Evolve Series Box Set (7 page)

“Dad, guys notice her now. Girls notice me now. She will never be out of my mind. I want Laney, only Laney.”

“Yeah, I know. Now go tell her.”

CHAPTER 10

Backburner

***Laney***

I may be almost nineteen years old and about to start college, but The Fox and the Hound is a classic, and this really is therapeutic; anything Disney is, really. I can’t even begin to count how many times I’ve made Evan sit through this movie; basically anytime he’d screwed up and I felt he needed a reminder of friendship. Right now I’m watching to remind myself. Oh, here it comes…

“Copper, you’re my best friend.”

“And you’re mine too, Tod.”

“And we’ll always be friends forever. Won’t we?”

“Yeah, forever.”

Wait for it, wait for it….and there’s the tears.

I can’t fight with Evan.

In a few weeks he’ll be gone. There’s no way I’m spending our dwindling time together fighting. Time right now is precious. He is precious. I’m not too proud to extend the branch first, but I’m snuggly, so a text will have to do.

Laney: Hey Tod

….oh I know he got it, the text and the reference. Is he really ignoring—

Evan: Hey Copper

Laney: You’re my best friend

Evan: And you are mine, and so much more, forever

Laney: Where are you?

Evan: Sitting under your window

Laney: Creeper

Evan: Guilty

Laney: Movie?

Evan: Open up

The window isn’t locked and he knows it. He chastises me for it constantly, but I’m actually proud he held out for once and let me come to him. I want things to be okay so badly. I hate fighting with him and feeling insecure, but I couldn’t live through him cheating on me.

Cheating is more than betrayal. It’s letting a selfish, physical need take over with blatant disregard for the other person’s feelings, as if they’re of no value. If Evan ever treated me with that type of disrespect, it would change us forever. It would hurt way more than this.

Do I want to think of him with another girl? Hell no. But thinking of him not caring if he hurts me, even for the few minutes it takes to get to the goal line hurts much worse. If we’re not “together,” not only is he not physically cheating, he’s not emotionally cheating…the ultimate deal breaker for me.

I scoot over and make room for him, pulling down the covers. “Evan, I don’t want to fight with you. I don’t want to hurt you. I don’t want you to hurt me. Please say we’re okay.”

I feel him sigh, reaching out his arm so I can snuggle in against him. He’s so warm and solid; this is the best spot in the whole world.

“This is all because I broke a promise to you. I’ve never broken a promise to you and this is why; look at us. I’m supposed to be with you, I said I would be.” He looks so sad and broken. “Laneybaby, I’m so sorry I walked away. I just had to make sense of what you said and how it made me feel. All I heard was that you don’t trust me, but I realize you were saying that you do trust me, enough to tell me your fears. Maybe you were a little harsh.” He smiles slightly, but not a real smile. He props up on one elbow, looking down at me lovingly, desperately. “I get what you’re saying, Laney, I do. There’ll be girls and parties, but there’ll be boys and parties where you are, too. All I can tell you, with all my heart, is that there is only one you. I’d never risk this; us.”

God, he’s amazing. I know he believes everything he just said, and I know he’d die before he consciously hurt me, but girls can be persuasive and so damn manipulative. Alcohol and college are the matches to their gasoline.

“Not everyone leaves for good, Laney. Not your dad and not me. Life doesn’t overwhelm us all. It throws snags, but we’ll deal, together, like we always have.”

He’s right, he’s not a runner. Maybe I’m overreacting and imagining the worst.

“You know what, Ev, can we just forget I said anything? We’ve still got weeks left before it’s even an issue, and maybe all the girls there will be really ugly.”

He laughs and places a kiss on my forehead. “We’ll curb it for now, cause I’ve got time left to show you I belong to only you. Prepare to be wooed and subdued,” he says with my smile, half love and respect of a best friend, the other half love and sultriness of my man and forever; the smile only for me.

“Woman, you went a lil’ crazy, so you know I’m picking the movie, right?”

“As long as it’s in this room, pick away.” Like he’d leave this room right now, surely he’s not dying to tell my dad how he missed using the front door. Oh yeah, Evan, you da man. Pick the movie, Mister All Powerful, cause you win.

