Chapter 30
CHAPTER THIRTY
?? LONDON, ENGLAND
“ W ho’s making you smile like that?”
Ava locked her phone and looked up at Indy, lifting her shoulders in a coy shrug to conceal how affected she truly was by Rowan’s flirtatious messages.
Because there was a two-week break before the next Grand Prix, Indy had asked Ava if she wanted to grab a coffee at Dawn’s Café, the popular coffee shop owned by the one and only Kamari Monroe.
As she walked in, Ava had wondered why she didn’t spend more time here. There were shelves upon shelves filled with books, including a romance section. Delicious pastries were on the menu, as well as a long list of homemade beverages. Perhaps this place would become another home to her.
Ava took a sip of her coffee, contemplating whether to tell Indy the truth or try to change subjects.
“It’s just Rowan being Rowan,” was her response.
Indy nodded. “He is a funny guy. Is he a prankster? I feel like he is.”
“Not really. But he does like to make the people around him laugh.”
“Remember that interview I did with him at the beginning of the season? I have tons of bloopers of me laughing at his stupid jokes.”
Ava couldn’t control her growing smile, letting her mind wander to all the moments he had made her laugh to the point of curling over whilst holding her stomach as tears welled in her eyes.
Perfectly manicured hands came to deposit pastries on the table, attracting Ava’s regard towards Kamari’s face.
“What are we talking about?” Kamari inquired curiously.
“Her boyfriend,” Indy whispered, winking.
“He’s not my anything,” Ava retorted.
“Yeah, sure.”
“How are things going between you two?” Kamari took a seat next to Ava, deciding to take a small break and let her brother manage the shop.
Cradling her cup between her hands, Ava sighed softly. “We’re still just hooking up. I stayed over at his house before we had to leave for Spain, though.”
Kamari raised her brows. “Is it some sort of casual dating?”
“I’m not sure… There’s always been more than just sexual tension, but I’m very confused about my feelings.”
Indy squealed excitedly before covering her mouth, though she wasn’t able to hide that spark of enthusiasm from shining in her eyes. “You mentioned feelings! And stayed over at his place. So, are you, like, exclusive?”
“Exclusive friends with benefits,” Ava clarified. She didn’t enjoy that pang in her chest. That burning sensation in the back of her throat.“Just friends.”
The café’s owner clicked her tongue on the roof of her mouth. “That’s bullshit.”
“Who knows about you two? Except from us and Tito,” Indy inquired.
“Tate. He caught us in Rowan’s kitchen.”
“Were you fucking?” Indy asked in a whisper before earning a gentle smack on the arm from Kamari.
Ava’s cheeks were flaming. “We were teasing each other. But you guys know how Tate is—he was just unfazed. Besides, he’s been suspecting Rowan of seeing someone. He even heard us hooking up multiple times. Now he knows it was me all along.”
“Rowan is head over heels for you,” Kamari added softly. “I watched him dance with you on Tito’s boat. Watched him drag you into that world where only the two of you existed. Watched how he did everything in his power to make you smile when it was obvious he was busy combating the demons inside his head. I’ve observed Rowan a lot, and I’m aware that we’re not particularly best friends, but I just know that you’re this man’s world.”
Ava’s heart felt like combusting. She exhaled tremulously, finding Kamari’s tender gaze.
“Ava, Rowan would do anything for you. He’d yell from a rooftop that he likes you. He’d do something stupid and cheesy, like write Ava + Rowan 4 life on his helmet just to prove that he isn’t afraid of showing the world who he wants to be with. The only thing that’s blocking you both is because you’re working together. He’s just respecting your boundaries.”
Perhaps Kamari was right. The only thing that was standing between Ava and Rowan was work, their career. And that clause forbidding her from dating or befriending Rowan or Thiago.
“He knows I’ll have to choose between my job or him,” Ava said, a lump inside her throat.
“Who would you choose?”
She didn’t even hesitate. “Rowan.” Months ago, she’d have chosen her career before a boy, so was she a fool for letting her focus slip away? “But he’d pick racing over me.”
Ava’s phone vibrated, and her surroundings blurred again.
Rowan
What are your plans for today?
Ava
Missing me?
