Defending Everly (Mountain Mercenaries, #5)(38)

“And how did your friends meet their girlfriends?”

Ball chuckled. “Those are all really long stories, and I’ll leave it to them to tell you.”

“Can I ask something?”

“Of course.”

“It’s just that . . . I don’t understand how you can be so opposed to women, yet seem so happy for your friends that they’re dating.”

“I’m not opposed to women,” Ball said.

She raised her eyebrows at him.

“I’m not,” he insisted. “I love Allye, Chloe, Morgan, and Harlow as if they were my own sisters. I’d do anything for them. They’re brave and smart, and they deserve men as awesome as my teammates.”

“But?” Everly said.

“I love that they’ve found someone who completes them, but I haven’t wanted that for myself because of my past. My ex, Holly, really did a number on me, and the last thing I ever wanted was to be put in that kind of vulnerable position again.”

“I see.”

“I don’t think you do,” Ball said, tightening his hold on Everly when she started to pull away.

“Intellectually, I knew all women weren’t like my former partner or my ex-girlfriend. But I still didn’t want to put myself out there and get hurt again. So I kept women at an arm’s length, including telling myself I wasn’t going to purposely work with a female again. But then Rex threw that curveball at us, and I didn’t have a choice.”

Everly frowned and tried to step away once more. This time, Ball pulled her close and wrapped an arm around her waist, plastering her to his front.

“But in one week, you’ve shown me how flawed my thinking’s been for years. Riley and Holly were also flawed, but that doesn’t mean I should make other women suffer for it for the rest of my life . . . and it doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t try to find a bit of happiness for myself either.”

She stared up at him with big eyes.

Ball continued. “I love my friends’ women. I’d do anything for them, simply because they make my friends happy. But it wasn’t until the last couple of days that I truly understood how my friends felt about them.”

“Ball—”

“No pressure, Everly,” Ball said before she could continue. “I want to take you out, get to know you better. I want to get to know Elise better. If things progress, great. If we decide we’re better off as friends, fine. But, regardless of how things turn out for us personally, you should know that I’d welcome you at my side on any future mission, no questions asked.”

She blinked rapidly at his words, then swallowed hard. “I . . . Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Then Ball took a chance. Leaning down slowly, giving her time to reject his advance, he paused with his lips hovering above hers.

She stood on her tiptoes and closed the distance between them.

The brush of her lips against his was the best feeling ever.

The second they touched, something changed inside him.

Mine.

The word echoed through his head, but Ball was smart enough to keep it to himself. He knew without a doubt that Everly wouldn’t take too kindly to such a possessive statement this early in their relationship, if ever. That wasn’t who she was.

But that didn’t change what Ball felt.

One hand moved up to clasp the back of her head and hold her to him as he changed the kiss from a short, exploratory meeting of their lips to a claiming.

Her mouth opened as soon as his tongue brushed along the seam of her lips, and he surged inside. Everly moaned as he took possession of her mouth. His head tipped one way, and hers went the other. Her hands gripped his biceps hard enough that he had a feeling she was leaving little half-moon marks on his skin even through his T-shirt.

Ending the kiss way before he wanted to, Ball pulled back and licked his lips, savoring the taste of her. It took a moment for Everly to open her eyes, but when she did, Ball was rewarded by a look of such desire in her green gaze that he had to force himself to not devour her again.

“I need to get you back to your sister,” Ball said quietly.

Everly nodded.

“It’s been a while since I’ve done this,” he told her.

“Done what?” she asked.

“This,” he said.

“Dated?” she said with a small smile.

“Yeah. I’ve gone out with women, but I did so knowing nothing would come of it. But this . . .

this means something.” He held his breath, waiting for her response.

“Yeah,” she said softly.

It was enough. Untangling his fingers from her hair, he smoothed it away from her face before stepping back and giving her some breathing room. “Ready to get back to Elise?”

Everly nodded.

“If there’s anything you need, will you please let me know? Even if that’s just space. You haven’t had even a minute to yourself since we left Colorado Springs. I’m happy to entertain your grandparents, or watch over Elise, if you need an hour to just sit in a quiet room by yourself.”

“Thanks. I appreciate that. Seriously. It’s been tough, as I’m used to being by myself a lot, but right now, I know if I had the time to think too much about what’s been going on, I’d just freak myself out more than I already am.”