More to This

by Tess Keeler

  Once they were back to the campsite, they were able to collect enough wood to sustain a fire for a good portion of the evening. Between the two of them, they were able to get the fire going well enough to do the job.

  “We did it!” Everly’s smile was big, showing off all of her white teeth as her lips curled back. “I’ll go get the stuff to make s’mores!”

  She loved the expression he wore when he was amused by something she did or said. It was one of her favorite smiles he gave her.

  After gathering everything, she walked over to him and sat next to him in the camping chairs they had set up.

  “This can’t be too difficult, right?” she asked, pulling out the marshmallows and handing him the bag. After getting the marshmallow roaster, and handing it to him, she put a marshmallow on each post as he held it. “Two at once.” She smiled at him, turning to get the Hershey’s chocolate bar and graham crackers out.

  Her eyes drank in every second of being with Henley, and her stomach was pulling at her to kiss him as he talked about how exciting it was to be making real s’mores.

  He’s so cute, she thought. Her heart began to race.

  As he retracted the evenly roasted marshmallows, she sandwiched one at a time between the chocolate and crackers before handing him the treat first.

  She took a bite of hers once she had it made and smiled as he gushed about how good it was. Her heart fluttered, and she sat hers down on the box of graham crackers before standing up.

  It’s now or never, Everly.

  Moving in front of him, she looked down at his curious eyes. She could still see the flickering of the fire reflecting in his blue-green irises. Sucking in a breath, she moved closer to him and carefully put a leg on either side of his lap. Her ass was against his knees, her chin tilted down to kept their gaze locked. Cupping his face in her hands, she used her thumb to wipe away some chocolate under his lip. She smiled at him sweetly, her heart screaming at her to close the distance.

  With the moonlight and the fire being their illumination, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. Her hips lifted as her lips pressed harder, her body coming to life from the way it felt to kiss him again. She had missed being pressed against him, tasting him. The crackling of the fire and the song of the cicadas confirmed their privacy, and Everly could feel herself giving in to what her heart had been wanting.

  It took his hands a few seconds to catch up to his lips, but when they found her body, they fluidly caressed her back and pulled her towards him. Her fingers ran through his thick hair as their lips danced together.

  As her chest began to ache from constriction, she broke the kiss and felt her eyelashes flutter open. The light eyes she knew so well waited for her, and she smiled softly as they met.

  “How about that swim?” she whispered, keeping her lips close enough to feel his breath on her skin.

  "Show me the way."

  Everly carefully climbed off of him and to her feet before immediately pulling the white shirt from her torso and tossing it into her chair. “I forgot my bikini. Whoops,” she teased, her lips pulled into a playful smile.

  His eyes were dancing over the new skin available for him, a hard swallow bobbing in his throat. Her maroon bralette didn’t cover much, but she left it on as she kicked off her shoes and unbuttoned her jeans. The underwear she chose matched her bra, and she studied his eyes for interest or desire.

  “Coming?” she asked quietly, slowly starting to back up into the direction of the water. Her lips curled into a mischievous smile as she turned around, walking away from him towards their destination.

  She could hear him rustling behind her, so she knew he wasn’t far behind. The walk to the water didn’t take very long, but she didn’t stop as her toes hit the cool water. Taking in a sharp breath, she pulled at the clasp on her bra as her body submerged further and further into the brisk lake. Without hesitation, her underwear quickly discarded from covering the intimate parts of her. Wading backward, she watched him as she let the water cover up to her shoulders. Henley’s shirt was already gone, his jeans the current focus.

  The hiss he made upon entering the water made her smile, the chill in the water not strong enough to keep him from advancing towards her. As he discarded his boxers, she got to see his entirety for a brief moment in the pale moonlight.

  Their bodies were close, but they weren’t touching yet. Her pulse drummed heavily in her ears with the amount of adrenaline moving through her at the new experience. She sucked in a breath, studying his face while she enjoyed the rush.

  “If I thought you were beautiful before, I was dead wrong.” His husky voice brought her eyes back to his, and she couldn’t help but admire the way the length of his hair was falling over his forehead.

  “Oh, you didn’t think I was beautiful before you saw me naked?” She bit back her lip, splashing him lightly with water.

  His lip pulled up slightly in amusement. “You would turn my compliment around.”

  “Wha-“ Her lips parted, her mind processing the truth behind his words. “What if it’s a defense mechanism?”

  His eyes were curious and slightly concerned. “A defense from what?”

  Letting herself drift closer, she reached out to graze his side. “Being vulnerable.”

  His hand smoothed over the length of her arm, and she felt goosebumps follow his touch. “I understand that.”

  The tone of his voice was warm and sweet. She offered him a smile. “I’ll work on it.” Pausing, she pushed closer to his body. Her hand moved his around her waist as their bodies closed in on each other. “It’s okay. I trust you.”

  "You do?" he asked, his hand spread out on the bare skin she placed him on.

  In an attempt to lighten the mood, she gave him a playful smile. "Do you really think I'd be out here, completely exposed in the water with you if I didn't?"

  "What changed your mind?" Her eyes softened at his words, and she moved her hand to rest on his face.

