Chapter 38
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
avery
ONE MONTH LATER
Iris – Goo Goo Dolls
The next four weeks pass in a blur. This morning, I got the all-clear from my doctor. She checked that my wound was fully healed and cleared me from needing any more physical therapy, and I’m so ready to move forward with my life.
Kane and I have scaled our therapy sessions back to once a week again while we continue to process what happened and work on our relationship. Since that day, we haven’t spent a night apart.
Tomorrow is officially move-in day, and I couldn’t be more excited, but a part of me is mourning living with my best friend and all the good times we had. I know this won’t change our relationship, but any sort of change has never been easy on me.
Kane has slowly been moving in over the past six weeks, all of his stuff causing my room to basically explode before he brings over his bigger things tomorrow.
I’m so ready to have us living together, to get to spend forever with someone and have him love me back just as much.
It’s more than I ever could have dreamed for myself as a little girl.
When my parents ignored me or left me alone yet again, I would sit in my room surrounded by books, dreaming of my own happily ever after with someone who would always choose me.
Someone who would be my family not because blood deemed it so, but because they chose me.
I never imagined I would meet my forever in high school and still be sitting against him with all my other chosen family beside me.
And as I look around our table at The Grunge, I notice my family is all here.
Kane worked his last shift ever last night, and now we’re all here celebrating at our favorite place.
It’s open-mic night, and after years of begging, Kane is finally going to perform.
It may have taken some persuading—or a couple blow jobs—before I finally got what I wanted.
I know Kane never plans to sing professionally, but he deserves to share his talent sometimes.
Besides, I think this will be good for him.
He got accepted into an early master’s program that starts this summer semester, so we only have a few months to let loose again before the chaos takes over.
But this time, I know whatever we encounter, we will do it together.
“Where did your head go, pretty girl?” a voice whispers in my ear as his arms come around me.
“Nowhere. I’m just really happy,” I beam as I turn my face and take him in. His stubble has grown a bit, casting that beautiful shadow over his jaw. His lips look as delectable as ever, and those piercing hazel eyes drink me in, darkening slightly at whatever he sees on my face.
“You know, we could get out of here if someone hadn’t talked me into performing,” he muses, capturing my lips with his, taking a long, slow drink from me.
“We are here to celebrate you. We can’t leave early,” I jab back.
“I could think of better ways to celebrate, preferably with you on all fours and your perfect ass in the—” he says before I cut him off with my hand on his mouth.
“Don’t you dare, Kane. We are behaving tonight and spending time with our friends,” I laugh.
I pull my hand away as he tries to bite it and a mock pout takes over his face.
He opens his mouth to say something when his name is called from the stage and the crowd cheers, ready to see one of their own take the stage.
He saunters up with his acoustic guitar in hand and settles onto the chair on stage.
The black shirt is stretched taut over his biceps and chest, making my mouth water, and the lights gleam off his black hair.
All those tattoos on his arms make it impossible to tear my gaze away from him.
His hazel eyes spark as they stare across the space at me.
The crowd roars as he takes center stage.
Some girls a few tables over catcall him, causing a laugh to bubble out of me. He adjusts the mic.
“Hey, everybody, I’m Kane, and I’m only up here because my girlfriend promised me sex,” he jokes into the mic, staring right at me with a small smirk on his face.
I gape at him as my face turns red and the rest of the bar hoots and hollers. He gives me a wink from his perch on stage, the single spotlight illuminating him.
“This is for her,” he croons softly into the mic, staring right at me, the flush going all the way through me.
The opening chords of “Iris” fill the air, and the crowd goes wild, instantly knowing the popular beat. My smile breaks through at him playing our song, here in front of everyone. The biggest I love you he could ever say to me.
I watch him own the stage, the rasp of his voice making me shiver and setting my body on fire.
The crowd softly sings along as he hits the chorus, his beautiful features illuminated by the bright lights.
I see women all over the bar fawn over him and catcall for his attention, yet his eyes never waver from mine.
He sings to me as if we’re the only two people in this room.
Those hazel eyes have me snared in his trap, never wanting to escape.
I think back to the first time I saw him here after our breakup, lost and confused at how he moved on so quickly. My childish antics somehow brought us together, but I never would have pictured us where we are now, stronger than ever.
Morgan leans into me as a tear slips down my cheek.
She slings her arm around me and drags me to her side as we sway to the song.
Marcus comes up to my other side and wraps his arm around both of us.
Then I feel Grayson come up behind us and engulf us all in a hug until we’re singing and laughing along.
Being here and surrounded by my family is everything little Avery could have imagined someday, and every day I thank my lucky stars that these are my people, and I get to wake up each day knowing that they chose me.
Kane’s song ends, and the crowd loses it, people jumping up from their chairs to clap for him, our group included.
I watch as he bashfully accepts handshakes and pats on the back while he beelines for me.
He eats up the distance in long strides against the gleaming black floors.
He gets to me and picks me up, crushing me to him as he continues walking, somehow navigating us through the crowd.
We shove past bodies and a few whoops follow us as Kane bursts through the bathroom door.
I hear the click, and soon after, his lips dive into mine.
His tongue sweeps into my mouth like an animal starving.
My ass hits the counter as he places me on top and throws my skirt up so I’m sitting in just my soaked thong.
