“Tell me about it,” I say, but I am looking right at her.
She tilts her head to the side. “Thank you.”
“For what? You can’t thank me ’cause I like looking at you,” I say as I take out the potatoes we bought and situate the steaks on the counter.
“Thank you for making me feel good about myself,” she says, and it makes my heart ache. I’m beginning to understand that even though she and her husband had only been together a short time, most of which he was gone on deployments, he didn’t make her feel special or wanted. She was basically trudging through life as a great mother but neglected as a woman with needs.
“Sweetheart, you are so beautiful,” I say, walking over to her by the window. She watches me with warmth and heat in her eyes. “Keep looking at me like that and we will never eat dinner.” I take a small nip at her bottom lip.
She wraps her arms around me. “I need you well fed, that’s for sure.” She grins mischievously. “I better help you cook so we can get this show on the road.” She unwraps her arms from around my neck and saunters over to the counter, swaying her ass.
I follow her and give her a light slap on the butt. She yelps but then she smiles. It gives me some ideas for later on.
Avery peels the potatoes while I baste the steak with a rub I got at the supermarket. This all feels very domestic. It’s weird, yet perfect because everything with Avery just feels right.
I head back to the front door and take out some candles I borrowed from Liam while we were there last night. He may ride my ass about all kinds of shit, but the guy is a romantic at heart and definitely a family man.
I light candles and turn off the lights. It’s dark outside, but the view of the ocean and the countless stars is incredible.
Avery and I sit to eat. Steak and mashed potatoes is my ideal meal. “Do you like it?”
“It’s delicious. Everything is perfect,” she says. She’s been saying that a lot. It makes me nervous because nothing in my life has been smooth sailing.
“It is,” I agree.
“You said Nat and Liam got married here?” She looks around at the high rafters of the house. I bet this place is even more beautiful in the daylight,” she says.
“Yeah, Quinn was always talking about this place when we were deployed. He described it to all of us. He used to say it’s like a little piece of heaven,” I say. “When you’re deployed in the middle of nowhere it’s always nice to picture this peaceful place.”
“I’m glad we came,” she says, and takes a bite of her steak.
“Me too. I guess there was a time I didn’t think I would make it, you know.” I take a deep breath. “After everything I’ve been through, I’m just glad to be here. To have this chance with you.”
Avery’s eyes begin to water. “Oh, Bennett.”
“Shit! I’ve gone and made you cry,” I say, chiding myself.
“You make me happy. These are happy tears,” she says, swiping at one that rolls down her cheek.
“I guess it was fate. If I hadn’t been in the accident to begin with then we would never have met,” I say.
“No, I guess we wouldn’t have. I’m just happy you’re doing so much better,” she says, and the passion and love in her eyes— it makes me want her even more.
We finish our meal and Avery stands to clean up.
“Leave the dishes for tomorrow. If I don’t have you now, I may explode,” I say. I take her hand and pull her into my body. Heat floods her gaze as her eyes drop to my lips. I thrust my hands into her hair, cupping the back of her head and pulling her against my lips. We kiss hungrily as our lips mesh and our tongues entwine. I want to devour her. We kiss until we are both breathless and panting, and then we break apart. Our chests heave.
“Should we take this to the bedroom? Or maybe the kitchen counter is closer.” Her eyes flash at option two. “Kitchen counter it is.” I take her by the hand and when we reach the counter, I take her by the hips and lift her.
“Bennett, you shouldn’t lift me. At least not yet,” she says in her therapist tone.
“Take off your jeans and your panties,” I say, taking a step back so that I can watch her undress. She squiggles out of her jeans and lowers her panties.
“The counter is cool,” she says.
“Lean back and spread your legs,” I tell her.
Her eyes turn round.
“Avery, we are completely alone here. No chance of anyone interrupting us. Now, do you trust me to bring you pleasure?”
She nods, and I love how much she trusts me because I know how hard it was for her to give me her trust. She places her feet on the counter so she is spread wide.
