Chapter 22: Forever Wild: Chapter 21

“Tell me the truth,” Ev says as we head back downstairs. “How many women have you taken to the owner’s box?”

“Lots,” I say automatically, knowing that isn’t the answer she wants.

The jealous glint in her eyes is proof enough of that, so is the vise-like grip she now has on my hand. I bring our joined hands up to my mouth and kiss the top of her knuckles. “The first time I’ve made someone come on my fingers up there though.”

I can still smell her on me, and goddamn it’s going to be a long night before I can get my hands on her again like I want.

“I’m going to choose to believe that.” She stops trying to break my hand, but the jealous glint stays. Fine by me, she’s sexy as fuck.

She wore that skimpy little dress to make me lose my mind, like I wasn’t already there. If she only knew how badly I want her all the fucking time. She doesn’t need to do a damn thing for my benefit. It’s just her that makes me wild. Every little fucking thing.

“Hey, there you are!” Grace yells and hugs Everly when we find her on the dance floor. “Where were you?”

“Upstairs,” Everly says vaguely.

“Did you grab a table?” Grace fans her face. “I need a break.”

“Go ahead. I’ll grab us some more drinks,” I say, untangling my fingers from Ev’s and placing my hand on her lower back. She leans into me.

“How will you find us?”

“I’ll find you,” I assure her. I seem to have a radar specifically honed in on her.

I grab a bottle of champagne and glasses from the bar. As expected, I have no problem finding Everly. She, Grace, and Lane are seated on a couch in the VIP section and across from them are two guys and another girl they must know because they’re talking animatedly.

Everly looks up when I get to the top of the steps. A slow smile spreads across her face, and she crosses her legs in a way that has me wondering if her thoughts are still upstairs in the private box as well or on the fact her panties are in my pocket.

I take a seat next to her, pour a glass of champagne for her, then for Grace and Lane.

“You’re not drinking?” she asks.

“Not tonight.”

She looks like she wants to ask more, but then one of the guys on the couch across from us calls her name.

I glare at the guy as she glances over at him.

“When do you leave for Briar Lake?” he asks, smiling at her in a way that is a little too familiar.

“Oh, umm, I’m leaving at the end of the month.” She fidgets with the glass in her hand and smiles, though in a way that is all false bravado.

“Cool,” he replies, not catching on to her discomfort. “My family has a place up there. Maybe we can hook up some weekend. I can show you around.”

I clear my throat and his gaze slides to me. Ev giggles but covers it quickly.

“Yeah, that’d be nice.”

I turn my glare to the woman beside me. I might need to drag her back upstairs and remind her I’m a jealous man when it comes to her.

“Jack, this is Christian. I went to college with him and his boyfriend, Ryan.”

I look back to the guy in question and then notice the guy next to him. He lifts a hand. “Ryan. Nice to meet you. Big fan.”

“You too.” I smile graciously at him and Christian.

“And that’s Lisa on the end,” Everly says. “She accepted an internship with the same company as I did.”

I tip my head to her, and she smiles back before turning her attention back to Ev.

“It’s going to be so great. Heather is a genius. I heard from a friend that works there that she just landed a huge deal on a new condominium building. It seems like she’s really leaning into the commercial space.”

“Really?” Everly asks, seeming surprised. “But she’s so good at making homes feel original and well-loved.”

“Yeah.” Lisa nods. “She has a real eye for that, but branching out is probably a smart move. There are so many condos and apartments going up around the lake. I bet we get to help with furnishing and staging.

”

“More like you’ll be grabbing her coffee and calling vendors,” Christian says.

“Of course.” Lisa nods. “We are interns after all, but she promised we’d get some real, hands-on experience too.”

Lisa’s eyes sparkle with excitement and possibility. Not unusual, but it’s a contrast to Everly’s much calmer demeanor. Why isn’t she bouncing with excitement?

“I wish I could afford to rent one of those condos instead of the studio basement I had to settle for. Where are you?” Lisa asks her.

“I lucked into a sublet,” Everly says. I want to ask if it’s one that Ty owns, but I don’t want to put her on the spot. Her brother has been smart with his money, investing in real estate like the house she lives in now. I get the sense that Ev isn’t keen on reminding people that her brother is a famous and rich hockey player.

