“How about coming to the diner a little earlier tomorrow? Then you could talk to Caydie.”
“Why should I? She doesn’t talk to me anymore, and she’s taken pains to avoid me ever since. Even though we lived practically next door to each other, we never really talked again.”
“But she won’t be able to avoid you tomorrow.”
“That’s not a good idea, Dale. I’m going to clear things up with her someday, but not today or tomorrow—I’m not ready,” he says decisively. But a tiny quaver in his voice betrays his insecurity.
“Okay. I didn’t mean to interfere with your business; I just thought it could be a first step. I’m sorry, Thierry.”
“It’s okay.” He stops at a red light, and Caydie has pulled into the left lane. The cars wait side-by-side, and Thierry stares over at her.
I can imagine exactly what he’s feeling right now. It’s frighteningly similar to Avery’s and my story. A false friend got us to break up, and now we simply don’t know how to draw nearer again.
“Whatever happened to our trip to Santa Monica?” I ask.
Thierry looks at me and smiles. “If you’re ready to skip your lectures on Friday, we can leave Thursday afternoon.”
“I don’t have class on Friday, but I need to tell the people at work.” I smile. “I look forward to it.” Yeah, I would miss Monday classes, but I think I can miss it one time, what’s totally irresponsible. Damn conscience! But I really want to make this trip with him.
“Me too. As soon as I get home, I’ll book the hotel room.”
“Two rooms, okay?”
“Of course. I don’t want my brother to go all berserk on me again just because the two of us shared a bed.” He chuckles.
“Avery was angry with you?” I ask, surprised.
He nods as he makes a turn at the next intersection. “Yes. He didn’t think sharing a bed with you was funny at all. I don’t think he's ever been that angry with me, but after he took it out on the punching bag for a few minutes, his anger evaporated. So it’s all good.”
“Oh God. So he didn’t hurt you, did he?” Why on earth did that make Avery this angry?
“He tried to, but I quickly grabbed him in a headlock and told him to hit the punching bag instead. He kicked the thing from its hook, but at least it wasn’t my jaw. I’m sure he could have broken it.” Thierry laughs, but I don’t see the humor.
“Fuck! I’m so sorry.” Now my conscience is bugging me since I was the one who told Avery his brother shared my bed. I would’ve been responsible if Avery had cracked Thierry's jaw. It’s an awful feeling.
“You don’t have to be. It was hilarious to see him in action.” Thierry smiles.
I take a deep breath. “I’m glad he hit the punching bag and not your jaw. I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if you got hurt and it was my fault. But I don’t understand why he wasn’t just angry with me. I was the one who told him, after all, and he seemed unperturbed.”
“That just goes to show that my little brother is a moody bastard.” Thierry smirks.
“Oh yes,” I agree. Still, I don’t like the way Avery acted. I ought to call him and give him a piece of my mind. He could’ve told me he didn’t like what I did. I was the one who invited Thierry to stay in the first place.
Thierry stops the car in front of my house. “Here we are. Don’t forget to take off work so we can rock Santa Monica. I’ll be back to pick you up from work tomorrow night.”
“Okay, thanks.” I lean over and breathe a kiss onto his cheek. “See you tomorrow, Thierry.” I pull back a little and look into his dark blue eyes.
He smiles at me and strokes my cheek briefly. “Tomorrow.”
My gaze travels down to his lips, which are just as sensual as Avery’s, and then I look into his eyes again, swallowing involuntarily. “Good night,” I say and get out of the car before I can do anything stupid.
“Good night,” he echoes.
I enter the house and run up the stairs.
“What the hell got into me?” I ask in a low voice while rummaging through my purse for the key. “I can’t be with one brother and then with the other … ” I shake my head at myself, not wanting to think about it any further. “I’m just confused with all this back and forth, that’s all,” I murmur, and then I unlock the door and walk into my apartment.
I turn on the light and start violently.
“What are you doing in here?” I gasp.
