Everything I Have (The Everything Series Book 2)

by A. K. Evans

I heard a commotion in the background and my mom then cried, “Vince, I’m talking to her right now.” More commotion. Finally, my mom’s voice came back to the phone and she stated, “He wants to talk with you, Emme.”

  “Ok.”

  A few seconds later, I heard my dad’s voice. “Princess.”

  “Hi, Daddy.”

  “I am listening to your mom talking here and it sounds to me like you’ve met a guy. Emme, you have to be careful.”

  “I know, but I don’t need to worry about my safety with Zane. He is always looking out for me.”

  He sighed. “Miss you, princess. We want to see you and I want to meet this guy. I’m not going to let my little girl end up in a bad situation again.”

  My eyes welled up with unshed tears.

  “I miss you, too. And I know it’s hard for you and mom, but I promise you that Zane really truly loves me. He knows about Seth and he gets angry on my behalf about everything I’ve been through. Nikki and Monroe came out to visit for the New Year. I had a nightmare while they were here, and despite how early in the morning it was when Nikki called him for me, he came right over to be with me. He’s different, Daddy. He puts me first, he takes such good care of me, and he makes me happy.”

  “Are you with him now?” he asked.

  “Yes,” I answered. “In fact, he just baked a cake with me.”

  My dad was silent a minute before he said, “Can you put him on the phone, princess? I want to talk to him.”

  My eyes shot to Zane’s. I didn’t want to put him in an awkward position. “Is that really necessary?” I questioned, as Zane made his way over to me.

  “Yes, Emme, it is. If he’s a good man, he won’t have a problem talking to me.”

  Zane was now standing right in front of me and he asked, “Would he like to talk to me?”

  I nodded while biting my lip, but I stayed frozen on the spot. Zane took the phone out of my hand and put it up to his ear.

  “Mr. James? Zane Cunningham here.”

  A pause.

  “Yes, sir. That is the truth.”

  Silence.

  “Because, even though I’m not at all a fan of cooking or baking, both of those activities make your daughter very happy. And quite honestly, Mr. James, there’s nothing in this world more beautiful than seeing Emme when she’s happy.”

  Oh. My. God.

  Zane stayed silent a beat while my father spoke to him. Then, he said, “Yes, sir, I do love your daughter. I know what she’s been through and making sure she always feels safe is one of my top priorities, second only to making sure she knows she’s loved unconditionally.”

  Pause.

  “Ok then, Vince. I look forward to meeting you soon, too. You want to talk to Emme again?”

  Silence.

  “I’ll be sure to tell her that. Have a good night.”

  He hung up the phone and looked at me with a sexy grin on his face. My jaw needed to be picked up off the floor. I was dumbfounded.

  “You just called my dad Vince,” I exclaimed, astonished.

  “He asked me to.”

  “WHAT?!!?” I shouted.

  Zane smirked and calmly answered, “He asked me to call him Vince. Emme, we had a chat. I think he understands I’m not an asshole and that I love you. He also knows that I’m the kind of man that’ll put your happiness before my own. He respects that.”

  I stood there speechless.

  “That said, I think you should invite your parents out for a visit with you sometime soon. It’s obvious they miss you. Can’t say that I blame them either.”

  I looked down at the floor. I missed them so much and I knew how much they were hurting. After everything that happened to me, I completely shut down (more than I had already) and then I just left them. Zane brought his fingers to my chin and tipped my head back up.

  “I miss them a lot.”

  “We’ll bring them out here. Whenever you want just say the word and I’ll get them here for you.”

  “Thank you, baby. My dad didn’t want to say goodbye to me?” I asked.

  “Your dad wanted me to tell you that they love you. He didn’t want to take up any more of our time and said that they’d call again soon. According to him, you make the best cakes and he felt it was crucial that we get to enjoying our cake.”

  “Well then, we should get to putting our frosting on.”

  I got out a cake plate, put one of the cakes on it, and started putting the frosting on. After it was sufficiently covered, Zane watched as I put the second cake on top of the first. I spread more of the frosting over the cake so that it was completely covered. I was always sure to make a little extra frosting so that there’d be some to eat later. I then moved to grab two small plates, a couple of forks, and a knife. After cutting a rather large slice for Zane and a smaller one for myself I sat down next to him at the island.