Rowan
Yup. Loads.
Ava
I’m at Dawn’s Café with Indy and Kam
But I’m free later tonight.
Why? Want to go on a date?
Rowan
Dude, I’m supposed to ask you out.
Ava
Ask me out then
Rowan
Will you go out with me, sunflower?
Ava
I’ll think about it.
Rowan
You’re such a pest.
My place 7pm?
I don’t want to risk being spotted out in the wild. But you do know I’d take you to the stars if I could, right?
Ava
I know. See you tonight.
Ava pecked Rowan’s cheek when he stepped aside to let her enter his house.
It was already too late when she realised what she had done, so she only glanced his way to see him rub the back of his neck as a wave of blush made an appearance on his cheeks.
He crooked a timid smile, as if her fleeting kiss had rendered him speechless and powerless.
“Smells nice in here,” she observed as she kicked her shoes off.
“That would be me.”
She chuckled, allowing him to take her jacket off her shoulders to hang it amongst his coats.He grinned and grabbed her purse before lacing his fingers with hers. He then pulled her towards his living room. “I made you dinner.”
“You did?”
“Don’t sound so shocked,” he drawled. “Just because I’m an F1 driver doesn’t mean I can’t cook.”
Ava felt her breath catch and disappear somewhere inside her lungs as she halted in the middle of his living room. She felt his fingers release her hand before they came to tuck a rogue strand of hair behind her ear. She suppressed the urge to close her eyes and lean into his touch, keeping her amazed gaze on the small candles lit up around the dining table.
“Cigarettes After Sex?” She drifted her stare towards the record player where music was playing softly.
“I love that band,” Rowan said gruffly before coming to stand before her.
“So do I.” She obliged and looked up into his eyes. “You did all of this for me?”
When he gently grabbed her chin, she felt a certain weakness in her knees that only he could provoke. “I’d do anything for you.”
She felt an invisible thread tighten around her heart whilst she accepted his boundless adoration that felt akin to an eternal embrace.
Ava didn’t know how to voice her affection to him. She only let out a breath. Perhaps he had understood everything she wasn’t capable of saying by simply observing her reaction.
“I did a crazy thing,” he admitted then, passing his fingers through his hair.
She blinked, unfazed. “You always do insane stuff.”
A nervous chuckle rose from his throat. “Hang on.”
Ava let him scurry off into another room as she looked at his helmets and trophies lying on several shelves amongst small picture frames. There were photos of Rowan standing with Tate as they held a tyre after Rowan had claimed his very first pole position; photos of Rowan hugging his mother; another of him holding Nora when she was a newborn with his sister sitting by his side.
And when a particular Polaroid picture caught her eye, she paused and took a closer look at it. It wasn’t framed, and it looked recent. But most of all, it was a photograph of her , smiling at something he had said. Alex Myers must have taken the shot before giving it to Rowan.
She wasn’t allowed to form a coherent thought because Rowan came back into the room.
“Turn around,” he said softly.
She obliged and felt her breath hitch at the sight before her.
“Rowan,” she mumbled, eyes rounding. “Why are you holding a kitten?”
A tiny cat with white, smooth-looking fur was cradled between his tattooed arms, purring loudly as he stroked its head.
A devilish grin touched Rowan’s lips. “It’s yours. I mean, it’s kind of mine. But it’s ours.”
“That was very clear,” she deadpanned as she inched closer towards him. “Can I pet it?”
“Yes.”
Carefully, she allowed the animal to smell her hand before delicately caressing the top of its head.
Ava felt like melting on the spot. “When did you get it?”
“She’s a female,” he said. “I got her earlier this week. For you.”
She looked up into his eyes, brows lifting in stupefaction. “Me?”
He nodded, that soft smile never faltering. “You once told me you’ve always wanted a cat, so here it is. I don’t know, I went to the shelter just to take a look, and this little one caught my eye. She was in a room with a dozen other kittens, but she was minding her business in a corner alone. She reminded me of you in a way.”
“How so?”
“You’re constantly surrounded by people, but you know how to thrive and find joy in the smallest things whilst being on your own. I admire you for that so much because I don’t know how to do that. I constantly need validation from other people, I always need to be surrounded because I’m scared of being alone.”
