Page 9 of Duress
Everly lets out a derisive snort. “He was busy talking to Rob. Or Bob. Whatever his name is. He didn’t see a damn thing, and when I told him about it later, it almost seemed to turn him on knowing some other guy wants to fuck me.” Her cheeks turned pink at that admission, like she’s the one that needs to be embarrassed in this situation and not my brother or his creeper friend. “He said, and I quote, ‘This pussy is mine. I am the only one that gets to fuck it. No one touches it without my say-so.’” Her voice trails off on the last part as she turns her head to look out the window.
I feel my blood start to boil.
“Jesus Christ. I always thought Bryce was a shithead but this really takes the cake. Fuck, Ever. Why do you stay with him? Are you even happy? Do you love him?” Everly doesn’t respond to my inquisition. Just keeps looking out the window. I watch her reflection in the glass as she lifts her hand to her face, wiping away a tear.
Realizing my anger might be scaring her, I take a deep breath and blow it out, trying to calm my temper.
“Shit, Ever, I’m sor—” She moves to open the door, not turning to look at me.
“It doesn’t matter, Dane.” Her words are resigned. Like she knows her fate, and she’s made peace with it. “Thankyou for inviting me tonight and driving me home. I’m gonna go now.” Before I can protest, she’s out of the car, shutting the door behind her. I sit, stunned for a second, before jumping into motion, chasing after her with an unshakable need to make sure she is okay.
“Ever, wait! Talk to me.” She picks up her pace, digging through her purse, blindly looking for the house key.
“Dane, you should go. It’s late.” Her voice wobbles, like she’s trying not to cry, and my heart cracks at the sound.
“Hey, hey, hey… Everly. Please.” I catch up to her just as she reaches the front door. I grab her upper arm, turning her so she’s facing me, her back to the door. Even in the dim outdoor lights illuminating their flowerbeds, I can see the way her eyes shimmer with unshed tears.
“Everly, I want to help you. If you are unhappy or in danger, please let me help you. You don’t have to stay with the dickhead.” Everly huffs out a bitter laugh as she tries to turn her gaze away from mine. I don’t let her though. I gently use my free hand to cup her jaw, directing her eyes back to mine.
“He’s my brother, but I know what a dick he is. I’ve never thought he deserved you. If you’re afraid of leaving him, I’ll help you. If you need me to kick his ass, I will. If you just need someone to talk to…talk to me. Please.”
Everly’s breath hitches at my words, her eyes going wide in shock. Of course, she knows he and I aren’t close, but I don’t think she ever realized the depth of animosity between us. I can tell by her eyes and the way they dance slightly that she is trying to convince herself of something. Of what though?
One heartbeat passes. Two. Then three. And then her lips are on mine. Her hands reach up, grasping my neck, pulling me down to her. Pulling me into her. My knees nearly buckle when I feel the sweet wetness of her tongue slide into my mouth. Without thought, I take one step forward, crushing her body to mine, pinning her against the door. Her body melts into mine, like we were designed to fit together. My hand glides around her jaw to the back of her neck, where I twine my fingers into her silky soft hair. She tastes like sweet apples, and I am immediately addicted. The hand that had been holding her by the arm slides down to her waist, cupping a soft palmful of her delicious curves.
My tongue licks into her mouth, and I want nothing more than to bury myself into her soul. I’ve been thinking about kissing this woman since I was eighteen, and it’s…devastating. I’ll never be able to go back from this. This is it. This is the moment where I throw it all away just to have this woman. I don’t care if she’s my brother’s wife. He doesn’t deserve her.
“Fuck… Ever…” My voice is barely above a husky whisper. I kiss along her jaw and down the column of her neck. Her fingers dig into my hair, tugging it just until it’s painful, and my dick hardens. I can feel my length pressing into the thin fabric of her leggings. She lets out the sexiest whimper when I let my teeth graze along her pulse point. Just as I seal my lips to suck on her neck, the sound of a phone buzzing disrupts the quiet night air.
“Shit!” Everly jumps like she’s been tased, her arms coming to my shoulders to push me away. Her face is aconfused mask of surprise, terror, and shame. We stand, inches apart, panting, breathing the same air, trying to comprehend what just happened. The phone buzzes again, breaking the spell between us.
“Fuck, Ever?—”
“I-I-I have to go. Please leave, Dane. You can’t be here.” She gives me another gentle shove, and I’m stunned enough that I stumble back a step, giving her room to turn around and open the door.
“Everly, wait, please!” I lunge forward to stop her from closing the door, but she slips inside and presses her body against it, preventing me from following her.
“No, Dane. Please. This can’t happen. Just go.”
Dumbfounded, I step back, letting her close the door in my face. I know she felt that charge between us. She was trying to climb into my skin just as much as I was into hers. She may think this can’t happen, but after that kiss, there is no way in hell I am going to let my dickbag brother win without a fight.
CHAPTER 9
EVERLY
EVERLY - 21 YEARS OLD
“Ireallydon’t want to go to this party, Ana. Can’t we just stay in?” I make prayer hands as I look up at my roommate, pleading to her from under my favorite blanket hoody. Already tucked into my favorite TV binging spot on the couch. My outgoing, extroverted, energizer bunny of a roommate flips her sleek black hair and puts her hands on her hips.
“Yousaid, and I quote, ‘I owe you one, Ana! I prooooomise I’ll go to the next party. But I can’t miss this premier ofGrey’s Anatomy! I have to know what happened to McDreamy!’ Well bitch, it’s time to pay up. I need a wing woman.”
Ana narrows her blue eyes at me, and I know there will be no wiggling my way out of this excursion. Why did I have to wind up being best friends with an extrovert?
“If I remember correctly, you’re the one who wound upbawling your eyes out halfway through the episode.” I quirk a brow at her, making a last-ditch effort to convince her to stay in.
“Andthatis why you owe me. I need to fuck these feelings out. Now come on; go put something slutty on, and let’s go.”
Two hourslater we are shoulder to shoulder in a frat house well beyond fire code capacity. We’ve been here for forty-five minutes, and I am regretting all of my life choices. It’s so hot and crowded, I feel on the verge of hyperventilating. Ana forges ahead, dragging me by the hand through the crowd in search of…booze? Or dick? I have no idea. It’s too loud to communicate in here. All I know is that I need to get some air. Suddenly I see a break in the crowd and an open doorway leading outside. I lurch toward it, letting go of Ana’s hand in favor of fresh air. She looks back at me, eyes widened in surprise, as our connection breaks. We never separate at parties—buddy system in place until we find someone to leave with, that’s always our M.O.
