Passionate Kisses

by Various

“Who the hell are you?” she demanded. The woman carried a purse and a duffel bag with her. She didn’t look like a robber, but then one never knew anymore.

  “Maybe I should be asking you that.”

  “This is my parents’ house. I did not expect to find a man in the living room when I know they are at the hospital.”

  Her parents? What?

  “What is going on?” Avery’s sleepy voice startled Lucas. He turned to see her at the stairwell, rubbing her eyes and staring at the woman.

  “Okay, now this is getting stranger. Who are- Oh, you’re the adopted kid, aren’t you?” the woman asked, glaring at Avery. She set her bag down beside the couch and crossed her arms over her chest.

  “Paula?” Avery asked.

  “Yeah, that’s me. So you’re the one who Mom and Dad took in soon after I left. This your guy?” Paula jerked her thumb at Lucas, giving him a dirty look.

  “Something like that.” Avery sounded more awake and alert now. She crossed the threshold into the living room, now standing by his side. Lucas slipped an arm around her shoulders.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you would show up.”

  How awkward. Lucas could tell that Avery had never met the woman before. Poor thing.

  “Well, it’s been long overdue. I’ve ... had things to deal with. Though I haven’t been around, I’ve kept tabs on Mom and Dad. We talk, just not often enough. When I got the message about Mom being in the hospital, I came in as quickly as possible. I didn’t have a key, and I thought I’d just attempt to get in. I didn’t think about you being here, or I would have called. I’m sorry for scaring you.” She sounded sincere enough, but the woman still glared at them as if they were intruders. “I don’t suppose there’s a room for me to stay in? Did you take it over?” She shot an accusatory look at Avery.

  What a bitch! Avery didn’t deserve that kind of attitude from this woman.

  Lucas felt Avery’s body stiffen. “No, I don’t have your room. It’s still available. I stay up in the attic room. I’ve always loved it ever since I was little.” The hurt in Avery’s voice made Lucas’s blood boil. He held his tongue.

  He didn’t like the Paula woman much, but it was only a first impression, and in a situation as odd as this, he supposed he couldn’t blame her for being so irritated. It’s not often one met their adopted sister at such a late stage in their life.

  “Are you hungry?”

  “I’ll make myself something later. Right now I think I’ll just catch a nap and then go see my parents when I wake up later.” Paula pushed right past them. The way she emphasized on the words ‘my parents’ gave Lucas an inclination that she was jealous of Avery. As the woman shuffled up the stairs without a backwards glance, Avery trembled slightly.

  “She doesn’t seem to care for me much,” Avery muttered.

  “No, it doesn’t look that way. Let it roll, honey. She is tired, and you’ve just met. I imagine that once you two get to know each other, maybe she’ll realize you’re wonderful and not out to steal the spotlight or something.”

  Avery glanced up at him, tears in her eyes. “I suppose you’re right. It just caught me off guard. Thank you, Lucas.”

  “You’re welcome, Avery.” He wrapped her up in a hug. “Why don’t we go back to bed? Catch a few hours more of sleep.”

  Avery nodded as she let out a yawn. “Coming back with me?”

  Hell yes. He wouldn’t leave her now, not with another stranger in the house. Sure, Paula was probably harmless, but right now Lucas wasn’t taking any chances. Besides, he enjoyed having someone next to him in bed. Not just anyone. Avery. “Absolutely.”

  Avery checked the doors, turned off the light, and the two made their way back upstairs to her bedroom. Lucas peeled back the comforter and slipped underneath it, waiting for Avery to settle in before pulling her close for a snuggle.

  When the lights went out, they were quiet, until Lucas heard a sigh. “Hey.” He ruffled her hair. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes and no,” came her sleepy reply. Lucas found Avery’s hand and squeezed it.

  “Want to talk about it?”

  Avery laughed. “How much time do you have?”

  “For you, as much as you need.”

  “Right now, I’m thinking of all the new people in my life, and how they are all affecting me. That includes you, Lucas. I just- how is it we made love last night and I don’t think I even know your last name? There’s so much I don’t know about you. You’re shrouded in secrecy.”

