Emerge (Evolve Series #1)(8)

I’ve never imagined this with Evan, it’s never occurred to me to even dare hope what he felt for me was more than a protective

best friend. Good thing, I would have done the fantasy no justice. His thumb brushes my bottom lip and I realize...I could be

swinging a bat, casting a reel, and driving a truck all at the same time, but I’m still 100% woman.

I think I speak out loud. “Are you intimidated, Evan?”

He leans over, touching his forehead to mine as he takes a deep breath. His nose brushes along mine, his whisper on my lips. “Not

anymore, I’m done with that, and I’m done not kissing you. All you have to do is say no, precious girl. But please,

please....just say yes.”

As I whisper “yes,” his mouth takes mine. His lips are soft and gentle, sending a sizzle throughout me. His hand glides from my

cheek to the hair behind my ear, stroking it slowly, over and over again. He breaks contact to lean back slightly, meeting my eyes,

and a whiny protest from the loss escapes me. I’m positive he sees a confusing mixture of happiness, shock, and...lust?

“Again?” he asks me in a low grumble. I leave the question unanswered, putting one hand firmly on the back of his neck, the other

over his heart, feeling that hard chest and rapid beat under my palm, and pull him hard against my lips. He groans and steps in so

his body is flush against mine as I open to allow him free reign of my mouth. Our tongues tangle together, knowing each other just

as Evan and I do.

My mind is racing as quickly as my pulse, but instinct takes over as my hands move all over him. His solid arms, firm shoulders,

strong back...tight ass. I can’t feel enough of him in this moment and lose myself to the desire consuming me. His sweet murmurs

along my neck, jaw, in my ear spur me on, almost to the point of no return, until loud squeals from the party rip through our haze.

All at once, I remember where we are and that anyone could walk upon us. It also shames me that I was careless enough to leave

Kaitlyn alone this whole time while I fondle my best friend in a field, so I regretfully pull back. Evan’s eyes take a while to

slowly open and find mine, but in them I see everything I need to, overpowering any inkling I might have had about regret or

embarrassment. In those blue pools, there’s no second guessing, these are not the eyes of my “friend.” I know my Evan, and he

liked it. I really liked it, beyond my wildest dreams that I never had.

“Come on,” I say almost painfully, “we have to get back and check on Kaitlyn.”

His shoulders slump and he rolls his eyes, but finally grabs my hand and interlaces our fingers. We’ve held hands a million times,

but never like this. It feels good, I feel secure, but most of all—I start to believe what people have said here and there in

recent years...I feel beautiful. Evan tugs on my hand slightly, slowing me up some, and turns me to him. “Laney,” he barely

whispers, “can you do one thing for me? “

He could say climb Mt. Everest right now and I’d agree. The look on his face is so sexy and now that I know how that mouth

feels...wait, what was the question?

“Yessss?” Am I flirting?

“Can we pretend you’re really mine, just mine, Evan Mitchell Allen’s, at least for tonight?”

I think of the gentle hand on my cheek, the soft then rougher kiss, the protection from Matt, the #14 on his back every week, the

Disney movie marathons, and I say, without a doubt in my mind, “with pleasure.”

The smile that spreads across his face and the fist pump I doubt he realizes he’s just thrown assure me I should feel as good

about my answer as I do. At least for tonight...is that all I want? All he wants? I refuse to overanalyze right now; this is new,

overwhelming, and exhilarating...I’m just gonna ride this wave without worrying; there’s a first time for everything.

I’m not sure which of us sets the pace for the walk back, but neither speeds it up. Once back, still hand in hand, I immediately

notice that Kaitlyn is slow dancing with Matt, so she’s definitely way past drunk, or maybe he used a better line on her.

Whatever. As long as I can see his hands, I’ll let her enjoy herself. Evan nudges me, so I look up.

“Dance with me?” Evan asks with an eyebrow raised and sexy plea in his eyes.

It’s “Big Green Tractor” by Jason Aldean in the background; we both love this song. I nod.

Evan sings the song softly in my ear as we dance. He has no idea what a good singer he is, and apparently my body just received the

memo tonight as well. All the times we’ve cruised around together, singing at the top of our lungs, or played iPods while we

fished...it did not have this effect on me. Why oh why could this not be the longest song ever written???

When the song ends, Evan guides us to settle in on staggered bales. Evan sits behind me and I lean back between his legs. He’s

pressed against my back and his hands rest on my shoulders, hanging over slightly. His pinky moves up and down the outside of my

arm, lightly, but I feel it.

Oh, do I feel it.

Turning my head to look back at him, I give him a smile. His own reflects back to me as much happiness as I’m feeling. It always