  "You've always been different. That's what scared me."

  He took in a deep breath before whispering, “You scare me, too.”

  In that moment, Everly wasn’t even sure what she had been so afraid of. Henley’s reputation? Getting hurt? She was far too gone to fight against her heart.

  Her arms wrapped around his neck, bringing her body flush to his. The movement of his hands caused soft lapping sounds in the water, intensifying the moment. Pushing her lips onto his, she let out a staggered breath as her breasts pressed against his bare chest. Every curve of Henley was against her now, and she shuddered in his arms.

  The light sounds of water and distant animal calls encased them as they got lost in each other. Henley’s long fingers curled against her skin, taking their opportunity to explore more of her. His culmination of excitement was evident in the way he clung to her, grasping her like he feared she would disappear at any moment.

  Their lips parted, desperate for air to ease their aching lungs. Everly parted her lips to speak but was interrupted by the sound of party yells coming from the other side of the body of water.

  After snapping their attention away, they reluctantly agreed to head back to the campsite.

  Henley wrapped his button up around her as she shivered from the cool air. Once he pulled on his boxers, they gathered the rest of their clothes and made their way back hand in hand.

  As their tents came into view, Everly looked up at Henley.

  He felt her gaze and looked at her. Her nerves were gone, and all she wanted was to continue what they had started in the water.

  “Wanna join me in the tent?” she asked quietly, watching his eyes for hesitation or doubt. Was she moving too fast?

  “Yes,” he answered matter-of-factly, like nothing had ever made more sense to him.

  Taking a few steps ahead of him, she turned her back to the tent and curled her finger at him teasingly. Confidence was never an issue for Everly, but Henley made her feel sexy in a way she hadn’t ever felt before. The wa
y he looked at her made her feel brave, desired, and safe.

  Their eyes met, and he smiled at her, taking no time to catch up to her at the open door in the canvas.

  1

  More to This

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Henley

  The way Henley lead Everly back onto the sleeping bags caused the button down on her shoulders to fall open, leaving her exposed body to stare back at him. The lantern in their tent was the perfect amount of light. He didn’t want to miss one detail. Her milky, porcelain skin was as smooth as it was soft. She was still shaking slightly, and he could tell from the temperature of her skin as he grazed her thighs over and over that it was related to the cold air. Her thighs lead perfectly to the brown curls protecting her center. The curve of her stomach from her hipbones to her ribs was rising and falling rapidly with her breaths, and as he gazed further, he internally groaned at the appearance of her beautiful face, confident and seductive, above her taut pink nipples.

  “I can’t believe this is happening,” he whispered, his heartbeat in his chest and pelvis.

  Since knowing Everly, they had already been through their phase of uncertainty and panic. Because they went through the pain, and they refrained from anything that they had done before, their rekindling felt more intense. He knew what he was missing, but it was better now—sweeter almost. For her, he would have waited forever, but there she was, trusting him after he did a stupid thing.

  His fingertips grazed inward, pressing at the flesh to open them enough for his damp boxers to lie between them. Her expression grew soft, and she lifted her hand to cup his face, “Believe it.”

  “Oh, Everly,” he sighed, relaxing into every contour of her desirable frame. He thought of what to say next as their eyes watched each other’s. His breaths were growing shorter, and he was sure that his heart may stop. He kissed her deeply, stealing the air from her lungs to supply his own. The warmth of her lips forced his eyes to close, her hands finding the muscles in his back. She squeezed and scratched as he deepened the kiss, his tongue invading her mouth with intent to taste all of her.

  The heartbeat between his own thighs was radiating, and he was pulsing against her warmth. He wanted to taste her… everywhere.

  Their lips broke apart with a smack, both gasping for breath. He kissed her jaw and neck, nipped at her ear. He squeezed her sides to focus his attention on anything but the rushing desire to finally have her. There was more to explore—she deserved a better introduction than what she had in the past, with Tanner.

  He moved his hands to the underside of her breasts, taking each nipple into his mouth with admiration, sucking and licking. He listened as she hissed, her fingers tangling in his hair. He surveyed the rest of her body, patiently marking each section with the appropriate move, his hands following suit. Once his face was between her legs, he sighed and met her gaze. His lips had already pulled jerks from her body, all decorating more sensitive spots.

  “Are you ready?” he asked before wetting his lips.

  She bit back her bottom lip and raised her eyebrows, “You tell me.”

  Henley’s amusement disappeared as his index finger swiped between her lips, finding them pleasantly wet. He flipped it upside down and slowly pushed it inside of her, her walls clenching around him.

  The surprise was evident in the sound she produced, and it only intensified as he buried himself against her swollen clit. His tongue flat and needy as it stroked her repeatedly, his nose tickled by the hair covered in her scent. He groaned but continued to keep his focus on the two tasks he had given himself. She was meeting his fingers thrusts with her hips, and he almost lost it. She was moaning so loudly.

  He wanted to please her in every way possible. He could show her that sex is more than what she thinks of it, because with the right person, it’s worth every second. His time with multiple partners wouldn’t be in vain; he was meant to change her mind, just as she had his. By taking their time, he could guarantee her pleasure. She would always come first (pun intended.)

