Everly’s hands go to his chest. I stop marching forward, waiting to see if she actually wanted that creep’s attention, but she turns her head to the side to miss his lips. She tries to push him away, but he keeps trying to catch her mouth with his.
I’ve never felt so much anger in my entire life. My fists clench, and my blood boils from uncontrollable rage. I bypass a few girls trying to talk to me, getting out of their reach. They huff and puff, but I don’t turn back. They aren’t important like Everly is. When I get close enough, I hear Malcolm trying to pressure her.
“Come on. Just one little kiss. You want to, or you wouldn’t be wearing that slutty dress,” he sneers, his hand grabbing her thigh, trying to pull it up.
I grab the back of his shirt with my hand and toss him to the side.
“What the fuck, man?” Malcolm gets himself off the ground and dusts off his pants.
I’ll deal with him in a minute, but my first priority is Everly. I stand in front of her, cup her face, and wipe the lone tear cascading down her cheek. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” she whispers, but I can hear the fear trembling in her voice.
She isn’t fine. She’s scared. I let my thumb linger over her cheek and bring my lips to her forehead. Everly sighs, seeming more relaxed.
But I’m not relaxed. I turn around and push Malcolm’s chest. The force makes him fall again. And when I stomp forward, he crawls back, kicking dust up with his shoes.
“She clearly wasn’t into it. And yet, you pushed anyway,” I snap, backing him into a tree, so he has nowhere else to crawl to.
“Rowan, it’s fine. Let’s just go.” Everly wraps her delicate fingers around my arm, and some of my anger flees. She always has a way of calming me right before I cause mass destruction.
I take a deep breath and nod, taking her hand in mine and turn away.
“Wearing a dress like that, she’s asking for it,” Malcolm says from behind me.
I move so fast, Everly doesn’t have time to stop me from doing anything. Malcolm has gotten to his feet, and he is wearing a smirk that I’m about to rip off his face. I swing my arm back and let my fist fly, catching him right in the jaw.
He drops like a fly. Unconscious and back on the ground.
“Does anyone else have anything to say about Everly?” I roar, waiting for the next asshole to step up and say something. Everyone is staring, slack-jawed, and the only thing that can be heard is the crackling of the wood in the fire. My chest heaves, and I’m doing all I can not to explode.
“Rowan?” Everly’s sweet voice floats through the air, sweeping over me like a feather. She calms me again.
“Yeah, Eve?” My voice comes out rough, like gravel.
“Let’s go,” she pleads, pulling on my hand.
I wrap my arm around her shoulder, kiss her forehead again, and guide her toward my truck.
“Whatever you want.” I open the passenger side door for her, unable to keep my eyes from staring at her long legs. Her dress lifts up her thigh, and I should look away, but the tease of her pink panties hypnotizes me. I can’t look away.
Not until she gets herself situated and buckled in the truck can I finally shut the door. I turn my head over my shoulder to see Malcolm still passed out on the ground. Someone shoves him with their foot, but his limp body just flops over. Good. I hope he wakes up with a killer headache and swollen jaw. He deserved more than a simple tap to the jaw.
The breeze brings over the smell of the bonfire as I make my way around the front of the truck to my door. I’ve always loved the smell of wood burning, but I can smell that anytime. What’s most important is that I get Everly out of here.
I jump in the truck and buckle up. The truck rumbles to life, and I lean my arms against the black steering wheel. I glance to my right to see Everly fumbling with her hands in her lap, twisting and turning her fingers like she does when she gets anxious. “Are you really okay, Eve?”
“I’m fine. Just a shock, is all. No one ever looks my way twice, then suddenly I’m flung against the tree. I told Blaire this dress was too much,” she mutters, tugging on the hem of her dress to pull it down her legs.
“It’s not about the dress,” I say softly. “That guy is just an asshole. You don’t deserve to be treated that way; no matter what.”
“Thank you,” she whispers.
I let out a soft laugh to try to lighten the mood and put the truck in drive. “Anyway, you’re blind if you can’t always see guys looking your way. You’re beautiful. And tonight, Blaire was right. That dress looks amazing on you.”
Her green eyes sparkle from the compliment as she pushes a long strand of her honey brown hair behind her ear. I love her hair. It always reminds me of the fresh honey I pour in my tea in the winter. A habit I got from my mother. In the winter the air will be cold, so cold, but crisp at the same time. And nothing beats a warm cup of tea at the end of a cold day.
It’s my favorite time of year, and it just so happens my favorite girl has hair that goes with it.
“I’ll make sure not to tell Blaire that you think she is right. She’ll run with that,” Everly giggles, and the sound goes straight to my cock. Everything about her makes my body react in
