Chapter 16
I’ve never been so pissed in my life as I was with Avery curled up on her side next to me reading aloud. We were taking turns, and by some miracle, I was keeping up. But I hadn’t forgotten the way she hunched into herself when she told me about her ex and her mom.
From my experience with her dad, I knew he cared about her. His threat to end Reece’s career if he fucked with her lived in my mind rent free. I’d bet she didn’t know though. Coach wasn’t the sit down and talk it out type. He mostly got by with grunts and hand gestures. To someone like Avery who had words swimming in her blood, he’d probably seem distant.
Was their relationship my problem to fix? No. Was I going to try anyway? Hard yes. Avery deserved better than to think both her parents sucked. As for Scott, he’d already paid the worst price for his fuck-up—losing Avery. But he’d better stay the hell away from her or I’d gladly light my reputation on fire and beat the shit out of him.
Instead of fixating on the past, I concentrated on the movement of Avery’s lips, the quirks and half-smiles as she read the last part of the assignment. We’d gotten through the work faster than I’d expected, and while I hadn’t paid much attention to the last page or so, I was confident I could write the paper with what I knew.
Avery glanced up at me, and her reading slowed to a stop when she realized I was staring at her rather than the book.
“Keep going,” I encouraged.
She raised a brow. “What did I just read?”
“No idea, but I liked the way you read it.”
She snapped the book closed and sat up from her slump. “You, sir, are treading dangerous waters.”
“Believe me, I know,” I murmured, hoping she’d finish the last page so I could fulfill my part of our deal.
She opened her mouth to respond, but a crash from somewhere downstairs interrupted her.
I groaned and glared at the door. “Sorry, that’s Henry’s sign she wants attention. I should go deal with it.”
“Take your time,” she answered with a feline grin.
I left the warm cocoon of my bed, complete with my dream girl relaxed and yawning, to chase down our errant duck. She wasn’t hiding. Like I’d told Avery, Henry knocked stuff off counters when we closed her out of a room she wanted into. I’d shut my door without thinking because I was so focused on finally having Avery in my space.
Henry stood in a pile of sugar packets scattered over the kitchen floor. The metal container Eva used to hold them was still rolling back and forth near the back door. This was exactly why we’d stopped leaving glass stuff out.
For her part, Henry didn’t look sorry in the least. She gave me a sharp quack and waddled past me toward the stairs. I shook my head and scooped her up before she got very far.
“You can join us, but don’t make it weird,” I told her on the way up the stairs.
Avery sat up when I came back into the room carrying my final troublemaking roommate. “Is she okay?”
“She’s fine.” I closed the door again and set Henry on the floor, where she promptly disappeared under the bed. “Doesn’t like being left alone.”
I crawled onto the bed and grinned when Avery immediately curled up next to me instead of putting distance between us. We seemed to have broken past the touch barrier, and I had no intention of ever going back.
Rather than finish the last page, Avery set the book aside and tilted her head at me. “How much longer are you playing duck daddy?”
“Gavin called me this morning. They’re planning to be back by the day after tomorrow.”
“Are you relieved?”
“Nah, Henry and I are besties. Despite her need to be the center of attention, she’s way easier than the ducks on grandpa’s farm. Those birds are assholes.”
Her lips twisted like she didn’t believe me. “Even with the diaper?”
“It’s not hard to change once you get used to it, and Henry likes it.”
Avery licked her bottom lip, and heat shot straight to my dick. “Have you considered getting her a tiny hockey jersey?”
I laughed. “No, but now I am. Where would I go about getting a jersey for a duck?”
She leaned closer, resting a hand on my abdomen. “Maybe the costuming department? Or does the school sell baby clothes for the sports teams?”
“I don’t know, but Gavin would lose his shit if his baby girl was prancing around with Mathis on her back.”
“Yess,” she hissed. “I love this plan. We need to execute. Marco probably knows someone who could help.”
