Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
?? MIAMI, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
S prawled on the sofa, Rowan waited for her answer. Regardless of his patience, he could feel his fingers tremble with anticipation as he stared absently at their message thread.
Today wasn’t necessarily his favourite day, but he had forced himself to smile and pretend he was having a great time. He’d had cake, had received numerous wishes, but he didn’t care that much for his birthday.
After celebrating with the team and participating in PR activities for Media Day, Rowan had managed to get a hold of a Polaroid. He’d snapped a photo of Avery busy eating a piece of cake and scribbled a note on the back of it before slipping it into the back pocket of her jeans when no one was watching.
All he needed now was to let go of that pent-up stress, get laid, and see Avery. Obviously, he had spent some time with her these past few days, that mutual hostility now long forgotten. He hadn’t managed to get some alone time with her though, and it was slowly yet surely driving him mad.
Rowan
Did you get my note?
Meet me tonight , the note said.
Sunflower
Yes.
Rowan
Meet me in my room
Sunflower
What are we going to do?
Rowan
Each other
Sunflower
You have no filter whatsoever.
Rowan, the hotel is flooded with team members
Rowan
So? We’re young and reckless baby. Nothing has stopped you before.
Room 555
Sunflower
I’ll kill you if we get caught
Rowan
As long as I get to bury my head between your thighs, I’m fine with the consequences
Rowan was electric with need. He was yearning for Avery’s touch. He craved her like he was addicted, but he refused to find a cure to lure him out of this bewitching spell.
The instant a soft, almost inaudible knock resonated, he opened the door and pulled Avery in by her wrist. He pushed her against the closed door, instantly slanting his mouth on hers. The gasp she emitted was swallowed by him as he let his tongue stroke hers in a languid motion. Avery moaned softly, winding her arms around his neck as his hands found the back of her thighs.
He hoisted her up effortlessly, refusing to break their fervent kiss.
She was wearing cotton shorts, and imagining her walking around with those on made his cock swell. He pushed himself into her centre, a moan catching inside her throat. She made him feel like a teenager; he could come inside his joggers just by rolling his hips against hers, listening to her soft whimpers.
“Wait,” she breathed out.
A frustrated groan rumbled inside his chest. “I’ve been wanting to kiss that bratty mouth of yours all day long and now you’re stopping me? It better be for a good reason.”
Gently, she pushed him away just enough so that he could stare into her eyes. Doe eyes glinting with tenderness. Mesmerising, doe eyes he couldn’t get out of his mind, no matter how hard he tried.
“Happy birthday,” Avery murmured, extending a small box his way.
“What is it?” His eyebrows had drawn together in slight confusion.
Damn it—why was she constantly, continuously good to him? What had he done to deserve her?
“The birthday present you’ve been dying to receive.”
A smile danced on the corner of his mouth as he reminisced of the moment he’d taunted her for not gifting him anything. Her reply had been: “ You’re already gifted by my presence.”
He let her down on her feet, forgetting about his painful erection. He grabbed the box and opened it. He blinked. Raised his brows in shock. Looked at her.
“Is it poisoned?”
She scoffed. “You’re hilarious.”
He expelled a breath.
“Sunflower,” he whispered in awe. “That’s very…”
She folded her arms across her stomach, as if self-conscious. “That’s too much, isn’t it? I knew I shouldn’t have done that.”
“I was going to say that it’s very thoughtful of you.”
She stared up at him, uncertainty etched on her beautiful face. “Really?”
“Yes.”
There was a small pecan pie in the box, its smell heightening his senses and making his stomach grumble.
“I know it’s not your mum’s recipe,” she started, “but this is mine. Well, with a slight twist because Kam gave me her recipe for the cream, but yeah.”
“That’s adorable,” he acknowledged with a smile. “Thank you.”
He placed the box on the desk before grabbing her face. His lips skimmed hers, a shiver rolling down his spine when her fingers looped around his wrists.
“You’re too good for me,” he whispered.
“Don’t say that,” she whispered back.
“It’s true.”
She shook her head before kissing him softly. But Rowan didn’t want delicate touches and lovers’ caresses tonight—he wanted to release the tension corrupting his body.
Angling her head to kiss her deeply, he groaned when her hands fisted the front of his shirt. He walked them to the bed and pushed her onto the mattress, pinning her wrists above her head.
He didn’t allow her to break the kiss until he heard her panting. Locking her legs around his hips, she pulled him into her, and the contact of his bulge on her centre made her writhe.
“Patience, baby,” he rasped, smirking.
Slowly, he ground into her, his breaths as heavy and staggered as hers. His lips found the curve of her jaw, trailing kisses down the side of her neck. He nipped at her skin, his hands skimming her thighs.
“No hickeys,” she ordered.
“Bummer,” he said. “I really want to mark you as mine.”
