❥ EVERETT'S POV

I'm going to kiss you now.

Everett isn't that far off from begging for it.

The dark look swirling in Knox's eyes burns brightly, the heat so intense that Everett swears he's beginning to melt from the inside out.

He's more excited about kissing this man than he had been about losing his virginity all those years ago. That night, which later turned out to be a disappointment, doesn't compare in the slightest to what's happening right now; the scorching result of an attraction that has taken its sweet, sweet time to grow.

Everett told himself again and again that he needed to behave while living at the clubhouse, and especially when around Knox. His body, however, had rejected that ludicrous request every single time.

Why be good when it feels so much better being bad?

Having Knox's hands on him isn't enough. Everett wants more, so much more. His chest continues to rise and fall as he breathes heavier, faster, lust having put him in a violent chokehold. The realization that this isn't a dream, that this is finally happening after weeks of teasing each other, has him scared he'll spontaneously combust before Knox can seal the deal.

The man doesn't look nervous at all, at least not on the outside, so what the fuck is taking him so long to wrap up what he started?

"Do it," Everett whispers, barely able to recognize his own needy voice. "Kiss me, damn it." His quivering hands grip Knox's waist and slowly travel up his muscular back as if he's scared the man will poof and disappear in the next ten seconds. "What are you waiting for?"

"Was giving you one last chance to back out," Knox says. "You sure you don't want to take it?"

"No, I'm not going anywhere." What Everett does take is matters into his own hands. He tilts his head back, pushes his mouth forward, and closes his eyes when he feels their lips touch.

Holy shit...

Occasionally, Everett can be a bit of a dreamer.

But never did he think he'd ever get to experience a moment like this, one he had only seen in movies. He feels it happen the second after they kiss. He feels the world shift beneath their feet, pleasure dancing beneath his skin as Knox's tongue wastes little time tasting the inside of his mouth. Everett, wholly and happily, succumbs to Knox's possession. He feasts on it. Drowns in it. Becomes one with it entirely.

Fuck, does he feel what I'm feeling? He has to feel it, too. He has to know...

The kiss begins and ends all too soon as the sound of footsteps slows to a stop beside them.

It's like a bucket of cold water gets poured over Everett when Knox pulls away from him with a deep growl to check out the sudden intrusion. The man's irritation gradually morphs into anger as he guides Everett behind him before turning around to face one of his brothers.

"Can I help you with something, Mason?" Knox scowls, widening his stance despite there not being a threat. "Because I'm pretty fucking busy here."  

"I'll be quick. So I finally have an update on the..." Mason pauses when he catches Everett peeking from behind Knox. He flashes the boy a friendly smile that Knox immediately disrupts with a low grunt, urging him to keep talking. "You know what... Uh, just forget it! You two were obviously in the middle of something. I'm sorry for ruining it."

"It's okay—" Everett starts.

"It's not," Knox interrupts, still glaring at Mason.

"Oh my God, can you please chill?" Everett slaps Knox on the arm, then smiles at Mason. "Really. It's okay. We were just, um, talking about what we wanted for dinner tonight."

Mason nods, playing along with the blatant lie. "Yeah, of course." 

Out of all the members that Everett has met up to this point, Mason is the only one who doesn't look like he belongs here. He's tall and skinny with sandy brown hair and hazel eyes. His slender body contains not a single piercing or tattoo. Everett wouldn't stop and walk in the opposite direction if he saw Mason coming his way on the street. The guy's vibe is more of a surfer boy than member of a dangerous motorcycle club.

Then again, looks can be deceiving.

Everett knows better than to judge a book by its cover. Mason has clearly put in the work, whatever that consists of, to become a patched member, so he can't be as innocent as he looks. Everyone living at the clubhouse probably has blood on their hands. Some more than others.

"Hey, listen. I don't want to cause any problems, so..." Everett steps from behind Knox, trying his best to appear calm and collected despite getting caught red-handed locking lips with, allegedly, the deadliest member of The Fallen Angels. "I can just leave and give you two a moment alone if it's something important that needs to be discussed in private."

"No." Knox doesn't give Everett the chance to sneak off. He grabs him by the hand and tugs him right back to his side. "We've got other places to be, so Mason will have to wait." Arching a brow and tilting his head slightly, Knox dares Mason to object. "Isn't that right?"

"Yeah, man. Whatever you say." Mason gives them an apologetic look before slowly backing away. "Just, uh, try to come find me whenever you become available again. I'm going to try to hunt down Pres and tell him what I discovered." He smirks at Knox once he's a safe enough distance away. "You two lovebirds have fun and play safely."

"Better watch it, you little shit—" Knox snarls. Mason sprints off, laughing up a storm before Knox can snatch him up and force his words back down his throat. "I can't believe this has happened again. Another interruption. I swear we can't get a fucking break around here. It's like they exist to keep us from..." Knox exhales a deep breath, shaking his head. "Nevermind."

"Another time, I guess." Everett giggles and pushes up on his toes to kiss Knox on the cheek. So not what he had in mind for them minutes ago. "We should get cleaned up. I feel gross and sticky... but, like, not in the good way."

Knox laughs. "You and your filthy mouth."

"Shut up. I know you like it," Everett smirks.

"Very much," Knox says. "Let's get out of here before we get another fucking visitor."

After they head back to Knox's bedroom and shower—separately—they get dressed in fresh clothes, grab a bite to eat in the kitchen, and then Knox finally takes Everett outside to show him his favorite spot by the river. They walk and talk about everything and nothing, time passing by quickly as they get lost in one another. Something that's been happening frequently.

