Page 94 of Bad For Me (Rock Canyon, Idaho 5)

“You better not fall asleep.”

“But I’m so”—he rolled them over until she was on her back and staring up at him with a mischievous smile—“tired.”

Pushing himself up, he pulled out of her until just the tip remained inside and thrust hard, satisfied when she arched up with a wild cry. Everett kept moving in and out, slowly at first until she was gripping his arms. Sweat trickled down his back as his speed kicked up.

“Still tired?”

A soft moan escaped her when he thrust again, but then her breathless voice whispered, “Bored too.”

“Ornery.”

Coming down on his elbows, he kissed her, tongue slipping inside with every shallow movement as he took in her growing, high-pitched cries until he felt his body tumble over the edge. Tearing his mouth away, Everett came with a shout. His hips jerked several times as he rode the wave of pleasure, his heart pumping so hard he was sure it would burst.

Still pressing his chest against hers, Everett reached out and skimmed along

her forehead, brushing her hair back in the dark. He bent down and kissed her, the scent of her subtle perfume and taste of her mouth drawing him deeper. Callie was the one thing he craved, and he wanted to lay it all out for her. Everything he was, everything that made him, he wanted to share with her.

But despite their bare skin, the darkness surrounding them felt like another barrier between them. He had sworn he’d be patient and was sure she would finally share herself with him when she was ready, but what if she didn’t?

He could wait for her because despite all the push and pull, the ups and downs, he had fallen in love with her. The only problem was, he wasn’t sure if he could put his whole heart on the line . . . if she was only offering half of hers.

BASKING IN THE afterglow of their lovemaking, Callie waited for Everett to come back from the bathroom. She’d been so caught up in him, in the fun, the passion, and the joy of just being with him.

There was that word again—joy. It summed up everything Everett was. He was her joy.

The bathroom door opened, shining a bright light over the room, and she pulled the blanket up to cover herself. The light flipped off and she could hear Everett coming toward her.

Ratchet scratched at the bedroom door, whimpering.

“Sorry, buddy, but tonight she’s mine.”

The bed dipped under Everett’s weight, and when he curled up behind her, his hands stroked over her arms, her sides, and her stomach.

She stiffened briefly as his hand stilled over one of the scars, but he moved it, resting it instead on the curve of her hip. Relaxing back against him, Callie snuggled in and reached for his hand, entwining their fingers with a smile.

“I think that was my best Halloween ever.” Everett pressed his lips against the back of her head and the warm puff of his breath ruffled her curls softly.

“Mine too.”

The room filled with a comfortable silence, but Callie couldn’t rest, knowing she should say something more. She should open up to him, let him know that she cared and that she did trust him.

“Everett?”

“Yeah.”

She swallowed hard, her stomach flipping over as she took a chance. “I love you.”

His arms tightened around her, and she waited with bated breath.

“I’m glad.”

Laughing, she smacked his arm. “And you call me ornery.”

His chest shook against her back but when his mirth dissolved, he turned her in his arms until they were face-to-face, although she couldn’t really see him. But she felt his lips seek hers, sweetly coaxing hers as he breathed out.

“I love you too.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

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