What the Shell Read online

  Rolling her over, I slid my fingers along her waistband. Her hips arched off the beach. The sight of her, so ready for me, drove me crazy. My cock throbbed, my need for her consumed me.

  She ran her tongue along her lips, her eyes half closed. “Now, Evan.”

  I wanted to take it slow, drag out her pleasure, but her words made me come undone.

  Shelby

  Evan’s fingers slipped over my clit. My need for him soaked me, made me wetter than I’d ever been. Every part of me vibrated with desire. I could feel the chemistry between us like a low hum, pulling us closer together, driving us to the brink of something bigger than us both.

  His lips kissed a path from my mouth down my neck, over my collarbone. He paused when he reached my breasts.

  “You’re so fucking gorgeous.”

  His words sparked even more heat. The flames of my desire licked at me from the inside out. I was consumed with a raw need for this man.

  “Take me, please.” I pulled his head up so I could meet his gaze.

  He didn’t break eye contact. Not as he slipped my panties down my legs. Not when he grabbed a condom from the wallet in his pants. Not even when he wrapped his hand around his cock and positioned himself over me. Especially not when he pushed inside, giving me what I’d been begging for.

  I locked my ankles together around his hips, meeting him thrust for thrust. Each pump of his hips sent him deeper. He filled me completely, and I was amazed by the way my body molded to his. It had never been this good with anyone before him. I’d never want another man as much as I wanted Evan.

  I gave myself to him completely. He angled his hips, his thrusts connecting with that elusive spot, the one known only to him, that sent me reeling toward my release. As I tumbled into it, he rained kisses on my breasts. Then his fingers slipped between us, sending me hurtling over the edge.

  “Wait for me, Shelby.” His hips moved even faster, frantic to follow me. And then we were both lost, clinging together as our joint climax swept over us. He collapsed on top of me. The aftershocks coursed through my body, my orgasm nowhere near over.

  We laid there together until the moon had passed across the sky, wrapped in each other’s arms, dreaming about an impossible future where we could be together.

  Finally, as the sun’s first rays streaked across the sky, he helped me to my feet and gently brushed the sand from my skin. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “I know. There’s nothing either one of us really can say that would make a difference.”

  He walked me back to my bungalow and pressed a kiss against my forehead. “I hope you don’t regret last night.”

  “No regrets.” I shook my head from side to side. “But there’s no way I can take that job. I can’t come to Kansas City and be so close to you without being able to touch you.”

  8

  Evan

  A groan escaped my lips. “I don’t want to do this anymore. I can’t.”

  “I’m sorry.” She put a palm on either side of my face. “I understand.”

  “Understand what?” She couldn’t know the feelings that had been piercing the armor I’d tried to put up around my heart.

  “You don’t want me to come between you and Burton. I get it. He needs someone to always have his back and put his friendship first. It should be you.”

  Yes, Burton deserved those things. He’d been burned bad by a friend turning on him before we met our freshman year of college. I knew it was hard for him to put his trust in someone. That’s why I’d vowed to never double cross him and never lie to him.

  I shook my head. “That’s not what I meant.”

  “What is it then?” Her eyes searched mine.

  “I don’t want to pretend that I’m not totally in love with you.”

  She sucked in a breath then threw her arms around my neck. “I love you, too. I tried not to.”

  I skimmed my palm down her back. “I know, baby.”

  “But, Burton…”

  Now that Burton had met Celia, I hoped he’d understand how love could knock you over the head when you least expected it. Neither Shelby nor I had gone looking for this. We had no intention of going behind his back. But I couldn’t give her up, especially not now that I knew she felt the same way.

  “Let me handle Burton.” I smoothed her hair back from her face.

  “Now?”

  “I don’t want to lie anymore.”

  “Then let’s do it together.”

  Shelby

  Evan held my hand as we approached my brother. Burton sat at a table, finishing his breakfast, with Celia by his side. The two of them were totally absorbed in each other. The whole resort could have been on fire and I doubt they’d notice. I was so happy for him he’d found the love of his life. But it made it even more bittersweet that a pledge between him and Evan was the one thing standing between me and my own happily ever after.

  “Hey, Burton, got a sec?” Evan asked.

  Burton dragged his gaze away from his fiancee and glanced up at us. “Is something wrong?”

  “Actually,”—Evan shot me a confident smile—“it’s more like something is really right.”