"Wow! It's crazy beautiful out here during this time of the evening," Everett remarks. "I bet it's terrifying at night, though. All these big freaking trees everywhere... Hell no. I'm glad I never tried to run away because my dumbass would've immediately gotten lost out here."

Knox chuckles, glancing out at the river coming into view. "I know this place like the back of my hand. I'd have found you and dragged you back to where you belong."

"And where might that be?" Everett asks, teasingly.

"Wherever I'm at, obviously." Knox smirks. "Come on. We aren't that far away now."

The clubhouse sits at the front of the fifty-acre property owned by Gavin. Massive trees cover most of it, including the perimeter, and near the south end is where the river passes through. The path that Everett and Knox walk hasn't always been around, but Knox has since kept maintenance up on the area to prevent it from being taken over by weeds and other debris.

Contrary to what Everett believes, Knox finds that it's most peaceful out here at night.

"This is it." Knox leads them into a small, secluded section where the grass fades into dirt and rocks. A perfect spot to settle into if one enjoyed fishing. "This is where I come to clear my head when the demons start to get too loud," he speaks quietly, so low that Everett almost misses it. "It ain't much, but it's mine. Brings me peace, if only temporarily."

"I love it. I think it's absolutely gorgeous." Everett sits next to Knox on the ground, his eyes scanning and memorizing the area. Across the river are more trees, presumably the ending of somebody else's property. "The sound of the river and all the insects chirping around us..." Everett closes his eyes for a few seconds, soaking up the sun's warmth. "God, I bet I could take a killer nap out here."

Knox laughs. "I have once or twice before. Wouldn't recommend it unless you bring along a can of bug spray."

"Yikes. I can imagine how bad the mosquitoes get all the way out here. No fucking thanks," Everett says, opening his eyes. He glances at Knox's profile, secretly admiring him. All sharp features until you get to his stormy grey eyes. Right now, they're the softest they've ever looked. "Do you ever wish that all this could be yours? The clubhouse, the property..."

"No," Knox says without even thinking about it. "Can I afford to purchase something like this for myself? Yes. Do I want to have it all right now? No. There's still too much work left to be done."

"What do you mean by that?" Everett asks.

"When you join a MC, you're in that shit for life. At least I am," Knox says. "Something drastic will have to happen to me before I willingly step down from my position and leave the club and my brothers behind. I'm not ready to settle down. It ain't my time yet."

Everett nods in understanding. "You said you could afford all this, which is honestly blowing my mind because you definitely don't look or act—"

"Like I have money?" Knox questions, smirking. Everett nods again, blushing. "Yeah, well, you should know by now that I'm not exactly the flashy type. Unlike some people, I don't wear my wealth to prove that I have it. I think that shit is nothing but corny. I don't give a damn about what people think of me. If I did, I'd never get any sleep at night."

"I feel that," Everett says. "Let me know when a job opens up around here because I have student loans to pay off and your Pres seems to give out pretty generous salaries," he jokes. 

"You have options. Strip club, motel, or funeral home?" Knox asks. "We dabble in a little bit of everything, but there's always an opening at the strip club. We don't discriminate when it comes to hiring dancers."

Everett gasps, confused. "You're serious?"

"Hell no. I'm just fucking with you." Knox laughs, shaking his head. "I mean, yes, we do own a strip club, motel, and a funeral home because they're extremely profitable businesses, but someone like you wouldn't last a day at either of those places. No offense."

"None taken," Everett mutters. "I remember you told me once that MCs primarily make money through illegal means. Is that what you guys use the businesses for? A cover for whatever illegal activity you've got going on?"

Knox meets Everett's gaze, briefly flashing a smile filled with sadness and something else the latter can't quite decipher. "I talk too much around you."

"So what? I like you better when you're talking versus being all broody and mute," Everett replies. He scoots closer to Knox and grabs his hand like it's something they do all the time, interlocking their fingers together. Anything to get rid of that wounded look in Knox's eyes. "Don't worry. All your little incriminating club secrets are perfectly safe with me."

Knox laughs again. "I know they are."

As they watch the river, silence falls upon them, but it isn't loud or awkward. Quite the opposite.

And that's precisely why Everett ignores the alarm bells ringing in the distance, trying to warn him that what he's doing right now isn't right. Getting closer to Knox on a deeper level, having easy conversations with him, kissing and touching him when what he should be doing is doubling the distance between them and closing off his heart completely.  

Fuck. The bastard's already done it, hasn't he?

Knox has somehow managed to climb over the walls that have kept Everett's heart intact. He's practically moved in and made himself at home. One he'll eventually have to be evicted from because none of what they have going on right now will ever become a permanent thing.

The Fallen Angels' war with The Jackals will end one day. Everett will have to go back to his mundane way of living, return to school, get his degree, and then step into the next chapter of his life.

One where Knox holds no role. 

"I'm curious," Knox says moments later. "What does your future look like? Where do you see yourself in the next five years?"

Somewhere, anywhere, with you...

"I don't know," Everett mumbles instead, resting his head on Knox's shoulder. "What about you?"

"I don't know," Knox repeats. "Living the life I live, I've long accepted the fact that every day could be my last."

"I guess you better start living each one to the fullest, then." Everett produces a half smile, squeezing Knox's hand. "I'll help you."

Until it's time for me to go.

"I'd like that." Knox squeezes his hand back, the rational part of him knowing he can't take any of this to heart. "You've got yourself a deal, kitten."