Chapter 13
thirteen
AVA
I fall forward, collapsing against Gage’s chest, struggling to catch my breath. The man has unparalleled stamina, and although strong and uninhibited in bed, he’s also unselfish—making sure I always finish first.
As I lie here on top of him, I don't regret showing up at Gage's door and asking him to help me forget, but I do regret telling him it was just for one night. One night will never be enough. Sex with Gage Flynn has ruined me.
But it doesn't matter how life-altering it felt—it can't be more than one night.
I haven’t lied to him when I say my life is a mess. Gage is a good man and the sex is out of this world—making for a very dangerous combination. A girl could get used to leaning on a man like him. But I can’t ask anyone to stand by my side while I deal with my parents and Brian.
Gage’s arms tighten around me for just a moment, his heart beating rapidly against my ear. “I haven’t done my job very well if you’re thinking that hard right now.” His voice rumbles through his chest.
“Au contraire, my friend. You’ve done your job very well.” I smile against him. I give myself another minute to catch my breath before pushing myself up, my thighs still straddling his hips, his softening cock pressed between us. “I’m going to be sore tomorrow. In all the best places.” I lean forward, pressing a kiss to his lips.
Gage takes control quickly, rolling us so I’m under him. Something else I’ve learned during this sex marathon—giving up control to Gage Flynn is something I should’ve done the second he pulled me into his house. This man knows exactly what he’s doing, and I’ve benefited from that multiple times this evening.
“Oh, Rebel. Friends is definitely not the right word for us.”
“Hmm, probably not, but it will have to do for now.”
I glance at the clock on his dresser. It’s late, or I guess, technically, it’s early—really early.
After Gage brought me to his room and made good on his promise of fucking me until I forgot everything but his name, we took a quick break to grab a snack from his kitchen. Where Gage bent me over the counter and made sure the only thing I would remember was the way he felt inside me.
Back in his room he pretended to give me back control by letting me ride him—only for him to remind me how good it feels to relinquish my control.
Four times in one night is a new record for me, and the amount of orgasms will likely go down as the most I’ll ever have in one night.
Gage Flynn is very much a generous lover.
While I want to stay here and continue this night, the timer has run out. It’s time to return to the real world and get home.
If Declan came home last night, I’m sure he’s wondering where I am. Though, knowing him, if he came home to find the living room the way I left it—like I’d only run out for a minute—he would have called the police when I didn’t come home. The fact that it’s been silent likely means Declan didn’t make it home—something I refuse to think about more.
“I should get home. I don’t want Declan to worry.”
“Hmm,” Gage hums, his eyes bouncing around my face. He must find whatever he’s looking for because he leans down, pressing a quick kiss to my lips before pushing himself up and rolling off the bed. “Let’s grab a quick shower and then I’ll drive you home.”
“You don’t have to drive me. It’s just down the street.” I watch Gage walk around his room, not a care in the world about his nakedness. And I have to admit, I don’t blame him. The man is built like a Greek God—tall and lean, muscles rippling. Seriously drool-worthy.
He smirks over his shoulder at me still lying on the bed, the sheet pulled up to cover my chest. “Did you forget you weren’t wearing shoes when you showed up at my door?”
“Right.” I sit up, bringing my knees to my chest as I watch him move around, taking care of the condom and grabbing clean clothes from his dresser before throwing them on the foot of the bed. “Okay, a ride home would be much appreciated.”
Gage stalks over to me, grabbing my arm and pulling me to the side of the bed. He leans over, placing his balled fists on the outsides of my legs, caging me in. “Let’s maybe try to avoid walking in the cold December air without shoes again, all right?” There’s a slight smile on his face, but I see the concern in his eyes. I know he wants to ask about what had me showing up at his door in that state. But I also know he won’t press.
I push at his chest, giving myself room to stand from the bed, the sheet dropping from around me. “Well, that won’t be an issue. This was a one-time thing, remember?”
“Mm-hmm,” he hums, his gaze moving down my body, not an ounce of shame as he blatantly takes his fill. “One night,” he says as his eyes land back on mine. He smirks again before bending and throwing me over his shoulder, slapping my ass. “Since you haven’t left, it’s still only one night if we have one more round in the shower.”