“Touch yourself,” I say.
“Bennett I don’t . . . I mean . . . I don’t do that kind of thing in front of you,” she mutters.
“Touch yourself the way you think I would touch you,” I say.
She dips a finger between her thighs. Even in the candlelit kitchen I can see how wet her folds are. She rubs herself with a finger and I feel like I’m going to blow my load. “That’s it, baby. Now put a finger inside,” I say, low and demanding.
She does as I say and dips her finger inside herself. Her head tilts back and she moans.
“Do you want to make yourself come like this?” I ask as my dick throbs against my jeans.
She shakes her head.
I smile deviously loving how much she is changing and finding herself as a woman with needs. She went without sex or the touch of a man for so many years. It boggles my mind and warms my heart that she chose me, chose us.
“What do you want me to do?” I ask, taking a step toward her, my body humming with need.
“I want your mouth on me,” she says.
I drop to my knees and my head is eye level with her sweet pussy. She is so wet that before I even taste her, I lick my lips at the thought of her sweetness.
My tongue runs through her folds and she quivers. I run my tongue slowly up and down, up and down, over her clit which is so engorged she is going to detonate any minute. “You want to come. Don’t you?” I say, and I look up at her.
“Yes, I need to. Yes,” she moans.
“I don’t want you coming,” I say.
I insert a finger inside her while I use my thumb to rub her clit.
“Bennett, I can’t hold off,” she pants, looking down at me.
“Wait,” I say, withdrawing my finger. I give her my mouth again.
“Bennett,” she moans. Her voice is thick as honey.
“Don’t come,” I demand.
I lick her up, dipping my tongue between her folds, lapping the sweet nectar that drips from her.
“I can’t, Bennett,” she says. I feel her insides begin to quake against my tongue.
I rear back and slap her pussy. Not hard, but not soft either. She looks at me with her eyes round.
“Did you like it?” I ask.
Her breaths are ragged as she says, “Yes, can you do that again?”
I want to laugh but I hold back, not wanting to break the moment. “Wait, sweetheart.” I get to work undoing my jeans and removing my boxers. “Take off your shirt and bra,” I tell her, and I remove my own shirt.
My dick stands to attention, throbbing. Avery looks at me and she sucks on her bottom lip.
“Like what you see?” I cock my right brow.
“I need you inside me,” she says.
“That’s what I want, too,” I say, taking a step toward her.
I rub my cock against her folds, her wetness coating me.
“Bennett, please,” she says, her voice filled with lust and sex.
I thrust inside her, holding her hips against me, using the friction to go deep. She cries out, “I need to come.”
“I know, but hold on a little longer,” I tell her.
“This is torture, you know,” she says.
“It’s the sweetest kind of torture. Trust me,” I say as I thrust again, going deep and slow.
“Fas
ter,” she says, and I love how hungry she is for me.
I take her command and I thrust faster and harder. Avery cries out, falling into an orgasm. It’s beautiful, the way her mouth falls open. Her body quakes beneath my rhythm, my touch. My own eyes fall shut and I ride the wave, burying myself inside her deep and rough. She loves it, crying out over and over, and I fall over the edge with her.
Chapter Forty-Three
Avery
The sun peeks in through the blinds. It’s so bright, you wouldn’t think it was the middle of winter. I sit up because my bladder is screaming.
I rush to the bathroom my body sore in the best way possible. After Bennett and I made love on the kitchen counter, we moved to the bedroom where he showed me all kinds of new things. Who would have thought that I liked my vagina slapped? Or my butt, for that matter. Bennett taking command in the bedroom is such a turn-on, too.
After using the toilet, washing my hands and brushing my teeth, I saunter back to bed.
“Get your cute butt back in here,” Bennett says with his raspy morning voice. He holds up the covers for me to slide in. I cuddle against his warm body. “I’m not going to see you for a full week. I still need my fill.”
