Chapter 14
fourteen
“Well, how’s my favorite baby mama?” My voice sounds chipper compared to the exhausted groan coming from Ember on the other end of the line. I’m mindlessly tagging new inventory in the stockroom at work, finally catching up with her after the whirlwind of her becoming a twin mama.
“Indefinitely exhausted, how about you?” I can imagine her right now, hiding in the bathroom while Eli takes on baby patrol solo.
“Just living the dream, babe.” It’s been a few weeks since her sweet babies were born and since Everett and I made things official.
So far, he seems to be a natural at this whole boyfriend thing.
I was skeptical at first, but he’s been amazing.
Between him bringing me coffee in bed every morning and orgasms in the sheets every night, a girl could get used to this.
“Things are going well?” I know she’s waiting for me to spill the tea on what’s going on between me and Ev. Subtlety has never been Ember’s strongest quality.
“You mean is your brother keeping me blissfully happy with consistent screaming ‘O’s every night?” I say, smirking even though she can’t see me through the phone.
“EW! NO NO NO NO! NOT WHAT I MEANT AND YOU KNOW IT!” she screeches and I laugh. I see Malcolm come through the doorway and I take Ember off speakerphone.
“Yeah, I’m happy, sis. He’s been a dream, honestly.” I tell her, looking over at my boss out of the corner of my eye. I can tell he’s totally eavesdropping, but trying not to make it look obvious.
“Well, good. Make sure you let me know if that changes and I’ll whip his ass into shape,” I hear a tiny baby cry and Elijah yelling for her in the background, and I feel the tiniest pang of jealousy. “Shit, I gotta go, Kels. Scarlett is having a meltdown, as usual.”
“She gets that from Auntie K. Go handle your hellions. We’ll talk again later. Love you!” I say.
“Love you, more. Seriously, I’m so happy for you guys, babe.” Her voice softens and I smile.
“Thank you, Em. Peace, love, and orgasms to you, honey. You deserve it.” She scoffs, and I swear I can hear her eyes rolling through the phone.
“That is not a thing, Kelsea Scarlett Sawyer. Do not make that a catch phrase,” she scolds, and I just laugh. We hang up without another word and I sit in silence for a minute, soaking up my happiness.
“Ahem,” Malcolm clears his throat behind me and I roll my eyes.
“Yes, Malcolm? Need something?” turning to face him, my voice already sounds annoyed, and he’s barely said anything to me.
“Are you finished with your personal call, Kelsea? This is work time, you know.” He tries to look intimidating, but he’s not.
Nothing about him screams authority. I wonder if that’s why he feels the need to act like such a perv all the time.
It’s the only way he can gain any attention from the opposite sex.
“I was working the entire time, Malcolm. I’ve got to put these on the floor.” Picking up the stack of shirts and brushing past him, I catch the scent of stale beer and body odor that perpetually clings to his body. Doing my best not to gag, I try to put more distance between us.
“Thats not the point, Kelsea,” he follows me out onto the floor, standing much closer than necessary. Magnolia eyes me over the customer she’s helping at the counter, shooting me a questioning look. I give her a quick shake of my head, telling her I can handle him and she doesn’t need to intervene.
“Look Malcolm, I’m sorry something crawled up your ass today, but I got all of the work I was supposed to finish done and more.
I wasn’t on the floor and my phone call didn’t disturb anyone but you, apparently.
So I’d appreciate it if you could lay off me.
I need to finish getting these new arrivals put out.
” I know I have an attitude, but I’m getting really tired of his constant bullshit.
I try to walk back in to the stockroom but he grabs my upper arm as I pass. The contact is shocking and seriously unwelcome. My muscles tense instantly under his touch. “Watch yourself, little girl,” his tone is low and threatening, putting me immediately on edge.
My mind flashes back to Justin’s grip around my arms, throwing me to the ground and plunging a blade into my side.
Moments like this, when my memories flood back to me, are what I’ve come to understand as a post-trauma response.
I hate the feeling of weakness overwhelming me right now.
I hate it even more that it’s happening in front of Malcolm.
“You must really not value that hand,” I hear Everett’s familiar deep voice behind us and it’s an instant balm to my fears.
“You’ve got about half a second to remove it from my girl’s body before I rip it from yours.
” His eyes blaze with anger, shooting daggers straight through Malcolm.
But his body exudes a calm energy, totally comfortable with the threats he’s leveling.
I know he has no problem following through with them.
Malcolm’s hand on my arm instantly loosens and I rip myself away from him, stepping behind Everett as the men continue their silent stare-down.
I look around the store, hoping we aren’t causing a huge scene.
All the evening customers have cleared out, and it’s only the three of us and Magnolia in the space, no one daring to move.
Maggie’s eyes are trained on mine, wide and cautious.
I’m not sure if she fears more for my safety or Malcolms at this moment, but I know if I don’t diffuse Everett’s anger this could end badly.
“I’m fine, honey,” I tell him, sliding my hand into his and lacing our fingers together. I feel the racing beat of his pulse pounding in his wrist, his eyes never leaving Malcolms. “It was just a misunderstanding, right?”
“Yeah, no harm, no foul. Just a misunderstanding.” Malcolm sounds pathetic in his defense, and I know Ev isn’t buying it.
