I’m not ready to talk.”
“Well, I am!”
“Then talk.” He crossed his arms as he glared back at me. “No one’s stopping you.”
“Oh, it’s like that, huh?”
“What do you want from me?”
“I want you to talk to me. I want to know what’s going on in your head.”
“I’ll tell you what’s going on in my head...
You’re driving me crazy. You’ve been driving me crazy for weeks, and I hate it!
” He clenched his fists at his side and huffed, “I hate the way you say my name. I hate when you do that thing with your hair when you’re nervous and the way your eyes light up when you get excited.
I hate your perfect lips and how I long to feel them against mine.
Most of all, I hate that I can’t imagine my life without you in it. ”
“Oh, Billy.”
“No! Don’t you ‘oh Billy’ me,” he growled. “You did this to me. You got me to let my guard down, and then, you threw it in my damn face.”
“I did no such thing!”
“Did you or did you not go to DeLuca’s place without telling me?”
“I did, and I’m sorry about that. I’m sorry about it all.
I’m sorry I messed with DeLuca’s money, and I’m sorry he sent those men after us.
I’m sorry that he took Kiersten. And I’m sorry that he put her life in danger.
I’m sorry he put all of your lives in danger.
You had nothing to do with it. And that’s exactly why I went over there. I wanted to put an end to it all.”
“Something could’ve happened to you.”
“Yes, but it didn’t.”
“But it could have!” He ran his hand over his face before saying, “I couldn’t do it again. I won’t.”
“Won’t do what again?”
“Lose someone I care about.” Anguish marked his face as he admitted, “When I saw you in that room with Kiersten, I nearly lost it. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to either of you.”
“Nothing happened. We’re both fine.”
“But there was still that chance, and it didn’t have to be that way—not for you.” His eyes were fixed on mine as he muttered, “I left thinking you were safe and sound, and then, I found you in that room, and I felt like my whole world was crumbling around me.”
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t think...”
“No, you didn’t.”
“But don’t you see?” I stepped over to him and placed my palm on his chest. “I feel the same way about you. I couldn’t stand the thought of something happening to you. That’s why I did what I did.”
“You should’ve stayed put.”
“You’re right. I should have, and I’m sorry that I didn’t.”
His expression softened as he whispered, “I need you to be okay.”
“I am okay.” I smiled as I told him, “I’m okay because of you... You saved me. You protected me and kept me safe. I wouldn’t be here if it hadn’t been for you, and I don’t have any intention of going anywhere.”
He slipped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer, and the second I felt the warmth of his body next to mine, my world stopped spinning. His intoxicating scent surrounded me, and when he leaned over and covered my mouth in a hungry kiss, everything else around seemed to fade away.
The caress of his lips was pure magic. I felt safe, like nothing in the world could come between us, and for the first time, I was truly able to consider the possibility that there was something real between us—that it wasn’t all in my head.
As he pulled me even closer and delved deeper into my mouth, I could feel his heart racing, and it was all I could do not to completely unravel in his arms.
His eyes remained trained on mine as I unbuckled his jeans and slipped my hand into his boxer briefs. “You know... you don’t always have to be in control, Billy. Sometimes, you can just let go.”
I wrapped my fingers around his cock, then slowly glided my hand up and down his length. A light hiss slipped through his clenched jaw as I gently added pressure. “You never know. You might actually enjoy it.”
“That’s enough, Everleigh.”
“Hmm, I don’t think so. I don’t think it’s nearly enough.” I stroked him once again, harder this time, and his eyes flashed with anger. “I think you need this just as much as I do.”
I eased up on my tiptoes, placed my lips close to his ear, and whispered, “I think you need to come, Billy. I think you want to...”
His breath quickened as I stroked him harder, faster. “You just have to let go.”
I was taunting him, pushing his limits, but I needed him to know that he could trust me—that he could lose control with me. We were both reaching the point of no return—which only turned me on even more.
