by E. H. Lyon
“And how does Nate play into this?” he asks with a hint of jealousy as he drinks from his glass.
A laugh escapes me. “I was helping him with his marketing the other day and he also helps me with stuff for my business. Purely business.” I keep my face neutral but take quite a bit of pleasure in this.
Jake raises an eyebrow, which makes me sense he doesn’t like it too much.
“But anyways, the previous owners still stop by and love testing the changes I’ve made. We’re only open during the day, so we don’t have to worry about a dinner rush.’’
“I’m happy for you, I really am. The place looks great. I feel bad I haven’t come in so often lately. But now that I have tried the carrot cake, you’ve found yourself a repeat customer.” He nudges my arm playfully with his and a buzz shoots through me.
“We like repeat customers,” I nudge back.
“Even if it’s me?”
He is flirting for sure.
“Yeah, especially if it’s you.” I surprise myself by saying that, and now I am the one who is guilty of flirting, but my stomach spirals from warmth. He seems glad by that remark. “And thanks. But now I’m trying to figure out a blueberry muffin recipe,” I add.
“Are you visiting every bakery in a 50-mile radius then?” he jokes.
I point a finger at him. “Hey! You agreed to take me to every bakery within a 10-mile radius of your place to perfect my carrot cake recipe.”
“Yeah, but it was okay because we were burning off all those calories,” he teases, and I can’t help but let my tongue roll to the corner of my mouth, letting my cheeks burn.
“Yeah. Yeah, we were.” It comes out soft and maybe he catches that I am reminiscing.
There is a pause as we both get a little lost in old times.
“The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup after you left.” He’s trying to break the silence.
I go along with it and point to myself. “Are you saying I was the magic charm?”
“Yeah, because you wore my Blackhawks shirt, I think so. I may need you to wear my Broncos shirt for luck next.” He has a glint in his eye while taking a sip from his whiskey, and it’s only then that I realize his arm had found a way around my shoulder.
I didn’t notice because it was meant to be there. Or at least it feels that way.
“And how would I get into your shirt?” I surprise even myself by how sexy that comes out, and how there is a mischievous grin slapped across my face. The look on his face tells me he enjoys this.
He doesn’t miss a beat, “Probably involves my new bed that nobody else has been in.” His look is equally serious and entertained.
“Oh, here comes the waiter. Could be my chance to ask for the bill and escape.” I give Jake a side glance of mischief.
Jake laughs, “The escape, will you take it?” His eyes hold me in a gaze, and he moves his arm away from me. His face is neutral, but I saw the glimmer in his eyes of hope.
But I don’t have a second thought and I look at him with ease. “You know what? I think I will order another drink.” I smile, and without thought, I take his arm and drape it back around my shoulder. It makes him smile as he slides a little bit closer to me.
The waiter comes and we order. I order a tonic water to keep my mind clear.
Changing the topic, I decide to bring us back to a neutral zone. “Do you still have eclectic music tastes? I remember how hard it was for you when Dashboard Confessional went on a break,” I mock him about the band that he listened to in college and still occasionally listened to when he was preparing for court back in Chicago.
“Hey, off-key acoustic ballads help me get into my concentration zone. Remember Lallapaloosa?”
“That was good. So many good bands in one weekend and the city was insane.”
He cracks a look of pride. “The cab ride back?”
I roll my head in delight. “The driver was going to kill us. You had no restraint. I lost three buttons in that cab!” And all we did was make out like two teenagers.
“And I made it up to you.” His face has a coy look like he’s a good guy. And he is. He made me come in record time when we got back to his place, and the next day, he bought me a new dress with matching lingerie.
I nod slowly in agreement with a soft grin. “You did.”
There is a pause, but a good one. Looking at each other, we realize we sailed off-track again. This time we smile, because it just comes naturally, our effortlessness to flirt, be honest, pick up like we were before our world combusted into pieces.
“This is easier than I thought it would be,” I admit. He looks at me. “Us talking, I mean. And I enjoy it. We’ve both had a lot of changes in our lives, but still, that ease is like it never stopped,” I reflect softly.
He bites his bottom lip in pleasure and his eyes go light. “Good. And I really enjoy talking to you again too.”
These words are the words of my dreams. The icing to my cakes. The chocolate to my brownies.
My lips tug. “We were intense together. Uncontrollable.” I can’t help but let a half-smile form on my mouth as I look off into the distance.
“We couldn’t get enough of each other,” he adds as his thumb caresses my cheek.
“Intense in every good and sad way possible,” I say distantly. His fingers guide my face with glazed eyes to his direction.
Our eyes meet, my hand covers his hand on my face, and we get lost in our stare. In fact, the room stops as we both look at each other.
Getting re-associated, looking for answers, remembering, maybe hoping. Doing it all without saying a word. Our foreheads touch and our lips don’t meet, but I feel them.
“I should probably go,” I say softly.
“I don’t think you want to,” he informs me.
A sound escapes me. “No, I don’t. But we both know it’s the smart thing to do.”
I think I could stay with him all night, but I have no control when I’m around him. He’s close to me, and the last hour just showed me that I only want him closer.