  “Can we add one more thing to the list to celebrate?” I asked.

  “Anything you want. What else are we adding?”

  “We’re going to also be celebrating the fact that my dad asked you to call him by his first name. I think that deserves a celebration.”

  Zane smirked and moved to put a piece of cake on his fork. He brought it to his mouth as I watched. He groaned.

  “You like?” I asked.

  “Emme, every time I eat a new food that you’ve made I’m never disappointed, but this is a different story. This cake is, by far, the best food I’ve ever tasted.”

  I smiled big at him.

  We ate our cake and after finishing his first piece Zane went for a second, but smaller, piece. I finished my first piece and then used my fingers to have a few extra licks of frosting out of the bowl.

  “Em?”

  I turned my head to Zane’s as I was in the process of sucking some frosting off my finger.

  “Sweetheart, watching you lick frosting off your fingers could easily be considered foreplay.”

  I pulled my finger from my mouth and licked my lips. “Sorry,” I said, sheepishly.

  Zane pushed his now empty plate back and reached over to pull me off my stool and over to straddle his lap. “Don’t fucking apologize for being the sexiest woman alive,” he said before he crushed his mouth to mine. His tongue was instantly in my mouth, tasting me. I tasted right back and he was absolutely delicious.

  As we kissed I began rolling my hips in his lap and could feel the evidence of what our make out session was doing to him. When he pulled his mouth from mine, he looked at me with his brows drawn and asked, “Why did you make extra frosting?”

  I gave him a coy smile and said, “So we’d have some if we wanted it not on the cake.”

  “You little minx,” he began as he stood and set me down on the top of the island. “I think now is the time to act out that fantasy you had on Christmas Day when I brought you here for the first time.”

  Thinking back, I remembered the details of that fantasy very well. Zane and I had been discussing whether he’d ever tease a girl.

  “You’re going to tease me?” I asked.

  His hands went to the hem of my shirt and he lifted it over my head before he answered, “Absolutely.”

  I felt my body begin to tingle in anticipation of what was to come. I was also a bit nervous. Would he only tease me? Would he bring me to the edge and not send me over?

  “Emme?” he called.

  When my eyes came to his he said, “I’m going to take my time teasing you, but know that I will get you there, too, ok?”

  I nodded.

  He brought his hands to the waistband of my pants and said, “Lift up.”

  I lifted so he could bring the pants down over my hips and ass and down my legs. I was then sitting in a bra and pair of panties while Zane took in my form. After looking at me for a few moments Zane moved to the bowl of extra frosting. He brought it over to where I was sitting and put his finger in the frosting. The next thing I knew his finger was at my mouth. My lips parted and I took his finger in my mouth. I li
cked and sucked all the frosting off his finger while I listened to the grunts coming from the back of his throat.

  Once he removed his finger from my mouth, Zane’s hand went to the clasp at the back of my bra. He opened the clasp and pulled the straps down my arms. His mouth came to one of my breasts and instantly pulled my nipple inside. He licked and sucked before he pulled away.

  I whimpered.

  “You’ll get my mouth there again, Em. Just thought it might be fun to add a little flavor,” he said as he brought the frosting to my breasts. He covered both of them with frosting and then put his hands at my panties. I lifted so he could pull them down my legs. Once he removed them the fingertips of one hand traveled slowly up my leg as the other hand cupped one of my breasts. His mouth feasted, licking and sucking all the frosting off of me. The slow assent of his fingers up my leg combined with teasing he was doing to me with his mouth was absolute torture. My body writhed on the countertop, begging him for more.

  “Zane, baby, please.”

  I felt his mouth smile against my skin as he moved from one breast to the other where he was sure to remove all of the frosting he had put there. It was at this point that his hand had finally reached my core. I moaned in relief. Zane’s fingers worked me while his mouth remained focused my breasts. He was so good at what he did that within minutes I was on the verge of an orgasm. My breaths came quick and at that moment I lost Zane’s fingers.

