Page 115 of A Little Jaded
He lets my chin go and hangs his head. “I was wrong. So fucking wrong, Raine.”
I can taste his regret. His remorse. It’s sharp and pungent and makes me want to cry. Or maybe it’s my own guilt I taste. My own shame for being in this situation in the first place. For putting him in this situation when it’s the last thing he ever deserved.
“Were you?” I whisper. “Were you wrong?”
He looks up at me again. “Do you really not see how strong you are? Raine, you dated an asshole, decided to leave, and he hit you. You then found someone willing to help, approached them, and got out.”
“I should’ve seen the signs, though,” I argue.
“Yeah, and I should’ve seen how I was overstepping my bounds with Dylan…foryears,” he emphasizes. “And if Dylan won’t hold it against me, then you’re not allowed to hold your own shit against yourself, either.”
“Pretty sure it’s different,” I point out.
“Pretty sure it isn’t. But you’re right about one thing. I do have a hero complex. And I do feel the need to protect my mom and my sister and you.”
“Ev,” I breathe out.
“But it isn’t because you’re a victim. It’s because I care about you, and no matter how much I try, I know it isn’t something I can just…shut off, so I hope you can cut me some slack every once in a while. All right? Because I sure as shit am not letting you go. Do you hear me?”
I scowl at him before my expression softens, and I nod. “I hear you.”
“Good.”
“Can I ask you something else?” I push.
He sighs. “Depends. Is it gonna piss me off?”
“Maybe.” My mouth curves up for the smallest of seconds but I quickly sober. “Your mom asked if I take care of you,too, and…I don’t know. I guess it got me thinking… Do I?” My brows wrinkle as I consider her question for what feels like the thousandth time tonight. “You’re so…strong. And I don’t mean only physically.” My mouth lifts again, and I meet his gaze. “I mean in every way, Ev. You’re like this…this giant protector. And I dunno, I…I started thinking about how orifit’s even possible for me to take care of you the same way you take care of me, you know?” I suck my bottom lip between my teeth and bite down hard, analyzing every single moment we’ve shared together since we first met. “Relationships are a two-way street, and I feel like you’re always swooping in to take care of me. Even today, you swooped in and threatened to beat the shit out of a random guy. Like who does that?” I shake my head and raise my hand to stop him from interrupting me. “You’re always the first to make sure I'm safe and well-fed and happy and warm and…I want to deserve you.”
“Fucking hell, Storm,” he rasps. Reaching out, he grabs the side of my face and brings me closer, pressing his forehead against mine. “You have no idea how incredible you are. How you make me stronger every single moment of every single day. You’re patient and kind and talented and fucking beautiful. You see past my asshole behavior and make me smile, Storm. You make me smile more than anyone else in the world. You give me purpose. Support. Hell, you came to a game I know you wanted nothing to do with. You…” Those icy blue eyes bounce around my face. “You’re my girl, Storm.Mine.”
I continue leaning over the center console and lift my chin, silently begging for a kiss. He meets me halfway without hesitation. And it’s silly. Because we didn’t even have a fight, but this still feels like a makeup kiss. Like I could’ve lost him. Like I almost let him go under the guise of protecting him from himself. From his own obligations. From the way he looks at everything and everyone aroundhim. Like it’s his job to step up. To be enough. To become the rock. Is it so wrong for me to want to do the same for him?
I kiss him gently, pinning his bottom lip between mine, and suck on the plump flesh softly. It pulls a groan from Everett’s chest and spurs me on. Reaching up, I let his stubbled jaw tickle my fingertips. Then, I grab his shoulder and use it for leverage while I climb over the center console and deepen the kiss.
“What are you doing?” he rasps against my lips.
“Proving I’m yours.” My mouth is on his again, and his hands find my ass, cupping my upper thighs and turning me on even more.
It’s dark. We’re in the middle of nowhere. And I can’t help but want to take this to the next level. To see if I can convince him to let go of his control a little more. Not gonna lie, though. It's squishy. Like, super squishy. Rolling my hips against him, I suck on his tongue and tug at the short hair at the nape of his neck. The denim of my jeans rubs against my clit. It’s like a spark on a puddle of gasoline, and Everett’s strong hands tighten, pushing me against the edge of his cock.
“Fuck, Storm,” he groans.
“Get in the back with me.”
He smirks. “Is that a request?”
“Either that or you get a blow job while I get off on my fingers?—”
His groan cuts me off, and he leans his head against the headrest. “Fuck. Storm.”
“You like the imagery?” I nip at his bottom lip, ignoring the way my own pulse ratchets at the thought of it.
Opening his eyes again, he kisses me. Hard. Swallowing my moan as he thrusts his tongue in and out of my mouth like it’s his thick cock nestled between my legs.
Dammit. I could seriously get off like this, and we’re bothstill fully clothed. It’s torture. Freaking torture. But I can’t make myself stop. I want him. Mind. Body. Soul. I want every piece he’s willing to give, well aware of how many of mine he’s already collected over the past few weeks. Honestly, it almost isn’t fair. How much of me he owns. And even though I should be terrified, the warning bells are growing softer and softer with every kiss. Every touch. Every smile. Every confirmation I’m safe with him. He would never hurt me. Not intentionally.
With a loud thwack, his palm connects with my butt, and I yelp.