Page 78 of Van Cort

But he couldn’t have meant that. Not really. Because they all shared. They shared her, and she shared them. That was normal between them. This was all normal for them even if it wasn’t normal at school. No one else there talked of two boys. And no one else, she presumed, had sex with two boys.

And worse, she thought she might love them both, too.

CHAPTER TWENTY - SIX

RIVER

The walk back to the house is quiet, and the weight of the words he said press down on me with every step through the trail back.

Everett is not the marrying kind.Nope.

He wanted a quick fuck, and that’s it.

Except, here we are. At his family home. Where he’s shared a dark past that he’s still haunted by. He’s willing to show me a side to him I never thought existed. This place is everything the rich and privileged have, one more thing to fight against to fit in. But maybe here, despite his demons, he can be who he isunderneath the walls. In this quaint town that he’s bringing back to life, there is enough peace to let me in. And here it’s not just about the shiny and expensive. It might be the exception?

Chastising myself, I shake the inferiority shadow off. Everett doesn’t make me feel inferior. And that’s my own complex, not his.

We make it back to the house with no slips or falls, but the silence is agonising. It was a flippant comment, from both of us, yet somehow the quiet stretch of time between us has twisted it into something more than just words.

We step into the great hall, and Everett heads directly to the dining room where he’s worked from.

I think over those stupid words and wish he’d said something else - anything else. We’ve had such a different time here than I was expecting, and I’m positive I’m not ready for it to end like this.

As the thought comes to mind, my brows furrow. I’ve always been single-minded about my work, and staying will mean missing the pitch presentation preparation, although if I’m now working for Everett, I’ll likely miss it anyway. It’s terrifying how my feelings have swayed and moved while here, like this place has infected me and gotten under my skin.

Walking through to the dining room, my mind is set.

Everett’s at the table, his eyes fixed on his laptop.

“You know, we don’t have to leave,” I start, and he looks up at me. “It’s late. We can go back tomorrow? I’ll be working for you then.”

“You will be.”

“So, can you afford for me to be here and not at work?”

“You shouldn’t ask questions you might not like the answer to.”

The conversation about vows and marriage slams back to mind, but I smile and don’t let it affect me this time. “I’m not sure I’m ready to give up the Everett I’ve seen here just yet.”

“We can stay as long as you want.”

“I think an extra day or two will be enough. Let’s not get carried away.” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I wish I could snatch them back. That’s not what I meant. Not really. Maybe it is true, and I don’t want to get carried away, only to be disappointed when things jolt back to reality.

But perhaps after everything that’s happened since we arrived, I shouldn’t keep hanging things off his behaviour at the start.

“You’re sure you want to stay?” he asks, already closing his laptop.

“Yes.” I smile.

“Good.” He stands and grabs my hand, pulling me towards the grand hall and staircase. “Now I can fuck you all night and have you begging on your knees without a single drop of alcohol in your system. Let’s see just how compliant you are under my hand.” I swallow at the edge of command in his voice but feel the jolt of pleasure hit low in my stomach.

This is a side to Everett I can enjoy, and I plan to. As many times as he wants.

***

I’m still exhausted when I wake. There’s no Everett beside me, though. I grab a robe and wrap it around me, hoping he’s made coffee wherever he is.

Leaving the bedroom, I head downstairs and follow the glorious smell of fresh coffee, all rich and welcoming. He’s in the usual spot, and I peer around the door at him, sitting at the table. My eyes drink him in and try to contrast him with theman who dominated me last night, who took me to the edge and made me shatter again and again.