“I’m sure Eva does, but we’d need to keep it secret from her too.”
“Another secret… sure you can handle it, farm boy?” With one teasing comment, I was all the way back at the beginning of the night, desperately trying to keep control of myself so I didn’t scare her away.
“After you, everything else seems fairly tame.”
She tapped one long finger on the cover of my lit book. “Yeah, I’m a veritable wild child.”
I laughed because while Avery was unapologetic about what she wanted, she had a solid sense of responsibility under the antics. Our eyes met, and the laugh died under an onslaught of thick tension. Her lips parted like she was going to say something, but no words came out. The hand on my stomach closed a little, bunching the material of my shirt, and a low-grade buzz of energy zipped across my skin where she touched me, even through the thin cotton barrier.
“We should get back to work,” she said, as if she wasn’t the one who’d sidetracked us.
Her gaze flicked away from mine, and like the last time our deal had come up, I had a feeling the reality of finishing an assignment made her nervous. She’d demanded orgasms, and I didn’t think she’d changed her mind—but she was having trouble relegating me to sex toy status.
I wasn’t going to make it easy for her.
Demands weren’t the way, I reminded myself. She’d just push back. I’d finally gotten her to open up, and I didn’t want her retreating. At the same time, I wanted her invested in what was happening between us.
“I’d say we’re about done and it’s time for me to pay up.”
“We technically haven’t finished your assignment yet,” she pointed out breathlessly.
“I know how it ends.” My voice lowered, and Avery’s focus flitted to my mouth for a quick second before she sucked in a breath through her nose.
“As your tutor, I don’t feel right leaving the assignment unfinished.”
As I’d suspected, she hesitated when faced with the reality of our deal. “I’ll read the last page myself before doing the paper. As my reading tutor, there’s not much left you can help me with. Time to cash in on your benefits. I’m ready and willing, but if you don’t want to, we don’t have to do anything else. I’m happy to lay here cuddling with you.”
“Cuddling should be against the rules,” she protested, not moving away at all.
“Friends cuddle.”
She speared me with a pointed look. “Oh really? You cuddle with Reece?”
“Reece isn’t a cuddler. I napped with Gavin once, but he’s an octopus when he sleeps. He’ll grab onto anything in arm’s reach.”
Avery pressed her lips together to hold in a smile. “I asked for orgasms, not quality time.”
“Too bad, because you’re getting both. It’s up to you which you want first.”
Her nails dug into my abs, but I wasn’t about to say a damn thing. She could scratch me to hell and back as long as she stayed right here in my bed while she did it.
“I’m not having sex with you right after you used the C-word.”
I nuzzled her neck, inhaling her sweet scent. “Cuddling will only make it better.”
“Just digging yourself deeper,” she retorted, shifting closer.
I chuckled and dropped a soft kiss on the juncture between her neck and shoulder. “I’m not hearing the safe word.”
She huffed. “You’re not getting out of the deal that easily, but tonight I’ll let you keep your pants on.”
“City girl, I don’t need to take my pants off to give you orgasms.” I dragged my mouth over her shoulder, and her answering shudder told me what I needed to know about her hesitance. She wanted the release as much as I did. “I’ll stop the second you want me to, but I’ve been thinking about having my hands on you all day.” Longer, but she didn’t need to know I’d fantasized about her in the shower after the first time I’d seen her in the tunnel.
“I could be convinced,” she breathed.
I took a chance and stroked the bare skin at her hip where her top had ridden up. “Pretty sure you still owe me a kiss.”
“How so?” She tilted her head to the side, and I sucked lightly on the spot just under her ear.
“I kissed you earlier.” A tiny pull from my arm around her was all it took to coax her into straddling my lap. “Technically, it could be argued you haven’t given me my payment for your interview.”
“Mmm,” she hummed, tossing the book onto the bed next to her. “I could see how someone would see it that way. I’d hate to leave you feeling deprived of what you’re due.”
