by Marie Harte
Had he thought she might run away if he’d told her ahead of time?
She rose from the table and excused herself to the restroom, thinking about all she’d learned.
Everything about the Donnigans made her like Landon even more. Hmm. What to make of that? The affection she felt for Landon, combined with the sex and the more she got to know of him, had her feeling something deeper. Something more serious.
She finished in the washroom and exited, still lost in thought about her stubborn boyfriend. They were so new. She shouldn’t feel this way yet, not for a man she’d technically only had eight dates with.
Of course, Landon would tell her they’d had nine, because he liked to irk her like that…
“Ava?” Gavin approached her. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Um, sure, Gavin.” Had something happened while she’d been in the bathroom?
He glanced behind them, then walked down the hallway toward what appeared to be a craft room.
“My mom sews. She used to do it a lot, but with her so busy with her job, she’s slowed down,” Gavin explained. “But hey, if you start popping out grandkids for her, I bet she’ll sew you a baby blanket. Maybe knit you a hat or booties.” He laughed at her.
But he looked tense.
“Very funny.” She gave him her best you-can-trust-me expression. “Now what did you want to talk about?”
He glanced at the doorway again. “I, ah, I was wondering if you could help me.”
“With what?”
“I kind of need to talk to someone. Like, a therapist. But I don’t want anyone to know.” He sighed. “And I don’t have a lot of money. But my job at the gym is good.”
“I know.” She felt for this man, knew what it had cost him to ask her. “I can’t help you, Gavin.”
He looked crestfallen, then stoic as he nodded.
“But not because I don’t want to. Because Landon and I are close, and I’d feel a conflict of interest in treating you. But I know someone who can help.” She paused. “This has to do with your time in the Marine Corps, doesn’t it?”
“Landon has a big mouth.” He scowled.
“I overheard you talking during the basketball game. I didn’t mean to pry.”
He sighed. “Sorry, you didn’t. I just…I feel like a loser as it is. Donnigans don’t do therapy.”
Ava hated that attitude. “Well maybe they should. Getting therapy doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re strong enough to know that you can’t do it alone. My friend Lee is an amazing therapist who deals with a lot of veterans. He’s really good. He’s helped a lot of people.”
“I don’t want drugs,” he warned.
“Lee’s not a psychiatrist. He’s a psychologist. We can’t prescribe medication. We do more with recognizing issues and learning how to deal with them without medication. And he works on a sliding scale. You work it out with him and pay what you can.”
Gavin nodded, looking embarrassed. “It’s not that I’m broke or anything. I have savings.”
“It’s not a problem, Gavin,” she said softly. “The fact that you want to see someone is healthy. Trust me. Everyone has anxiety.”
He grunted. “Not Landon.”
“Especially Landon.”
Gavin blinked. “Yeah?”
“Sometimes it’s the ones who feel the need to bear the weight of the world on their shoulders that stress the most. But Landon being Landon, he’ll never talk about it.” She gave a wry smile. “I’ve already been ordered not to shrink him. So the man who thinks he’s so smart will stress, while the brother with a brain gets himself some help.”
Gavin gave a slow nod, then his smile widened. “You know, I like that. The brother with the brain. You make a lot of sense.”
“I know,” she said, intentionally sounding smug.
Gavin pulled her in for a hug, and she just stood there, letting him lean on her. After some time, he pulled away. His eyes were shiny, but she made no mention of it, and neither did he.
“Guess I’d better get back before Landon jerks your chain.” Gavin snickered. “He’s so gone on you, Ava. Be gentle with him.”
“Gentle? With Landon? Your brother?”
They both laughed at that. Then Gavin left the room and closeted himself in the bathroom while she rejoined the party.
When Landon saw her, he frowned, but caught in a conversation between his father and mother, he couldn’t move. She stuck out her tongue at him, and he relaxed.
Theo arrived, and the conversation soon shifted to his day at the coffee shop.
Landon took the opportunity to scoop Ava up and left with a promise to return—with Ava—for breakfast when they could next arrange it.
In his car, they sat in silence. Then they turned to each other, and at the same time, said, “You owe me.”
Landon frowned. “The hell I do.” He paused, and his expression turned grim. “Okay, Doc. I want the truth.”
“About?”
“What the hell did you and my brother talk about? And why the fuck was he all over you?”
Chapter 16
Landon couldn’t contain the accusation. He knew damn well nothing weird had happened between Gavin and Ava. But having seen his brother hugging her, some jealous instinct had taken over and turned him into an asshole.
She raised a calm, arrogant brow back at him. Damn it all, but he wanted to fuck her and yell at her and kiss her all at the same time.
“Excuse me?”
He groaned and covered his eyes, then looked at her once more. “I know. I sound like a dick. But I need to know. Is he okay?” Did he shove his tongue down your throat? Did he charm you away from me?
Such pathetic thoughts, because he thought he knew what Gavin wanted. And what kind of a loser didn’t want his brother to get better?
Ava relaxed and put a hand on his arm. “He’s going to be okay. I can’t talk about it, because I said wouldn’t. But I know someone who can help him.”
