Chapter 18
Dmitri
“There’s a reason people flock to our state to view the fall foliage, but summer’s always been my favorite.
” Ever presses his lips to my forehead, and I swear I could melt.
It’s a simple kiss, but the sweetness of it, like I’m his favorite person and he just cannot help but kiss me, has squirrels racing in circles in my stomach.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been up here. ”
“If I lived in Maplewood, I’d come up here at least once a week.” A long, contented sigh parts from my lips. I’ve lived in cities all my life and I have loved them, but this… “It soothes the soul.”
Ever slips his arm around my waist, tugging me closer, like he wants me as near as possible. “When you come ho—back… uh…” He makes a choking sound that turns into a cough, his fingertips dig into my hip. “ If you come back to visit, I’ll bring you up here again.”
My throat constricts, but I nod, unable to speak. We stand in silence, the titter of squirrels and occasional chattering of birds in the distance, the only sounds I hear over my thudding heart. A selfish part of me never wants this to end.
And why should it? There’s nothing keeping me in Philadelphia, but with every passing day, there are more opportunities in Maplewood and more reasons I love it.
Even if Ever isn’t interested in anything long-term, there’s something about this little town with its nosy citizens, warring diners, and love of their festivals and their cryptid that makes me want to stay.
Arms looped around Ever’s waist, I twist my body, pressing my front to his side and rest my chin on his shoulder. “What if I stayed in Maplewood?”
I feel more than hear his quick intake of breath and I close my eyes, too afraid to want to see his expression.
“You don’t want to go back to Philly?” The words are slow and careful, like he’s afraid of the answer.
Going for nonchalant—when in fact there is nothing non about my chalant-ness—I lift a shoulder and try to sound cool. “There’s not much left for me there.”
“What about your house and furniture? Your friends? What about London?” He shifts so we’re face-to-face, his chest inches from mine and his eyes are…
I pull back so I can get a better look at him. Is that excitement or panic? I clamp down on my lip and narrow my eyes, but it doesn’t help in deciphering his expression.
“A change of scenery would be nice. And I’d get my own place.
If you don’t want to do this…” Suddenly aware of how this could end poorly, I take one, two steps back, gesturing between us.
“If you don’t want to do this, no worries.
I get that this was supposed to be a short-term thing, but I’ve kind of fallen in love with Maplewood.
” And I think I could fall in love with you, too. If I haven’t already.
A growl grumbles from the back of his throat, causing goose bumps to break out over my entire body. He erases the space I put between us and yanks me to him. “This hasn’t been a short-term thing since you came strolling into my field playing your violin for my bees.”
“Yeah?” When my gaze meets his, the vulnerability in his beautiful crystal blue eyes—that I’m sure matches my own—spears me.
“So you feel it too? It’s not just me?” Unable to hold back, I press my lips to the spot on his neck I know makes him moan and I’m rewarded with a deep guttural sound that shoots straight to my dick.
The heat of his palms warms my cheeks as he cups them, holding my face firmly in place, and waiting until my eyes meet his.
“I feel it, but I’ve been too chickenshit to say so.
” He presses a kiss to one cheek. “You should cancel your reservation at the inn and stay with me.” Then the other cheek.
“It seems a waste to spend the money when you’re sleeping at my place every night, anyway. ”
“I do hate to waste money.” I nod solemnly, but I’m sure my quirking lips ruin the effect.
His hands drop to my ass and he tugs me until there is no space between us, the heat of his solid chest warming me from the inside out.
My breath catches and my heart nearly cracks open my ribs when he palms the back of my head, crashing his lips down onto mine.
He moans into my mouth, vibrating through my center, down my legs, and all the way to my toes.
He tastes of coffee from earlier this morning and mint.
A fluttering of breeze tickles the back of my neck as I lose myself in this man and this moment.
Time has no meaning when Ever chases my tongue like he’s as desperate as me to taste and tease.
I drag my teeth over the fullness of his bottom lip, drawing another low groan from him, and my hardening cock jerks, pressing uncomfortably into my zipper like it’s planning an escape.
He grinds his equally stiff length into me and I see stars behind my eyelids.
His hands smooth over my chest in a slow exploration, worshiping and breaking me at once.
He moves his mouth to my neck, sucking and biting the protruding tendon before he kisses the “violin hickey” that is a permanent mark from years of playing.
Precum wets the cotton of my boxer briefs, as he laps up my skin like it’s the best thing he’s ever tasted.
I whimper and dig my fingertips into his shoulders.
How is it that every kiss turns into this all-encompassing need to consume and be consumed by him?
The cracking of sticks has Ever pausing. I stiffen, and he opens his eyes, scanning the area over my shoulder.
“What was it?” I whisper. I’m not sure why I’m whispering, it’s probably a hiker.
Another snap and rustling. Goose bumps erupt on the back of my neck. Ever straightens and tucks me behind him as he surveys the wooded area. “It’s probably just kids,” he whispers, so only I can hear him. But he doesn’t sound like he fully believes it himself.
My gaze darts around the wooded area in search of hikers, a bobcat, a wolf, a bear, or whatever wildlife—not that I know what it is—might live in the woods in Vermont. And then I see it. I point over Ever’s shoulder, my mouth close to his ear. “Look.”
In a sea of grays and browns appears a bush of green leaves. “See it?” I keep my voice quiet as I squint. “Was that bush there before?” But is it a bush? It’s too high, but I wouldn’t classify it as a tree either. It moves, and it looks almost… lifelike? “Oh my god, it’s moving.”
As my skin prickles with apprehension, my legs ready to run, I can feel the tension in Ever’s muscles loosen. He shifts, bringing me to stand next to him, but his gaze remains on the entity, his arm around my waist. He tips his head and says quietly, “That’s Mabel.”
“What?” I yell, whipping my head toward Ever so fast he barely has time to jerk his own head out of the way to prevent a broken nose. The volume of my question echoes across the valley, followed by frantic rustling.
I whip my head back to where Mabel is, only to find two green leaves floating to the ground, landing on the carpet of underbrush, covering the forest floor.
“I scared her away?” The question is a mix of disappointment and disbelief. I saw the fabled Mabel? “Mabel is real?”
His mouth quirks, and he’s looking at me like he thinks I’m adorable. “I don’t know a lot about cryptids, but I get the sense that Mabel likes to keep to herself.” His hand finds mine, and he gives it a tug. “C’mon. Let’s tell Trevor you’re checking out.”
“Was that really Mabel?” My feet stumble forward, following Ever, but I keep looking over my shoulder. “This isn’t some joke you all play on visitors?”
“No joke.” He chuckles and brings my hand to his mouth, placing a kiss on the back of it. “I’ve always thought Mabel is like Santa Claus. She’s real if you believe in her.”
I snap my gaze back to the now empty space that seconds ago had been a vivid green. “And you think I believe?”
“Rumor has it Mabel only shows herself to true Maplewoodians. And only true Maplewoodians believe in Mabel.” Grinning, Ever tugs me to him and plants a kiss on my lips.
“Wow.” My gaze surveys the woods again, but Mabel is nowhere in sight. “Sorry, Mabel,” I call. “I’ll be quieter next time.”
Ever’s laughter fills the forest as we continue down the rocky path, and he calls, “And next time, try not to cock block me.”
“Don’t worry, I’m happy to take care of your cock.” And more.