“I wanted to surprise you,” Avery says. “Thierry gave me the spare key so I could come in and get everything ready.”
I make an angry snort. “After the things your brother just told me I have a mind to throw you out. Not to mention that you haven’t called at all, even though you promised me you would!”
“You were obviously avoiding me again.”
I roll my eyes. “Avery, there is always a gaggle of women surrounding you, and I have to focus on my studies. Unlike you, I also have to hold down a job,” I remind him.
His shoulders sag. “No matter what I do, you’re always accusing me of something. What can I do to make you trust me and give me another chance? What, Dale? What?” By the end of those words, he’s yelling.
I flinch, then move to the door. “Get out,” I answer, opening the door. “And take everything you brought with you!”
He shakes his head. “I’m sorry, but I really don’t know what to do anymore.”
“No, I’ve had enough, Avery. You more or less break into my apartment, after nearly beating up your own brother, and now you yell at me for no reason. I don’t want any of this bullshit anymore. I’m nineteen, not five.”
His eyes widen. “When was your birthday?”
I snort. “Not that it matters, but I did think you would remember.”
“But—”
“You know, I was sure you wouldn’t forget it, but you didn’t even call,” I answer angrily. “I don’t want this twisted friendship or whatever it is.”
Avery bites his lip and nods slowly. I can see my words have hurt him. “So it’s over?” he asks hoarsely.
I take a deep breath. “That would be for the best,” I answer softly. Of course I don’t want it to be over. I want us to make it, but I’m still convinced it’s better to forget what we had and move on.
He steps toward me. He looms over me, so much taller than I am. I tilt my head back to look at him. The tears well in his midnight-blue eyes. His eyes hold all his emotions as he slides his hand slowly around the back of my neck. He places the other hand against my cheek. “I don’t want to lose you,” he murmurs.
I swallow hard. He confuses me. The determination I felt mere moments ago is gone. “You already have,” I answer with tears in my eyes.
“No, I haven’t lost you yet,” Avery whispers. His thumb brushes over my cheek before he leans down and kisses me. It’s not a soft kiss, but a desperate, even harsh one. I can feel his fear of losing me.
Now both of his hands cup my cheeks and hold me so I can’t pull away. I try to push him from me, but he won’t be put off. The tip of his tongue caresses my lower lip, but then I finally manage to free myself from his grip.
“Please leave,” I whisper and lower my head because I don’t want to see that look in his eyes again. He weakens my resolve just as he awakens this desire that I can’t seem to fight.
“Look at me and tell me you don’t love me,” he demands.
“I can’t do that,” I answer.
Avery grabs me by the shoulders. “Look at me, Dale. Please, look at me.” His voice sounds weak again.
I inhale and close my eyes, steeling myself for what has to come next. I look into his eyes.
“Tell me you don’t want me anymore,” he demands softly.
“I can’t,” I cry.
“Because you love me?” he asks, sounding hopeful.
“Avery, please don’t make it harder than it already is.”
He lets go of me and walks across the room, placing my spare key on the table. I’ve n
ever seen him like this. He hangs his head, his shoulders droop, and then he runs a hand through his hair. “Then I should really give you up and go.” He turns away, grabs his jacket, and walks past me.
“Avery, I … ”
The door bangs shut, and I flinch at the sound. I rush over to the window and stare out. I see Avery leave the house and sit down on a bench in front of it. He hides his face in his hands and trembles violently.
My heart aches for him when I see this, and I catch myself wondering whether he felt the same way after we broke up and whether he suffered as much and for as long as I did. “What am I doing?” I ask myself hoarsely.
I want this man with every fiber of my being. Avery gave me wings, gave me strength, gave me everything I ever wanted: love and a feeling of security. Without wasting another moment to reconsider, I turn away from the window and run outside. I run so fast I almost tumble down the stairs, but I manage to catch myself before I trip over my own feet.
When I rush through the front door, I don’t see him anymore.