“Gage!” I shout in surprise but laugh when he jogs to the bathroom, placing me on the counter as he moves to turn on the shower. “How do you still have the energy?” I mumble against his lips when he’s back in front of me, standing between my legs.
He shrugs, his lips moving over my jaw and down my neck, nibbling at my skin along the way. “You’ve bewitched me. I can’t seem to get enough.”
Gage doesn’t give me time to respond before lifting me and stepping into the shower, making me forget everything but his name yet again.
Luckily for me, Declan didn’t make it home last night. So when Gage pulls up in front of Declan’s house, I turn and thank him. It’s not just for the sex—though, that was amazing and something I won’t be forgetting any time soon. No, I’m thanking him for helping me find myself again. For helping me take back the power I gave my parents and temporarily lost after the incident with Brian. Not that I explain any of that to him.
Gage laughs, leaning over the center console, kisses my lips and whispers, “Any time.”
I smile at him before getting out and running up the front walk to Declan’s house. Only turning around when I’m inside, giving Gage a quick wave when I see him watching me.
I close the door, fall against it, and smile—something I haven’t done much of lately. Catching the time from the clock on the mantel, I shake myself from my thoughts and move to the couch where I left my mess from the night before.
It’s only seven o’clock. I have a few hours before I’m supposed to be at Scott’s for the weekly family breakfast. But with Declan not coming home and me not having a car in town, I quickly decide to text Emily to see if she and Caleb can pick me up on their way.
I could walk—Scott only lives a few blocks away—but it’s cold outside and I don’t really feel like freezing, not after my adventure last night.
Hey! Do you think you and Caleb could pick me up on your way to Scott’s?
I don’t have to wait long for her response.
Emily
Of course.
Where’s Declan?
…he didn’t make it home from his date with Quinn last night
Emily
Good for them!
But I won’t be telling Caleb that
I’m making breakfast at Scott’s this morning, so we’ll pick you up at 8.
Sounds good. Thank you!
I giggle at the thought of Emily trying to explain why Declan isn't home to take me to Scott's as I head to my room to get myself ready for the day.
I tried to keep my hair from getting wet in the shower with Gage, but that plan went out the window pretty quickly. Gage has a way of making me forget all my plans.
I head to the bathroom in the hall across from my room, planning on quickly styling my hair, but get distracted by my reflection in the mirror—something I’ve been avoiding for weeks now.
In truth, I haven’t recognized the person looking back at me since long before everything happened with Brian. But it’s gotten much worse since being in Ashford Falls. Looking in the mirror now, I think I’m starting to see the real me again, and I’m not sure I’m ready to think about why I’m seeing that change now .
I shake myself from my thoughts and focus on getting ready. I switch my glasses for my contacts, quickly add a little product to my naturally wavy hair to stop the frizzing, and head to my room to switch out my leggings and sweatshirt for a pair of jeans and an oversized sweater. Comfy and cozy. Exactly how I always feel when spending time in the Marks’ household.
I’m just coming down the stairs when there’s a knock on the door, and I find Emily and Caleb standing on the other side.
“You could have just texted you were here. You didn’t need to come up to the door.”
“I thought the cool air might do Caleb some good.” Emily chuckles.
I look at Caleb and notice the grimace on his face. While Emily might not have told him exactly why they were picking me up, I have no doubt he was able to figure it out for himself. I can’t help but laugh along with Emily at his expense.
“Let me grab my phone and bag and we can go.” I turn from them, leaving the door open while I grab my things before locking up and heading down the walk to their car.
Caleb looks at both of us once I get in. “Don’t say a word,” he grumbles as we pull away from the house, Emily and I laughing the entire time.
As we’re walking up the driveway to the front door a few minutes later, I link my arm with Emily’s. “How are you feeling? I forgot to ask when you got to the house.”