I was wet and desperate to have him deep inside me. A needful hiss slipped through his lips as I raked the tip of my thumb over the head of his rock-hard cock. His body grew tense, and I knew he was close. ““That’s it,” I whispered. “Let go for me.”
“Fuck.”
And just like that, his head fell back, and he submitted to his release. Seeing him come undone was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen. I’d never been more turned on in my entire life. I looked up at him and smiled as I whispered, “See? That wasn’t so hard, now was it?”
He didn’t respond.
Instead, he eased my hand from his pants, wiped it with a Kleenex from his desk, then swooped down and lifted me into his arms. He remained silent as he carried me up the stairs and into his room. As soon as my feet hit the floor, he leaned down and pressed his lips against mine.
My hands slowly drifted up to his chest, and I could feel his heart pounding as fast as mine underneath his hard muscles.
He lowered his mouth to my shoulder and began trailing kisses along the curve of my neck, sending chills throughout my entire body.
His eyes locked on mine as he whispered, “You’re mine. All mine.”
He was absolutely right. I was his—heart and soul. His eyes were still trained on mine as I whispered, “I love you, Billy.”
“I love you, too. More than you can imagine.”
Without another word, he tilted my chin up and touched his lips to mine.
That one gentle kiss was enough to make my entire body hum with anticipation.
The kiss quickly became more passionate, his tongue skillfully mingling with mine, seducing all my senses.
I could feel the haze of desire overtaking me, and I craved more.
I eagerly removed my t-shirt, tossing it behind me, and his eyes followed my hands as they lowered my pants down my legs.
I felt the heat of his stare as his eyes slowly roamed over me, and a longing ache burned inside of me as he growled, “So damn beautiful.”
His hands slid up my back, gently removing my bra before tossing it to the floor.
He lowered me down on the bed, then took my breasts in his hands, gently caressing each with the pad of his thumb.
It wasn’t long before I became completely consumed with need.
My head fell back as he lowered his mouth to my nipple and began nipping and sucking the sensitive flesh, sending jolts of pleasure down my spine.
Without warning, his thumbs hooked in my panties, sliding them down my legs as he trailed kisses down my navel. I lay naked before him, brazenly letting his eyes wander before leaning toward him to help remove his clothes. He slipped off his t-shirt and dropped it to the floor.
I sat up on the bed and reached for him, my fingers caressing his chest before trailing down his abdomen.
I could feel the muscles tremble ever so slightly beneath my touch, and I smiled inwardly, hoping I was making him feel as intoxicated as I was.
I made quick work of his jeans and boxers, becoming more aroused with each passing second.
He reached into his side table drawer and pulled out a condom as he rasped, “Are you ready for me?”
“More than ready.”
He took my word for it, and we spent the better part of the day in his bed making love. Once we were both spent, I curled up next to him, listening as our rapid breathing started to slow, and it wasn’t long before I drifted off to sleep.
I woke several hours later and discovered that I was in bed alone.
Curious where Billy might’ve gone, I eased out of bed and went to look for him.
When I opened his bedroom door, I found him sitting at the kitchen table with a large manilla envelope in his hand.
I could tell by the expression on his face something was troubling him, so I asked, “What’s all that? ”
“Something I’ve been working on.” He picked up the envelope and carried it over to me. As he offered it to me, he announced, “It’s for you.”
“Oh? What is it?” I opened it up and peeked inside, and I was surprised to find a driver’s license with my picture on it, along with a new passport and a large sum of money. “What is all this?”
“It was supposed to be your chance for a fresh start.” His voice was strained as he explained, “It didn’t feel right not to tell you that you can still have the life you’ve always wanted.”
“But I already have it.” I wound my arms around his neck as I told him, “For years, I’ve wished for someone to come into my life who would be my everything—my lover and my friend.
Someone who would fight with me and laugh with me.
Someone who’d stand by me when times get rough...
I wished for you, Billy. I wished for you, and now, you’re here and you’re mine. ”
“And you’re mine.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I reminded him as I leaned in and sealed it with a kiss.