“Avery?” I call into the darkness illuminated only by the weak light of the streetlamps. “Avery!”
Nothing.
I don’t even know whether he came here by car, but I don’t hear an engine, so I don’t give up hope yet. “Goddammit, Avery, where are you?” I cry as I run into the street and look around frantically.
Then I spot him in the cone of light from a streetlamp farther down the road. He’s just shuffling slowly along, so I’ll be able to catch up with him! I start to run again.
“Avery!” I call out breathlessly when I’ve almost reached him.
He turns around. His face is wet with tears. “Dale?” he says hoarsely, sounding unsure.
“Yeah,” I say breathlessly.
He looks at me questioningly.
“You were right. I can’t say it, because … because I love you,” I pant. My lonely butterfly quickly turns into at least a dozen of them. I quickly bridge the last few yards between us.
His face brightens. He pulls me into his arms and hugs me tightly. We keep standing there, holding on to each other and enjoying the rediscovered closeness.
“This is our last chance,” I whisper.
“And we’re going to use it wisely,” he murmurs, picking me up and kissing me on my lips.
Returning the kiss, I put my arms around his neck, and he starts walking. He carries me all the way back to the house.
Once inside, he grabs me and throws me over his shoulder, just like a caveman carrying off his loot.
“Set me down.” I giggle and spank his ass, but he continues up the stairs.
“No. I’m not going to set you down until we reach your room.” And that’s exactly what he does. At the door to my apartment, he demands, “Key!”
I slide my hand around his side and hand him the keys.
“Thank you very much.” He smirks and unlocks the door.
He still doesn’t set me down when we’re inside but locks the door and carries me into my bedroom. There, he all but throws me onto the bed and takes off my shoes. Next, he pulls down my pants and throws them aside. I take off my jacket myself.
When I look at him again, I see that he’s also already taken off his jacket and shirt. My gaze travels over his chest and down his body, and I hold my breath when I see the bulge in his pants. The next instant, I’m gasping for air because Avery lies down on top of me and kisses me. The rough denim of his jeans rubs across my panties. The sensation causes me to moan and close my eyes, and then our tongues meet. Avery unbuttons my blouse and pushes away the fabric. Then he pulls down the cups of my bra. His fingers clasp my nipples and pinch them lightly. Although he proceeds cautiously, the touch triggers a sweet pain that rushes to my lower body immediately. Then his lips leave mine and start to tease the sensitive skin on my neck.
Suddenly, he stands again. He takes off his jeans, his gaze still fixed on me. While he takes a condom from the nightstand drawer, I take off my bra. Then I watch him roll the condom down over his penis.
I scoot over to the edge of the bed, sit up, and kiss his muscled torso. Avery lets out a luxurious sigh as I move further down. I don’t know what it feels like when he’s already wearing a condom, but before my mouth reaches his member, he gently pushes me away and shakes his head.
I sit back on the bed. He follows me and spreads my legs wide before lying down between them. I feel the tip of his penis nudge my opening, and I revel in the sensations that wash over me when he enters me inch by inch. Moaning, he pushes in deeper until he fills me completely. He kisses me gently on the forehead, the bridge of my nose, and finally on my lips, before he begins to move inside me. He slowly pulls back and then thrusts in again.
I gasp when he starts to thrust harder and circles his hips. “Oh my God,” I moan as soon as his lips are no longer covering mine.
His thrusts increase in frequency, and we both frantically rock against each other. Suddenly, my core clenches and starts to send spasms of sweet pleasure through my entire body.
“Fuck!” Avery growls while he keeps thrusting hard. “You’re milking me!”
My hands, which had grabbed the sheets before, now wander over his back. I dig my fingernails into his heated, sweat-covered skin as the fireworks go off in front of my tightly closed eyes, and I reach the summit with something like a scream. Avery hides his face in the hollow of my neck, showering it with kisses.
With a last mighty thrust his hips slap against mine, and then he spills himself inside me, crying out my name. He kisses my collarbone and then raises his head again to smile at me.
