Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
??LONDON, ENGLAND
“ Y ou should totally bang your boss.”
Ava choked on her coffee and coughed until she breathed normally again and the faint haze of confusion inside her mind dissipated. Eyes wide, she tried to process and comprehend the sudden suggestion.
Sitting on the other end of the sofa, she delicately kicked Gabe’s shin before making herself comfortable. She wrapped the blanket around herself and brought her cup to her lips.
“What are you on about?”
Gabe didn’t peer up from his phone, one hand draped behind his head. “Your boss.”
Ava blinked. “Sophie McKinnon? Simon Romano?”
“Rowan,” Gabe clarified, smirking.
“Why would you say that?”
She had done everything in her power to stay busy, to keep her mind occupied and away from the bane of her existence. But it occurred that, sometimes—mostly at night—she would think of Rowan and the way his lips had felt on hers. Of the deal he wanted to make with her.
“Because he’s so tall,” Gabe answered dreamily. He turned his phone towards Ava, displaying the most recent picture Rowan had posted online: a shot from his interview with GQ Australia. “And handsome as hell.”
Ava hummed. “Maybe you should bang him.”
He locked his phone and tossed it aside. “I wish. But I think he’s more into you than into me.”
Her breath caught. “Me?”
“The way he looked at you when he dropped you off the other night? I’m pretty sure he was devastated you were drunk. Otherwise, he would have ripped your clothes off.”
“He hated me back then.”
“Hate is a strong word.”
“Gabe,” she grumbled, feeling heat spread upwards to her cheekbones. “We swore to never talk about that night again.”
“You forced me to forget about it,” he protested.
“Don’t mention it.”
Her roommate eyed her amusedly. “Are you blushing?”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“Am not!”
“Babe, come on. You read romance novels to pass your time. You must have read books where the main characters are coworkers and bang in the boss’ office.”
“Yes, and?”
“Reenact a scene with him, please? To spice up your life?”
Ava released a small scoff of disbelief. “My life has plenty of spice.”
He raised his brows. “Really?”
“Gabe,” she groaned, regardless of the splatter of blush that made her cheeks burn with some sort of timidity. “Rowan is my boss—”
“Exactly.”
“—and he would never get with me. Nothing would ever happen between us.”
“You’re really in denial.”
She placed her cup of coffee atop the table and dragged the blanket up to her chin. “And you’re being delusional.”
The fantasy of having a wild night with Rowan was nearly driving her to insanity, and she wondered if it would ever happen. If Rowan was still intent on finishing what they had started in Melbourne.
Gabe’s lips turned upwards into a mischievous smirk. “Admit that he’s hot, though.”
She let out a long exhale, sinking further into the sofa. “He is. He really, really is.”
Ava hadn’t seen Rowan in almost two weeks. Whilst she had gone back to London, he had decided to stay in Australia and spend some quality time with his family.
She had seen a few pictures he had shared on his socials, but hadn’t heard directly from him once.
Not that she had been expecting a message or a call, anyway.
Stepping out of the lifts, she smiled brightly to greet her colleagues standing in the corridor. She received equal sympathy in return as she unfastened her coat, walking towards her office.
Her body reacted weirdly when the sound of a specific laugh echoed. Perspiration started clamming her hands, and her gaze instantly went to search for the creator of that melody.
He stepped out of Sophie’s office, cradling the new Primavera Racing merch in hand.
A flickering heartbeat later, Rowan’s gaze found hers, and he tipped his lips into a polite smile. Ava scoffed. That man was everything but polite.
She saw him walk towards the table at the end of the corridor, where food was always scattered on top of it, mumbling something to the girl standing before the basket of croissants. The girl gaped at him and nodded before turning on her heel. Ava swore she could see her face stricken with fear.
As Ava looked away, intent on finding shelter in her office, she inhaled sharply when Rowan’s familiar scent danced in the air. He brushed past her in the hallway without so much as meeting her gaze, but when his fingers caressed her hand, she swore a zip of electricity coursed through her veins.
He slipped a note through her fingers and disappeared into the lifts.
I need to talk to you. In private. Hope you didn’t forget about my promise.
She couldn’t stop thinking about the little note Rowan had scribbled.
