“To what do I owe the pleasure of your unexpected but welcomed call at this late hour of the night, Ava?”
“I’m one hundred again.”
“What?”
“I’m actually one hundred and one. If you would recall many, many, moons ago when we sat down and had a meeting of the minds with uproarious laughter on my couch watching The Golden Girls. You agreed we should go out once I was back to myself again. In honor of my recovery, you owe me a date. I’m calling to collect. What do you say? Are you going to take me out to celebrate my good health and recovery or what?”
I bite down on the side of my lip holding my breath. I’m confident but I can’t be too sure with Chris on this. In the past, he was concerned about my health so I had a pretty safe bet he wouldn’t turn me down. With the whole Sage break up...not so sure.
“This is something to celebrate. It would be my pleasure.”
Woot! woot! I bounce up and down on the bed with glee. Pull it together Ava, control your voice and bring it back down. “It’s a date then. To good health and friends.”
Hopefully to be more.
“Do you have a specific place you’d like to celebrate, maybe a restaurant? I’ll throw on my best date night suit and I know how much you like getting dressed up.”
“I was thinking a little more low key.”
He’s seen fancy Ava and god awful sick Ava but he’s yet to see Ava without all the extras. Plain old relaxed and let’s just have a good time, no pressure me. Without having to console me or wipe my tears.
“I can get dressed up any day of the week and go out to a fancy restaurant which I do often. How about I throw on my jeans and we let our clothes decide where we go?”
“In that case, I have the perfect place.”
“Where?” I say curiosity and excitement making my voice spike.
“You’re always full of surprises. Don’t worry about where we’re going, leave it to me. Trust me, you’ll appreciate it.”
In the morning, I wake up with a smile before my feet even hit the floor. I float through my apartment, through the entire day at work thinking about my date with Chris tonight. Before I leave the store, I call Cat. I didn’t tell her I was going to call Chris. I didn’t want her to be rationale and sensible, warning me not to get my hopes up because he’s newly out of a relationship and he might not be ready to start up anything as yet.
Dammit, I don’t want to be reasonable and sensible. He said yes and we have a date tonight. I’m going to handle this the way I handle everything in my life, by the seat of my damn pants, full speed ahead. Hell yeah!
“Hey, bestie,” I say.
“You sound extraordinary perky. Totally not you, you don’t do perky. What’s up?”
“I have a date.”
“Must be good to have you on the side of perky. With who?”
“Aaah...I don’t want to say yet but you’ll like him. If this date goes well, you’ll be the first person I introduce him to. He’s a nice guy.”
“Okay...why are you being all secretive? You usually have no problem telling me about the guys you date, in fact you over share.”
“I’m not sure about this guy, I don’t want to say anything unless it’s worth mentioning. No secrets.”
“He better not be some kinky rich guy who came into your store with a contract and utility rope. That’s not Fifty Shades, that’s a serial killer.”
“Oh my god! With a contract?” I laugh.
“He’s a modern day serial killer. He better not be married, either.”
“Have a little faith in me, will you? You know I would never knowingly get involved with a married man. Now the rope and all that shit, I would consider.”
“Ava-”
“Stop worrying, Mom. I promise everything is above water and you’ll love this guy if all goes well.” I pull the phone away from my ear saying, “Bye.”
She yell’s back, “You better call me tonight.”
I text Chris before I go home to wait for him to pick me up.
Ava: where are we going?
Chris: Don’t worry about it you throw on your jeans, I know where we’re going.
To that I send him the smiley face emoji with its tongue sticking out. He sends it back and I text him.
Ava: I thought men didn’t use emojis?
Chris: A wise woman once told me otherwise. I would only do that for her so she knows I’m listening.
Ava: It’s a wise man who knows when to follow my directions. See you later. ;-)
Sitting across a booth from Chris, I look around again thoroughly amused seeing the hay on the floor in a big spacious open bar playing a mix of hip hop, pop, and country music. “Where on earth did you fine this place? I love it.”