I don’t even ask—he chooses Robin Hood. He thinks it’s the “manliest” of my collection. I try to hold my eyes open, memorizing how often he breathes, the sound when he blinks, the exact speed he rubs my arm…but soon I am asleep.

CHAPTER 11

Exploration

***Laney***

Summer is bliss as Evan and I spend every second we can together. We fish a lot, lay out by the lake, and look up at the stars. Our slumber parties are a nightly occurrence. Tonight when he shows up, I have big plans of my own. His text pulls me out of mentally writing “Make Your Move for Dummies.”

Evan: Hey Sugar Bear. Leaving gym, home 2 shower, then b there. Maybe 1 hr.

Laney: Hurry…safely.

Evan: Why, what’s up?

Laney: Lil chilly in this outfit. Need snuggled.

Look at me, all suggestive siren. I can’t very well send him to the University of Orgy without some clue of what he’s missing.

My phone starts ringing, “Ho Hey” by The Lumineers. It’s our matching ringtone that Evan picked out. It only plays when we call each other.

“Hello?”

“Woman, you can’t be telling me stuff like that over text when I’ve gotta drive to you. You trying to kill me?” He’s actually groaning out his words.

Hearing him so worked up sends goosebumps across my skin. “Oh, I’m sorry, my bad. I didn’t think of that.” Lie. I’m kinda good at this game.

“What are you doing right now? Where’s my Laney?” His soft chuckle sends warmth throughout me.

“She’s right here, under her covers, all chilly and lonely.” That was my best innocently sexy voice, which I didn’t even know I possessed.

“I’m hanging up now, baby. I’m gonna run off the road. See you in just a bit.”

Oh Lord, now I actually have to face the music. I’m sooo scandalous! Bout time!

I jump out of bed and quickly brush my teeth, spray on some body mist and brush out my hair. I take one last look at my new ensemble; boy cut pink sleep shorts and a matching cami. I almost put it back at the store, losing my nerve, but I’ve got a point to make.

***

“Hey, sleepyhead.”

I rub my eyes, waiting for them to readjust to the dim light. I must have dozed off waiting for him, but his sweet, throaty words in my ear, his arms around me, and his body pressed against mine from behind is a welcome wake-up call.

I roll over to look at him, shaggy brown hair still wet from his shower and latent heat in his blue eyes. “Hey, sorry, I fell asleep.”

“Don’t be sorry, I love sleepy Laney. I missed you.” He rubs his nose along mine; I love it when he does that. How will I live without this? No, stop that.

“I missed you, too.”

“Mmmm, good. Gimme some sugar.”

I smirk and lean in, placing a silky kiss on his lips. He groans, running his long fingers through my hair and sucking my bottom lip eagerly.

“By the way, loving the new pajamas, baby girl.” His hands explore timidly, feathering across arms and back, slipping lower with each sweep.

“Ah Laney, damn,” he grumbles as I pull away and place wet, open-mouthed kisses along his neck.

That voice of his, so sensual, does things to me and I know he feels my nipples harden against his chest. I run my hands under his t-shirt and over his rock hard abs, slowly making my way up his chest. God, he has a nice body, touching it burns me from the inside out. My hand tugs on the hem of his shirt.

“Off, now,” I breathe out.

He moves to pull it off from behind his neck, such a provocative move. I’ll have to work on my girl equivalent. He’s looking at me through heavy lids and smoky, carnal eyes; ones I’ve never seen, but like. I know he’s dying to touch me, but would never do so on his own. I have to give him the okay.

“Evan?”

“Hmmm?”

“Touch me.”

He sucks in a deep, ragged breath, his nostrils flaring just before the corner of his mouth turns up in a sexy, one-sided grin. It’s the most arousing expression I’ve ever seen and it does crazy things to my lady parts. My thighs clench together. I’m surprised and eager to learn more about our bodies tonight.

“Laney, you’d tell me if someone gave you some weird pill right?”

Oh my God, he thinks I’ve been roofied? My brows scrunch at his crazy question.