When she pushed the door to the meeting room open, he was sitting on a chair, head tipped back and gazing at the ceiling, absentmindedly twirling a pencil between his fingers.
His attention snapped towards her, an instant smirk appearing on his lips. It took the greatest effort for Ava not to blush under that magnetising gaze of his. Walking in, all indifference and insouciance, she sat opposite him in the large, empty room.
The walls were made of glass, so each one of their moves were being observed and studied. Ava couldn’t make a fool of herself.
“Miss me much, sunflower?” The deep baritone of his timbre sent a chill rolling down her spine.
“Not really, no.”
“Liar,” he droned. As she slid a foam cup of coffee towards him, he grabbed it, brushing his fingers against hers on purpose. “Oat latte?”
“Of course.”
The corners of his lips tipped upwards, yet she didn’t miss the faint glint of suspicion in his eyes. “You know me so well.”
She raised her brows, opening her laptop. “How could I not when I was practically forced to learn every single thing about you?”
“Oh, tone it down with that miserable voice. I am undoubtedly the most fun and interesting person you know. I bet you read all those papers I gave you before going to sleep so that you’ll dream of me.”
“More like having nightmares.”
“There she is.” When she looked up, he was grinning behind the rim of his cup and eyeing her amusedly. “How did you enjoy your breakfast?”
“Did you ask Mandy to leave the last pain au chocolat for me?”
He waved an idle hand. “Whatever her name was seemed very compliant. All those pastries should be for you.”
What was he playing at? “That’s nice of you.”
If he had noticed her perplexity, he didn’t show it. “Nikki give you trouble yet?”
She tucked a strand of hair behind an ear, drawing his regard towards her red-painted nails. “I haven’t seen her today. Thank you again for last time.”
“I told you,” he murmured. “I’ve got your back.”
The day she had been spotted having brunch with Rowan and his family in Australia, Nikki had messaged her and told her to leave the café on the spot or else she’d lose her position as a press officer.
Rowan had driven them back to the hotel, and he had defended Ava without an ounce of hesitation.
“Nikki,” Rowan purred as he approached the blonde perched on a stool at the bar of the hotel. Ava was in tow, somehow hiding behind his broad frame.
“Rowan,” she greeted softly. Ava didn’t miss the seductive smile she threw at him, but Rowan didn’t seem to be affected.
“Listen. What Avery does outside of work is none of your business. Not that I should explain myself, but I invited her to brunch and I’ll keep taking her out for food if I want to.”
“But—”
“Let it go, Nikki. Be nice to her. Start respecting her.”
Nikki’s gaze found Ava’s, anger dancing around her pupils. “Be smart.”
Her job or Rowan.
“I have a question for you,” he continued coldly, bringing Nikki’s attention back to him. “Why is it that you’re still working for us? Everyone knows you’re awful to the employees, especially to Avery, yet you manage to get away with it every single time. What has she done to you?”
Nikki stared baffled at him.
“That’s what I thought,” he said. “She didn’t do anything except be a phenomenal, fierce woman. I’m not going to be the person who rats you out to HR, but I hope that one day you come clean about your attitude.”
“Anyway.” She turned the laptop towards him as she finished setting everything up for the video call with Indigo Bailey and her sports podcast. “How was Australia?”
Rowan ran his fingers through his hair and, even if it was barely noticeable, she watched how his features hardened. “Fine.”
“Just fine?”
“Yes.”
Here he was again with the one-word answers any time she’d mention his family or life back home.
“Rowan,” she murmured after releasing a sigh.
His gaze found hers, and a rare tenderness came to veil his honey eyes. “What?”
“I’m not your enemy.” Despite the coldness in his tone, she kept her voice soft and soothing, hoping he’d eventually warm up to her delicacy. “You know that, right? I’m not here to judge you. I’m not here to tear you down.”
“Why are you being nice to me?”
Why was he resisting her goodness?
She smiled softly. “Do I need a specific reason?”
Deep down, Ava was tired of the misplaced hostility. She and Rowan had been spending so much time together and would be in each other’s company even more these upcoming months. She needed to put that bitterness aside to find a way to his heart and discover the secrets that had obliterated his organ. She’d crawl if she needed to.
