Page 35 of In the Danger Zone
“Evan, please.” I was pleading. The last thing I wanted was more Asher drama. “Please. It’s okay. I promise, it’s okay.”
Evan sucked in a sharp breath. “That’s not fair. It’s not fair he got away with doing that to you.”
All I did was give Evan a weak shrug. “I’m used to it, I guess.”
“You shouldn’t be used to something like that. That fucking little… I’m sorry he did that to you.” Evan’s anger was still very much present as he looked at me, but he seemed to have calmed down at least a tiny bit. “I’m sorry he treated you like that. If I knew… Fuck, I should have known what a prick he was. I had no idea. But I’ll never treat you like that. I promise. I would never do that to you. And I fucking like your stutter. It’s one of my favorite parts about you.”
He didn’t look like he was lying. He really didn’t.
I blinked at him, giving his shoulders a little squeeze. “You m-mean that?”
“Of course I do. I’m not a liar. And I promise you that the next time I see him, I’m kicking his fucking ass.” Evan’s voice was low and serious, his blue eyes so dark as that anger came back.
“You don’t have to do that for m-me. I know you two have known each other for a long time. And you’reteammates. I don’t want to b-be the reason for a rift. You guys still have to work together.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m killing him,” Evan said sharply.
Violence wasn’t something I condoned of after everything I had been through. And Asher could very easily do what he said he would in regards to my parents. He could still hurt them. I didn’t know how he’d do it, but hewouldand hecoulddo it. And Asher always came through with his threats. But that didn’t mean that I didn’t appreciate Evan’s protectiveness.
“Please don’t do that,” I said. “I don’t wanna b-be the reason for any drama.”
“I wish I had been there,” Evan continued. “I would have helped you. I swear to God I would have made sure every last fucking person stayed right away from you, Daisy.”
The tone he was using let me know that he meant every word he was saying. I moved my hands from his shoulders and Evan reached up, cupping my cheeks. His long fingers felt so good on my skin, his blue eyes dangerously enticing. Everything felt like it stopped in that moment. My heart, time, the sound of the gently crashing waves behind us. As Evan’s lips moved closer to mine, his fingers on my skin felt far too alluring for my liking. My body was right up against his. There Evan was, his lips just inches from my own. I so badly wanted to feel those lips, tofeelhim.
“Evan,” I let out. “I’ve n-never even b-been… I…” I couldn’t say the words.
“You’ve never been kissed?” he mumbled.
My head shook slowly.
“Do you want this?” he asked. “You want me?”
With a wildly beating heart, I nodded. Evan’s soft lips moved nearer and nearer to mine, and then the slowest second in the history of time passed by before he finally kissed me.
I heard Evan hum, his fingers stroking at my cheeks. He moved against my lips gently, softly, calmly. My shaky hands wrapped around his shoulders as Evan’s held me at my waist, pulling me closer to him. His broad chest was up against my breasts, my cheeks feeling hot as we kissed there with the ocean right next to us.
It was my first kiss ever. But Evan seemed skilled as his tongue slipped in between my lips, his strong hands feeling so good on my waist. My own hands were trembling as I got lost in the feeling of him. His touch was so warm, so alluring, so addictive. I needed more of him as his lips moved against mine, my heart thumping away in my chest.
Evan pulled away from me and I whined, already missing his lips. His forehead was up against mine again as he ran a thumb across my bottom lip.
“I swear I’ll look after you,” Evan said, his voice hushed. “You’re my girl now. I’m not letting anyone hurt you again.”
“Your g-girl?” I blinked up at him.
“All mine. You wanna be my girlfriend, don’t you? ‘Cause you can’t let me kiss those perfect lips just once. I need them again and again and again.” Evan slowly and softly pecked at my lips, my fingers trembling as they held his shoulders.
My heart soared as he said that. No one had ever shown me so much kindness and affection. Everything felt fuzzy. Like I was in some kind of wonderful dream I didn’t ever want to wake up from. But I knew who was standing before me was real. Evan wasn’t some made up fantasy or a figment of my imagination.
“You’re sweet,” I said softly. “And I wanna b-be yours, Evan. I do.”
Evan pecked my lips. “Mm. You’re sweeter.”
Chapter 18
EVAN
I was late for practice.
