by Tess Keeler
Being surrounded by books was exactly where he needed to be. He was spending too much time with Everly’s lavender scented hair and beautifully soft skin. It was driving him mad every second that he was away, because he couldn’t keep his hands off of her. They were always making out and bickering. He would leave aching with need, only to go home long enough to relieve himself and dream of a romantic future was once gaging about. They were moving so fast, but not fast enough. He still had no idea where they stood, and he wasn’t jumping to define it. He assumed Everly was waiting for him to bring it up, because she wasn’t the type to mess around. It didn’t take long for him to understand that, even before she shared the definition of her innocence with him. It still made him nervous to think about going back to the same plump lips and chocolate eyes every day. One day, she would realize he wasn’t worth her time. He wasn’t relationship material. It was the very reason he wasn’t rushing to ask about her intentions; even though, he thought about asking every single day.
He was shelving a mixture of classics and modern fiction, and he always took a second to admire the cover or read the blurb on the back. Literature was his passion, and one day he would be a college professor, leading others interested in the written word to share their knowledge in their chosen profession. He had a love/hate relationship with people. Mostly hate. Without people though, there would be no possible way to have any success in life, so he learned to deal with it. He wanted to succeed his own way, doing something he enjoyed. He always figured out a way.
Four hours had passed, the entirety of his cart was shelved, and the librarian was shooing him out. It was closing time. He pulled out his phone and frowned a little at the sight of no notifications. Was he always the one initiating conversation? Possibly he was bothering her more than entertaining her?
He tapped his messages while walking toward his black sedan, his keys pulled from his pocket blindly. He tapped Everly’s name and watched as the cursor blinked at him. What was he going to say?
I miss you.
He did, but there was risk with that amount of vulnerability. He pursed his lips and stopped moving his feet, his thumb pressing on her name, and then the call button. The ringing was causing his heart to accelerate unhealthily. She picked up on the fourth or fifth ring.
“Henley?”
He felt his mouth get a little dry, but he was walking again. “Yeah. I uh…” He wet his lips. “I don’t know why I called, honestly. To see if you were busy?” It was a question more than a statement. He regretted calling her, because he was never good at phone calls.
Her heavenly laugh traveled between them, and he couldn’t help the twitch of his lips. She was captivating. “Do I make you nervous, H?”
He had said that to her many times, when her heart was beating too hard or her breaths too short moments before they kissed, on multiple occasions. He cleared his throat, finding the emotionally part of their friendship—relationship more intimidating than the intimate side. He was best with intimacy. “Possibly,” he laughed. “You sound so damn sexy on the phone.”
His attempt to recover worked, “Shut your cute face, Henley.” It was her favorite thing to say to him. He loved it.
A few seconds passed, comfortable smiling silence, and she spoke again, “Mason just left. Want to get your ass kicked on Just Dance?”
A playful groan escaped his lips, “You know I don’t dance.”
“Come on, Moore. What did you say about being good with your hips? It’s time to prove yourself.”
Henley pulled on his car’s door handle and slipped inside. “I’ll see you in ten.”
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With his hands on his knees, gasping for breath, he shook his head in her direction, “And to think I thought you were implying that I would be using my hips against yours.”
Everly flashed him a grin, her face only slightly pink. She wasn’t fazed by the physical exertion. He shouldn’t be. “Oh, is that what you thought?”
Henley couldn’t get over how unbelievably sexy she was when she was teasing him. He looked up through his eyelashes at her, reading every detail again, attempting to burn it into his head and fill himself with a plethora of adjectives as reference to her beautifully shaped face, hips—everything. No one had ever challenged him the way that she had. Was that the reason he was wrapped up in her presence? He didn’t think so. She was more than a pretty face saving herself for the right person.
“Do you plan on giving yourself to me?” Henley was standing now, his face softening as he read hers. The smile on her lips pulled downward as he watched her throat bob. It was a forward question, but he was curious as to what their future consisted of in her eyes. A deeply seeded weight in his stomach convinced him that he wanted to know where they were going from here.
Everly’s face was bright, and her eyes were squinting in his direction. “Is that why you’re hanging out with me?”
“Of course not,” he said with his hands waving in front of his chest. He clenched his teeth and shook his head. “I guess I’m trying to ask what you want out of this.”
“I uh…” Everly’s chocolate brown eyes grew wide, and she dropped her Wii remote. “I’m enjoying your company,” she stumbled. “What do you want out of this?”
Before she could pick up the white remote, Henley leaned over and retrieved it. When he stood back up, he was offering it up to her. She didn’t take it, but she continued to watch him as he wet his lips. What was he going to admit to her? He could tell her that he liked her, more than he had ever liked anyone. The thought of telling her only terrified him more. He was beginning to panic, because he was always sure of what he wanted—only a physical relationship. Everly was different.
“I don’t know,” he admitted finally.
Everly nodded as she tucked her long locks behind her ear. She blinked a few times, their eye contact as intense at his feelings for her. “Do we have to figure it out right now?”
