23. Avery
23
AVERY
I ’ve always been content with my little master bathroom, but as soon as I step into Jamie’s, I’m seeing green.
Aside from the barbeques that Leo and I’d been invited to, I haven’t spent much time at Jamie’s house. They’ve always come to me to accommodate Leo’s sleep schedule, and on the rare times my parents keep him overnight, we go to Wesley’s house (for obvious reasons).
His bathroom is nearly the size of my bedroom. He’s got a walk-in shower, the clawfoot tub of my dreams, and a fucking sauna.
This is the level of luxury I aspire to but probably won’t ever get.
Well, maybe I could if I hit the lottery.
Jamie comes in holding an obscenely fluffy towel, and as soon as he sees my face he shifts into what I call worry mode.
“Are you uncomfortable? Is the floor too cold? I can turn on the heaters. In the winter they’re on a timer, but it’s been too warm for me?—”
“Do you mean to tell me you have heated floors too? Are you kidding me?”
“Does that bother you?”
“No, I’m just surprised. How did you manage to do all this with the temp jobs and the academy?”
“Well, I am semi-retired. You know that.”
“Most forty-seven-year-olds aren’t. You’ll have to forgive me for forgetting.” I smile. “You must have hit the lottery to manage all this.”
“Or something like that,” he says.
Something in his face tells me there’s a lot more to this than he’s letting on.
Normally, I’d be all over that, but after this morning, I don’t have the energy for it.
“Alright. I’ll let you keep your secrets for now, but rest assured, I will unearth them.” I waggle my finger at him.
It happens so fast that I almost miss the anxiety on his face.
What could he be keeping from me?
Like you have any room to talk, Avery? You’ve had so many opportunities to tell them all about Kyle and you chickened out every single time.
I shove the suspicion and guilt to the back burner of my brain. It’ll keep until another day. Right now, all I want is a distraction, not more problems.
Jamie turns the taps on the tub and puts the stopper in. As it fills, he rummages around in the sink cabinet.
“Time for you to make a choice,” he says, turning back to face me. “Bubble bath or bath bomb?”
I’m pretty sure my eyebrows hit my hairline.
“Most men I’ve known don’t even have separate shampoo and conditioner, let alone those kinds of things. Were you designed by a woman or something?”
“No, I just…” He shifts guiltily from one foot to the other. “I’ve been with my fair share of women, and I pay attention to what they like. It helps everyone to, uh, have a better time.”
By no means did I think that I was the first woman in his life, but to hear him mention other women out loud makes me irrationally jealous.
“I see,” I say flatly. “And did one of those women give you those items?”
The corners of his mouth twitch. “Are you jealous?”
“No.” I huff.
“You are.”
“I certainly am not.”
“Liar. You’re so jealous it’s practically rolling off you in waves.” He crosses the room to me. “Don’t pout, Princess. I find it quite charming.”
“You didn’t answer the question.”
He chuckles. “No, I bought them myself.”
“Does that mean you have a lot of women over here, then?”
Why can’t you just drop this? You’re ruining the whole relaxing mood he’s trying to set. Just be quiet and be grateful.
Jamie’s eyes turn serious in a way that makes my heart start to race.
“Not since you,” he says.
“I don’t know what to say. I–I’m sorry for making such a big deal about this.”
“It’s been a long morning. It makes complete sense that you’re on edge. I’m not going to hold it against you. Besides, I like the thought of you being possessive over me.”
“Who wouldn’t be?” I ask in disbelief. “You’re smart, ambitious, and yet surprisingly gentle and tender at times. And that’s not even accounting for looks.”
I grab him by the belt loops and tug him closer for a kiss. Just the feel of his lips on mine is enough to ease some of the tension from this morning.
When he pulls away, I sigh disappointedly.
“We have all afternoon for that. Let's get you good and relaxed first.”
“I thought that’s what we were doing,” I grumble.
“Patience is a virtue,” he teases. “Now, are you going to choose between the bath bomb and the bubble bath or are you going to make me do it?”
