by L. A. Fiore
“You’re tired.”
“I am. I think I might sleep for a year.”
“Do you want to watch a movie when we get back?”
Butterflies danced in my stomach, he didn’t seem to want the day to end any more than I did. “I’d like that. Something scary.”
“Scary?”
“I never get to watch scary movies because blankets aren’t enough. And Nat, she just taunts me. Nothing scares her. It’s unnatural.”
“Okay, we’ll watch something scary. And if you get too scared, you’re welcome to climb into my lap.”
My body throbbed, my reply instinctual. “I may crawl into your lap regardless.”
He liked that idea, looked as if he wanted to pull me into his lap now. Yep, best freaking day ever.
I didn’t understand why the woman liked watching horror movies because she wasn’t watching this one, not with the blanket over her head. Every once in a while she peeked out the side, screamed and hid again. She was adorable and really fucking sexy. She had crawled into my lap, her ass on my thigh, her soft breast brushing against my chest. The sweetest torture and a test of will because every instinct in me was demanding I press her back into the sofa, settle between her legs and take what I’d been craving.
“She was told not to go down there. Why is it when people are told not to do something they do the very thing they’re told not to?”
“Temptation.” And damn did I know about temptation having her luscious body pressing up against me.
She peeked out of her blanket; her eyes found mine as humor faded into desire—her pupils dilated, her breath hitched. Her focus moved to my mouth, her tongue appeared, just the tip touching the center of her top lip. Like I was her favorite flavor and she was about to indulge in a taste. Holy shit I was so fucking hard, wanted to drag her leg over my hips, settle her on my cock and make us both happy. Then she leaned into me and lifted her lips to mine; sexy as all hell, but it was the vein of innocence in the hesitant move that had a far more powerful emotion slamming into me. I didn’t want to just take her; I wanted to cherish her. Curling my fingers around her neck, my thumb stroking the pulse point that beat erratically, I leaned in. Even her breath smelled like cocoa, fanning over me, as her breathing grew heavier with anticipation. And just when I was finally going to taste her, my phone rang snapping us both out of the moment. Growling, I wanted to toss the fucking thing across the room, wanted to commit murder when I saw who was calling.
“What the fuck!”
“Rafe?”
“It’s Melody.”
Now she looked about as pissed as me. “Her timing is impeccable. Are you going to answer it?”
“No.”
“As much as I can’t believe I’m saying this, it’s late, she may be in trouble.”
“And that’s my problem, why?”
“She doesn’t strike me as a person who has a lot of people she could call for help.”
God, she was sweet. “We’re finishing what we started.”
Her expression turned soft and so fucking sexy. “I was hoping we would. Do you want me to pause the movie?”
“No, I’ll be right back.”
Moving down the hall, I snarled into my phone, “You better be dying.”
“I’m lying in my bed, naked, touching myself and thinking of you. Won’t you come over and ease the ache?”
“Fuck me.”
“That’s the point.”
“Have some pride woman.”
“I miss your cock. I want it in my mouth. I miss sucking you off.”
“You’re home?”
“Yeah, babe. Home, naked and wet.”
“And aching? Are you aching for me, Melody?”
“Yeah, baby. Oh God, yeah.”
“Take a cold shower and lose my number.” Hanging up I walked back into the living room.
“Crazy bit...” I stopped just inside the room seeing Avery asleep, curled on my sofa with her cheek resting on her hands. My disappointment was visceral. Turning my phone off, I slid behind her on the sofa, pulling her back to my chest. It wasn’t how I’d hoped the evening would end, but I’d take Avery anyway I could get her.
I had fallen asleep. Rafe and I had come so close to giving in, the look in his eyes, just the memory of it made me weak in the knees. It had been the single most beautiful and erotic moment of my life. And then that bitch Melody called. I had only intended to rest my head, but I’d fallen asleep. I woke in my bed. He’d carried me home and put me to bed. And I had missed it; my romance-book moment and I had slept through it. He had even set my coffeemaker, so I woke to the heavenly scent of my favorite brew. I had intended to apologize for my narcolepsy, but when I stepped outside this morning his truck was gone. And so here I was at work, hours later, but my head was still on last night and that magical moment that had been all too fleeting.
“Hey, Avery.”
Kyle stepped into the kitchen. Glancing up from the chocolate I was shaving, my greeting died on my lips because he looked irritated. “What’s wrong?”
“Melody is out front for you.”
That didn’t garner a reaction at first because those six words together made absolutely no sense. Based on Kyle’s expression, he thought the same. “Melody?”
“I told her you were working, but she said it wouldn’t take long.”
The nerve of her to bother me at work shouldn’t have surprised me, but it did. Granted, the restaurant wasn’t yet open for dinner, but still. Not cool and I intended to tell her as much. “I’ll be out in a minute.”
By the time I was heading into the dining area, my temper was simmering. And not just because of her coming to my work, but because had she not called, Rafe and I would have spent the rest of our evening locked at the lips and potentially other places. The chick was a pain in the ass.
As soon as I reached her, knowing just what her phone call last night had cost me, it took all I had to not snarl at her. “Melody.”
