Ignite: Book 2 (The Heat Series 1)

by MJ Masucci

“So, let me see the ring?”

  Ava held her hand out for Suzanne to see her engagement ring.

  “Beautiful. My brother had good taste.”

  “Yes, he does.” Ava started chewing on her cheek because she could feel the tension that was building.

  Suzanne lowered her voice, “You two have been through a lot these past few years, haven’t you?”

  Ava took a deep breath, “We have. A lot of stupid decisions and mistakes on both our parts. I don’t blame only Xander for the things that have happened between us. I’m not that arrogant or self-righteous. I accept some of the responsibility. We are trying to put the past behind us and start fresh.” She expected this statement to disarm Suzanne, but she questioned her further.

  “What makes you think that these past issues won’t become a problem in the future? You’re still the same people, and I’m sure things might get dredged up especially during an argument. Do you both feel you can push these things aside?”

  Ava took a long swig of her wine. She had no idea what Suzanne meant. She and Xander had discussed the past and made a decision that it had to stay there. She knew that Suzanne was protecting Xander, but he was an adult.

  “Suzanne, I know you love your brother, and you want to protect him, but we have discussed these issues. We are even considering seeing a therapist to work on better communication.” The last part was a white lie. They had briefly talked about seeing a relationship therapist but hadn’t decided if they needed one. The past couple of weeks they had been getting along well. She hoped it would continue.

  Suzanne smiled at her, “I hope you understand. I just want him to be happy.”

  Xander wandered into the kitchen to make sure Suzanne wasn't too harsh with Ava. He kissed Ava’s head and took a sip of wine from her glass. He asked if she wanted to look around before they had lunch. He kissed his sister and took Ava by the hand to see the backyard.

  The yard had a large stone patio with an in-ground pool surrounded by a glass fence. He took her through the gate, and they sat on the large wooden swing that was surrounded by large rose bushes. They were partially hidden from the windows of the house, and Xander welcomed the privacy. He tipped Ava’s chin up and kissed her passionately, his hand fisted in her hair. He broke the kiss leaving her breathless.

  “What was that all about?”

  “I just love you so much. Please don’t be offended by whatever Suzanne said. She is just protecting me. I was a mess when we were apart, and she was the one person I could talk to about how I felt.”

  “I’m not offended, and I understand. I just wanted her to know that we are past all of the hurt. We hurt each other, you not more than me, me not more than you. We can only move forward.”

  Suzanne stuck her head out the door and called them into lunch. He grasped her hand, and they walked towards the house.

  Later in the early evening, they said their goodbyes. Ava felt much more comfortable with Suzanne. She felt that she made her understand that she would not hurt her brother again, not intentionally anyway.

  Xander pushed the Infiniti well past eighty driving home on I-95. The traffic was light and the cars they did encounter, he weaved around. Ava was playing with the radio and not paying attention to him. He suddenly started to slow and pulled over to the shoulder.

  “What’s the matter? Is there something wrong with the car?”

  He turned the interior light on.

  “No, there is nothing wrong with the car. There is something wrong with you.”

  “What? What did I do?” She asked with alarm.

  “I just noticed that the seatbelt light is on. Why aren’t you wearing your belt? I told you when you drive; you must have it on. I don’t understand why I need to tell you this all the time,” He growled.

  Ava began to chew on her nails.

  “Well? Do you have an answer?”

  “Don’t be angry at me. I have a reason for not wearing my belt.”

  “What is it? I can’t think of one good reason to jeopardize your life.”

  She was hesitant, but she told the story that he might or might not have heard from his parents about the night Elizabeth Keene was killed. She had been hit by a drunk driver, and the car had spun and twisted on the road until it came to rest against a tree. It burst into flame and her belt had jammed, she couldn’t get free.

  That had scarred Ava badly to know that her mother had survived the crash, but a faulty seatbelt had prevented her from freeing herself. The man who hit her was charged with vehicular manslaughter and got the maximum sentence. But it caused Ava to be fearful of using her seatbelt.

  Xander had been scowling at her until she finished then his face softened.

  “Sweetheart, that was a fluke. You have to wear your seatbelt. You could have been killed.” His words hung in the air. They both knew what he was referring to.

  Without another word he reached around her, grasped her seatbelt and buckled it. He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. Then he carefully pulled back onto the highway. Minutes went by before she spoke.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Ava, if anything happened to you I would lose my mind.”

  “I know. I promise to wear it next time.”

  In his bed that night with Ava firmly wrapped in his arms, he thought about what life would be like without her. He had faced it before, but she was alive. If she died, he had no idea what he would do. He did know that he wouldn’t want to live without her. Life would be meaningless.

  The next day Ava went to Xander’s office with the research she had just finished. She had some questions for him. He was sitting at his desk with his shirt sleeves rolled and his tie loosened. She stood in the doorway watching him as he worked. He was unaware of her presence until she cleared her throat. He looked up and smiled at her.

  “How long have you been standing there?”

  “Just long enough to know that I don’t need a big wedding to marry you.”

  “Close the door.”

  She quickly shut it and went to him. He met her in the middle of the room.

