Chapter Sixteen
Avery
I woke up to James lightly brushing up and down my arm with his fingers as he peppered soft kisses into the crook of my neck. I tried to hold as still as I could despite the gooseflesh extending out from the tickle of his callused fingertips rubbing against my skin.
I was lying on my side, James with his chest up against my back. I hadn’t felt so safe and cared for probably in my entire life, and I didn’t want the moment to end. I was afraid that, when he realized I was awake, we’d have to get out of bed and start the day.
I just needed five more minutes of… this, of him.
I could make out beams of light from behind my eyelids, and I silently cursed the sun as it streamed in through the open sliver in the curtain.
I inhaled, taking in the scent coming off his pillowcase, and must have lost myself for a moment.
Because I failed to stop the little giggle that escaped as his kisses became quicker, almost silly.
“Goo-ha! Good morning!” I made out.
“How long were you gonna fake being asleep?” he asked.
“How long were you gonna keep petting me and showering me with kisses?”
“For the rest of my life.”
“Well, in that case, move down a little bit and over to the side,” I said, adjusting my position to give him more access to my shoulder blade. “Mmm…”
“You’re all knotted up back here,” he commented, running his fingers over my back.
“Carrying all those trays with huge plates of food.”
“Yeah, June’s portion sizes are huge. That’s why you’re so toned.”
“Hardly,” I laughed.
“No, you are. You look amazing, Avery. Everything’s tight…”
James paused my shoulder massage long enough to reach down between us and pinch my ass.
I wanted to ask James what the plan for today was, but I was nervous it was going to involve us being separated. That idea was killing my morning afterglow.
“Baby, I…” James hesitated before continuing. “I don’t ever want you to feel like I’m controlling you or trying to tell you what to do, but the thought of you going to work today makes me really nervous.”
I turned over so I could face him. “I don’t have to work today. But I’m scheduled to open tomorrow.”
James sighed in relief and moved in for a kiss. It was slow and sweet, and he wrapped his arm around to pull me in tighter against him.
“Did I ever tell you that you are the sexiest guy I’ve ever seen in real life?” he breathed.
I chuckled. “Oh yeah? Well, you were in prison and didn’t see many guys. Not many different guys.”
He kissed my shoulder. “Sounds like Jenna is up. I’m really excited for you to get to know Lindsey. She’s the cutest thing; I swear. Jenna said she has some errands to run today and would love company, if you don’t have anything else to do.”
I smiled at the fact that I could already see right through him, like I’d known him for, well… years. “You just want me to stay here because David doesn't know where I am. Why wouldn’t I just stay with you?”
“Because I do have to work.”
“You told me last night you had to find a new job,” I protested. Not because I thought he was lying, but, again, I felt like I’d waited so long for him. I didn’t want him to go. I felt like we deserved to stay locked up in this room together for at least a month.
“I do, sweetheart. But I’m paid up until the end of the month, and it’s important to me that I continue to help where I can.
I’m also nervous for David to show up. It’s not fair to ask my brother, or his staff, to deal with my battles.
It’s gonna look more suspicious if he shows up and neither one of us is there.
If he sees me, I can tell him I haven’t heard from you.
That might buy us some more time before he comes knocking on the door.
But we are going to have to come up with a plan, baby.
We need to be free of our past to start enjoying our future.
” James leaned in and brushed his lips against mine.
“That’s why I’d love for you to get to know my sister-in-law and favorite niece. If you’d like, of course.”
I smiled, trying to hide my nerves. “Did she really say she’d like company?”
The corners of James’ mouth curled into a goofy grin as he nodded. “She really did.”
“Okay.”
“Awesome. Now, there’s one more thing I need to tell you, and I hope you don’t get upset.
I took some pictures of your face and the bruises along your ribcage and hips last night after you fell asleep.
” I wasn't sure what to say, but I instantly leaned back a bit, causing James to grimace. “Baby, I’m sorry. But we need to have evidence if we are going to need a restraining order. I really wish you’d let me take you to Urgent Care and get checked out.
Make sure he didn't crack any of your ribs.”
I shook my head. “I’ve had cracked ribs before. It’s excruciating; this isn’t that. I promise. It’s just where I hit the floor. And my face already feels less puffy today.”