“I know you’re working, but could we talk for a minute?”
“One minute, Melody, because I am working.”
She moved toward the bar, Kyle was kind enough to give us privacy. Not that he needed to do that for my benefit.
“Have you ever been in love?”
Oh my God, was she serious? She wanted to have a heart-to-heart with me? “I don’t have time for this, Melody.”
Temper flashed in those unusual eyes, but she recovered quickly. “I’m sorry, it’s just that I messed up with Rafe and being away from him I’ve come to realize I love him. I want to try to make it right.”
Everything in me recoiled at her words, but to her I said, “This involves me how?”
“Rafe is hardheaded, one of the things I love most about him.”
She thought Rafe was hardheaded, I didn’t find that to be the case at all.
“I need to talk to him, need him to listen, so I wanted to surprise him with dinner tonight. If I’m there, he’ll be more inclined to hear me out. Can you help me, Avery, and give me the alarm codes for his house?”
Her request for his codes jarred me right out of the pretty little picture she’d just painted. What was she after? “Excuse me?”
“I know this seems out of the blue, but we talked last night. Actually...” her smile had a chill working down my spine, “we did more than talk. I think after last night he’ll be more receptive to what I have to say.”
Even trusting that nothing happened, her implication twisted in my gut. Whatever her game, I wasn’t playing. “I’m not comfortable giving out his alarm codes.”
She didn’t recover from her temper spike as easily this time, her ‘let’s be girlfriends’ façade was cracking. “Come on, we’re both women. Help me out here.”
“I’m sorry you wasted your time, but like I said Melody, I’m not comfortable giving out that information.” The mature course of action would have been to leave it at that, but I was only human and couldn’t resist a subtle dig. “If Rafe wante
d you to have them, he’d have given them to you.”
Her feigned sweetness dissolved; I’d pissed her off with that comment just as I had intended. She wasn’t subtle in her reply. “The mouth on that man. I thought nothing could top the way he tongues me to orgasm, but he’s got such a dirty mouth. I never came as hard as I did last night.”
I felt as the blood drained from my face, she noticed it too when her red lips curled up into a nasty smile. I trusted Rafe, especially after the day we shared, and still the visual she put in my head made my stomach turn. What was Melody’s end game? Coming here and trying to incite me? She had to know I’d be sharing this encounter with Rafe. What the hell was she after?
“He fucks like a god, doesn’t he? I can’t get enough of that cock. Love swallowing him down my throat, I’m wet now just thinking about it.” Surprise was quickly replaced with smugness, when she tilted her head and laughed. “Oh my God, he hasn’t fucked you.”
Her intention was to rile me up, but her words did just the opposite. Sex was all she got from him, she didn’t know him the way I did, and that made me feel smug—enough that I smiled at her wickedly, which baffled her when her own sneer faded into confusion.
Kyle appeared, his timing too perfect. He’d been out of sight, but he’d stayed close enough in case there was a problem. Clearly he knew enough about Melody to expect a problem. “I’ll show you to the door.”
What could she do, but follow after him. It didn’t prevent her from staring daggers at me though. After locking the door behind her, Kyle strolled over. “You okay?”
Putting aside her childish attempt to make me jealous, what the hell had that been about? “Yeah. Confused, but I’m fine.”
“That woman is whacked.”
He wasn’t wrong.
There was just enough time to meet Nat for a bite to eat before Clover opened for dinner. We were in a little café not far from my work; Tyler was joining us, but was running a bit late and told us not to wait for him. We placed our orders and then I filled Nat in on the odd visit from Melody.
“What a bitch!”
“Understatement. And get this, a couple weeks ago I forgot something on my way to work and when I backtracked to Rafe’s, Melody was there. Rafe wasn’t—his truck wasn’t in the drive—and yet she was trying to get in, showing obvious signs of frustration when she couldn’t. Puts an interesting spin on her visit today. Why is she so desperate to get into her ex’s house?”
“What did Rafe say?”
“I haven’t told him yet.”
“She has to know you’ll be sharing this with Rafe and that he’s going to be pissed. What’s she hoping to accomplish?”
“I really think she wants inside his house. Why? I don’t know. But her graphic imagery was done out of spite. I pissed her off; so she hit me where she knew it would hurt. It would seem her vindictiveness is greater than her fear of the consequences.”
“It’s fucked up and nasty.”
“True, but there’s so much more to Rafe and I’d bet money she’s never seen it. So yeah, thinking about them having sex isn’t pleasant, but knowing she never really knew the man behind the hot guy makes me feel smug.”
“There’s that optimist I love so much, but you need to tell Rafe about her visit today and that day at his house.”
“I agree.”
“Onto a more pleasant topic, I’m glad you and Rafe are finally coming to your senses because the air practically hums when you two are together. It would be a crime for you not to explore that chemistry. So tell me about yesterday.”
I was happy for the change of subject, it was infinitely more pleasant than talk of Melody. “We went to the nursery, he loves my plans for the gardens.”
“You’re doing the gardens?”
“Yeah, and I even haggled a really great price with the garden center.”
“Mom would be proud.”
“We spent the day at Coney Island and then he took me for pizza at his friend’s place.”
