Chapter 44 Ava
AVA
The spring air was chill against my back as I left the tennis club with Des. He turned to wave at Sean, who was holding his tennis bag and heading over to the club café for a quick dinner alone.
“Did you invite Sean over to our party next weekend?” I asked as we walked out of the club lobby and waited for Stan, Desmond’s driver.
We were both warm and happily exhausted from running on the court.
“That’s the third time you’ve asked me this question. Is there a chance you’re trying to set him up with someone there?” Des asked me, turning a surprised look at me.
I grinned. “I don’t reveal my secrets,” I said as we approached a black Bentley.
Des opened the door for me.
“If you are, I ought to warn you, he’s a stubborn one,” Des said, taking a seat by my side. “Ever since his divorce, he’s been fiercely protective of his son and his time. And I don’t blame him.”
Our hands found each other’s, and for the rest of the journey, we leaned against one another, comfortable as we watched the trees, buildings, and traffic pass by.
It had been a wonderful three months with Des.
Surprisingly, I fit into his life better than either of us had expected.
Brody was a delight, and we had a standing Thursday night dinner with him that I always looked forward to.
I’d always learn something unexpected about Des during these dinners, and that was enough fodder to tease Des with all week long.
When Stan dropped us off outside my apartment, Desmond waved him good night, and then we made our way up to my studio. He stayed over with me roughly half the time, and my tiny apartment seemed cozier and more welcoming with his presence.
I opened the door, and we walked in, turning the lights on.
I’d had to make some changes to my studio apartment.
A bigger bed—even though it meant my shabby couch had had to go to make room—and more pictures on the wall.
There was one of Mom on her fortieth birthday, happy and beaming, and pics of Desmond and me—old ones, including the football picture and the one at the fireworks, and a new one of me and Desmond that I’d only put up last week from our overnight stay at San Francisco to see the opera.
Being immersed in music that way had been beautiful, and six months ago, I couldn’t have imagined I would ever get a chance to go there, let alone that I’d be going with Desmond.
That night, Desmond set up a delightful candlelight dinner by the wall, and we ate quickly, giving us a little time for cuddles and spooning in bed while we fell asleep, tired from our game.
When I woke up in the morning, Desmond was curled up on his side, his face a picture of peace while he slept on my new mattress.
I got off the bed, my feet finding their way into the soft suede slippers that Desmond had gotten me when he noticed my cold feet one morning.
I could see his overprotective ways on display every now and then, and some days, it was a relief to know that someone could know what I needed, even when I didn’t realize it.
I took a quick shower and came out, toweling my hair dry, to find Des awake and standing by the one-burner stove with a spatula in his hand.
He was in his navy-blue pajama pants and shirtless when he turned around at the sound of my footsteps, a sleepy smile on his face.
Bacon and eggs were on the plates next to him as I walked up and put my arms around him in a tight hug.
“Thank you for breakfast,” I said, pressing my cheek to his back.
Every morning for the past week, I’d been in a hurry to get to the restaurant on time, often skipping breakfast and rushing out the door while Des was still in bed.
“If it saves you from having to run down that broken footpath like crazy, then it’s no trouble at all,” he said, planting a kiss on my lips before turning back to the stove. “Besides, you’re doing the work of two people there.”
The past few months had been so surreal that I was constantly pinching myself to remind myself that I wasn’t dreaming.
I’d returned to work, managing The Galley in a new location.
I liked the work even though a bunch of familiar faces were now missing.
Out of our original eleven employees, eight came back, among whom were Freya and Gabriela.
Freya was a blessing with handling the staff, and Gabriela was a marketing genius.
Lily had ended up working for Matt at his restaurant and falling in love with him and wanting to work there for longer.
I didn’t blame her one bit, though I missed her.
Carolyn hadn’t left to go to Florida after all, and she had been promoted to manager. She was training a new hire to take my place. I met with her every so often and caught up on all that was happening in her life.
“Ever since you revised the menu for the new location, that restaurant is doing much better, Ava,” Desmond said, turning the stove off and setting the pan aside. “That was a smart move.”
The new menu involved a fair bit of market research, but I had the headspace to do that, since that I wasn’t grieving so deeply anymore.
“Thank you,” I said, feeling my cheeks go warm as he turned to face me. “Though I think you might be a tad bit influenced by the woman you’re currently dating.”
Lately, I’d observed that he’d lost that guarded look he wore so often in the first few months of my meeting him again. He was back to enthusiastic and relaxed. A look from our past that I was familiar with. The look I saw on him now.
He affected a startled look at that. “Me? Swayed by the beautiful, wonderful, loving woman I’m dating? No way.”