It felt like an eternity before he spoke. “Thank you. I appreciate that. I appreciate you.”
It was a knock on her door that interrupted her wild thoughts.
When she peered up from her computer, she saw a devastating angel leaning against the doorframe—a man with a broad grin and crestfallen eyes that reflected an affliction caused by his past. A pain he couldn’t hide from her no matter how hard he kept that anguish a secret. That boy with the blues, that boy who was secretly broken, was shrouded in tempestuous darkness and was the embodiment of danger, yet she was ready to run into his open arms. Despite that tenebrosity, she saw a golden light in him.
Ava knew it was now that she needed to run away, lest she got heartbroken because of something that had been born from lust and impulsiveness.
But, as Rowan stood there with a smug smirk playing on the corner of his lips, her mind forgot to remind her that he was a terrible idea.
“Why are you still here?” he asked.
“What do you want, Satan?” she demanded at the same time.
A cold laugh broke free as he threw his head back. He lifted his hands in semi-surrender, that mischievous grin only widening. “I come in peace; I promise.”
Sitting back in her seat, she flicked her gaze to the window and noticed how dark it was outside.
Shit.
Before she could say anything, he took a step forward and entered her office. He closed the door, though she was too stunned by his presence to ask why he would give them privacy. She knew all her colleagues had already clocked out. She was probably the last person left on this floor.
“Are you still working?”
“Yes. I just have a ton of paperwork to turn in tomorrow.”
“Are you aware your shift ended, like, three hours ago?”
“And how do you know that?”
“I know more about you than you think.”
“That’s not creepy at all,” she noted, arching an eyebrow as she watched him stride towards the sofa placed against a wall.
“I didn’t mean it in a stalker-like kind of way,” he grumbled, making himself comfortable. “It just means that I pay more attention to you than you think.”
“Oh.” She felt her cheeks tingle with a sudden timidity, and shifted her gaze to her desk.
“When are you going to be done?” He seemed oblivious to the corrupting effect he was having on her.
“Why?” She looked back to where he was, lying on the sofa with his hands behind his head and his eyes on her—observing, admiring. “What are you even doing here at this time of the evening?”
“Late sim test,” he replied with a nonchalant shrug. “Have you had dinner yet?”
“No. Why?” she asked slowly, pivoting her chair so she would face him.
His gaze dropped to her bare thighs. He wasn’t even trying to hide the blatant attraction, the risqué and sensual gleam in his eyes. She gulped. Felt her heart rate starting to increase its rhythm.
“I was thinking we could grab a bite together. Borough Market? Primrose Hill? I’m hungry,” he said, still staring at her legs. “I’m meeting a few friends at a pub and thought I could drop you off at home afterwards.”
“I can go home on my own just fine,” she answered, passing on the fact he’d told her he wanted to eat out in her company.
Was he insane?Did he not understand what was at stake for them if they continued to be spotted hanging out outside of work?
“Baby,” he started gruffly, finally meeting her eyes, “you missed yourbus to the train station. The next one is in an hour.”
Checking the time on her phone, Ava released a soft grunt filled with frustration. He was right.
“You’re taking risks.” And apparently, he was doing it on purpose.
He raised his brows—like he was accepting the challenge. “I love taking them.”
When she didn’t react, he sighed.
“Take it this way, sunflower: just one handsome, extra talented, and super cool F1 driver helping his amazing PR officer get back home safely just because he’s a nice dude and can’t stand the thought of her being out in the dark, all alone.”
Her mind went into instant overdrive as she blinked.
“Rowan.”
“Avery,” he deadpanned.
“What do you want?”
One moment, he was spread out on the sofa, somehow lazy and acting like he owned the place, and the next moment, he was sitting up, gaping at Ava with flames dancing around his pupils.
“I already told you; there are a lot of things I want from you.”
The sound of her rapid pulse became deafening. “Tell me more.”
He ran tattooed fingers through his dark hair, jaw ticking as he seemed to be thinking carefully about his words. Legs spread out, elbows resting atop his thighs, he was watching her with a vehemence that made the hairs on the back of her neck rise. His stare dropped to her heaving chest, and a smirk appeared on the corner of his sinful lips.
His tone was gruff, gravel-like, dangerous. “I want you to finish what you started weeks ago in my room after qualifying.”