  “No, Zane,” I cried out.

  His hands came to my waist as his mouth traveled down my abdomen. I felt his tongue swipe through my center. He pushed his tongue inside and brought me back to the edge within seconds.

  “Oh baby, I love your mouth.”

  He pulled his mouth fractions of an inch away from me to say, “Take it, sweetheart.” Instantly, his mouth was back on me. Seconds later, I came apart. It was intense — one of the most intense orgasms I had ever had.

  As I came down from the orgasm, Zane stood in front of me and pulled his shirt over his head. Then, he dropped his jeans and I found that he had nothing on underneath.

  “Commando?” I asked.

  He shrugged his shoulders and admitted, “Figured they’d be coming off soon enough anyway.”

  “I like it.”

  “Happy to hear it,” he said as he brought his hands to my hips and lifted me off the island. “I’ve been dreaming about bending you over this island since Christmas, Emme. You good with that?”

  I looked up at him through hooded eyes for a moment before I turned around to face the island. With my feet a touch wider than shoulder width apart, I bent over slightly, and placed my hands on the countertop. I turned my head to look over my shoulder at him.

  “I’m definitely good with that,” I answered.

  “Fuck, Em, you are so fucking sexy.”

  Zane positioned himself at my entrance, gripped my hips, and pushed himself inside.

  “Love this ass, Emme,” he breathed as he moved in and out of me.

  I used my arms to brace myself against the countertop and pushed back to meet Zane with each thrust. We fell into a steady rhythm and it wasn’t long before I felt the tightening low in my belly. The sounds I heard coming from Zane told me he, too, was close.

  “Zane,” I moaned.

  “I know, Em. Get it, sweetheart.”

  I got it right along with Zane.

  Basking in our post-orgasm bliss, I curled into Zane’s body and he pulled me tight to his chest.

  “That was incredible, baby…way better than the fantasy.”

  Zane pressed a kiss to the top of my head and said, “Every time with you has been better than the fantasy.”

  I smiled up at him when he bent down and picked me up in his arms.

  “Where are you taking me?” I asked.

  “Shower,” he answered.

  With that, Zane carried me up the steps and to the bathroom. He set me down on the counter of the sink, turned on the water in the shower, and came back to me with a serious face.

  “Thank you, Zane.”

  “For what, Emme?”

  “Making sure I got beauty today. Could have very easily stayed dirty and ugly, but you gave me beauty. Thank you for that.”

  “It’s all you, Em. You want that beauty so you always figure out a way to find it. Love that about you. That said, if you are ever struggling to find it, I’ll do what I have to just to make sure you get it.”

  “I love you, Zane.”

  “Love you, too.”

  Then, Zane picked me up and carried me into the shower where he gave me more beauty.

  Chapter 25

  Emme

  “Time to get dressed, sweetheart,” Zane whispered.

  I groaned in protest.

  I heard Zane chuckle in response. “I’ll do the work, Em, but need you to not be rolled into such a tight ball.”

  I stretched out my limbs a bit and turned toward Zane. He’d been doing this every morning since that morning he left to go train and learned later that I had a nightmare and Cruz saw me naked. Now, I still typically went to bed with no clothes on and before he’d leave in the morning he’d put a pair of panties and either a nightie or a t-shirt on me. I tried putting clothes on before going to sleep, but Zane said he preferred me naked next to him and that he’d make sure I was covered in the morning before he left. Thankfully, I managed to make it through the rest of the week without any more nightmares.

  I felt his hands sliding the panties up my legs and when he reached the top he said, “Lift up.”

  I lifted, but as soon as he had them over my ass I dropped my hips back down to the mattress. Next, he brought the nightie over my head and then I had to slip my arms through the openings before he could pull it down my torso. Once he did, I rolled my body towards his.

  My eyes were still closed when I smiled and said, “Tomorrow is Sunday. No training and no need to dress me in the morning.”

  “Can’t fucking wait to stay in bed with you, sweetheart.”

  “One more day,” I reminded him as I slowly opened my eyes and reached out my arms to wrap around his neck. I pulled him toward me.

  “Need to get going, Em” he said.