  He couldn’t deny that one. Oh, how he wanted to tell her things. Avery was the kind of woman that made Lucas want to change his life. Coming here had it’s downfalls, but meeting Avery, being with her- that changed his outlook. If only it could be more than what it was now. But first, he would have to come clean, and what would that do?

  “Bennett. My last name is Bennett,” Lucas said softly. That was a start. Would that ever be enough for her, absolutely not. Lucas had a shady past. Why would Avery ever want to know about that? She lived a decent life. What had Avery ever done wrong?

  Okay, that wasn’t fair. Just because Avery didn’t run around with people that didn’t have it that great didn’t mean a thing. She was a big girl and could probably handle anything that came her way. If Lucas knew one thing about Avery, it was that she could hold her own. She was a strong woman.

  Well, almost anything. Her life was changing everyday. Lucas saw it the entire time he had been here. He was part of that change now.

  “Okay, Lucas Bennett. So now I know your last name.” Avery slid a finger across his cheek. “Sorry. I shouldn’t ramble so much. What I should do is get some rest. But now I’m wide awake.”

  So was Lucas. In more ways than one.

  “I don’t think you’re rambling, and I don’t mind.” Her touch soothed him. She had a graceful touch, one that held Lucas captive. But he enjoyed it. Enjoyed her.

  “Why did you come to Harmony’s Echo, Lucas?” Avery sounded half asleep now. Maybe she was more tired than she thought. Within moments, she sounded like she was asleep. Her breathing became shallow.

  Lucas stroked her hair, holding her close.

  I want to tell you everything. It’s something I should have done, despite what’s at stake. I don’t want to lose you.

  Softly, he kissed her cheek, then whispered, “I came for you, Avery. I’m here for you.”

  *****

  Avery woke to the sound of a phone ringing. She cracked an eyelid open. Slivers of sunlight broke through the blinds from the window. What time was it now? Yawning, she reached for the phone. Lucas lay sprawled across the bed, still asleep.

  When she attempted to answer her phone and heard it still ring, reality struck. It wasn’t her phone going off. It must be Lucas’s. It laid in plain sight on top of Lucas’s pants on the floor by the bed. Avery squinted to see the caller ID, but the number was blocked. The ringing and blocked number only made her more curious and before she could think things through, Avery reached for his phone and hit the answer button. Then she freaked, not sure what to do. She couldn’t even muster up the nerve to say hello, but the person on the other end of the phone started talking frantically. It was a woman. Not a young one. She sounded older.

  “Lucas, are you there? Hello? Look, I know you’re mad at me, but I wanted to explain things. I know I’ve put you in a horrible position. Come on, Lucas-”

  Then the phone was snatched from her hands. Avery gasped, startled. She turned to face Lucas, who put the phone up to his ear and snapped, “I’ll call you back.” After he ended the call and tossed the phone to the bed, he shot Avery an angry look. His eyes narrowed, his lips set into a thin line. Shit. He was mad.

  “I-. I don’t know what came over me. At first, I thought it was my phone. Then I just, I wasn’t thinking. I’m sorry, Lucas.”

  The woman’s voice on the other end of that call echoed in Avery’s mind. Who was she? Why was Lucas mad at her? Oh, she should have never done that. Now it only confused
Avery even more.

  “Damn it, Avery,” Lucas said in a low voice. He sat at the edge of her bed, staring at the window with a faraway look.

  “I’m sorry! I’m an idiot. I don’t know why I did it!” Avery sputtered. What next? What would Lucas do now?

  Lucas sighed. “Avery. Stop.”

  He looked up at her, a torn expression on his face. His eyes clouded over with frustration. But he reached for her hands and took them in his.

  “I need to tell you something. I’ve been wanting to, anyway.”

  A nervous knot formed in Avery’s belly. This wouldn’t be good, would it? She watched Lucas’s every move. A nerve ticked in his jaw. He seemed really wrought out by whatever it was. Like it would be hard to say, or something.

  “I’m here to keep an eye on you. Kind of, anyway. You and Rodney.” Lucas never let his gaze waver away from Avery’s face. She gasped.