Feigning innocence, she tilted her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Rowan scoffed. “Like hell, you don’t. I thought you were smart.”
If Rowan was an ember yearning to burn lethally, she was the match that would set him ablaze. “Why don’t you be more specific, lover boy?”
His smirk widened at the sound of the name she had given him. He rubbed his jaw, a flash of defiance darkening his eyes.
He shifted to sit on the edge of the sofa, holding her gaze. She wondered if his pulse was hammering as wildly as hers. “Remember that time you kissed me, and I kissed you back until I left you breathless? That time I pinned you to the wall, your thighs wrapped around my hips, your chest pressed to mine? Remember my hands all over you, ready to slip under your uniform?”
She couldn’t form a single sentence, let alone have a coherent thought run through her mind. All she could do was nod, lips parting ever so slightly.
“See?” he asked hoarsely. “I knew your pretty mind wouldn’t just forget about it. Do you think about our kiss as often as I do?”
She suddenly grew hot—in that small room with only Rowan, under that intense scrutiny that made her feel as though she was standing completely bare before him. “Careful,” she droned teasingly, her voice a sultry whisper she’d never used before, “or I might think you’re a tad obsessed.”
His voice didn’t waver as he said, “What if I am? What if I can’t get you out of my mind?”
It was after a few heartbeats too long that Ava’s shoulders fell as she released a long, heavy exhale. “We can’t.”
Rowan saw right through her. When their gazes collided, she found his features sharp with irritation. He watched her like he didn’t believe her. Like he didn’t want to believe that she refused to give in to the temptation.
“Why not?”
Ava closed her agenda aggressively and put her pen back into its holder before standing up, tugging her skirt down her thighs. “Do you not think about the consequences?” she gritted out, gesturing towards the door where reality lay beyond.
“Come on,” he groaned, standing as well. “When are you going to start doing things for yourself? This is about your pleasure, about what you want. Fuck these people. Fuck them all.”
“And it’s also about our careers, how it could impact your future, Rowan. Why are you wasting your time on me ? There are millions of women who would die to be in your bed, who are ten thousand times prettier than me, and who aren’t your publicist, for fuck’s sake. I’m nothing compared to them, and you know it. You just like that I’m not afraid of talking back to you, that I’m indifferent to your smug smiles and flirty gazes.”
The faintest furrow of his brows was noticeable, then his tone was a firm affirmation. A fierce assurance. “I don’t care about those women.”
“Well, you should! You’re going to go back to hating me in no time when you realise this,”—she gestured between the both of them—“isn’t going to work out. You’re going to get what you want and then what? Do you need to get it out of your system and move on? Is that it?”
“Move on,” Rowan parroted, followed by a scoff. He took one step forward, his demeanour burning with some kind of untameable wildfire. “Do you think I’m going to be able to pretend nothing happened? Do you expect me to move on, just like that? I’ve been trying to get your attention for years, Avery. And I promise that you won’t so much as try to move on once I fuck you nice and hard.”
Ava’s chest rose and fell. “You’re wasting your time.”
“Don’t tell me what I’m doing. I’m not leaving this room until I get what I want. And don’t say you don’t want it either.”
“What do you want?”
Rowan didn’t answer the question. Like he was thinking of a reply that wouldn’t scare her off.
“Sex?” she whispered. “Just—sex.”
Something flashed in his eyes, but all he did was nod subtly. “Only sex. That’s why you kissed me, right? It wasn’t for nothing.”
She frowned. Swallowed. “I took advantage of a moment of vulnerability. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Good God, you’re so fucking stubborn.” He observed her, studied her expression, catalogued her movements. Chest heaving, jaw tight with its muscle flexing, he was the perfect picture of annoyance. “What would you do if I went to touch you now?”
She wanted to convince herself that Rowan did not affect her. Wanted to tell herself that she did not want him, but… he had been right—she needed to do what she wanted for herself. For her own pleasure. She hadn’t realised she’d been craving his touch until she felt her fingers tremble from holding back from him.
“Why don’t you find out?”
Nothing else seemed to exist or matter at that exact moment.
Rowan paused, as though analysing her words and studying her body language.
“Fuck it.”
