Evolve Series (Complete Box Set)

by S. E. Hall

  “Put me down!” I scream, banging on his back. “If your parakeet’s in that car laughing at me, I’m gonna kick her ass!”

  I feel him laugh under me, but I don’t see what’s so funny. He throws me across the seat from his side, banging my butt against the console, and locks the doors before I can scramble out. Well, at least there’s no one else in the car; a small consolation.

  “Are you kidnapping me? You’re crazier than I am.”

  He doesn’t answer me, just removes his jacket and dresses me in it like a child…like I’m acting. Car finally moving, Dane just stares straight ahead and drives in the opposite direction of the dorm. The longer we ride, the more I realize I have no idea where we’re going, but I refuse to break the uncomfortable silence to ask. I lean my head against the window and close my eyes, trying to sleep off this EPIC DAY.

  EXPOSED

  I wake up when Dane opens my door, causing my head to fall forward. It takes a minute to get my bearings; we appear to be in a garage. Dane reaches in and picks me up, then shuts the door with his foot.

  “Where are we?” I ask groggily.

  “My house,” he answers as he comes to an interior door. “Open that.” His hands are full of me, so I lean over and do so. We walk into a kitchen, obviously made for Rachael Ray, as Dane kicks the door closed behind him. Just this room is bigger than my childhood home—well, almost—miles of beautiful dark granite and cherry wood cabinets. All the appliances are shiny stainless steel and the massive fridge could hold everything I own.

  “Dane, why did you bring me here? I don’t want your parents to see me like this,” I sputter, looking up at him desperately from the cradle hold he still has me in.

  “They’re not here, no one is.” He sets me down on my feet.

  “I-I need to call Bennett.” I realize I don’t even have my phone with me; it’s back in my room…along with my shoes.

  “I called Tate on the way. She knows you’re safe and with me.” He moves to the fridge and starts pulling things out, placing them on the large island. “Sit down, let’s get you fed.”

  I take a seat on the large barstool at the island and put my face into my arms on the counter. “Why’d you bring me here? Won’t your girlfriend be wondering why you just ditched her?”

  He turns back to me and lets out an exasperated sigh. “Let’s get that cleared up right now. Whitley is not, nor has she ever been, my girlfriend. And before you ask, no, I have never slept with her. You want ham or turkey?”

  “Ham, please, mustard only.” Wait…what? We’re just gonna move right on to sandwich talk? Um no, we’re not. “Sure didn’t look that way tonight, Casanova, she was all over you. How’d she do on her photo shoot?” WHY, again WHY, do I care? And why do I keep opening my mouth like a jealous, insecure idiot? One minute I’m screaming at him to walk away because he doesn’t even know me, the next minute I’m asking him to explain himself.

  I truly don’t like myself right now.

  “I saw her outside the building and she walked up, shitfaced. Her friend lives in the building but didn’t answer her door. I’ve never taken her to the studio, much like any other girl, and if you’re gonna keep saying it, you could at least enlighten me why you think it.” He slides my sandwich over to me, staring at me like I have two heads. “No games, Laney, remember? Tell me what it is you think you know.” His eyes and tone are glacial and I feel the chill.

  “When Tate saw the picture you printed me, he smirked that you had taken me to the studio,” I say with venom. “I got the impression it was a regular thing.” My head drops and I let my now-dry hair fall in front of my face. I want to hide from the vulnerability that consumes me.

  He dips his head to meet my eyes, pushing my hair behind my ear. “Look at me, lovely.” He tilts my quivering chin to him. “That’s not what he meant, and I’m sorry you were made to feel bad. You’re the only girl I have ever taken to a personal photo shoot. I know it’s important to girls to know this kind of thing, and yes, you’re the first and the only; it was special for you.” He taps the end of my nose lightly with his index finger. “There, one problem solved. Now eat something.”

  He takes a big bite of his own sandwich and turns to get us both a bottle of water out of the fridge. Sliding mine across to me, he says, “I gotta tell ya though, Laney, for someone with a boyfriend, you sure like calling me out on my supposed female shit.”

  OUCH. Memo to self, be ready to take it if you’re gonna dish it out with Dane.

