I knew everything had changed.
I had changed. Our relationship, albeit brief, had changed.
I already adored Avery. I had from the very instant I met her.
Now it was deeper. It was more. It was everything.
When we got back to the stable, she was more comfortable. She even helped me groom Zen and settle him for the night. My stable hand had already looked after the other horses, so with a final pat to Zen, we locked up the gate.
Hand in hand, we walked back to the house, peaceful and content. When I noticed her shiver, I dragged her against me, hurrying her to the house.
Once inside, I directed her into the shower, wanting to warm her up and help soothe her aching muscles. I knew her legs had to be sore since she’d never even sat on a horse, and our lovemaking had been rather vigorous. My lower back felt a little achy, so I could only imagine the effects that her poor little body was feeling. Add in the fact we smelled of horse, sand, and sex, a shower was in order.
Pulling her into the bathroom, I saw the look of longing she gave the huge garden tub that sat, unused, in the corner. I’d never been a bath guy, but when I was building the house, the architect assured me one day I would be grateful I had it installed.
“Easier to do now than later. You’ll thank me, Dr. Spencer,” he stated with a wink. “My wife loves the one I put in our house.”
From the look on Avery’s face, I would say today was that thankful day.
I kissed her cheek. “Shower first to warm up and get the, um, sand, and grass off,” I teased, pulling some bits out of her hair. I trailed my fingers down her thighs, tapping at the dampness. “Not to mention me. I’m all over you, Avery. Sexy as that is to me, I’m sure you’d rather it not stay that way.”
She blinked, her mouth opened and closed as she glanced around the room, her gaze bouncing everywhere. “Merciful God, what you do to me,” she muttered, and I knew she didn’t realize it was aloud.
I chuckled. I did enjoy saying things that made her flustered, and hearing her inane mutterings in response. I found them amusing.
“Shower,” I repeated.
Her excited eyes stared at the empty porcelain in the corner. “Then the bath?”
“Yes. You’d better start filling it up now. I think it might take a while.” I looked around. “I’m not even sure where the drain plug is.”
“You’ve never used it?”
Wrapping my arms around her, I shook my head. “Nope. The tub and I have never been close. In fact, the tub and I will be virgins, meeting for the first time.” Nudging her hair away, I brushed my mouth over her ear. “Will you be gentle with us, Sprite?”
“I’ll do my best.” She cleared her throat. “You never, ah, I mean—”
I knew what she was asking. “I’ve only been in the house for about eight months. I built the clinic first.” I tightened my grip on her. “You are the first and only woman I have ever had here, aside from my sister or mother.”
Diffused color rushed over her cheeks as she smiled. “Oh.”
She looked pleased.
I only meant for the shower to warm and clean us. That was all. But as I watched her tilt her head to rinse out the shampoo, back arching, pushing out her breasts, making them look so perky—so inviting—that tiny circle of freckles beckoning, any and all ideas of what should happen in the shower became what was about to happen in the shower.
The soap I held fell out of my hand when I stepped forward, one arm going around her waist as I drew her to my body. My mouth closed around one pink, tempting nipple, pulling and teasing the flesh with my tongue and teeth.
Avery whimpered as her hands grasped my shoulders for support. The softest, sweetest, sexiest sound I had ever heard.
Without a thought, I’d lifted and pinned her against the wall, my cock already surging, every molecule of my being, wanted to be inside her.
Avery gasped as the cold tile pressed into her back, and I braced my arm against the wall, struggling to hold her up. My mouth met hers in a series of frenzied, messy kisses, noses bumping, teeth hitting, and lips sliding as we grappled and slipped in the wet.
“Fuck,” I muttered. “This looks so much easier when I watch porn. They never seem to have gravity issues.”
Avery started to giggle, light, gasping little puffs of laughter, as I tried to stay upright, now laughing myself.
“Not the most romantic thing to say, I guess, eh, Sprite?”