  “Ava, you want the big wedding. I know you do. Why the sudden change of heart?”

  “I just want to be your wife. We don’t need all the hassle of going through all the preparations a large wedding brings. I should have married you in Vegas.”

  “I would have loved that, but I want to give you everything you deserve. Are you worried because we have to tell our families we’re engaged?”

  “It’s not that. It’s been so long, and I just want it to come full circle already.”

  “I would love to say yes, but I want you to have the experience of a day that is solely yours or else I would have put up a bigger fight in Vegas. I don’t want to rob that from you.”

  He hugged her, and they went to the couch to go over the notes she had about the research. He kissed her cheek, and he breathed in the scent of her. He couldn’t resist and began kissing her neck. Ava felt that familiar heated flush go over her body; he was arousing her.

  “Stop it,” she whispered.

  “You don’t want me to kiss you?”

  “You’re having an effect on me.”

  He crooked his eyebrow, “I am? What kind of effect.”

  She pushed him away, “You know exactly what effect. We didn’t make love last night, and I want you.”

  “Oh. We could have a quickie here if you like.”

  “Absolutely not. Jacob is in his office, and I’m not sure I can keep my mouth shut. We can wait until we get home tonight.”

  “You’re no fun.”

  “I am lots of fun. You have told me that many times. Now if you could please go over the notes I have, I’ll get back to work.”

  “All business, huh? I like that very much.”

  Ava had stopped by his office before she left for the evening. She had worked later than usual, and most of the employees had gone home, including Jacob. Xander was working at his desk, and she closed the door, making him loo
k up. He watched her, tipping back in his chair as she disrobed. She unbuttoned her blouse and let it slip off her arms to the floor, then her skirt. She slipped out of her shoes and unclasped her bra.

  Xander’s licked his lips with anticipation. He rose to get up, but she halted him. The last thing she did was push her panties off her hips and drop them where she stood. With a flick of her foot, she flipped them onto his desk where he picked them up and put them to his nose.

  “You have your fiancée in your office, naked. What do you plan to do?”

  He got up from his chair, and she could see that her strip tease was having the effect that she wanted. He came to her, took her by the hand and led her to the couch. She straddled him, and he slipped his hand between her thighs. Xander could feel how slick she was, and it made his balls ache. She fumbled for his zipper, reaching in to release him. He groaned as she stroked him.

  “I couldn’t wait until we got home. I need you.”

  She rubbed him against her soaked opening, and he pulled her to his lips, pressing hard against them with his own. She slipped over his length slowly, causing him to bite her lip. The exquisite feeling of him filling her was never going to go away. She loved when he was inside her. She began moving over him while he sucked and licked her nipples. His hands tightened over her breasts and squeezed causing her to yelp.

  “Be gentle,” she said in a breathy whisper.

  He said nothing but eased his grip and kissed them. His moaning began to match hers, and he placed his hands on her hips to aid in the speed of the rhythm.

  “Please tell me you are going to come? I can’t hold it much longer,” he moaned. And as he spoke, she said his name and climaxed. He released into her murmuring her name and nuzzling her neck. He clung to her as he finished his orgasm.

  “I love you so much, Ava.” He looked in her eyes. “My, you are a naughty little vixen. This is the second time we have had sex in my office.”

  “You are hard to resist. Next time don’t kiss me during the day. I’ve been heated since you did that.”

  “I’m sorry, but you aren’t very easy to resist either.”

  As she got dressed, she noticed some bruising on the ivory skin of her breasts.

  “Uh, Xander, you marked me.”

  He raised his eyebrows in surprise, “I did?”

  “Yes, look.”

  He looked closely at her breasts and saw bluish marks beginning to form. “Sweetheart, I’m sorry.”

  “Luckily it’s not bikini weather yet, or I would be unhappy.”

  “I’ll make it up to you tonight,” he flicked his tongue at her.

  As the week moved towards Thursday, Ava started to become more nervous. It was the day her family was coming to New York for Samantha and Robert’s wedding. It was also the day that they would be having a big family dinner at Uncle Daniel and Aunt Mavis’ home. The Wilders would be there also.

  Ava worried what her family would say when she told them she was engaged to Xander. She knew that her father and maybe even Brooke would be angry. Brooke had become most protective of Ava in the past few years. She wanted her to be happy and wasn’t sure that Xander was the one to do it.

  As they got ready after work to go, Ava ran to the bathroom to vomit. Xander knocked on the door.

  “Sweetheart, are you okay?”

  She opened the door while wiping her mouth.

  “Did you throw up?”

  She nodded.

  “Why are you letting this get to you so much? We are both adults. They can’t tell us what we can and can’t do.”

  “I know. But my family’s opinion matters to me. I don’t want them to dislike my husband.”

  “Even if they do, there is nothing we can change. I wouldn’t blame them if they disliked me. I deserve it.”

  “How can you say that? We both did things that were wrong and had negative effects on our relationship. I just want to move forward.”

  She was happy to see her whole family but picked through her food during dinner. Xander gave her a stern look because she had only gained back a pound since they had been in Las Vegas. She needed to gain at least five before he was satisfied.