I laughed. “That sounds very neutral indeed. Anyway, it’s still early days yet,” I said, but I couldn’t squash the bit of enthusiasm that spread through me.
“Early days for us, the couple, or early days for the business plan?”
“Oh, I feel like we’re definitely over our early days. We’re an old, seasoned relationship now.”
“Is that so?” Desmond asked. “Would an old, seasoned couple do this?” he asked, pushing his knees between mine and spreading my things wide.
I squealed and attempted a feeble protest as he pulled me to him.
“I’m running late for work, remember?” I murmured when he put his lips deliciously close to my temple.
“Oh, I’ll be quick,” he whispered, pushing me back against the wall.
He was towering right in front of me, his hand clasping mine and gripping them against the wall above me. I groaned as his lips took a familiar path down my cheek and my neck.
“Just this once,” I breathed out when his lips nuzzled mine. “Because if you didn’t, then I’d be dreaming about this all day long.”
His eyes dropped to my lips, and my heart started to race, my chest rising as his gaze dipped dangerously lower. I held my breath, and Desmond’s hand moved slowly down the length of my arms. He brought his hands down to the sides of my chest, sending delicious tingles running through my body.
“Don’t move,” he warned, putting my hands back up against the wall. I obeyed and his hands slipped under my shirt, and his eyes widened when he discovered I had no bra on.
“I had a feeling about this morning,” I said, giggling as one of his hands undid the button of my jeans and tugged my zipper down.
He sent my jeans down to my ankles, while his other hand remained on my left breast, circling it tenderly.
“Just like I had a feeling about you when you saved me from that horrible date.”
Pleasure surged through me as he slipped one finger and then another inside me.
“And I’ll forever be grateful you trusted that feeling,” he said, moving his attentions to my hardened nipple. I closed my eyes, feeling every wet stroke deep down, while his lips took over teasing my breast. He was good, so good.
“Desmond,” I said, the word coming out in ragged breaths, feeling every intense sensation as the heel of his palm ground into my clit. I arched my hips, trying to get closer, to feel him deeper. Nothing but his cock, hard and heavy, would satisfy me now.
“More,” I breathed, rocking against his hand in a needy rhythm, wishing I could feel him inside me, thick and full.
He pulled his hand out, leaving me with a sudden void. He pulled his pants off hastily, his thick cock springing free before he reached to pull his shirt off. Tossing it aside, he placed his cock at my entrance, lifting me with his hands on my bottom.
“Is this what you want?” he asked, a teasing note to his voice. Deliberately denying me of what I was so close to.
I put my hands down, feeling his thickness. His cock jerked, and he groaned as I pressed down tight, stroking him.
“Yes,” I breathed. He kissed me again deeply as he entered me, and I gasped, feeling every inch of his cock as it stretched my walls.
Desperate, I tilted my hips up, letting him adjust the angle of my bottom as he slid in deep.
Wrapping my legs around him, slowly, desperately, I moved in sync with him.
He sped up the rhythm breathlessly, matching the urgency I felt, sending blood rushing to my core. I gasped as I felt every stroke, every plunge, as intensely as I felt my love for him in this instant.
“Oh,” I said, my hands gripping his back, “Desmond,” I whimpered, “Faster. I’m close.”
He released one hand from my bottom as his thrusts became harder. His free finger moved to rub my clit in tight circles, making me writhe with need. He took my lips in his, biting down on my lip while he pushed, his strokes hot and deep.
“Yes,” I moaned, feeling closer to the edge. I closed my eyes, digging my fingers deep into his shoulders as I arched my back. The desire he’d built up so far reached its peak, and I gasped with pleasure, feeling overwhelmed.
And then, all of a sudden, my body froze, and I clung to him as I went over the edge with a cry. My inner walls tightened around his length while he pumped into me in a heated passion as I climaxed.
In a few seconds, he came, with a deep groan as he spilled into me.
Moments later, breathless, he set me down, holding me as I leaned into him, spent, tired and happy.
“How’s that for an early start to your morning?” he asked, putting a languid kiss on my cheek while I ran my hands over his hard chest, taking in his washboard abs.
I loved being naked with him, letting my guard down and seeing the tender ferocity with which he worshipped my body. Sex with Des stirred up overwhelming feelings of joy, contentment, and a very primitive desire to take care of him.
Desmond bent his head and pressed his lips to mine in what turned out to be the most exquisite kiss we’d ever shared. I closed my eyes and let this man—this towering hunk of a man—take over.
And then he took his time, letting his lips savor mine with soft, feathery kisses. Then he built up the crescendo, his lips puckering and kissing me with urgency while his hands moved up my back in tantalizing sweeps.
I was putty in his hands, and I loved every moment of it.