by Allie York
I go through the story as he drives, moving away from my apartment and toward the rolling hills and farms outside of town. I start looking around frantically, so immersed in my story that I didn’t realize we aren’t going to my apartment. Before I can even ask, Everett answers me.
“I didn’t say whose home. I’ll take care of you tonight.” A rakish smile graces his lips in the passing streetlight, and I feel the heat rise in my face before settling on my cheeks. The truck turns up a gravel drive lined with thick trees and stops in front of a massive log cabin. Something very stupid in me trusts Everett completely, and I don’t even question going to his house alone.
“You live here?” I ask stupidly as the garage doors open to reveal another truck and a motorcycle along with a huge workshop. The place is sprawling, like a cabin you would see in a painting, and absolutely beautiful. It’s more like a resort than a home.
“Yeah, Boss, I live here.” The truck goes silent, and I’m suddenly reminded that I went home with a man I barely know. Granted, he did save me from a very unfortunate fate, but I’m shocked at calmness. Everett laughs lightly, jumping out of the truck and walking confidently around to my side. The door opens, and he lifts me out by my hips, setting me gently on the ground.
“Your ankle all right?”
My left ankle is swollen and scraped from my fall, and putting pressure on it has me grabbing his bicep and whimpering. Geez, that bicep. Without another word, I’m scooped off my feet and carried through a mud room and up a set of stairs to the most luxurious bathroom I have ever seen. The entire thing is slate gray with white accents and a double sink. The shower is huge with enough jets to wash his whole crew at once. Now there’s a thought.
Everett sets me onto the counter and wordlessly sets first-aid supplies on the counter. I peek at myself in the mirror and gasp, making Everett jerk to watch me. Mascara streaks my face, the bump on the side of my head is an angry purple and bleeding, and the thin cut on my neck is weeping blood onto my torn blouse. If not for Everett’s shirt, I would be completely exposed down to my white lace bra.
I’m pulled from my pity party when my shoe is tugged from my sore foot and rough hands go to work rubbing it softly, cleaning the scrape. “Mr. Jennings—” I wince when he touches a tender spot in the wound.
“Everett.”
“Everett, I can do this. I promise I’ll be fine.” He looks disappointed but continues cleaning before applying a bandage and wrapping it to help the sprain. His hand runs up my calf to my knee where he cleans it and applies antibiotic ointment. Goosebumps follow his fingers up my leg, and I shudder. This should not turn me on. With him stopped in front of me, gently taking care of my wounds, I can really appreciate the cut muscles and sheer strength of his whole body. He’s so massive up close and smells amazing. The earthy, manly scent has me feeling a little drugged.
Everett holds his hand out, climbing to his feet, and eyes my hand. “I’m sure you can do it just fine, but I’ll take care of you.” His phone rings in his pocket and he tugs it out, swiping the screen. “Jennings.” Everett props the phone on his shoulder and continues cleaning my hand, bandaging it too. “Sorry, man, I had an emergency to take care of and cut out. I can get that to you tomorrow; it’s in my truck.” I look over his tanned face and hazel eyes, letting my heart rate speed up with every little touch he lays on me. “Dex, I may be a bit late in the morning, but make sure to keep them on the job. Thanks, man.” He tosses the phone onto the counter and reaches for my neck. I wince, jumping back involuntarily.
“Sorry.” I know Everett would never hurt me, he just saved me. “I’m just jumpy.” I lower his shirt enough for him to clean that cut too, his calloused hands brushing my skin and making me breathless. The last thoughts I should be having are about having those hands all over my body, but I am. I’m having them enough to make me need to shift uncomfortably.
