Page 82 of Forever Wild
Me
No need to thank me.
In fact, please don’t, then I’ll feel less like an asshole.
Tyler
She’s not acting like herself lately and I’m worried she’s going to bail on this internship. You don’t think things with the trainer could be serious, right?
Me
Nah, I don’t think so.
I stop in the kitchen, staring down at our messages. My immediate thought to Everly not acting like herself is fuck no, but the more I consider it, the less sure I am.
Is she seriously considering staying because of me? It seems out of character for her but if she’s feeling even a fraction of what I am, then maybe it’s not so far-fetched. I feel sick at the prospect. I know how hard she’s worked over the years. She wouldn’t throw that away.
That would be a mistake, even if I don’t want her to go. I was joking about feeling old, but more than ten years separate us. Ten really critical years. She has so much life to still live, and I’m set in my life and career. It wouldn’t be fair to her. Not when we’ve barely spent any time exploring whatever this is between us.
Tyler
Anyway, don’t tell her I was checking in on her. It’ll just make her pull away from me more and I don’t want to risk her getting mad and doing something dumb like bailing on the internship. She has so much potential. I just know she’s going to do amazing things.
I glance out the window at her. So full of life and excitement. He’s right. She has so much to look forward to, and unfortunately, none of it is here in my backyard.
24
SOFT
EVERLY
I have a permanent smile on my face that I can’t seem to do anything about. Even as I try to fake sleep when Jack walks toward me after finishing his workout, my smile gives me away.
Giving up, I push my sunglasses to the top of my head. “Hey.”
His mouth is pulled down at the corners, but his expression is soft. “Hungry?”
“Starving.” I take in the hard ridges of muscles in his chest and stomach, and the sweat that glistens in the sunlight.
His body is incredible. Years of training and discipline have sculpted every inch of him to perfection. I’ve never particularly enjoyed giving blowjobs but going down on Jack could easily become my new favorite hobby.
All that control and discipline is sexy, but there’s something addicting about how soft he can be too. For days he hovered over me, making sure I had everything I needed. It was sonice I’m almost sad I’m all better.
He sits on the lounge chair beside me and hands over a water. “I ordered Chinese from that place you like. It should be here in about five minutes?”
A pleased smile curves my lips and my stomach dips. See? Soft. I sit up and move to the edge of the chair, so my knees fit in the space between his. “How will I ever repay you?”
My hands slide up his massive thighs, but he catches them in his and stops my ascent.
“I have to head out for a while.”
“Oh.” I think back to earlier. I’m sure he didn’t mention any plans. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.” He stands too quickly and won’t quite meet my eyes.
“When will you be back?”
“I’m not sure. Late, maybe, but stay as long as you’d like. Enjoy the pool.”