“So not you?” Why he felt relief at that, he couldn’t say.
“It wouldn’t be right.”
“Why not?” Landon started the vehicle and drove them back to her place.
“Because I’m your girlfriend, or at least, that’s what you’ve been telling everyone.”
Yeah. Mine.
She continued, “It wouldn’t be right to treat him when you and I are involved in a relationship. It would feel odd to me, and I wouldn’t want Gavin to think I’m sharing confidences.”
“You don’t tell me about your patients as it is.”
“And I never will,” she said smoothly.
He chuckled. “I gotcha.”
“And while we’re on the subject of who owes whom, what the hell, Landon?” She punched him in the arm.
“Ow.” Not bad. That had hurt.
“Why would we just show up at your parents’ and you not warn me first?”
“Warn you about what?”
She just looked at him, all intelligent and advanced degrees and fuckin’ hot as hell.
“I didn’t think it would be a big deal,” he tried as an excuse. He’d wanted to see her with his parents. It was stupid, but he’d known she’d fit right in. Again. The woman seemed made for him, and it was starting to freak him out. They’d had sex again last night. A long, slow, passionate coming-together that had been more like a religious experience. Jesus, coming inside her, with her, was like nothing on earth.
“You think I’m buying that lame excuse? How would you feel if I just dragged you to meet my parents out of the blue? A little pressured, maybe?”
“Nah. Parents love me.”
She rolled her eyes, but he saw her slight smile. “You’re a pain, you know that?”
“What I know is you got me in the doghouse with my parents because of Claudia.
” He loved that bite of jealousy she couldn’t hide. Mention of Claudia turned Ava’s eyes a sharp, possessive green.
“It was childish, I know.” She didn’t sound repentant at all. “But worth it.”
“Worth some discipline, I’m thinking.” And like that, he was hard. He’d done his damnedest all evening to think pure thoughts. Being around his parents should have dampened any arousal. And for the most part, it had, turning his sexual feelings for Ava into that deeper emotional bullshit he hated having to face.
He’d swear he’d started to seriously fall for her. Not a crush, not sexual captivation—though God knew she made him come harder than any woman ever had—but soul-deep connection shit.
“I tell you what, Major. You answer some questions for me, and I’ll let you push me around at home.”
“Deal.” Uh-oh. Maybe letting his glands do the talking hadn’t been smart. Her obvious satisfaction unnerved him. “Ah, what questions?”
They arrived at her house all too soon. He turned off the SUV and hustled to get her out as well, then rushed into the complex. They were in her unit, the door locked behind them in no time, and he’d already spotted the couch, where he planned to bend her over and…
“Wait a minute.” She planted a hand on his chest, stopping him from coming closer. After removing her coat and shoes, she waited for him to do the same. “Hang them up, then come here.”
She sat on the couch and turned to wait for him.
He sat, knowing he had his dick to blame for accepting her deal too fast. “Go ahead.” He sighed.
“What’s going on with your mom and Hope?”
He hadn’t been expecting that. “Um, well, Mom expects a lot out of us. And of her kids, Hope and Theo have been the ones she struggles the most with. Gavin and I knew what we wanted from a young age. We joined the Corps. Despite our problems, we loved it.”
She watched him, her gaze intense. “But Hope…?”
“She’s flitted around from job to job a lot. Like Theo, but she’s older. She’s been working with our cousin for a while, and she seems to like it. But Mom rides her pretty hard. I think it’s a mother-daughter thing.”
“Probably.” She held her chin in her hand, and he wanted to play doctor patient with her again. Right now. “Tell me something else.”
“Yeah?”
“Does this thing between us feel fast?”
He frowned. “Fast?”
“We hooked up pretty fast. It’s only been a little over two weeks.”
“Nah.” It couldn’t be. He felt as if he’d always known her.
“I did the math.”
“You would.” He scoffed, then shut up when she glared at him. Damn. Her mean look totally turned him on.
“It’s just… I feel like we’re connecting. Or at least, I am. But with you I can’t tell.”
He glanced down at his erection, saw her follow his gaze, and asked, “Seriously? You can’t tell?”
She flushed. “I meant emotionally. When it comes to your feelings, I know nothing about you.”
“Oh, come on.”
“No. Tell me something about you that isn’t about your job, your family, or your cock.”
He blinked. When she used those four-letter words, he wanted nothing more than to ride her like a bucking bronco. “Well, since my cock is off limits,” he tried to joke. She didn’t crack a smile. “Fine. Jesus. You’re going to be like all the others, aren’t you?”
As soon as he said it, he knew he’d said the wrong thing.
But Ava didn’t react the way he thought she might. No tears or anger because he lumped her in with other women. She waited, saying nothing, just watching.
“Something emotional? Fine. I loved the Marine Corps.”
“I know that. Something else.” She paused, and he had the sense she was testing him. “How did you feel about leaving the service?”
Easy. “I hated it. I loved being in.”
“Why did you get out?”
