5. Avery #3
His voice cracks slightly, and he clears his throat as if trying to regain control.
“When she died, it left...scars. Deep ones. I buried myself in work after that. Threw everything into the publishing house because it was the only thing I could control. It became my sanctuary. My prison. I thought if I just stayed busy, I wouldn’t have to feel it all. ”
I only realize I’ve moved once I feel the warmth of my hand on his thigh. His gaze drops to it for a moment, and when our eyes meet again, there’s something raw and unguarded in his expression. His walls, so carefully constructed, seem to be cracking right in front of me.
“I’m so sorry, Gray.” My voice is barely above a whisper. And I mean it. Every word.
He nods, but his expression doesn’t soften. “The only person who’s been able to get through to me is Nicole, my sister. She reminds me of...who I used to be. Before all of this.”
I don’t know what to say, so I don’t say anything. The silence between us isn’t awkward—it’s heavy. Weighted with everything he’s just laid bare. And somehow, at this precise moment, we’re closer than we’ve ever been.
I don’t even realize how close our faces have gotten until I feel his breath against my skin. Warm. Intoxicating. My heart is practically trying to catapult itself out of my chest, and I’m fairly certain he can hear it because I sure as hell can.
His eyes lock onto mine, dark and smoldering, with something I can’t name but feel all the way down to my toes. My hand is still on his thigh—and I don’t move it. His gaze flickers to my lips before meeting my eyes again.
Holy fuck… his hand, large and warm, comes up to my chin. His fingers hold me there, softly but with purpose like I’m something fragile he doesn’t want to break.
I stop breathing as he leans in, and— ‘slam —his lips crash into mine, and my brain gives out. It’s like the world implodes around me, and I can’t think straight—don’t want to think straight.
His mouth is firm and demanding, and my body reacts like it’s been waiting for this exact moment my entire life.
His tongue sweeps against mine, and a shiver rolls its way through me.
Oh my God. This is nothing—nothing—like I imagined it to be.
And trust me, I’ve imagined it plenty. It’s way more.
Way hotter, way deeper, way...everything.
His kiss is consuming, like he’s trying to memorize the taste of me, and I let him.
Hell, I more than let him—I’m meeting him halfway, my fingers fumbling with his shirt buttons like they suddenly forgot how buttons work.
His hands are in my hair now, tangling, tugging, pulling me even closer, fusing us together. My skin is on fire, every nerve ending sizzling to life under his touch.
I gasp against his lips, and he takes the opportunity to deepen the kiss even more, like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Somehow, still kissing me, he manages to pull my T-shirt up and over my head. It’s awkward, with his hands caught in my hair and me half-laughing, half-panting, but we don’t stop. His lips barely leave mine for more than a second before crashing back into me, hungrier this time, more desperate.
I don’t even care that we’re sitting in his library, or that this is probably a bad, bad idea after everything he just shared. All I care about is him. The way he tastes, the way he feels, the way he’s making me lose myself completely.
Mid-kiss, he rips off his shirt, and my head goes back as he kisses my neck. I moan his name, “Graaayyy...” The sound of his name on my lips is like a spark, igniting something wild and untamed within me.
I slowly lay back on the sofa, stretching my legs out as he kneels over me, his lips working their way down, kissing my shoulders.
Everything I've ever written about him plus the dream from the other night crashes through my mind, and I feel my pussy twitching as it gets so damn wet with a rush of excitement.
I savagely undo the belt to his pants, then the button and zipper, and they fall down.
His lips brush my breasts through my bra and somehow, he manages to kick off his pants. I glance down at his black boxers, feeling a mix of anticipation and desire. His hands roam around to my back, undoing the clasp, and I maneuver my bra off as it falls to the floor.
I writhe around, moaning, “Oh god, Gray...” He starts kissing my nipples, his mouth hot and hungry.
“Jesus Christ, I can’t believe how beautiful you are,” he mumbles against my nipple as his tongue licks it, before sucking the whole thing into his mouth. The sensation is fiery, sending mayhem through my every cell.
I push up so he’s kneeling over me and manage to sit up, my hand finding his erection through his boxers. I gasp. “Holy shit, you’re huge.” My fingers roam the hem of his boxers, and I slowly and sensually start pulling them down.
“Oh, fuck...” His dick springs out, massive, with a bulbous pink end. I can’t help but stare, my mouth watering at the sight of it.
As he kicks his boxers off, I hold it heavy in my hand and gently begin to stroke it, feeling the pulsations in my fingers. The power I feel right this moment is almost too much, too intense, and I can't help but swallow knowing that I'm the one driving him wild.
“Avery,” he groans, his head falling back as I continue to stroke him. “You’re killing me here.”
I lean in, my breath hot against his ear. “Good, because I want you so badly.”
His eyes darken, and he growls, lowering me back down onto my back. “Ohh... trust me, sweetheart, the feeling is more than mutual.” His timbre is low and rasping and etched with danger.
I grin, wrapping my legs around him. “Grayson Hayes, you just have no idea how long I’ve waited to hear you say that.”
His mouth crashes against mine, his tongue invading my mouth as his hands roam over my body. I can feel his hard cock pressing against me, solid and insistent, and I can't help but grind against him, the friction sending sparks through me.
He breaks the kiss, his breath uneven and labored. “Fuck, Avery, you’re driving me crazy.” His hands grip my hips.
I smirk, my fingers tracing the lines of his abs. “Oh, that's the plan, bud, that’s the plan.”
He growls again, his mouth finding my neck as he trails little bites down to my collarbone. I can feel his dick pressing against my entrance, and I can’t help but buck my hips, desperate for more.
“Gray,” I moan, my nails digging into his back. “Please...”
He looks down at me, his eyes dark with desire. “Please what?”
I bite my lip, my eyes locked on his. “Please, fuck me,” I beg, my voice hoarse with need.
A slow, wicked smile spreads across his face. “Patience sweetheart, patience.”