“This one has me worried.” Those hands touch my chin, tilting my head so he can clean the cut on my head. The cool rag touches it, and I suck in a painful breath. “That is going to hurt like a bitch in the morning, but your pupils look okay.” I cling to the edge of the counter while Everett packs up the supplies, and when he puts the bag away, he takes off my other shoe. “Put that shirt on and we’ll get you to bed, Boss.” Without letting me answer, he leaves me alone, and I sit puzzled until I hear him moving around outside the door. With the knowledge that he could burst back in at any second, I remove my skirt and ripped blouse, replacing it with his flannel shirt. Everett is a good eight to ten inches taller than me and about twice as wide, so the shirt looks like a night gown on me, hitting just above my knees. I lift the sleeve to my nose and take in the intoxicating, masculine smell. Earth, soap, and all man. I fold my clothes, use a wet cloth to clean up my face, removing the black circles under my eyes, and open the door to find Everett filling the doorway, arms crossed and waiting.
“Jesus.” I jump painfully, making myself dizzy, and I’m caught with a strong arm on my waist. “I take it you aren’t driving me back to my car.”
Everett chuckles. “Not til tomorrow. You can’t drive right now, Boss. Let’s get to bed.” His eyes rake over me from head to toe and a noise comes from his chest, his hand tightening on my waist. Suddenly, all the air leaves my body, and the look on his face makes me blush from head to toe. “My shirt looks better on you.” I start to tug it back up on my shoulder, but his hand covers mine. “Leave it.” I always call the shots, never taking orders well, but Everett has me jumping to attention, doing anything he asks.
I’m scooped back up, arms going around his neck, and I let my head fall onto his chest, inhaling deeply. Sure, the man saved me and has gone out of his way to bandage me up and carry me around, but I shouldn’t be swooning like an idiot in his arms. I have walked on eggshells around every man in my life. My father, other employees of his company, and even teachers. Everett makes me feel safe, like nothing I do or say is wrong. I try not to think about how sexy he is and how badly I would love for him to take me in a very un-boss-like way. I’ve watched him work, and the idea of all those muscles being put to use on me is really appealing.
Across the hall is a bedroom, a huge one with a king-sized bed and a bay window. A flat-screen hangs on the wall and everything is a soothing dark blue. “Everett, you can’t know how much I appreciate what you did for me.” Everett sets me softly on the turned-down bed, grabbing an extra pillow to prop my leg.
“But?” His tone is dismissive, and he smiles like he’s being polite, not really asking.
“But I really should go home. My car is in the garage, and I don’t want it towed. I’m fine now.” My argument is weak at best, because I am not fine, but I can’t sleep in his bed. It’s strange and sudden; no matter how long I’ve fantasized about it, and no matter how safe I feel with Everett, it’s too much. If I’m honest, I barely know him.
“You’re not going anywhere.” Everett shakes his head, pulling the blanket over me. “You can’t drive on that ankle and may have a concussion.”
“I’ll sleep on the couch. I can’t kick you out of your bed.” I start to sit up but freeze when I see him unbutton his jeans and slowly unzip them. Holy shit. I should look away, but I can’t. He drops the jeans, leaving black boxers to cover the very large and obvious important parts, and reveals toned, muscled thighs. I get a great view of the back when Everett bends to grab some flannel pants. My mouth literally falls open, and I snap it closed again.
“Like what you see?” My eyes dart from his ass to his smirk, and I immediately look away, knowing I got caught staring. “And you’re not kicking me out of bed, so quit arguing.” Once his pants are on, Everett strips out of the shirt and my jaw drops, again. His shoulders and chest are sculpted to perfection, giving way to perfect chiseled abs and that V capable of making all women stupid. The whole muscular package is made even sexier by the light brown hair on his chest that turns into a trail that disappears under his waistband. Another white shirt replaces the one he p
eeled off and he catches me staring with my mouth hanging open like a moron … again. I can’t look away; it’s like a magnetic pull on my gaze as I move it back up to his stubbled face. He gives me a quick knowing wink and the lights go off. The bed dips and Everett sighs. My heart jumps into my throat.
“Everett …”
“If you need anything, wake me up, don’t try to get up. I don’t want you falling. If you start feeling dizzy, or sick, or start hurting worse, get me up. Good night, Boss.” I feel him shift and a large, rough hand grazes my cheek and neck, settling on my shoulder with an arm across my collarbone.
