Breathe into Me

by Fawkes, Sara

  “Fuck off,” Everett said good-naturedly as they rounded the house. He stopped when he saw the large vehicle in the driveway. “When did Lacey get home?”

  Trent jabbed Everett in the ribs with his elbow. “You should try focusing on the real world once in a while,” he said, ignoring Everett’s scowl. “She drove in when you were prancing around in the sprinklers.”

  The thought of seeing Lacey again quickened Everett’s pace, but Trent held back. “I’m going to get lunch, you want anything?”

  Everett nodded absently, heading for the house as Trent split off toward his car. Inside the house, he didn’t see Lacey in the living room or kitchen, so he headed up the stairs, taking them two at a time. Just the thought of her made his dick strain against his jeans, his heart rate going into overdrive. The need to touch her was intense; he could almost feel her presence in the house, and it made him hornier than ever.

  Lacey was standing in the center of the bedroom, wearing only a bra and panties. Her work clothes were lying on the floor, and belatedly Everett noticed the shorts and tank top on the bed. She turned when he came through the door and her eyes widened as he collided with her, sweeping her into a fierce kiss. He didn’t stop until she was pressed against the wall, her body molding into his as if they were made for one another.

  She gave a tiny sigh into his mouth, surrendering to the kiss, and it only inflamed him more. His hands went to her ass, covered only by the thin cotton panties, and he lifted her off the floor. She squeaked, surprised, and wrapped her legs around his waist. His actions made her own movements grow bolder; she tugged at his shirt, helping him out of it, then running her nails along his shoulders and back. “I missed you,” she murmured as Everett’s head dipped to her neck, sucking at the delicate skin.

  There was so much he wanted to say at that moment, emotions threatening to explode from him, but no words would come. He’d missed her and wanted her and needed her, and now, having her in his arms, pressed against his body, it still wasn’t enough. He needed to possess her, to know that she was his. Tearing his hands from her body was one of the hardest things he’d ever done as he unhooked his jeans, letting them fall down to the floor.

  Lacey’s hands didn’t stop their movements, running over his body like tiny coals setting him ablaze. He wasn’t the only one affected by their coupling; her breath was coming in short pants, her hands growing needier, tugging at him for more. He laid his mouth on her throat again as he freed himself, then pushed her panties down. She helped him, dropping one leg to let him remove the offending cloth, but Everett couldn’t wait. Winding his arm under her knee, he lifted her leg and spread her wide before surging inside.

  Lacey gasped, and for a moment Everett stopped, worried he might have hurt her. The nails in his back, however, told him otherwise, and when she arched into him with a loud groan he drew back and pressed in again. Lacey’s head went back against the wall, her lips parting slightly, as Everett pounded into her. “God, you feel so good,” he murmured, his voice raspy as if he hadn’t used it all day. She was like a warm silk glove around his cock, but it was more than that.

  This was Lacey. Here was everything he wanted, and he took it.

  He felt it when her body exploded, and smiled at her shocked cry. Everett enjoyed giving this girl pleasure. Her muscles trembled around him, only adding to his own sensations. He didn’t stop, driving inside her willing body, not caring when her nails made tracks across his shoulders.

  “Condom?”

  It took a second for the whispered word to register for Everett, so caught up was he in the moment. Desperately, he looked around for a small foil packet within reach, but the closest was on the other side of the bed. He bit back a groan, trembling against her as he stopped his pace, then felt her small hand push against his shoulder. Disappointment tore through him but he released her legs, letting her slide to the floor as he stepped back.

  Lacey’s hair covered her face so he couldn’t read her expression as she slid down the wall, then kept on going until she was on her knees before him. Everett stared down at her, stunned, as she winked up at him, and then took him inside her hot mouth.

  “Fuck!” Everett braced his hands against the wall in front of him, his entire body shaking. If he thought it was incredible before, it didn’t hold a candle to being inside her mouth. He closed his eyes and laid his head forward, one hand moving down to tangle in her silky hair. Her tongue skimmed along his length, flicking the tip of his cock before pulling him deep again. She wrung the orgasm from him, and he gave a hoarse cry as he came inside her mouth.

