Embracing Series Box Set #1-6

by Delisa Lynn

  “I’m not sure yet. I really don’t want to go back home. I know my roommates will be leaving to head back to their families. I may just stay and play at Zeb’s every night,” I say with a wink.

  “Evan, you can’t spend the holiday alone. You should be with your family and friends. I love to help my mom cook, and Addie and I always go shopping while the guys watch football.” She smiles.

  “We’ll see. I may go home. I know my folks would like it if I did,” I say, trying to hide the fact that I don’t want to go. I don’t know why I’m letting what Bryn did to me make me hate going home. Everything in Utah screams Bryn and baby.

  I drop Lila off and try to convince her to stay in New York for the holidays. She just laughs and gives me a quick hug. As we part, I kiss her cheek.

  Chapter Ten

  Evan

  It’s been weeks since I spoke to Tatum. With her, it’s like our relationship is just on borrowed time. I’m still worried about her, though. I asked Zander if she was doing okay. He said she’s insisting that she’s fine even though he thinks otherwise.

  Lila and I have been getting closer. I wish she wasn’t going home for break. Hell, I would love to stay cooped up with her all weekend.

  Me: Hey beautiful, are you sure you don’t want to just stay with me all weekend? I will be lonely.

  Lila: Sorry, but no! You will have Brody!

  Me: He isn’t as pretty as you are.

  Lila: I will be back soon!

  I pack my bags. I’m either going home or to the farm. I still haven’t decided. On my way to see what Brody is doing, my phone rings. I don’t even look at it. I assume it’s Lila because she was just texting me.

  “Hello, darlin’. You change your mind?”

  “Change my mind about what, Evan?”

  “Oh, hey Tatum. Everything okay? I thought you were someone else.”

  “Will you please come home with Zander? I miss you and want to see you. I think we should talk.”

  “I guess I could. I’ll see you soon.”

  “Yay, thank you. Be careful, love you.”

  “Love you too, Ta.”

  I’ve never told Zan exactly how I feel for his sister. Of course he would rather see her with me than Thayer.

  “Hey, Brody.” I sit next to him on the couch. “I think I’m just going to head out with Zander. I would like to see my grandparents.”

  “Evan, I know you aren’t going to see Pap and Gran. It’s Tatum Kelley who you really want to see. You can’t fool me, bro.”

  I run my hands through my hair and look at my best friend. He’s right. I’m going to see her. I can’t believe I am, considering how hard I tried to get her out of my mind.

  “Man, you are so right. Between her and Lila, my mind is going crazy! I’m chasing them both around. Hell, I haven’t been laid in months. I just don’t know where the fuck I stand with either of them.”

  Brody cocks his head back and laughs. “Well, you need to figure out what you want or see what the hell kind of games they are playing. I’m telling you, Lila has a dude. I guess he was here a couple weeks ago. Nikki didn’t see him, but he was at the townhouse with Lila.”

  She fucked her boyfriend, then hung out with me?

  “All right, man. I have a plane to catch. I will see you next week. I’ll go see your parents too.”

  “Thanks, Brody. Have a safe flight,” I say as he walks out the door. I’m waiting for Zander. He’s with Audrey. The two of them are on one day, off the next. She has him wrapped around her finger.

  ***

  I love seeing the look on my gran’s face when I walk into the house. I hadn’t told her I would be coming this year. Now she’s back in the kitchen, baking pies, just as she always does.

  “Evan, baby, what a great surprise. Your father didn’t tell me you were coming out for Thanksgiving. Do they know you are here?” she says with a look of concern.

  “Yes, Gran. I told them this morning. How could I miss having a wonderful dinner with my favorite girl?” I wink and kiss her cheek.

  “Oh, son, you are so handsome.” She slings a dishtowel over her shoulder. “You remind me so much of your pap when he was your age. Have you seen Tatum yet?”

  “No, ma’am. You know she has a boyfriend, right? I’m kind of seeing someone at NYU. Her name is Lila and she is from California.” Well, that’s most of the truth. I’ve been hanging out with her a lot. I’m just leaving out the fact that she seems to be involved with someone else.