She pulled me closer, her legs tighter, and I groaned as my cock slid, rubbing against her wet folds.
“Jesus, Avery. I want you so damn bad again, but I’m afraid if we continue this here, one of us is gonna end up needing a new hip.” I thrust forward warily, testing out my balance, cursing as my feet slipped on the smooth bottom of the shower floor. “I think I need to install a bench in here.” Then I groaned at the thought of what I could do to her while sitting on said bench. What she could do to me. “Fuck sake!” I growled. “That mental image is not helping me right now.”
Her giggles became outright laughter as her head fell back against the tile. “A shower virgin as well, Daniel?”
“Yep.”
She shifted and I slipped deeper, her heat surrounding me. I flicked my tongue against her ear. “I bet the tub is roomy. Less dangerous. Maybe we can work up to the shower.”
Her arms locked around my neck. “Bath. Now.”
I shut off the water.
The tub was damned slippery too, but we figured it out. With less chance of hip replacement surgery, we were more adventuresome. I showed Avery my wet version of a bucking bronco, while she grasped tight to the sides of the tub, riding me hard, crying out my name. Water splashed over the edge of the tub, creating a large puddle on the floor, spreading toward the door. I didn’t care about that or anything else. Only the woman riding me as I groaned and cursed, straining upward to bury myself as far inside her as I could, my hands like vices as I gripped her hips and shouted her name.
I held her after, the warm water swirling around us. I made a mental note to pick up some frothy stuff women liked, so I could lure her back in here again soon, and to call the contractor who built the house and have a bench installed in the roomy shower. When I spoke the thoughts aloud, Avery informed me you could buy non-slip bath mats. I decided I needed to pick one of those up tomorrow—maybe we could retry the shower porn. I was certainly willing to give it a go.
When we were finally out and drying, she discovered my other tattoo. Inked on my shoulder blade, the Celtic tree of life was a blaze of color. Her touch was light as she ran her fingers over the ink, then pressed her lips to it. I slipped a shirt of mine over her head and tucked her beside me in my big, cozy bed, urging her to sleep for a while. She had to be exhausted. I knew I was, and I happily slept for a short while with her beside me.
Now awake and holding her, I teemed with emotions. I had never experienced so many feelings for one person. What I had thought was a good relationship with Karen had nothing on what I already felt for Avery. I wanted to share everything—every part of my life with her. I could see her beside me, making my house our home, filling up the empty hours with her presence. I knew how much my parents, my mother especially, would adore her. I knew Caitlin was looking forward to getting to know her more. She had always liked Karen, my whole family did, but Avery fit me effortlessly. I had a good feeling she’d fit in with my family the same way, and with her parents so far away, Avery needed that, as well.
I traced my finger over her cheek, tucking a curl behind her ear. I should be scared of how strongly I already felt for her. But I wasn’t. It felt right. I knew she also felt something intense for me. We wouldn’t have made love, otherwise. I had told her there hadn’t been anyone since I broke it off with Karen over a year ago, and she admitted she hadn’t been in a serious relationship for over two years. From the little she had told me, it didn’t sound as if she had much luck with any of her previous partners. I planned to change her views on relationships.<
br />
I knew we’d been waiting for each other.
“Hi,” she whispered.
Startled, I looked down. “You’re supposed to be asleep.”
“I woke up.” She frowned. “You’re thinking awfully hard up there. I can see the forehead crinkles from here.”
I rolled, hovering over her. “I’m thinking about you. About us.”
She grimaced, her expression anxious. “That’s making you frown?”
“I’m worried.”
“Is it too much?” She wondered. “I know this is all happening so fast.”
I slipped my hand under her head, lifting her to my mouth. Long minutes passed as I assured her with my caresses that nothing to do with her was too much.
I stayed close after drawing back so she could see me and not doubt my sincerity. “I’m worried how you’ll feel when I tell you tomorrow is Sunday—which means my weekly brunch with my family. I want you to come with me and meet them. I want to introduce them to the woman I know is going to change my life. Who already has changed my life.”