A shrug tugged at Henley’s shoulders, and he shook his head. “I suppose not.”
“Are you settling with my answer? Or were you expecting something different?” Her voice was gentle, and he relished the deeper tone of it. It was sultry.
“I wasn’t expecting anything, but I was hoping your answer would bring me clarity, too. If that makes any sense,” he sighed and pulled at his black hair.
“I…” she started, leaving the air silent as she slipped back into her thoughts. They were equally flustered. “I’ve never done this. I’m unsure how to navigate it or process how I feel about all of it.” It was Henley’s turn to nod. He, too, was unfamiliar with their type of arrangement. His eyes fell to her deep blue carpet, and his foot tapped along with the speed of his thoughts. How long should they wait to determine their label? Before he could find the words to reply, she cleared her throat. “I know that I like you.”
He peeked up through his eyelashes, watching as the sweet pink tint he adored spread from her collarbones to her forehead. His stomach flipped in a way he wasn’t used to, causing a jolt-like feeling to rush through every inch of his body. He took a step toward her after dropping their remotes on the bed, his hands smoothing over her hips and around to her lower back. His fingertips brushed the bare skin beneath her black, long-sleeved crop top, and he felt her shiver against him. Their eyes met, and he searched hers for the courage to tell her he liked her too. He was a coward.
He went in for the kiss, their lips colliding pleasantly. She disappeared behind his closed eyelids, and he blew out a deep breath through his nose as they shared passionate, urgent open-mouthed kisses. He flattened his palm and painted her back with his touch, every muscle twitching in reaction to him. Her taste was intoxicating, and it was nothing like Victoria’s. Victoria’s shook him to the bone with anxiety. She intimidated him, because she was his first everything: crush, kiss, fuck, love, heartbreak. She was the reason he took risks with his body but never his heart. Two years of casual sex, and not one person who competed wi
th the beat of his heart, not until now.
Victoria Burns was three years older than he was. When they met, Henley was fifteen. He was a sophomore in high school, and she was a freshman in college. She was his History tutor—his worst subject. He will never understand what possessed her to come on to a boy fresh out of puberty, but it happened, and their friendship went on for three years. She taught him things about his body that he would have discovered later on, solo and with a partner. She took his virginity and baited him along while she pursued other things. Henley waited patiently for her to come back to him every time. He was in love with her, but he was her toy.
In the middle of Henley’s freshman year in college, all contact was lost, and Henley didn’t know how to handle the pain he felt. The world was full of possibility, and he spent a solid four months moping around in pain while Pierson was out having a fun time creating a college friend group and exploring his taste for alcohol and herbal escapes. Henley decided he spent too much time on Victoria, so he joined his brother’s events until he found ways into other, more rowdy, parties. He used his experience with Victoria to seduce other pretty girls who found themselves exploring their sexuality, too. It was a great way to forget the pain of his longterm arrangement, and it made him feel good to be desired by many women. He didn’t need Victoria.
Henley was warming up all over, his free hand holding her neck as their tongues tangled. He pushed her against the closest solid structure, the hand on her back falling to caress her long bare legs, exposed by her short jean shorts. She lifted her legs once he had his weight on her, and she accepted the lean of his body sandwiching her between him and her bedroom door. She released a large sigh as their mouths broke apart, Henley decorating her jaw and neck with his swollen lips. The need he had for her was overwhelming, but he was learning her stopping points. He snuck his fingers between her lace underwear and jean bottoms, squeezing her ass as he pushed a little harder into her. She was grabbing at his back and hair, pulling him into her. Her lavender scent created a frenzy inside of him, and he waited for her hands to come between them, forcing him to slow down.
They never appeared. Even as their mouths met again with feverish kisses, she never stopped him. She was releasing quiet moans between each one, and Henley groaned as his lower half began to throb unbearably so. His hips urged to curl into hers, to achieve relief, and he knew he had to stop himself. If he waited any longer…
She whispered his name against his lips, and he fought every natural instinct in his body. “I’m losing it,” he laughed quietly, his forehead leaning against hers.
“So am I, apparently.”
Her voice was hoarse, and Henley opened his eyes to read her expression. Blotches had appeared on her neck and face. He was taking deep breaths as he set her down on the carpet once more. She was still trying to catch her own breath. The chocolate color of her eyes sparkled in a way he had never seen, and he wondered what it meant. He stole a slow kiss and offered her a smile as he created space between their overheating bodies.
“Ready for another round?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Of?” she asked, a little too deeply. Henley silently gasped as knots formed in his abdomen. She wet her lips and fluttered her eyelashes at him. “I’m kidding. So, you’re ready to get your butt kicked again?”
Henley tried to recover from the pulse down below, so he released the tension through his chuckle. “We’ll see about that.”
