Spark: Book 1 (The Heat Series)

by MJ Masucci

  “You need to sleep and not overexert yourself. We can make love tomorrow.”

  “You don’t want to make love to me?”

  “It’s not that I don’t want to make love to you because I do, I always do. I just don’t want to push you when you aren’t one hundred percent. What kind of boyfriend would I be expecting sex when you don’t feel well?”

  He was right, as horny as she was she felt washed out and tired. The inning finished, and Xander turned out off the TV. He put his arm around her and cradled her against him. That was the position they both were when they woke up. Neither had moved much during the night. The only difference was that the boys had settled at the foot of the bed just below Ava’s feet. Riley’s large gray body next to Boomer’s small red one.

  Ava stretched, and Riley jumped off the bed as if she kicked him. Boomer followed, and they both of them left the room in expectation of breakfast. She kissed Xander’s bare chest and inhaled deeply. As much as he loved her smell, she loved his just as much. It was hard to explain what he smelled like but whatever it was it was all Xander.

  “Remember I have my self-defense class tonight.”

  “Thanks for reminding me. I would have forgotten and wondered why you didn’t wait for me. It’s right after work tonight?”

  “It’s at six because Robert needs the room for a dance class at eight.”

  They hurried around the apartment because they were going to be late for work. She and Xander had showered together, and that slowed them down especially when he impaled her with his cock against the shower wall. But she was the instigator in the sex act. He loved when she touched him. Who would have thought that just two weeks ago she was a virgin?

  Xander was so busy with work that he had no time to have lunch or to text Ava to ask if she had eaten. He would just have to trust that she was doing what she should to take care of herself. Even though he was swamped with work, he found his thoughts drifting to her many times during the day. The worst part was that she hadn’t texted him either, and that meant that she was probably in the same boat as him. His mind was full of scenarios about what she would say this weekend when he told her his secret.

  Ava was drowning in work. Victoria had three new clients which meant three new sets of paperwork, title searches and probable visits to the courthouse to file more paperwork. Victoria had been unusually cranky the past few days. Ava suspected it was because she was out sick at the beginning of the week. Victoria was one of the few attorneys who had more than one assistant dedicated to her office. Most of the other attorneys had one assistant, and they would get extra help from a pool if needed. She worked as fast as she could, even skipping lunch.

  If Xander knew, he would be angry. She had broken her promise of having lunch each day, but she hoped this was the exception, not the rule. The day seemed endless, and she missed Xander. She wouldn’t see him until later that evening, and that was far too long to go without him. She changed in the ladies room after work was over for the day. She had texted Xander before she left the building.

  I’m leaving now for Sunset. I’ll text you when I am on my way home. I love you.

  He didn’t text her back, and she assumed he was with clients. It had been a busy week for him.

  The self-defense class was more strenuous than usual. Dallas put the women through their paces. He always stressed that even the smallest person could fend off an attacker if done properly.

  Ava was going to attend on Sunday. The more self-defense she learned, the more confident she felt about Liam lurking around. She didn’t want to be helpless if he ever came around without Xander being with her. She couldn’t live her life in a shell nor did she want to be that way. Everyone had been so protective of her since she came to New York that she forgot what it was like to stand on her own two feet. As she walked out of the Sunset Gym, she felt confident enough to run home. She slung her backpack on her shoulders and did some stretching; then she texted Xander from the entry way to the gym.

  Leaving class. Feel good and it’s warm out, so I’m going to run back to my apartment.

  Xander had stepped in to take a quick shower, and when he got out, he saw her text. He tried to call her, but her phone just went to voicemail. He hoped she got home soon because if she didn’t, he would troll the streets looking for her. Time ticked by and he paced the apartment waiting for her to get back. Ten, twenty, thirty, forty minutes. It didn’t take that long to run from Sunset to here. It was something that he knew she could do in less than fifteen minutes, twenty if she jogged slowly. He started to race around the apartment pulling on socks and digging out his sneakers from his gym bag. Then he heard the key in the door, and he breathed a sigh of relief. She entered the apartment, and he ran to her hugging her tight.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “Why did it take you so long to get back from Sunset?” She removed her backpack, opened it and took out a paper bag. “I stopped at Stan’s for some Cherry Garcia, and I got you Chunky Monkey.”

  “Didn’t you check your phone when you were in the store?”

  “No, why would I do that? It was packed away in my backpack, and I didn’t want to fish it out.”

  He went into the kitchen and plucked an envelope off the counter. Her stomach started to tighten.

  Her mouth suddenly felt drier than a desert. “Is that another one?”

  “Yes. And this time, there isn’t a card, but there is something else.”

  He slipped the item out of the envelope. It was a picture of her taken in the lobby of the building at work. It was the day she was waiting for Xander drinking a milkshake. She was right. That day that she thought she saw Liam, she did see him. He was lurking around the building watching her. Who knew when he was around? He knew where she worked, where she lived, who her friends were. Obviously, he knew Xander and what car he drove.