  “What do you mean? Why?” Avery fought the urge to yell and scream. Bile rose in her throat.

  “I represent someone that isn’t sure about Rodney’s intentions. So I was sent here.”

  “So you and I- this- what we did-” Oh, how perfect for him. Avery played right into his plans. Just when she thought Lucas’s feelings were real. What a fool.

  “Avery, no. Having feelings for you was never part of the plan. That’s why this makes it so much harder. I was just supposed to be here a few weeks, make sure you were okay, and go back to my life. But meeting you changed that. And then I didn’t know how to tell you-”

  “Who are you representing, and why would they care about me or Rodney?” Avery’s anger began to build now. How could she be so stupid? Last night had been amazing, and then this bombshell today? Avery flew off the bed, needing to distance herself from Lucas.

  That explained why he’d had so many reservations before. The night in his room, when he’d pushed her away. The kisses he’d started then bolted from. So what changed last night? “Ugh!” She wanted to throw something.

  Lucas was by her side in a span of a heartbeat. He held her hands in his. Avery almost pushed away, but instead let his hands encircle her wrists. “Avery,” he whispered. Another look clouded his eyes.

  “I have a right to know, Lucas. Who the hell are you?”

  “Everything I’ve told you is true. I promise you.”

  “And now you’re words are supposed to have any merit with me right now?”

  Lucas lowered his head. “No, you’re right. But give me a chance to explain. Please?”

  “Fine. Explain.” This better be good.

  “Can we sit down? Something? Please?” Lucas motioned toward the bed.

  “Oh that’s a good one. You want to go back to bed?” Now she was just hurtling words. Avery didn’t care. Her heart raced, her blood boiled. Just when she thought she could have something with Lucas-.

  No. Just stop those thoughts right there.

  “I just want to talk, Avery. I understand you’re angry. You have a right to be. This isn’t easy for me.”

  “Fine. Let’s sit. Talk.” Lucas followed Avery as she perched at the edge of her bed. She folded her arms over her chest and waited. Lucas told her last night that she could trust him! How’s that for trust? Avery knew he had his secrets, but she had never imagined one had to do with her.

  Lucas frowned. “Okay. I’m just going to say this straight up. But when I do, there’s no taking it back, and I need you to not run off angry. I need you to listen.” Lucas took her hand in his, but Avery snatched it away.

  “I don’t need you holding me down. I’ll be right here, listening to every word. But right now, you’re stalling.” Avery clasped her hands in her lap. Her legs started to tremble.

  Lucas sighed. “Okay. Here goes. I represent someone that knows your birth mother.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  “What?” Avery shot to her feet as if someone had kicked her off the bed. “You what? I can not believe I’m hearing this! Why would you not tell me that, Lucas, especially since you’ve been around me when I’ve talked to Rodney and wondered. You made love to me knowing this information. You- you- Oh my God, Lucas!”

  “Avery, I’m bound by contract. I could get in serious trouble for even talking about this right now. And trust me, I’ve been fighting it. I didn’t want to get involved with you, at least not without you knowing who I am. I can’t stand that I had to hold that in. I didn’t plan on what happened with us. You have to believe me.” Lucas practically pleaded.

  “I don’t have to do anything,” Avery growled. She ran a hand through her hair, trying to decide what to do, what to say next. “Do you know who she is? My mother? Have you met her?”

  Lucas hesitated.

  Was he going to lie again?

  “I’ve met her. I don’t know her that well.”

  “Damn you, Lucas. I guess it’s a good thing you’ll probably be on your way soon, and I can forget you, right? Or how long do you plan on staying here to spy? Does Rodney know who you are?” She fired off each question, each one like she was spitting fire. How dare he! How dare he! And how stupid was she, coming on to him like she had without ever knowing honestly who the man was? Forget temptation, forget urges and desire, she should have thought with her head instead of anything else. Then maybe she could think with better judgment.

  “He has no idea who I am.”

  “I can’t believe you. Trust you? You keep saying that,” Avery muttered bitterly. Ha! Trust him! What other secrets was he hiding? Was his name even Lucas? Fury consumed her. She let herself get too close to another man. Avery palmed her face in her hands and tried to gather herself.