“Night,” I whisper. My heartrate slows, and a sense of calm washes over me. I close my eyes and try to rest, drifting off into a light sleep, the exhaustion hitting me hard, but soon, visions of the alley are flooding back to me. My eyes fly open, but the darkness in the room is just as terrifying. I was almost raped, I could have been killed, and it could happen again. I was completely helpless, and the realization is haunting.
I’m snapped out of my fear when an arm lays across my stomach. “Nothing like tonight will ever happen to you again, Morgan. I swear it.” I’m instantly calmer. In the eight months I’ve known Everett, he’s never used my name until now, and I believe every word coming from his mouth. With his reassurance, I settle back down next to him, inching closer, and fall asleep.
Chapter Four
Everett
The beginning of dawn hits Morgan’s face where she’s curled against me in the center of the bed. We started on opposite sides, but as the night went on, she moved closer and closer until her face was in my neck and her hand rested on my chest. It’s everything I’ve wanted for months—well, not everything, but close enough. Morgan has her lips parted slightly, breathing deep and calm against my skin. I let my rough fingers touch her smooth skin, starting at her cheek and moving down to her chin. A few freckles are scattered across her nose and cheeks. I brush the pad of my thumb over them, making her stir slightly. My dick is hard as a fucking rock, but I ignore it. I shouldn’t be waking her up, but I’ve waited so long to touch her. When my hand wraps lightly around the curve of her neck and I brush the line of her throat, Morgan’s eyes flutter open and she looks shocked for a second.
“Good morning.” I keep my hand’s descent down her throat to trace her collarbone over to her bare shoulder.
“Good morning.” Her voice is soft and a little strained. “I feel like I got hit by a truck, twice.” The bump on her head is black and blue with a scab forming in the center of the ugly wound. The cut on her neck is not as bad as it could be, but still makes me fucking livid. I should have followed her off the site. I should have gotten to her faster. I should have killed the fucker.
“I can get you something to help with that, but it’s gonna hurt for a while.” Morgan stretches her neck out and winces. My hand immediately starts kneading the back of her neck and she relaxes.
“How did you know to come find me?” Her ice-blue eyes close as I rub the tension from her neck and she curls further into me. It was really just all dumb luck, but I’m so glad I found her when I did.
“I was running to my truck to get something for Dex and heard you. Didn’t know it was you until you yelled for me to stop beating the guy.” I move down to her shoulder, being gentle, but working the knots out. “I shoulda killed the fucker.”
“I wasn’t sure who was beating who.” Her eyes caught mine, locking me in place. God, I have wanted her for so long. Those full pink lips, dangerously sexy curves, and fiery hair have been taunting me for months. “I thought … I know he was going to rape me.” Morgan’s eyes fill with tears, and I pull her into me, relishing the intimacy of us in bed together. Her letting me comfort her, being there for her, means so much to me. Morgan doesn’t know it, but it’s the beginning of something that’s been coming for a long time. I’ve seen her watch me, the way she looks at me. The Boss and I are going to be amazing.
“You’re safe now. How about some breakfast?” I don’t want to pull away, but I do before I do something stupid, and climb out of the bed before helping her to her feet. Morgan lowers her sprained ankle to the floor and slowly puts weight on it, holding tight to my forearm.
“I think I’m okay.” I get a small smile and she gets a little deeper under my skin. I’ve thrown caution to the wind already, tossing our professional relationship out the damn window, so I lean down and kiss her forehead. Her nails curl into my arm and her other hand reaches to touch my face.
“Thank you, Everett.” Her hands fall away from me, and I leave her next to the bed to go down and cook breakfast. It takes god-like self-control to not carry her down with me and tell her she’s staying, or push her back onto the bed and claim what’s mine.