I return the smile, enjoying the closeness I’ve missed for so long. I slowly raise my hand to his cheek, and then I lift my head to breathe another kiss onto his lips. Avery braces the back of my neck and returns the kiss gently. Then he slips out of me.
When he pulls away and gets up, he whispers: “I’ll be in the bathroom.”
“Okay.” I smile and slip under the covers.
I look after him with a dreamy expression as he leaves the room. I can still feel his last kiss, so I put my fingertips against my lips. I can’t help grinning widely, because the two of us are finally together again. Or are we?
What about fools rush in, and all that? Sighing, I suppress these nagging thoughts and focus on being glad that we’ve found each other again.
I hear him turn on the water in the shower. A shower seems like a good idea right now, because I’m sweaty, too. I get up, take two towels from the closet, and follow him into the bathroom.
When I enter, he’s already in the shower. “I brought you some towels,” I announce my presence so I won’t frighten him.
“Thank you.”
“May I join you in there?”
“I don’t know if I can take it if you wiggle your sweet ass in front of me right now,” he jokes.
“I think we should try that.” I giggle and step into the shower with him. I snuggle against his back, put my cheek against his wet skin, and close my eyes. “I missed you,” I say softly, certain he can hear me in spite of the falling water. Then I slide my hands around to his chest.
Avery tilts his head back and places his hands on mine. “I missed you, too,” he says before turning around to face me. His warm glance meets mine, and then he embraces me.
Afterward, he proceeds to wash me gently, turning something so mundane into a sensual experience. The sensation of the loofah gliding along my skin keeps sending shivers down my spine.
Then he turns me around so I face the wall. He comes even closer, and I feel that he’s ready again, the tip of his hard length pressing against my ass. “I want you,” he whispers into my ear. “But I don’t want to go get another condom.”
“I’m on the pill now,” I reply.
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” he asks, surprised.
“Things were happening pretty fast,” I answer, looking at him over my shoulder.
He kisses the corner of my mouth and then turns
me around to face him again. He bends in the knees and lifts me up. I wrap my legs around him, and we stand under the shower together to wash away the rest of the soap. Then he carries me out of the shower and sets me down on the cool wood of the counter. His eyes stare into mine. “Are you even ready?”
I nod frantically, and he’s already entering me again.
He’s gentle and cautious.
“Harder,” I moan.
His eyes widen, and he increases the tempo. He thrusts into me so hard our hips slap against each other with loud smacks.
Our moans whip us into a mutual frenzy, until we both spasm and climax for the second time tonight. I hold on to him as the fireworks in front of my eyes explode again.
Both Avery and I are breathing hard. “Damn, you wear me out, girl.”
I smile up at him. “As long as you like it, I’ll take that as a compliment.”
He kisses the tip of my nose and then pulls away from me. He rinses a washcloth in warm water and starts to wash me.
“I can do that.” I giggle.
“I know, but I want to,” he answers, sounding focused.
So I lean back and let him wash my crotch.
When he’s done, he lifts me from the counter. He looks into my eyes and places a hand on my cheek again. I wait for him to say something, but all he does is smile and kiss me on the forehead.
After he’s washed himself, we walk back into the bedroom and lie down.
“It’s a pity about the food,” he murmurs.
“Food?” I ask, confused.
“Yeah. I brought some late dinner, but that must be cold by now,” he answers. “We can eat it tomorrow if you want to.”
“My first lecture’s at eight, and I don’t think I’ll be up early enough to eat anything before that,” I say as I snuggle into his arm.
“Then I’ll reheat it for lunch, before I leave for my workout.”
“That’s a good idea. I thought there was no football practice at the moment.” I put my hand to my mouth and yawn. “We should really get some sleep.”
“I’m planning to hit the gym, not the field. But you’re right. So sleep well, Dale.” He kisses me on the forehead again.
Avery: Sensual Desire: New Adult College Romance (Coral Gables Series Book 2) Page 20