“We made love three times last night,” I remind him. Even my vagina is tired, but I am not complaining.
Bennett makes love to me again. This morning, he is slow and sweet. When we are done, we shower together. He soaps up my body, and as he washes my breasts, he leans in and kisses me. “I know I’ve said this a few times already, but I love you,” he says.
His sincerity means so much to me. From the sounds of it, Bennett didn’t have much love growing up. He has also never been in love before. Bringing out this emotion inside him makes me feel special and wanted in a way I’ve never felt before either.
“I love you, too.” I kiss him back. “And there is no rule for the amount of times we can say it either,” I say.
After the shower, we get dressed and have breakfast. As we are loading up the car, Bennett says, “We definitely have to come back here. I’m having fantasies about us making love on that beach in the summer.”
His heated words get me all hot and bothered. “I’d like that very much.”
We get into Nat’s car and drive back to Virginia Beach. Bennett plays some music and we take in the picturesque scenery along the coast. I even like the quiet moments with Bennett—the moments where he allows me to be inside my head and just think. His friends seem wonderful. What would it be like to move out here?
Bennett turns down the music and gives me a quick glance. “What are you thinking?”
I grin. “I was just thinking that I like Virginia Beach. I like all your friends too,” I say.
“Thank you,” he says carefully. Ever since he withheld the truth from me about taking a job in Virginia Beach, he hasn’t brought it up again, even though I think he would like too.
“I don’t want to make any promises but maybe I could see myself moving out here after Jess leaves for college. I mean, it’s only a plane ride away,” I say, using my daughter’s words.
“Seriously?” Bennett asks, sounded elated.
“Yeah.” I nod.
He goes quiet and gets the pensive look he usually gets when he’s thinking too hard. He bites the side of his mouth too.
“What is it?” I ask, feeling nervous.
“Don’t give me that look. I haven’t made any decisions without you. I promise.” He laughs nervously.
“Okay.”
“I was just wondering if you would want to move in together? I mean, me, you and Jess,” he says. “I mean, you pay rent, and I pay rent. Maybe we can get something a little bigger and live together.”
I freeze a little. Not because I don’t want to be with him, but because I have to think about Jess, too.
“You know I love both you and Jess. I know she is almost grown up and doesn’t need a dad, but I’d like to be there for her,” he says, gripping the wheel so hard his knuckles look white.
I take my hand and place it on his thigh. “You’ve been really wonderful with Jess, and she really likes you. I’d love to move in with you. I just need to talk to her. Me and her have been our own little unit ever since she was basically born. I need to make sure she is okay with it. I love you, Bennett, and I want to be with you . . .”
“I understand.” His tense grip on the wheel releases. He removes one hand and takes my hand, bringing it to his lips. “I know it’s a big step.”
“It is but it isn’t. Everything with you feels right. I know that it’s time for us. I just have to consider Jess’s feelings, too,” I say.
“I love what a good mother you are. Honestly, when we were back in the hospital and you spoke of your daughter, I thought it was pretty cool how much you cared about her. I don’t even know who my dad is,” he says.
“You may have grown up in foster care, but you sure turned out alright,” I say.
“I have the navy to thank for that,” he says.
“You have great friends who really care about you. You’re a good man, Bennett Sheridan, and I’m lucky to have you in my life,” I say, knowing he needs the reassurance—just like I do.
Chapter Forty-Four
Bennett
Avery and Jess left for Florida. Christmas is over, and all the girlfriends and wives have gone Boxing Day shopping, leaving the kids with their better halves at Liam’s house.
Liam put on some Disney movie, so all the kids are occupied while we sit at the kitchen table.
“You think Avery will want to move out here?” Jackson asks.
I shrug. “I don’t know, man. I can’t pressure her. I just asked her to move in together,” I say, and take a sip of my beer.
“That’s awesome.” Mark fist pumps me. “We’ll have to change your call sign from Asshat to Asswhipped.”