  “Have a seat.” Burton nodded toward two empty chairs. His brow creased as he noticed Evan’s hand linked with mine. “You okay, Shelby?”

  I nodded, not trusting myself to actually speak without turning into a blubbering mess.

  “What’s this about?” Burton sat up straighter, his chest puffing out a bit. He was on edge. This wouldn’t end well, I could tell.

  “I know this isn’t exactly the perfect timing, but,”—Evan smiled at me—“but I wanted you to know that I’m in love with your sister.”

  Burton’s gaze bounced from Evan to me and back again. “Excuse me?”

  Evan tried to explain. “We didn’t mean for this to happen.”

  “The hell you didn’t.” Burton jumped up from his chair and launched himself across the table.

  Evan dropped my hand and tried to get to his feet as Burton landed a punch to his cheek then crashed into him. The chair flew back, and both men grappled with each other as they rolled around in the sand.

  “Just listen for a sec, dammit.” Evan rolled over, pinning Burton underneath him. “I love her. I didn’t mean to fall for Shelby, but you ought to know, you don’t exactly go looking for love. Sometimes it finds you.”

  Burton struggled. “Get the fuck off of me.”

  “Are you going to give us a chance to talk?”

  My brother nodded and Evan slowly got to his feet, even offering Burton a hand to help him up.

  As Burton brushed away the sand, he glanced over at me. “You feel the same way?”

  “Yes.” My voice came out shaky. I cleared my throat and tried again. “I do. You know I’d never do anything to hurt you and neither would Evan. You of all people know what kind of man he is.”

  Celia had rushed over to Burton when he stood. She whispered something to him and he nodded.

  Evan moved to my side and put a hand on my shoulder. “You okay?”

  I nodded, anxiously waiting to hear what my brother would say. Would he give us his blessing? Or break ties with both of us?

  Burton pulled himself to his full height, his eyes holding a world of pain. “You’re willing to throw away our friendship for a fling with my sister?”

  Evan hung his head. His hand tightened on my shoulder. Then he lifted his gaze to meet my brother’s. “No. This isn’t a fling, man. I love her. Shelby is the kindest, most giving woman I’ve ever met. I’m in this for the long haul. I know you’re not happy about this. If I could have stopped it, I would. But I’m all in. I’m sorry. If you can’t give us your blessing, then I guess I’ve got to move on. Shelby’s the most important person in my life, and I’m willing to give up anything for her. Even my friendship with you.”

  I turned to face him and put a palm against his cheek. It didn’t matter that Celia and Burton stood a few feet away. “I love you, too.”
r />   Celia sighed. Burton let out a huff. Evan held my gaze, an unspoken commitment passing between us.

  “Fuck it.” Burton cleared his throat. “You hurt her, and I’ll fucking kill you.”

  Evan didn’t look away. “I’ll never hurt her. All I want to do is make her the happiest woman in the world. For as long as she’ll have me.”

  I couldn’t help myself. My arms wrapped around his neck and I pulled his lips to mine. The kiss proved he meant what he said. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

  “Are you going to come up for air?” Burton asked.

  Evan pulled back, his smile proving he felt the same way about me as I did about him.

  “I’m not happy about this, but I’m not willing to lose a sister,”—Burton’s gaze cut to me and he gave me a half-hearted grin—“or my best friend over it.”

  The tightness around my chest eased a bit. It was going to work out.

  Evan squeezed my hands, then let them fall as he moved toward my brother. He pulled him into a giant bear hug and they embraced for a long moment.

  “Well, I’m glad that’s settled.” Burton turned toward Celia. “We’ve got a wedding to get to today.”

  Celia reached out and grabbed my hand, giving it a quick squeeze. Then she let my brother lead her away so they could get ready for the ceremony happening later that day.

  “Well, that went better than I thought it would.” Evan slid his arm over my shoulders. “Think they’d be up for a double wedding?”

  “Let’s not push it.” I reached up, gently touching my finger to the edge of his eye. “We should get some ice on that.”

  “I don’t want ice.”

  “Oh? What do you want?” I bit down on my lower lip, hoping he would admit to wanting the same thing I did.

  “I want to get you back to my room and make sure we got rid of all that sand you picked up last night.”

  My skin tingled, already anticipating his touch. “I’m pretty sure you’ve already checked me over.”

  “Isn’t it worth taking another look?”

  “You know what? I think you’re right.” I slung my arm around his back and together we headed toward his bungalow. It felt good to have things out in the open. No more pretending. No more sneaking around.