“I’m not yours,” she argued, followed by a scoff of disbelief.
“Really? Is this why you’re under me, ready to beg for my tongue or cock to fill you up?”
He pulled away to watch her reaction. As expected, her tanned skin flushed, allowing patches of red to colour her cheekbones. He loved the power he held over her.
“I hate you.”
He grinned. “I know.”
He watched her chest heave as they held gazes. Slowly, he trailed his perusal down her physique, his breath catching for a heartbeat. She wasn’t wearing anything beneath her cotton top, showing peaked and hard nipples straining against the fabric. Dark hair spilled over the pillow. Avery looked good in his bed.
“God, Avery,” he breathed out. “Your beauty is otherworldly. You’re stunning.”
He smirked when she blushed again, but a smile spread across her swollen lips.
“Do you say that to all your no-strings-attached hookups?”
“No. Just you. There’s only you.”
He kissed her again. Claimed her by roaming his hands all over her body. Stole each one of her breaths away.
Avery arched her back when he palmed her breasts over her clothes, fingers threading through his hair. He groaned because she felt heavenly in his hands. Perfect. Made for him.
He trailed his hands down and pushed her shirt up, but she grabbed his wrists, stopping him mid-movement.
“Can you leave my shirt on?” Her question was almost inaudible.
“Anything you want. Can I ask why?”
He left coaxing caresses on her hip, encouraging her to use her voice.
She lowered her stare elsewhere. “I’m a bit self-conscious about my body. I just—I’m not ready to show it to you yet.”
Rowan’s heart shattered. Avery was one of the most exquisite women he’d ever seen, to the point he’d always thought she was out of his league.
He kissed her softly. “I hope that one day you trust me enough to lay completely naked. But just so you know, I think you’re perfect the way you are. I respect you, your body, your demands, but you don’t have to hide from me. This is a safe space for both of us.”
Avery pulled him in. “Thank you, Rowan. You have no idea how much this means to me.”
After easing her again with kisses, he plunged his fingers inside her shorts. They skimmed over her lace panties, and she bucked her hips upwards.
“Are you already wet for me?”
She mumbled incoherent phrases against his mouth, causing him to chuckle. Pressing his fingers on her clit, she released a heavy sigh as she held onto the back of his neck. Rowan circled her clit whilst peppering kisses down her throat, her collarbones, and the swell of her cleavage. He found her taut nipple over her shirt, wrapping his mouth around it. Sucking on it, he looked up at Avery to find her already staring at him, lips agape and eyes dark with desire.
But just as he was about to slip his fingers inside her panties, her phone rang.
She sighed, digging into the pocket of her shorts to take the device out. She threw it on the bed, letting it ring as she got lost in a haze of pleasure when Rowan’s fingers quickened their pace.
“Answer it,” he demanded.
“Later.”
“Answer it,” he repeated. “Be a good girl and act like you’re not busy with me.”
She threw him a glare and grabbed her phone, then hit the green button. “Hey.”
“Speaker,” Rowan mouthed, tugging her shorts down her legs. “Now.”
Avery rolled her eyes, and he slapped her covered clit. She yelped, throwing him a dangerous glare.
“No, no, I’m fine,” she answered, breathless. “Just bumped my hip on the corner of the desk.”
“Speaker,” he whispered as he spread her legs open. He bit the interior of his cheek at the sight of the red lace contrasting with her dark skin.
When she finally hit the speaker button, Eliott’s voice filled the stillness in the room. Rowan was drowning in jealousy and possessiveness, but he reminded himself it was him who was between her legs at that exact moment. He caressed her shins, her knees, and her thighs, holding her gaze as he pressed his thumb on her clit.
“Are you still joining me?” Eliott asked.
Rowan stilled and narrowed his eyes. Avery raised a defiant brow.
“Oh, uh…” She bucked her hips, eyes nearly rolling when he applied more pressure. “Rain check? I’m not feeling very well.”
“Really? Do you want me to bring something to your room?”
“N-no.” Rowan started kissing the inside of her thighs, inching dangerously close to her core. “I think I just need to go to bed. It’s been a long day.”
“That’s fine.” Disappointment was laced to his tone regardless, and Rowan couldn’t help but snicker in triumph. “We can do that another time.”
“For sure,” she quipped.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
Rowan latched his mouth around her nipple, dampening her top. He was now drawing circles on her clit with two fingers, fast and hard, ready to make her come.
“Totally fine. I need to go. Bye, Eliott.”
“Good night, Av—”
His sentence wasn’t even finished when she ended the call and threw her phone somewhere on the bed. Rowan rose to face her lips, jaw tightened.
He dipped his fingers lower, pushing into her entrance, her panties still creating a barrier between them. “What was all that about?”
Avery gripped his forearms, nails digging into his skin. “Oh, fuck.”