My favorite leather skirt, worn just to make him crazy, is paired with a plaid lace corset top that accentuates every curve, and I’ve loved the appreciative glances Kane has given me all night.
I feel his hard length pressing into me, the friction sending sparks down to my toes.
“Fuck, baby, do you know what you do to me?” he asks, voice ragged between kisses, barely taking any time to come up for air. “Fuck, I can’t wait until we get home. I need you now,” he groans as he rips my thong and the cold air hits my overheated core.
“Yes, please take me,” I moan on a gasp as his finger enters me in one thrust.
“Fuck, baby, you’re so wet. Did it turn you on to see me up there?” he breathes, his fingers hitting that spot inside of me that makes me pant into his mouth. Needing air, I rip my mouth away just for him to dive to my neck and kiss his way down until he gets to my chest.
“So much,” I pant, my vision turning black with my impending orgasm.
I come all over his fingers, and he continues to pump in and out as I come down.
When I finally get my breathing under control, I open my eyes to see him take his fingers out and put them in his mouth.
He licks me off him, his eyes rolling back into his head.
“Fuck, I could come from your taste alone,” he groans into my mouth.
I can taste myself on my tongue as I reach down and undo his button, dragging down his zipper, reaching in, and freeing him. He’s hard and heavy in my hand.
“Do you know how much I love you?” he asks on a groan as I stroke him up and down, taking a bit of pre-cum from the tip and spreading it over him.
I shake my head until he wrenches my face up so I’m level with him.
“Tell me,” he demands, his grip firm but not hurting me.
“I know, and I love you that much too,” I promise.
“Good, because I’m about to fuck you like I don’t.
Hold on, pretty girl,” he demands, bringing me down from the counter and flipping me around until I see us in the mirror.
Him behind me all dressed in black as if he’s a demon coming to take my soul to hell, and me in a black leather miniskirt and plaid lace corset top, the angel who can’t resist his wicked ways.
A sharp smack hits my ass as a groan works its way out of my throat.
“Fuck, baby, you should see my view. There’s nothing better,” he purrs as he looks down at my naked pussy. Another slap echoes as he thrusts inside, all the way to the hilt.
The position is almost too much as I’m unbearably full of him, but also needing so much more. He stays inside me, not moving as he massages my ass, taking in the view.
“Kane,” I whine. “Move, please. I need—”
“I know what you need, pretty girl,” he assures me as he drags his cock all the way out and slams home. He does that repeatedly until it feels as if the counter is leaving bruises on my hips, the pain so pleasant when followed by such pleasure.
His pace is punishing as I feel my orgasm rise again, the tightening in my stomach and my breaths coming in shorter and shorter until I explode around his cock.
My orgasm triggers him as I milk his cock, until we are both spent.
He leans over and puts his forehead between my shoulder blades as we come down together.
The sounds outside finally register in my ears, loud music and cheers filling the silence.
Kane massages my ass where he slapped and kisses my back, a pleased moan escaping me.
I hiss as he withdraws, the sense of loss filling me.
“Did I hurt you?” he asks as he pulls me up and turns me around. He lowers my skirt for me and smooths my shirt down. He runs his fingers through my hair and tucks a strand behind my ear, leaning in and leaving a gentle kiss on my forehead.
“Never.” I smile as he places a gentle kiss on my lips next, lingering for a minute. I savor the feeling of him. I always love how he can fuck me so roughly, then turn around and take care of me so tenderly. It’s like he knows exactly what I need.
Banging starts on the door, and we both laugh.
“What is with us and bar bathrooms?” I giggle into him as he pulls me up after him. He unlocks the door, and it flies open as two girls rush to the stalls.
“Have you seen you? I can barely wait until we get home normally, but today, I couldn’t wait another second,” he purrs, then pulls me into the crowd after him.
We settle back in at our table, and Morgan gives me a knowing smirk as she pushes a fresh drink in front of me.
I take the chair next to her, seeing that our group has grown with Lindsay, the bartender who worked with Kane, and her girlfriend, Claire.
Kane seems to really enjoy spending time with them, and they flow so seamlessly into our group.
Kane takes up residence behind me as he usually does, wrapping his arms around my chest as he settles into an easy conversation with the guys.
Morgan takes my hand and squeezes, and I sit here and take everything in.
My family. Grayson with his backward cap and soft smile as Marcus and his wild mess of brown curls make some wild hand gestures to the boys.
Morgan with her blonde curls pulled back tight and knee-high boots as she shows me her newest match on the dating site she decided to join.
The night seems endless until the first yawn slips through my mouth and Kane announces it’s time for us to go. Morgan agrees and decides to ride back with us since she had a few drinks, Marcus saying he’ll bring the car tomorrow for move-in day.
We all head out into the early May night, the bugs out in full swing, their symphony carrying us to our car, and the slight crispness in the air cooling my overheated skin.
Kane comes around to help me into the passenger side, kissing my forehead before rounding the black cab and hauling himself inside.
The car is quiet as we make our way back to the house.
I must have dozed off because the next thing I know, I’m being lifted and carried, my eyes barely opening as he carries me into our room.
Kane places me on the bed and comes back with a big T-shirt, helping me get undressed. Moments later, I feel a warm body dip into the bed and pull me close. A gentle kiss is placed in my hair, and I’m surrounded by the leather and sandalwood smell I can never get enough of.