Seven Days in June

by Tia Williams

The room had been clanging with chatter. But to Eva, it suddenly simmered down to a muted hum. God, had he gotten taller? He was so at ease in his bones now. So broad-shouldered, so…much. Too much.

“One thing,” she whispered, her lips by his jaw. She didn’t want anyone to overhear. “Before I forget.” “What’s that?” “Stop writing about me.” Only Eva could’ve noticed the change in his expression. She saw the flinch. The slow, satisfied curl of his lip. His bronzy-amber eyes flashing. It was like he’d been waiting years to hear those words. Like the girl whose pigtails he’d been yanking during recess all year had finally shoved him back. He looked gratified. In a voice both raspy and low, and so, so familiar, Shane said, “You first.”

i am locked iiiin

She was simple in wild curls, clingy tank, boyfriend jeans, Jordans. Unfairly sexy glasses. This morning, she was even more dangerous—if that was possible. And Shane devolved from a composed adult to a besotted adolescent.

oh yesss

“I know what I was like.” “You don’t.” Shane went dead serious. “You burst into my solitude, demanding to be seen. You were overwhelming. Just wild and weird and brilliant, and I never had a choice. I liked everything about you. Even the scary parts. I wanted to drown in your fucking bathwater.”

#whipped

Shane stood in the doorway, frustratingly broad-shouldered, bright-eyed, and exquisite—all rumpled white tee and gray joggers (pornographic)—his expression reading pure, unabashed shock. “You’re here,” breathed Eva. “You’re here,” he said on an exhale. “You came.”

Shane’s eyes weren’t closed at all. He was drinking her in, his expression wide open and mesmerized. In the sun, his eyes shone paler than usual. Eva remembered this color, this gold-flecked honey. She remembered it all. How easy it was, falling into him. One minute she was fine; the next minute she was gone.

“Shane,” she said quietly. “Why haven’t you said my name?” Shane flinched, caught off guard. It was disorienting, being caught between what he felt then versus his feelings now. If Shane spoke her new name, then she stopped being a memory. She became tangible. And he’d have to confront what was real. Which was that Eva Mercy was unspooling him, as slowly and surely as if she’d tugged a thread. Shane was here to come clean and go. Falling for her wasn’t the plan.

these two will be the end of meeeee

then brought her hand to his mouth, pressing a lingering kiss into her palm. She gasped, electricity tearing through her. It was the slightest touch, but she felt it everywhere.

“Why’d you come?” “For you.” Her hips stuttered against his, desperate for friction. “Wanted you.” “You got me,” he rasped, leaving hot, sucking kisses down her throat. “Your turn.”

But she let out an impatient groan, digging her nails into his shoulders, and Shane caved. He crashed his mouth into hers, drawing her into a luscious, searing kiss. The delicious shock of it was enough to make Eva freeze, but then she melted into him, lost in the heat of his mouth, the slide of his tongue, the teasing nip of his teeth, until she was unable to form a coherent thought beyond yes and want and ShaneShaneShane.

“’Cause I’m old enough to know better,” said Shane, drawing her into a quick, dirty tongue kiss. “But I’m gonna do it anyway.” “Do what?” “Fuck you. Here.”

faaints awayyyyy

“I need you, so you can’t die.” “Just…just let me.” With a desperate groan, he dropped his face into the hollow of her shoulder and begged. “Stay. I’ll make it worth it. I’ll make it so fucking good, Genevieve. You’ll be so happy, I swear. Just gimme your pain; I’ll take it all. Promise to stay, and I’ll never leave. Me and you, forever. Promise me.”

“Stop making me fall for you again!” Shane flinched. “How am I making you? It’s happening to both of us.”

bruh...i cannot with these two!

Disoriented, Eva blinked. She was acutely aware of everything: his scent, his rugged scruff, his crumpled tee, the line of his biceps, his eyes. Shane overwhelmed her. She was dizzy with him.

help meee

He tangled his hand in her curls, pulling her head back to deepen the kiss. Over and over they savored each other, their kisses hot and hungry. “Fuck,” he said. “You’re here.” “I’m here.”

the wantiiiing

“Tell me what you want,” Shane rasped into her ear. She wanted him all over her, his scent, his mouth, his tongue, his hands, him. She wanted him to mark her so she’d never remember anyone else. “Just want you. Everywhere.”

“Look at me.” She peered down at Shane’s face, his wicked mouth on her—and oh, it was an obscene, exquisite sight. Once her eyes locked with his, Shane sank two fingers deep inside her. Gently, he hooked them in a come-hither motion, and that was it. She came, riding out every jolt.

“It won’t hurt, I promise.” Shane grinned, a heart-stopping thing. Then laid his face on her breasts, closing his eyes. “Ready?” he asked. “Ready.” “I love you,” said Shane. “Dramatically, violently, and forever.” She kissed the top of his head, smiling brighter than the sun. “I’ve always loved you,” he whispered. “What a coincidence,” she whispered back. “I’ve always loved you, too.”

“I want to be the thought that lulls you to sleep. The memory that gets you off. I wanna be where all your paths end.” He nipped her earlobe. “I wanna do everything you do to me.”

c r y i n g

“Would you have asked me to come to Louisiana?” asked Shane. “Yes.” Eva’s gaze caught his. “Would you have come?” “I had a bag packed. I was just waiting for the word.” “I think we were wrong to end this.” Eva clutched the flower to her chest, where her heart was thundering. Shane cupped her face in his hands. “It never ends, does it? Loving you never ends. Whether you’re Genevieve or Eva.