Chapter 24: Forever Wild: Chapter 23

I’m lying in bed next to Everly watching TV on mute. I slept a little but I kept startling awake, afraid she was going to need something.

“Hey,” she says, voice gruff.

I glance over at her in the dark. The lights from the TV give just enough glow for me to see she’s smiling.

“How are you feeling?”

“A little better, I think. My head is still killing me.”

“You can have more medicine in an hour.”

She nods, then brings both hands up under her chin and continues to stare at me.

“Your bed is nice.”

“I know.” I turn over on my side, mimicking her body language. I reach out and press the back of my hand to her forehead. She’s still warm.

“Aren’t you afraid I’m going to get you sick?”

“Nah. My immune system is good.”

“People always say that right before they get sick.” Her lashes flutter closed for a moment and then reopen.

“I’m sorry we had to leave the ball early,” she says.

“Don’t worry about it. Besides, you sold me so hard to Kai, he already reached out to James.”

“You got an offer?” she asks, eyes widening with excitement.

“Not yet, but James seems to think they will if I’m able to come back this season and put up the same kind of numbers as last year.”

“When.”

“What?” I ask.

“When you’re back putting up those numbers. There’s no if about it. You’re a legend. That’s the one thing Kai got right.”

One side of my lips pulls up. Everly has never been one to bullshit me, so her faith in me means more than she could know.

She sits up to take a drink of water and then lies back down, pulling one of the pillows to her chest and hugging it as she gets comfortable again.

“Seriously. This bed is really comfortable.” She grins. “And it smells like you. Warm leather and spice with a hint of something clean like Downy fabric softener.”

“I think it might be time for you to go back to sleep,” I say.

“I’m not tired.”

“Your body can recover better the more you rest.”

“You’re good at taking care of people.”

“Only when they listen to me.”

Her smile inches higher. “How come you don’t do serious relationships?”

The question takes me by surprise, and I shrug. “I date when it fits into my schedule.”

“That is so not romantic.”

“But it’s practical. I don’t have a lot of time or energy for anyone besides the team during the season.”

“Other guys make it work.”

She isn’t wrong, but my job is to make their lives simple so they can do things like that.

“I know you and I are just…whatever, but you’re good at this. You should do it more. The team will be okay. You don’t have to give all of yourself to hockey to be a legend. You can make room for other things.”

My chest tightens at her words. I want to believe she’s right, but letting the guys down is a fear that isn’t so easily wiped away.

I clear my throat. “What about you?”

“I don’t know. It isn’t like I’m opposed to a serious relationship. I’ve seen how good it can be. Tyler and Piper are as in love today as they were when they were teenagers. Ash and Bridget are so perfect for each other it’s hard to imagine a time when they weren’t together. Declan would do anything for Jade, and Scarlett and Leo make out like they just met. I don’t know…” She trails off. “It makes it hard to sit across from guys who can barely fake interest in getting to know me long enough to finish dinner.”

“I get that.”

“You do?”

“Sure. I can’t deny that relationships like that exist.”

“You just don’t think you’re cut out for it?”

I ignore her question because I don’t know the answer anymore. “There are lots of guys who want to get to know you. Maybe you’re just hanging out with the wrong ones.

”

“Like you?”

“I want to know you.” I brush a strand of hair off her flushed skin.

“You already do. Sometimes I think you know what I’ll say or do better than I do.” She yawns but covers it with a hand and then smiles sleepily before she asks, “When you’re done playing hockey, what will you do?”

“I’ll be a grumpy, retired hockey player.”

She giggles. Fuck I love that sound. I shoot her a sly smile.

“It’s the only thing I ever wanted.”

“Really? But you have so many other things. Endorsements, charities, the club. I figured you’d focus on one of those.”

“Maybe. I’m not sure.”

“When I was a kid, I changed my mind about what I wanted to be when I grew up weekly. Even now, half the time I waver between certainty and what the hell am I doing when I think about a career. That’s not normal, is it?”

“I’m probably not the guy to ask since my career ambitions are singular.”

“Nothing else? Not even a police officer or a firefighter?” she asks as she studies me. “I thought all guys went through a hero phase.”

