Chapter 14
AVERY
We arrived at the Skating Ribbon at Maggie Daley Park about forty minutes later.
I was smiling from ear to ear, looking around.
It was right in the city, surrounded by tall buildings.
The rink snaked around the park in a twisty way.
It was a trail, not a circular rink. If I remembered, some parts were uphill too. It would be a nice workout.
"Oh, I remember the Rink Cafe," I said.
It was a red food truck. Well, food truck wasn't the right term, as they mostly sold drinks.
There were tables and benches in front of it, and quite a few people were sitting down, mostly teenagers but some adults too.
I imagined that in the earlier hours, parents with young kids were also milling around.
We'd rented skates at the entrance in the park and were now walking awkwardly in them. At least I was. Sam seemed as confident as ever.
"When's the last time you skated?" I asked.
"With you."
My stomach squeezed. "I haven't been since then either," I admitted, adjusting my beanie. I'd put it on because I didn't want to risk my ears freezing off while I was skating. I loved that the rink was outdoors, though; we had a fantastic view of our surroundings.
"I thought this was like riding a bike, but I'm not quite so sure anymore," I said as we stepped onto the ice. My legs were a bit wobbly.
"Still trust me?" Sam asked.
"Yeah."
"I'll guide you at first, and then we'll see if you can do it on your own."
"Thanks."
He held out his hands and stood in front of me, grinning. Butterflies erupted in my stomach when I put my hands in his, even though we were both wearing gloves. He started moving backward, gliding effortlessly, pulling me with him.
"Hey, this isn't fair. You can skate backward, and I barely remember how to stand straight."
"It'll only take a few minutes," he said encouragingly, looking over his shoulder every now and again to make sure he wasn't bumping into anyone.
He was right; it was becoming easier by the second. I looked around, having forgotten how surreal it felt to skate between the skyscrapers. There were lots of speakers throughout the skating rink, playing all sorts of fun tunes.
After a few minutes, I told Sam, "You can let go now. I think I'm fine on my own."
He let go of one hand first and then the other.
"Yeah, I can do this," I exclaimed triumphantly, using my hands to keep my balance by moving them by my sides like I would do if I were jogging.
"I like skating this late in the evening," I said.
We both had curfew at 8:00 p.m. back in high school, so we never came out this late.
There were fewer people this time of night, and it was quite romantic under the moonlight.
I liked feeling the breeze on my face. Sometimes I caught a whiff of Sam's cologne—and what do you know, my knees weakened exactly during those moments.
Coincidence, I was sure.
"You were right. This was just what I needed," I said as we skated side by side.
"I'm glad to hear that. You look more relaxed."
"I am. This week has been a tad insane, so I'm happy I get to cool down a bit. Thank you for bringing me out here."
"My pleasure."
We skated in silence for the next half hour. Getting more and more confident, I increased my pace.
"Hey, do you think I can still do a pirouette?" I asked Sam. We’d been out on the ice for two hours, and I knew we’d probably call it a night soon. I could try a revolution or rotation or whatever the heck they called it in artistic skating.
"Sure. Why not?" Sam said. "Got the doctor right here if you need one."
I laughed. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
I stopped by the entrance. I bit my lip, stretching out my hands, one in front and one in the back, before simultaneously moving them sideways. Gathering momentum, I performed my pirouette.
For a brief moment, I thought I did it. Then I realized I was losing my balance. I wasn't sure where the moon or the ice was.
"Holy shit," I exclaimed. The ice was definitely coming closer to my face.
"I've got you," Sam said. He reached for me just as my ass hit the ice. My tailbone took the brunt of the impact. Thankfully he caught my head before I could hit that too.
"I've got you," he repeated.
"My instincts are shit. Why didn't I put my hands down first?"
"It's good you didn't. You might have broken a wrist. Think you can stand?"
I nodded. "Yes." My tailbone was still protesting, but it wasn't too bad.
He chuckled, looking at me.
"Why are you laughing?"
"You look cute with your beanie all lopsided." He came closer to me, straightening it up before running his hands through the hair hanging below it. "You're so damn beautiful."