  He’s obviously assumed Evan is my boyfriend based on whatever it is he and Bennett have discussed behind my back, but I’ve had enough humiliation tonight, so I’ll let him stew on that misconception a little longer.

  “You’re absolutely right. It’s none of my business and I’m out of line. I just…I haven’t felt special since I got to college, and you made me feel that way. It hurt to think it wasn’t. I’m sorry.” I was wrong before, this is what a fool feels like.

  “Doesn’t Evan do things to make you feel special?” His voice has softened.

  “Oh, God yes, all the time. That’s probably why I miss it so bad.”

  “And now he’s banging skanks? Big leap.” So he’d caught every word I’d ranted earlier and was going to call me out on them one by one. Normally I’d kibosh this, but I’d put it all out there and I’ll be leaving soon anyway, never to see him again, so I might as well get it off my chest.

  “I don’t know what he’s doing. We haven’t talked in a while.” I get up to put my plate by the sink; I’ve had all I can stomach. “I feel a lot better; can you take me back now?”

  “Why don’t you stay here and relax? There’s plenty of room and I’ll get you back in the morning.” He waits for me to say something, I guess, but I don’t. “You’re safe here, Disney.”

  I’m back to Disney now, he must not be mad at me anymore.

  “I don’t want to impose, really, I feel better. And I’m sorry, Dane, I really am pretty low maintenance most of the time.” I sigh. “I just lost it.”

  “I know, and you wouldn’t be imposing. It’s lonely in this huge house, Laney. Why do you think I’m at the dorms all the time? Come on, I’ll give you a tour.” He comes over and takes my hand, pulling me to a new part of the mansion.

  Right out of the kitchen is a large living room with a huge stone fireplace as the focal point. The furniture is beige leather, all oversized, and the couch faces a wall completely taken up by the largest flat screen TV made, I’m sure of it.

  “Well, remind me never to watch movies here.” I fake a scoff. “I mean, how would I see it on that teeny tiny thing?”

  He gives me a smirk but doesn’t shoot back a retort.

  The long hall holds several doors he doesn’t open and leads to an open foyer with marble flooring. There stands the largest floating staircase I’ve ever seen, and to the left, a dining area hosting an enormous mahogany table with about twenty chairs. To the right is a sunken den that houses a beautiful grand piano, which makes me wonder if Dane plays.

  In the corner is a set of French doors that I’m sure lead to the backyard. While it’s all beautiful and immaculate, it feels cold. Sterile. I didn’t see a single picture. There’re no worn out recliners where dads watch the game, no throws on the couch, and no catch-all spot with papers and junk…it’s not a home; the word mausoleum comes to mind.

  Dane leads us up the stairs and to the left to show me a full gym, like “please fill out this application for your membership” full gym. There’s at least one of any piece of equipment you could name, most of which I can’t, and that’s saying something, since I’m a freaking athlete. The walls are solid mirrors with speakers along the ceiling intermittently and oh, of course, a small bar in the corner…why, sure. It’s the sleekest gym I’ve ever seen, but it would intimidate the hell out of me with all those mirrors.

  “Wow,” is all I can think to say.

  He just laughs and pulls me out and further down the hall…to the place I’d like to
be buried. It’s the biggest and best home theater in the whole wide world! I can’t help the gasp that escapes me; it’s fabulous. There are four rows of seats, which are big and fluffy, not hard-backed and stiff, with headphones and cup holders. The screen itself is massive and oh my God, the room is the perfect temperature—I can feel my toes! The whole right wall is shelves lined with movies, and I can’t decide whether to cry or get down on my knees and pay homage. I guess he sees the look in my eyes.

  “I figured you’d like this. Just imagine Disney in here.” He smirks at me. He read my mind. He starts to pull me by the hand to continue the tour and I dig in my heels and beg to stay in here, to which he laughs. “Come on, you can come back any time you want.”

  I am so holding him to that. I’m kinda in a daze now and after some twists and turns, I see a number of bedrooms that I barely register. They’re all luxurious if not plain with their own bathrooms and huge tubs, but that’s all I remember. Until we finally arrive in the one he tells me is his.