After smelling both, I opt for the bath bomb, but when I try to start undressing, Jamie pushes my hands away.
“You’re not lifting a finger today, Princess.”
He spins me gently so I’m facing away from him.
My skin tingles as he eases the zipper down my dress. Jamie’s soft swear as he sees the matching set I wore underneath it makes my core ache.
“Changing your mind?”
“No, but I am going to take some time to admire you.”
Goosebumps dot my skin as he slides the dress down my body.
Even though I’m still wearing my bra and panties, I feel completely exposed.
“Turn around.”
He’s seen me naked before, seen me with my lips wrapped around his friend’s dick, and even seen me tied to a saltire in a maid’s costume. Somehow, this feels more intimate than any of those instances.
Jamie’s eyes rove over my body leisurely like I’m a rare piece of art. He looks at me like I’m something beautiful, something worth cherishing, and I actually let myself believe it this time.
His hands ghost over my body as he removes the rest of my clothing. When he helps me into the tub, his hand barely touches mine, but it still sets my body aflame.
At least now I can blame the heat of the water for the flush on my skin.
As the heat of the water works its magic on my tense muscles, I feel grateful that Jamie insisted on a bath first.
I hear the soft thud of his clothing as it hits the tiled floor. My head turns back toward him in surprise.
“Did you think you were the only one who needed to relax after this morning?” he teases. “Scoot up.”
Jamie settles in behind me, and his hands immediately start massaging the knots in my shoulders.
I reach my hand back to touch him, but he gently pushes it away.
“Let me enjoy touching you first.”
His hands drift to my lower back and work through tension that I didn’t even realize was there.
“Forget the temp jobs. You could be a masseuse for a living.”
“I did take some classes a while back.”
“Going for your how to seduce women degree?” I tease.
He presses an open-mouthed kiss to my shoulder. “No degree needed. I’m already an expert in that. Massage techniques? Not so much.”
I can’t help but laugh.
Jamie’s hands slip to the front of me, palming my breasts.
I moan and lean back against him.
The feel of his hard length pressing against my back makes me want to turn around and straddle him right there. It’s like he can read my mind because one of his hands drops across my waist, pinning me against him.
The feel of being restrained heightens my arousal, intensifying the feel of his fingers playing with my nipple.
My head drops back on his shoulder, and he takes the opportunity to press kisses to my neck.
I press harder against him, grinding my ass into his dick.
“Fuck, Princess, you’re making it almost impossible to control myself.”
“Then don’t.”
His hand slips from my hip and his fingers trace circles around my clit. The sensation of that, coupled with his other hand pinching my nipple, makes me cry out.
“That’s it, let me hear how good I’m making you feel, Princess.”
My breath comes in bursts and my body starts to tremble. I feel the pressure building in my lower body until it bursts, and I come with his name on my lips.
He doesn’t give me a chance to recover before he flips me to face him. My hands fly out and grip the edges of the tub. Jamie leaves his mark at the top of my breast before sucking my nipple into his mouth and teasing it with his tongue.
“Touch me,” I beg.
His fingers thrust into me, and I cry out as he hits my G-spot over and over again.
This time when I reach down to touch him, he doesn’t stop me. He moans low in his throat as my fingers wrap around his hard length.
Jamie’s eyes are half closed as I stroke his cock. His breath comes in bursts and he fucks me harder with his fingers.
The orgasm rips through me so intensely, I collapse into his chest just trying to catch my breath.
When my breathing slows, he scoops me up and carries me into the bedroom. I feel him start to loosen his hold on me.
“Wait, we’re going to get your sheets all wet,” I protest.
“That’s what dryers are for, aren’t they?”
Jamie drops me onto a bed so firm, I bounce once before settling into the mattress.
Instead of sliding in next to me, he climbs onto the end of the bed by my feet. He presses a kiss to my ankle, to my calf, and then a trail of them up my inner thigh. I moan as he traces his tongue from my entrance to my clit.
My body shakes as he flicks his tongue against my sensitive bud. When he sucks it into his mouth, I scream his name.
“I don’t—” I gasp. “I don’t know how much more I can take. I need you to fuck me.”