She frowned slightly, lifting her hand to cradle his cheek. He leaned into her touch, closing his eyes to linger in the moment. “You’re not alone. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
He raised a taunting brow, smirking. “What happened to wanting to get rid of me?”
“I think it was the other way around,” she countered. “You tried to poison me.”
Rowan barked out a laugh. “You’re so full of shit.”
The kitten emitted a small meow, causing Ava to look down.
“What’s her name?”
“Praline,” he revealed. “You can change it if you want.”
“Praline is perfect.”
After playing with Praline and exhausting her until she started napping in the middle of the carpet, Ava’s stomach grumbled from the smell of Italian aromas wafting in the air. Rowan chuckled before leading her into the dining room.
Like the gentleman he was, he took the chair out for Ava to sit down. He rounded the table to sit opposite her, a grin dancing on his lips.
As she returned a smile, his gaze settled on the dimple on her cheekbone. “Your mama raised you well.”
“Do you think so?”
“I know so. You’re a good man. Thank you for welcoming me in your life.”
“I wouldn’t want anyone else but you,” he said, sincere and honest. “Mum was struggling so much with the divorce, with finding happiness again. She was constantly worried about not being able to raise good kids.”
“She raised wonderful people. She has got nothing to worry about.”
Rowan’s chest rose then fell as he exhaled. He offered her a longing look filled with gratitude before finally changing subjects. “Red wine, miss?”
“That would be lovely, sir.”
The nervousness racking his entire body was apparent as he poured the burgundy beverage into her glass then into his. He rubbed the back of his neck, peering up into her eyes when he set the bottle down.
She frowned slightly. “Are you nervous?”
Rowan’s throat worked up and down as he swallowed. “Very.”
“Don’t be,” she murmured, reaching across the table to grab his hand. He didn’t hesitate to accept her touch. “It’s just me.”
“Exactly. It’s you. I don’t want to mess it up.”
“You’re doing an amazing job,” she praised.
She observed his throat work up and down as he swallowed tightly. Frowning, she tilted her head, encouraging him through her silence to express his thoughts.
“Sometimes—all the time, actually—I think I’m not worthy of you,” he admitted quietly. “That I won’t be able to give you the moon.”
A splinter was being twisted in Ava’s heart—shattering, breaking the organ. “Don’t say that. What I love most about you is that you take your time to make things right. Besides, fetching the moon doesn’t happen in the span of a few days. It takes time, and I’m here to match your pace.”
His hazel eyes flickered between hers, all that unyielding adoration he only kept for her shining around his pupils. He placed a soft kiss on her inner wrist, and stood up.
“Almost forgot about dinner. I could stare at you for a lifetime.”
She huffed out a mocking laugh. “You need to get over your obsession with me.”
Was his heart battering as wildly as hers? She had slept with him multiple times, for fuck’s sake. Why was eating with him so nerve-racking, then?
“Impossible,” he replied from the kitchen.
He appeared a moment later with two plates in hand.
“Pasta with homemade pesto,” he announced, setting a plate in front of her.
“Homemade pasta, too?”
He scoffed softly. “Don’t ask too much of me, please.”
She chuckled. “This looks great. Thank you for inviting me over.”
“You’re welcome, sunflower. Tell me, where would I take you on our first date if things weren’t so complicated?”
She felt her heart stop. Would Rowan truly break all the rules to be with her? He’d always been one to take on mad challenges, but this could impact his entire career.
“The Planetarium the Dragon. The eighth biggest constellation.”
When he didn’t respond, she turned her head to look at him. Silver splatters of stardust were reflecting on his face, his absent gaze was roaming around the stellar ceiling. He was divine. The stars were shining for him, and he didn’t even know it.
“Something is going through your mind,” she observed quietly.
A subtle tick in his jaw was perceptible, causing her entire attention to drift towards the silent man.
“A secret for a secret?” she demanded then, causing the barest smile to touch the corner of his mouth.
He exhaled loudly before shifting to prop himself on an elbow. “I’m starting to get tired of hiding you. Us.”