"You aren't just a knight in shining armor anymore but one with an official diploma. The way you rushed to my side, putting your hand under my head? Pure sexiness gold."
"You saw that? You were in free fall."
I tapped my temple. "No, but I'm very good at imagining how things went."
We both started laughing, and then his lips were on mine. He moved them slowly, and I opened up without reservation. This evening was magic, and I wasn't going to fight it.
He deepened the kiss, groaning against my mouth. Even though it was cold outside and my tailbone was still sore, I got so turned on, I could've jumped him right there.
Someone cleared their throat.
"The ice rink is closing," a female voice said.
We flew apart like we'd been electrocuted. I lost my balance again, and Sam put a steadying hand on my back while the woman glared at us.
"We're heading out right now," I said, fighting a smile.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sam doing the same.
We hurried to the rental kiosk. It was awkward to walk with quick steps in the skates, but who cared? After we returned them, we headed to the car. Sam drove home at top speed.
"Hey, that was a red light," I said.
"Was it?"
"Yeah."
"I didn't see."
"Sam, how could you not see?"
"Too busy imagining all the things I'll do to you when we get home."
I sucked in a breath, licking my lips. I fidgeted in my seat. "Make sure you get us home in one piece."
"Will do."
He parked in the inner courtyard of the building. We were both completely silent as we went upstairs. My breath heaved in and out. Too excited and caught up in him, I didn't question anything. I didn't want to.
The second we were inside the loft, his mouth was on mine. Oh yeah, this kiss was as deep, dirty, and wet as the one he gave me several days ago. I instantly soaked my panties. He groaned against my mouth as we took off each other's jackets. I didn't even remember when we got rid of our gloves.
He paused, cupping my face and wrapping his other hand in my hair. “Avery, are you sure?"
"Yes. Yes," I said. "God, yes."
He gave me a wicked smile. "Your room or mine?"
I grinned. "Yours." I hadn't seen his room since we moved in.
We kissed desperately on the way up, taking off our clothes. I heard something rip, probably my tights, but who cared?
When we entered his room, I noticed he also had a desk just like mine.
He kissed me against it, making me tremble with every lash of his tongue.
He moved his hands slowly over my body, but even so, they betrayed his deep and relentless hunger.
He wanted me, and I wanted nothing more than to climb him right there and then. He was so damn sexy.
Taking a step back, he looked at me slowly from head to toe before coming right back in front of me. He slid one hand between my legs, pushing his thumb against one thigh and his pinkie against the other one.
“Spread wide for me, babe.”
My knees buckled as I moved my feet wider apart.
My center was pulsing like crazy with anticipation.
I sucked in a breath, watching him tilt his mouth forward, capturing mine.
When I felt the tip of his fingers on my clit, I broke out in a sweat, shuddering.
I gave in to him completely, enjoying the unbelievably amazing sensations.
He moved his tongue and fingers slowly, driving me crazy.
Then I suddenly felt cold as he dipped his fingers lower.
I groaned, putting my hands on his shoulders as my thighs weakened.
He slid two fingers up and down my entrance. Pleasure gripped my nerve endings. I was on fire.
I didn’t think it could get better.
But then it did because he pushed two fingers inside me, making a come-here motion. I was lost in the sensations, moaning every time he brushed my clit with the heel of his palm, crying out when his fingers reached my G-spot.
I was done for. I climaxed so quickly and so damn hard that I was almost ashamed.
“Babe. You’re amazing.”
My legs shook. I’d never come so fast. Then again, I’d been on edge for weeks.
“I want you inside me,” I said. “I’m clean. And on the pill.”
“I’m healthy too.” His eyes flashed as he hooked an arm around my waist, pulling me flat against him. My breasts were squished between us, the hard muscles of his torso grinding against my soft flesh.
Abruptly, he turned me around.
"Spread your legs," he murmured in my ear.
Sucking in a breath, I obliged. I felt his hand at the base of my spine, moving up slowly to the middle of my back and pushing lightly. I received the message and lowered myself onto the desk.