  His room isn’t representative of how I think of him at all. It’s barren and bleak with lots of black, white, and gray. The only noteworthy thing about it is the biggest bed I’ve ever seen in my life, with large posts in dark wood, facing a fireplace. There’s a balcony that he takes me out to, and from it, you can look down into his backyard paradise…which belongs on MTV. There’s a waterfall, a cave, a rock slide, and an in-pool bar with a TV above it. Now, how the hell does that happen in water? And how is the water a deep sapphire blue rather than normal pool blue?

  “And there you have it,” I say and he laughs under his breath.

  “To the left over there, you can’t see right now, are basketball and tennis courts. No softball field though…yet.” He bumps my shoulder with his playfully.

  “Dane, this place is, well, it’s overwhelming. I can’t believe you l-live here,” I stutter shamelessly. This is the part where I’m supposed to act all composed and unimpressed, I’m sure, but he had me at the home theater. This place is paradise and I’m flabbergasted.

  “I sleep here sometimes, yeah; not a lot of living goes on here, though. It’s just a lot of space.” He answers me with sadness, a sorrow that reminds me I’m not the only one with issues in my life. “So you want me to show you to a room? I know you have school tomorrow, you should probably get to bed.” He turns to lead me back in the house.

  “Seriously, Dane, you can just take me back. I’m sure Tate’s gone by now. I’ll be fine. I just lost it for a minute. I’m not going postal or anything, I promise.” I offer him a sheepish smile. “As embarrassed as I am, it actually felt pretty good to get it out for once.”

  “I get it, Laney, I promise. Everyone hits their breaking point once in a while. Don’t you dare be embarrassed, okay?” He lifts my chin and catches my eyes with is. “How about this? If you’re not too tired, let’s grab a glass of wine and chill in the grotto; we can talk some more. Sound good?”

  I know I can’t fall asleep right now, and talking to Dane somehow puts me at ease. He’s got this soothing effect about him, like he could solve anything that came his way effortlessly.

  “Yeah, that sounds real good right about now.” I take a deep breath and feel even more of the tension leave my body.

  He leads me back down the stairs and through the doors that do, in fact, lead to the backyard. Walking down the cutest little pathway, with in-ground lights and a beautiful floral border, we come to a pool house that could easily be someone’s apartment.

  “In that room,” he says, pointing, “should be plenty of bathing suit options. Pick whatever you like, there’s a bathroom to change in. I’ll meet you in the pool.” And with that, he turns to leave.

  With a moment to myself, I stop to make sense of my thoughts. Dane is lonely, and comforting, and rich…I mean rich. So why does Tate live in a dorm? How far is this place from school? Why am I selecting from bikinis on a school night? Why is Dane so nice to me? Why do I trust a guy who keeps a bikini selection on hand for his guests?

  I don’t know the answer to a single one of those things, and at the moment, I don’t care. The soft sounds of music drift from somewhere as I slip on the beautiful green bikini I’ve selected, praising myself for not being behind on lady upkeep. I try to ignore the price tag I remove, but fail; the price is obscene. I feel strange but alive as I walk out towards the pool, like I’m in an alternate universe. Laney Jo Walker doesn’t do late night swims with sexy, soothing young millionaires—I am sooo out of my element right now.

  WINDOW

  “There you are, I thought I was gonna have to come look for you,” I say as I hand her a glass of wine and take a drink of my own. “I see you found something that fits; looks good.”

  I take her in from head to toe, suppressing the growl trying to escape. Laney stands shyly before me, arms wrapped low around her stomach, in a bikini. Her stance and the trepidation in her eyes floor me. How in the hell is this girl so unaware of her effect? The moonlight and slight glow from the pool give me just enough light to brazenly look my fill. She is without a doubt the sexiest girl I’ve ever seen.

  Her dark blonde hair will no doubt look brown when she gets it wet. Her kind eyes are almost hazel in the daylight, but at night, or when she’s hiding a feeling from me, they turn a deep, rich brown. Her lips are plump and she wets them when she’s nervous or stalling before speaking, just a quick little dart of her tongue.

  Gawking lower, I can’t help but smile as I see what will forever be my favorite part of her, one little freckle on her chest, perfectly in the middle, right above her cleavage…my new North Star. Barely covered now by green material, I see her breasts are ample and perfect. My fingertips itch to graze across them.

