Chapter Twelve
Ava
My eyes blink open to darkness, but even the darkness is unfamiliar, and it takes me a moment to realize where I am.
Shit.
I had sex with River. Multiple times.
My eyes feel gritty, and I know I haven’t been asleep long.
I glance around the room to see if there’s a clock illuminated anywhere but come up empty.
I need my cell, which is still in the bag I dropped near the front door.
I also need to get out of here. I don’t know what I was thinking, but this is only going to end badly; everything with River ends badly and it’s always me that gets hurt.
Well, not this time.
Slowly and carefully, I slide River’s arm from where it’s resting over my stomach and slip from the bed.
He mumbles in his sleep, and I freeze, but he doesn’t wake and the breath I was holding is slowly released.
Quietly, so as not to disturb him, I gather my clothes which are scattered around the floor of his room and creep out of his bedroom.
I find my bag exactly where I thought it would be and grab my cell from it immediately.
The screen lights up and shows it’s just after three a.m. Like I thought, barely any sleep.
I think River and I finally crashed around two, after he’d fucked me repeatedly.
I don’t know what vitamins he takes, but all men need to get a hold of them, because his reload time is unreal.
I’m going to need several glasses of cranberry juice today.
“I didn’t think you were the sort of girl to sneak out on a guy.” His gravelly voice in the silence of the apartment makes me shriek as I spin around to face him.
He’s stark naked and leaning casually against the doorframe as if he hasn’t a care in the world, but the hard set of his jaw tells a different story.
He’s pissed.
“We shouldn’t have done this. This was a one-time thing. A mistake.”
He’s on me in seconds, pinning me to the wall. “Tell me you’ve had better, pipsqueak. Tell me you won’t wake up tomorrow morning craving my cock.”
“Yes, I want you. That was pretty clear last night, but it doesn’t mean I like you.”
“You don’t have to like me, baby — not yet at least.” He scoops me into his arms and throws me down on the bed as he walks us back into the room I’ve only just left. “But let me make one thing clear. We’re not done, and you don’t get to walk away from me.”
“You won’t be the one who does the walking, River.” He’s already hurt me too much over the years, I won’t allow him to do that, too.
He climbs over my body on the bed and cages me in. “Pipsqueak, I’m never walking away from you. There’s no going back now we’ve crossed this line.”
“You make this sound permanent, but it’s not. We’re scratching an itch, that’s all this is.”
“Keep telling yourself that if you need to. I know it’s going to take time for you to trust me, and there’s a lot we need to talk about.
But I’ve had you now, baby. I’ve tasted you, fucked you, heard the sounds you make when you come, and if you believe I’ll ever let anyone else have that, you’re wrong. ”
As he’s been speaking, he’s gradually worked my legs apart with his hips and is grinding his hard cock against my pussy.
“Now, I think you need a reminder of how good we are together.”
Work is going to be hard today, because I don’t think I’m getting any more sleep.
***
I was right.
I didn’t get even a minute more of sleep, River was insatiable. Every step I take is like he’s still inside me, stretching me, filling me.
Christ, can that man fuck.
I’m so incredibly tired and sore, but nothing can remove me from the cloud I’m currently floating on, because today Paisley is getting adopted.
Today is what my job is all about. All the heartache, the work, the tears; all of it is worth every moment of pain when the end result is a child finding the love they should have always been given.
“Miss Ava, will you stay until they get here?” Paisley’s sweet little voice drifts up to me from where she’s sitting on the floor in the main communal room.
“If that’s what you want, sweetie.” She gives me a shy smile and a little head bob.
She’s nervous, not really believing that this is happening, that a family have chosen her. I can’t say I blame her; she’s never been put first in all four years she’s been on this earth.
“Shall we do a jigsaw puzzle while we wait?”
She runs off to get a puzzle. I know it will be the Frozen one, she picks it every time, but I don’t mind, we both need the distraction.
Twenty minutes later, Donna walks into the room with a huge smile on her face, and I know they’re here. I stroke my hand over Paisley’s head, her brown hair so soft to the touch.
“Paisley, sweetie.” Her eyes flick up to meet mine and she speaks before I can finish what I was going to say.
“Are they here?” Her voice is small, but I can still detect the excitement and nerves.
“Yeah, they are.” I give her a re-assuring smile. “Want me to come with you?”
“Yes, please.” I take her hand and lead her out towards the entrance, towards her family. Towards the happily ever after she’s finally getting.
***
I’m still emotional from my goodbyes when a text comes through on my cell.
River: I’m taking you away for the weekend
That’s it? That’s all he gives me? No asking, not even a hello. Just a cave man approach telling me I’m going away for the weekend.
Ava: Excuse me?
River: We need to talk and I don’t want you running away on me
He’s right, we definitely do need to talk, but I don’t appreciate the approach he’s taking.
Ava: Taking me away is a little extreme, don’t you think?
River: Not in the slightest
Ava: Well I’m not going, we can talk here
River: You can pack a bag and come willingly or I can drag you. Your choice
Ava: FFS. I hate you
River: No you don’t, Pipsqueak
What’s even more annoying is that I think he might be right.