He swallowed hard. “So that’s it? We’re done?”
Her vision blurred. “No, Everett. We’re not done. We’re just ... changing direction.” She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them. “I love you enough to give you back the life you earned.”
His gaze narrowed. He raised shaky hands to press into his temples, as if trying to ground himself. “What about whatIwant?” he asked hoarsely.
She broke then—felt it happen like a soft snap inside her ribs. “Believe it or not ... this is me choosing you, too. Because you deserve a future you’re proud of. And that future is in New York.”
Everett jerked back. “That can be all of our futures, but you’re telling me you don’t want it. Unless you’re creating excuses because you don’t want to take this relationship further?”
She tried to breathe with lungs that had no air. “No. I have no doubt about you. You make me feel alive, Everett. When we’re together, it’s like riding the perfect wave. First Kelsey stole my heart, and then you did. I can see a life with you, but not the kind you carved out for yourself.”
He took a step forward. “You could try,” he said fiercely. “The city is amazing. Full of cultural experiences. We can vacation at the beach so you could chase waves and Kels can continue surfing. It can work if we try really hard. I can make it happen.”
Even though her heart was slowly shattering, she couldn’t help reaching out to touch his cheek. “Don’t you see, Everett?” she whispered. “Love isn’t supposed to be that hard. It’s not a job to control or make perfect. If I leave my home and try to be someone I’m not, I’ll slowly wither away. You’re dedicated to a life you envision with Kelsey and there’s nothing wrong with that. We knew this from the beginning. We discussed the terms.”
“Fuck the terms!” he ripped out, reaching for her. “I fell in love with you. You said you loved me and we talked about this! I want us to be a family. But you’re standing here telling me it’s over because things can get messy?”
“I’m not afraid of messy, Everett. That’s you.”
He stared at her with shock. But his eyes held a flash of recognition before it was quickly smothered like a fire with ash. “This has nothing to do with my work. This is about us, and your sudden change of heart.”
Her gaze narrowed. “Really? Because I clearly remember when you pitched this idea for me to move back with you, there was no discussion. You were too excited to fit me into that neat box of yours, and you’ll do the same thing to me if I go to New York. You’ll try to push me like you do Kelsey, with the logic that it’ll be good for me!”
He sucked in a breath. Hurt reflected on his carved features, but it was time to tellhertruth. “I’m sorry you see me that way,” he said stiffly. “I thought you’d be as excited as I am to be together.”
“Don’t you see, Everett? It can’t always be on your terms!” Frustration bubbled over. “You need to listen to what I want! I’ve never pretended to be someone else. I live in board shorts and bathing suits. I rarely wear shoes. My days revolve around the tide, the sunset, and catching the perfect wave. I can’t be who you need.”
He shook his head in furious denial. “Fine. Want me to quit and move to Hawaii so my daughter can be a beach bum?”
Coldness seeped into her veins. Slowly, Rowan stepped away, trying to hide her hurt. “Is that what you think?”
He cursed and shoved his fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. I simply want to fix the problem.”
A wobbly smile ghosted her lips. “There’s no problem, Suit. It’s simply what is. We live in different worlds and neither of us can change.”
His jaw locked. “And that’s enough for you? Simply accept the ending and walk away? Forget the summer ever existed?”
“No.” She closed the distance, gripped his shoulders, and raised herself on tiptoes. Her breath rushed across his mouth as she whispered the words. “I could never forget you or Kelsey. You’re part of me now, and you helped heal me, made me stronger. I just love you enough to let you both go.”
Then she kissed him. She swallowed his groan as her hands tugged at his clothes, desperate to feel his skin against hers. She shook with the need to be a part of him, to imprint her memory so he’d never be able to kiss another woman without thinking of her.
He seemed to recognize the raw hunger and matched her. He stripped her while his mouth devoured hers, tongue thrusting in a driving rhythm that made her crazed. They fell on the couch, naked, limbs entangled. He pressed her into the cushions, pushing her thighs apart while she arched and cried out for more. His fingers dove deep, gathering her wetness, teasing her clit with an expertise that shoved her toward the edge, right before climax.
“Not yet. Not until I’m inside you. I’ll tell you when.”
His demand was arrogant, masculine—and impossible to fight. Mouths fused together, hands gripping her hips, he slowly pressed into her. The hot, thick length of him filled up every empty space inside. Each inch was a claiming, until Rowan could only hang on for the ride.
Buried to the hilt, Everett finally stopped and looked at her face. Seething dark eyes locked on hers. Her thighs trembled. A sob caught her lips and he kissed her with a tenderness that brought tears to her eyes.
“I love you.”
Then he pulled all the way out and drove back inside with a ferocity that shook her entire body.
Each hard stroke stole another part of her. He didn’t stop or slow, refusing to let up until his name was ripped from her lips, begging.
“Please, Everett!”
“Now, sweetheart. Come.”