“Hockey players are heroes.”

She stares at me with a blank expression until I smile, then she bursts out laughing. I should probably feel a little offended that she thinks my job isn’t as cool as others, but I’m too focused on how good it feels to see her smile and hear her laugh.

I should tell her to go to sleep, but I’m enjoying this too much. I could lie here, talking and staring at her forever.

Everly reaches out with a hand and runs a finger down the sleeve of tattoos on my right arm. “Is it finished?

”

“I have one spot left.” I turn my arm so she can see the area on the inside of my bicep.

“What’s going there?”

“I don’t know yet. I’m waiting for inspiration.”

She grins, then yawns again.

“You should get some sleep,” I say reluctantly. “Me too. Brian will be by early.”

She smirks. “How’s that going?”

“Good,” I admit. “Now that he’s not hitting on you.”

“I can’t believe you fired him.”

“I didn’t like the way he looked at you.”

“How’d he look at me?”

“Like he wanted what was mine.”

“Yours, huh?”

Fuck. She’s not mine, at least not in the way that sounded. She’s mine for a short period of time. Once summer is over, she’ll leave, and I’ll go back to my usual routine. Dating when it works in my schedule and focusing on hockey the rest of the time.

I thread my fingers through her hair and draw her closer to me, dropping a kiss on her forehead before I pull back. She’s got me wrapped so tightly around her finger. I like being in control, of myself and my relationships, but Everly seems to thrive on upending that control.

I keep waiting for her to realize that maybe this isn’t a good idea, but so far all I’ve done is convince myself that maybe it is.

Two days pass while Everly fights off a fever. She stays at my house and we binge-watch TV and talk into the late hours of the night while I feed her medicine and make sure she drinks lots of fluids. I put off training with Brian all weekend to look after her, but Monday I decide it’s time to get back to it, now that Everly’s feeling better.

She left, much to my dismay, to do her house-sitting rounds, and it feels weird being away from her for this long.

I’m just finishing up with physical therapy when my phone rings. I lean over to silence the call, but then have second thoughts when I see it’s Tyler. A dozen questions race through my mind. Why is he calling? Is Everly okay? Does he know about us?

I admit I’ve done a stellar job of pushing Tyler out of my mind while spending time with his little sister.

“I gotta take this,” I tell Brian. “Thanks for today. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah. No problem.” He starts to pack up his equipment and I hit accept on the call.

Forcing some calm into my tone, I say, “Hey. What’s up?”

“Not too much.” He doesn’t sound angry so that’s reassuring. “How’s the knee?”

“Pretty good. I’m just finishing up PT for the day. Doctor thinks I’ll be ready in time for camp.”

“That’s great news.” The excitement in his voice matches mine. I still have a long way to go, but I’m getting there. I won’t stop until I’m back better than ever.

“Yeah,” I say. “It is. How’s vacation with the family?”

“Good. Charlotte loves the beach. She and Piper are out there now actually. They’re in their element.”

“And you?”

“I like the beach, but not as much as I’m enjoying sleeping in.”

I chuckle quietly, and he continues, “I have a full gym here though and I’ve been skating a couple of times a week.”

I get the sense he’s trying to reassure me he’s not slacking in the off-season. A lot of guys make huge improvements during their time off, but Ty is one of the most dedicated players I know. It never crossed my mind to worry about him slacking this summer.

“That’s great. The season will be here before we know it.”

“Yeah.”

There’s a short silence while I wait for him to tell me the reason he’s calling. Neither of us are big on idle chitchat. We’re friends, but we don’t call each other to bullshit. Unless this is a check up call.

“Need something or is this just part of an emergency phone chain to make sure I’m not sitting around feeling sorry for myself?”

“Nah.” He chuckles. “We gave up on that when you stopped answering our calls.”

“I answered today.”

“Which is how I know you aren’t still moping around.”

“I wasn’t moping. Did Ash say I was moping? I’m going to kick his ass when he gets back.”

He’s still laughing quietly at me, and the sound is a reminder of how much I miss my teammates. It’s the first summer they’ve all left. Usually one or two stick around and we get together to work out and skate, occasionally hit up the bars together. But now that they’re married and starting families, things are different.

