I lick my lips, and for a second, I taste him all over again.
If I’m being honest, I liked the feel of him in my mouth because it gave me some power, especially when he came. In that moment, the walls came crumbling down. We weren’t at war. For that brief time, the rest of the world fell away and so did the past.
When I go inside, he’s nowhere around. It doesn’t matter. We each got what we needed from the other. Soon we won’t need anything at all.
I’m looking forward to that day.
I can almost taste freedom. It’s sweet and salty and sensual.
Like him.
6
AVERY
In the morning I come down from the guest room dressed and ready to go to campus. Even though it’s seven thirty and my first class isn’t until ten, I want to get out of the house. I can head to my dorm room and study there until I need to get to class.
My steps toward the kitchen falter when I smell coffee and hear sizzling. I’m barely breathing as I creep toward the entry way. Shane’s standing at the stove, and he’s shirtless.
My God.
His chest muscles make my tongue want to explore his body’s texture, which reminds me of the way I got intimately acquainted with a certain part of him last night.
I should probably have mixed feelings about what I did with him, but so far, I’m still fine with it. I felt his anger change into lust when I dropped to my knees before him. And, for the first time ever, it felt as thoughIhad the power to change the dynamic between us.
Even now he seems more relaxed than I’ve seen him look the past couple of years. It could be wishful thinking on my part, but I swear that blow job—the first I’ve ever given—was more effective in cooling his anger than two years of attempted apologies and carefully polite interactions ever were.
I drag my eyes away from his chest, but my gaze doesn’t get far before it’s transfixed on the black and charcoal gray tattoo on his left shoulder and upper arm. He didn’t have that in high school.
Before I realize it, I’ve walked up to him to get a closer look.
It’s a knight in full armor. The head gear reminds me of the Mandalorian’s helmet. The breast plate has warring serpents. The details are stellar.
His bicep flexes, and his low voice says, “Go ahead.”
That voice does things to me…between my legs. “What?”
“Give him a kiss.” He raises his arm slightly, moving it toward me. “You know you want to.”
So damned cocky.
“I’ll give him a kiss when he flips his helmet up.” My tone’s smart-assed to match my words.
Shane gives me a speculative look that probably sees more than I wish it could. Retreating to the counter across the room, I give him my back. My lips purse together, still tingling at the thought of pressing against his tattoo.
I open cupboards looking for mugs. “Coffee cups?”
When he doesn’t answer, I look over my shoulder. He doesn’t point me to the right place, or even bother to turn toward me.Jerk.When I find them, I yank a cup from the shelf and set it on the counter with a thwack.
“You break it, you buy it.”
“Deal.” I raise the mug and smack it down again. The loud sound startles even me.
When I look over my shoulder, he’s turned to face me. I stare at him with narrowed eyes and lift the cup again.
“I dare you.” His voice is stern in its challenge.
My hand falters a second, then I bang the bottom of the mug against the counter. He stalks over, jerks the cup from my hand, and sets it aside. Then I hear a crack and warmth spreads over the seat of my jeans. It takes a second for me to realize he swatted me on the ass.