  “I know, I just need a little love. Two minutes, please? Will you just lie on top of me for two minutes? It makes me feel safe and extra loved.”

  I felt his body vibrate with laughter as he settled half on and half off my body. “If you need that, I’ll give you five minutes.”

  I moaned as I felt his body settle on mine.

  “Keep that up and it’s going to be more than five minutes,” he warned me.

  I stopped moaning immediately and just looked at him.

  “So, what time are you heading over to Wes and Charley’s place?” he asked.

  “As soon as I muster up the strength to get up and get myself ready. Charley said I could come over whenever I wanted since she’d be staying at the house this morning while Wes goes to pick up Nikki and Monroe from the airport.”

  He nodded. “Training with Stone today. Maybe I’ll let him know your girl is coming in.”

  My eyes rounded. “Do you think he’d get serious with her?”

  He shook his head. “Not saying she doesn’t deserve it or isn’t worthy, but a long-term relationship isn’t his thing. I’m sure he’d be up for showing her a good time, though.”

  Now it was my turn to shake my head. “He can’t, Zane. Monroe is special.”

  “Not sure what you mean, Emme. You are special and I’d do anything I could to show you a good time.”

  “I know you believe that and you should know that you always make me feel that I am, but that’s not what I mean. The thing is, and she’d kill me if she knew I told you this, Monroe isn’t that kind of girl.”

  “What do you mean?” he asked as he brows drew together.

  “Monroe is a virgin, Zane. She’s not going to hook up with Stone if he is only interested in a one-night stand.”

  “No shit?” he asked, clearly shocked
at the news.

  “I’m serious. The sad part is after talking with her over the past couple of months, I know she’d move here for the right reason. She’s hinted at some serious interest in Stone. You really don’t think he’d consider it?” I asked again.

  “He’s had a rough past, Emme. Shit that he went through changes you. I mean, I guess anything could happen, but the reality is he’s made it very clear that he’d never settle down. He wouldn’t do anything intentionally to hurt her, but if you don’t want your girl to get her heart broken, I’d suggest she not pursue him.”

  “Damn…” I said, trailing off.

  Zane squeezed me in response.

  “Baby?”

  “Yeah, Em?” he asked, his morning voice still warming me to my core.

  “Love you.”

  “Love you, too, Emme. You feeling better now?”

  I nodded.

  He leaned in to press his lips to mine. I kissed back.

  After pulling my mouth from his I said, “You know — just saying, I don’t know what Stone’s story is, but I’ve had what many people would consider a rough past. I was pretty sure I’d never fall in love and settle down. But, you changed that for me. Now I can’t imagine my life without your love.”

  Zane smiled at me before he said, “You’re right, Em. I guess anything can happen.”

  “Maybe you should bring Stone by Wes’ house…just in case.”

  “Ok,” he began as he laughed. “I’ll let him know she’s here when I get to Parks Ridge this morning. Speaking of which, I’ve got to go if I’m going to get in a good day of riding.”

  “Alright, baby. I know you didn’t have the time, but thank you for figuring out a way to give me some this morning anyway.”

  “Always, Emme. I’ll always give you everything I have.”

  With that, Zane pressed a quick kiss to my lips and got up to leave.

  “Levi is downstairs. He’ll take you to Wes’ place whenever you’re ready.”

  “Ok. Don’t forget to take your breakfast with you. Good luck today.”

  “Will do. Thanks, sweetheart.”

  Zane turned and walked out of the room. I stayed in the bed for a bit thinking about the week I had had up to that point. On Wednesday, Holden spent the day with me while Tyson was with Zane. I used a good portion of my time that morning to tune the remainder of Zane’s boards. After I made lunch for Holden and myself I made calls to Nikki, Monroe, and Charley, but I didn’t tell them about the news I learned from Levi the day prior. I figured I’d wait to see them in person so they’d see that I was doing alright. I knew they’d worry too much otherwise. Later that day, Zane arrived back home and Tyson came with him. I’m not sure why I was surprised to see that Tyson also looked like he belonged in Hot Guy Heaven, considering all his coworkers did. Regardless, he was incredibly friendly and I felt comfortable around him.