Chapter 7
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R YAN’S GAZE CAUGHT on Avery later that night as she moved around his kitchen like she’d done so every night of her life. She fit here. In his space. In his home. In his life. He’d felt slightly nervous as he’d brought her in the front door, which was unlike him. Ryan was generally a laid-back, easygoing guy. Her opinion mattered, he realized. Maybe more than he’d first thought.
His place was somewhat utilitarian. Neat. He preferred to be out seeing the world, not vegging at home, so it was comfortable but sparse. Ryan spent time here in the evenings, but on weekends, he was out enjoying the Hawaiian beaches and sunshine. Hanging with his buddies.
Or hiking with a pretty girl, he thought, recalling Saturday morning’s adventure.
Avery brought the bowl of fruit over to the kitchen table, setting it down in the center. She had cut up fresh fruit while he’d thrown steaks and veggies on the grill, and they worked together effortlessly. He’d planned to do everything himself, but when Avery had insisted on helping, he’d found he couldn’t deny her anything.
“I’ve been meaning to get a patio table for the deck,” he admitted.
She glanced out at the nearly empty space, overlooking the lush yard. The people he’d rented the property from had enjoyed landscaping, and he didn’t mind keeping it up. Again—time outdoors, not stuck inside. Ryan would never be the type of man who’d enjoy a desk job. He needed to be out in the world, fully living his life. With Avery’s adventurous nature, she was somewhat the same. That was partly what had drawn him to her in the first place.
“You should get a patio table. The grill looks awfully lonely out there,” she teased.
He met her gaze, amused, then paused for a beat to really take her in. Avery had put on some type of eye makeup before their date today. It was more natural than what many women wore, but it still made her eyes smolder. She’d worn sunglasses when they were strolling around Waikiki Beach earlier, and since they’d been walking hand-in-hand, it’s not like he’d been staring directly at her right then. Damn, she was pretty. Several tiny gold earrings were in each ear. A dainty necklace showed off her neck. And her sundress. Holy hell. It looked amazing on her, the material hugging her breasts and hips perfectly. The tiny little straps had been tempting him all afternoon—one little tug, and they’d slip right off her shoulders. He had half a mind to lift her up onto the counter and kiss the hell out of her right now.
“I’m sure I’ll be more inclined to do so if my girlfriend moves here to Oahu.”
“Oh, so I’m your girlfriend now,” she sassed.
Ryan growled and stepped closer, his grin growing wider. “That work for you, Av? I never officially asked, but if you’re willing to move to a tiny island in the middle of the Pacific just to date me....”
Her own smile got bigger, and Ryan snagged her around the waist, pulling her close. Avery giggled but came willingly, her hands rising to clutch onto his shoulders. He’d noticed her eyeing him more than once this afternoon, her gaze catching on his biceps or pecs. The shirt he had on showed off his chiseled physique, and male pride swelled within his chest. The entire team was used to garnering attention when they went out, but there was only one woman that he was interested in impressing. And damn. He loved to see her checking him out.
Avery’s breath caught as she looked into his eyes, and Ryan trailed one hand up her side, moving up and over the warm, bare skin of her back, between the delicate straps of her dress. His big hand spanned the entire width between her shoulder blades, and he again noted how much smaller than him she was. It would be so damn easy to take her how he wanted in bed, moving her into different positions. Seeing what she liked. His cock thickened as his pulse pounded. Everything about Avery was sexy. Captivating.
Her chest rose and fell, the perfect swells of her breasts on display. He gazed at them briefly, enjoying her luscious cleavage, before locking in on that killer pink mouth.
“Ryan,” she said as he palmed the back of her head. It sounded like a half-plea, half-prayer.
And he’d give her whatever the hell she wanted.
He closed the distance between them, and sparks shot straight through him as he met Avery’s mouth in a searing kiss. She whimpered and yielded to him, her body pressing up against his. Avery tasted of red wine and peaches, sweet and oh-so-sexy. Her breasts pressed against his chest, and Ryan tightened his hold, his body already pulsing with need.
When he eventually broke off the kiss, both of them were breathing heavily. He lightly caressed her temple, loving the way her eyes had glazed over. Her face was flushed, her lips swollen. And hell. Ryan wanted to put that look on her face more often. He wanted to know what she looked like when she came, naked and panting in his arms, lost to everything but him.
He’d go at her pace, but damn. He hoped like hell he’d get to explore more of her tonight.
“I need to check on the steaks,” Ryan said regretfully, his voice thick. “And I don’t have patio furniture out there because I rarely have people over. I’ve never brought a woman here, Av. Seriously. I’m not saying I’ve been a saint the entire time I’ve lived in Hawaii, but like I told you earlier, I’m a busy guy. I will always make time for you though.”
Her lips parted, a hint of surprise washing over her features. He wasn’t sure which part surprised her—that he didn’t bring women back to his place or that he was essentially laying it all on the line. He had feelings for her. It was fast, but as they’d grown closer over the months, he knew his feelings for this woman were real.
And as for his attraction to her?
Explosive.
He held her gaze for a moment then slipped out the door before he said something he shouldn’t. It was bad timing that they’d finally admitted how they felt right before she was taking a job in a foreign country for a year, but what could he do? They’d talk when they could. The entire time he’d known Avery it had essentially been long distance. This would be different, because he didn’t think she’d be able to come back during her stint with Doctors Without Borders. He didn’t know what had gotten into him by suddenly calling her his girlfriend, but the idea of Avery with another man made him see red. He wanted her to know where they stood before she flew off on her adventure so there wasn’t any doubt in her mind.
It was somewhat ironic given that usually in his line of work, it was the military servicemember leaving on a deployment, not a civilian moving to a foreign land for a year. It happened though, he supposed. Government employees took TDYs or PCSed for a position lasting a year or two. Aaron had met his girlfriend Emersyn when she’d been TDY in Hawaii with DEA.
And now she lived here permanently.
He swallowed, lifting the lid of the grill to flip the steaks as his mind wandered.
He felt a pang of remorse that Avery needed to leave soon. They’d gotten used to saying goodbye after her visits, but he’d be lying if he said it was the same as before. Ryan knew now what it felt like to hold her. Touch her. Kiss her.
And it would be a damn long time before he’d get the chance to do so again.