‘Sorry. It was a dick move but you handled it perfectly. I thought if I told you she was here, you might not come.’ When I’m certain Teagan’s out of the gate, I push myself off the door.
‘I meant you could have warned me that your ex is a supermodel.’ Ava bites her lower lip.
On the surface she radiates confidence, reinforced by the understated dresses, smart casual clothing, and minimally applied make-up. But that’s a mask. And beneath that mask the woman exudes a vulnerability. She’s been hurt. The married man has a lot to answer for.
‘Teagan is beautiful.’
I shrug. ‘On the outside, at least. She’s the life and soul of every party she goes to. People adore her. And that’s what she lives for. The next compliment. The next ego boost. If I was looking for a life partner – and we both know I’m not – she’s the last person I’d pick. She used to drag me to bars with her, then make me watch as everyone in the place fawned over her. It was like she wanted me to see how desired she was, then maybe finally I’d want her the way she wanted me to. I couldn’t bring myself to dance with her. It felt fake. Forced. So, she’d dance with other men in front of me to get a reaction. I’d never give her one.’
‘Jesus, that’s mental fuckery at its best.’
‘It was what it was. Now, how about that glass of wine?’
‘I could do with it, after that. Just the one though. I’m driving.’ Tension ebbs from Ava’s torso.
If my daughter wasn't upstairs, Ava would be in serious danger of driving something else. The urge to take her in my arms and show her exactly how much more attractive she is to me than my ex consumes me. To worship every inch of her beautiful body until she sees her own worth. But then she’d be no better off in the long run when it didn't last. I’d only damage her further. Which is the precise reason I need to keep a rein on my attraction to her.
She follows me into the kitchen and slips off her jacket. A sheer shirt does nothing to conceal the flimsy lace bra beneath. Her perfect breasts are pushed up to perfection, the material is thin enough to reveal the outline of her pebbled nipples.
Holy fuck. She’s trying to kill me.
How am I meant to rein in my attraction when she’s flaunting those incredible assets in front of my face?
Finally, I manage to tear my eyes from her tits.
‘Are you looking for trouble?’ I will my dick down.
‘What if I am?’ Ava smirks, stepping closer. ‘What are you going to do about it?’
My throat thickens. I spent all day imagining exactly what I’d do about it. Starting with bending her over the very island she’s leaning on. Making a decadent dessert out of her, before slamming her into next week.
‘I told you, Ava. This is business.’
‘Do you kiss all of your business partners like you want to devour them?’ She’s a fucking mind reader. Her fingers graze the neckline of her blouse teasingly.
‘No.’ I fill a glass with wine and hand it to her. ‘I only kiss stunning brunette business partners like I want to devour them. But that doesn’t make it right.’
We want different things out of life. If we bring sex into our fake relationship, it will only complicate things. ‘I’m never going to be what you want.’
‘How do you know what I want?’ She edges forwards until there’s less than a foot between us.
‘You own a dating agency. You want fairy tales and promises of forevers.’ I’m talking myself out of a shag, but I can’t let her think this thing between us will ever be anything more than just that. It wouldn't be fair.
‘That’s right. I do. One day.’ Her tongue darts out over her lower lip. ‘But right now, I just want to feel a man’s body against mine. Lose myself in pleasure without the pressure of wondering if this is going somewhere. We might be fake-dating, but the attraction between us is real. I’m not asking you for marriage. I’m asking you to help me get back in the saddle.’
‘Back in the saddle?’ There’s no controlling my dick now.
‘Wouldn't we be a lot more convincing as a couple if we knew each other intimately?’ Hooded eyes glint mischievously.
Knowing what I know – that nothing lasts, I’ve avoided intimacy, but on some subconscious level every cell inside me longs for it. Not just the sex but having a woman in my bed to hold. Someone who calls to say, ‘how’s your day?’
Would it be so wrong to let Ava in for a few weeks? Especially given we’re going to be spending so much time together anyway.
Every nerve ending in my body crackles with need. Heat races through my veins. I drop my face to hers, our breath mingling. ‘You’re about to find out first hand that I’m not the gentleman you had me confused with.’
I take her glass and place it on the counter next to mine. When my lips capture hers it’s with a burning urgency that makes me dizzy. I grab her waist, tugging her body flush with mine, moulding her around my frame. She exhales a low guttural moan of approval and grinds herself against me. My hands slide to her peachy ass, and I lift her onto the island.
Nudging her thighs open with my hips, I spread her out for my taking. Her nipples are like bullets beneath that flimsy shirt, begging to be worshipped. She cries out in protest as I drag my lips from hers and push her onto her back against the cold granite surface.
