evie

By the time we make it back to the cabin, we’re both exhausted, but our craving for each other is at an all-time high.

It won’t be long until we’re surrounded by my family again, so we know as we stumble inside, the easiest thing would be to wait until morning. One look makes it clear that waiting just isn’t an option for either of us.

We slip into my bathroom, our lips dancing over each other in desperation as we peel our clothes away. The steam begins filling the small space and when I hook my arm around his neck, his hands clench my thighs, lifting me around his waist and carrying me into the shower.

The feel of the water pouring over my shoulders as he runs his lips across my collarbone turns me to jelly. As I trace his arms with my fingers, gripping the hair at the nape of his neck and brushing his lips with mine, he releases a low groan that has my head swimming.

Over the past week, we’d given into our craving for each other more times than I could count, justifying it by saying we were simply scratching an itch.

This is something else.

Something had shifted inside us both today and no matter how much we might try to, neither of us could deny it. Even with our blatant refusal to acknowledge it this morning, it couldn’t be more obvious right now.

There’s something different in his touch this time. His usual hard and angry kiss is soft, his touch lighter as he turns me in his arms. I lift one leg onto the edge of the bathtub as he bends to meet my lips from behind, one hand holding my chin in place dominantly. The other softly traces my belly, his fingertips grazing my skin like feathers, somehow sending a chill through me at the same time it lights me on fire.

When he pushes into me, it’s not rushed like it had been every time before. Now it’s slow, deep, stealing my breath as my name leaves him in a low rasp. There’s a gentle rhythm to his thrusts as he makes me climb, the softness in his touch as my head falls against his broad chest mesmerizing me, hypnotic.

As he fills me, I clench around him and my eyes flutter open beneath the spray, meeting his gaze and I see he feels it too.

This isn’t scratching an itch. Not anymore.

Right now, we’re floating, falling, lost, breathless…

I don’t think either of us care if we ever come back up for air.

dash

With the sound of the door closing downstairs, we knew our time alone was over and she slipped from the still steamy bathroom. I dried quickly, eager to be near her once more, even as the realization inside the thought pulled at something I hated admitting.

I swipe my hand over the mirror, revealing my harsh gaze as I stared back at my reflection.

I’m being stupid. What I’m feeling, it’s all physical. It has to be. I don’t have feelings for Evie. How can you have feelings for someone you don’t even like? It doesn’t make any sense.

This started as a mistake, one favor coming back to bite me in the ass, but even in the midst of it, I can feel shit beginning to spiral out of control.

This was only supposed to help us scratch an itch. That’s all we’ve been doing, using each other to kill time and when she goes back to school, we go back to hating each other. That was the deal.

Except I don’t think I hate her anymore.

I only hate what she’s doing to me knowing I can’t do anything to stop it.

I dress quickly, clenching my eyes shut tight as images of her falling apart against me in the shower invade my thoughts.

Fuck, she felt so soft, so perfect. I could have stayed inside her forever…

“Stop,” I admonish myself, shaking my head at the reflection still glaring back at me. “Don’t complicate shit. Just use her like she’s using you.”

My resolve intact regardless of my shaky thoughts, I slip out of the bathroom and make my way downstairs a moment later.

Donna and Mason are in the kitchen, Evie talking to them about something I can’t hear, but I see her face lighting up from across the room and it helps to ease some of the tension sitting in my chest.

“Hey man,” Mason calls out, pulling my attention to him. “How’s your day been?”

“Good,” I say, happy there’s at least one thing I don’t have to lie to him about. “How about you?”

“Long,” he groans, making me smirk. “Some vacation, huh? Mom and me have spent the whole time working.”

“Yes, but we’ve had a great time,” she interjects, smiling when he nods in agreement. “And it’s not often we get to spend so much family time together. I’ll happily work every day for the rest of my life if it means I get to come home to all my babies every night and see them smiling,” she beams, hugging Mason and kissing Evie’s forehead sweetly before she makes her way over to me, giving me an affectionate pat on my cheek. “That includes you, too, sweetie.”

“Thanks,” I say with a soft smile, my throat thick with emotion. I shake my head clear and glance over to see them unloading bags and I grab one. “Do you want some help?”

“Sure,” Donna smiles. “We’re having tacos. Why don’t you start chopping these tomatoes up and Evie and I can get started on the filling while Mason gets the rice going?”

I nod, all of us moving into our assigned places and working together. There’s playful banter, laughter, all the stuff I had when I was growing up with my mom. It’s not the same, nothing ever will be without her, but it’s the closest thing to family I’ve had since she died.

I’d be lying if I said I couldn’t see this becoming the norm. If things were different, if I thought Evie and I could ever work, this is everything I could ever ask for. More, really.

But that’s not going to happen.

I’ve gotta get out of my own head and make my peace with that. I don’t want her, this is just an illusion.

“You look like you feel like shit. You good, man?” Mason asks, pulling me from my thoughts and making me nod.

“Yeah,” I wave him off. “Really fuckin’ tired.”

“Watch your mouths,” Donna admonishes, making me smirk to myself when she swats at us with a hand towel. “And set the table, please.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Mason and I answer simultaneously, making her snicker.

We all find our places around the table, Evie explaining an art project she’s working on. As she sits across from me, I stay silent mostly, feigning disinterest, all the while enraptured.

