Emerge (Evolve Series #1)(48)

element right now.





Chapter Twenty-Four


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WINDOW

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DANE

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“There you are, I thought I was gonna have to come look for you,” I say as I hand her a glass of wine and take a drink of my own.

“I see you found something that fits; looks good.”

I take her in from head to toe, suppressing the growl trying to escape. Laney stands shyly before me; arms wrapped low around her

stomach, in a bikini. Her stance and the trepidation in her eyes floor me. How in the hell is this girl so unaware of her affect?

The moonlight and slight glow from the pool give me just enough light to brazenly look my fill. She is without a doubt the sexiest

girl I’ve ever seen.

Her dark blonde hair will no doubt look brown when she gets it wet. Her kind eyes are almost hazel in the daylight, but at night,

or when she’s hiding a feeling from me, they turn a deep, rich brown. Her lips are plump and she wets them when she’s nervous or

stalling before speaking; just a quick little dart of her tongue.

Gawking lower, I can’t help but smile as I see what will forever be my favorite part of her, one little freckle on her chest,

perfectly in the middle, right above her cleavage...my new North Star. Barely covered now by green material, I see her breasts are

ample and perfect. My fingertips itch to graze across them.

She knows I’m looking, her nipples harden and poke against her suit and she moves her sculpted arms higher to cover her tell. I

love her modesty. Once she’s mine, I know she’ll never let anyone else see or touch what belongs to me. I’ll bet anything she’s

a virgin and as caveman as it may be, it brings out every territorial feeling possible within me.

Her stomach is flat, but has a womanly curve to it, along with her hips; she has the perfect mix of athletic tone and downiness.

Those legs, they seem to go on forever, and they, too, show she plays some ball. I lift my eyes to hers and twirl one finger in the

air, telling her to turn around for me, and she does.

“Slowly,” I grunt. Fuck me, I knew her ass was nice, clothes don’t hide that, but my dick didn’t go hard looking at it until

now. It’s high and tight, perfection. I’ve always been an ass man, but now I’m a Laney Man; damn she’s hot. I have to admit to

myself, though; I honestly like her just as much in her princess jammies. Absolutely adorable.

I walk up to her back and place one hand softly on her shoulder, enjoying the feel of her tremble at my touch. You’ll learn that

touch, Laney. You and I will one day speak with no words. “Come on, Disney, let’s get in. The hot tub will do you good.” I

breathe onto her neck and watch the goosebumps appear over her arms.

“Okay,” she whispers.

Slowly, I guide her into the water, my hand at the small of her back. Her skin is like silk, I have to reign in the temptation to

pummel her to the ground and ravage her. Once we’re settled in the warm water, I see her visibly relax some; she’s always wound

so tight. She always has a guard up, her eyes always hold just a tinge of fright. Earning her trust will be my greatest

accomplishment; I already know this on a molecular level.

“Dane, why are you so nice to me?” she mutters, not looking at me.

Oh, this sweet woman before me. Are people not usually nice to her? How can that possibly be? She’s amazing. “I told you, Disney,

there’s something about you I like, a lot.”

“Even after my hysterics tonight?”

She’s so worried about that, I actually thought it was pretty cute. Her cheeks were all red, barefoot, wet hair, spitting

mad...ya, she’s something to behold. I love that part of her anger was jealousy. Even though she may not fully understand it yet

and feels guilty about it; she’s jealous and I like it.

“Especially after your hysterics tonight. You let go. I liked seeing it. I knew you had a fire in you the moment I met you, and

tonight it came out—I’m glad.” Oh yeah, little fireball had threatened to take a bat to Whitley the first night I met her,

classic.

I could’ve killed Whitley for falling all over me tonight, again. That girl needs to lay off. I don’t want Laney to think I’m in

any way unavailable to her or that I would ever give Whitley the time of day. I’m every bit as picky as Laney is...and I pick

Laney.

Laney was so upset tonight that she’d revealed a lot more than I’m guessing she normally would. Laney and Evan haven’t been

talking, and she’d seemed more upset that he hasn’t called than at the possibility of him sleeping with other girls. In our close

knit group, people talk, so I know he’s not her boyfriend, yet she hadn’t corrected me tonight when I referred to him as such.

There’s something off about it all, but one thing I’m sure of now—I have a window. The instant, overwhelming obsession I’ve

developed for this girl now doesn’t seem so farfetched. For the first time, I can dare to let myself see the real possibility of