  “I’m calling Mike. This is bullshit because who else could be doing this?”

  He went into the bedroom and closed the door to call Mike. When he came out, he was dressed in jeans and a sweater.

  “You’re going out now?”

  “Mike is on duty and said he would stop by the building with his partner. I’m going to meet the patrol car downstairs to give this to him. I’ll be back up in a few minutes.”

  Ava sat on the couch waiting for him to return. She had so much nervous energy that she couldn’t stop bouncing her knees up and down. She felt very on edge and could feel her anxiety starting to bubble up. Within ten minutes Xander was back, and he knew something was wrong.

  “What is it? Are you having an anxiety attack?”

  The tears rolled down her cheeks. “He’s never going to leave me alone. What does he want from me? Maybe I should have just talked to him at the club. Maybe then he would have understood I didn’t want to date him anymore.”

  Xander stroked her hair. “Even if you did talk to him he wouldn’t have left you alone. This is a pattern with him, Mike even said so. He can’t help himself. He latches on to someone and becomes possessive. Mike said they are going to contact the building at work to get the video footage. If they see him in it, then they can arrest him. Then they can tie the picture to him stalking you. Don’t worry; they will get him now.”

  For Xander’s sake, Ava gave him a weak smile, but she didn’t feel like that at all. How many other times had Liam been watching her?

  Another sleepless night and Ava spent it staring at the ceiling. If Xander was awake, he didn’t give her any indication. He was restless, moving several times during the night. Since she started having sex, it was one of the rare nights where she was not in the mood. Xander understood because neither was he. Liam was putting a damper on their lives in more ways than she anticipated.

  She was fortunate to have the workday go quickly. Victoria had piled so many files on her desk that she went to the research room on eighteen to spread them out on the table. Several hours went by, and several people came in and out during that time. She had gotten to the poin
t where she was so engrossed in her work that she didn’t realize the one person she wanted to see was there. Xander placed his hands on her shoulders, and she looked up. He was a welcomed sight. Even though she was so busy, her mind kept drifting to Liam. Was he watching her during the day? Or waiting for her lurking around the places she frequented?

  “Would you like to get something eat? It’s a bit late, so l think we missed the lunch crowd.” Ava checked her phone, and it was well after two.

  “I didn’t realize it was so late. I’m not that hungry.”

  Xander gave her a stern look. She didn’t want to spend the little time she had with him during the day arguing. So she got up, picked up her files and told him she would meet him downstairs in five minutes. When she got down into the lobby, Xander was waiting for her. She hated that they had to do everything separately when they were at work. They couldn’t hold hands or kiss or even see each other. Damn David Townsend. The firm would never have enacted the non-fraternization policy if he had just kept it in his pants.

  She and Xander went to the café to get some food. She decided to skip her mainstay of a smoothie and get a salad with some grilled chicken. Xander got a sandwich and fries.

  She munched on her salad while he checked an email that just pinged on his phone.

  “Oh shit, I completely forgot. Is that next Saturday?” He must have been lost in thought because he didn’t offer her an explanation.

  “What did you forget?”

  “I have a charity dinner to attend next Saturday,the nineteenth at The Pierre.”

  Her face brightened. “Really? For what?”

  “I am on the board of a charity group, “Kids Afloat” have you ever heard of them?”

  “No, what do they do?”

  “It was started several years ago by two of my former coworkers at the PD’s office. It originally was an organization to get children out of the city for two weeks at a time during the summer. They camp, hike, and canoe at different locations and learn how to work problems out together as a group. It expanded over the years to what it’s become now. We have a large camp in upstate New York where we can accommodate two hundred children for the summer. We also have some programs in the city for children during the year to keep them busy and out of trouble. I know this is short notice, but would you like to come with me? I have two tickets.”

  She nodded, “I would love to go. I think that would be fun. I’m sure I could find a dress to wear. We still have a whole week to go. Normally I would ask Rachel but business is booming, and she is swamped.”

  “We could go shopping this weekend if you want. I don’t mind holding your purse while you try on dresses.”

  Ava laughed. “Yes, that would work.

  “Time to go back.” Ava held up her watch and tapped the dial.

  “It’s only been a half hour.”

  “I have a ton of work to finish unless you want me to come in on Saturday to get it done.” Xander held her hand until the doors opened up on eighteen. “I’ll see you in the lobby at five,” he said softly. Then they went their separate ways.

  Ava finished her work just before five. The look on Victoria’s face told her that she was impressed with her amount of effort.

  “You can go home. Have a nice weekend.” Ava thought she saw a hint of a smile.

  Ava sat in the lobby café area waiting for Xander. She took the time to call her father to make a request. She had googled Kids Afloat and wanted to make a donation from her inheritance. While she waited for Xander, she made a call to her father.