Her light green eyes glimmered with tears.
“I want to spend the rest of the weekend with you, Sprite. I want you with me every second until you have to leave for work on Monday. Then I want you back here as soon as you can be. I want it all—your time, your kisses, your laughter—” I paused. “Your heart.”
She gasped low in surprise.
I shrugged in apology. “That’s what I’m worried about. I feel so much and it’s so solid, so real, and I’m worried it’s too fast for you. I’m worried you couldn’t possibly feel the same way.” I cleared my dry throat. “Yet, I hope you do. I want it more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my entire life. Because–because I’m falling in love with you, Avery. Given the intensity of my feelings now, how I’m going to feel about you next week or next month, astonishes me. I had no idea I was even capable of feeling anything this powerful.”
Restlessly, I rubbed my fingers on the silky skin of her neck as her beautiful eyes stared at me, tears running down the side of her face, disappearing into her hair. For the first time since I met her, I couldn’t read the emotions in those normally expressive eyes of hers.
“Please tell me those are tears of happiness,” I begged. “Tell me you feel this. Please.”
Avery
I stared into Daniel’s eyes. No one had ever looked at me the way he did. The way he was right at this moment. His blue eyes overflowed with warmth, need, desire—love.
And it was all directed at me.
There was another emotion swimming in the depths of his gaze.
Fear.
He had opened his heart to me and wasn’t sure his feelings would be reciprocated.
There were no words to describe adequately how I felt about Daniel.
His quiet confession and final plea left me dumbfounded. I had known last night, as I tossed and turned, my head filled with nothing except him, that I was falling in love. Hard. Making love with him today had only proven it to me. Together we were right. We fit together like two pieces of a puzzle.
Our time together the previous evening had shown me even more of the tender man within Daniel. At the restaurant, it was as if only I existed for him. He listened with rapt attention to everything I said, asking questions, making comments, or observations which showed me he was listening. Really listening. Grant told me once he usually tuned me out since I never had anything interesting to say. Daniel thought differently.
His impeccable manners showed in the way he acted toward me. Opening doors, having me slide into the booth first, making sure I was comfortable, worried I was warm enough in my shawl, and offering his jacket if I needed it. He wasn’t putting on an act, or trying to show off. It was simply Daniel being Daniel.
After dinner, during our walk, he kept me tucked tight to his side, guiding me around obstacles, making sure I didn’t trip over curbs. I felt protected in his embrace. When I stopped to talk to the homeless man, he kept his hand on the small of my back as I bent over, in a shielding stance. We stopped every time someone approached us with a dog, and he’d kneel, allowing the animal to sniff his hand before he would stroke its fur, talking quietly to his new furry friend. When I bought the baked goods for my neighbors and told him how I liked to bring them treats, he murmured about how he thought I was an amazing person. The look in his eyes when I stopped to give the homeless man some of the baked goods warmed me to the core. The pride and tenderness I saw in them stole my breath away. He saw me in a different light.
The same way I saw him.
I knew people would think we were crazy, and that there would be whispers and stories. I knew there was a chance his family wouldn’t like me. I didn’t want to come between him and his family. However, I was already in too deep.
I didn’t care.
I cupped his worried face, tracing over the small ‘V’ between his eyes, and soothing the puckered skin.
“You have all of me.”
His expression was beautiful, filled with light, as one slow tear ran down his cheek. “I can keep you, Avery?”
“For as long as you want.”
“Then I’m calling dibs on the next ninety years.”
Content and wrapped in Daniel’s arms, I snuggled into his chest, kissing his damp skin. His lovemaking had been beyond sweet, his touches and kisses deeper and adoring. He surrounded me with his affection, drenching me in love as he moved unhurriedly, claiming me even more profoundly than his more vigorous exertions earlier. His touch branded me, his lips possessive, as his body made me his in every way possible.