  “Goddamn,” he whispered, panting hard. Everett shuddered again as Lacey ran her fingernails up his calves and thighs, then he stepped back and helped her to her feet. “You are so fucking hot,” he breathed, his brain unable to register anything else at the moment.

  She gave him a smug smile, then kissed his cheek. “Welcome home.”

  He wanted to laugh at her words, but only managed a single breathy chuckle, still too wrung out. God, but she was so fucking fantastic. He’d tell her if he could string two words together, but that was proving impossible right then. All he could do was stare at her naked ass as she picked up her discarded underwear and bra.

  Lacey peeked over her shoulder at him. “Can I get dressed now?” she asked, a saucy note in her voice.

  Everett grinned, but before he could answer, somebody knocked on the door. “You guys decent?”

  Everett laughed loudly at the question.

  “Yeah, okay, stupid question,” Trent said through the door. “We, uh, have a guest. You mind coming downstairs?”

  He sounded worried, which in turn worried Everett. He let Lacey go, picking his pants up from the floor. “This isn’t over,” he murmured, kissing Lacey swiftly before she darted for the bathroom.

  Trent was waiting a respectful distance away from the door, an anxious look on his face. “Dude, you need to get downstairs.”

  The utter seriousness on Trent’s face melted away the last of Everett’s euphoria. He looked nervous, and Everett braced himself for bad news. “What’s wrong?”

  Trent opened his mouth to speak, only to be cut off as a woman’s voice called from below, “Everett?”

  Everything inside Everett stilled as he recognized the familiar voice. His hands curled into fists. “You let her in the house?”

  “No way, man, she let herself inside.”

  Everett glanced back at the room he’d just exited, and then at Trent, who looked pained. Dread filled him as Everett moved down the hall and stared downstairs.

  “Hello, Everett.”

  Anger bubbled up at even the simplest greeting. He barely remembered going down the stairs, so quickly were his steps. “What the hell are you doing here?”

  “I have as much right to be here as you.”

  Everett shook his head, unable to formulate words. Stalking to the entrance, he opened the door. “Get. Out.”

  Part of him was surprised when, after a short pause, the girl complied. “Everett, I just want to talk.”

  He slammed the door in her face.

  “You knew she’d find you eventually.” Trent stared back at him, a resigned expression on his face.

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  Trent didn’t seem inclined to let the matter rest. “Dude, she’s your—”

  “I don’t care.”

  Trent looked down at Everett’s clenched fists, and then sighed. “Fine, I’m shutting up.”

  “Everett?”

  His eyes closed as he heard Lacey’s voice behind him. “Is everything okay? Who was at the door?”

  There was a brittle note to her words, and he wondered how much she’d seen, but when he turned all he saw was concern on her face. Where to even start? Everett could only stare as Lacey came down the stairs, stopping at the base. She looked between the two boys, and Everett saw her swallow. “What’s going on?”

  Everett’s mouth worked soundlessly for a moment, then he blew
out a breath. “There’s probably some things I should tell you about me,” he started.

  “Who was she?” Lacey cut in, the darkening suspicion in her eyes breaking Everett’s heart.

  “She lives here, too, and doesn’t like getting kicked out of her own house.”

  The annoyed voice made everyone whirl around. Skye stood near the back door, managing to look both elegant and pissed. “You forgot I still had a key,” she said, waggling a keychain in her fingers.

  “Skye?”

  The other girl’s eyes flickered to Lacey, and both girls stared at one another. Lacey looked between Skye and Everett as if trying to make sense of everything.

  “This is your house?” Lacey asked.

  “I said I’ve seen it many times,” Skye said, not unkindly, “because it’s our house.” Then she cast a glance at Everett. “Are you going to tell her, or should I?”

