Chapter Seventeen – Avery
Chapter Seventeen
AVERY
Was it possible to feel your heartbeat in your ears?
As Beck and I walked hand in hand to the elevator, my heart was pounding in my chest. Beck hit the button for Up and we waited. I rocked side to side as Beck bounced on his toes.
Just as the elevator doors were opening, I heard my name.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Beck whispered.
Turning to see who’d called me, I froze. “No. No, no, no, no!”
Beck squeezed my hand. “Who is it?”
Quickly dropping Beck’s hand, I started to walk toward Ronnie; he worked on the farm side of the ranch.
“Ronnie, what are you doing here?” I asked as I stopped right in front of him. He had a smile on his face and was looking from me to Beck, who was now standing behind me.
“I just dropped off my cousin. I drove to Missoula to pick her up. We’re having a family reunion next weekend, and she’s here for the whole week.”
I raised my brows. “The whole week, huh? That’s nice.”
He nodded as he looked at Beck once again. “I’m sorry, but who’s your friend…?”
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry! This is Beck Dahlstrom. He’s from Dallas, Texas.”
Ronnie reached out to shake Beck’s hand. “Nice to meet you. What brings you to Hamilton? Are you a model too?”
Beck laughed, but when he realized Ronnie wasn’t kidding, he cleared his throat. “No, actually I’m…” His voice trailed off.
“He’s family. Not my family, the Shaws.”
Ronnie lifted his brows. “I see. Visiting then?”
“Yes. Yes, I am.”
“You enjoying yourself so far?”
With a quick look in my direction, he answered, “I’m having an amazing time,” with a smile that only I knew held a different meaning.
“Are you staying here at the hotel?” Ronnie asked.
I wanted to sigh. Since when had he become so chatty? And why was he asking a million questions?
Beck’s phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and frowned. “I’m sorry, I need to take this. It was nice meeting you, Ronnie.”
Lifting his hand, Ronnie replied, “Yeah, you too.”
“Kelsey, hey.”
My eyes instantly jerked over to watch a retreating Beck when he answered his phone.
“Well, I’ll let you go. I’ll see you around the ranch, I’m sure,” Ronnie said, giving me a flirty smile that he’d never given me before. “I’ll be helping with the area for your garden, come spring.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful. Thank you so much, Ronnie.”
His cheeks turned red. “It’s my pleasure, Avery.”
Lifting my hand, I said, “See ya around.”
“Yeah, see ya,” he said, before turning and heading out the door. I started for the elevators and noticed Beck was still on the phone.
I had no reason to feel jealous, especially since I had no idea who this Kelsey person was. As I walked up to Beck, he mouthed the word sorry , and I waved it off with my hand. I hit the Up button and waited while Beck continued to speak to Kelsey.
Ugh. Don’t act like a child, Avery Littlewood.
“I know what my grandfather said, but I’ll get him the report tomorrow morning. Like I told him, I’m on vacation. It’s not due to him until later this week. And how in the hell did he get you to call me on a Sunday?” Sighing, he scrubbed a hand down his face. “Please apologize to your husband. If he calls you again, you have my permission to decline the call. You’re on vacation as well, and I won’t stand for my grandfather bullying you.”
The elevator doors opened, and Beck put his hand on my lower back. We walked in as he said, “I’m getting on an elevator. I’ll talk to you when I get back.”
Pulling the phone away from his ear, he hit End and shook his head.
“Who was that?” I asked.
“My assistant. I suggested she take a vacation when I did, and my grandfather is harassing her while she’s with her husband on a very long-overdue vacation.”
“That’s terrible.”
He blew out a long breath. “Forget my grandfather. I told her not to take his calls.”
“What if he threatens to fire her?” I asked.
Beck looked down at me and smiled. The elevator doors opened, and he took my hand in his. With a gentle tug, he led me out of the elevator, down the hall, and to the room. Once the door was open, I walked in, and before I could do anything, Beck shut the door, pulled me to him, and crashed his mouth against mine. I struggled to kick off my boots as Beck did the same.
“Wait,” I said, as I stepped back and hopped on one foot to get my boot off. Repeating the same thing with the other. Beck had successfully taken his boots off and was pulling his shirt over his head.
My hands shook as I went for his jeans, trying to unbutton them and failing. “What the hell? Why can’t I get these off?”
Beck took hold of my upper arms, both of us breathing heavy. “Maybe we just undress ourselves.”
I pouted. “That’s not romantic. We should be ripping each other’s clothes off and touching each other all over.”
That sexy-ass grin appeared on his face as he gently tugged my lower lip from between my teeth. “If we had extra clothes, I would gladly rip yours off.”
