Emerge (Evolve Series #1)(32)

smell of her hair to course through my body and bring me peace.

She moves to get up and I pull her back down.

Please don’t leave me, not yet. I just got you back.

“I’m just going to get a pillow and blanket. I’ll be right back.”

“I can go home if you want to go to bed, pretty.”

“You’re not going anywhere. You’re sleeping with me; under this roof or outside, I don’t care. The couch is plenty respectful.

”

Sounds good to me. I’d sleep in a lion’s den right now if it meant her warmth beside me.

She comes back and snuggles into me; you couldn’t fit a piece of paper between us. Her soft hair and sweet face lay against my

chest. Her legs are wrapped up in mine and I can feel her little breaths against my neck as I rub her back and kiss the top of her

head again and again. I know she’s still awake, but neither of us speak. It’s as if sound would pop the bubble around us, but I

can’t hold it in any longer.

“Laney, I love you.”

She raises her hand to my cheek and gazes at me. Her eyes are glassy and I can see the tears she won’t let fall. “I know you do,

Evan. I love you, too. I always will. You’re my best friend. “

I’d kiss her right now, but there’s no way I’d stop at that, so instead I pull her into my chest and whisper, “we’ll figure it

out, love, I promise.” Please don’t let me break this promise, too.

I hear her dad come in; he pauses but doesn’t say a word—I stay all night here with Laney and finally get a good night’s sleep.





Chapter Nineteen


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DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD

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Laney

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The next day, Evan and I walk hand in hand across Parker’s field for a picnic. I know his family wouldn’t mind, as if they’d

ever even know, we’re a good hundred acres from the house. I need some alone time with Evan and we need to talk, but the alone

time first.

The sun is warm on our skin and the slight breeze is perfect. Evan carries the picnic basket I’ve packed while I cling to “my

blanket,” which I dug out from behind his truck seat. I’ve sat under this navy blue blanket at more of Evan’s chilly football

games that I can count, watching him do his thing. I smile a bit, despite the sadness that comes with the memories; this old

blanket is about the only thing left that’s still in the place it belongs. I turn my gaze to Evan, forcing the melancholy thoughts

away, refusing to waste even one minute of the time I actually have with him.

He looks so handsome today; his silky brown hair is messy from the wind and his sculpted body is showcased in a tight gray shirt

and faded jeans. He takes the blanket from me and spreads it out, sitting first. “Come here to me, sweet girl.” He stretches his

hand out to help me settle down beside him. His gentle respect for me never gets old.

Lying back on the blanket, looking into his eyes, our hands joined between our bodies, I know that I will always be connected to

Evan. Without having to say the words, we both know the other is hurting. Now that we’re together, we can’t wait another minute

to show our love; to heal what we can for one another.

Evan rolls over on his side to face me, tucking my hair behind my ear. My heart and soul respond, all of me relaxing. He moves over

my body and kisses me passionately, whispering sweet words, but in it I can feel the heartache. He runs his hand up and down my

body, like he’s memorizing every part. “I need to feel close to you, Laney,” he says, his voice deep.

This boy. This amazing boy loves me; platonically, romantically, physically, spiritually. Nothing he does is ever to hurt me. His

eyes don’t lie and he can’t hide from me when I look into them. The pain I see there tugs at my heart. Can I fix the miles

between us? No. Can I speed up time until being together again is an option? No. Can I ease his spirit right now? Absolutely.

Running my finger along his jaw, soaking up his masculine beauty, I whisper, “My sweet Evan, I’ve missed you.”

He pulls one strap of my top down my shoulder, kisses along its path, and then flicks his gaze to mine. Soothing him that this is

okay with me, I reach up and pull the other strap down for him, revealing my breasts to his lust-filled eyes. He leans down to run

his tongue excruciatingly slowly over my nipples; tracing them, learning them. Arching into his mouth, I gasp his name and a low

rumble escapes from deep in his chest.

He makes me feel so good, so cherished. His hand moves up my thigh, to the zipper to my pants, and I can feel the slight tremble

and he sneaks his hand inside, teasing just along the edge of my panties.

“Ah, Laney, sweet Laney,” he moans as he rubs against me.

I can feel how much he wants me. My hands refuse to slow down, taking in his back, his shoulders, his neck. His body is tense as I

wrap my legs around his hips and push him into me harder with my heels.

Panting, he pulls back, reading my expression. “I need to touch you, angel.”