I smiled slowly, sensing a win. “I’m definitely feeling deprived.”
She curled her hand behind my neck, leaning closer. “Maybe one more, just to be sure the debt is paid.”
None of the hesitancy or trepidation this time, only heat and demand and her mouth on mine. I tightened my arm around her waist, pulling her down until she moaned at the connection. We’d been teasing and touching for hours, and I didn’t think my dick could get any harder. I deepened the kiss and lifted off the bed, pressing into her.
Avery’s nails dug into my neck as she cocked her hips, searching for the right angle to relieve the pressure. When her jeans got in the way, she whimpered. I swallowed the sound, desperate for more, and gripped her hair to force her face up so I could kiss my way down her throat.
The low, rounded collar of her shirt gave me access to the upper swell of her breasts, so I swiped my tongue along the edge and pulled on the material at her waist. Avery arched into me with a restless wiggle of her hips, and I repeated the maneuver, lower, lower, almost to her nipple.
She panted above me, lifting herself enough with my hold on her shirt to bare the lacy edge of her bra.
“Cole,” she pleaded, and I’d never loved the sound of my name so much.
With a low chuckle, I pushed the cup out of the way and swirled my tongue around her nipple. She writhed on my cock as I flicked and sucked, enjoying every fucking second of Avery coming undone.
I switched sides, loving how she responded to me, but she needed more. Hell, I needed more. I tore her shirt over her head, tossing it aside, and planted my hands on her hips, holding her in place as I thrust upward. She rewarded me with a broken whimper.
“Lose the jeans,” I grunted, teetering on the edge of my own control. “I want to touch you.”
“Yes,” she gasped.
I unbuttoned her pants, then forced myself to slow down. Avery was used to selfish lovers, so I’d make damn sure tonight was only about her. I caught her hand where it rested on my chest and brought her with me as I stroked down her stomach. She gave a tiny tug, trying to pull back, but I didn’t let go.
“Touch yourself,” I whispered against her ear. “Show me how to make you feel good.”
She hesitated half a second, then she braced herself against my shoulder and dove into her lace panties. I curled our fingers into her wet heat and let her take control. Avery taught me the rhythm she liked, the tension, the angle, but I figured out on my own she liked the way I talked to her.
“That’s it, baby. Take what you need.”
The guttural command pushed her over the edge. Despite being rock hard, I didn’t move as Avery rode our hands, chasing her release. She threw her head back, eyes closed, while I watched the most beautiful woman in the world come apart with my name on her lips.
“My turn,” I growled.
Before her shuddering had stopped, I flipped her over onto her back and yanked her pants down her legs. Avery lifted her ass to help, and I wasted no time diving in. I wanted to taste her, wanted her squirming on my fingers again and begging for more, wanted that wild abandonment as she came on my tongue.
I draped her legs over my shoulders and laid a hand on her abdomen to hold her still. Avery’s hand clenched in my hair, and she bit her lip as I teased her with soft kisses along the birthmark I discovered on her thigh.
“Eyes on me, Avery. I want you to see how much I love the taste of you.”
Her dazed green gaze met mine, and I kept my eyes locked on her as I lowered my head.
“Fuck, Cole,” she gasped, her hips shooting off the bed with the first lick of her clit.
“Good girl,” I whispered against her skin, then went to town.
It didn’t take much to bring her to the edge again, and my opinion of her ex dropped even lower. Avery was sensitive and responsive, only a truly selfish asshole could get intimate with her and not get her off.
Her thighs closed around me as she crested again, and all I could think was another. I didn’t let off, dragging the pleasure out as she made incoherent noises and yanked on my hair. My dick throbbed painfully. I desperately wanted to replace my fingers with my cock, but tonight was about Avery. I could take care of myself later, though it wouldn’t be nearly as satisfying as sinking into her.
The annoyingly happy melody of Baby Shark shattered the moment. My phone was going off with Reece’s ringtone while Avery quivered beneath me. I wanted one more, but she propped herself up on her elbows and raised a brow.