She felt her heartbeat skip a thorough thump. She held his gaze, noticing that pure sincerity. “You are? But—”
“Avery, I can’t find the right words to express how much I adore you. How much I crave touching you in a crowded room. How much I want to hold you after qualifying or a race when you give me the support I’ve always yearned to have.”
When he started grazing her arm with the tips of his fingers, she understood how much he felt anchored whenever he was touching her.
His whisper caressed the shell of her ear, its meaning sending her heart into racing mode. “You feel like home to me.”
Her chest rose and fell. “I feel the same way about you.”
“Good.” His dimpled smile was her weakness. Rowan himself was her weakness.
“What is this? What are we?”
“We’re whatever you want us to be,” he said softly. “But I want you to know that there isn’t anyone else for me. I don’t want anybody else. But I’ll do anything you want, I’ll be anything you need.”
“You’re such a softie.”
He winked, causing her to emit a soft chuckle. “Look what you did to me.”
Ava sighed, eyes fluttering when the tip of his forefinger came to trace the contour of her nose. “I don’t want to mess up our situation at work. I want this to work out, but I don’t want you to hate me if something breaks us apart.”
“I could never hate you,” he assured fiercely. “And we’ll make it work. I would tear myself apart if I ever let you slip away. You’re everything to me, Avery.”
“We’ll figure it out,” she guaranteed, though she didn’t know who she was making this promise to; herself or Rowan.
“Together.”
“Always.”
As he brushed a wild curl away from her face, he couldn’t retain his smile from growing until dimples adorned his cheeks. “God,” he breathed out, his wild eyes meandering over her face as though he didn’t quite know where to settle his gaze.
“What?”
“I always thought you were the most beautiful girl I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
She could feel her face burning as she bit the inside of her cheek. She lowered her gaze to his tattooed neck, unable to hold his stare.
“Me?”
“Yeah, you. No one compares to you.” He lifted her chin with the help of his forefinger. “You know the first time I saw you, I think I was downright speechless. You were shining brighter than anyone else, you were smiling beautifully. I remember watching you and Tito talk, and the admiration etched on your face as you introduced yourself as his new PR officer… I wondered if you would ever look at me that way.”
“But you hated me.”
“I hated the fact I couldn’t stop thinking about you. You’d be in the same room as me, and I would be distracted. I always needed to catch your attention and annoy you because you’re the only one who isn’t afraid of being a brat with me. To be fair, I also disliked your attitude and the way you had no trouble standing your ground. I wasn’t used to being put back in place until you came along. I always found myself wanting to talk to you, and I hated that.”
Her cheekbones tingled. “I had no clue.” Now she knew why he’d never leave her alone, why he always needed to irritate her.
“Tell me your secret.”
She counted three heartbeats before saying out loud the words that had been, secretly, obliterating her soul. She wasn’t afraid of opening up to Rowan because he made her feel seen. Made her feel important. Made her feel understood.
“I don’t know how to love myself,” she admitted almost inaudibly.
A crease between his eyebrows appeared when he frowned. “Why is that?”
Lifting her shoulders in a small shrug, she slipped her gaze towards the ceiling. Again, Ava immediately found his constellation, as though he was the only bright star in her universe. “You know, I have nothing to complain about the environment I grew up in. My parents had me at a young age, but they taught me everything. How to communicate and work through an issue, how to be kind and resilient. And despite it all, it’s always been so difficult for me to look in a mirror and tell myself ‘You’re good. You’re enough. You’re beautiful.’ When I look at myself, I just wonder why people undermine me so easily.”
“Jesus, Avery,” he breathed. “You’ve got no idea, do you? Of how you steal the spotlight when you walk into a room. How your unconditional kindness brings me an unbreakable sense of peacefulness. All I can breathe is your life, your energy, you.”
Ava blinked, feeling her eyes burn. She exhaled shakily when he pressed a delicate kiss in the centre of her palm. “I have a hard time believing you want me when there are tons of women chasing after you.”
“I don’t care about anyone or anything but you.” When he kissed her softly, she felt herself relax, accepting the promises he was pouring into the entwine of their breaths. “If I show you what I love about you, will your perspective change?”
“I don’t know,” she responded through the heavy lump stuck in her throat.
“Come here.”
