16. Nick
Nick
Ipull Ava closer, my fingers threading through her hair as I deepen the kiss. She melts against me. I never want to let her go.
Too much time has passed since the last time we were together. We've been caught up in work, and I've been trying to keep my distance from Sierra. Trying to ignore the way she's always underfoot, always trying to undermine everything I do.
But dammit, I can’t keep my hands off Ava. There’s an unseen force that pulls us together.
Ava pulls back. “You swear to me you’re not bouncing between me and Sierra. If I find out otherwise, hell hath no fury like a woman that’s been lied to.”
I can’t help but smirk at her manipulation of the phrase. I look her straight in the eyes. "There is nothing going on between Sierra and me."
I kiss her again. Gently. Tentatively. If she wants to walk out that door, she knows she can. If she wants me, she’s going to have to come to me.
I wait, and just when I think she might actually walk away from me, she pounces. I do the only thing I can—I catch her. I lift her up as her legs wrap around my waist. Her mouth slams into mine, her breasts pushing against my chest.
I stumble backwards, holding Ava tight as she devours my mouth. I blindly navigate us toward the living room, desperate to get her horizontal. When the back of my legs hit the couch, I sit down, pulling Ava into my lap.
Her fingers tangle in my hair, tugging lightly as she grinds against me. A groan rumbles in my chest as my hands slide down to grip her hips.
"Ava, God, I've missed you."
"Then show me," she murmurs, nipping at my earlobe.
I don’t need to be told twice. In one swift move, I flip her onto her back, covering her body with my own. My hands roam her curves as my mouth captures hers in a searing kiss.
Ava’s hands push up my shirt. I have to break the kiss to pull it off. The second my skin is exposed; she rakes her nails down my chest. I hiss at the sting that hurts so good. My hips grind down against hers.
"You're wearing too many clothes," she gasps, tugging at my belt.
I chuckle, reluctantly pulling away just long enough to shed my pants, leaving me in nothing but my boxer briefs.
“Now who’s got too many clothes on?” I question.
She sits up and extends her hands in the air and gives me a coy look.
I waste no time pulling Ava's blouse up over her head. She lifts herself up on her hands just enough for me to jerk down the skirt she’s wearing. My eyes roam hungrily over her body, taking in every inch of her flawless skin.
"You're so damn beautiful," I murmur, my fingers tracing the curves of her waist.
"Well, are you just going to stare at me all day, or are you going to do something about it?"
I growl low in my throat, surging forward to capture her lips in a bruising kiss. My hands slide around to her back, deftly unhooking her bra and tugging it off. I pull back just enough to admire the sight of her bare breasts, my thumb brushing over a pert nipple.
Ava arches into my touch, a soft gasp escaping her lips. "Nick, please …"
I silence her with another kiss, my tongue sweeping into her mouth as my hand slides down to the waistband of her panties. I hook my fingers under the delicate lace, tugging them down her legs until she's completely bare before me.
Our bodies press together, skin on skin, as I lower her back down to the couch. My hips grind against hers, drawing a needy whimper from her throat.
Her hands run down my back, grabbing my ass and then back to push down my briefs.
“Slow down,” I murmur.
She groans. “No. Now. I want this now.”
I smirk against her lips, grinding my hips against hers. "So impatient."
"Nick," she whines, her nails scratching down my back.
I capture her wrists, pinning them above her head as I trail hot, open-mouthed kisses down her neck. She writhes beneath me, her back arching off the couch.
"You're killing me," she gasps.
"Patience," I murmur against her collarbone before nipping at the sensitive skin.
She tries to free her hands, but I tighten my grip, holding her in place. With my free hand, I slide two fingers through her folds, finding her soaked and ready for me.
"Fuck, Ava," I growl. "You're so wet. You’re always so ready for me. Do you know how hot that makes me? I think about you all day. Do you think about me?”
She moans. “Sometimes.”
I tease her entrance, circling my fingers around her opening but never dipping inside. She lets out a frustrated groan that has me grinning against her skin.
"Nick, please. I need you inside me."
I slide one finger inside her. I work it in and out of her slowly, relishing the way her walls clench around me.
"Is this what you want?" I murmur, nipping at the sensitive spot below her ear.
"Yes," she whimpers. "But I want more."
With a low chuckle, I add a second finger, picking up the pace just slightly. Ava's hips buck against my hand, her moans growing louder, more desperate.
"Tell me how much you want it," I growl against her neck. "Beg me for it."
She lets out a strangled cry as I curl my fingers, hitting that perfect spot inside her. "Nick, please … I need you. I need your cock inside me. Please …"
I can't resist her any longer. Withdrawing my fingers, I push at my underwear and use my foot to get them off. I guide myself to her entrance, teasing her with just the tip. Ava tries to surge her hips up, to take me inside her, but I grip her waist, holding her in place.
"Say it again," I demand, my voice a low growl.
"Fuck me," she whimpers. "Nick, please fuck me …"
With one hard thrust, I bury myself to the hilt inside her. We both cry out at the sensation—she in pleasure, me in relief at finally being surrounded by her wet heat.
I can never resist her when she begs like that.
I brace my hands on either side of her head as I start to move. Each thrust is deep and purposeful, the sound of skin slapping against skin filling the air. Ava's nails dig into my back as she meets me thrust for thrust.
