Page 52 of Play For Keeps

Everly stills in my arms. “Jake, is that what I am? Am I yours?”

My chest bursts. Dammit, this girl kills me. She’s absolutely fucking mine. Every night and every morning and that isn’t going to change.

“You are mine,” I say, confidently.

“You seem pretty sure of yourself.” Everly turns and I see the heat in her eyes. My skin prickles under her gaze.

“I think I proved that last night… and I think you liked it.”

Her eyes sparkle under dark lashes, her lips forming a shy smile. “I did like it… a lot.”

I might have gotten carried away with the dirty talk too soon. I might have been too demanding. But I’ve always liked sex a little rougher, more adventurous, and even though I did tame it down from what I really like, I have no idea about Everly’s level of comfort in the bedroom. I’m hoping she says she’d like to amp it up. “It wasn’t too much?”

Her cheeks turn a rosy shade of pink as she pulls her bottom lip between her teeth. “Not at all. Maybe even not enough...” Everly looks down at the bedsheet, her ponytail falling over one side of her face, and inside I’m fucking giddy because it seems like our sexual preferences do match up.

“Ev, you don’t have to be embarrassed with me. I want to make you happy in bed, that’s what turns me on… turning you on, and for the record,” I say, brushing her ponytail from her face. “I like it rough. I like it hard. I like turning you on with my dirty mouth. I like toys and trying new things. But I also like it slow and passionate too.”

She smirks. “Me too. I like all of that. I especially liked it when you called me a good girl last night.”

“You like to be praised. I love that. It’s so fucking hot.”

She draws her thumb across my bottom lip, eyes tracking the motion. “Are we going to stay in bed all day or should I make us breakfast?”

I lean forward so she’s forced to turn in my lap to face me. “I wanna take you somewhere. Do you have a couple of hours before you need to pick up Birdie?”

“I do… where do you want to take me?”

My God, I can’t get enough of her. It’s been this way ever since that night I ran into her in the hallway at Catch 21. One look at her and I was gone.

I kiss her nose and scoop her up into my arms. I look around the room at the mess we made—clothes and pillows scattered across the floor, bedsheets and the comforter a pile in the center of the bed. Everything is out of place, yet everything feels so right.

“A shower, and then I’m taking you out.”

Parking is not my friend today in Reed Point. But after driving along First Street three times, I finally snag a spot big enough to parallel park my F-150. It’s a bit of a walk to where I want to take her, but it’s gorgeous, sunny and 75 out today, so a walk-through downtown past the shops and trendy restaurants isn’t so bad. I shift the car into park then round the cab of my truck to get her. I hold out my hand to her after opening the door. She looks at me with a quirk in her brow. “So sweet, Jake, but I can hop out of your truck on my own.”

I smirk. “I’m sure you can, but you won’t be when I’m around,” I say tipping my forehead to my hand that I’m holding out to her.

Everly smiles, shaking her head, and hops down from my truck. I watch her, the way her plain white T-shirt clings to her breasts, short sleeves revealing smooth bronze skin. Her perfectly broken-in jean shorts emphasize her toned legs, and her hair is pulled up in a ponytail. She looks take-your-breath-away beautiful.

I meet her on the sidewalk for a chaste kiss because I can’t help myself. I lace my hand in hers, hoping she’s okay with it and she seems to be, so I hold her hand a little tighter, tugging her in the direction we need to go. It feels good to be out together in public, unabashedly. It was only a few days ago she was barely talking to me.

A minute into our walk, Everly slows down, veering towards the window of a book shop. She eyes the window display, a banner with a new release announcement. “Are you a fan of Emily Silver’s?” The book has a couple on the cover in an embrace. It isn’t overly steamy but it’s clear from the title and the description that it’s one of those spicy romance novels that girls like. I remember the stack of romance novels I saw on Everly’s coffee table.

“I am. I’ve been waiting for her to release this one,” she says as I stand behind her and wrap my arm around her waist. “Do you think it’s weird that I read romance?” she asks, looking at me over her shoulder.

“Are you blushing? You are, aren’t you?” I smile, holding her closer. “Why would I think that? It’s hot as fuck. I’m pretty sure most girls read those books. All the hot ones anyways.”

Everly tosses her head back against my chest and laughs before she turns in my arms to face me. “Can I ask you a question?” I nod. She has a thoughtful expression on her face. “Did you ever think about me after we ran into each other that night at Catch 21?”

“Every fucking day,” I admit. It’s the truth and there’s no point in hiding it. She blinks, swallows thickly, her focus fixed on me.

“Me too.”

My heart sweeps up into a loop in my chest. I’ve wondered the same thing. I’ve wondered if I made as much of an impression on her as she did on me. I love knowing that she’s had me on her mind. “My turn for a question.”

“Okay.”

“Are you okay with the way things are between us? I’m not moving too fast for you, am I?”

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