by Tess Summers
It was a beautiful July day so they decided to walk to Barrio, a restaurant downtown that offered American cuisine. They had walked a block making pleasant chitchat, but while standing behind her as they were waiting for the crosswalk light, he growled in her ear, “Do you know what I’m going to do to you later tonight? Let’s just say your panties would come flying off right here if you knew.”
She smiled and discreetly reached behind to squeeze the inside of his thigh as she leaned back and said, “What makes you think I’m wearing any?”
He looked a little startled, then quickly regained his composure and said loudly, “Whoa, Ms. Ericson. Slow down! I thought this was just a business lunch!” then gave her a wink.
She needed some kind of armor to protect her knees from going weak every time he winked at her. She was thankful for his strong grip on her elbow that guided her across the street once the light changed.
The restaurant was a charming, upscale café in the city center. The maître d’ started making a fuss the minute they walked through the door, and they were seated immediately in a booth in the prominent part of the restaurant, in spite of there being an obvious wait—based on the number of people milling around by the doors. So this is what it’s like to go out with him in public. No wonder women went gaga over him. She’d caught a taste of it when they went to Figurino’s, but she thought she had played a small role in how well they were treated there.
“So how do you know Charlie Patterson?” he asked her once they had ordered.
“How do you know Charlie Patterson?” she teased.
“He’s a junior associate at my firm,” he shot back. “Your turn.” He wasn’t teasing.
Was he jealous? And of Charlie Patterson of all people?
She knew she should diffuse the situation. She never thought she’d ever see the day when he was jealous over her. It was an interesting and odd feeling.
“He is my ex-boyfriend’s roommate.” Then she couldn’t resist adding, “I think he was checking me out before he realized it was me. He was so embarrassed when he figured out who I was.”
“Well too bad for him that you’re going to be waking up in my bed tomorrow morning,” he snarled bluntly.
“I am? I don’t recall being invited, Mr. Sterling.”
He grabbed her hand and started to suck on her wrist sensually and seductively. “You have an open invitation to my bed, baby. Any time.” With his free hand, he reached under the table and slid a hand up her inner thigh beneath her skirt. “Especially if you aren’t wearing any underwear.” She tried to move away and snatch her hand back, but he held it tight to his lips and squeezed her thigh, all while grinning devilishly at her.
“Stop it!” she hissed, looking around to see if people were watching. They were, of course.
He continued to blatantly snack on her wrist while she tried in vain to discreetly pull away. He was tracing the inside of her thigh. She knew he was trying to move high enough to see if she was lying about her panties. Her skirt was too long to do so without hiking it up, although she wasn’t about to put it past him not to do just that. He was embarrassing her as punishment for making him jealous. He finally released her hand but made no attempt to remove his hand from her thigh. She looked around again. People were staring and whispering. She was sure they were wondering who is this woman being kissed by Travis Sterling? and she was going to kill him if her picture ended up in the Out and About section of tomorrow’s paper. She felt her face starting to get red. The arrogant smirk hadn’t left Travis’ face.
She squeezed his arm and hissed, “I am afraid I will not be able to go on any more business lunches with you, Mr. Sterling, if you’re going to behave like this.”
Just then their food arrived, and he casually brought his hand back. Wow, that was fast. People who had already been seated when they arrived hadn’t even had their orders taken yet. She looked over at him. Special treatment seemed to be second nature to him, expected. When he entered the door, people bowed and scurried-ready to carry out his every demand. She wondered if anyone had ever told him no in his life. Watching him prepare to cut his steak, she knew if it happened, it was few and far between. His air of confidence and cockiness was a sexy aphrodisiac, and she was not immune.
“I was serious about you waking up in my bed tomorrow. Come for dinner tonight and I’ll make you breakfast in the morning.” Her flirtatious man was back.
She almost told him no just to see his reaction, but then thought better of it. She didn’t want to risk a repeat performance of her wrist, thigh, or any other body parts being molested in public again.
“Aren’t you working late again tonight?”
“I’m at a point where I can take a well-deserved break,” he replied.
“I was planning on going to the gym after work to swim laps, but I can come by after that. I can probably get there shortly after you do.” She knew when he was working normal hours, he usually arrived home a little after seven-thirty p.m.
“Swim laps at my place. I want you there when I get home.” He grinned at her. “I’ll even pick up some take-out.”
It was his usual commanding, not suggesting. Still, Ava had to admit, she liked the idea of swimming by herself at his place better than going to her gym’s public pool, so she didn’t argue. Instead she smiled and said, “I’ll make the salad.”
“Perfect.”
They finished lunch and strolled back toward his office, stopping at the fountain in the middle of the square. She wanted to kiss him right there as the mist of the spraying water hit them while they sat on the statue’s edge. She looked around, needing a distraction to keep her from doing just that, and saw a small anthill a few feet away in the cobblestone bricks of the plaza. She proceeded to point out interesting ant facts she had learned when observing a colony for one of her high school science projects. He was listening with interest and amusement as she animatedly described how ants will care for insects of other species in order to get their sugary honeydew, and he feigned amazement when she continued to explain what the movie A Bug’s Life, got right and wrong.