I’d always known she was passionate about her art, even seen some of her stuff hanging up at the house, but I’d never paid much attention to her when she talked about it. Well, that or anything else if I’m being honest. I’m paying attention now, though and the way her eyes light up, her expressions livelier than I’d ever seen them outside of her bedroom, I can’t get enough of it.

Her hands move animatedly, her smile wide and her eyebrows crinkling together hard in concentration when she explains the history behind the piece. She talks about her inspiration, an exhibit she’d been to recently, and the awe in her expression is intoxicating, making me envy the piece that had staked its claim on her soul.

She’s breathtaking.

“Dash?” Donna says, pulling me back, the look on her face making it obvious this wasn’t her first attempt at my attention.

“Ma’am?”

“I asked how things were going with you?” she smiles. “Are you still working at the garage?”

“Yes, some,” I nod, taking a sip from my glass. “I’m usually there a few days a week, but it’s a little slow right now, so I’m doing a few restoration projects.”

“Oh, yeah?” she asks, pulling another nod from me. “That’s really great,” she smiles. “And what about that girl Mason said you were seeing? What was her name again? Amber?”

“Amy,” Mason answers for me with a smirk, shaking his head. “Mom, that was like six months ago and I think they only went out like… twice.”

“Well, then I guess we needed this vacation more than I thought,” she chuckles, patting my arm. “Sorry, honey. Are you okay?”

I smirk at the sweetness of her question, about to answer when Mason’s chuckle cuts me off.

“The day Dash gets hung up on a woman is the day I quit teaching to become a lion tamer and your sweet little angel here takes up grief counseling.”

He reaches across to affectionately pinch Evie’s cheek with a wink, the three of us laughing as she gives him a wide, sarcastic smile and flips him off.

“Leave your sister alone. She’s unique,” Donna chuckles, patting her arm before returning her attention to me. “Who’s the new girl then? Tell me all about her.”

“Nothing to tell,” I shake my head, keeping my eyes on my plate. “I’m not seeing anyone right now.”

“Really?” Evie asks, her eyes narrowing slightly in question. “You aren’t?”

“No, not really,” I reply, lifting my drink again to hide my nerves. “Why?”

“No reason,” she shrugs easily. “I just thought you were. My mistake.”

We finish supper, she says little else to me as Mason begins talking about one of the exercises he’d done this morning. She acts natural and once we’re all finished eating, we file into the kitchen and begin stacking everything up beside the sink.

“Don’t worry about those, mom,” she says as I walk in with a few more things. “I’ll wash the dishes. You go sit down and relax.”

“Thank you, honey,” Donna beams, kissing her cheek and accepting the offer as she pours herself a cup of coffee and moves into the living room.

“You need any help, Evie?” Mason asks, making her shake her head.

“No, thanks. I’ve got it.”

“Thanks, you’re the best,” he kisses her cheek before turning to find me standing behind him with the last of the dishes. “Thanks man.”

“No problem,” I reply, waiting for him to be out of earshot before I step closer to her side, setting everything down onto the counter. “Don’t fuck with me like that,” I whisper, my voice low enough that only she can hear me. “I panicked.”

“It’s fine,” she smiles, making my eyes narrow unable to stop the twinge of guilt that’s still coursing through me. “Dash, it’s fine,” she chuckles. “Seriously It’s not like you were lying or anything. We’re not seeing each other. I just like screwing with you, that’s all.”

I study her silently, finally shaking it off and releasing a shrug.

If she says she’s fine, she’s fine, right?

“Okay,” I finally say, leaning over to kiss her hair and biting my cheek when she pulls away to put away plates, twisting out of my hold. “You’re mad.”

“No, I’m not,” she smiles, keeping her voice low. “I’m fine, just trying to clean up so I can get ready.”

“Get ready?” I ask, my eyebrows crinkling together in confusion. I glance at the clock that reads nearly nine and then back at her. She hasn’t left the cabin this late since we got here. “Ready for what?”

“So, I was thinking of checking out that bar at the main lodge,” Mason interrupts, walking back into the kitchen and pulling my attention to his. “You wanna go?”

“I don’t know, man. I’m beat,” I say, moving away from Evie and reaching into the fridge for a drink. “Maybe. What time?”

“Whenever,” he shrugs. “I gotta go over the schedule with my mom for tomorrow, but after that, I’m good.”

“Okay, just let me know. If I’m still awake, I might ride down there with you.”

“Cool,” he says. “Hey, come here. I want to show you this trailer I saw online earlier.”

“Be right there,” I say, watching him go before glancing over at Evie, still working quietly. “Are you sure I’m not gonna wake up at four o’clock in the morning with you standing over me with a butcher knife or some shit? This feels like a trap.”

“You’re an idiot,” she rolls her eyes, a gentle smirk falling over her lips. “I’m fine. Go hang out with Mason before he comes back in here and starts asking questions again.”

With a nod, I make my way into the living room, hanging out on the couch with Mason.

Once she comes back out, Evie excuses herself to her bedroom. It’s pretty obvious I annoyed her earlier, but I can’t say I get why.

She said it best herself. We aren’t seeing each other.

Everything’s good.

I’m totally off the hook.