“No, I was calling about Ev.”

The panic I was feeling earlier resurfaces. Why is he calling me about his sister?

“What about her?” I ask carefully.

“Have you seen her around at all?” he asks, then adds. “She’s barely returning my texts lately. I must have texted her a dozen times last night and she didn’t respond to any. Not even when I sent a picture of Charlotte. She always replies to cute baby pics.”

I chuckle softly, then remember where she was last night. With me. “Using the baby. Smart.”

“Yeah.” He tries to laugh, but it’s forced.

“I’m sure she’s fine. I wouldn’t worry.”

“You’re right. Fuck. I hate being so far away from her. Have you seen her at all this summer?”

I breathe a sigh of relief, but only for a moment because the very woman he’s calling about walks outside in a bikini that is meant to make men fall at her knees. Which is exactly what I’m considering doing.

“Yeah, I’ve seen her.” Fuck me, have I seen her. The top of her bikini stretches over her full tits, and I know just how they look and taste. The weeks spent in the sun have left her skin tan and her blonde hair lighter. She has the sassy glint in her eye that was missing while she was sick. I’m relieved to see her back to normal.

“Hey!” Brian is way too fucking happy to see her. Everly’s lips twist into a smirk at me before she walks over to him. I’m going to regret telling her I didn’t like him looking at her.

“She actually just showed up here,” I say before Ty hears her voice and my cover is blown.

“Everly is there?” he asks; the question has a hint of accusation in it, or maybe that’s just my guilty conscience.

“Yeah, she’s been coming by to use my pool.”

He laughs, short and loud. “That sounds about right.”

“Who’s she talking to?” Tyler asks.

“My trainer.” My jaw clenches. “He has a thing for her.”

It’s a struggle to multitask, listening to Tyler on the phone and shooting a glare at Brian, while simultaneously admiring Everly in that damn bikini.

“Well, that would explain why she’s been MIA.”

“What do you mean?”

“She’s obviously found a new guy and is too busy to text me back,” he says.

“I don’t think she’s into him.”

When Everly finally steps away from Brian, he finally leaves. Good thing. I’d hate to fire him again. Ev glances over at me hesitantly, like she thinks I’m on some important call and wants to give me space, when really, I’m sweating bullets while talking with her brother.

“Ty.” I mouth to her.

Her brows lift but she heads my way.

“It all adds up,” Tyler says. “Her coming over to your house to use the pool and conveniently bumping into him. Plus, not having time for her brother.”

I do not like that summary at all, even if I know it’s not accurate.

“Will you keep an eye on her for me?” he asks.

I open my mouth but the only sound that comes out is a strained, hesitant, “Umm…”

“I know you two have had your differences, but I really hate not being there to check in on her.”

She’s standing close enough now that I can smell her sunscreen mixed with my body wash. I like that she smells like me.

“Ev doesn’t need or want me to keep an eye on her,” I say to him, grinning at her.

She rolls her eyes.

I pull the phone away from my ear and hold it out to her in invitation. She shakes her head adamantly. Interesting. They’ve always been tight, but I guess he isn’t making up that she’s been avoiding him.

I place the phone back to my ear in time to hear him say, “What’s she doing? Can I talk to her?”

“She’s about to get into the pool and I’m about to work out. I’ll let her know you called though.” A small white lie. I do need to finish working out and she’ll most likely get in the pool at some point.

“Thank you.” The relief in his tone makes my guilt double. “She hasn’t seemed like herself lately. She doesn’t even sound that excited about her internship.”

I think back to the night at the club when she and her friends talked about the internship. She was more reserved than her friends, but that could be for a lot of reasons.

“She’s probably just nervous,” I say as Everly rests one hand on my arm. Goosebumps dot my skin as she circles behind me, dragging her nails up my bicep to my shoulder. She stops behind me and presses her tits against my back. Her hand comes around my front and those claws trace the muscles of my stomach, dropping lower and lower.

“Ev?” Tyler asks, tone filled with disbelief. “Doesn’t sound like her.”