“Answer me,” he said, slowing his pace down.“Why the fuck does Eliott call you late at night?”
She huffed. “He wanted to have a drink with me.”
“Like a date?”
“No. Like two colleagues catching up.”
“Sounds like a date to me.”
“Are you jealous?”
Rowan scoffed. “No, because you’re here with me.”
“Exactly.”
He retrieved his hand, causing her to whine. “You know what? Since you’re such a brat, I’m not making you come.”
“Why?”
He stood up, taking his shirt off. Her eyes sauntered over his chest, and there was something about her gaze that made him feel seen and beautiful. Other women looking at him boosted his ego, confirmed he was an attractive man, but everything was different when it came to Avery.
“Because you left me with a raging hard-on at the pool on Sunday, and now you make plans with other men when I ask you to meet me. Come here and get down on your knees.”
She obliged in a heartbeat.
“Good girl.” He bunched her dark hair around his fist, smirking when she watched the sheer size of him throb inside his joggers. “You’re going to suck my cock now.”
She nodded, lustful eyes holding his stare as she hooked her fingers in the waistband of his trousers, tugging the fabric down. He wasn’t wearing briefs underneath, causing her eyes to widen when his shaft sprang free.
“Jesus, Rowan,” she exhaled. “Not only is your ego enormous but you have a massive dick, too.”
Throwing his head back, he laughed. “You’re the one who doesn’t have a filter whatsoever.”
A vicious smile played on the corner of her lips as she caressed his tattooed thighs. She swallowed, wrapping a hand around the base of his erection. Rowan emitted a groan when he realised she wasn’t able to fully hook her fingers around it.
Slowly, she stroked from base to head, causing Rowan to whimper.
“Rowan,” she called, dragging his attention back to her. She looked so pure. So innocent. God, he would destroy her. “I’ve never done this.”
He stilled, frowning. “Wait. Are you a virgin?”
Avery shook her head. “No, I just don’t have much experience. All my past hookups were bad. Like, really bad. Can you—will you teach me?”
He brushed her bangs away from her eyes. “That’s okay, baby. I’m going to guide you. But if it ever gets too much, you stop, okay? You’re in complete control with me. You always will be.”
She nodded, her grip tightening just enough to make his abdomen clench.
“Understood?” he asked, demanding for her to use her words.
“Understood.”
“Good.” He gathered her hair in both hands, looking down at her. Just the sight of her on her knees, breasts nearly spilling out of her top, wide eyes teasing him could make him come. He’d already come so many times whilst replaying their secret moment in her office in London. “When you’re ready, wrap your lips around the head. Be careful with your teeth.”
The moment her full lips came in contact with the leaking tip, he whimpered loudly. She gathered a drop of precum on her tongue before wrapping her mouth around the head of his cock, slowly taking in as much as she could.
Rowan breathed heavily, head tipping backwards when she started bobbing her head, her tongue sliding across the underside of his shaft.
“Use your hands to touch me where you can’t reach. Breathe through your nose and relax your jaw.”
He felt her hand wrap around the base, pumping in tandem with the languid strokes of her tongue.
He looked down, colliding with her gaze that had been watching his expression carefully. Her tongue flickered over the slit, making his legs tremble. He moaned, his fingers tightening around the makeshift ponytail he was holding onto.
“Fuck, just like that. Look at you, you’re doing so good.”
She used her free hand to massage his balls, and Rowan blinked away the stars threatening to blind his vision. She was breathless, a string of saliva mixed with his precum descending her chin as she took him deeper. The tip hit the back of her throat, and she pulled away to take a breath.
“You’re perfect,” he praised as she pumped his length with both hands before going back to sucking on the head. “Can I fuck your mouth, baby?”
She nodded in approval, and he bucked his hips into her mouth. She applied hard pressure with her hands around the base whilst sucking on what she could take, her tongue sliding over the slit, the crown, the length.
Rowan had always been a vocal man, but something about this woman made him unleash a side of himself he hadn’t seen until now. He was panting, whimpering, moaning, cursing, and sweating, all the while guiding her head as he fucked her mouth with abandon. She gagged when he hit the back of her throat, but he watched how she pressed her thighs together, searching for friction.
“Does sucking my cock make you wet, Avery?”
She looked up at him with teary eyes and nodded.
Rowan had to think about the F1 World Champions of the past decade to keep himself from coming.About the expensive watch he had recently purchased and its complex mechanism.
“Touch yourself,” he commanded in a low voice.
Surprise alighted her eyes for a heartbeat, but then she continued to pump his shaft with a hand, the other snaking in between her legs.
“Pull your panties to the side. Put a finger in your sweet cunt and show me just how soaked you are when I’m fucking your bratty mouth.”