“Kidding! I just…you’re just acting different.” His expression is confusing. Is he lusting or actually worried I may need my stomach pumped?

“You don’t like it?” Oh God, I’m not seductive, I’m silly… I’m not good at this. My cheeks burn and I pull back in embarrassment.

“Oh, I like it.” He tugs me back against his chest, my body melting to his whisper along my neck.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. You’re the sexiest girl in the world, Laney.”

“Then hush and show me.”

His fingers delicately trace my neck, rubbing down to my shoulder, while the other hand grips my hip. His pinky sneaks between my cami and skin, sending a delicious zing of goosebumps in its wake.

“Oh yeah, love the outfit.” His kiss grows deeper, devouring my whole mouth. His tongue caresses everywhere before sucking mine, nipping my lip. It’s a kiss unlike any we’ve shared. He moves a strap down and begins to kiss along my shoulder, to my neck, and back again. His other hand has moved under the cami completely and rests right below my breast. The willpower on this boy!

“It’s okay, Evan,” my voice cracks through my heated panting.

“What’s that, baby?” His breath scorches my skin.

“More,” I sigh.

He runs his nose along my shoulder and moves his hand up slowly to cup my bare breast. I feel him tremble, so I run one foot up his leg and wrap around his hip, embracing him. We have now officially entered new territory; this is the farthest we’ve ever gone. Thank God I didn’t sprinkle breadcrumbs, cause I never want to find my way back.

CHAPTER 12

Savor

***Evan***

Sweet mother of…I’ve clearly died and gone to heaven. I’ve never experienced anything as wonderful in my life as Laney, bare skin, flushed and wanting. Her lil pink outfit, hard nipples, and sexy whispers are more than any man can take. Her perfect breast in my hand is the hottest thing I’ve ever touched, and that leg wrapped around me…Lord help me. My sweet lil Laney is a hot seductress and she’s all mine, untouched by anyone but me, ever.

I have to have more or I’m gonna explode, so I move to take her shirt off slowly, giving her time to stop me if she wants. My girl leans up to help and looks at me with those innocent, big brown eyes, a slight blush on her cheeks. She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen and I love her. I love her so much I can barely breathe. It’s like staring at the sun and trying not to turn away.

Leaning down, I brush my lips across one nipple, light pink and perfect, hardened to a tight peak all for me. My touch; I do this to her. She moves her hands into my hair roughly and pulls my face tighter to her, arching her back, pushing herself further into my mouth. She moans long and soft as I suck on her harder, kneading her other breast with my hand, a perfect fit. Her other leg goes around my hip and she grips tight, bless those softball muscles, and then she starts to grind. My Laney…starts to grind.

Oh God…think of something else…do not lose it and end this now. The heat of her seers through the thin layers of our pajamas as I slowly start to move my hand down along her toned, flat stomach. I feel the quivering, so I pull from her nipple and ask, “You okay, baby? Too much?”

She lays before me, pink cheeked. Her long blonde hair is spread around her; she looks like a dream. Topless, breathing hard with her eyes closed; the sight unnerves me.

“Look at me, Laney.”

She slowly opens her eyes and connects with mine. There she is…

“Tell me what you want.”

“Touch me, Evan. Please, now.” No sweeter words have ever been spoken.

Give. Me. Strength.

I slide my hand beneath her shorts, kissing her neck, sucking her ear, breathing in her scent. I’m dizzy and physically anguished I’m so hard, but this is about Laney, emerging, just for me.

That first touch, her first touch, all mine. My hand gently slides down beneath her panties, feathering light touches against her untouched treasure.

“Oh God, Evan,” she moans and digs her fingers into my hair, kissing me with a desperate need I’ve never seen from her.

“You’re so perfect,” I whisper on her lips.

“Mmmmm, we’re always perfect together,” she purrs.

Damn, my little beginner is good with the pillow talk. I continue with the gentle caresses, slow and savoring, but she tells me with her grip and moans; my lil tiger wants more. I give it to her, and watch in awe as she soon comes apart on my hand. Her breathing calms slowly and she finally opens her eyes, giving me the sweetest smile.