Rowan helped her sit up. He sat against the bed and pulled her in between his legs, wrapping his arms around her shoulders whilst her back came in contact with his chest.
She watched their reflection in the mirror, smiling when she realised how fitted they were—like two puzzle pieces that had been made for one another.
He winked. She smiled.
“I love your spirit,” he murmured against her temple. “The way you think and your perspective on things and life are my favourite things. I love how fierce and passionate you are about your job and motorsports. How driven you are, and how it’s so painfully obvious that you want everyone around you to feel appreciated. You’re brave, courageous, and whilst I know there are people out there who like to give you shit for your hard work, you will never let their words get to you to tear you down. Not a lot of people are like you, Avery. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone like you before.”
Tears were prickling her eyes because no one had ever said those words to her before. Because he always made her feel like one in a million.
Rowan brushed her hair away from her shoulder and kissed the spot behind her ear. “I love your skin. How soft it is. How tiny goosebumps appear on your arms whenever I touch you. I love your face so much. The shape of your nose, the fullness of your lips… Beautiful.”
She leaned into him, allowing him to pry her legs open. A shiver racked through her entire body when his palms ran along the outsides of her legs, pulling her skirt up to her hips.
“Is this okay?” he asked, meeting her gaze in the mirror.
“Yes.”
“Perfect.” He pecked her jaw. “I love your body. It’s sexy and feminine and beautiful. I love the sounds you make when I kiss you. Those whispered sighs when I touch you. Those moans when I fuck you.”
“Rowan,” she whispered in desperation. She watched his fingers trace circles on her thighs, always inching towards the place craving for his touch, yet never coming close enough.
“I know, baby.” He braced her throat with a tattooed hand before tipping her head backwards, obliging her to look into his eyes. “I love everything about you, Avery. I wish you could see yourself the way I see you.”
His lips hovered above hers for a fraction of a second before stealing her breath by kissing her slowly. Ava gave in to the power of devastation by returning the kiss with equal vehemence, listening to the moans erupting in the back of his throat.
But the way he kissed her made her head spin. Made those butterflies inside her chest bat their wings so wildly that she thought they might combust. Made her skin burn as it craved for Rowan to caress every surface of her physique.
She felt his other hand trail down her chest, slip down her stomach until it dipped between her thighs. She bucked her hips upwards, searching for friction, causing Rowan to smirk smugly against her lips.
“I want you to watch us in the mirror,” he ordered, his chest heaving. “You’re going to watch how I fuck you, how I worship your body.”
All she could do was nod and follow his command as she shifted to face the mirror.
“This is very sexy,” he rasped, tracing the hem of her underwear with his forefinger. “Did you wear this for me?”
“You wish.”
He started planting open-mouthed kisses on the side of her neck as he started rubbing her clit over the lace. “You should try and sound more convincing when you lie to me.”
Ava only glared at him, grabbing his wrist to encourage him to fasten his pace.
“I bet you’re already soaking for me,” he muttered, palming her breasts through her top.
“Why don’t you find out?” She directed his hand inside her underwear, causing a low growl to rumble deep inside his chest.
“Fucking hell.” He collected her arousal on the tips of his fingers before circling her clit. “You’re so desperate for me, aren’t you?”
Ava only nodded. He watched how enthralled she was by his hand hidden under her flimsy piece of clothing, but procuring her the best, teasing sensation.
He retrieved his hand to hook his fingers under the hem of the panties. “Let’s take this off.”
Though Ava felt exposed with her legs spread out and his eyes on her, she didn’t feel like hiding.
“Touch yourself,” he asked. “Show me what you do when you think of me.”
Although a faint coat of blush touched the apples of her cheeks, she still followed his instructions as though she was utterly powerless under his command.
She sighed softly when her fingers came in contact with her clit. She drew fast circles, desperate for release since she hadn’t had any these past few days.
“So sexy,” he praised, his dark eyes following her movements. She could feel his hard erection press against the small of her back as he gripped the hem of her blouse. “Do you trust me?”
“Yes.”
“I’m going to take this off, okay?”
Ava sucked in a breath. “Okay.”
She had to retreat her hand to allow him to undress her. When her back collided with his chest again, she watched his reaction as he observed her nearly bare body.
