Page 8 of Duress (Birch Falls #3)

DANE

W e drive to Everly’s house, her drunkenly chattering the whole way.

At first I was amused and happy to listen to her tipsy ramblings, but now she is talking about a date she and Bryce went on last night, and I can feel my jaw clenching harder and harder as I listen to her story of how he basically ignored her the whole night.

“So then after like forty minutes of watching him kiss ass, I finally decided to make my escape to the ladies room. The martinis were catching up to me… Anyway, as I tried to scoot past Shane, one of the guys talking to Bryce, he fucking grabs me! Puts his hands on my hip and rubs his nasty dick against my ass and told me he wanted to ‘take me for a ride,’ like that’s supposed to be a turn on.

Can you believe that guy?” Everly rolls her eyes, like she’s recounting someone stealing her parking spot and not sexually harassing her.

We are just pulling into Everly’s drive when she drops that bomb, and I hit the brakes, stopping us suddenly in the middle of the driveway.

“Excuse me? He did what?” I throw her car into park so I can turn and face her fully, making sure I heard her clearly. “He put his hands on you? Jesus, Ever. Please tell me Bryce did something.”

Everly lets out a derisive snort. “He was busy talking to Rob. Or Bob. Whatever his name is. He didn’t see a damn thing, and when I told him about it later, it almost seemed to turn him on knowing some other guy wants to fuck me.

” Her cheeks turned pink at that admission, like she’s the one that needs to be embarrassed in this situation and not my brother or his creeper friend.

“He said, and I quote, ‘This pussy is mine. I am the only one that gets to fuck it. No one touches it without my say-so.’” Her voice trails off on the last part as she turns her head to look out the window.

I feel my blood start to boil.

“Jesus Christ. I always thought Bryce was a shithead but this really takes the cake. Fuck, Ever. Why do you stay with him? Are you even happy? Do you love him?” Everly doesn’t respond to my inquisition.

Just keeps looking out the window. I watch her reflection in the glass as she lifts her hand to her face, wiping away a tear.

Realizing my anger might be scaring her, I take a deep breath and blow it out, trying to calm my temper.

“Shit, Ever, I’m sor—” She moves to open the door, not turning to look at me.

“It doesn’t matter, Dane.” Her words are resigned.

Like she knows her fate, and she’s made peace with it.

“Thank you for inviting me tonight and driving me home. I’m gonna go now.

” Before I can protest, she’s out of the car, shutting the door behind her.

I sit, stunned for a second, before jumping into motion, chasing after her with an unshakable need to make sure she is okay.

“Ever, wait! Talk to me.” She picks up her pace, digging through her purse, blindly looking for the house key.

“Dane, you should go. It’s late.” Her voice wobbles, like she’s trying not to cry, and my heart cracks at the sound.

“Hey, hey, hey… Everly. Please.” I catch up to her just as she reaches the front door. I grab her upper arm, turning her so she’s facing me, her back to the door. Even in the dim outdoor lights illuminating their flowerbeds, I can see the way her eyes shimmer with unshed tears.

“Everly, I want to help you. If you are unhappy or in danger, please let me help you. You don’t have to stay with the dickhead.

” Everly huffs out a bitter laugh as she tries to turn her gaze away from mine.

I don’t let her though. I gently use my free hand to cup her jaw, directing her eyes back to mine.

“He’s my brother, but I know what a dick he is. I’ve never thought he deserved you. If you’re afraid of leaving him, I’ll help you. If you need me to kick his ass, I will. If you just need someone to talk to…talk to me. Please.”

Everly’s breath hitches at my words, her eyes going wide in shock.

Of course, she knows he and I aren’t close, but I don’t think she ever realized the depth of animosity between us.

I can tell by her eyes and the way they dance slightly that she is trying to convince herself of something. Of what though ?

One heartbeat passes. Two. Then three. And then her lips are on mine.

Her hands reach up, grasping my neck, pulling me down to her.

Pulling me into her. My knees nearly buckle when I feel the sweet wetness of her tongue slide into my mouth.

Without thought, I take one step forward, crushing her body to mine, pinning her against the door.

Her body melts into mine, like we were designed to fit together.

My hand glides around her jaw to the back of her neck, where I twine my fingers into her silky soft hair.

She tastes like sweet apples, and I am immediately addicted.

The hand that had been holding her by the arm slides down to her waist, cupping a soft palmful of her delicious curves.

My tongue licks into her mouth, and I want nothing more than to bury myself into her soul.

I’ve been thinking about kissing this woman since I was eighteen, and it’s…

devastating. I’ll never be able to go back from this.

This is it. This is the moment where I throw it all away just to have this woman.

I don’t care if she’s my brother’s wife. He doesn’t deserve her.

“Fuck… Ever…” My voice is barely above a husky whisper.

I kiss along her jaw and down the column of her neck.

Her fingers dig into my hair, tugging it just until it’s painful, and my dick hardens.

I can feel my length pressing into the thin fabric of her leggings.

She lets out the sexiest whimper when I let my teeth graze along her pulse point.

Just as I seal my lips to suck on her neck, the sound of a phone buzzing disrupts the quiet night air.

“Shit!” Everly jumps like she’s been tased, her arms coming to my shoulders to push me away.

Her face is a confused mask of surprise, terror, and shame.

We stand, inches apart, panting, breathing the same air, trying to comprehend what just happened.

The phone buzzes again, breaking the spell between us.

“Fuck, Ever?—”

“I-I-I have to go. Please leave, Dane. You can’t be here.” She gives me another gentle shove, and I’m stunned enough that I stumble back a step, giving her room to turn around and open the door.

“Everly, wait, please!” I lunge forward to stop her from closing the door, but she slips inside and presses her body against it, preventing me from following her.

“No, Dane. Please. This can’t happen. Just go.”

Dumbfounded, I step back, letting her close the door in my face.

I know she felt that charge between us. She was trying to climb into my skin just as much as I was into hers.

She may think this can’t happen, but after that kiss, there is no way in hell I am going to let my dickbag brother win without a fight.