1
More to This
CHAPTER SEVEN
Everly
“Everly Presley Parker, why did you not tell me about Henley’s insanely attractive twin brother?” Mason’s face was filled excitement as he paced in front of her. She smiled as she spooned another mouthful of cereal. Her eyebrows lifted as Mason continued to talk about his random encounter with Henley’s sibling. “He was even sweet enough to invite us both to a bonfire tonight. Not only is he bloody gorgeous, but he’s so polite.” Stopping to grab Everly’s arms during a dramatic pause. “What if we end up with twins?”
A laugh fell from her lips once she had swallowed. “Fan-fiction much?” Her eyes fell back into her cereal, using her spoon to push it around the bowl. “I’m not with Henley. We’ve decided to just enjoy this and see where it goes.”
Since she had told Henley she liked him, she had begun to feel herself lighten a bit. Her heart seemed unprotected around him now that she had confessed her… feelings, but nothing had changed. They were still avoiding defining anything, and Everly would never push. After all, if it was meant to happen, it would.
“Bullocks,” Mason mumbled, moving to grab a cherry coke from the fridge. “We are going tonight, eh? Pierson told me Henley would be there.”
Everly nodded, still lost in her thoughts of the evolution of her emotions in the past few weeks. It was becoming more and more difficult to not give in to her needs in regards to Henley. Emotionally, physically. Maybe she needed to stop overthinking it and just do what she knew she was ready to do.
“Tonight’s going to be good,” Mason stated, raising his newly opened can into the air towards her, and she smiled her biggest smile. “You’ll see.”
“Pierson will never know what hit him.” Everly teased, standing up to discard her dishes in the sink after rinsing them. “Let’s go get ready, shall we?”
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The short sleeved black dress she wore was fitting, but not uncomfortably so. Her black combat boots complemented the dress perfectly, and she was thankful. They were going to be tucked away in nature, so it was better to be prepared for the terrain. She toyed with her hair, fluffing and throwing it over her shoulder until she felt good about it. Her smoky painted eyes stared back at her, as she finally felt satisfied with how her hair looked. She blew out a deep exhale, silently accepting the nerves she was feeling. Tonight was the night she was going to allow herself to let go and let whatever happens with Henley happen.
Mason stopped in her doorway, smiling at her brightly. “Eve, you look beautiful.” The reflection in the mirror leaned against the doorframe. His torn black skinny jeans painted his legs tightly, and his white and pink floral shirt hung open to reveal his slender, tattooed torso. The length of his curly dark hair was more evident the way he had it pulled over his forehead.
“Thanks, Mace.” Everly felt her lips pull up to reveal her top teeth and a few of her bottom row. She turned and took a few steps towards her best friend before noticing a plaid, red shirt draped over the back of her desk chair. Stopping, she reached for Henley’s shirt to take it with her. She used the sleeves to tie around her waist, making sure to remember it and to relish the subtle smell of sage clinging to the fabric of the shirt. Her heart throbbed in her chest, confirming how ready she was to let Henley completely in.
———————
“Pierce said he’d be by the bigger fire. I guess there’s a smaller one closer to civilization?” Mason said, his eyes glued to his phone. That was fine, Everly’s eyes were scanning their surroundings.
There was a guy with playing guitar close to a decent sized fire. She assumed with no sign of Pierson or Henley, this wasn’t the biggest one. Red solo cups seemed to be an accessory; almost everyone had one in hand or nearby. She contemplated partaking. First things first, she wanted to find Henley.
“He said its calmer where they are. Loads less people.”
Through the dancing flames, she saw him taking a swig from a cup, and she smiled as her legs went to push her forward.
Mason spoke to her, his words muffled. As she got closer, she noticed him talking to someone. The initial excitement when her eyes found Henley was shattered, as she watched him lean into a gorgeous blond girl sitting close to him. They laughed about something for a second, and even though she knew that the look on his face meant he was going for it, she couldn’t pull her eyes away. Beer in hand, his free hand cupped the girl’s face as their lips met. She sucked in a shocked breath. That’s when she felt her heart fall int
o her stomach.
The breath in her lungs refused to come out, and her eyes began to burn with the warning of tears. ‘Don’t cry, dammit’, she urged herself to fight them back.
Her mind went blank as she headed towards him. What she was going to say, she had no idea. She wasn’t even sure what right she had to be mad or ruin his moment, but logic was gone. It was replaced by pain, confusion, justification, and disappointment.
Pulling his plaid shirt off, she cleared her throat and it didn’t take long for his green eyes to meet the silent rage of her brown ones. She tried to reason with herself, but it was too late. The glassiness of his eyes caused her to break.
“You really had me fooled, Henley.” Her fist bunched around the shirt in her hand. “You had me believing that I was different. That I could trust you.” She threw the shirt to hit his chest, and she took in a staggered breath. “And I shouldn’t even be mad, because I knew what I was getting myself into. I should’ve known better.”
His green eyes were hazy and wide, with his lips slightly parted in shock. For a few seconds, they both seemed frozen in silence. Her heart was pulling her in so many different directions that she couldn’t decide what she felt more. As Henley went to stand, she turned around to leave. The battle with her tears had lost.
The throaty voice that followed her was slightly slurred when they reached her. “Everly, no.”