The conversation shifts from the internship to talking about their college classes, professors, and other friends. I sit back and listen, mostly to Everly.

“Sorry,” she says at one point when everyone else is talking around us. “Are you bored?”

“No.”

She narrows her gaze like she’s trying to make sure I’m not lying.

“Would I rather be back upstairs? Yes. But I’m sitting next to the hottest woman in the club and my fingers still smell like her pussy. Don’t you worry about me.”

And the truth is I could sit here and listen to her talk all night and be content. I’m looking forward to kissing her again, but it’s also nice hearing her talk about life and work and random shit that she’s never told me before. Before this summer we never really shared these kinds of details about our lives. Sure, we knew what the other was up to, but only by extension of our friends and her brother. Now that I’ve gotten a glimpse of how she thinks, what she wants, and who she really is, I just want to know more.

She bites on the corner of her lip like she’s deciding something. Maybe whether she’s ready to ditch her friends again.

“Why’d you decide to be an interior designer?” I ask her.

“The short version is I like art and decorating.”

“And the long version?”

She hesitates, tilts her head to one side, and gets a contemplative look on her face like she’s trying to decide how much to share with me.

I wait because I’m hoping she’ll tell me everything. I want to know every last detail about her.

“I bounced around a lot as a kid. Mom and I moved a few times, then twice with Ty, again in college…” She trails off. “Making a space feel like home is harder when it’s unfamiliar.”

My chest tightens at her admission, but I don’t dare speak for fear of stopping her from continuing.

“There’s something really comforting about making a place feel like it’s an extension of you. It doesn’t have to be extravagant or expensive; it just needs to be well thought out and customized. A house should feel like a home and that means different things for different people.”

“And you want to give that to them?”

“Mostly I just enjoy doing it for myself, but that doesn’t pay as well.”

I’m lost in my thoughts with her watching me.

“What?” she asks.

“I was just wondering about my place.

”

“It’s very well decorated,” she answers.

“It should be. I paid a fortune for the artwork and furniture.”

She giggles and the sound seeps into my pores.

“It feels very you. Masculine and rich but somehow cozy.”

“I’m cozy?” I arch a brow in question.

“You can be.” She leans into me. “Like right now. All sweet and cuddly.”

I let out a low growl. I’m not sure anyone has ever accused me of being sweet or cuddly, but I’m finding I’m a lot of different things with her.

Everly giggles again and I drop a hand to her thigh, then squeeze. I lean down to whisper in her ear, “Keep giggling like that, temptress. It makes me that much more excited to fill your mouth with something else later.”

She takes a sharp inhale of breath and then a flush creeps down her neck. “I think asking you to come here was a mistake.”

“Why?” I ask, pulling back slightly. I know I can be an overbearing asshole. Maybe she wants to spend the night with her friends instead of me hogging all her attention. I came downstairs with her but I’m still stealing her attention.

“Because I can’t concentrate on anything else. Everyone is talking and all I can think about is whether or not you have my panties in your pocket.”

I shift so she can reach in and check, which she does.

“Want them back?” I make like I’m going to reach in for them, but she stops me.

“No. They’d just be getting soaked again.” Her gaze drops to my mouth. She brings a hand up to my jaw, then drags the back of her fingers over my lips .

The meaning of her words finally drifts past the lust fog clouding my brain.

“Soaked for me again, huh?”

She nods, then moves her hand to the back of my neck. I like the way she touches me. Explorative and reverent and out in the open for everyone to see.

That last part should probably concern me, but I’m too wrapped up in her to care who knows. At least right this minute.

“Do you want to go back upstairs?”

“What about your friends?”

“They won’t miss me.”

I seriously consider it, but then shake my head. “No. We have time. Tonight, you should enjoy your friends.”

“Think one of them can do something about the throbbing between my legs?” She bats her lashes then giggles.

“Not fucking funny.” I take her mouth, nipping at her bottom lip.

“Everly!” Grace calls her name and moves to stand in front of her. “We have to dance.”

She grins at me as she lets her friend pull her to her feet, then sends me a flirty wink as they go.

I blow out a breath and run a hand through my hair. I am in serious trouble with this girl.