Forever Wild (Wildcat Hockey Book 5)

JACK

Tonight has been a roller coaster. I was so excited to see Everly here, but that feeling does not appear to be mutual.

I excuse myself a minute after Everly flees from the couch in VIP. I lost her in the crowd of people, but I search until I realize she’s gone. On instinct, I head upstairs to the owner’s balcony. The door is rarely locked since most people don’t know it exists in the first place.

She stands stiffly in front of the window and stares down at the dance floor. She doesn’t seem surprised that I’m here. I approach her slowly. Fuck I miss her.

My heart beats quickly as I close the distance between us. Her short blonde hair leaves her shoulders and neck exposed, and my mouth waters with the need to taste her there.

“Why?” she asks, spinning around to face me. Her big hazel eyes are lit up with frustration. God, she’s sexy and perfect and I want her to be fucking mine. I want it even though I’ve tried to fight it. And despite not knowing if it’s right for her or me.

One choice today from the heart. Just like Coach said.

“Why what?” I ask, placing my hands in my pockets so I don’t touch her.

“Why did you ruin everything?” Her voice catches, and I watch as she fights to keep control. It’s the first indication that maybe she’s hurting as much as I am.

“I panicked. I didn’t want you to give up the internship for me.”

Her gaze narrows. “Get over yourself.”

She tries to push past me, but I give in and reach out to her. I take her by the hand and pull her back to me, chest to chest. Hers rises and falls, vibrating with anger at me.

“Maybe it wasn’t all about me, but you wanted to be here with me as much as I wanted you to stay. You couldn’t get enough. You were addicted.”

“Don’t flatter yourself. I was never going to stay for you.” She keeps glaring at me like she’s about to tell me to fuck off. And, knowing Ev, she very well might. But I know it’s true because I felt the same way. We were both in over our heads.

“I’m sorry for hurting you, but I don’t regret it.” Not those weeks we spent together or making sure she left.

I know she thinks I mean the latter when she lifts her chin defiantly and says, “Me either.”

“You’re young, Ev. You should do all the things you want. Be selfish and wild. Live.”

“I wish people would stop thinking they know what’s best for me.” She jabs me in the chest with a finger. “What if I don’t want to be selfish and wild or leave the nest and conquer the world? Maybe I don’t know what I want yet, but I know that I want to figure it out without people making decisions for me. It’s my damn life.”

I stay quiet. She’s right to be pissed. I’m still struggling with wanting to be in her life and wondering if it’s what’s best for her, but I’m done pushing her away. If she walks away, it’ll be her choice.

“You know what I want?” she asks as she presses into me with enough force that I have to dig in to keep from stepping back. I love the feel of her body against mine and I don’t want to lose it a second before I have to.

“No.” I really, really don’t at this point. “What do you want, Ev?”

Whatever it is, she can have it. If I can give it to her, I will.

She glares at me. Those stunning hazel eyes fueled with fire glare at me. I’m waiting for her to yell at me. I’m ready for it. I welcome it.

Instead, her gaze drops to my mouth and then she lunges for me. She kisses me hard like she’s pouring every ounce of anger into it. If this is her idea of punishing me, then sign me the fuck up.

I let her hate-kiss me and I savor every taste. For every scrape and nip, I lick and suck at her mouth. Her fingers tug at my hair until my scalp pricks and my hands dig into her ass, pushing her into my erection.

“You don’t get to decide for me,” she says as my teeth scrape down her neck to her collarbone. She moans and says with less conviction this time, “I’m the only boss of me.”

She pushes at my chest, breaking us apart, but instead of walking away like I figured was coming any moment, she drops to her knees.

My dick twitches with her perfect mouth so close. Eyes on me, she undoes my pants and pulls them to my ankles with my boxers. My dick springs free, hard as stone, and leaking for her.

“Tonight, I’m the boss of you, too,” she says, then leans in and licks the tip. My hands instinctively go to her hair, but she pulls away and scowls.

The intent is clear. Do not touch her. Got it. Though easier said than done.

She wraps her fingers around me and brings the head back to her lips. She kisses me gently, teasing, torturing. I groan in frustration and a wicked smile curves her lips.

She takes me all the way to the back of her throat and swallows.

“Fuck, Ev.” I ball my hands into fists to keep myself from reaching out again.

She bobs on my dick like it’s her favorite popsicle flavor, swirling her tongue and hollowing out her cheeks. I don’t even try to fight off the orgasm that comes way too soon. She wants to prove a point and I have to assume it’s that no one else has ever or will ever be as good as her. I already fucking knew that. My dick hasn’t perked up at the sight of a hot girl in weeks. He’s as loyal as me and we only want one person.

One annoying, infuriating, perfect woman.

As she brings me over the edge, I finally tangle my hands in her short hair and stroke my thumbs along her cheekbones. She swallows every drop I give her.

Panting and absolutely spent and dreading the second her mouth leaves my cock.

She pulls away with a smug smirk. I tug her up and crash my lips to hers. She’s softer, more compliant now. I don’t know what just happened, but she’s here, not running.

“Happy?” I ask.

“No. I’m still mad at you.”

“I’m sorry. Come home with me. Let me make it up to you.”

I know it’s the wrong thing to say as soon as the words leave my mouth. The shield she had up earlier returns.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“I shouldn’t have pushed you away like I did. I wish I had a better reason. This is new territory for me.” I’ve never wanted someone like I want her. It feels selfish and messy. I don’t know what I’m doing, which I really hate.

“You should have talked to me.”

“Would you have listened?”

She sighs like maybe she knows she’s stubborn, but she still wishes I would have tried to have a real conversation instead of making the decision for her, like so many other people in her life have done. Honestly, me too, but I’m not going to make that mistake twice if she’ll give me another chance.

The lights in the club come up, indicating it’s closing time. I pull up my boxers and pants and tuck myself away as Everly finger-combs her hair so it doesn’t look like I just had my hands in it.

“When do you go back?” I ask.

“Tomorrow.”

Fuck. There’s a small, asshole part of me that wishes I had asked her to give up everything and stay here with me to see where this could go. Is that the choice that would have changed everything?

All I know is she’s going to leave again before I’ve convinced her to give me another shot.

“Can I see you before you go back to Briar Lake?”

“I don’t know.” She bites on the corner of her lip, staring at me with her brows pinched together like she’s working out a problem. The problem being me.

“Tell me what you want or need. Whatever it is, I’ll give it to you.”

“I wish I knew,” she says with a small shake of her head.

I slide my hands into my pockets. It’s not the actionable answer I hoped for, but I know I can’t rush her. “Okay.”

She starts for the door, and I call after her.

“Ev?”

“Yeah?” She pauses, looking back at me.

“I meant what I said earlier. I miss you. Seeing you every day, talking, hanging out, having you in my space, all of it. Nothing feels right anymore without you.”

Her lips quiver and I watch her chest rise and fall with a sigh that feels heavy even from a distance.

“I miss you too, Jack.”