He closed the distance between them with long, furious strides and grabbed her face, angling it so she could stare up into his dark eyes. “For someone who’s so fucking intelligent, you can be so stupid sometimes.”
And then he stole her breath away by pressing his lips to hers.
Nothing was gentle or tender or delicate about the way he was kissing her. Nothing was kind or nice about Rowan Emerson.
Though Ava felt her knees weaken, she immediately responded by returning the fiery kiss, arms winding around his broad neck. He moaned in the back of his throat, and she instantly lost sense of everything.
Ava couldn’t believe Rowan Emerson wanted this with her—whatever this was. Couldn’t believe he was kissing her. Couldn’t believe his hands were on her.
“That’s what I fucking thought,” he bit out before attacking the side of her neck with open-mouthed kisses that left her panting. “Be quiet, though. I checked all the rooms, and they were all empty, but we don’t want any janitor to hear you screaming my name tonight.”
“I hate you.” Ava arched into him, eyes nearly rolling when his tongue flicked over the sweet spot below her ear.
He hummed against her skin. “I’m glad the feeling’s mutual.”
A low growl rumbled in his throat when his hands slipped to her bottom, fingers digging into her flesh. She tugged at his hair, her mind racing when his lips found hers again.
“Fuck,” he mumbled against her mouth. “You’re insanely hot. Can’t believe I’m pulling you.”
Ava couldn’t help but bark out a laugh, slightly backing away to look into his lust-filled eyes. “Are you drunk?”
“No,” he answered amusedly. “Why?”
“Do you hear yourself? Have you met yourself? I’m so basic and boring for you.”
“Stop saying that.” For a fraction of a second, that glint of destruction swirling along the edges of his irises became a tender glow. “You’re beautiful. Inside and out. You’re quite literally the most interesting woman I’ve ever spoken to.”
Rowan Emerson was the first man to ever call her beautiful.
A line appeared between her brows as she pushed him to sit on the sofa. Straddling his hips, she shivered when his calloused palms ran over her thighs until they settled on her waist. “You’re so confusing.”
His gaze was fixated on her blood-rushed lips when he dragged her cardigan off her shoulders. “How?”
“You left with another woman in Melbourne, but now you come running back to me?”
He had the nerve to smirk. “Are you jealous?”
“You wish.”
Unbuttoning her silk shirt, his lips came in contact with the swell of her breasts, teeth nipping at her flesh. He pulled her into his chest until the hard bulge in his trousers was pressed against her centre. “I think you are,” he countered smugly. “But I didn’t fuck her. Didn’t even kiss her. Just walked her to her place.”
“Why?”
“Because.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“Well,” he breathed out, hand cupping the back of her head, fingers tangled in her hair. “The real answer’s that I wasn’t interested in her because the only one I have eyes on right now is the stubborn, infuriating, and snarky woman who’s sitting on my lap.”
“Promise?”
“I promise I’m being sincere. Not even a kiss on the cheek,” he whispered, holding her gaze. “Nothing. Went straight to the hotel after dropping her off.”
“Did you stop your random hookups? I’ve seen you leave pubs with women before.”
“I’m not the same man I was two years ago. I don’t just sleep around anymore. One-night stands are over for me.”
She ran her hands over his muscular pectorals. “So what is this?”
“Just a sexy F1 driver hooking up with his equally sexy publicist?”
She threw her cardigan on the floor and pushed Rowan to lie down. Dimples appeared on his handsome face, a quiet laugh vibrating in his broad chest. “I’m not sure if I want to slap that shit-eating grin off your face or kiss it away.”
“Second option’s the safest, baby.”
Safe? Ava wasn’t sure of that. To keep on kissing Rowan would ruin her. But Ava had always had a tiny love for the thrill of danger.
She felt Rowan’s heartbeat under her palm as she rested her hands on his chest, and for a second, an eternity, she looked into his eyes and watched how lust morphed into something more vulnerable—intimate, almost.
And she didn’t want that. Couldn’t possibly want that.
Everything was so confusing.
So, to clear her mind, she locked her lips with his.
It seemed like Rowan had read her overbearing thoughts as he let his tongue stroke against hers, punishing her with a kiss that left her moaning softly whilst rocking her hips against his.