“Ha ha, smartass. What should we say about you? I’ve heard Charlie has you wrapped around her little finger.”
“So true.” Jackson chimes.
“Fuck off,” Mark says, then winces. We all eye each other, anxiously, but no little kids come screaming from the other room, yelling about ‘rude words’.
“I’m happy for you,” Liam says.
“Well, she didn’t actually agree to move in with me yet,” I admit. “She’s planning on bringing it up with Jess in Florida,” I say. “She hasn’t lived with a man since her husband died, and that was like fourteen years ago.”
“Right. You mentioned he was a SEAL, right?” Quinn says.
“Oh, yeah. Do we know who he was?” Jackson asks.
“His name was Liam. I’m guessing his last name was Malone,” I say. “He’s a couple years older than Avery, so maybe he would’ve been around thirty-six if he were alive today,” I say.
“So he could have been in BUD/S with me,” Liam says. “I don’t remember a Liam Malone.”
“He was on Team Six with Thomas Wells,” Quinn says. “You remember Thomas. They were hit by an IED explosion in Afghanistan.”
“Yeah, that’s right. I remember. What a fucking tragedy,” Liam says.
“Guys, let’s talk about something else. This is depressing,” I say. After surviving an IED explosion myself, I feel guilty for being alive. Talking about Jess’s deceased father just doesn’t seem right and makes me remember things I’m trying to forget.
“Daddy, I need to go to the bathroom,” Mark’s son Cullen calls out.
“Duty calls.” Mark laughs, saluting the table before going to help his son.
“Man, when did all you assholes grow up?” I ask.
“Hey, language,” Liam chides, side-eyeing the kids.
We all burst out laughing and clink our beer bottles together.
It’s been five days since Avery left. Even though I have a secure laptop with me on the trip, Jackson suggested I come into headquarters and get a taste of what it’s like to work here while I’m in town. Truth is, it’s fucking amazing. The guys are all business at work. There
are a lot of new contracts coming in, and I’ve been assigned to check them out from a cybersecurity perspective before we agree to take them on as clients.
I head into Mark’s office to ask him a question. After I knock on his office door, he calls me in. “Hey, man,” I say.
“What’s up, Asswhipped?” Marks laughs, forever the joker.
“Funny . . .” I take a seat. “Look at this.” I pass him a document. It’s a job for a United States governor—something about a corrupt business deal overseas.
Mark looks at the document with eagle eyes. I look down at the disaster of paperwork on his desk. He can’t possibly know what is what, with all this chaos.
A piece of paper with my name on it catches my eye. It looks like some sort of background check. I’m not surprised the guys checked me out, considering the type of work we do here.
While Mark is reading the document, I read over the information on myself. My birthdate, age, height, and military status are all a given. A picture of my birth certificate shows only my mother under guardian. This information isn’t new to me. My gaze continues down the legal-size document. The word ‘siblings’ draws my attention. It says brother deceased. My blood turns cold. What the fuck?
Mark looks up to me and gives me a puzzled look. I’m not sure how I come across but the blood just drained from my face. “What is wrong with you?” he asks.
I realize my mouth is hanging open. “That paper over there caught my eye. It has my name on it.”
“No biggie. We check everyone out. You know this,” he says.
“Can I see what you found on me . . . I mean . . . I grew up in foster care. I never really tried to find out what happened to my mother,” I mutter, feeling like a basket case. Brother deceased. What the actual fuck?
“Yeah, I guess,” Mark says, passing me a file. I begin to read and as I do, a cold sweat breaks out over my body. I feel cold and clammy as I read that I had a three-year-old brother who was taken to his aunt and uncle’s house to live. His father was a Steven Montgomery. I was placed in foster care. It’s written that my father is unknown and that my mother’s maiden name was Sheridan. I had a brother who died? How do I not remember this?
Irresistible: A Salvation Society Novel Page 19
