Then, as if I’d summoned her, she strode toward me across the lawn, the sun setting at her back and lighting her hair on fire. Heads turned as she walked past, people waving or stopping her to chat—something they never would’ve dared try with me. I didn’t even think she realized how people gravitated toward her. But that made sense. All living things longed for the sun, and Everly was sunshine personified.
She dropped into the spot Ford had vacated, her brows raised, those ice-blue eyes locked on me. “Do you find it weird that couples rarely discuss butt stuff before someone shoves something up an asshole? I mean…in my world, that would merit at least a mention.”
I inhaled sharply, choking on my own spit and then proceeding to hack for a full minute. When I finally had myself under control, I said, “Jesus, Everly. That’s how we’re starting conversations now?”
She shrugged, her eyes dancing. “Tell me I’m wrong. Tell me you’d be totally fine with a woman going to town on you and then—oop—finger in your ass.”
I scrubbed a hand down my face. “Can we maybe not have our book club discussion when little Susie is five yards away?”
The last thing I needed was to discuss this week’s book—which was a bit darker than her usual taste—and get hard for everyone in the damn town to see.
She tilted her head to the side to study me. “I guess. But only because you have your grumbly face on.”
Her red hair was pulled back in a ponytail, her face clear of makeup except for the shit she put on her lips that made them shiny and smell like strawberries. Would they taste like strawberries, too?
I jerked my gaze away from her mouth and focused on the cartoon playing on the screen. “Grumbly is a noise, not a look.”
“Oh, believe me, you’ve made it a look.” She blew out a long sigh. “And fine, point taken. We can discuss Chapter Twenty-Two later, but I havethoughts.”
I forced myself to stay still and pretend like I was trying to recall what happened in Chapter Twenty-Two. But IknewChapter Twenty-Two. I remembered exactlywhat happened, and let’s just say I suddenly had a newfound interest in rope play. And if past discussions were anything to go by, she’d tell me, in great detail, what she liked and didn’t like about it.
Whether I’d intended to or not, I’d amassed an encyclopedia titledEverly’s Sexual Pleasure Buttons, and each week, I added more entries. If not directly from her mouth, then from the dog-eared, highlighted, flagged sections on her physical copies. And there I’d sit, stone-faced, and pretend like I didn’t want to do every goddamn one of those things to her.
Recalling how that book’s hero had toyed with the heroine, blindfolding her and tying her up while alternating between using a dildo and his cock had mine stiffening in my jeans. From the way Everly was shifting next to me, she, apparently, was having the same reaction. My dick throbbed as if in reminder that it’d been too damn long—two years, to be exact—since it’d had someone else besides my right hand show it some love.
Very much needing my mind focused on something else, I asked, “Where’s Chuck?”
“Who?” she asked, just to be a brat.
“Your dog,” I said flatly.
She smiled at me. “You know that’s not her name.”
I pressed my lips into a flat line. “Well, it should be. I don’t know why you’d name your dog something so stupid anyway.”
Her grin only widened, and I blew out a frustrated breath.
“Fine. Where’s…Chuckanut?” I grumbled, forcing the name out.
She laughed, her eyes dancing, and truth be told, if my saying that made her react like that, it wasn’t the worst thing in the world. “See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?” She leaned in, bumping her shoulder into mine. “She’s at home. Didn’t feel like coming tonight. And I named her that because it reminds me of home, and it makes me happy.”
“I’m pretty sure everything makes you happy.”
“Not everything, but your cooking definitely does.” She reached for the cooler I’d brought, and I let her—I’d learned long ago there was no use putting up any roadblocks with her after she set her mind on something. And considering it was eight o’clock at night and I’d bet my left nut she hadn’t eaten much of anything today, she most definitely had her mind set on food.
She gasped, her eyes flying to mine, the smile that was bright enough to light up the night sky pointed directly at me, setting off a warm ache in my chest. “You brought me Nanaimo bars?”
“Don’t I always?” I said, ignoring the pleasant little buzz that settled over me at her happiness.
“Well…yes.” She lifted a single shoulder as she pulled out a bar and hummed as she made googly eyes at her favorite treat. “But I never expect it.”
She moaned at her first bite, and I ignored how the sound made my cock swell in my jeans. I’d had years of practice ignoring my body’s reactions to her, so it was easy to shove it down where it belonged. Namely, nowhere near Everly.
“We’ve been doing this for two years,” I said. “You can probably stop acting surprised by now.”
“But Iamsurprised,” she said around a mouthful, and even that was sexy—how she pursed her lips, bringing a hand up to cover her mouth, eyes alight with pleasure. Pleasure derived directly from somethingImade for her. “I wonder if you’ll bring any. Ihopeyou’ll bring some. But I never expect them. Ergo, pleasantly surprised.”
“Your favorite pastime.”