  Everett’s chest squeezed as he saw the comprehension dawn on Lacey’s face. “But you said … I thought you two were…” She trailed off, a confused look on her face as she looked at Trent, then back to Everett. “You lied to me?”

  “Lacey …”

  She stumbled back a step, her eyes not leaving Everett’s face. Then she whirled around and stomped away toward the back door.

  Everett ran his hands through his hair, breathing hard. Fuck!

  “Everett, please …”

  He whirled around on Skye, pointing a finger at her. “You, out of the house. I don’t want to see you when I get back in.”

  Skye shrank back from Everett, and a pang went through his heart. Part of him wanted to cause her pain, to make them even, but her gaze only made him sadder. He glanced at Trent. “Make sure she gets out.”

  Abandoning Skye to his friend, Everett raced after Lacey, trying to figure out what to say that would fix everything.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Stupid, stupid!

  I ignored Everett’s calls, heading outside and away from everyone else, not wanting them to see me cry. All I wanted to do was run, keep running, get away from anyone and everything who let me down. My life consisted of one major disappointment after another, and I was tired of it all.

  He lied to me. Why do they always lie?

  “Lacey!”

  Everett’s voice wasn’t far behind me, and I just quickened my pace. “Leave me alone,” I yelled, rounding the house and making a beeline for my truck. I saw Skye being escorted to her car by Trent but ignored them, my only goal being to get out of there as quickly as possible. I’d barely touched the door when Everett’s fingers wrapped around my other wrist, stopping me.

  It would have been so satisfying to turn around and slap him, but I stood stock still, not moving a muscle. I heard his ragged breathing, but he stayed quiet, as if unsure what to say. My heart hammered, threatening to burst from my chest, and when his thumb stroked my wrist, my chest constricted painfully. “Let me go.”

  “Lacey, let me explain, please …”

  “No!” Wrenching my hand out of his grip, I whirled around. “I’m sick and tired of being lied to.”

  “I didn’t lie to you though!”

  “You told me you were housesitting,” I spat. “You made me think you were here just for the summer, that you were visiting.” The anger rose inside me like a sick bile, making me choke on my words. I pulled my truck door open but Everett leaned against it, his face desperate.

  “My parents had a house here,” he said, “but this isn’t where I grew up. Please, Lacey, just listen.”

  “I thought you cared about me, now I find out I never meant anything to you because you have a wife.”

  “A what? No no no, Lacey.” He tried to cradle my face, but I shook his hands off, too filled with disgust. “Skye isn’t my wife. She’s my sister. The house belongs to our parents.”

  “Your sister?” That confession only made me angrier, and I stabbed him in the chest with one finger. “You told me you didn’t have any siblings.”

  He raked a hand through his hair. “I don’t have a relationship with her—none whatsoever. But yes, I do have a sister.”

  “Then why didn’t you just say that? How am I supposed to know what’s true and what’s not?”

  “I’m so sorry, Lacey.”

  Everett looked wrecked, apologetic lines etched deep into his face, but it wasn’t enough for me. “Goddammit,” I moaned, pushing past him onto the grass, “I’m sick to death of all the lies. You tell me you’re from New York …”

  “I am,” he said, but I wouldn’t even look at him. “I grew up there. It’s practically all I know.”

  “I shouldn’t be surprised you would disappoint me, too.” I laughed, the sound high and wild. “Everyone I ever cared about or looked up to has done it, why not you? First my father, and then when the police …”

  “Police?” Everett asked when I trailed off. “What happened?”

  “Screw you.” The old, familiar anger surged through me, and the urge to hit something was overwhelming. I wanted to curse him, drive him away, but mostly I just wanted to leave. “Let me go,” I said, hating how my voice broke.

  “If I let you go, you won’t come back.”

  He was right about that. All I wanted to do at that moment was run away from the hell I was living in. Anywhere had to be better than here. I stayed motionless, staring at a patch of grass, as Everett moved in close. “Who else lied to you?” Everett murmured, tucking an errant bit of hair behind my ear. “Help me understand.”