“I assume that’s one of your roommates.”
“Fucking hell,” I ground out. “I’m going to kill Reece.”
Avery sent me a satisfied smirk. “His timing could have been worse.”
“Don’t move,” I ordered her, following it up with a long, slow lick that had her dropping back to the bed.
I levered myself up far enough to grab my phone from the nightstand and answered it without releasing my grip on her thighs. “Yeah.”
Reece didn’t waste time. “Mase is drunk, and I need your help.”
My jaw clenched. “How bad?”
“Not like last time, but close. I tried to get him into the car, and he threatened to take a swing at the next person who touched him, me included.”
Mase didn’t fuck around when he started throwing punches. When he fought, he did it with the intention of incapacitating his opponent. And he usually won.
I let out a quiet curse. “I’ll be right there. Don’t leave him alone.”
“No shit. Hurry.” Reece hung up without saying goodbye or questioning how my night was going, which told me he was as pissed as I was about the turn of events.
Avery’s fingers combed through my hair. “Everything okay?”
“No. I have to go help Mase.” I nipped her birthmark one more time and crawled up her body, settling between her legs for a slow, simmering kiss. “Stay. Please. This shouldn’t take long.”
Yearning clouded her eyes, but she shook her head. “I can’t. My dad’s expecting me home soon, and it sounds like my night of orgasms is coming to an end.”
“It doesn’t have to,” I offered, cringing a little at the pleading note in my voice.
Avery stroked her thumb over my stubble and I bent my head to kiss her hand. “It does. Everything ends, Cole, but thanks for proving me wrong. Orgasms are better with another person who knows what they’re doing.”
I wanted to tell her it was better because it was us, not because of any hidden talents, but we needed a lot more time than I had to hash out that conversation. Reece was waiting, and Mase was one drunken shove away from jail time.
Henry popped her head up over the edge of the bed with an annoyed quack, drawing both of our attention. She hopped up and wiggled her tail, tilting her head like she was confused about someone else being in her spot. A perfect excuse struck me, and I nodded at the duck.
“At least keep her company until I get back. She doesn’t like it when we all leave suddenly.” I started to assure her I wouldn’t pressure her to stay, but I already knew it was a lie. After tonight, I’d do everything in my power to keep her in my bed.
Henry chittered at Avery as if she knew she needed to sell it, and I silently promised her all the strawberries she could eat tomorrow.
Avery pressed her lips together and poked my chest. “Okay, but I’m making no guarantees about what’s going to happen when you get back. My dad knows I’m here, and I’m already going to have to sneak into the house with sex hair.”
She was right—her straight dark hair was teased up in wild waves from her thrashing—but I had no regrets.
“I’m happy to provide sex hair any time you ask… as long as you cuddle with me after.”
She snorted. “There you go, ruining it again.”
I allowed myself one slow roll of my hips to remind her what I had to offer, and she bit her lip as she arched up to meet me with a groan.
“Be here when I get back,” I growled into her ear, then climbed off the bed.
She watched me with hooded eyes for a long moment before crawling under the blankets and pulling them up to her chin. “We’ll be here, unless we get murdered while you’re gone.”
“Always a reasonable possibility.” I grinned as I brushed my lips across her cheek, happy I’d won this round. “Thanks, city girl. The code for my streaming account is four zeros. I’ll lock the door on my way out.”
With a mix of regret and awe, I left Avery in my bed, half-naked, with a pretty pink flush on her cheeks caused entirely by me. I probably had her lipstick smeared across my face, but I didn’t care. At least Reece would understand the severity of what he’d asked me to do.
On a whim, I snatched up the lace underwear from the floor next to my bedroom door and shoved them in my pocket. A reminder of what was waiting for me back home, not that I needed it. The memory of Avery soaking wet and pleading my name would live in my mind forever.
If only I could convince the girl I wanted more than the memory.