I could never belong to anyone else again. Daniel was it for me.
His fingers moved in lazy circles on my bare shoulder. “Can I convince you to move in tomorrow?”
Most of me wanted to throw my arms around him crying yes! The more reasonable part shook my head in regret.
“Soon?”
It seemed inevitable. I wanted it. However, I knew I needed to try to be rational.
“Why don’t we get through meeting your family tomorrow before we discuss that?”
“I have no doubt they will love you,” he assured me.
“Do your mom and dad know about me?”
“I’m sure Caitlin has filled them in. Brunch is at her place, and I know she was dying to tell Mom.”
“Ah.”
“What is it? Tell me what’s going on in that head of yours.”
“What if they object? Or don’t like me? I can’t come between you and your family, Daniel. I can’t do that.”
His mouth was warm on mine. “You won’t. They will like you. I have no doubt.”
“I—”
“Don’t, Avery. The fact you are so worried about it tells me everything. I won’t have to choose.” He tugged me closer. “And if I did, I’d choose you.”
“No, you can’t say that.”
“You. Us. First. Always,” he insisted. “And my family would understand, but it isn’t going to be an issue. There isn’t a person on this planet who could meet you and not love you.”
I snorted. “Well, I can name a few. I think you’re biased.”
“Okay, then. No one I love, though, couldn’t love you. Better?”
“Better.”
My stomach chose that moment to growl, and Daniel laughed as he sat up, dragging me with him. “Come on, Sprite. I need to feed and water you.”
“Feed and water me? Like Zen? Do I get a feed bag?”
He pulled on his sweatpants, handing me a long shirt, his shoulders shaking with laughter. “Sorry. Wrong terminology. Usually, on the weekends, I only have to feed whatever animals I’m looking after in the clinic or stable. I like having another person to care for—it’s different.” He bent low, his lips brushing mine. “I especially like looking after you.”
“Thank you,” I breathed out. “I like it, too.”
“Good. Because it’s my new favorite job.”
Then with a laugh, he picked me up and f
lung me over his shoulder, snickering all the way to the kitchen.
I grabbed onto his ass and held on.
For safety.
It had nothing to do with the fact I liked how tight his ass felt under my fingers; how the muscles flexed and moved as he walked.
Not at all.
Daniel
If I thought Avery looked nervous when we met at the studio—or yesterday in the stable—it was nothing compared to the way she looked at this moment. She was positively green, and I wondered if she was going to throw up in my truck. I glanced behind me at the blanket on the backseat, wondering if maybe I should put it in her lap. Not that there was much to throw up—she had barely sipped her beloved coffee earlier, but it might come in handy. Stretching my arm, I snagged it off the seat and draped it over the console. She didn’t even move.
She was so tense, I was certain if I touched her the wrong way, she would shatter to a million little Avery pieces right there in front of me.
I turned in my seat, sliding my hand along the back of her neck as carefully as possible, as I called her name.
Her eyes remained locked ahead, her body rigid. Cars already lined the driveway of my sister’s place. I knew my parents had arrived, Steven was home, and Caitlin’s beloved Jeep was parked out front. I tried again, my fingers kneading the back of her neck a little more firmly.
“Avery . . . Sprite. Look at me.”
Her eyes met mine—anxious, silvery-green so filled with panic, my heart ached for her.
“Hey. My parents will like you. My sister already does. Please don’t look like that. It’s gonna be fine. I promise.”
“Is it her birthday?” she gasped out.
“What? Who?”
“Your niece—is it her birthday?”
I shook my head, completely confused. “No. Why?”
Avery’s shaky finger pointed out the van I hadn’t noticed parked on the road. I bit back the laughter threatening to escape. Glancing down the street, I indicated the house two doors down, the front gate covered in balloons. “That is the Wilson’s house. Caitlin told me it was their daughter’s birthday today. I’m certain that’s where Rusty the Clown’s traveling circus is. Don’t worry.”
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