"Yes," she cries out. "Just like that. Don't stop."
I have no intention of stopping. I'm lost in the feeling of being buried inside her, in the scent of her arousal, in the way her body seems to be made just for me. It's all-consuming, intoxicating in a way that no drug or liquor could ever match.
I shift my angle slightly, and suddenly Ava is keening, her back arching off the couch. I grin against her neck, sucking a mark into her skin as I pound into that spot over and over again.
"You like that, baby?" I rasp against her ear. "Tell me how good it feels."
"So good," she whimpers. "God, Nick, you feel incredible."
Pleasure coils tighter and tighter in my gut with each thrust. I'm getting close, but I want her to fall over the edge first. I reach between us, finding her clit with my thumb and rubbing tight circles against the swollen bud.
Ava cries out, her inner walls clenching around me as her orgasm slams into her.
I keep thrusting, keep stroking her clit.
Ava's orgasm seems to go on forever, wave after wave of pleasure crashing over her as I work her through it.
Her nails dig into my back, her body trembling beneath me as she rides out the last aftershocks.
I keep my movements slow and deep, letting her savor every second.
When she finally stills, boneless and breathless beneath me, I increase my pace once more. My own release is building, begging to be released. Ava whimpers as I slide in and out of her.
"That's it, baby," I growl against the curve of her neck. "Take it all. You're mine."
With a final snap of my hips, I bury myself to the hilt inside her and let go. White-hot pleasure rips through me as I spill deep within her welcoming heat. Ava clings to me, her lips seeking mine in a desperate, needy kiss as I groan into her mouth.
We stay like that for several long moments. Eventually, the need for air forces me to break the kiss. I shift just enough to slip out of her, both of us groaning at the loss of connection.
Ava looks up at me with heavy-lidded eyes, her kiss-swollen lips curled into a satisfied smile. God, she's gorgeous like this.
“Stay the night,” I say.
I expect her to decline, but she smiles. “As long as you feed me dinner; I’m starving.”
“Deal.”
We spend the evening enjoying dinner and head to bed early for dessert. Sleeping with her, actually sleeping, is addicting. I can see myself doing it again and again.
I wake up with Ava still asleep beside me, her hair spread out on the pillow, her breathing slow and even. I watch her for a moment, my chest tightening with something I can’t quite name.
Last night was … intense. I don’t know what came over me, but I couldn’t stop myself. The way she looked at me, the way she challenged me—it drove me crazy. And now, lying here with her, I can’t help but feel a sense of peace I haven’t felt in a long time.
But it doesn’t last.
Ava stirs, her eyes fluttering open. She looks at me, her expression soft, but then she seems to remember where she is and sits up, pulling the sheet around her.
“I should go,” she says, her voice quiet.
I reach out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Stay.”
She shakes her head, standing up and grabbing her clothes. “I need to get dressed for work.”
I sit up, running a hand through my hair. “I’m not going to let her bully you, Ava. She’s out of line. I’m going to talk to her.”
She turns to me and shakes her head. “Don’t, Nick. If you talk to her, it’ll just make things worse. She’ll think I’m running to you every time she says something I don’t like. I’ll handle it. I just have to suck it up.”
I want to argue, to tell her I don’t care what Sierra thinks, but I know she’s right. Sierra’s already made up her mind about Ava, and nothing I say is going to change that.
“Fine,” I say finally, standing up and pulling on my pants. “But if she keeps giving you a hard time, I’m stepping in.”
She nods, but I can tell she’s not happy about it.
After Ava leaves, I grab my phone and see a missed call from my parents. I sigh knowing it’s probably another lecture about finding someone. Or my mother has found another woman to set me up with. There seems to be no shortage of them. I’m not in the mood for another lecture.
But I call them back anyway.
“Nick!” my mom says as soon as she answers. “We’ve been trying to reach you.”
“I was busy,” I reply. “What’s up?”
“We’re coming to town,” she says, her voice bubbling with excitement. “We want to see you. And we want to see Mia.”
I groan, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Mom, I told you, there’s nothing between me and Mia. It was just a slow press day. That’s it.”
“Oh, don’t be modest,” she says, completely ignoring me. “She’s perfect for you, Nick. Just give her a chance.”
I grit my teeth, trying to keep my tone even. “Mom, I’m not interested in Mia. End of story.”
She lets out an exasperated sigh. “Well, then who are you interested in? You’re not getting any younger, Nick. It’s time to settle down.”
I feel a pang of panic, my mind racing. I don’t know what comes over me, but before I can stop myself, I blurt out, “I have a fiancée.”
The words hang in the air, and I immediately regret them.
What the fuck?
“A fiancée?” my mom says, her voice rising with excitement. “Why didn’t you tell us? Who is she? When can we meet her?”
I close my eyes, running a hand through my hair. “Mom, it’s … complicated.”
“Nonsense,” she says, her tone firm. “We’re coming to town next week. We want to meet her. I know you wouldn’t lie to me about this, right?”
My mom’s not going to let this go.
“Fine,” I say finally, my voice tight. “I’ll set something up.”
I hang up, tossing my phone onto the bed. This is a disaster.