  “Avery- something tells me you aren’t safe. That’s why I’m here. Not to hurt you. I went and did a damn good job of that, didn’t I?” Lucas stood, catching one of her wrists and pulled her to him. Avery struggled, but then gave in, sobs erupting from her body. She cried into his shoulder. With her free hand she punched Lucas’s chest, until he caught that arm too. “I’m sorry, Avery. I really am.” She said nothing. What more could she say? Avery let out her frustration through her tears against Lucas. “Go ahead and cry. Let it out. I’m so sorry, Avery.”

  He could soothe her with his voice, with his touch, but Avery no longer felt right. She pulled away from him like he was on fire and glared at him through blurred vision. She shook her head. “What do you mean, I’m not safe?”

  She wasn’t safe from Lucas, or her conflicting feelings, that’s for sure. But that couldn’t have been what Lucas referred to.

  “I don’t have much information other than some concerns now, from your birth mother, that you aren’t safe.”

  “That’s crazy. Why wouldn’t I be safe? Other than falling into bed with a man that isn’t honest?”

  “Low blow, Avery.” Lucas reeled back as if he’d been slapped.

  “It’s not any worse than what you’ve just admitted, Lucas. I’m just speaking the truth.”

  “Just be careful. That’s all I’m asking.”

  “Right now, you’re the last person I should be taking that advice from, unless you’re warning me about yourself. I can’t imagine I’d be in any danger from Rodney. Why don’t you just go back and tell my birth mother that I’m fine! I don’t need to be looked after,” Avery shot back. Lucas’s eyes narrowed and he looked away, but not before Avery saw the hurt flash in his eyes. She’d hit him where it counted. Right now, she didn’t care. Let him be hurt. He should have thought of that before letting things go this far before being honest. Contract, bah! Shouldn’t it state in a contract not to have sex with the woman he had to keep an eye on? He went and broke that rule, but he wouldn’t tell Avery what she needed to know? Seems like the lines were crossed and yet he wouldn’t even tell Avery anything more.

  “You don’t mean that.”

  “What would you know about what I mean, Lucas? It’s all a game to you. Double crossing. Lying. You used me. I’ve heard what you had to say, and I didn’t run off. But right now, I need to go see h
ow my mom is doing. You need to go.”

  Without a word, Lucas gathered his clothes, quickly got dressed and stuffed his phone in his pocket. “This isn’t over, Avery. I hate that I hurt you, but I came here to do something, and I intend to see it through. I didn’t use you, despite what you think. I feel more for you than I ever imagined I could.” Lucas watched her for a moment before turning away and leaving the room. She waited until she heard the sound of the front door closing before heaving a sigh, sinking to the floor in tears.

  ******

  Lucas stormed back to his room. He was so riled up. A run might help relieve the stress. But before that, he needed to make a phone call. This morning didn’t turn out at all like he’d thought. He wasn’t even that upset at Avery for answering his phone. Should he have been? Maybe, but that was so low on the list it didn’t matter. What mattered was that he’d let his feelings get in the way of his job.

  That wasn’t something he ever intended on. Hell, he hadn’t really felt anything before. Meeting Avery changed that. He should have just come clean then, when he realized that he actually cared for her. Now everything turned into a complete fucking mess. She would probably never forgive him again, and then how would he keep her safe? But the questions was, safe from what? If he didn’t have all the answers, how could he do anything?

  That’s why he needed to make that phone call. Avery wasn’t the only person he needed to come clean with. Somehow, he had to fix this. All of it. Then find a way to a new start. No more of this shitty life, keeping secrets, doing things to make other people’s lives better when in all honesty, it wouldn’t be. They would go on and still make their mistakes. Lucas just wouldn’t be there to clean it up any longer.

  Then maybe his conscience would be clean and he would be free. Live the kind of life he wanted. Strike out on his own. But what would he do? He’d been tagging around so long that being literally on his own would be a strange new event.

  But it’s one he wanted. So very badly.

  Then maybe he could find a way to regain Avery’s trust. He had to at least give it a shot.