It takes a minute for me to remember what the hell we’re even talking about, but when I do, I have to agree with him. He’s right. It’s hard to picture Everly being that nervous about anything. She’s fearless and headstrong. And holy shit, topless.

I cough and then clear my throat as she steps back in front of me and drops her bikini top to the ground. She has a devilish glint in her eyes that makes my dick perk right up. We spent the past two days cuddled up together with our clothes on. Me, cuddling. A novelty for sure. It was fun, but damn, she’s sexy. I missed my temptress.

“You don’t think this guy, your trainer, is the reason she’s acting weird, do you? Maybe she doesn’t want to leave him.”

“No,” I say, voice hard as I shake my head at Everly.

“Are you sure?” Tyler asks.

Fuck. I can barely listen to him as her palm rests on my chest. Her fingers glide down over my stomach and then into my shorts. I clench my teeth as she wraps her fingers around me.

“Sure about what?” I manage to ask him.

She’s pumping me slowly, looking up at me with those big, hazel eyes. The wicked tilt of her smile alone has my pulse racing and my cock aching. I press my mouth to hers and then nip at her bottom lip in warning.

A warning she doesn’t heed. Instead, she drops to her knees and pulls my shorts and boxers down. My dick springs free and I’m so hard that the slight breeze in the yard makes me suck air through my teeth.

Tyler is talking, saying something about Everly and Brian, but all my attention is on the woman in front of me as she leans in and licks my cock from base to tip.

“I gotta go,” I say, cutting him off mid-sentence. “Something just came up.”

It’s me. I’m up. And Jesus Christ…she takes me into her mouth inch by inch until I hit the back of her throat.

“Okay, but don’t forget to tell Ev to call me.”

“Yeah, sure, I’ll…” Oh fuck. “I’ll check on that.” I hang up without hearing Tyler’s reply. Am I the asshole? The answer is unequivocally yes, but what’s worse: talking to him while his sister has my dick in her mouth or hanging up on him so I can fuck her mouth?

“You’re evil.” I toss my phone onto the workout mat and dig my hands into her hair.

Evil but fucking perfect. I can’t get enough of it. All of it. Her teasing, her laughter, her default stubborn and sassy attitude, and the way she goes soft under my touch.

I let her keep the pace but encourage her to take me deeper. She swallows me inch by inch until I hit the back of her throat. She gags and her eyes water.

Fuck me. Pleasure rolls through me wave after wave. Before Everly, I went months without being with a woman, but it was worth the wait for this. For her.

Her tongue swirls around the head and she bobs faster, taking me deep each time. When my grip tightens in her hair, she moans and the vibrations send another dizzying wave of pleasure through my entire body.

Damn this woman.

“So fucking beautiful on your knees. So perfect.” My words are gentle as I take over, using my hold in her hair to drag her off my cock and then stuff her mouth full again.

“You like driving me wild, don’t you?”

Her response is to suck so hard her cheeks hollow out. The suction is divine.

“Don’t you know you already do that without being on your knees?” I run my thumb along her cheek. “But since you’re down there, I’m gonna fuck that gorgeous mouth.”

Her hazel eyes spark with lust. I’m not gentle and neither is she. She has her claws in the back of my thighs, holding me to her like that’s fucking necessary. Not with her looking so perfect. Looking so much like mine.

“I’m gonna come,” I warn through gritted teeth. I fight it off, wanting to live in this moment, but it’s been too long since I’ve gotten off with anything but my own hand .

She doesn’t pull back or heed my warning. She grips me tighter and swirls her tongue until stars explode behind my eyes. The force of my orgasm nearly takes me down. My legs wobble but I manage to stay upright with the grip I have on her hair.

“Fuck, baby,” I groan as she swallows every last drop before she slides slowly off me. I pull her to her feet and crash my mouth down on hers.

“Jack.” She moans as I drive my tongue deep into her mouth and pick her up. This thing between us was supposed to be temporary, but it’s quickly turning into a deep, soul-aching need to never let her go. Her arms go around my neck and her bare tits press against my chest as I walk over to the outdoor couch. I place her on it, then drape one of her legs over my shoulder.

I push her bikini bottoms to the side to reveal her wet pussy. She gasps as I lick along her slit.