She felt him grow even harder. The sheer size of him pressing against the inside of her thigh caused arousal to pool inside her underwear.
She felt his fingers trail on the back of her thighs, creating a sequence of shivers in their wake. He pushed her skirt up to her hips, keeping his hands there to guide her against his erection. Bucking his pelvis upwards, he rutted into her, causing her to gasp, and moan, and writhe.
“Fuck,” he groaned. His hands were touching her everywhere, like her body was his favourite sculpture. She liked having his touch on her, as if his fingers could erase all her worries. “Keep those pretty sounds coming.”
“Don’t tell me what to do.”
He chuckled before letting his hand slip towards her front, his fingers pressing against her clit. “Only you would get into an argument with me whilst I try to finger-fuck you.”
Her hips jerked when he started circling her clit. She straightened herself, allowing him to look where they were connected, and he groaned at the sight of her lace underwear, damp with arousal.
“You can’t stand the thought of having someone being able to handle your attitude, can you?” she asked, breathless.
Rowan’s smirk was all destruction. “Me? I have an attitude? You should see yours.”
“Oh, please,” she scoffed, “Don’t let me stop you from being the biggest drama queen to ever walk the paddock.”
“Good God, woman,” Rowan muttered, pushing her panties to the side. He cursed when he saw her bare, gleaming, ready for him. The pad of his middle finger touched her clit, and she sighed in pleasure. She threw her head back, a quiet moan stuck in her throat when he coated his fingertip with her arousal and spread it over her core. “I’m trying to fuck you. Just shut up.”
Ava couldn’t respond when he started circling her clit, putting the perfect amount of pressure that left her heaving bated breaths. Her fingers fisted his shirt as she pressed her lips in a thin line, holding her pleasure in silence.
“I’m starving,” he stated huskily, his dark gaze travelling from her face, to her chest, to where he was touching her. “Sit on my face.”
Ava ceased—to move and breathe and think. “W-what?”
“I’m going to eat that pretty cunt of yours.” He grabbed the back of her thighs, nudging her towards his face.
“I—”
Rowan paused, frowning. “Has no one ever gone down on you before?” Pure concern was now etched on his face.
“Twice. It wasn’t necessarily good, but—”
Fingers dug into the flesh of her bottom. “The very instant my tongue lands on your clit, baby, you’ll forget about those idiots who haven’t been able to make this an enjoyable experience for you. In fact, I intend to erase the memory of every man you’ve had before me.”
Ava scoffed. “You’re overly confident.”
“Have you met me? I always am. And I keep my promises. Come here.”
Ava swallowed, and Rowan’s face softened.
“Wait. Shit.” Gently, he pulled her in to level her face to his. He pecked her lips once. Twice. A few times to ease her. “Are you okay with all of this?”
Ava could only nod, going in for another soothing kiss.
“Words, sunflower.”
She pulled back just enough to look into dark eyes shining with so many emotions—ruination, admiration, lust, and desire.
“Yes.”
“Good. Now come. On my face, preferably.”
Once her thighs were bracketed on either side of his face, he didn’t waste a second to latch his mouth to her clit.
Ava cried out, a wave of pleasure taking control of her body.
He groaned. “You taste so sweet. Like heaven.”
Throwing her head back, she closed her eyes as she let herself enjoy this foreign sensation of pleasure. Her fingers tangled through his curls, pulling softly at the roots.
She could feel him smirk whilst he tried to push her against his mouth, the gruffness of his beard tickling her flesh.
“I’m going to suffocate you,” she protested, nails scraping his scalp. He moaned at the sensation, the vibration sending a jolt of intense pleasure through her core.
“Good.” She was now riding his face, his tongue flat against her core, its languid strokes making the moment last. “I’d die a happy man with my head buried between your thighs.”
Ava had always been self-conscious about her thighs—her whole physique, actually—but the way Rowan worshipped her silently by running his hands everywhere, as though he wanted to ingrain the route of her curves into the back of his mind, made her forget about all her worries.
She bit on her lower lip when his mouth wrapped around her clit to suck on it before he went back to devouring her with abandon, tongue lapping fiercely against her wet folds.