“I’ve eaten food from here but I never came in. Someone usually picks it up for me. Thought you might appreciate it with your country, hip hop, pop roots and all.”
“You got it right. This place is great. I hope the food is as good as the atmosphere. If it is, I can’t make any promises I’ll be able to control myself from getting up to do a happy dance.”
“Are you that much of a foodie, you bust out in a spontaneous food nirvana dance?”
“Hell yeah! Try to stop me.”
“I will not be stopping you. Can’t wait to see this dance once you’ve had the best barbecue you’ve ever tasted in your life. Trust me on this, you’ll be busting out the electric boogaloo moves.”
She smiles. “What do you know about barbecue? You ain’t tasted nothing until you’ve had Nashville barbecue.”
“I have it on good authority, Zagat and myself, top rated.”
She says in her accent, “Honey, don’t listen to the rest, we do it best.”
“We’ll see about that.”
I sit back watching her lick her lips. Looking better than any damn thing I ordered on the menu. I haven’t seen her in a while but damn is it me or did she get sexier. I didn’t know a pair of jeans could fit an ass so well. Like a second skin. And the shirt, a deep rich purple silk cradling her breasts like a pair of hands accenting her curves to perfection. She doesn’t have an hour glass body, they made the hour glass off her form.
When she got into the car I had to roll my tongue back into my mouth before she thought I was having a medical emergency.
Shifting uncomfortably in my seat I pull my eyes away from her mouth. The waitress comes back with our food.
“Is there anything else I can get you?”
“Thanks, we’re good,” I say to Sara our waitress.
“She’s so friendly to you. I think she has a thing for you.”
“She’s doing her job.”
“Sure she is. Notice how she didn’t ask me if I wanted anything else.”
“Maybe if you weren’t staring her down, she would. I’m the safer bet I won’t attack her.”
“How funny you are. I’ve tucked my claws away tonight. Notice I didn’t say anything to her.”
“Very good. We’re learning how to play well with others and not calling them out. Gold star for you.”
She holds up her hand trying not to smile. “Boy, do I have a special finger for you. But I’m keeping it classy.”
“Is this the new and improved, Ava? Did being sick change a few things for you?”
“It did. I’ve learned to let some things go. I don’t always have to call people out on their shit like Sara.” She pulls her plate in front of her and fixes mine in front of me. “Thank you for being there for me when I needed someone.” She holds onto my hand from across the table. I hold on squeezing lightly loving the feel on her skin against mine. “You don’t know how much it meant to me.”
Bringing her hand up to my lips, I kiss each of her fingers. “I’d do it again, no questions asked. I’m glad you’re doing better.”
Everything disappears in the room for a split second before we’re brought back by the crashing of a tray of plates two table down from us. I pull my hand away and she looks away then turns back
with a bright smile.
“Well, let’s eat. I need to prove you wrong,” she says.
“Okay, on three, let’s do it together. Take a big bite out of your pulled pork sandwich and give your honest opinion.”
“Alright, on the count of three. 1-2-3 bite!” We both sink in to our sandwiches.
“Mmm...come on, Ava give it up. Tell me how good it is.”
She does something that almost makes me grab her out of her seat to straddle me without giving a damn who’s here to see. She rolls her head back, hair tumbling over her shoulders, eyes closed. She slides her hand down the front of her shirt exposing the swell of her breast, a deep throaty moan, licking her plump lips.
This is what I imagine when I see her sitting on my cock having rapid fire multiple orgasms with my mouth covering her breast, her mouth wide open, gasping for air. Shit. Stop now. I’m in jeopardy of embarrassing myself and begging her to go home with me.
She sits back up looking at me. “This is just mmmm, no words. Thank you for giving me this. Tell me what I can do for you?”
Oh damn. Fuck. Must she ask? I know exactly what else she can do for me with her mouth.
Not being with Sage has opened up a whole new flood gate of things I’m craving. Even being with Ava in a room filled with people can’t stop the rampant desire of craving her body pressed against mine. It’s certainly not stopping my dick from wanting to twitch out of my pants.