Her fingers tangle in my hair and she rubs her pussy over my mouth.

“That’s right. Take what you need from me.” I insert one finger inside her as she keeps pushing her clit into my tongue. I suck and lick and feast on her. I drive her as wild as she drives me. I don’t know how we got here but I feel the strangest sense of foreboding, even though I’ve never been happier. Maybe it’s the reminder that she’s only mine for a short time. She wasn’t supposed to get so far under my skin.

By the time she cries out my name, I’m ready to go again.

“Holy shit.” She flings a hand over her head as she catches her breath. “That was…”

“Yep,” I say, falling to the ground in front of the couch and mirroring her position. “It sure was.”

She rolls carefully down onto me. We’re both sweaty, but damn she feels good. My dick twitches to be inside her, but I don’t want to rush things. Not with her.

“We should clean up,” I say.

“I have an idea.” She stands and takes my hands in an attempt to pull me up. I give in and help her, then she leads me to the side of the pool.

“I’ve never skinny-dipped in my pool before.”

“I have.” She pulls me with her into the pool.

“When?” I demand as soon as we both come up from under the water.

“Not here. I just meant in general. I have skinny-dipped. You?” Her legs circle around my waist and she pushes back her hair as she draws our bodies back together. Like maybe she can’t get enough of me either. Her lips are puffy and I decide it’s the way I like them best. Puffy from my cock and my kisses.

“Sure. When I was younger.”

“Because you’re so old.”

“Some days I feel like it.”

She runs her fingers through my wet hair. A contented sigh slips from my lips at the simple touch.

“What’d Ty want?” she asks.

“Oh, now you’re interested in talking to him.”

She rolls her eyes. “I wasn’t uninterested in talking to him. I was just more interested in torturing you.”

I let out a low growl as I take her mouth again. “God, you’re trouble.”

She giggles into the kiss.

“Still feeling okay?”

“Yes.” She smiles and rolls her eyes. “I told you. I’m all better. You cured me.”

Taking care of her wasn’t exactly a hardship.

When we eventually get out of the pool and dry off, Everly says, “I’m starving. Do you want to grab lunch?”

“I need to get in my conditioning workout first.”

“Okay. I’ll wait.” She drops the towel, showing off her bare tits. I find her top and toss it at her.

“Are you sure you want me to put this on?”

I pull on my boxers and shorts. “No, but James is due back today or tomorrow, and I’d rather be the only one you’re giving a show.”

“What happened to just beating people up that look at me?”

“Sadly, I can’t punch James. It’s in his contract.”

She laughs, then stops when I don’t join in.

“Seriously?”

I’d never hit him, but I have considered it on numerous occasions when he sends bullshit emails and documents that I don’t feel like dealing with. With a wink I head inside with my phone.

There’s only one text and no surprise it’s from Tyler.

Tyler Sorry for bothering you again. Just wanted to say thank you for keeping an eye out on Everly for me.

Me No need to thank me.

In fact, please don’t, then I’ll feel less like an asshole.

Tyler She’s not acting like herself lately and I’m worried she’s going to bail on this internship. You don’t think things with the trainer could be serious, right?

Me Nah, I don’t think so.

I stop in the kitchen, staring down at our messages. My immediate thought to Everly not acting like herself is fuck no, but the more I consider it, the less sure I am.

Is she seriously considering staying because of me? It seems out of character for her but if she’s feeling even a fraction of what I am, then maybe it’s not so far-fetched. I feel sick at the prospect. I know how hard she’s worked over the years. She wouldn’t throw that away.

That would be a mistake, even if I don’t want her to go. I was joking about feeling old, but more than ten years separate us. Ten really critical years. She has so much life to still live, and I’m set in my life and career. It wouldn’t be fair to her. Not when we’ve barely spent any time exploring whatever this is between us.

Tyler Anyway, don’t tell her I was checking in on her. It’ll just make her pull away from me more and I don’t want to risk her getting mad and doing something dumb like bailing on the internship. She has so much potential. I just know she’s going to do amazing things.

I glance out the window at her. So full of life and excitement. He’s right. She has so much to look forward to, and unfortunately, none of it is here in my backyard.