Question was: was it worth putting Ava in the line of fire? God only knows the lengths the Rivers family would go to to keep this shit buried.
Chapter Nineteen
One week later…
Friday, August 19, 2022
“Whatcha workin’ on?” Trey asked when hefound Ava coming down the hallway from the kennels.
It had been a week since Trey had talked to JJ and decided to ignore what he’d learned. Since then, Ava hadn’t approached him, nor had she filled Magnus in on what she was doing, so he figured it was safe to say she didn’t want them to know. He wasn’t keen on what she was doing, but he trusted JJ to protect her at all costs, something he’d reiterated twice since that phone call. And if that meant letting the bastard’s father slide on his previous crimes, so be it. It didn’t exactly sit well with Trey, but as far as he was concerned, Ava’s safety was all that mattered.
“Arbuckle hurt his paw,” she told him, her expression sad. “He’ll be fine, and I don’t think he’s in pain, but I’m gonna call his owner and see if she’ll mind if I have the vet come out.”
Trey stared at her, and for the first time since he’d met this woman, he noticed something. Something that surprised the ever-loving shit out of him. Not once in his entire life had Trey considered having kids. At least not since the brief time he’d entertained the idea when he and Paul were together. Since then, Trey hadn’t gotten his hopes up. Adoption or a surrogate was his only option, and since he’d sworn off relationships—until Magnus flipped his world upside down—he’d figured it wasn’t worth thinking about.
However, now that he’d fallen in love with a woman…
The acknowledgment nearly had him tripping over his own feet, but he hid it well, coming to an abrupt stop in front of Ava. He couldn’t explain his overwhelming urge to kiss her, but he acted on it anyway. Reaching for her when she approached, Trey pulled her to him and leaned down to meld his mouth with hers. Ava hummed softly, her fingers sliding into his hair.
“What was that for?” she whispered breathlessly when they finally parted.
“Couldn’t help myself.”
“Maybe you could do it again?”
He gladly obliged her, but this time he went a step further. Trey gripped her ass and lifted her off her feet. She wound her legs around his hips as though it was the most natural thing to do. He moved two steps so he could press her against the wall and kiss her deeper. Her fingers twined in his hair as her tongue danced with his.
He didn’t mean to take it that far, but Trey found he couldn’t help himself. It didn’t help that she was grinding against him, rocking her hips, seeking whatever friction she could get from where they were touching.
“Trey…”
“Tell me, girl,” he rasped against her mouth. “Tell me what you need.”
She whimpered, her mouth crushing to his again. Trey gave her the reprieve because he already knew. He braced his hands once again and carried her the few steps to the laundry room, kicking the door closed behind him.
When he set her on the washing machine, Ava immediately tried to yank his shirt off over his head.
“Not right now,” he growled softly. “You’re the one who’s gonna come first.”
Her blue eyes flashed with fire, and she spread her legs wider when he slipped his hand through the loose leg of her shorts. He tugged her panties aside and caressed her clit lightly.
“God, yes.” Ava’s hands shifted behind her to prop herself up as she humped his hand. “Trey…” She hissed softly, her eyes closing. “Don’t stop doin’ that.”
Trey couldn’t resist watching her glistening sex as he alternated between sliding one finger inside, then coating her clit with her own juices. He fucking loved how soft and silky she was, how that delicate tissue parted as he sank his finger in deeper.
“Damn, that’s pretty,” he whispered. “I wanna make this pussy come.”
Those were words he’d never imagined himself ever saying, but they felt right to him.Shefelt right to him.
“Please, Trey…” Ava grabbed her shorts and pulled them out of the way, allowing him to use both hands. He circled his thumb over her clit and fucked her with two fingers.
“Oh, God … oh, God … oh, God…”
He watched her beautiful face, the way she bit her bottom lip and tilted her head back. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her sweet moans echoing in the small room. And when she came, he loved how she sucked her bottom lip into her mouth in an attempt to be quiet.
“Fuck, that was hot.” He licked his fingers clean, then stepped up and pressed his mouth to hers. “You taste so fuckin’ good.”
Ava kissed him back hungrily, but he put the brakes on when she tried to pull his shirt off again.