He frowned. “I told you this. I got shot. My knee didn’t heal right. Couldn’t go back to full duty.” Such a bitch, hearing that announcement from medical. He’d been fast-tracking for colonel for sure. Instead, he’d been medically retired a major. Big fuckin’ deal.
“Do you miss it?”
“Every damn day. Happy now?” The grief and anger he’d pushed past to get on with his life came rushing back. “Did you get what you needed from me?”
She nodded, surprising him. “Yes. You were honest. Thank you.”
He wanted to be angry about her manipulating him, but the pleasure in her gaze stopped him. “So, hold on. You’re glad you pissed me off?”
“Anger is a healthy emotion. You shouldn’t ignore it. You should accept it. Which you did.”
“What about you? What makes you angry?”
“Me?” She bit her lower lip in thought, and his cock twitched. “I don’t like being lied to. And I especially dislike being told what to do.” She gave him a pointed glance then paused. “But with you, for some reason, I get turned on when we have sex and you order me around.”
Music to his ears. “And now it’s my turn.” He stood. “Get naked and bend over the couch.”
She shrugged. “Fine. But it’s probably too low for deep penetration.”
He forced himself to remain calm, when he wanted nothing more than to shove himself inside her. If she could act cool and collected while talking about penetration, so could he. “What would you suggest?”
“My bed downstairs.” She shrugged. “But I doubt you can contain yourself. You’re pretty quick to get off, aren’t you?”
“What did you say?” Well hell, his cheeks felt hot.
“It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Sometimes there are medical conditions for—”
“Shut up.” He clamped a hand over her mouth, and it took him a moment to realize she was laughing her ass off. “Funny girl, huh?” He lifted her over his shoulder and took her downstairs while she laughed the whole way down.
He stood her on her feet, by her bed.
“Get naked, Doc. Strip.”
“My, how creative.”
She was in a mood, and he loved it. Waspish, snarky, totally not afraid of him. But she would be, especially when he held her on the brink of orgasm over and over again…
* * *
Ava begged him to enter her, but the jerk refused.
“You’re a brat, you know that?” He grinned down at her. Naked and straddling her waist, he sat on his heels, his dick like a spike, and did nothing with it. Not a damn thing. He teased her with the sight of it while he continued to pluck her nipples, kiss her mindless, and finger her all over the place while keeping her pinned down with one hand holding her wrists above her head.
“Are you going to fuck me or what?” she rasped, her body on fire.
“Such language. Tsk, tsk.” Landon scooted forward, allowing her to spread her thighs wide once more. “My girlfriend has a potty mouth, doesn’t she?”
She groaned. “You’re such an asshole.” And his dick was too far away to do her any good.
“Yep. Pot-ty.”
She tried not to laugh. “I’m wet. My nipples are hard. I’m so ready to come.”
“Yes, you are.” He sounded way too satisfied for her. She couldn’t believe he continued to hold out, especially because he looked to be in pain. His cock was long, thick, and slick at the tip. Flushed and definitely aroused, yet content to drive her insane.
“Okay, I’m sorry I said you’re quick on the draw.” But she wasn’t. Not really. The man had foreplay down to a science, but he needed his ego knocked down a bit.
“You’re not sorry.”
“You’re going to be sorry if you don’t end my suffering,” she snarled and tried to free herself from his grip. His one measly wrist holdi
ng both of hers to the bed. The man’s strength impressed the hell out of her, and turned her way, way on.
“Fight harder, my pretty little doc,” he murmured, moved back down her body, and stared at her breasts while she tried to free herself.
She watched him lean forward and take a nipple in his mouth. He sucked hard and teethed her sensitive flesh. She arched into him on a cry, squirming on the bed, needing him inside her.
“Please,” she moaned and tried harder to get free. That she couldn’t ramped her arousal to unimaginable heights.
“Tell me you’re sorry.”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
He sucked her other nipple, and she swore she felt the start of a climax.
Then he let go, and she cursed.
“Some mouth on you.” He shook his head, his eyes so dark they looked black. He lowered his weight, and she felt his balls over her upper belly, his shaft straight and hard. If she could scoot down the bed, she’d be able to take him in her mouth and suck the mean out of him.
But he wouldn’t let her.
“The thing is, Ava, you were shrinking me earlier. And you were brutal about it. But I think it’s just because you wanted to get punished. You want that, don’t you?”
Oh God, she did. “No.”
“Yes.” He levered himself off her and lay next to her.
She missed his heat.
But his hand started moving down her body. He watched her face while his fingers plucked reactions out of her she couldn’t help. Her groans, the spasms of pleasure, the shivers as her flesh hardened.
“Yeah, you’re nice and wet for me. You want a cock, don’t you, baby? A thick cock to pump you full of come.”
She was panting and unashamed. “You’re killing me.”
“You ready for your spanking, Doc?”
“No.”
He grinned and moved in for a kiss while his fingers found her sex. He slid through her folds and kissed her, his tongue penetrating where his finger wouldn’t. He glided close to her clit but never with enough pressure to fully satisfy her. She followed his mouth, aching for him.
He pulled back, his eyes dark, his blond hair a bright beacon, a pretend angel seducing her into grunts and groans.