Pulling away, I create space. He nods slowly and offers to walk me to my car since we both parked near the hotel. He pays the bill, and we make small talk as we walk. When we reach my car, we stop and stare at each other. There is silence, especially as nobody else seems to be around on this weeknight.
“It’s cold out tonight,” he comments as he tightens the scarf around my neck. My hand reaches to stop him, but he keeps his hand on me. Our eyes meet.
“You know, I’ve actually never seen you in winter clothing.”
I take a moment to think. “True. We were together in the summer.”
“It’s way too many layers on you,” he smirks, and I can’t help but crack a grin.
He brings a hand to each one of my shoulders. “When am I seeing you again, Avery? Dinner? Tomorrow? Because you and I both know this isn’t how we should be ending tonight.”
“Whoa, someone is smooth,” I gently tease him.
“Then say yes to anything. Tonight, dinner, tell me,” he counters.
I can’t answer. Partly because I really want to say yes, but the other part knows I have the potential to hurt him again.
Still, my filter fails. “Shall we meet Sunday afternoon at your place?” It comes out more eager than I intended, which makes him smirk. “I mean, we could go for a walk or something…” Almost better, but not quite.
“A walk? In the middle of winter?” He grins, knowing very well that I am trying to avoid private settings with him.
“Yeah. A public salted walking path with lots of people sounds reasonable,” I explain one-toned with a funny look.
“Okay, a walking path with a lot of people it is.”
I nod and move to get in my car, but I stop and turn to him one last time, an electrical zap running through me. Our eyes never parting.
“Night, Jake. Sunday, okay?”
It could mean so many things.
Chapter Ten
Avery
There is a great trail outside of Sage Creek, not too busy and perfect for this time of year, even when there is a thin layer of snow. We agreed to meet at Jake’s place and go with one car as parking can be crazy on the weekends.
He heads out to the driveway of his modern house—not a mansion, but most definitely big enough for a family of five with three cars. He looks good in dark jeans and a dark red Henley shirt that I catch a glimpse of as he zips his coat, a look that I would assume not many people see as he still seems to enjoy his suits on a daily basis. It just makes him even more irresistible.
“Hey,” I smile as I kick a pebble on the salted ground, my hands staying in my pockets.
“Hi.” He gives me a quick side hug that already has me weakening in the knees.
There’s a pause, yet it’s not awkward.
“So, shall we do this walk or just stand on my driveway? Either way, I’m good,” he cracks out, and a dimple appears.
I smile and we are about to go to his car, but my hand reaches to the sky. “I think it’s going to snow or rain,” I mention as I feel a few droplets of sleet falling.
Grabbing his phone, he pulls up a weather app on his screen. “I guess so.” He shows me the screen and I bite my lip.
“As much as I love rain, it’s cold rain,” I admit, which equates to no walk.
“We can grab a drink inside if you want? I swear I won’t restrain you with my tie again.” He gives me a persuading grin and I can’t help but look away, satisfied and letting my tongue circle my mouth. Oh, that time with the tie.
“It’s okay; you’re not wearing a tie today anyways.” I give him a playful look.
His arm goes out to lead the way and I follow. He walks in front of me through the garage, inside to the open kitchen, and I take in the surroundings.
“It’s a really nice place. Love the exposed brick wall, high ceilings, and the industrial fixtures. Missing a cookie jar and a few plants, but we know your feelings on that,” I compliment and tease at the same time.
Jake is standing not far from me, leaning against the counter, and I already feel like he’s consuming my air.
“Thanks. I would give you the full tour, but that would mean going upstairs to my bedroom.” He offers me his best neutral face, but there is certainly a grin he is trying to hide.
And I am positive my face shows that I enjoyed that comment.
“It’s okay, I was fantasizing on giving your granite counter a run for its money anyhow,” I refute with a wicked grin, and this time he is the one enjoying my remark.
“It’s quartz, actually. And unfortunately for me, that sounded like it was dripping with sarcasm.”
“Yeah, it was.” I don’t think it was.
There is a long pause as I study him and recall all the thoughts and memories I’ve had of him in the last few days.
My mind decides to speak without a filter. “So, can I ask something?”
Jakes looks at me, intrigued. “Anything.”
I stare at my fingers gliding along the counter and try to avoid his gaze. “I was just… wondering… the video.” I stagger out the words and my eyes glance to meet his own. “You still have it?” I can’t help smiling at myself, amused.
A stunted laugh escapes him as his eyes go wide. “And if I said yes? I only ever did that with you.”
I don’t know what to say, because I’m not sure why I asked other than curiosity. “Me too.”
He moves closer to me with his hand cupping my cheek, his mouth leaning into my hair, equally tempting and respectable. We’ve never been good at keeping our hands off one another, our interaction with each other has always worked on a physical level.
But still, thank goodness I have the sink to support me; I’m not sure I can stand.
Our eyes meet and something in us resonates.
It escalates.
“Tell me what else you remember,” he whispers as his hands glide through my hair, tugging slightly.