A big smile breaks out across Emily’s face, her hand falling to her still relatively flat stomach. Last week at Thanksgiving dinner, Caleb and Emily shared the good news that they’re expecting a baby in May. We spent the entire day so incredibly happy for them. But I know in the back of everyone’s mind was the question of whether Scott would be around to meet the new addition to the family.
“I’m good. Really good.” Emily looks over her shoulder, sharing a smile with Caleb whose scowl quickly disappears at the mention of their growing baby.
“I’m so happy for you both.” My eyes bounce between the two of them. Seeing the smiles on their faces and the gleam in their eyes sparks a small prick of jealousy in my chest. I really am happy for them, but the look they share makes me realize how much I want that and question if I’ll ever be able to find it.
I don’t let myself think about it more and shift my focus to a smiling Max running out to greet us.
It’s a mess of chaos for a few minutes as Max says a quick hello before dragging Caleb away to show him something in his room. Scott stands in the doorway to the kitchen, laughing softly at the look on my face.
“You get used to it.” Emily chuckles as she pauses to press a quick kiss to Scott’s cheek before continuing into the kitchen to start making breakfast.
“Do you want any help?” I ask as I stop next to Scott to do the same. He throws an arm over my shoulder, pulling me into a side hug, squeezing tight.
“No, I’m good for now. You can help set the table later, though.”
“Come on, Shortcake. Sit with me for a bit.” Scott guides me to the study at the front of the house—his favorite room.
We sit on the couch, each in a corner, angling our bodies to face each other, but neither of us says anything right away.
“I haven’t really had a chance to talk to you one-on-one since you got here. I’m sorry for that,” Scott says after a moment.
“There’s been a lot going on.”
“Maybe so, but that’s not an excuse.” Scott’s eyes move over my face, studying me. “You know you can talk to me, right?”
“Of course.” I smile at him. It’s so incredibly fake, and we both know it.
“Ava.” Scott doesn’t have to say anything else.
I look down at the couch, tears pricking the corners of my eyes. If there’s one person besides my brother I want to talk to, it’s Scott. But talking to this amazing father about my parents' shortcomings feels ridiculous. I’m embarrassed by it, even though I know Scott wouldn’t judge me for any of it.
He scoots closer to me, taking my hand in his. “If you’re not ready to tell me or your brother, then just tell me I don’t need to worry about you.” He squeezes my hand, waiting for me to look at him. “You may not be mine by blood, but I love you as if you were and it breaks my heart seeing you hurt.”
I hiccup, trying to keep the sob in, and while I succeed in that, the tears still fall down my cheeks.
Scott pulls me into a hug, holding me close. He doesn’t say anything. He just holds me as I let the tears fall, soaking his shirt.
After a few moments—when the tears have finally stopped—I pull away, wiping my cheeks dry. “I’m not ready to talk about all of it. But it has to do with my parents and something that happened at work before I was fired.” I shrug. “I haven’t fought it, and I don’t plan to, but I definitely could.”
My mind is racing, and I know I’m not making sense. I take a minute to gather my thoughts. When I look back at Scott I see the concern etched across his face.
“I’ve realized that I let my parents dictate my entire life, and I don’t know who I am or what I want out of life. I mean, it’s more than that, but that’s where my brain and heart are currently focusing.” Even sharing that little bit feels like another weight is lifted off my shoulders, and I can breathe a little easier.
“It’s okay to be a little lost. We all get lost sometimes. All that really matters is how you go about finding your way again. Don’t let other people’s opinions on how they think you should live your life dictate what you do. I know that’s easier said than done, but the people who really love you and care for you will support you in all your endeavors.” Scott grips my hand, squeezing tightly. “Do what makes you happy. And if you don’t know what that is right now, don’t be afraid to try new things.”
“I’m thinking about applying for the part-time job at the bookstore,” I blurt.
Scott doesn’t even hesitate. “Do it. If it’s something you want and are interested in, then do it.”
“It feels crazy to go from being a lawyer to working at a bookstore.”
“So what? People have done much crazier things. This is your life. You have to be happy living it.”
I fall into Scott, hugging him tightly. “Thank you.”
“Anytime, Shortcake. Anytime.”