Ever After Awaits (Layla) novel Chapter 47

Chapter 47: Cade POV

Standing here, holding Layla in my arms, makes all the rage inside me die down immediately.

When I saw her earlier, sitting on her bed, broken and abused by her mother, something in my soul cracked because Layla had fundamentally become a part of me. So, if she hurts, I hurt.

If I had my way, she would be moving into my room today, doing her studies via online classes, and I would probably wrap her in bubble wrap just to be sure no hair on her head is ever harmed again.

But the little spitfire in my arms would never allow that. And in a way, that draws me to her even more. Because Layla doesn’t run from her problems, she doesn’t hide and most certainly doesn’t want others to fight her battles for her.

“Let me finish up here. You go upstairs and slip into your bathing suit and come join us outside when you’re ready,” I say as I take the knife from her hand and gently push her towards the kitchen’s entrance.

Quickly turning around, she returns to me and kisses my cheek sweetly before disappearing upstairs without a word. God, she’s turned me into a sappy lovesick fool for her. But I wouldn’t have it any other

way.

Moira and I take everything outside when it’s all prepped. The guys had placed the other snacks and some cold bottles of water on the picnic table, opened enough cantilever umbrellas around the table area to prevent anyone sitting around it from burning to a crisp in the midday heat, and even placed the sun loungers off to the side of the pool.

When everything is done, and in place, the guys and I walk over to the small garden storage unit that houses all the pool equipment, towels, and extra swim shorts or bathing suits for guests. We all slip into various colors of board shorts as we shoot the shit amongst each other.

We return to the table and start sipping Moira’s sweet tea while nibbling on the snacks. Moira has disappeared inside again, probably so she can hear the doorbell when our pizzas arrive.

I’m standing with my back to the patio doors, which means I’m not the first person to see Layla when sh comes outside. Hunter, though, suddenly chokes on a salsa-covered chip, and we all start to give him cra about it. But when his tear-filled eyes lift to a spot behind my shoulder, and his mouth hangs open, I instinctively turn around.

* Fuck! *

Layla’s gorgeous body is encased in a black and red one-piece that could make a grown man cry. It has a deep v-cut in the front, giving us a front-row seat to her luscious tits that are having trouble staying contained. It’s cut high on her hips, causing her thick, juicy thighs and even a portion of her desirable h to grace us with their presence.

The collective silence that rings out between us is deafening. From the corner of my eye, the rest of the

stupid idea

gth of his nose. Stupid, stupid, me.

Layla’s body, dripping wet with pool water, is going to be the reason I have a heart attack today. Or a permanent hard-on. Or muscle spasms from trying to keep my hands to myself. The jury is still out on which one will be the cause of my imminent demise today.

AJ is the first to recover as she ambles over to where we are standing, sunglasses hiding her eyes. “Fuck Cupcake, you look good enough to eat right now,” he says as he bites down on his fist, making Layla giggle. My heart soars at hearing her getting some of her carefree nature back.

Hunter takes her hand and leads her to the table, where he sits her down. He grabs a bottle of sunscreen 1 hadn’t even noticed, shows it to her, and asks, “May I?” I want to kick myself for not thinking of that first

what I wouldn’t give to slide my hands over all that exposed skin of hers right now.

She gives him a slight nod before turning her back towards him. If I thought the view from the front was excellent, the back is downright sinful. The back of the suit is almost non-existent. The material is practically cut out to just above the crack of her ass, the sides being held together with several crisscrossed red straps.

As Hunter’s cream-covered hands slide over her shoulders and down her arms, the rest of us stand and stare in awe at the beauty we call ours. Not even the nasty bruise and gash on her forehead can take away from the magnificence that is Layla Kincaid.

As AJ hands her a bottle of water, my attention drifts to Xavier, where he stands a few feet away. His jaw i tense, and the hand around the glass, which is frozen midair halfway to his face, is clenched so hard that his knuckles are white.

He is clearly struggling to keep his growing feelings for her locked down and buried six feet below a concrete slab, but I’ve got bad news for him. There is no fighting the inevitable. He just needs to get his head out of his ass for longer than five seconds so he can realize she’s perfect for every one of us in uniqu ways.

His flirting with her earlier is undoubtedly a step in the right direction. So, I’m holding out hope that today might help get him on board.

AJ and I have drifted closer to Layla like moths drawn to a flame, so when Hunter slips his hands down he back, underneath the straps, we notice the goosebumps that follow his touch almost immediately. I like that we all cause such a visceral reaction in her.

When Hunter is done, he leans down and kisses the top of her left shoulder, saying, “All done, Beautiful.”

She gets up, turns around to him, and gives him a soft kiss before saying, “Thanks.”

“What do you want to do first, Sunshine? A dip in the pool, some sunbathing, or just sitting around and talking about everything and anything until our pizzas arrive?” I ask as I step around Hunter, hooking my

“Uhm,” she starts, looking around at everything scattered around the patio. “How about some sunbathing first?” she asks as she walks backward in the lounger’s general direction. She doesn’t break the connection between our fingers, and I follow her gladly, thinking of getting her to sit between my spread legs on one

of the chairs.

Xavier isn’t too far behind her when she halts. The loungers are to her left, and the pool is immediately to her right. Even though I can’t see her eyes, I see the smirk she gives me as she says, “Xavier?” And I instinctively know she’s up to something.

He takes the last few steps towards her, closing the gap between them, which puts him within arm’s reach of her, and says, “Yes?”

In the meantime, she’s dropped my hand, and I’m giddy about what I expect is about to come.

Before anyone sees it coming, she whips around and grabs his biceps. In the next breath, she uses all her might and pushes him to the side. And into the ice-cold pool.

Chapter Comments

9

Write Comments

SHARE