Calvin tightened his arms around her and soothed her with the deep tone of his voice. “We did it,” he said. “It’s over.” His fingers ran gently through her damp hair.
They had actually done it. As Calvin said, it was really over.
“Hey, I’m feeling left out here,” Parker said.
Evie smiled, pulled an arm free from Calvin and reached out to include his brother.
Parker joined the huddle, wrapping his arms around the couple. “That was wicked,” he said.
Evie nodded, wiping at her tears with a shaky hand. “Yeah, it was.”
Calvin brought his fist to the center. “I’ve got something for you, Parker.” He opened his hand to reveal Parker’s necklace–his amulet. Evie smiled as Parker reached for it.
“Yes! I’m so glad you remembered this. Thanks, man. Means a lot.”
Calvin nodded. “Thank you,” he said. “For stepping up the way you did.” He shook his head, thoughtful. “That was close.”
“Yep, it was.” Parker patted his back before breaking from their circle. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
Calvin turned to Evie, the look of triumph in his eyes. A gentle smile pulled at the corners of his lips. “I love you,” he mouthed.
She mouthed the words back to him, kissed his cheeks, and slipped her fingers through his. “Come on.”
They paused, looking inside the cave once more. The crazed creature that had threatened to take the man she loved now stood trapped before her. The woman who had defied death so many years ago and plagued the Knight men ever since would never return.
Outside, a warm, cranberry glow lit up the evening. Though it had dipped just beyond the valley, the sun’s reaching light drenched the sky, coating the grounds as well with a beautiful rose-colored haze.
“Fiona,” Parker shouted.
Evie lifted her head in time to see Fiona slide off a nearby rock and leap into Parker’s open arms. Tears streamed down her face. “You did it, Parker. I knew you could.” She pressed kisses to his cheeks. Parker wrapped his arms around her, pressing his lips to hers.
“Wow.” Evie couldn’t hide her surprise. She looked at Calvin to see him wearing a mischievous smile.
“I can’t wait any longer,” he said.
“For what?”
He pulled her as he stepped back. “Come here.”
Evie did as he asked, following his lead to the warm, slated side of the mountain. He turned her back to it, gently pressing her against the unyielding mass. The warmth of the rock felt nice; she’d been shivering from their final trip through the waterfall, and the evening was cooling fast. But when Calvin neared her, she wasn’t sure which felt better. The solid wall of heat from behind, or the cool, moist skin of Calvin’s bare chest. She sucked in a jagged breath.
He moved in closer. “Evie, I’m dying to kiss you,” he whispered, letting his lips land gently along her brow. His fingers brushed over her lips as he spoke into her ear. “Finally, I can kiss you unrestrained.” He pressed his lips below her lobe. “Without guilt,” another kiss, “or fear,” he added, kissing her neck. “Just my lips on yours.”
Goose bumps rose on her skin as he slipped his hand behind her neck, pressed his mouth, ever so gently, to the base of her throat. His lips were slightly warmer than his damp chest and hands, but they were still cool against the warmed hollow of her neck.
Evie’s chest rose as she pulled in another uneven breath. His hair–damp and dripping–tickled her cheek. She pulled her hand up, let her fingers run through the cool strands while she melted beneath Calvin’s teasing lips. The anticipation nearly drove her insane, but she resisted the urge to take over.
The force, the sheer tension between them in that moment found Evie breathless. He pulled back, let his eyes wash over her face before meeting her gaze.
She felt like her heart might stop.
Calvin gazed at her without torment, the conflict that often burned in his eyes. The look of regret before the kiss, the near apology he gave with a certain look every time he touched her–all of it was gone. She saw a new man. One who’d met with triumph.
His hand trembled as he traced over the shape of her lips, whispering a seductive-sounding line in Spanish. At last he pressed his mouth to hers, gentle, warm, and inviting as a deep sense of pleasure rushed over her. For a brief moment, his lips remained soft and encouraging, urging her response. She gave as he beckoned. Entranced. Enchanted.
Soon, his movements changed into deeper, more passionate kisses as a groan sounded from deep in his throat, a thrill that seeped into every ounce of her body. His free hand slid down to her hip, gripping her with tensed fingers, pulling her ever closer. He broke away briefly, searched her face once more, and whispered her name before locking his mouth to hers again.
For those long moments, Evie reveled in the gratifying sensation of Calvin’s lips–strong and certain–pressing, pulling, and owning. His kiss fed her heart, her soul with the blissful knowledge that Calvin Knight belonged to her. He was Evie’s Knight. And there was no doubt in that moment, under the sun-drenched sky, that she was his–forever.
The End
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
Kimberly Krey lives in the Salt Lake Valley with her husband, four children, and two dogs. She has a great love for literature, family, and food.
Table of Contents
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
PROLOGUE
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
Chapter Thirty-two
Chapter Thirty-three
Chapter Thirty-four
Chapter Thirty-five
Chapter Thirty-six
Chapter Thirty-seven
Chapter Thirty-eight
Chapter Thirty-nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-one
Chapter Forty-two
Chapter Forty-three
Chapter Forty-four
Chapter Forty-five
Chapter Forty-six
Chapter Forty-seven
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
Evie's Knight Page 37