  “So about that job offer in Kansas City…” Evan tilted his head, resting his cheek on top of my hair.

  “What about it?”

  “My offer’s still good. You can move into my place under one condition.”

  I couldn’t help but grin. “What’s that?”

  “I turned my spare bedroom into an office. It would be a pain in the ass to redo it. I think you’d better plan on just sleeping with me.”

  “You’re so demanding.” I spun around and put my palms on his chest.

  “Is that a yes?”

  I gazed into his dark brown eyes. “It’s not just a yes. It’s a hell yes.”

  The corners of his lips quirked up into that knowing grin I’d already come to love. “I’m glad to hear that. Now, how about we take a trial run? We’ve got a few hours before we have to be ready for the wedding. I need to find out what side of the bed you like to sleep on, make sure we’re compatible and all that.”

  “Do I have to pick a side? Can’t I just always sleep on you?”

  He groaned, then scooped me into his arms and carried me into the bungalow.

  I laughed, my heart a few tons lighter than it’d been a few days ago. My brother might be getting married today, but I’d already decided this day belonged to me and Evan. It might mark their anniversary, but it would also always be the happiest day of my life.

  Epilogue

  Shelby

  One year to the day after Evan and I got reacquainted on the sandy beach of the private island resort, we stood in front of the same arbor where Burton and Celia had exchanged their vows.

  So much had changed over the past year. I’d taken the job in Kansas City and taken over more than my fair share of Evan’s walk-in closet.

  He didn’t seem to mind and often teased that he didn’t know why I thought I needed so many clothes since he preferred me totally naked.

  And as soon as the officiant pronounced us husband and wife, that’s exactly how we’d start our new married life.

  “You may kiss the bride.”

  Those were the words I’d been dying to hear. Evan leaned down, devouring me with his eyes, and placing a sweet, soft kiss on my lips. Before I could wrap my arms around his shoulders and pull him in deeper, he swept me up in his arms and carried me toward the honeymoon bungalow.

  As we passed, he nodded to the resort owner, Rip, and the event planner, Finley. Besides the officiant, they were the only other guests at our intimate ceremony. And that’s exactly how we’d wanted it.

  We barely made it across the threshold before his hands caught the hem of my dress, sliding it up past my thighs and over my head. I was totally bare except for the Junonia shell I wore on a chain around my neck… the same shell he’d given me that fateful night that started us down this path to our own happily-ever-after.

  “You sure you aren’t going to miss having a big reception?” A flash of doubt shone in his gorgeous eyes.

  “I’ve got everything I need, everything I’ve ever wanted, right here in front of me.”

  His lips quirked into that cocky grin I’d never get enough of. “Is that so?”

  My fingers went to work on the buttons of his shirt. ‘Yes. But one of us is extremely overdressed.”

  He shed his shirt and pants and the two of us fell to the oversized bed. His lips sought out mine. His hands tangled in my hair. His cock notched against my entrance.

  I was more than ready for him.

  “You’re all mine now, Mrs. Dixon.”

  “Then you’d better properly claim me, husband of mine.”

  “With pleasure.”

  As he pushed into me, joining us together, sealing our bond, I nipped at the spot between his neck and his shoulder. “I’ve always been all yours, Mr. Dixon. Today just made it official.”

  Snag the next book in the Summer Lovin’ Series here!

  For Fish’s Sake

  I’m ready to reel in the catch of a lifetime!

  Forget trolling for the catch of the day. When the boat I chartered to take my best friend’s groomsmen out for a day of deep sea fishing docks, I can’t help but do a double take. Blonde, bronzed, Logan Roe isn’t the kind of captain I’d pictured. But as we cast our lines, I fall hook, line and sinker. This woman knows how to handle a pole and I’m going all in to make her mine.

  If a burly billionaire baiting a tempting tomboy makes you crave the motion of the ocean, snag your copy of For Fish’s Sake for a whale of a good time!

  Exclusively available on Amazon and free to read in Kindle Unlimited!

  About the Author

  When Eve London was a girl she wanted to be a trapeze artist. Instead, she grew up to be like most women–a juggler–trying to keep bunches of balls in the air.

  Now she spends her days writing about the kind of men she likes – sexy, shameless, and just a little bit sarcastic.

  You can find her online…

  Also by Eve London

  Summer Lovin’ Series

  Life’s a Beach

  What the Shell

  For Fish’s Sake

  Ship Happens