  Ava checked her watch, and it was nearing 5:20 and Xander still had not come down nor had he answered any of her texts. She got back on the elevator and went up to eighteen. Most of the office was deserted. It was a warm June evening on a Friday; no one was going to work late. She walked down the hall to Xander’s office. His door was closed, and she heard a one-sided conversation which meant he was on the phone. She quietly opened the door and saw him pacing around his desk as he talked. He didn’t look happy. He looked up just as she was closing the door and gestured for her to come over to sit on the couch. She sat and waited for him to finish.

  “Well, it looks like I am going to be here for a few more hours. The contract I drew up is missing a couple of key items that the client never discussed with me. Now I need to rework it, and they want it by tomorrow morning. So my choices are, stay tonight and get it done or come in tomorrow.”

  “Which do you want to do?”

  “I would rather get it done tonight so I can spend time with you this weekend.”

  “Can I stay with you?”

  “Wouldn’t you rather go home and take it easy? You just got over being sick and should rest. I shouldn’t be later than ten.”

  “No! I want to stay with you.”

  “Okay, get ready for a late evening.” She settled in and lay on the couch while he worked. At one point she dozed off and was snoring softly. He stopped working to watch her. It was one of his favorite things to do, watch her sleep. She looked younger than her years. Her small petite frame was almost swallowed up by the large couch. She looked so comfortable that he would have loved to join her. He couldn’t resist going over and kissing her exposed neck. She woke.

  “How long have I been asleep?”

  “I guess for about an hour. You didn’t sleep that well last night did you?”

  “No, I didn’t. My mind was awake even though my body was tired.” He understood what she meant because he had the same thing happen to him.

  “Are you almost done?”

  “I should be within the next fifteen minutes. I have just two more things to add to this last paragraph. Then I need to save it and send it over to the client before we leave.”

  Ava patiently waited while he finished. She watched him intently. He had his shirt sleeves rolled up. He had taken his tie off and opened his shirt a couple of buttons. She watched his muscles ripple under his shirt as he moved around his desk shuffling through some paperwork. She felt her core clench and she felt a heat start to build. She had never mentioned it to Xander, but she had a fantasy of having him take her in his office. Her face began to flush with arousal.

  “Okay, send is done now let me print a copy for the file and I’m finished.”

  She took this as her cue. She went to the door and shut it and began to unbutton her blouse. Xander was busy with his laptop and didn’t notice her state of undress. She was topless. She tossed her bra on his desk, and it startled him.

  “Ava, what are you doing? We can do this at home.”

  “I don’t want to do this at home. I want to do this now.”

  She huskily replied. She kicked off her shoes and reached under her skirt to remove her panties. Xander sat mesmerized watching her undress. She came towards him with nothing but her skirt on. When she reached him, she pulled his head between her breasts and he began to kiss them. He drew her tight against him. She straddled his legs, and he slipped a hand under her skirt. She was primed and wet for him. He was already hard from her little strip tease. He released her so that he could undo his belt and zipper.

  “Stand up so I can slip my pants down.” She did as he asked so that he was naked from the waist down. She took the opportunity to take off her skirt, and she was fully naked. He bent her over the desk spreading her legs wide.

  “Are you ready for me?”

  She didn’t answer but wagged her shapely ass at him. He took that as a yes and slid his cock into her wet folds. She cried out as he thrusted into her. He leaned over her back reaching around to caress her breasts and play with her nipples. She had slipped her hand between her legs and was rubbing herself. He removed his hands from her breasts and stood up, working his hips hard. She screamed with pleasure, and he hoped none of the cleaning crew was on the floor to hear it. He was at the edge, holding on to prevent climaxing first but it wasn’t to be. He released with one huge last thrust, holding himself in her as he exploded. He started to move again, and she followed his l
ead, climaxing hard. He felt her go limp on the desk, and he sat back in his chair pulling her onto his lap. He kissed her, spearing her mouth with his tongue. They stayed that way for several minutes, her naked in his arms and him with his pants pooled around his ankles.

  “I just can’t get enough of you,” he said.

  She nuzzled him under his chin. He reached for some tissues in his desk so they could clean up. He had come a lot, and it coated her inner thighs.

  “Maybe you should get dressed and try to clean up in the bathroom.”

  “I don’t care. I can shower when we get home.” She got off him and wiped herself as best she could. She pulled on her clothes, and he pulled up his pants.

  She turned to him, “You know that has been a fantasy ever since we started dating.”

  “What fantasy?”

  “Having sex in your office. I wanted to straddle you but bending me over the desk was fun, too.”

  “If you keep talking about what you wanted me to do to you we will be here until tomorrow.”

  Xander was right because his cock was starting to harden again. He tried to think of other things, but his fantasy of taking her against his windows kept popping into his head. He needed to do that soon.

  They arrived at her apartment, and the two felines started circling. It was nearing ten, well past their usual dinner time. Ava prepared their food while Xander called Soul Burger. He needed something substantial and ordered a large amount of food including several sides.

  “Wow, you are hungry.”

  “I haven’t eaten since lunch, and that was almost eight hours ago. I need some sustenance. Plus someone made me extra hungry with the expenditure of all that energy in my office.”