He slowed his pace to watch her tug her underwear to the side. She spread her legs just enough to pleasure herself, her middle finger thrusting inside her core. She moaned, the vibration around his erection causing chills to spread across his entire body. He watched as she circled her clit, rolling her hips on her hand before lifting her fingers to show Rowan the mess she’d made.
He grabbed her hand, hunched over, and wrapped his mouth around her fingers to suck her arousal.
“So sweet,” he hummed. “I’ve been dreaming of eating you out every single day.”
As Avery continued to suck him off as best as she could, he guided her head and continued to fuck her mouth recklessly as she started circling her clit.
Rowan was close to unravelling, but he refused to come before she did.
“Do you touch yourself often, baby?” His gaze was strained on her hard nipples.
He couldn’t wait to see her entirely bare. Naked just for him. He simply knew she was a goddess waiting to be worshipped by the right man. And he would be that man who would praise and applaud every single inch of her.
She nodded, humming.
He smirked, but the imagery made his stomach clench. “That’s so hot.”
Her nails grazed the underside of his erection, and he felt himself twitch inside her mouth.
“Fuck,” he breathed. “You’re taking my cock so well. I can’t even imagine how well you’ll be taking it when I fuck you properly.”
Her fingers’ rhythm fastened over her clit. She was writhing, moaning every time the tip of his cock hit the back of her throat. Every time she was getting closer and closer to attaining the pinnacle of pleasure.
“You close?” Rowan asked, panting.
Avery nodded, and he pulled out when he noticed she was picking up her pace. He took over, fisting his cock, pumping rapidly to match her rhythm.
“Can I come over your tits?”
“Yes,” she answered, breathless.
“I’m going to fuck those one day. And you. I’m going to fuck you until you understand that no one will treat you as well as I do.”
Those words seemed to make her fall apart. A loud moan escaped her mouth as she unravelled, shaking as her fingers stilled. She rolled her hips, head tipped back as her brows drew together.
The sight of Avery finding pleasure and coming before him made his cock twitch. The next second, he was spilling all over her chest, a moan rising from the back of his throat.
“Fuck,” he whispered, continuously stroking until every drop of his release stained her skin and shirt.
Avery was always unexpected and surprising. Taking his cock in her mouth, she sucked on the sensitive tip, swallowing the last few drops of cum. Rowan swore he had never seen stars so bright and blinding before.
“Holy fuck, woman. Are you sure it was your first time giving head?” he asked incredulously, tugging his joggers up.
She nodded, cheeks flushed and lips swollen, wiping the trail of saliva and release off her chin. Rowan grabbed a washcloth from the bathroom and kneeled in front of her to wipe her chest. He leaned in to peck her mouth, but he melted into the softness of her lips and the tenderness of her kiss, lingering in the moment and not pulling away.
“I read a lot,” she stated when they parted ways.
He raised his brows. “What kind of books do you read?”
She shrugged sheepishly, and he chuckled. “Instructive novels.”
“Instructive,” he repeated, followed by a hum. “Any chance I could read them soon?”
“Why?”
“I could learn a thing or two.” He winked, then brushed the apple of her cheek where a blush had bloomed. “Well, thank you. Best head I’ve ever gotten.”
She frowned slightly. “You don’t have to lie to me.”
“I’m not lying,” he said, cupping her jaw. “It was really good. So good I nearly collapsed.”
“Oh.” A small smile tugged at her lips. “Good.”
He pecked her lips again. “I’m going to have so much fun teaching you stuff.”
She simply nodded, suddenly timid.
Rowan reached for the shirt he had thrown on the floor and handed it to her. “Go clean up. We’ll eat your pecan pie afterwards.”
“I should—I should probably leave, though.”
“Do you want to go?”
She blinked, chocolate eyes flicking between his. “I don’t want to be a burden. I know we said just sex and no-strings attached, so I don’t expect anything afterwards.”
His chest tightened, the sensation almost painful. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, not allowing her to see the dismay her comment had caused. “What’s the harm in wanting to hang out with you? As far as I know, there’s no written rule about the way I should handle my situationship.”
She wasn’t just someone he fucked and left behind. She was no ordinary friend with benefits.
Her brows pinched together. “You want to hang out with me?”
“I told you I’d be your friend, didn’t I? Besides, we barely talk outside of work, and—” He stopped himself as he felt his cheeks heat up. “I really want to spend more time with you.”
“Okay,” she whispered. “Good.”
As she stood up to go to the bathroom, he slapped her bare bottom, causing a giggle to fly past her lips. The sound of her laughter made his chest swell, made something uncanny bloom in the pit of his stomach.
Rowan felt as though he was already too well-tangled in this situation, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to disentangle himself from her.
As he watched his reflection in the mirror, observing his glinting eyes and rosy cheeks, he wondered how in the hell he would be able to keep this situation casual when he was already tethered to Avery as though she was his anchor.