Page 45 of On Broken Wings

“It’s a romance.” He said the words slowly. I think he was gauging my reaction.

“Ok.” I nodded. “And?”

“And I think I should have brought something else. You’re gonna give me hell over this.” He blew out a breath, and slowly handed over the DVD box.

“Oh!” I bounced in my seat. “I haven’t seen this one.” I loved Nicolas Sparks’ movies, but Mason didn’t. I usually didn’t get to pick what we watched.

“So, I did good?” Evan looked surprised as I popped The Best of Me out of its box and slipped it in the DVD player. As the opening music and the menu popped up on the screen, I turned off the lights and settled in beside him. “This is perfect. Promise,” I whispered as Evan carefully slipped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me tighter into his side.

ooooooooo

“That was so good.” I sniffed as I wiped at my eyes.

“Yeah, it was.” Evan’s voice sounded a little strained. I glanced over to see the remnants of a tear on his cheek. He’d wiped it away, but the wet trail was still visible in the glow of the TV screen.

“Are you crying?” I turned toward him.

“No.” He cleared his throat as he wiped at his face again. “I think it’s the lighting in here.”

I scooted closer and wrapped my arms around him while laying my head on his shoulder. “It’s ok to show your feelings, Evan,” I whispered.

“I’ve never hidden them from you,” he murmured as one hand lifted to rub the back of mine where it was clasped around him.

“Where did you come from?” I murmured. “You’re not like the other guys I know.”

“Maybe I just know when I have a good thing.” I lifted my cheek from his shoulder just as he tipped his chin. Our eyes connected, and I could see he meant what he said. “I know I’ve got something special here, Jenni. I know that you and me,” he shifted, causing me to loosen my grip. He wagged a finger between us, “we’re special. This is special.”

My eyes darted around his face, watching him watch me. I bit my lip before releasing it to run my tongue across it. My heart started racing, and every nerve ending became super sensitive. Every cell that was touching Evan, knew it.

“I’m gonna kiss you now.” He winked as his head tilted to the side, and he connected our mouths. It was a slow, sensual kiss. Where the one at the pier was tentative, this one was not. He wasn’t holding back in case I reacted badly this time. I sighed as his hand went from cupping my cheek to sliding down my shoulder to my side. When he tugged as my waist, I slid closer, and let him pull me across his lap. Our lips never parted as his hands lightly explored me. I shivered under his touch. This was still new to me. Nate was the only experience I’d had, and I was still a kid then.

“Stop thinking so much. I’m not going further than you allow tonight,” Evan whispered between kisses. His tongue dove back in, massaging mine and my back arched into him. It felt so good being like this and I wanted more. Evan made me feel alive, more alive than I’d been in years.

As his hands traveled back up my sides, I grabbed his shirt and tugged him toward me. “What are you doing?” He panted against my cheek.

“Getting more comfortable.” I started to lie back on the couch. I pulled Evan with me and he propped himself up on a knee and one arm. We were lying like two teenagers making out on the sofa, but it still felt new to me. I never had this, and the fact that he was giving it to me made me want that much more.

“Is this ok?” He rested his forehead against mine.

“Yeah. I’m ok.” I nodded as I lifted my chin to kiss him again. He sank into the kiss and one hand began a slow accent up my torso, stopping at my breast. His fingers flexed with restraint. He wanted to touch me so bad, and I’d made him afraid to try.

I reached up and guided his hand where he was trying to go. “It’s ok. I trust you.” I swallowed against my own nervousness. We stayed there on the couch for at least a half hour just kissing and touching. Neither of us had lost any clothes and I didn’t know if I was happy or upset about that. I’d thought that with Evan coming over tonight that he would want to sleep with me. I guess I never really explained that to him.

“Are you ok?” I panted when he broke one of the kisses. I could feel his erection pulsing against my leg through his shorts.

“I’m fine.” He gritted his teeth and then blew out a deep breath.

“Do you want to move this somewhere else? My brother is going to be home from work soon.” I began to play with the hairs at his nape.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” He started to pull away. “I don’t want to rush you into something you’re not ready for, Jenni.”

I could see the struggle in his eyes. He wanted to move forward so badly, but he was putting me first, something no guy, other than Mason, has ever done.

“You’re not.” I pressed a kiss to his cheek before pushing against his chest to get him to move. I slowly stood and held out my hand to him. “I promise, you’re not.”

Evan’s head slowly bobbed as he stood, laced his fingers with mine, and let me lead him down the hallway. I was ready to fly and I was going to test out my wings tonight.

Chapter 20

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