  “That reminds me. I would like to have a couple jars of your apple butter and jelly to take back with me, if that’s okay?” Brody and I love that stuff, but I also want to give some to Lila.

  “Of course you can, son. I will get you a box together. I worry about you boys out in that big ol’ city all alone.” Gran pats my arms.

  I give her a quick kiss and go out to the barn to see Pap. He spends all his time in the barn or in the pasture. He’s close to seventy years old and has the energy of a thirty-year-old. Of course, Mr. Kelley is with him.

  “Well, I’ll be. It’s my favorite grandson.” Pap hugs me.

  “Sir, I’m your only grandson,” I say with a laugh.

  “How are you doing, Mr. Kelley?” I ask as I shake his hand.

  “I’m good. How is New York treating you and my son? You aren’t having any wild parties are ya?” He laughs and pats my back.

  “No, sir. We are doing well. No big parties, just focusing on classes.”

  My phone starts vibrating. I look down and see a text from Tatum. She wants me to meet her at the swimming hole, so I excuse myself and head that way. The weather is great. It isn’t hot or cold, just a perfect in-between. I can see her from a distance. She must have already been here when she texted me.

  “Hey, you. What’s all this about?” I lean in to give her a hug. God, I love touching her.

  “I missed you. I don’t know what these feeling are, but they are all new to me. I’m engaged to Thayer and I thought I loved him, but all I do is think about you,” she says, tears rolling down her cheeks.

  “Oh fuck, baby, I feel that way too. I love you, Tatum, and I would give up everything for you. My heart has been broken once, and I don’t know what’s going on with us, and it scares the piss out of me.”

  She leans her back into my chest. The sweet scent of her sends chills through me. I lean my head down and place a small kiss on her neck. She moans. I can feel her heart beating rapidly.

  “Evan, I don’t know what’s going on.” She faces me and rests her right hand on my face. “I have never felt this way about anyone but you. I have always loved you and always will. I can’t leave him, though. It would hurt him.”

  I cup her chin in my hand. “Hurt him? Look at what he has done to you, baby. He has hurt you more than once. He will get over you. Let him know what it feels like to be hurt.”

  She runs her hand over mine. I put both of my hands on either side of her face. I pull her closer to me and I feel the heat from her breath on my lips. I touch her lips with mine. A small moan escapes her mouth as she falls in my arms and shoves her tongue in my mouth. Our tongues explore one another’s and I caress her. I feel the heat of her on my legs as my arousal pushes hard into her.

  We’re both panting. I lay her on the ground without taking my mouth off of hers. I run my hand up her shirt. Her skin is so soft, her bra lacy. I move my mouth from hers and down her neck. I slide my hand under her skirt. I want to rip the thong from between her legs. I move it to the side and slide a finger in her.

  “Jesus, Ta, you are so wet,” I say as I start circling her clit with my thumb.

  “I have never wanted anyone as bad as I want you right now. Please…I need you. Make love to me. I have never wanted to be fucked so badly in my life.”

  I lift her shirt with my other hand and unfasten her bra. Her breasts take my breath away. I take her right nipple in my mouth as I slide my finger deeper into her wet opening. She starts moving faster and faster. She arches her ba
ck, throws her head back, and explodes all over my fingers.

  “That was amazing. I love you so much. I just don’t know what to do. Is this wrong? I mean, I know it’s wrong, but fuck…it feels so right. And no, it’s not just my vajayjay talking. It’s all of me. Please, can we just pretend like no one else matters right now?”

  She kisses me hard, pushes me down, and straddles me. I’m so hard, my zipper is probably imprinted on my cock.

  I want to be buried balls deep inside of her. I can’t, though. I have a conscience and I know she’s engaged to someone else.

  “Tatum, we can’t do this, love. It’s all wrong. I can’t do this, here or now.”

  The moment I sit up, she starts crying. Fuck, one minute I’m giving her the greatest orgasm she has probably ever had, and now I’m making her cry.