My eyes search his face and I debate which route to go down, but when his eyes blaze with want, I instantly fall to his ability to lead us down a path that is hazardous in this moment, but too enticing.
Too tempting.
Technically we aren’t crossing lines, we’re just reminiscing.
“Everything with you. Every time with you,” I barely manage to whisper as my body sinks into a floating feeling.
The corners of his mouth slant up in pleasure as his hand reaches to the back of my neck. “Tell me a time, Avery,” his voice instructs and churns with desire. Most of all, he is daring me.
So, it is this memory lane that we are going down.
Any molecule of resisting this path has been lost. There are two traitors in my body, and they are called my body and mind. They’ve both surrendered.
“That night on your dining table,” I recall with a hint of delight in my voice, my hands cupping his face.
A small laugh escapes him. “Of all our times, you start there?”
It makes me laugh, “We are in a kitchen.”
He grins at my logic. “The moment you came through the door, I ordered you to take everything off, but the black high heels. I demanded you lay on the dining table with your legs wide open so I could take you, and I did with my mouth because you tasted so damn good, and I bet now you taste just as good.” He has a devilish grin on his face and his eyes search me as if he’s surveying how he is going to have me.
My eyes roll back in my head and my face dances in his hands as I am reliving the memory, as my internal walls between my legs pulse and spill.
“I screamed your name so loud.” I’m proud, almost.
He presses my body to his and I can feel he is swelling.
He hums in the back of his throat, letting his thumb circle my lips, his nose nuzzling my neck and that damn grin getting more smoldering.
Jake’s head barely pulls away and his eyes do not leave the sight of my mouth. I cannot help myself and I look to see his erection. I lick my lips in pleasure as his finger hooks under my chin to force me to look back to his eyes.
“You are still so beautiful,” he whispers, leaning in towards my ear. My mouth nuzzles into his neck as his arm wraps tightly around my middle and he pulls my body closer.
“What are we doing these last few days?” he asks. “You and I do not dance around each other, Avery. We go right at it from the beginning.” He is warning me.
I inhale his scent, wanting so desperately for my leg to wrap around his waist and for him to take me now, any way he pleases.
This is not what I came for. Or is it? I should throw in a disclaimer.
“Jake,” it comes out as a pleasured moan. It should have been my warning.
But I don’t want to warn him. Or think. Or talk… and we should talk. But in this moment…
Something between us snaps.
Jake
I am completely aware that Avery’s breathing has picked up in anticipation, and when she looks at my mouth, it sends a signal to my brain to turn off and let my cock do the thinking.
My hand wraps around her waist, pulling her against me, as my other hand grasps the back of her head and my mouth captures her bottom lip. It happens fast. A rush.
For a few seconds it is a gentle reunion, but the slow pace doesn’t last long. Our mouths devour one another, hungry and hard. She doesn’t pull away, I don’t pull away, and in this flurry, neither of us knows who is deepening our kiss more.
We both drag our lips apart gently so we can kiss softer to really feel how each other’s lips taste and feel after all this time. It is just as good as I remember, better. A perfect fit.
Brushing our lips along one another’s, we dive into a hungry kiss again, a sensory overload of epic proportions exploding between us.
I don’t think I’m able to get enough of her. No, I know I cannot get enough of her.
I’ve missed her; I’ve been dreaming of this.
Her arm loops around my neck and her leg wraps around my waist. I lift
her to the edge of the counter and my fingers catch one of her wrists, bringing it above her head to place it against the kitchen cupboard. Her leg wraps tighter around my waist, and my cock can feel how much she wants me, even though we have clothing layers between us. Letting my body rock into her, she meets me as her pelvis tilts.
“How have we managed to keep our hands off each other the whole week?” she questions breathlessly, as her mouth explores my neck.
In between my frantic kissing, I tell her against her mouth, “I don’t know, but that is changing now.”
There are moans escaping even though our lips do not part, I cannot even tell if it is her or me or both. All I know is that this is the only music I want to hear today.
My mouth does not want to leave hers, but I need to taste her neck and I want some of her skin between my teeth. And her breasts, I need one in my mouth too. I am exploring her with abandon in our craze, and I manage to get her fleece zipper undone. She has a cotton blouse with buttons on underneath, and I manage to break a few free.
All the while, she tugs my shirt and manages to get it up enough that our mouths only need to part for a short second so I can get it off. She gapes at my chest for a second and gives me a look of approval, which I will have to tease her about later. Now, I just need more of her.
My mouth drags down her neck to the bare skin on her collarbone and my hand palms one of her fabric-covered breasts, yet I can feel the hardness of her nipple poking through. A moan escapes her as her head falls back. Taking advantage of her open neck, I kiss her throat before finding her lips again.
Her hands reach for my belt and the zipper of my jeans; quickly, I grab her hand and guide her down faster. I am straining for her, and when she touches my covered cock, I do not want to wait. I need to finally be in her again—a sort of homecoming.
A sentiment she confirms. “I-I want you inside me… please,” she begs with a raspy voice.
“I want that too, but I need to do it hard,” I warn her, and a wave of satisfaction crosses her face before her lips combust onto mine again.