  He couldn’t tell how close she was, his own body tensing in response to every twist and yank of her fingers in his hair.

  “Henley, oh god,” she cried, rewarding him with the satisfaction of riding out her very first orgasm. She was squeezing his head with her thighs before nearly deflating. He kissed her bundle of nerves once before pulling back to look at her, a grin pulling at his sore jaw. He crawled up her body and waited for her eyes to open. Once they did, he placed a sweet kiss to her lips, “How was that?”

  It wasn’t her voice that responded to him, but there was one coming from outside the tent. One that was heavily accented. “Sorry to interrupt, but are you two done?”

  Everly’s face was clearly embarrassed; she was red as a tomato. Henley enjoyed the smothered smile she gave him as he called back, “Give us a minute.”

  “Aye,” he said before his footsteps took him away.

  He helped her get his button-down on, securing it down her torso before finding his jeans and pulling them over his obvious arousal. She was looking for her own jeans when he remembered they were outside of the tent, along with her undergarments. “I’m pretty sure we dropped them in a chair. Do you want me to go get them?”

  She shook her head, her hair tousled and fuller after their activities, “I’ve got some shorts in here.”

  They had to face them eventually, but both lingered just inside the zipped door. “How much do you think they heard?” Henley asked.

  “Enough,” she scoffed.

  “There’s nothing to be ashamed of,” he said softly, caressing her cheek with his thumb.

  He tilted her chin to meet her gaze, reading her expression for any disappointment or regret. Was he as good as he thought he was? Was he just full of himself? The pink tint of her skin had become fainter. Her lips were somewhat swollen and her eyes heavy, but he couldn’t read the entirety as good or bad. Their lips met and he closed his eyes to soak in what little alone time he had with her, breathing in the musk of the woods lingering on her skin.

  “We can see everything, so please don’t instigate a second round. I beg you.” Pierson’s voice seemed further away, and he could hear the cringe.

  Henley smiled against her lips before nudging his head in their direction. “We better just go.”

  The cool outside air was less musky. The fire they had made looked like it was going out, but Pierson was pushing it around and adding fuel to it. Mason was grinning at Henley. Mason had heard a lot of it—probably seen it too. He caught his brother’s attention, watching his twin scoff playfully, “You couldn’t have at least put on a shirt?”

  Henley shrugged it off, “Why would I?”

  Pierson threw in the stick he was playing with and shook his head, “I invited a guest.”

  Laughing, Henley responded, “Mason has seen me shirtless.”

  “Not Mason. Tanner.”

  Everly had moved to stand beside him, her fingers intertwined with his. Her hand tensed and Henley growled, “Why?”

  “Why not?” Pierson added, his eyebrows lowering.

  Henley looked over to Everly, her eyes wide and concerned. He had more to worry about than she did. What was his motive? Was he going to steal her from him—or try to? Honestly, Henley still didn’t know why the hell Tanner was so obsessed with him in the first place.

  “The party can start now because I’m here.” Tanner moved into their clearing, tainting, what an hour ago was, their safe place.

  Henley wanted to gag as his smug smile stretched almost as wide as his obnoxiously large jawline.

  Pierson spoke back, “Now we’re talking. I’ll grab the goodies.”

  All the chairs were pulled around the campfire, each of them with a beer. After Henley finished his first, Everly gave him hers. She was sitting in his lap sideways, facing Mason. They were passing a joint while her best friend ranted about how ludicrous America was. Politics and whatnot. After one small hit, Everly continued to give it straight to Henley.
He feared he couldn’t get high enough to deal with the prick staring at them.

  Mason wrapped up his speech, and Tanner cleared his throat, “I’m not used to seeing you this sober, Everly”

  Everly seemed to act like everything was okay, “You met me on an off night.”

  The weight of his shoulders only got heavier as he took another large swig of fermented liquid expanding in his throat. It wasn’t helping him forget how close he was to having her all to himself, and now Tanner was here to remind her of the night she almost hated him. It was the night she tried to forget him as Tanner buried himself into her in the way he never deserved to. Tanner was never worthy of Everly.

  “Everly’s not really the partying type. She only partakes in our degenerate ways when reality is too much for her. Isn’t that right, Eve?” Mason was obviously unaware that Everly wasn’t a virgin, and that the dimwitted prick in front of him was to blame.

  Squaring her shoulders to focus on Henley, Everly grabbed his face in her hands, “Come back to me, H.”

  He was looking at her eyes, but he saw right through them. Hate fueled his vision.

  “I’m right here,” he responded.

  “Oh yeah? Prove it.” He could see her smile.

  “Right, Eve?” Mason repeated.

  “Sure, sure,” she waved, her attention and second hand still on Henley.

  Henley examined her face, trying to focus only on how sweet her eyes looked as they looked down at him. The worn and textured way her curls fell onto her chest. How damn sexy she looked in his shirt. He kissed her, his fingers tangling in her hair as he dropped his can without a care. He parted his lips and deepened the kiss like he needed her to survive this awful turn of events—because he did. He needed to feel her against him again.