“You’re breathtaking,” he whispered, fingertips touching her stomach.
She found her slick core again, teasing herself by rubbing slow circles. “Thank you.”
“I fucking love your tits.” He took hold of her breasts, kneading and palming before pinching her nipples through the lace bra. “Your whole body's a temple.”
Halting her motions by grabbing her hand, Rowan brought her fingers to his mouth. He sucked her arousal, grunting.
“I’m starving. Come here.”
Rowan told Ava to lie down on the mattress. Standing at the foot of the bed, he let his perusal travel over her body. Imprinting the image in his head. Memorising this very instant, like he was studying his favourite sculpture. Stars shone in his eyes, and Ava didn’t feel like shielding herself.
“Wow.” He repeated the word over and over, shaking his head in disbelief. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Please don’t ever hide from me.”
“I won’t,” she whispered with equal softness.
His gaze kept roaming over her body, those sparks ignited around his pupils feeling like poetry, like a serenade meant to make her fall.
Pulling her towards the edge, he fell to his knees and draped her legs over his shoulders, instantly latching his lips to her clit.
His big hands found her breasts, pulling the lace down to touch the bare skin. Ava moaned loudly when the languid stroke of his tongue went from her entrance to her clit, working in tandem with his fingers pinching her taut nipples.
He broke apart for a heartbeat to spit on her core before going back to devouring her like a man starved. She met his lust-filled stare, whimpering when he reached down to adjust himself in his jeans.
She tangled her fingers through his hair, pulling at the roots when his tongue lapped fiercely against her folds. She felt her legs shake when he groaned against her skin, the vibrations sending jolts of electricity throughout the rest of her body.She ground against his sinful mouth, holding him exactly where she wanted him.
Soon enough, Ava came hard, crying out his name.
Rowan stood up with a smirk on his lips, wiping her arousal from his chin. She propped herself on her elbows and watched him undress himself. He, too, was a work of art.
“Keep looking at me like that and I’m going to fuck you until you beg me to stop.”
Ava tilted her head, arching an eyebrow in defiance. “Maybe that’s my intention.”
“Be careful with what you wish for,” he drawled, crawling on the bed.
She thought he would kiss her or perhaps tease her some more, but he grabbed her waist and flipped her over on all fours. He bunched her hair into a makeshift ponytail, tilting her head backwards and obliging her to stare at their reflection.
“Look at you,” he said huskily, grazing his fingers to her sensitive core. “So ready for my cock to fill you up.”
Ava felt her arousal pool down the inside of her thigh. Arching her back and spreading her legs further apart, she offered a heavenly view of her backside to Rowan. He muttered something inaudible under his breath, before his palm came in contact with the skin of her ass. Hard. Fast. Ava whimpered.
“Hang on,” he said quietly before releasing her hair. “Condom.”
“Wait.” She watched Rowan still before he came to hover above her, planting a kiss on her shoulder blade.
“What is it?”
She found it fascinating how his features would soften into tenderness when only a second ago, he was more than ready to ruin her.
“If it’s okay with you, I’d like to do it without a condom.”
Rowan’s lips parted as his fingers found the back of her neck. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. I’m on birth control.”
“Baby,” he murmured, holding her gaze through the mirror as he straightened himself. She watched his hand wrap itself around the thick base of his shaft, stroking slowly, torturously. “I’ve never fucked anyone bare before. You do realise what is at stake now? I can’t let you walk away after this. I can’t pretend this is only physical between us.”
“It’s always been more than that,” she whispered. “I don’t want anyone else other than you like this.”
An emotion she couldn’t decipher flashed in his eyes. As he held her hip, he continued to pump his erection before lining himself with her entrance.
“Good.” Then, he slid in with a swift motion, causing Ava to fall forward onto her forearms. He whimpered loudly, this sensation being a new one for him as well. “Fuck. You’re mine .”
Her fingers tensed around the bed sheets when he pulled out slowly then slammed in roughly, the tip brushing the most sensitive spot that made her scream out his name.
“Eyes on me,” he demanded, pulling her hair again to oblige her to look at herself. “Look how well you’re taking my cock.”
