Chapter 12
AVA
W aking up the next morning in a hotel room with a man who isn’t my husband is…weird, to say the least. The unfamiliar sheets feel cool against my skin, and I bask in the calm surrounding me. Outside, the world is on fire, but in here?
Here, I am calm.
I can hear the chatter from the city below us, but I feel a million miles away from it all. My body hums from Kieron’s unfamiliar touch, sore in places I haven’t been sore in for a long time. When Roman and I made love, it wasn’t raw and desperate. It was different; loving, talking, emotional…
Urgh.
Maybe desperate and raw sex is better.
Kieron’s breathing is even as he sleeps, and I steal a look at him, seeing him as a hot guy I spent the night with rather than my best friend.
A pang of guilt hits me when I remember him confessing his feelings yesterday, but I’m glad we did it.
It was good too—he’s blessed in the dick department and even though I’ve been spoiled by my husband’s skills in the bedroom, I have zero complaints.
He isn’t a selfish lover at all and constantly checked if I was okay after.
I even fell asleep snuggled in his arms, content and smiling.
How many women have that in their lives? I’m grateful for him. He’s always been there for me.
I sigh happily, and Kieron stirs, rolling onto his side to gaze at me sleepily.
“Good morning.” His voice is rough around the edges, and I can’t help but admire how attractive he is.
If only I felt something more for him than…this. Wouldn’t it be perfect for me to run into the sunset with my best friend?
“Do you regret it?” Kieron asks, his hand trailing down my arm.
I roll my head to look at him fully, his thick eyelashes still blinking away sleep, his lips swollen from kissing me…and from eating my pussy.
Holy shit.
I sink my teeth into my lip and shake my head—because no, I don’t regret it. I wanted to have wild, unabandoned sex, and I did it with my best friend. It was safe, not risky. I felt adored and protected.
But now?
There’s no guilt. I feel rage, though, that my husband thought he could do this to me—to us—just so he could fuck some young model? Because now, I realise how much more Roman and I had. We connected on more levels than just fucking. He ruined everything.
“I’ll remember last night forever,” I tell him, as his smile cracks a little, like he knows what I’m going to say. “But?—”
“You’re in love with Roman.”
“No, it’s not that,” I insist, shaking my head. “Should I have had sex with my best friend after he confessed he’s in love with me? Isn’t that taking advantage?”
Kieron snorts. “I promise you, I’m not complaining. I had great sex with my best friend after her marriage broke down, I’m not exactly perfect.”
I laugh but slide out of bed and grab my clothes.
“I want to make sure that you’re okay with that. That you’re okay with…us being best friends who just spent the night together.”
“Having great sex, I need to hear you say it.” Kieron wiggles his eyebrows, and relief floods through me.
“Fine, it was great sex.” I roll my eyes.
Kieron fists the air then grins at me. “Do you want me to take you home?”
“No,” I respond, slipping my shoes on. “I want to grab a coffee, with my just-fucked-hair, and call a cab when I’m ready.”
Kieron chuckles. “You do look like you’ve been up all night fucking, I have to say.”
“Charming.” I roll my eyes as I run a hand through my hair.
“Hey. Come here.” Kieron beckons me back to the bed, and for a second, I hesitate. He’s still naked and gorgeous. I’m still…an emotional wreck.
But I sit on the edge of the bed, maintaining distance as he chuckles, running a hand through his hair.
“Sweetheart.”
God, he’s hard to resist like this. I focus on his right eyebrow, just so I don’t jump him again.
“You’re fine, we’re fine. We had sex—we’re adults. It doesn’t have to complicate anything.” He tilts his head and gives me that smile, and I can’t help but wish again that I felt more for this man.
“You deserve happiness, and I’m sorry it isn’t us,” I say truthfully, as he reaches out and grabs my hand.
“It’s fine. Trust me, being your best friend and occasional lover works for me.” He winks, tugging me back on the bed before kissing me once more on the mouth. “We’re on the same page.”
“Kieron…” I moan half-heartedly as he moves above me, his mouth moving to my neck, fingers beginning to ease my clothes off so easily…
“Mmm?” He’s looking up at me now, and I know without a doubt that we’re going to fuck again.
It’s just as frantic this time, maybe more so now we both know that all it is between us is just sex.
I can deal with that.
Later, when I’m dressed for the second time, warning him not to tempt me back to bed, he calls my name.
“Ava.”
I’m halfway to the door when I turn, seeing him, his hair in his eyes as he gazes at me from the bed. My heart skips a beat when I remember being on top of him just now, his hands slamming me onto his dick as I moaned his name.
Fucking hell.
“I mean it, you haven’t fucked anything up between us. Don’t feel guilty.”
As always, he’s my best friend first.
“You’re amazing. Thank you,” I say, blinking back tears before they spill. I finally feel happy; I don’t want the sadness to come and take over again.
“Let me get dressed and come for coffee with you before we pick up Poppy.”
“You’re sure you want to spend more time with my fucked-up self?”
“Listen, I’ll spend all day and night with you if you get me an Americano and a cookie.”
I can’t help but laugh, giddy that he still wants more of what we had this morning, and to spend time with Poppy too.
Damn.
“Okay, I’ll head down and order. Don’t be long,” I quip, giving him a little wave before closing the door behind me.
“Yes, ma’am.”
I take a deep breath and head to the elevator, praying no one I know sees me. Or worse—reporters. I bite back a giggle at the thought of what they would think.
Or what they would print.
Fuck them.
I stab the button for the elevator and realise I’m smiling all the way down to the lobby, and it feels good. Life doesn’t end because your husband fucks up.
You make hay while the sun shines, right?
The doorman holds the door open for me, and I beam, greeting him brightly.
“Have a great day.” He tips his hat as I walk by, and I promise him I will. I head straight over the road to the coffee shop to order a latte, an Americano, and a cookie for my sugar-deprived friend. With benefits.
Jeez.
I’m coming back, baby, and Roman will regret cheating on me, mark my words.