  After dinner, everyone went to sit in the living room. Ava played with the children. She held Savannah and then Mateo, kissing their tiny sweet smelling heads. She wanted a child of her own so badly. They had decided to tell the news of their engagement during dessert. She had the support of Sam, who squeezed her hand and whispered encouragement.

  As they sat down to dessert, Xander continued to stand.

  “I have an announcement to make.”

  All eyes turned to him, and he continued.

  “I have asked Ava to marry me, and she has said yes.”

  Ava and Xander looked around the table at several shocked faces. Then the room got loud with discussion. Several of the family members hugged them including the Wilders. Brooke looked at Ava with a sour face and Jacob had a blank expression. David got out of his chair and went outside to the back deck. Jason Keene gave Ava and Xander a stern look and gestured for them to come into the living room so he could talk to them privately.

  “What the hell do you mean you got engaged? I was not aware you two were even involved with each other.”

  “Daddy, we never stopped loving each other. We both made stupid mistakes and have come to realize we belong together. Please accept this because we are marrying whether you approve or not.”

  “I guess I have no choice then do I? You have grown up into an intelligent, beautiful young woman. I trust your decision.” He turned to Xander. “As for you, young man, I expect you to take care of my daughter a lot better than you have.”

  “I plan on it, Mr. Keene. I love her very much.”

  Jason offered his hand. “She is precious to me. Don’t hurt her or you will have to answer to me.”

  Ava was surrounded by her family looking at the ring on her finger.

  She sat down at the table feeling better, enough, so she ate a slice of pie and a couple of cookies. She noticed that David hadn’t come back to the table and she was sure she knew why. He was still in love with her and marrying Xander would finalize his pursuit of her. The last interaction they had was not good, and he had barely spoken to her for almost two months.

  “I want to talk to you when you have a free moment,” Brooke said.

  Shit, this can’t be good. They went upstairs to a nursery that had been converted from Jacob’s old bedroom. Mateo, Nicole, Savannah, and Jackson were all asleep, sharing two cribs against the far wall. After Brooke had checked on the babies, she turned to Ava.

  “Are you sure this is what you want?”

  “Brooke, how can you say that? You know it is. I love him.”

  “I once thought I loved him, too, but I was wrong. He didn’t want me.”

  “Is that what this is about? You feel slighted?”

  “Not at all. I love Walter and haven’t thought about Xander in years. I just want you to be happy. I’m trying to protect you.”

  Ava hugged her sister. She knew that her heart was in the right place.

  “We’ve already hurt each other so much. That part of our lives is over with. We want to move forward.”

  When the conversation ended, they went back downstairs to say their goodbyes. They would be seeing everyone the next evening for the wedding rehearsal and dinner. They walked in the cool May evening air to Xander’s car. After he had pulled out from the space, he asked her about her conversation with Brooke.

  “So, how did it go? You were gone for awhile. Did she bash me?”

  “No, as a matter of fact, she said she is happy for us. She just wants to make sure you aren’t going to break my heart.”

  He reached out to stroke her face.

  “I love you; I will never break your heart again.”

  “I know you won’t. I love you, too. Now take me home and make love to me.”

  As Xander drove through the city to Ava’s apartment, he thought about the
future. They had a lot of planning to do. After all this time she was finally going to become his wife. He felt giddy about the prospect. He glanced at the engagement ring on her finger glinting in the street lights. He was going to park in the River Garage when he noticed that Ava had fallen asleep. He started to look for a spot closer to her building and found one just two spots from the entrance, what luck.

  After he parked, he gently removed her from her seat hoping he wouldn’t wake her. He was able to get her up to her bed without her stirring until he started to remove her clothing.

  “Where are we?”

  “Home. You need to go to bed.”’

  She protested, but he was adamant about her going to sleep. He slipped off her blouse and bra and laid her in bed with her legs hanging over the side. Then he worked on removing her skirt and shoes. He had planned on putting a shirt on her, but when he finished with her skirt, she curled up in bed in just her panties. He didn’t want to bother her, so he pulled the sheet over her, then he got undressed. He slipped into the cool sheets and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to his chest. She woke for a few seconds to plant a kiss on his chin and dropped back to sleep.

  He buried his nose in her hair and inhaled. He loved the smell of her hair and the rest of her. He couldn’t wait for her to be his wife especially now that their engagement was official. They had a lot of decisions to make for their upcoming life together.

  She woke early. She felt stiflingly hot because Xander had his body wrapped around her. Without disturbing him, she slipped out from under his arms, got out of bed and put on a t-shirt. The boys followed her from where they had been sleeping in their bed near the door. They were hoping to be fed.

  She took care of their breakfast and made herself a cup of coffee. She looked at the ring on her finger. It was so surreal to her that after all the issues she and Xander had faced, they were finally engaged. It was what she had wanted for the past five years. She twirled the ring on her finger as she sipped her coffee and thumbed through the mail she took up yesterday but didn’t have time to open. Her portfolio statement had come, and she opened it wondering how much it had increased. It seemed that even in a down market, Jack’s suggestions on where to invest made her money.