“I take it back, you were right, this is the best.” She leans over the slim table kissing me on the jaw, I turn my head and our lips meet. The tip of her tongue swipes across my lip sending a shot of heat to my groin. I moan and she moves back.
Eyes locked on each other, I wipe my thumb across her lower lip, pulling it slightly to the side. “You got some of my sauce right there,” I say, licking my thumb, watching her watch me. The swell of her breasts rising, enticing me with every breath she takes.
Not one to be out done, she does the most seductive thing I’ve ever seen in public. Grabbing my wrist firmly in her soft warm hands she wraps her lips around my wet thumb licking, sighing as if it’s her last breath. “Mmm, as good as I remember.”
Low whistles from a table to our left draws me out of my Ava lust filled trance. Enough to say with a snap in my hoarse voice, “Sit, people are watching.” More specific a table full of guys checking out what she’s offering and I’m not yet ready to take.
With another flick of her tongue over my thumb, she sits back. Her attention on me alone. “I love it when you take charge.”
“I know.” Speechless and overheated I manage to hold my sandwich up to her.
“I’d love to.” She takes a big bite filling her mouth.
Who needs to eat? I’d be happy sitting here all night watching her mouth work. Endless possibilities.
A spoon clanks down on the table. Ava jumps and I look up. Sara is standing over us rooted to the spot. Looking at the both of us slack jawed she says, “Wow...I came by to see you. I mean to see if you were doing alright! You can hail me- if you need something or- alright then.” She walks off.
Ava turns to me and smiles. “Boy, they are accident prone in here.” We both laugh and go back to eating our food on our own sides of the table. Saving what was happening between us for another time and place with less of an audience.
The dessert comes and I pass, opting to watch her instead. I can’t remember the last time I had such a good time on a date. Laughing and talking. It’s relaxed, no expectations or pretenses. Two people enjoying each other’s company having a hell of a good time. Would this be considered a date? I think it has turned into that. I’m okay with it.
She slides her fork over the double chocolate mousse filled confection on her plate spearing a piece on the end of her fork. Tempting me, she holds it out. “Are you sure you don’t want to try?”
I shake my head. “I’m good. I’d rather watch you eat it. You seem to be enjoying yourself. I like that.” Hell yeah I do.
“What’s the matter, is it too sweet for you? If it is, I understand. I don’t see you as the type to overindulge in sweets. Tart, you prefer tart and tangy. Full bodied flavor bursting through your mouth laced with a little sugar and a lot of spice.”
“You’ve figured me out. Dead on analysis of my confectionary preferences.” She puts it in her mouth and pulls it out clean. Lucky fork. One pull and it’s sparkling.
“I’m a good observer of people and their needs and wants.” She pauses. “When we were growing up, you never went for the sweet desserts. You would pick one sweet but tangy like...lemon meringue. You’re a pie guy, not cake. If we hang out long enough maybe I can convert you, bring you over to the other side.”
“I believe you’re more than halfway there already. You may have made me a firm believer in change.”
“Glad to hear it.” She sinks her fork in to take another bite.
I’m fixated watching the way she eats. Didn’t think I could be in to food for play but damn if I’m not. I’m thinking it’s my new thing. Whipped cream is a hell of a topping. “I don’t remember you having such a sweet tooth when you were a kid.”
She looks at me. “I wouldn’t expect you to. You spent most of the time when I was around trying to get away from me. If you even thought I was anywhere in the vicinity you were out like a shot from a M80 rocket launcher.”
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t that fast. Half the time you caught up to me.”
“You could at least lie. Maybe if you were nicer to me like Nick was to Cat, you wouldn’t have had to run from a harmless itty bitty little girl with a harmless crush.”
“Harmless my ass.” My eyes go wider. “You have never been harmless to me, Ava. No matter what I did you would have found a way to harass me. You took perverse pleasure in your harassment.”
