Chapter 8
EIGHT
Ava
With Kai, the armor slips off before I notice what’s happening.
He doesn’t only unlock something in me; he resurrects me, bringing out who I used to be when it came to love.
The one who trusted, who did what made me feel good, the one who would take risks.
I haven’t seen this me in years, and I’m not sure what to think about her now.
Giggling all the way to the hot tub, I say over my shoulder, “I know where I’m going.”
My feet speed up to beat him to the hot tub.
I’m not fast enough because he scoops me right up into his arms. We practically fall over, but he catches us.
He places my feet back on the floor. Not before his erection pushes against my stomach, and the throbbing between my legs intensifies with every second we are wrapped up together.
When our eyes land on each other, the laughing subsides. Silence spreads through the air. My heart drops into my belly, and butterflies scatter.
I want him to kiss me. The thought settles in, and he reaches up, threading his fingers through my hair.
I can’t help but lean into him. My eyes involuntarily close, soaking in the sensation of his touch buzzing through my entire body.
Whenever he reaches back to my face, cupping it.
My breath catches in my throat. I can’t breathe.
I can’t move. How does he have this effect on me?
With soft eyes, he swipes his thumb over my cheek. Mesmerized by those crystal-blue eyes that are locked on me. His head nods slowly, like he’s not sure what to do next. I save him the trouble and place my hand on his wrist. The connection has my heart cracking open and sinking to my feet.
Coming here may be a mistake I can’t take back. Leaving is not an option, but I need to tread lightly.
“Ava, are you okay? Did I do something wrong?” he asks, searching my eyes for the answers, but I won’t let him in. I can’t, not now.
Somewhere along the way, I became such a pessimist when it comes to men. Between my mom and my own relationships early in life, love isn’t in the cards for me. I protect my heart at all costs, but tonight. He’s chiseling away at the walls I built. One chip at a time is falling to the deck.
No, no, I’m not okay.
“Yeah, yeah, of course I am. No, you didn’t do anything wrong.” I shake my head and wonder how I’ll resist him tonight. I don’t want to use him, but I know what happens when we have sex; I’ll run. I don’t want to hurt him. “Sorry, just lost in my head for a moment, but I’m back now.”
“Okay, well, are you ready to relax, Ava Sinclair?” The way he says my name sends shivers down my spine. And the smirk on his face tells me he’s aware of it.
I stutter, “Yes, I am.” My shirt comes off first, then my shorts, leaving my hot-pink bikini on. The thought of taking it off crossed my mind, but I don’t want to give him mixed signals.
We walk into the hot tub, and the hot water soothes my tight muscles immediately. The moan that escapes my mouth is not intentional. Kai’s eyes settle on my chest, which is hovering at the waterline.
He steps into the hot tub, wearing his swim trunks and no shirt. My eyes drag down his body. His pecs and abs—those muscles ripple down to his waistband. I’m distracted by…holy fuck. I imagined him—thick, girthy, but this…I’m totally staring at his junk as he steps further into the hot tub.
“Like what you see?” he asks, wiggling his eyebrows.
I take a second to realize I’m staring at his bulge, and my eyes flick up to his. “Oh…” I snap my tongue against the roof of my mouth. “Definitely.”
The cocky smirk that crosses his face has me smiling back at him, not shy, just me.
He turns and sinks down next to me; I nudge his shoulder. He does it back.
I slide further down into the water, letting the jets beat my muscles. “This feels like heaven. Do you use this all the time?”
“As much as possible, it helps me relax and clear my mind before hitting the sack.” He stares out onto the water and then back at me.
“I could soak in here every night.” Taking a minute to glance over at his chiseled jaw with a little scruff, he is handsome, dragging my eyes down his chest until it disappears into the water.
“You can come over and use it anytime.” He offers, eyes on me like I’m something special, and he also catches me ogling him again. A devious smirk crosses his face, but he doesn’t say a thing.
“Are you sure you want to have an open invitation for me? Because I’ll be here every single day.” I’m not exaggerating. This is what I need to relax.
“Yes, Ava,” his voice low, vibrating through my chest as he holds my chin with his fingers. His touch begs for my attention.
It’s all he says. It’s his eyes telling me the rest. My body is melting under his heated gaze.
He leans in and kisses my cheek. I hold on to his forearm. Sliding his mouth across my cheek, he presses hard against my lips. I can’t help but swipe my tongue along the seam, coaxing him to open. He does.
Our tongues work together. My nipples tighten, goosebumps erupt all over my body, and I can’t resist any longer.
I throw my leg over his lap and sit on him.
His erection gives me the pressure to relieve the throbbing between my legs.
I tilt my hips back and forth, needing the friction, like I need to breathe.
He grunts in my mouth and holds my hips tight, helping me rub on his cock. The aching increases with the need for him, but I promised myself I’d stay strong.
Our mouths continue as I slide my hands behind his head. Until I’m hit with a wave of need, if I don’t stop this, I highly doubt he will. I pull away, and he drops his forehead onto mine.
I try to slide off of him, but he holds me down. “Where are you going?”
“We just met. I don’t want to be throwing myself at you.” I try to turn away, but he won’t let me.
“I don’t mind.” He shrugs and grips my hips a little tighter.
“I bet you don’t, but I do.” With those words, he releases my hips from his grip. I slide back down next to him, and he drapes his arm around my shoulders. His fingers drag up and down over the top of my arm.
“I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to. It’s not why I invited you over.” He keeps eye contact with me, and I’m melting under it.
“I know. I…” My head drops, trying to find the right words to say, “We’re obviously physically attracted to each other. I feel things with you that I haven’t allowed myself to feel with anyone else. I am leaving soon, and I don’t want to hurt you.”
Being open and vulnerable is hard, but he brings it out of me. I can’t believe I said it out loud. It’s out there now; we’ll see where the chips fall. Maybe this was a quick conquest for him, but even when the thought crosses my mind, I know it’s far from the truth. He’s not like that.
His massive hand squeezes my shoulder. “I am attracted to you. You have the most beautiful adventurous spirit, and you’re gorgeous inside and out. I don’t want to hurt you either or make a mistake with you,” he whispers and tugs me closer, wrapping his other arm around me and kissing my cheek.
My body molds with his as I put my face on his chest and wrap my arms around him, clasping my hands together. We sit there for a while, drinking all that we shared.
I don’t want to leave. My heart is here with him. It makes me question my life choices and why I wouldn’t try to figure this out before giving up on it so fast. My stomach drops at the thought.
When I finally start to sweat, I peel myself off of him. “Is it time?” I hold up my wrinkled fingers and wiggle them.
“Okay, but will you stay longer?” His voice is laced with hope and dripping with a bit of pleading.
“I’d love to stay longer.” I brush my hand over his chest. Sparks run up my arm.
He offers me some comfortable clothes, his t-shirt, and a pair of gym shorts. I’m swimming in them, and comforted by being wrapped up in his clothes. After getting dressed, he sits on the couch in the four-season room. I cuddle up with my hand over his heart—thumping to a soothing rhythm.
I drift off to sleep, and I feel something lying over my body. With my eyes slit, I see a blanket on me. Kai leans down and brushes the hair off my face. “Goodnight, Ava Sinclair.”