“Rowan,” she gasped just as he gripped her bottom, fingers digging into her skin.He was holding her exactly where she wanted him to be.
“Ride my face, baby.” Her hips rolled in tandem with the rapid motions of his tongue, eyes shut closed as she enjoyed every second of this moment. “Good girl. So hot.”
His words, the way he praised with both his voice and hands, caused her stomach to clench.
One of Rowan’s hands trailed up her stomach until it reached her chest, fingers palming her breast through the flimsy fabric of her bra. When he pinched her taut nipple between his thumb and forefinger, he groaned shamelessly.
Ava leaned back, bracing herself by placing her palms on his firm thighs, causing Rowan to grunt again, as if encouraging her to continue rolling her hips against his flat tongue.
“I’m close,” she announced breathlessly.
She felt him smirk, then he went back to stroking her clit, humming like he was satisfied. Ava was a writhing and moaning mess, rocking her hips against his mouth, seeking the pinnacle of pleasure.
He tugged the cup of her bra down to properly play with her hard nipple, switching between rolling the bud between his fingers and palming her breast, testing its weight and fisting the full flesh.
The weight of his other hand left her backside, and she opened her eyes just to see him adjust himself in his pants.
And before she could do anything about it, she felt her legs shake, her core clenching as she reached her high.
“Fuck,” she cried out, falling forward to grab his head again. Her body spasmed as white stars blinded her vision. Rowan’s tongue kept lapping over her clit, and he moaned with her when she tugged at his hair, her cries of pleasure filling the small room. “Rowan.”
He didn’t remove his mouth as she rode through her orgasm, not stopping until she stilled, trembling.
Ava blinked at the ceiling as she listened to her heavy breaths. Pushing herself up on her knees, fingers passing gently through his hair, she looked down at Rowan, only to see him looking up, grinning like the devil. His lips and chin were coated in her arousal, and he had never looked so good.
“You’re fucking unbelievable,” was all he said as he observed her catching her breath.
Ava fell forward as he adjusted her underwear before cupping her face. He pulled her in to kiss her softly—too softly—and she moaned at the taste of herself on his lips.
Rowan’s fingertips dug into her skin as he tilted her head, obliging her to look into his dark eyes. That gleam around his pupils promised destruction. Power. And under that magnetising touch, she was simply defenceless.
“Say that again,” he seethed, the pad of his thumb brushing over her lower lip. She knew he was referring to the comment she had made earlier.
But she couldn’t even voice her thoughts. Couldn’t move out of his punishing grip. She was still trying to catch her breath, her mind spiralling with memories of him—his demanding lips, his rough hands, his dirty words.
Pulling her in, he let his hand slide until it bared her throat, thumb pressing into the side of her neck. He smirked when he felt her pulse quicken. “Next time you see me interact with another woman, sunflower, you’re going to remember it was my head that was buried between your thighs tonight. Say once more that you’re nothing compared to these girls, and I promise I’ll fuck and ruin you until you put into that head of yours that it’s you that I want.”
“Okay,” she whispered after a moment of staring at him, utterly speechless by his confession. “Thank you.”
Rowan Emerson wanted her .
He chuckled. “Thank you .” When she reached down between them to cup his throbbing erection, he whimpered, but caught her wrist before she could rub her hand against it. “Not today.”
“But I want to.”
“I know. But I don’t expect anything in return. All I wanted was to make you come. Besides, it’s been so long, and I know I’ll last a total of thirty seconds, and my ego can’t handle that. I’ll jerk off in the shower later tonight, though. You better believe me when I say I’ll come with your name on my tongue and think of how pretty you looked riding my face.”
Ava felt her cheeks burn up, so she hid her face in the crook of his neck, inhaling his addictive scent. His laugh echoed as he caressed her back, coaxing and tender. “The mouth you have, Emerson.”
He kissed her cheek, her jaw, her neck, then slapped her bum. “You haven’t heard anything yet.”
Being in his arms after experiencing such a high—possibly the best one she’d had yet—was more comforting than she cared to admit. Calm. Natural. Easy. She found herself basking and lingering in the moment, wishing it wouldn’t end. Wishing things weren’t so complicated and confusing.
His lips came in contact with her ear, and she shivered again. “Will you let me drive you home now?”