  “Don’t cry, baby. I want you. Trust me, I want you more than any fucking thing. It’s just wrong right now. You are going to marry someone else. Thayer is going to be your life. If you tell me right now you will leave him for me, I will make love to you up and down this river bank, but I can’t as long as I know you are going back to his bed,” I say, tears forming in my eyes.

  “I can’t, Evan.” She stands up and fixes her clothes with her good arm. The other is in a bright yellow cast. “I have to go back to Thayer. He’s my fiancé and he loves me.”

  “Where do we go from here? Tatum, I can’t lose you as a friend. I love you too goddamn much.”

  “I don’t know what’s going to happen. I will always love you.” She kisses me and walks away.

  Thanksgiving ends up being awkward. I know Zander senses the odd vibe between his sister and me. During dinner, she only talks when spoken to. I hate that I hurt her, but I just can’t be with her knowing she’s going back to him. She leaves after dinner without another word to me.

  ***

  I called and texted Lila several times over Thanksgiving break and never heard anything back from her. I was getting kind of worried because she always returns my messages. The plan was for me to meet her at the airport, so I just go to the airport in the hopes that she will be there.

  A couple minutes after I arrive, she’s walking to me with a huge smile on her face. The closer we get to each other, the more my smile spreads.

  “I’ve missed you, gorgeous,” I say as I pull her in for a hug and kiss her cheek. I decide not to tell her about Tatum. Just in case what we have is going somewhere, I don’t want her to be jealous, because Tatum will always be in my life no matter who I’m with.

  “Evan, I missed you too. There’s something I need to tell you, though, so please don’t be mad at me. I have a boyfriend. His name is Liam, and he is Addison’s cousin. We’ve been together for about nine months. He’s in the army. I just didn’t know how to tell you. I really like you and enjoy our time together.”

  “He is the one that was there for you when your ex, his cousin, cheated on you, right? I’m sorry. I just assumed you were single. You’ve never mentioned anyone. I understand, though.” I place my hand on her hand.

  “Still friends?”

  “Of course we are, darlin’.”

  “Good. I was afraid of losing you,” she says with a slight frown.

  “Never going to happen, love.”

  I drop her off at her townhouse and go home. So much is going through my fucking mind. I call Zeb’s to see if I can come and play. I just want to get lost in the music. No country music tonight, though. I tell the manager I will play something different, that the customers will still love it. I head over to the bar.

  “How y’all doing tonight? Most of you already know who I am, but if you don’t, my name is Evan, and I’m a law student at NYU. I love country music, but tonight I’m going to do something a little different. I hope you all enjoy.”

  I place my feet on my stool and start singing the lyrics of Nickleback’s “Trying Not to Love You.” I’ve never played this type of song on my guitar, so I’m a little nervous, but it’s a goddamn hit. Everyone claps and whistles. I feel really good, though it doesn’t hurt that I already have a couple beers in me.

  Hell, I might as well do another one.

  Next, I play “Life After You” by Daughtry. Everyone loves that too. I look into the audience and see Alyssa and Mal standing at the bar. Fuck, Alyssa is licking her lips. The way I’m feeling, I may just fuck the hell out of her tonight. I finish my song and step off the stage.

  “Hey, Evan, that was gre—” is all Alyssa can get out before I slam my mouth into hers. I don’t want her, but I need her. I need to relieve my stress, and she’s just the stress-relieving distraction I need.

  “Let’s go to your place, now!” I growl.

  She doesn’t say anything. She just follows me out the door. There’s no one at her place. I haven’t fucked her in so long. I’ll be honest, she isn’t good in bed at all, but I can get loose with her.

  She starts taking my clothes off. One thing about her, she gives the best blowjobs ever. I wrap my hands in her hair as I push her mouth further down my cock. I just need to be inside of her. I grab a condom, roll it on, and flip her over.

  I push myself so deep inside of her, she starts crying for more. With every thrust, I try to get Tatum out of my head. I haven’t had sex in so long, I don’t know how long I’ll last, especially since I’m not attracted to Alyssa, but I just keep seeing Tatum’s face. Every time I slide in and out, and with every motion of her hips pushing into me, I imagine it’s Tatum I’m making love to.

