Page 31 of Anchored Love
She jerked back like the groan woke her up from a dream, her fingers touching her soft lips.
“What was that?” The question came out in a breathy whisper, eyes big in shock.
It was cute how puzzled she came across. “That was me showing you that this thing between us, Ev, it’s real. Not for show for your mom and family. It's real. Me and you. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, and I’ve always wanted to kiss you.”
“And now?” she asked, her breath catching.
“Now, I’m going to kiss you again.” I grinned and claimed her mouth once more.
Everly didn’t hold back this time. Actively participating, her tongue dueled with mine for control, but in the end there was no winner or loser; we found our rhythm, working completely in sync. Deep and wet, the kiss intensified.
I slid my hand along the slope of her neck, craving her in every way possible. My cock stretched in my pajama pants, tenting in the crotch. Fuck, she made me hard just thinking about her. With her kiss, it was almost painful.
I knew sex with Ev would be out of this world, but it wasn’t something to be rushed. She deserved better than a quick fuck and would get it. I needed her desperately, but kissing would need to do for now.
We stayed like that, kissing and nothing more like handsy teenagers alone for the first time. Her lips melted into mine, sugary and sweet. The taste of her mouth would be etched into my mind forever, a craving that could never be sated. Kissing Everly made me feel alive and as though I’d been kissing the wrong women all my life.
Needing to touch her, my palm covered her breast. Her nipple hardened under my touch, and we were no longer playing any kind of pretend.
“Mason,” she panted my name out, and I broke away, both of us catching our breath. That one word snapped me from going further than intended. She had such a strong pull to me. Two strings tightening with each second we spent together.
“You were saying…” I prompted, eyes blazing and heart thumping.
“I uh...” She paused, shaking her head a bit. “I forgot what I wanted to say.”
I’d give her this one out because it really seemed like she did forget.
It had been a long, intense day, and we both needed to rest. “Get some sleep, Ev. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
I gathered Everly into my arms and rested her head on my chest. She didn’t protest.
My balls were aching, and I knew the moment she fell asleep I’d be going to the bathroom to jerk off to thoughts of sliding between her thighs and fucking her stupid. Part of me wanted that more than anything, but there was still this voice in my head that warned me to go slow with her. I’d always listened to that voice, and I wasn’t about to stop now.
Holding her in my arms all night would be enough. For now.
* * *
“Would you just drop it already?”Jess snapped at Casey. His head dropped, and I hurried to look away, not wanting any part of this tiff.
Taking a sip of my coffee, I thought, or more like hoped, that would be the end of the conversation, but it was simply the beginning. While we weren’t part of it, Jess and Casey were trying to make it so. Me? No thank you.
“Why don’t you want to get married?” he pushed, staring at her with puppy dog eyes. It was as if she'd kicked him in the gut.
Shit. Things were growing more awkward by the moment, and it was only like seven-thirty in the morning. Way too early for this. I needed about a gallon more of coffee, and it still wouldn’t be enough.
“You want to get married, Casey?” Jane Lynn joined the conversation, and Everly came very close to slamming her head down on the table. Fire meet gas. This was going to blow. Jane Lynn was a spitfire. I reached over and gave her hand a squeeze.
She rolled her eyes, causing me to smile. Yeah, she was damn cute.
“Honey, stay out of it,” Herbert warned, throwing his hat into the ring. Which, let’s be honest, was stupid, but I had to give it to him; he held his own.
Jane Lynn’s eyes narrowed, and I waited for her to magically turn into a cartoon character with steam coming out of her ears; it was so going to happen. That or the Tasmanian devil. Who knew which would show first. “Don’t tell me what to do. I’m just curious. Yesterday Casey and Jess didn’t want to talk about getting married, and now Casey is considering it. You know this is important to me.”
“It’s none of your business, Mom. This is between Casey and me, and I don’t want to talk about it over breakfast in front of everyone.”
“No. We’re all family here, right?” Casey glanced around the table, stopping at me. “Excluding Mason. No offense, dude.”
I gave him a chin lift and kept eating my food like he didn’t even talk to me. It wasn’t any of my business, and I had no desire to get involved.