Oh God. I felt no shame at being sprawled out like this, completely naked.
I looked over my shoulder. My skin turned to goose bumps as I watched him arch over me, kissing my back.
And then I felt one of his hands between my legs.
He pressed three fingers against my heated flesh, moving them lazily up and down.
My thighs shook, and my fingers curled, as did my toes.
If I were in a bed, I'd sink my fingers deep into a pillow, but since this was a desk, I pressed them into the hard surface.
His cock pushed against my right ass cheek, hot and hard, and I nearly broke out of my skin.
"Please," I murmured. "I need you."
He put the tip of his cock on my clit, then circled it.
I whimpered at the contact. "Inside me. I need you inside me."
I felt him move and sucked in a breath, bracing myself. I was so turned on, so damn wet. I was ready for him.
He pushed inside me the next second, and there was nothing gentle about it. He rushed in all the way. I welcomed the feeling. I was so full and sated, yet desperate for him at the same time.
His chest pressing against my back, he interlaced the fingers of our left hands.
His right hand was on my breast. I felt like I was part of him.
He thrust inside me, fast and relentless.
He completely owned me. Tremors of pleasure rolled through my body, starting deep inside me.
I knew that when I eventually climaxed, I'd be completely overwhelmed.
"You feel so damn good," he murmured in my ear.
The sound of our bodies moving against each other filled the room.
His grunts vibrated against my back, and my own moans filled the air.
We were both lost in each other. I was burning from the inside out, feeling him stretch me on the inside while his hands found all my sweet spots one after the other.
He kissed the side of my neck, feathering his fingers from my breast down to my thigh.
He seemed to touch me everywhere at once, and I wasn't sure I could take it anymore.
I needed my release. I needed to come or I was going to implode.
Sweat trickled between our bodies while we glided against each other even faster. I kept one hand firmly on the edge of the desk, pushing my ass back into him. We were both wild and unrestrained.
"I'm not going to last long," he said in my ear. "But I want to feel you come before that. Do you understand?"
I couldn't find my voice, so I nodded before realizing he couldn't see me.
"Sam, I’m going to—" My voice broke when he pushed two fingers straight over my clit in a slow, gentle motion. I felt my pussy heat up. I squeezed my eyes shut, crying out loud as I exploded. The wave of pleasure was never-ending. My whole body was engulfed in flames.
Through the haze, I felt him come too. I figured my ears probably weren't working right because I couldn't hear a damn thing, but I definitely felt it. It was glorious to know I’d brought him into this state of abandon.
I wasn't sure how I was standing anymore, even with the table for support. My muscles felt like liquid. I realized he was partly supporting me with one strong arm wedged between me and the desk.
He held me like that for a few minutes before we both headed downstairs to the bathroom to freshen up. I had no idea how we managed to trudge back up the stairs afterward. Once we were in his bed, I lay on my belly, putting a pillow under my head and looking at him sideways.
"How are you feeling?" he murmured in my ear. "Are you comfortable?"
"Comfortable? This is the best night of my life. My muscles are starting to ache," I said. "I wonder if it's from the skating or from the sexy time."
"Depends where the ache is," he said in a serious voice.
I lifted my head. "Hey, that's your doctor tone."
"What?" he asked, laughing.
"Yeah, I heard it at the ice rink, too, when you caught me, just before you turned on that super-sexy Maxwell charm."
He groaned. "The Sam charm."
"Huh?"
"Not the Maxwell charm. Don't put me in the same group as my brothers."
I shimmied my hips. "Are you jealous or something?"
"No," he answered quickly.
"Then I’ll continue calling it the Maxwell charm. I think there's something in your DNA. Even though you"—I pointed at him, touching his chest—"are putting an original spin on it, of course."
He blinked. "An original spin."
"This was so amazing," I told him as I felt my eyelids flutter shut. "The ice skating, the sexy time, and the Maxwell charm."
"The Sam charm," I heard him say as if from a distance.
I smiled. "Sam charm," I agreed before I went out like a light.