Page 24 of Out in the Country

“How long are you gonna hold that against me?”

He shrugs. “A while longer, long enough to make sure you’re real sorry to have misjudged my intentions.”

“It wassudden,as in like no warning,” I say in my own defense.

“Did you need a warnin’?” He shivers as my fingers play with the hair at the nape of his neck, and I’m already intoxicated by the way he responds to me.

“A heads-up would have been nice. I could have packed my sexy boxer briefs.”

“I’ll give you a head to get up later,” he teases as he presses his hips into mine.

“Really?” I roll my eyes but can’t help my smile.

“Yes, really. Besides, I know for a fact that youalwayspack your sexy boxer briefs.”

I do in fact always bring them because a man can never be too prepared.

“Think you might let me strip them off you when we get home?”

Home.

Everett leads us in another slow circle as “Best Day of My Life” by Bright Eyes starts to play. It’s another one of my favorites, and his hand squeezes mine as he smiles.

“What do you want to do when we’re home?” I ask quietly.

“What do you mean?”

“Despite you wantin’ to jump into this with me, consequences be damned,”—Everett growls, but I keep going—“we live together and I just want to make sure we don’t go too fast is all.”

“You want me to sneak back into my room before the sun comes up, Hayden?” he asks in a low rumble against the shell of my ear.

“I…I don’t know what the rules are, Ev. This is—”

“Sudden, yeah you mentioned that.” He’s hard as steel against my thigh, and I bite back the groan that wants to escape. “I have an idea.”

“What’s that?” My question is breathy as his fingertips tease the top of my jeans where his hand has dipped lower on my back.

“How about we just do what feels right and go from there?”

“That sounds reasonable,” I say on a pant. His hand lowers to grip my ass and he’s anything but shy about it.

“Is it reasonable to say I want you in my bed?”

“I like my sheets better.”

He squeezes me harder as he whispers, “Your bed then.”

“Okay.”

“Okay what?”

“Yes, I want you in my bed.” I moan as his erection rubs against mine. This was supposed to be a sweet moment, but my body is absolutely on fire and I’m dying for relief.

The song ends, and Everett takes a step back without releasing our joined hands.

“I think we should make that a thing.”

“What?” I ask, still dazed and turned on.

---