When Morgan makes it downstairs, she is still wearing my shirt paired with her skirt, and her hair is fixed in a ponytail that hits her shoulders. Those light-blue eyes scan the kitchen and stop on the French doors that lead out to the deck. Morgan limps over to the doors and sets her shoes down to open them before stepping out into the foggy morning. I click off the stove and plate the eggs, watching her move to the far end of the porch and look out over the woods beyond my yard. I set the island for breakfast, pouring coffee, and think how right it is. Morgan in my bed, me feeding her breakfast and taking care of her. The thought to tell her crosses my mind, but I know she can’t possibly feel the same, so I keep my mouth shut. My boss may be grateful that I saved her, but women like Morgan McPhearson marry wealthy business men, not construction workers, but I’ll play the part until I have to go back to being an employee.
“You built it?” Morgan settles across from me, sipping her coffee and eyeing me. I nod. “This huge house complete with a pool and gazebo, is just for you?” I watch her take a bite of her eggs and she smiles.
“When I built it, I hoped I would have a family to fill it someday, but so far I’m enjoying it alone. My goal is to have a wife and a whole bunch of kids to fill the empty space.” I want nothing more than to come home and be greeted by little red-headed kids and Morgan with my baby in her, but again, I can’t tell her that. Not yet.
“I hope you get what you want, Everett.” There is so much sincerity in her voice that it nearly brings me to my knees begging.
We finish breakfast in silence and I go up to change, leaving Morgan on the deck again. Upstairs in the bedroom, I find myself looking at the place she slept in my bed and I harden instantly. All of her curvy softness was there in my bed with me. It’s what I want to go to bed to every night. I want to wear her out, worshiping every creamy inch of her and making her scream my name before falling asleep with her in my arms. I wrap my hand around my cock and try to imagine it’s her soft hand instead of my rough one. Those full pink lips would look like heaven wrapped around me. It only takes a few pumps with my thoughts of her full tits and soft little hands before I’m coming in my hand and groaning. As long as it’s been since I was with a woman, just thinking of her perfect little form has me hard again. It’s going to be a long day.
MORGAN
The ride to my car is silent, and Everett doesn’t touch me like he did last night. I watch him drive, taken by how gentle the big guy can be. He treats me like I might break, but maybe I want him to. No one has ever treated me like I was worth a damn before. Him wanting a family to come home to and kids running around the house has my heart fluttering. I close my eyes and picture him coming home dirty and sweaty. Our kids would run to the door to meet him and drag him to have dinner with us. I would kiss him hard and feed him bites from the skillet before sitting at the table and eating as a family.
“Here ya go, Boss.” My eyes snap open and my car is parked next to his truck. “Be careful getting home, and I’ll see you at work.” I want him to kiss me again, but he just stares ahead, hands white-knuckled on the steering wheel. Okay, so the kiss I got happened to be on my forehead, but I count it regardless.
I lean over and kiss his scruffy cheek. “Thank you.” Everett nods onc
e, and I climb out of the car, grabbing my discarded bag from the floorboard. He waits for me to pull away before his truck roars out behind me. The fantasy from last night and this morning is gone. An ache settles in me when our cars go opposite directions, his truck disappearing in my rearview mirror, but the knowledge that I will see him later holds me over.
An hour and a half later, I walk across the uneven mounds of dirt, trying not to stumble on my way to the trailer. My ankle flipping hurts. I know my Dad is in there, and after last night, I really don’t want to see him. My mind has already decided that if he had shown up, the attack never would have happened. I never would have been attacked. I also wouldn’t have had my night with Everett. I see Everett and his crew working, I even see him stop to watch me, but I keep my head down and walk on to the trailer. I know this morning was just a dream, a fantasy, so why torture myself?
“You’re late.” Dad is in my desk chair, leaned back with his hands laced across his stomach.
“I was attacked last night. This morning was a little difficult,” I bite the words out, and only then does he look up. He looks completely unaffected by the injuries all over me, but I really didn’t expect anything more.
“So, it seems. You should learn to protect yourself better. A woman of wealth should know better than to let herself get attacked. Where are those papers? I need to get back to the office. You know construction sites are not my favorite place to be. I’m surprised one of those men hasn’t already attacked you.” Dad stands and parts the blinds to watch Everett and his crew work. I laugh and pull the papers from my bag.
