Chapter 26
Preston
The room was warm and the heat from our bodies made covers unnecessary, which was great by me. It made it easier to enjoy the dips and hollows of Avery’s curves, as we lay together afterwards.
There were so many things we needed to work through. I refused to skim over anything, because I wanted her to be certain she was making the right choices this time around.
“Avery, I’ll go wherever you want to go, and do my best to make you happy,” I began.
She groaned. “I was hoping we wouldn’t have to discuss this tonight.”
“This is all about you and what you want. There are only two things I want … you and your happiness. I’m willing to give up everything to be certain that happens. I’d like to talk about this so we can move forward, if that’s what you still want to do. Babe, you know everything about me. I’ve never sugarcoated things and won’t ever do that. I’m not a guy who leads a charmed life of perfection, where everything falls into place perfectly. In fact, it’s much the opposite for me. But I’m loyal, I’ll always have your back, and do my best to protect you at all costs. You’ll have my undying love until I breathe my last breath. Now the question is whether you want me in your life as is.”
She ran her hand across my chest until she got to the tattoo of the sun that was obscured by the clouds. Once there, her fingers lightly tripped over it, then she traced it with her tongue. Heat built and I was afraid she was trying to distract me, so I called her on it. “Your mouth is perfect, but are you trying to divert my attention? You’re already aware you do a damn good job of it.”
She stopped moving and said, “I don’t want to think about any of this right now. It’s been too long since we’ve been together. That’s what I want right now. Not words and talk of how fucked up you are. Okay?”
“Fair enough.” She made her point. We’d return to this conversation in the morning or soon after that. But she’d have her way tonight.
The rest of the night we alternated between making love, sleeping, kissing, touching, and other things, but we never talked about anything serious.
Once during the night, when she was sound asleep, she woke me. Initially, I was disoriented from sleep, but I heard her voice. “Don’t let me go.” She was weeping, her cheeks glistening with tears. I didn’t understand why she would say this. “Don’t let me leave again. I never want to be away from you.”
Gathering her into my arms, I held her close and softly spoke to her, telling her I would be by her side forever, if she’d have me. I caressed her back, dried her tears with my thumbs, and continued to speak to her, until she calmed and slept peacefully once more.
Avery was still asleep when I awoke. Not wanting to disturb her, I gently disentangled myself from her arms and slid out of bed. The night’s memories washed over me like a soothing balm, but I worried over how she would react once she woke up. Would she regret what had taken place? Would she want to discuss the future? Was there even a future for us?
I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and then checked out my reflection in the mirror. A man with a furrowed brow and intense gaze stared back at me. I was scared to death. Yeah, I’d faced life-threatening situations where fear nearly paralyzed me, but I’d never been this terrified in my life. I’d concocted contingency plans if things didn’t work, but my life wouldn’t be worth a damn.
Avery was everything to me. These last few months had proved that. I promised myself I would do anything to win her back, but if she decided that wasn’t what she wanted, I would leave and never bother her again.
When I got back to the bed, she was stirring. “Good morning there,” I whispered as I brought her closer to me.
“Hmm,” she hummed as she stretched. Then she curled next to me, putting her face into the curve of my neck. Her breath wafted over me, and my muscles contracted in response.
Her arm reached across my chest as her fingers teased the piercing on my left nipple.
“If you keep that up much longer, you better be prepared for the consequences.”
“Why do you think I’m doing it? But let me have a minute first.” She offered me her best smirk and then rose from the bed.
“Where are you going?”
“Where do you think?” She gave me one of her funny head jerks. She had to use the restroom. I was such an idiot sometimes.
A few minutes later she returned with a grin. “Besides, I wasn’t going to let you kiss me after you brushed your teeth and I hadn’t.”
“You’re such a baby. Like I would care.”
“You wouldn’t, but I would. Now, where were we?”
“Why don’t you hop on board, and I’ll show you?”
“Oh, so now you’re a train?” She dragged her finger up my arm.
I caught her hand and put a fingertip in my mouth. Then I nipped it. “Avery, I’m much better than a train.” I smirked.
She rushed to get in bed and straddled me. Her lips landed on mine, and they were wet and warm. My hands grasped her hips and she moaned.
“Someone is very happy to have you so close,” I said.
“I think that someone wants some attention,” she said.
“Correction. He needs some attention.”
I moved my hand between us and touched her, ensuring she was ready.
“Woman, you’re always so wet.”
“Quit talking, Preston. I need you to do what you do best.”
“Anything you want, bossy lady.”
She shifted and slid me inside of her. Her hands squeezed my shoulders as we began our rhythm, back and forth, but then her hand moved to my face and grasped my chin.
She stopped moving and clenched her thighs against mine. “Preston, listen to me,” she said firmly.
That got my attention.
“I love you and I plan on us being together. But … I’m tired of you blaming things on your past and being fucked up. It’s time to let that go. Understand?”
Fuck! That was not what I expected her to say. “Well ...”
“No. Either you understand, or you don’t. It’s time to move forward, and today’s the day you begin. I love the fuck out of you and can deal with your past. The question now is will you?”
Her eyes, which morphed into a stormy green, blazed at me. Whether it was from passion or love or the raw intensity of her honesty, I wasn’t sure. But in that moment, if I didn’t release all the baggage I’d been dragging around and do what she said, I’d be living my life without her.
“For you I’ll do anything.”
She smiled, kissed me, and then said, “Good, now I wanna be on the bottom.”
“But I was liking you on top,” I protested.
“I don’t care. This is my call right now.” She brushed the back of her hand across my nipple piercings, and she had me. She had me bad.
A few moments later, she murmured in my ear, “Harder, Preston, harder. Yes, that’s so good. Don’t you dare stop.” And then I felt her inner muscles contract around me as she cried out my name. My bossy lady had gotten her way, and it had been so worth it.