“Well, not my cashmere sweater. I got this in Paris.”
He laughed as he started to undo his jeans. I watched him intently as he pushed them down, along with his boxers.
“Boxers,” I whispered, before bringing my thumb up to my mouth and nibbling on my nail.
Beck pulled off his socks and stood in front of me gloriously naked. He was tan—thank you, Texas. Broad chested with abs for days, and that beautiful V that led to an impressive erection. He was thick and hard, and I knew if I touched him, he would be hot.
“Keep looking at me like that, Avery, and I’m going to come before I even get inside of you.”
My eyes jerked up and my cheeks heated. I hadn’t even realized I was ogling him.
He stepped up to me and gently lifted my sweater, carefully taking it off, then draping it over the back of a chair. He was so comfortable in his own skin, and I was awed by that.
When he made his way back to me, he started to unbutton my jeans.
“I thought we were supposed to undress ourselves.”
He winked. “Well, considering you’re watching me and not undressing, I figured I would help you out.”
I swallowed my nerves and tried to speak, but the only word that came out was his name. “Beck…”
He paused and looked me in the eyes. “Do you want to stop?”
“What?” I asked, letting out a disbelieving laugh. “No! God, no. It’s just, you’re so comfortable walking around naked, and I’m sure you have a lot more experience with this than I do, and—”
Pressing a finger to my mouth, he slowly shook his head. “I haven’t been with that many women, Avery.”
“How many have there been?”
He raised his brows. “Princess, do you really want to talk about this? Now?”
I gave a one-shoulder shrug. “It doesn’t matter to me, really. I think I’m more curious than anything.”
Beck drew in a breath and blew it out. Oh Lord, it was going to be a high number.
“Three.”
I blinked a few times. “I’m sorry…did you say three? You’ve only been with three women? But…but…” I moved my hands up and down. “Look at you! You’re so handsome and you’ve got a body that is, well…it’s beautiful .”
With a shrug, he said, “I lost my virginity to an older girl when I was in high school. We dated a few times while she was still in college. Once I got to college, the only thing I could think about was pleasing my grandfather, so dating was on the backburner.”
He crouched in front of me, lowering my jeans, and I placed my hands on his shoulders and nearly moaned. He was rock solid. One leg out, I switched and lifted the other, and he repeated the process. Then I was left in only my bra and panties.
Quietly talking while he stood and turned me around to unclasp my bra, he went on. “After I started working for my grandfather, and attending all the fancy parties and dinners, I met Rachel. She works for my grandfather’s company, but in a different department.”
I closed my eyes. A name. It was never good when they said a name. He pushed my bra off and kissed along my back. I tilted my head so he could kiss my neck. His arms moved around me, and he cupped my breasts as I leaned back against his blazing-hot body.
His name came out of my mouth on a groan. “Beck…”
“Does that feel good?”
Nodding, I turned and pressed my chest to his as I lifted and drew his lips to mine. He was so much taller than me, but we seemed to fit together beautifully. His hands moved to my ass and he squeezed, pushing his erection against me.
Drawing back just enough to gasp for air, I said, “I need you inside of me.”
He pushed my panties down and straightened. Lifting me up into his arms, he carried me over to the bed. All thoughts of his previous lovers were gone from my head.
He pulled back the comforter and sheet and gently placed me in the middle. His mouth took mine in a searing kiss that served to only fan the flames in my already-burning body.
“God, I’ve been dreaming of this moment since I first met you, Avery.”
My fingers sliced into his soft hair, and I nearly purred at the way his blue gaze took me in.
When his hand moved between my legs, I spread them wide for him, arching off the bed as he slipped his fingers inside me.
“You’re so wet, and so fucking tight.”
I clawed at his back with my hand while the other grabbed at the bed.
He moved over me, taking one of my nipples into his mouth and biting it gently. I let out a small scream, then sighed when he blew on it.
“You’re so responsive. God, I want to lick every inch of your body.”
“Yes. You can, but, Beck, I’m dying for you to be inside me. Now !”
He settled between my legs, rubbing his dick over my clit, nearly causing me to come right then.
“When was your last time?”
My eyes flew open. “What?”
“The last time you had sex. I need to know if I should go slowly.”
And then it happened, in that very instant—I gave my heart to Beck Dahlstrom, and I knew there was no way I would ever get it back. I didn’t want it back. It was his for a lifetime. The way he cared about me in that moment and my comfort. I’m not sure all guys would be in their right minds to even think that question, let alone ask.
Was this how his mother had felt when she was with Beck’s father? Was that why she’d never married anyone after he’d died?