“And you finished the day with a movie. Based on that smile, I’m guessing it was a perfect day.”
“It really was.”
She reached for my hand, covering it with hers. “I’m happy for you, so tell me about this almost kiss.”
“It was more than that, Nat. It was as close to a perfect moment that I’ve ever had.”
Nat understood. “So why didn’t you kiss?”
“Melody called. I swear it’s like the chick has a camera on us.”
“She really sounds like an asshole.”
“She is.”
“Get her in my OR, I’ll take care of it.”
I couldn’t help the laugh because I could see it now, Nat looking much like Dr. Frankenstein, that deranged smile on her face as she played around with Melody’s brain. “I’d pay to see that.”
“When I met him, I liked the way he stared at you—like you were the most fascinating person on the planet. And, outside of me, you are.”
“You’re a clown.”
“But seriously, even then there was something that smoldered between the two of you. I’m glad you’re finally acting on it.”
“We haven’t, but we’re getting there.”
“When you do, I want details, spare nothing.” Her eyes moved from me to the door as a smile spread over her face. “There’s Tyler.” She waved and in the next minute a man appeared. Even in a suit, the man was sexy and he stared at my sister like she was a hot fudge sundae.
“Avery, this is Tyler, Tyler, my sister, Avery.”
He didn’t immediately take a seat; he waited until he was invited. What a gentleman. “Please join us.” I said.
He unbuttoned his suit jacket and as graceful as a large-muscled man could be, settled in the chair opposite Nat. The smile he gave her had my heart fluttering.
“Sorry I’m late. I got caught up at work.” He signaled the waitress and ordered a salad, grilled chicken and water. With the body he had, I understood the healthy pick though I had to say, I liked that Rafe ate whatever he wanted and kept his body up through manual labor.
“It’s nice to finally meet you Tyler.”
“And you.”
“As Nat’s sister, it’s my job to ask questions of the man who’s caught her eye.”
Nat glared at me. “You are having entirely too much fun with this.”
“And you wouldn’t do it to me if you had the chance?”
She didn’t answer; she didn’t have to because we both knew the answer.
“It’s okay, Nat. I’d be disappointed if Avery didn’t have questions.”
The immature part of me wanting to rub that in, but I didn’t and instead asked Tyler, “What do you do?”
“Personal trainer.”
“That explains your very healthy lunch. Why are you in a suit?”
“I own a gym and am meeting with potential investors.”
“So not just a trainer, but a businessman. I like that. What’s the one thing you like most about Nat?”
“Avery!”
“What? It’s a fair question.”
Tyler reached for Nat’s hand. “She’s right. It’s a fair question.” Meeting my gaze, he said, “I like everything about your sister—her humor, her brain, her body, her face, but I think what I like the most is when I’m with her there’s nowhere else I want to be.”
Nat turned to goo, I actually watched as she morphed into a sappy mess and I completely understood.
“I like you, Tyler. You have my approval.”
“And I’m happy to have it.” And then he only had eyes for Nat, studying her face like he was committing it to memory. I really liked the way he looked at her. “How was Mr. McNalley’s surgery?” he asked.
Nat’s expression was one I knew well, since I often found myself giving the same to Rafe. Not just happiness and contentment but connected. Nat was head over heels for this guy. “He pulled through with flying colors.”
The hand he held he brought to his lips and pressed
a kiss in her palm. “I’m so happy to hear that.”
I settled back in my chair and grinned one of Nat’s grins because my sister was in love.
After work, I stepped outside and was greeted to the sight of Rafe leaning against his truck, his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. His head turned, those eyes caught mine as a smile curved his lips. Last night came back, every exquisite detail. I grew warm under my clothes as my blood heated. And as beautiful as the sight before me was and the memory it stirred, the ugly conversation with Melody came rushing back too. He needed to know about her visit and when he did, he wouldn’t be smiling.
Before I could open my mouth, he said, “I’ve been thinking about you all day, needed to see you. Ride with me. I’ll bring you back tomorrow. Your car is in no danger of being stolen.”
I felt like Nat did earlier, turning all sappy, because I was turning so now. To hide how much those words affected me I said, “Grief about my car, still?”
“You need to upgrade, if for no other reason than safety.”
It was a valid point and after my last confrontation with Dad, I was seriously considering it. “I’m thinking about it.”
“Really?”
“It’s time.”
He knew what I was admitting to, that I was finally accepting defeat. His features turned hard, but his voice was soft when he said, “I’ll take you whenever you’re ready.”
“Thanks.” I could totally relate to Tyler’s sentiment regarding Nat because when I was with Rafe there was nowhere else I wanted to be. “I fell asleep last night.”
“You did.”
“I’m sorry.”
An edge came into his voice, a hardness that surprised me. “Don’t be.”
“She stopped by today.”
I had never in my life seen someone lose it as quickly as Rafe did in response to that statement. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“She tried, at first, to be nice. Played on the fact that I was a ‘girlfriend’ to get me to help her out.”
“With what?”
“She wanted to surprise you with dinner, hoped you could talk out your differences. She asked me to give her the codes for the alarm, so she could put her plan into motion.”