“Not always, as I got older I swapped the practical jokes and games at your expense for guys, and not so subtle come ons you rejected. You should have followed Nick’s lead and been a little nicer to me. We would have gotten along fabulously. It would be romantic and reminiscent sitting here together.”
“Unlike Nick, I didn’t harbor the same feelings for you he had for Cat. You were a nuisance, a regular pain in my ass when you were around.”
“How romantic of you.” She rolls her eyes putting her fork down.
“I’m not trying to be romantic. I’m being honest. You were a nuisance.”
She pouts folding her arms one over the other on the table making me smile, accentuating the enticing expanse of skin peeking out of her shirt. I put my forefinger underneath her chin rubbing my thumb over the spot where a little dimple sometimes appears when she smiles.
“Like I said, you’re making me a firm believer in change. What I used to find to be a nuisance, I’ve grown quite fond of and I can easily see myself falling hard for.” With a beaming smile, my new favorite spot on her face pops out again.
Sara clears away the table. Ava reaches for the bill and I shut her down. No way was I going to let her pay or go half as she wanted to. I told her to get the idea out of her head, it wasn’t going to happen. She steps out from behind the table. I walk up behind her and place my hand on the small of her back. She spins around and puts her hand on my chest bopping her head to the music. I know what’s coming but I’m not doing it, not tonight. I shake my head at her and sit back down. “No.”
“Please, Chris, this is my song you have to dance with me. Pitbull, Neyo, you can’t stay on the sideline and not move.” She makes a grab for my hand moving her hips in time to the song mouthing, “I want the time of my life.”
“I’d rather watch you. So would the rest of the people in here. Go ahead do your thing.” She lets go of my hand happily making her own dance floor in the middle of the room. Without shame or embarrassment, she lets loose. I look around to see a room full of admirers gawking at her free spirited impromptu dance. She is a siren drawing all eyes to her. Hands in the air, hips swaying enticingly, twirling her body down and back up aroun
d without missing a beat, in a smoke screen of glorious black hair. Jesus, I can’t take my eyes off her. Her energy is infectious.
She turns around head to the side, both arms above her head, she runs her hands through her hair. Turning back around, shoulders moving up and down emphasizing all her extraordinary womanly curves to mouthwatering perfection. She extends her arm holding her hand out to me again. I don’t move. I can’t take my eyes off her. She smiles at me, playfully taking it back. Not missing a beat, she holds the other one out to a guy, like me, who hasn’t taken his eyes off her. No hesitation he latches onto her hand. The other on her waist his front to her back.
She wiggles her ass and every body part she has occasionally brushing up against her way too enthusiastic dance partner. She shrugs her shoulders, palms up, sticking her tongue at me, making me laugh. I watch her carefree and unashamed with no apologies for who she is with the rest of the patrons. She’s a riot. I’m content to let her have the spotlight and dance briefly with someone else, she’s leaving with me at the end of the night.
Chris
“I had a good time,” she says.
“I noticed. You had all the admirers glued to your every move. Didn’t know you had the dancing skills of a Knicks City Dancer.”
“Well,” she flips a lock of her hair over her shoulder. “You know I excel at many things. Spend enough time with me and I’ll show you what other things I excel at, one in particular I know you appreciate.”
“It has been a while since I’ve spent a significant amount of time with you. I think I need a refresher course.”
“Come here, I’ve been waiting for you to say that all night.”
Moving in without touching her, I bend my head capturing her mouth. Full on open mouth no waiting for permission inhaling her. “Mmm...” The rumbling in my chest says what I’m feeling, finally being able to kiss her after all this time. No guilt kissing, I highly recommend. Forcefully grabbing the back of her neck making her moan with me, opening her mouth wider, I bring her deeper in my mouth, the wet slide of tongues tangled together. She slides her hand up the front of my shirt clutching hard, digging into my chest with her nails releasing a grunt of pleasure from me.
Imperfections Take Me As I Am (The Imperfections Series Book 3) Page 15