“Avery?” Beck asked, his eyes searching my face with a worried expression.
“A year.”
He nodded, then kissed between my breasts as he rubbed his erection against my clit once more.
“Oh God,” I whimpered, feeling my orgasm building as he sucked on my nipple. He moved faster, and I felt my hips bucking against his soft tip.
“Yes! I’m so close. I’m going…yes. It’s right there!”
He pushed his cock inside of me just a little. The feel of him filling me slowly and the circles on my clit nearly had me coming. My eyes met his, and I could see he was struggling to hold back.
“Avery,” he whispered, as he pushed in a little more.
I cried out something, I wasn’t sure if it was his name, curse words…whatever it was, I was lost to the feel of him moving in me. Once Beck was inside me fully, I orgasmed, and he groaned as he pulled out and pushed back in.
“Fuck! Avery.”
My legs wrapped around his body, and I drew him in deeper. I needed more of him. My arms encircled his neck and our bodies started to move together in a rhythm that was as old as time, yet felt uniquely ours. My body became one with his and I lost myself to him.
“Beck,” I cried out, lifting and kissing him. He pulled my hands down and pinned them over my head as he moved faster.
“More! Harder!”
He gave me what I asked for, moving in and out of me with a force that made the bed hit the wall.
“Avery…I’m not going to last much longer.”
I looked up at him, panting. He growled and leaned down, kissing me with so much intensity, I clawed at the sheets the moment he let my hands go. I felt his hand between us, and he pinched my clit, sending me over the edge once again. This time, though, we came together.
The sound of my name falling repeatedly from his lips made my heart soar. I felt like I was floating out of my body, looking down at us, and I didn’t start floating back to myself until the waves of pleasure slowly eased up.
Beck stopped moving, and he held his body weight off me as he dragged in deep breaths. Finally, he lifted his eyes and met my gaze, saying, “It’s never been that good. That beautiful.”
Smiling, I twisted my fingers in his hair as I attempted to catch my breath. I felt so relaxed, like I could sleep for days.
Two orgasms. Two amazing, unbelievable orgasms.
Beck dropped his face to my neck, and I slowly ran my fingers over his back. Then he went completely still.
“Beck?” I asked, suddenly worried he already regretted what we’d done.
He lifted his head, his face covered with a shocked expression.
“If you say you regret what we did, I’m going to be the one who rips off your balls and shoves them down your throat.”
His tongue swept over his lips, and I felt my body tingling again. Was I really ready to go again? He was still inside of me, for God’s sake.
“Avery,” he slowly said, his eyes never leaving mine. “I forgot to put a condom on.”
For a heartbeat, I felt my body tense with panic. “Are you clean? I mean—”
“God, yes! I’ve never had sex without a condom. Never . I was so fucking caught up in you, I just forgot. I’m so sorry. It will never happen again.”
I placed my hand on the side of his face. “It’s okay. The few times I had sex, I used a condom. But I did get tested, just in case. I’m clean.”
He frowned slightly. “What about pregnancy? Are you not worried about that?”
“I’m on the pill.”
He tilted his head up to the heavens and said, “Thank you!”
I pushed my fingers through his hair and smiled. “It was my fault too, you know. We both got caught up in each other.”
Beck lifted his body and slowly withdrew from me. I missed him the moment he was gone. He leaned down and kissed me so sweetly and tenderly, I felt tears prick at the back of my eyes.
“Let’s take a shower,” he said, taking my hands and pulling me up to my knees. In one swift move, he lifted me over his shoulder and started for the bathroom.
“Beck!” I started to protest until he slapped me lightly on the ass. A soft moan slipped free, and I pressed my lips tightly together.
In the bathroom, Beck bent and set me on the floor. When he looked at me, a wicked smile was on his face. “Did you like that, princess?”
Feeling my entire body turn warm with embarrassment, I shrugged. “I’m still…sensitive down there, so it felt good when you slapped me.”
“Did it?” he asked, pulling me to him and lifting my chin so our eyes met. “I’ve never experienced making love like that before, Avery. It…it kind of scares me, if I’m being honest.”
I nodded. “I know we said this is just in the now. And I’m not saying I want a commitment from you or anything…”
Before I could keep talking, he cupped my face and kissed me. It was such a beautiful kiss that I lost the battle, and a tear slipped free. Beck drew back and leaned his forehead to mine. He used his thumb to wipe the tear away.
“Let’s not think about what tomorrow brings, okay? Let’s just enjoy each other.”
All I could do was nod. After all, I was the one who’d told him I didn’t expect anything from him. It wasn’t his fault that I’d stupidly gone and fallen for him.