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Everly
Splashes of dark purple, orange, and pink painted the sky. With its view of the sparkling ocean, blue-gray mountains, and curving Californian coastline, the scene from the hill was stunning during the day. But as night approached, the colors in the sky intensified, and flickers of light appeared everywhere, setting the stage for something even more spectacular.
I took a deep, steadying breath and exhaled. This was my safe space. The place I ran to after I broke up with Lukas to put all the jumbled pieces of myself back together. When we first started dating, I’d felt like the princess in a fairytale. Handsome and charming, he showered me with compliments, sent me flowers, and took me on expensive dates. When he began suggesting minor changes to the way I looked and acted, I made them willingly. Desperate to blend in with his sophisticated friends, I learned the proper way to dress and pose, mimicked their laughter, and reflected other people’s opinions. Little by little, I became someone else, not realizing how much I’d changed until it was too late.
“Everly?” Pink-hued light bathed Wyatt’s face as his piercing green eyes met mine.
Dread twisted in my stomach. This was meant to be a romantic spot, but somehow, I’d gone off on a tangent and talked about my previous relationship. I wasn’t the same girl I was before. I was over Lukas, owned an obscene amount of holiday decor, ran my own business, and was ready to date again.
Except what guy would date someone still working through her issues with her ex?
“What are you thinking about?” Wyatt asked, his voice so deep and husky that it made me shiver.
You.
I recalled our almost kiss and wondered whether the heat in his eyes had only been due to my imagination. Wyatt was in love with someone else. It wasn’t jealousy that made him jump down Graham’s throat but some protective brotherly instinct.
“I was wondering if you’d like to catch more tarantulas,” I teased. “Seriously though, you showed real courage back there, facing your fear.”
Wyatt let out a low chuckle and slid closer. “Oh, I’m not that brave. In fact, I’ve been very cowardly.”
“With what?” I stared at him in surprise. Wyatt had moved to a new place, self-published his own novels, and was now working on a new webcomic project. He always followed his passions, making him one of the bravest people I knew.
“With you.”
The laughter that escaped quickly died as he brushed a finger underneath my chin and tilted my head, holding it steady to meet his gaze.
I sucked on my lower lip and my belly swooped. When Wyatt looked at me that way, as if I was something beautiful and captivating, it was devastating.
“I care for you, Everly. More than a friend. More than anyone else I’ve ever known. I’ve liked you for a long time.”
“You have?” The words stuck in my throat. “But what about the woman you told Tonya about?”
“It was you. It’s always been you.” Time stood still as he brushed his lower lip against mine once, twice, his breath hot on my skin. “Tell me, Ev. Tell me you want this too.”
I’d never wanted anything more in my life. Surrendering to my own desires, I rubbed my bottom lip against his, the slow, deliciously torturous movement causing sparks to dance low in my belly. “Yes,” I murmured, every nerve in my body coming alive. “I want you too.”
Wyatt groaned and he slid his arm around my waist, gently tugging me closer so that our bodies aligned, his hard planes against my soft curves. Wyatt’s lips teased mine, softly at first, with a sweetness I could taste. But the kisses quickly deepened and like an addict, I was euphoric each time his mouth claimed mine. This was better than anything I had imagined. My skin felt hot and tight, and every cell in my body sizzled with need. Before I knew it, he’d undone my braids and tangled his fingers in my hair. I tilted my face, opening my mouth wider as Wyatt’s tongue coaxed my own.
You. You. You.Each kiss was a promise etched into my skin.It’s you that I want.
Wyatt gave me one last, lingering kiss before pulling away. My eyelids fluttered open, and I ran my tongue along my lower lip, remembering how it felt to have his stubble rubbing against my skin and his mouth, hot and needy, pressed against mine.
Wyatt watched me with a piercing gaze. “Guess this means you like me too.”
That had to be the understatement of the century—my toes were still curled from his final kiss. “Perhaps just a bit.” Needing a moment to catch my breath, I rested my head against his chest, enjoying the sensation of his pounding heart against my flushed cheek.
It took mere seconds for our hearts to beat as one, racing together toward something new.
Somewhere deep inside, I let out a sigh. What was this wonderful feeling I was experiencing? Desire? Relief?
No, it was happiness. Toward the end of my relationship with Lukas, the sense that I was never quite good enough tainted everything. This level of contentment was entirely new. I twined my fingers with Wyatt’s and studied our hands, loving how right they felt together. “So when did you start having feelings for me? Was it when you rescued me from the skateboarders? Or when you finally laid eyes on my Christmas trees?” I teased.
Wyatt brought my hand to his lips and gently kissed each knuckle. “Neither. I came to my senses right before I got into that study abroad program.”
I gawked at him. That was years ago. “Why didn’t you say anything back then?”
“I wasn’t sure if you saw me that way. And I didn’t want to start something and then leave. I planned on telling you when I returned…”