  I feel my build up getting ready to release. I want to make sure she’s getting hers too. I take my hand from her hip and massage her clit. She’s getting ready to explode. I give her one last hard thrust and we both climax in unison. I’d pushed into her so hard she falls down and I fall on top of her.

  “Thanks, Alyssa. I really needed that.” I kiss her cheek. She smiles and starts rubbing my side.

  “I told you, no one will ever love you as much as I do. Stay with me tonight, please?”

  “Can’t, it’s getting late. I better go.”

  She makes a pouty face and wraps a blanket around herself. I walk into her bathroom, dispose of the condom, and clean myself off with one of her towels. Afterward, I get a washcloth nice and warm and take it to her so she can clean herself up.

  “I’ll show myself out. I’ll see you later. Have a good night.”

  I walk out of her bedroom and never look back at her. When I get in the car and drive home, all I can think is, what the fuck did I do? I need to go home, shower, and wash all of Alyssa off of me.

  The one bitch I can’t stand, I always end up running to.

  Chapter Eleven

  Evan

  Lila has texted me a few times, but I haven’t replied. Of course, since that night I had sex with Alyssa, Alyssa is always around.

  I’m standing in the library with Alyssa…well, Alyssa just so happens to be in the library and she’s standing next to me. I came in looking for a book I couldn’t find at the bookstore. Lila walks over to us. She looks so fucking jealous.

  “Hey, Lila. You remember Alyssa, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I do! How are you, doll?” she says to Alyssa with that valley girl attitude. Holy hell, she is definitely jealous.

  Alyssa doesn’t say anything. She kisses my cheek and walks away.

  “Can we talk, Evan?” Lila asks, frustrated.

  I run my hand through my hair. “Yes. Everything okay?”

  “I just wanted to make sure we are okay,” she whispers.

  “Absolutely. We are good, Lila. Would you like to grab dinner?” I know she has plans with Nikki because Brody already told me.

  “I have plans with Nik. Maybe the four of us can go out together?” She leans against a bookcase. God, she’s beautiful.

  “Okay, sounds great. I will see you tonight.”

  I kiss her cheek. I ignore the look of confusion on her face and just walk away. Fuck, what the hell is going on? Everything I want belongs to someone else. Thes
e girls are going to kill me.

  I don’t even feel like going back to class. I’m going to shoot some pool instead. Luckily, Brody is already done with classes for the day and goes with me.

  Alyssa texts me and tells me she wants to go to dinner with us. I want to say no so bad, but I know it will send fire through Lila, so I take her with me.

  After Brody and I are done playing pool, we head to the restaurant. I see the girls heading our way from the other side of the restaurant. There’s some guy with them.

  Oh, this better not be fucking army boy. Lila never said he was in town. My fist tightens as they approach the table. Nikki introduces him. He’s her friend from Ohio. His name is Cameron or some shit. Immediately, Brody gets a look on his face like he’s shitting bricks. He and Nikki have been seeing each other for months, and now she brings this dude to dinner. I’m just glad he’s not that Liam fucker.

  Lila gives Alyssa that whole “Hello, doll” routine.

  “Hey,” Alyssa replies, her arms intertwined with mine. I feel Lila’s eyes burning deep into us both. Alyssa is all over me. Hell, she’s making me uncomfortable.

  Halfway through dinner, I separate my arm from Alyssa’s. She excuses herself to go to the ladies room. Lila looks so beautiful. She never over-dresses, which is one of the many things I like about her. She’s wearing tight jeans with a little sweater and those damn fur boots she loves. Her long blonde curls are wrapped into a bunch on top of her head.

  She keeps biting her bottom lip and pulling it into the little gap she has in her teeth. She cringes when Alyssa comes back and kisses my cheek. Lila hasn’t really touched her plate, though she drank all of her wine, plus Nikki’s.

  “I had a nice dinner, but I need to get back. I have a test in the morning,” Lila says as she stands up and throws her napkin on her full plate of chicken parmesan. She’s annoyed, and I know it’s because of Alyssa.