His fingers replace his tongue on my clit.
“Sensitive today, are we?”
I nod.
“How about we show Phillip and Wesley exactly what they’re missing first?”
My brain is so scrambled by the movements of his fingers, it takes me a moment to put it together.
“You want to film us?”
He shakes his head. “Just you, and only from the neck up. I want them to see your gorgeous face as you come on my fingers.”
I’m nearly sent right over the edge just at the thought of it.
After a moment, he says, “It’s okay if you don’t want to. I will completely respect that.”
“I want to, it’s just…” I take a breath. “They’re the only ones who are going to see it, right?”
“You have my word.”
“Then yes.”
He’s only gone for a second to grab his phone, but the loss of his touch makes me ache.
Then he’s back at my side, phone in hand, fingers notched at my entrance.
He hasn't even hit record yet, but the mere sight of the phone makes me embarrassingly wet.
“Letting them see you come and knowing all they can do is watch gets you off, doesn't it, Princess?”
“Yes.”
“Then I want you to be loud for me. Make them regret not taking the full day off.”
He eases his fingers inside me, and just that gentle motion makes my pussy clench.
“You're close already, aren't you?”
“Yes.”
“Ready, Princess?”
I can only nod.
Jamie shakes his head. “That's not clear consent.”
“Please, Jamie, I want it.”
The only warning I get is a small nod from him.
With every thrust of his fingers, the heel of his hand hits my clit, making me cry out with pleasure.
My hips jerk against his hand, urging him to move faster.
When he does, my mind goes blank and all I can focus on is his touch.
“That’s it. Come for me, Princess.”
His words give me the permission I need to come undone. My back arches up off the bed as I call out his name.
I collapse back on the bed, breathing hard.
“You came so beautifully for me, Princess. That was perfect.”
I smile up at him, feeling slightly dazed from the force of the orgasm that had just electrified my body.
When our eyes meet, though, the mood shifts. He’s looking at me like this is the first time he’s ever truly seen me.
My breath catches in my throat.
The kiss he presses to my mouth is more tender than I’ve ever experienced from him before. He’s usually all business, just going right to the spots that make me moan. This time, it's like he’s got his heart on his lips.
“You are so beautiful,” he says softly.
His hands rove over my body in a way that’s so reverent it makes my heart ache.
The heat in my body builds slowly this time.
“I’m going to grab a condom.”
He starts to roll off me, but I grab his arm and hold him in place.
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to. I’m on the pill. I need you as close to me as possible.”
He hesitates, clearly wrestling with something.
Wesley and Phillip are beyond content with the lack of barrier between us, but Jamie has always been hesitant.
I know it’s not because of an STD—I’ve seen his test results. So it must be for some other reason.
Maybe he just doesn’t trust only the pill.
Or maybe it’s because he’s been lying to you and seeing someone else.
I shut down the wicked little voice in my head and focus back on the man in front of me. If I’m not mistaken, there’s some anxiety in his eyes.
“Hey, you can still use one if you want to. I won’t be upset. I would never want to make you uncomfortable. All I want is for you to feel as safe with me as I do with you. Whatever you choose is okay.”
Jamie brushes the hair off my face. “You are an exceptional woman.” Then after a moment, he asks, “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
“Yes.”
I wrap my legs around his waist as he eases into me. We both gasp at the sensation of having nothing at all between us.
We cling to each other as he thrusts into me, and I’m no longer sure where he ends and I begin.
This feels so fundamentally different from anything I’ve experienced. It’s like I’m everywhere and nowhere all at once.
When we finally come together, there are nail marks in his back and a light mist of tears across my eyes.
“Hey,” he says, touching my cheek, “what’s this about?”
“I… It felt so… I was…”
Jamie tucks me against his side. “I felt the same way, Julia.”
A bottomless pit opens in my stomach, and I shove away from him hard.
I told you he was seeing someone else. I told you this was all too good to be true, and you didn’t listen.
The mean little voice is back and too loud to ignore.
“Who the fuck is Julia?” I demand.