As much as she tried to hold his gaze, she couldn’t keep her eyes from rolling in pleasure when he started thrusting rapidly. The sounds of skin slapping mixed with their moans. She could already feel a bead of sweat cascade down the valley of her breasts.
“You like being fucked like this, don’t you?” His breathing was staggered, heavy, bated with whimpers and guttural moans.
“Oh, God.” She met him halfway by moving her hips in tandem with his animalistic thrusts.
“It’s Rowan.” He slapped her bottom again. “I asked you a question, baby.”
“The answer is yes.”
“Good girl.” Slowing his pace down, he breathed heavily, letting go of her body for a few beats just to unclasp her bra. She moved her hips forward, backwards, fucking his hard cock in a slow motion. He leaned forward to kiss her back, a hand coming to grab her breast. “Shit, you feel so good.”
A throaty moan escaped. “Enjoy it while you can.”
He emitted a hoarse chuckle, digging his fingertips into her waist. “Brat. That’s my intention, don’t you fucking worry.”
He started pounding into her again, keeping his eyes on her through the reflection. A sheen of sweat had started to glisten on his bronze, tattooed skin. He looked like a Greek God on the cusp of ruining her, and she was at his complete mercy.
Her entire body gave up on her as she lied down on her stomach, dragging Rowan along with her.
And then, something shifted.
He fucked her slow and deep, pressing coaxing kisses on her shoulder blade whilst slipping his hand to her clit. The tip of his shaft grazed the sweet spot that always made her tremble, repeatedly so.
“Say you’re mine,” he demanded huskily, his free hand bracing her throat.
She felt her walls clench. “Rowan,” she gasped in pleasure.
“Say you’re mine.”
Arching into his chest and granting him access to her breasts, she couldn’t control the volume of her moans. He played with her pebbled nipples, giving them equal attention.
“I’m yours,” she cried out at his next thrust—hard and deep. “Yours.”
“You’re perfect,” he whispered. “I can’t get enough of you.”
As he laced their fingers together, she pressed a kiss on the back of his hand. Chocolate and honey collided in the reflection, and she saw everything in his gaze—that unyielding devotion, that pure adoration, that unconditional sentiment of being appreciated for who she was.
But before she could analyse those stars in his eyes, his perusal darkened again, and his lazy thrusts became feral and uncontrolled. He pounded into her without restraint, working his fingers in sync to bring her to the stars.
“Rowan,” she choked out.
“Come for me, baby. Let me see how beautiful you look when you fall apart while my cock fills your tight cunt so nicely.”
Ava unravelled with a loud moan, blending with the sound of his verbal praise and their skin slapping. She gripped the sheets tightly, trembling as he kept pounding into her as she reached her climax.
“That’s it,” he murmured. “Perfect.”
She listened to his low grunt as he buried his face in the crook of her neck. To his loud moan when he came hard, stilling as he released deep inside her, her name dancing on the tip of his tongue.
“Oh, fuck,” he rasped out, pulling out and plunging back in. “You’ve ruined me for everyone else.”
As he pulled out fully, she winced slightly at the feel of his cum dripping down the inside of her thigh.
He made her turn around so that she would lie on her back to look at him. He kissed her softly, chuckling when he felt her legs still shaking from her recent orgasm.
“That good?” he teased.
“It was decent,” she mocked back.
“Idiot.” He pecked her nose, a lazy smile etched on his blood-rushed lips. “Give me a few minutes. I’m going to teach you a lesson about getting railed thoroughly.”
She wondered, at that moment, if he knew how deserving of love he was. How loved he was.
“Hey, lover boy?”
“Yeah, sunflower?”
“I really like you.”
He sighed softly, tenderly kissing her cheek, then her lips. “That’s a good thing because I adore you. Like a lot.”
He pulled her to his chest as he lay down, allowing her to listen to the rapid drum of his heartbeat. “We can be anything you want us to be until we figure everything out. I’ve been yours for as long as I can remember. I’m not going anywhere.”
She peered up at him. “Even when you hated me?”
“Especially then. No one can spike my temper like you do, but no one has ever taken the time to get to know me and support me the way you do.”
Ava could feel herself free-falling, but all she wanted to do was bring Rowan with her, because she was intent on catching him and never letting go.