“You never told me the reason you left your hotel.”
“I thought Derek left. I thought ignoring him would make him go away, so I didn’t mention him.”
I scoffed. “You thought ignoring a narcissist would make him go away? That’s a silly notion.”
“Are you calling me stupid, Lincoln?” She taped down my bandage, slammed the kit shut, and stood to glare at me.
I stayed seated and flexed my bandaged arm, trying to keep my temper from boiling over. Ava looked as if she wanted to throw the kit at my head. “I’d never putsaveandstupidin the same sentence.”
The fire in her eyes dimmed slightly, and she looked away. “I didn’t want to be someone who needed saving. Okay? Especially from you. I’m not weak.”
I studied her carefully, wondering where that was coming from. “I know you’re not. I know you’re tough, and you don’t need a protector.”
Her shoulders stiffened, and her eyes shimmered with not just unshed tears but pain, shame, and exhaustion. I wanted to kill Derek for terrorizing my woman to this breaking point.
“You’re damn right I don’t need a protector. I can handle my shit.”
I almost rolled my eyes at her false bravado. Shaking my head, I reached for her, pulling her onto my lap. She resisted for a second before relaxing into me. “So this is how it’s going to be, huh?”
She lifted her eyebrows. “What are you talking about?”
“You'll be driving me crazy.” Her frown melted away when I added, “But I wouldn’t have it any other way.” I might as well get used to her courage and independent nature.
A tiny smirk lifted her lips as she twisted to wind her arms around my shoulders. “Of course you wouldn’t.”
“So smug,” I murmured as our mouths inched closer together.
Our lips touched and moved against each other’s, soft and tentative at first. Then the tension between us rose and snapped, giving way to more urgency. My hands slid under Ava’s top to caress warm, smooth skin. I’d only meant for us to share a quick kiss, but the heat between us was always overwhelming.
“Lincoln,” she breathed against my mouth. “Should we take this to the bedroom?”
I moved my lips from hers to trail along her jaw to nuzzle into her neck. “Baby, I don’t need a bed to get the job done.” I’d already unbuttoned her jeans to slip a hand down the waist. She moaned when I cupped her mound. The sound echoed with need.
Heat radiated from her, and her panties already felt damp. Knowing she was ready for me was such a turn on. I couldn’t torment either of us any longer by taking things slow. I pulled my hand from her pants, scooped her up, and deposited her onher knees in the middle of the couch. I then yanked her pants and underwear off.
With jerky movements, I undid my jeans and pushed them down along with my boxers. Ava glanced at me over her shoulders, her eyes half-lidded and cloudy with desire. Her lips were slightly parted, and her chest rose and fell with anticipation. The way she looked at me as if I were the only thing that existed drove me wild.
Gripping her hips, I positioned myself at her entrance, rubbing the head of my cock through her slick folds. She moaned and pushed back against me.
“Please,” she whimpered, looking at me with desperate, pleading eyes.
She was so hot. So perfect. And somine.
With one hard thrust, I buried myself to the hilt in her tight heat. We both cried out at the sensation, our bodies fitting together perfectly. I closed my eyes and savored everything in the moment. The silky feel of her skin as I gripped her waist, the smell of her floral perfume combined with the scent of our lovemaking, the sound of her moans…. I had to taste her too. I pulled her back flush against my chest to slide my tongue up the column of her neck.
She shivered, and her muscles clenched tighter around me. The new angle had her gasping for air. “Lincoln… I’m going to…”
I pulled out almost completely before sinking deep. She came undone with a scream, her head falling back on my chest. I didn’t slow my pace because I loved how she shuddered after each thrust. Just as the aftershocks of her orgasm faded, I spilled inside her.
With a drawn-out groan, I rested my forehead on her shoulder, somehow managing to stay upright. Her hand reached up and found my hair to thread her fingers through it. When Ilifted my head to look at her. She smiled, and my heart swooped and dipped.
Should I say the L-word now? I’d been holding off on it, considering we hadn’t been back together all that long. Maybe I’d spook her if I said it now. She still harbored a shadow of skepticism about us. I saw it in her eyes from time to time. I hated it. Instead, I kissed her long, slow, and deep until she moaned.
“That was amazing,” she purred. “You’re a very generous lover.”
I smirked, unabashedly proud that I could please my woman.
Ava walked out of the bathroom, dabbing at her damp hair with a towel. She was encased in a fluffy beige robe. Leaning against the headboard with my fingers laced behind my head, I gave her a lustful assessment.