“It looks less puffy, which is wonderful. And also why I wanted to take the pictures last night before you started to heal. I’m sorry if I invaded your privacy, but you were sleeping so soundly, and I figured if I just took ‘em real quick, you wouldn't have to go through the act of having to take them later.
Or by yourself, though, if your clothes are coming off, I wanna be there. "
“Considering that was definitely the best sex I’ve ever had, I won’t argue.”
James sucked in a breath and raised his eyebrows. “Are you for real?”
His expression made me laugh. “Yes, for real. Did you… like it?”
“Well, it was the first time I’ve ever had sex. But I’m pretty sure it was the best experience of my life.”
It was my turn to gasp. “What? You were a virgin?”
“I mean, technically. I’ve done some stuff. But, yeah. That’s the first time I’ve ever had sex with a man. Anyone, really. I’ve been in prison more of my adult life than I haven’t. And trust me, they weren't exactly jumping on me in high school. I wasn’t very popular.”
I wasn’t entirely sure how to respond, stunned into silence.
James had seemed so seasoned and knowledgeable last night.
I’d never had anyone ever come close to giving me a hands-free orgasm before, and I’ve never come in anyone’s mouth.
David wasn’t big on blowjobs. It just wasn’t a thing he did, and I believed in enthusiastic consent, so I never questioned it.
“I can’t believe I took your virginity,” I mused.
James sat up and threw his legs over the side of the bed. “I can. That’s exactly how I’ve been planning it for years.” He planted a kiss in the middle of my forehead before getting to his feet.
“Feel free to rummage whatever you can find in the closet to wear. What’s mine is yours. I’m hopping in the shower. Smells like Jenna’s making pancakes!” With that, James closed the bedroom door, shutting me in to get myself together.
I spread myself out across the bed like a starfish and summoned a yawn as I stretched out. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d woken up without racing thoughts. Like—
What time is it? Did I sleep too late? I need to get David’s breakfast made… don’t break the yolks, or he’ll glare at me and refuse to talk.
There was just… peace.
We obviously still had a lot to deal with as far as my ex was concerned, but spending the night with James had me feeling like everything was going to be okay.
The mind-blowing sex we had may have played a small part. Endorphins, I knew, were a hell of a drug.
After a silent pep talk with myself, I tossed the covers aside and caught a chill as my bare feet made contact with the hardwood. I padded across the floor on tiptoes, trying to find a clean pair of socks. I made my way over to a chest of drawers and pulled open the top one.
As I peered inside, a quick flash of anxiety began to bloom. James had boxer briefs tossed to one side of the drawer and a clutch of black socks scattered about the other side. They weren't paired up or neatly folded, merely tossed in as if by afterthought.
David would have had a conniption fit if I hadn’t matched up and folded his socks neatly, just like he liked.
He’s not David. He’ll never treat you like that…
I grabbed two socks and pulled them up to my ankles. The next drawer contained neatly-folded black t-shirts. They were all the same, just as I’d seen him wear every time I’d met him. I hadn’t previously put together that he’d worn the same clothes. It was like he had a uniform, black-on-black.
I pulled one of the shirts out. They were much tighter-fitting on James than the baggy way it hung on me, but it wasn’t that bad.
I dug the briefs I’d worn yesterday out from between the comforter and the sheet and grabbed my jeans from the corner of the room. I didn’t know where James’ shorts from last night ended up, but I felt like I’d already spent long enough wasting time. I needed to get out to the kitchen.
As I turned, the bedroom door opened and James walked in. His hair was still damp, and he had a towel slung around his waist. I’d gotten a good look at him last night when we showered together, and I felt a whole lot of him while we were making love, but goddamn, did he look good.
He was a big guy. I’d known he was really tall from the way he described himself in his letters, but what he’d failed to mention was how chiseled he was.
The carved, defined pecs sitting just above a rock-solid eight-pack.
The arms like cordwood. Legs like tree trunks.
The man was a solid slab of man-muscle. And he was all mine.
James closed the door behind him and a sly smile spread across his face. “Are…” he chuckled. “Are you checkin’ me out?” He shifted his stance and puffed his chest out a little more.
His preening made me laugh, and I took a step closer. “Well, what do you expect when you walk around looking like a Greek god?”
James let the towel drop to pool around his feet and put his hands on his hips. “I think I definitely have something on those crusty old statues, though.”
“If you are talking about your horse cock, then, yes. I’d say one thing is not like the others.”