Travis raised one eyebrow, indicating he had no idea what A Bug’s Life was.
“It’s a children’s movie about an ant colony,” she dismissively told him before continuing on enthusiastically about what was accurate and inaccurate about the film. She squatted in front of the anthill and observed the occupants hard at work before she stood up and smiled. He smiled back, having enjoyed the impromptu, but passionate, lesson on tiny insects that could carry fifty times their body weight.
She really was comfortable around him, loving she could be herself, and that he seemed to appreciate her just as she was. It would have been so easy to hold his hand while they walked along the downtown streets and stop occasionally for a romantic peck like lovers do. She savored the feeling she got when she was around him: content, safe, and adored all wrapped up with a happy bow. She knew for sure at that moment she was in love with him and was more than certain it was not going to end well for her. He had been very upfront about his feelings regarding being someone’s boyfriend or husband—she had no one to blame but herself. In all fairness, she could blame how good he looked in that suit and the heavenly things he did to her body, but that didn’t negate his crystal clear edict on commitment.
He made sure she got to her car safely, gave her the code to the security system at his house, and softly but discreetly kissed her on the mouth. “Next time you come to my building, I don’t want you to wait in the lobby for me. Come directly to my office. That way I can kiss you properly behind closed doors.”
She liked the idea of that, but suspected kissing her behind closed doors was secondary to making sure she wasn’t chatted up by any of his underlings again. “See you tonight,” she said quietly.
He told her, “I’ll be home around seven-thirty,” then shut her door and waited for her to roll the driver’s window down. Leaning in through the opening, he reached a
ll the way up her skirt until he felt her panties. Rubbing in circles over the silky garment, he growled, “Liar,” before kissing her again, more leisurely this time, then stepping back. She blew him a kiss, then drove off.
Ava, girl, you need a reality check. Fast.
*
Travis was in the lobby of his building waiting for the elevator when Bob Tressinga, one of the more senior attorneys on his staff, approached and pushed the already lit up button. “I was jealous of your lunch date, my friend. I don’t know how, but I’m fairly certain every girl you’re with is prettier than the last. You are my god. You have to teach me how to get women like that.”
Travis smiled knowingly. “She’s just a friend.” He thought about what Ava had said the other night about being able to say they were friends, because they were.
Just then, Stuart Chamberlin joined the waiting group. “Who’s just a friend? That little minx you took to lunch today? Man, I’d like to be her friend.” He seemed to feel safe commenting about his boss’ lunch date in that manner, since Travis had made it clear they weren’t an item.
The elevator doors opened and as they entered, Travis snarled, “That minx, as you like to call her, is Judge Ericson’s daughter, fellas. So wipe your mouths and have some respect.” He was annoyed at their openly lusting after the woman he was secretly sleeping with, but played it off as if he was offended out of deference to her father.
* * * *
Ava finished doing laps and went inside to the kitchen, hair damp, and still clad in her bikini. She had forgotten her cover-up, so she had taken one of Travis’ dirty dress shirts out of his hamper to use as one. It still smelled liked him. Holding it to her face, she took a deep breath of the material and sighed happily as she inhaled his scent before slipping it on over her.
The dogs were on a playdate at the dog walker’s so she had the entire house all to herself. Kay had taken them home after their afternoon walk and left a note saying she’d return them tomorrow. Ava giggled. Only his dogs would go on sleepovers.
Still having thirty minutes before Travis would be home, she took her time gathering the ingredients for the salad and placing them on the counter, then decided to listen to the music on her phone while preparing the contents. Putting on her favorite song, she spun around the island, shaking her hips to the beat while looking for a bowl to mix the salad in, along with a knife and cutting board to dice and chop the peppers, cucumbers, and tomatoes. She was bopping around the kitchen, singing along and shimmying, when Travis walked in, twenty-five minutes earlier than expected. She didn’t know he was home yet—the dogs were not there to sound their barking alarm to alert her to his presence, and her music was up loud so she hadn’t heard the garage door open and close.
*
He stood there, mesmerized, watching her move around his kitchen with complete abandon and set the bag of takeout down quietly next to his briefcase before loosening his tie. Seemingly out of nowhere, a wall of emotions hit him all at once. He realized he loved every single thing about her. He had loved walking around the city with her today, listening to her talk passionately about ants, of all things—trivial things he would have never given a second thought to before he met her. He loved that the excitement he felt over the thought of coming home to her made him leave work earlier than he had in years. He adored how she was kind to whoever crossed her path and smiled at everyone she met, how she always showed appreciation to anyone who helped her, and how she genuinely cared about others. He loved that, in spite of being flipping brilliant, she often didn’t get it when he was teasing her, but she could be feisty as hell and wasn’t afraid of him. He was crazy about her goofy sense of humor and how nerdy and naïve she could be, and that she openly adored him and didn’t care he knew it. Right now, he couldn’t name one place he’d rather be than watching her dance around his kitchen. He did not like Charlie Patterson, Bob, or Stuart—or any other Tom, Dick, or Harry for that matter—thinking they had a shot with her. She was his and his alone. He’d never felt like this about anyone. It was to his inner core, and he suddenly had an animalistic need to claim her as his.