  I leaned into his touch, hating myself for that weakness. “After that night, after the video of what happened to me circulated through my high school…” My breath shuddered in and out. “I went to the police and told them what I knew. That I’d been raped, and could prove it.” I swallowed, still able to feel the horror of that moment now. “I was so stupid, so naïve. I was sure that, if I showed them the video, they would arrest the boys and stop all of the abuse toward me. I thought … I thought they could fix it, that they would make it all go away.

  “Do you know what they said to me after I’d shown them the whole thing?” I felt my face crumple, and I fought against breaking down. “‘You seem to be enjoying yourself.’”

  “Oh, Lacey.”

  “I-I thought if they saw it, they’d believe me.” A hiccupped sob escaped me. “Someone recognized one of the boys as a son of a deputy in the building. One of the deputies knew my grandmother and called her, saying I was making false accusations at the police department …”

  Everett wrapped his arms around me, holding me upright when I would have collapsed. I was trembling so hard that speaking was difficult, but I tried. I had to make him understand. “Meanwhile, they showed the v-video to several people and wouldn’t give me my phone back, saying it was evidence …”

  “God, Lacey, I’m so sorry.”

  “I knew I’d made a mistake, but it was too late. I didn’t say anything more, but by the time my grandmother showed up, nobody believed me. She only made it worse, letting them all know who my father was, and what she’d done to him, as if that were proof somehow …”

  Everett’s arms tightened around me and I trailed off, trembling against him. He pressed me back against the Bronco’s door but there was nothing sexual in his touch, only comfort. I squeezed my eyes shut and laid my forehead against his shoulder, unable to stop the tears from leaking out. I’d never told anyone my side of the story, although people knew the details. In their versions, however, I was the villain not the victim, the girl trying to ruin the lives of three fine boys.

  “My parents weren’t around most of my life.”

  Everett’s words pulled me back to the present but I didn’t move, only stood there in his arms as he continued. “My sister and I were raised by nannies, then later in boarding schools. Yes, this house belongs to my family; yes, I was born in Gulfport. But my parents wanted more, they wanted New York, and by the time I was eight I barely had any memory of living full time in this place.”

  I
wrapped my arms around him, clinging tightly like he was a lifeline as his voice droned on. “We came here every year, making it more like a vacation home than our family’s legacy. I looked forward to those vacations because it meant I had my parents to myself. I played with Trent, got to know his father, but I never really belonged. What used to be something that lasted all summer, though, gradually lessened to a month, then to a few weeks, then to maybe a week. Meanwhile, we stayed in boarding schools during the year and rarely saw our own parents.”

  He took a deep breath before continuing. “My father was an investment banker who worked his way up to chief financial officer at a major firm. He’s poised to take over now as CEO, taking over for some billionaire who wants out. My mother is a writer and motivational speaker who spends more time on the road than at home. They rarely called, wrote, or contacted us while we were in school, but made up for it with extravagant gifts. Looking back on it, I was miserable, but at the time I didn’t see it that way.”

  “Why didn’t you just tell me that?” I asked. “Would it have been so hard to tell me the truth?”

  “Yes,” Everett said quietly. “Because I don’t want to be that person anymore. I wanted a fresh start. A chance to be a better man.” He trailed off, and I looked up into his pinched face. He looked pained, as if remembering that part of his life hurt, something with which I could relate. My eyes met his, and he stroked my face. “Being raised like that does something to you, makes you want to bring others down to your own level of misery. I was a good son, did everything to make my family proud. With others, though, I could be cruel. It helped alleviate the boredom and made me feel better, at least for a little while.”

  “So what changed you?”

  A shadow came over Everett’s face, and he swallowed hard. “Getting away from all that,” he mumbled, looking away. “I’d done things, caused irreparable damage to lives …”

  “Like what?”

  His brow furrowed, creases I’d never seen before forming around his eyes. “Please don’t make me tell you that,” he pleaded, suddenly looking old, “not right now.”