“You put your hands on her again and you’ll never have to worry about another misunderstanding.
They’ll never find you,” Everett’s voice is cold and sinister.
But for some reason I totally don’t want to analyze, the venom in his voice rolls across my skin, liquid heat shooting straight to my core.
I can’t remember a time in my life when I’ve ever been turned on by violence, but I’ve also never had a man threaten violence for me, not against me.
Malcolm’s face pales, but he doesn’t make a move.
“I think Kelsea’s shift is over. Magnolia’s too, right?
” Ev looks over to her, and she gives him a sharp nod, grabbing both of our bags from under the counter and coming to stand beside me.
“You can close up on your own, right?” Everett doesn’t wait for a response, turning on his heels and striding towards the door.
I hurry behind him, pulling Magnolia along with us.
“What the fuck just happened?!” Maggie says as soon as the front door closes.
Everett doesn’t say a word, walking to his bike and climbing on silently.
His hands grip the handle bars roughly, knuckles white as anger rolls off him in waves.
He waits silently for me to say goodbye.
“Is he okay?” She asks, gesturing to the brooding man waiting at the curb.
“Malcolm crossed the line. I think he’s lucky he got off that easily,” I whisper, looking over my shoulder at Everett.
“Ok, this goes against every feminist bone in my body, but that was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. I want a man who threatens to murder people for me,” she smirks and I laugh, leaning in to give her a hug.
“Yeah, my lady bits are screaming at me right now,” I sigh and wave at her as she walks to her car, making sure she’s safe inside with the door closed before turning around and walking to my man.
“You okay, Ev?” I ask, placing my hand over his on the handlebar, feeling him tense under my touch. His gaze is locked on something or nothing at all, staring straight ahead.
“I’m sorry,” he says, and I’m shocked. He’s apologizing to me?
“What? Why? You have nothing to be sorry for,” I reassure him.
“You shouldn’t have to put up with that guy, but you shouldn’t have to see me like that either.
I know I have issues keeping my anger in check.
I never want to scare you.” His words surprise me, but I understand why he’s worried.
He doesn’t want to be seen as the rough, tattooed bad boy everyone thinks he is.
“Honey, look at me,” his eyes lock on mine, uncertainty clear in them.
“You have nothing to be sorry for, Ev. He was out of line. I’m honestly glad you were there.
” I place my hand on his shoulder, feeling the hard definition and heat of his muscles flexing under the smooth leather of his jacket. “If anyone should apologize, it’s me”
He looks at me, confused about what I could possibly have to be sorry for.
I lean into his thigh, almost straddling his leg as I bring my lips closer to his.
“I’m sorry that we have to get all the way home before you can feel how wet I am over what you just did.
” Fire blazes in his eyes as he searches my face, trying to discern if I’m serious or not.
I’m dead serious. Right now, I want to climb this man like rock wall he is.
I’m practically dry humping him in the street in front of my workplace, for god’s sake.
“Are you for real?” He asks, cocking an eyebrow up in shock.
“You tell me, honey.” I flick my tongue out, our lips close enough that I barely brush his.
Before I can take another breath, he threads his fingers through my hair, pulling my lips down roughly against his in a desperate kiss.
My mouth opens instantly, allowing him to explore me from the inside out.
His taste, his smell, his ruthless energy flares all around me.
I’m all-consumed by this man. It’s a heady feeling that I’m more than happy to drown in as he pulls me closer, dragging me under his waves.
“I swear, you’re a fucking dream, goddess. I don’t deserve you.” Pulling back, he stares into my eyes, searching for any sign of uncertainty or fear. He won’t find any.
“You’re right, you don’t. But you got me, baby.
You’ll never get rid of me now,” I smirk against his lips, peppering kisses as I giggle.
He tugs on my hair, harsh but gentle all at once.
Running his nose down my jawline, nuzzling into my neck, he gives me a sucking kiss on the sensitive spot right below my ear, and I shiver.
“Everett Wayne, do not give me a hickie. That is just not attractive after high school.”
“No promises. If I could mark every inch of your perfect skin, I would. I’d make sure the entire world knows you’re mine.
Then no one would ever fucking dare to touch you.
” His words elicit a moan from deep in my chest and he laughs against my skin.
“Would you like that, goddess? You want me to make you scream my name from the fucking rooftops, so this whole town knows who you belong to?” He places soft kisses across my throat, my jaw, my neck, leaving goosebumps in his wake.
God, I love it when he talks to me this way.
He awakens every dirty thought or fantasy I’ve ever had, turning them all into a reality.
“What I want,” my voice is thick with lust and I try to force my racing heart to slow down, “is for you to take me home and bury yourself so deep inside me, we can’t tell where either of us ends and the other begins.”
His grip on my hair tightens, a growl erupting from the back of his throat. “Get on this bike, Kelsea. Now. Before I take you right here in the fucking street.”
I smirk at my ability to throw him off. I enjoy making his head spin the way he does mine.
As we pull away from the curb towards home, I realize just how far gone I am for this man.
I’m in love with him. He’s become a part of me.
There’s no coming back from the way he’s etched himself into my heart.