He didn’t take his eyes off her as he slowly walked into the kitchen and shut off her music. She jumped with a start and smiled welcomingly at him. He didn’t smile back, just continued over to her and immediately started unbuttoning the shirt of his that she had on. The house seemed totally silent. She stood there, completely still, his face inches from hers but staring intently at his task of undoing the last of the buttons on the shirt before pulling it open to reveal her bikini. He looked her up and down before untying her top and pulling her bottoms down around her ankles, placing his shoe on them so she could step out. He looked her over again, this time almost evaluating her with his eyes. She continued standing there, motionless and naked under his shirt, letting him objectify her. She seemed to try to look into his eyes, but he was completely focused on her body. This was different than his usual teasingly leering—it was primal. He still hadn’t said a word when he picked her up and put her on the counter. He undid his belt and slid his pants and boxers off, his cock already completely erect. With carnal lust, he took her right there. He wasn’t gentle nor did he let her body get used to him being inside her before he started plunging into her, looking at her with a hunger that he could only satisfy by shoving himself into her as deeply he could. With every thrust it was like he was branding her as his. He wasn’t interested in her pleasure; he just wanted to take from her. He wanted her to give everything to him until she had nothing left to give to anyone else. She was his. No one else’s. His. He started to grunt as he rammed her harder and faster. When he climaxed inside her, he felt pleasure that he had somehow marked her as belonging to him. His cum coating her womb was his stamp.
He finally looked at her again, really looked at her, as the woman he was in love with, not as his possession, and he was overcome by another wave of emotion. She was sitting on the kitchen counter, staring back at him, stripped and completely exposed. She had let him treat her like his property, trusting him enough to let him claim her as his. Fuck her without protection. Knowing he would protect her and care for her because she now belonged to him, body and soul.
Neither had uttered a word yet, and the house remained quiet, except he now noticed the loud ticking of the clock on the wall. It was like they were in a spell that would be broken with a simple word. He began to kiss her passionately, now wanting to give her as much pleasure as he had just taken. Not ready to break the spell, he lifted her up off the counter, still erect and in her. She wrapped her legs around his middle to keep him in place inside her, and without another sound, he carried her to his bedroom. There, he attentively and tenderly made love to her, his cum acting as additional lubricant, although she didn’t need any more. He took his time kissing and caressing every inch of her body as if he couldn’t get his fill of her. Her response let him know she couldn’t get her fill of him either. He came again inside her, and they finally collapsed, entwined in each other’s arms, the two still wanting to remain as one even though they were both perfectly satiated.
For the first time in as long as he could remember, he was vulnerable. Vulnerable to what he would do if something were to happen to her or if she grew tired of him. He didn’t like knowing she could destroy him if she wanted. Yet, he also knew she was incapable of doing that. He knew she felt the same about him, so why did he have this feeling of panic inside him? He needed to slow things down and get his emotions in check.
As she was drifting off in slumber in her usual position on his chest, Travis murmured, “Oh, Ava Faith,” and kissed her head through her hair, holding her tightly against him. She fell asleep with a sigh and a smile. He lay wide awake, loving how she felt in his arms and scared out of his mind. He wasn’t in control and that wouldn’t do.
Chapter 14
AVA woke in the middle of the night to the smell of food. After her and Travis’ marathon lovemaking session, they had both fallen a
sleep fairly early and without having eaten dinner.
She padded out to the kitchen in the white robe she had commandeered as hers to find Travis reheating the takeout he had brought home earlier. He smiled when he saw her in the doorway, her hair messed up from not only sleep but from having been thoroughly fucked before going to sleep.
She knew she was going to analyze the evening’s earlier events at some point, but right now, she was just going to enjoy the food and the company. Asking him for clarification seemed too risky. If he was feeling anything more for her, her wanting him to label it was a bad idea that she feared would cause him to flee.
“That smells good! I’m starving!” was what she went with instead of, Hey, what just happened between us?
They ate in relative silence, chalking it up to being tired and in the middle of the night, but it was much more than that. Ava knew he felt it too. She was happy when he motioned for her to assume her position on his chest in order to fall back asleep.
She woke to the sound of Travis being sick in his bathroom. It probably wasn’t the smartest idea to eat food that had been left out for hours. She made it to the guest bath just in time.
Ava was fortunate she could go home and take it easy for the day. Travis did not have quite the same luxury and went in to the office later in the morning, then gathered work to bring home after getting sick again and left mid-afternoon.
They were both feeling better by Friday evening but decided to each stay at home, opting to have breakfast together the next morning instead. Travis was going to be up late working, and Ava was going to try to make sense of what was going on between them. Of course, she didn’t tell him that, instead telling him she was going to go to bed early, which she did, but she didn’t fall asleep as she went over the events from Thursday in her mind.
Had anything changed between them? She was going to wait and see if he said anything to indicate it had, otherwise she was inclined to leave it alone for now. Why rock the boat?