  She knows I’m looking, her nipples harden and poke against her suit and she moves her sculpted arms higher to cover her tell. I love her modesty. Once she’s mine, I know she’ll never let anyone else see or touch what belongs to me. I’ll bet anything she’s a virgin and as caveman as it may be, it brings out every territorial feeling possible within me.

  Her stomach is flat, but has a womanly curve to it, along with her hips; she has the perfect mix of athletic tone and downiness. Those legs, they seem to go on forever, and they, too, show she plays some ball. I lift my eyes to hers and twirl one finger in the air, telling her to turn around for me, and she does.

  “Slowly,” I grunt. Fuck me, I knew her ass was nice, clothes don’t hide that, but my dick didn’t go hard looking at it until now. It’s high and tight, perfection. I’ve always been an ass man, but now I’m a Laney Man; damn, she’s hot. I have to admit to myself, though, I honestly like her just as much in her princess jammies. Absolutely adorable.

  I walk up to her back and place one hand softly on her shoulder, enjoying the feel of her tremble at my touch. You’ll learn that touch, Laney. You and I will one day speak with no words. “Come on, Disney, let’s get in. The hot tub will do you good.” I breathe onto her neck and watch the goosebumps appear over her arms.

  “Okay,” she whispers.

  Slowly, I guide her into the water, my hand at the small of her back. Her skin is like silk. I have to rein in the temptation to pummel her to the ground and ravage her. Once we’re settled in the warm water, I see her visibly relax some; she’s always wound so tight. She always has a guard up, her eyes always hold just a tinge of fright. Earning her trust will be my greatest accomplishment; I already know this on a molecular level.

  “Dane, why are you so nice to me?” she mutters, not looking at me.

  Oh, this sweet woman before me. Are people not usually nice to her? How can that possibly be? She’s amazing. “I told you, Disney, there’s something about you I like, a lot.”

  “Even after my hysterics tonight?”

  She’s so worried about that. I actually thought it was pretty cute. Her cheeks were all red, barefoot, wet hair, spitting mad…yeah, she’s something to behold. I love that part of her anger was jealousy. Even though she may not fully understand
it yet and feels guilty about it, she’s jealous and I like it.

  “Especially after your hysterics tonight. You let go. I liked seeing it. I knew you had a fire in you the moment I met you, and tonight it came out—I’m glad.” Oh yeah, little fireball had threatened to take a bat to Whitley the first night I met her. Classic.

  I could’ve killed Whitley for falling all over me tonight, again. That girl needs to lay off. I don’t want Laney to think I’m in any way unavailable to her or that I would ever give Whitley the time of day. I’m every bit as picky as Laney is…and I pick Laney.

  Laney was so upset tonight that she’d revealed a lot more than I’m guessing she normally would. Laney and Evan haven’t been talking, and she’d seemed more upset that he hasn’t called than at the possibility of him sleeping with other girls. In our close knit group, people talk, so I know he’s not her boyfriend, yet she hadn’t corrected me tonight when I referred to him as such.

  There’s something off about it all, but one thing I’m sure of now—I have a window. The instant, overwhelming obsession I’ve developed for this girl now doesn’t seem so farfetched. For the first time, I can dare to let myself see the real possibility of having this girl for my own. But I have to tread lightly. I already know her well enough to know she won’t pursue “us” seriously while anything with him is unsettled; she won’t hurt him…it’s this very character I adore. Laney’s a good person, she’s loyal and she’s honest.

  She takes a deep breath and blows it out slowly. “I told you a lot tonight; things I don’t talk about, ever. I feel exposed now, vulnerable. Just when you were convinced I’m all cool anti-drama girl, I spew pretty much everything wrong in my life, all at once.”

  Her chuckle is insincere, like she doesn’t really think this is funny and she’s horrified that I might suspect she’s crazy. I don’t. I think she’s radiant and mesmerizing and all alone for the first time, a bit scared.

  “Don’t. I will never use your weaknesses against you. Besides, I have plenty of other weapons in my arsenal.” I wink at her to lighten the mood, but inside I know it’s a monumental step—she already opened up to me so she trusts me on some level, and I her. “Would you like some more wine?” I’m not trying to get her drunk; I truly just want to see her relax. I want to hear anything she needs to unload. I want to see her smile.