My tempers going to flare. I know my anger and his don’t mix from the arguments we’ve had before we were together. The last thing I want to do is push him away. But he has to tell her. Yesterday wouldn’t have been too soon for me.
“I hear you, Ava but you need to trust me to handle this my way. Trust I won’t do anything to disrespect you and what we have.”
We’ll see.
“You were hanging onto that relationship for dear life, Chris. Why?”
“You know my family situation and what’s happened to Sage losing her mother. I didn’t want to fuck up anyone else, but I’ve failed with Sage. I don’t want her to deal with more than she can handle.”
“That’s noble of you. You don’t want her to deal with more than she can handle. What about what I can handle. What am I? A potted plant whose feelings are somehow less significant?”
“I’m not saying that, Ava, but right now she’s hurt a great deal more by the death of her mother and the man she thought was going to be with her. She’s fragile right now and I don’t want her to do something that will cause irrevocable harm to herself because she’s not in the right frame of mind. Whether it be intentional or not because she’s grieving and in pain. Do you get what I’m saying?”
What am I supposed to say to that? I don’t want to be the cause of something happening to her because I didn’t approve of this, which a don’t. God knows if anything happened to her because of us being together he would never forgive me or himself.
So what’s left for me to say but, “I understand.” But I know he’s underestimating Sage. In my one on one heated interactions with her, she didn’t seem so fragile to me. In fact, she held her own. And she didn’t need him to come to her rescue. Here we go. Game on once again. Well played Sage, well played.
“Thank you for understanding. I made promises that are important for me to keep.”
“Yeah...what was the other thing you said about your family?”
“I don’t want to rush things with us and fuck things up like my parents. I feel things with you I haven’t felt with other women. You consistently make me laugh and feel things I don’t want to. My parents rushed things and it almost ended disastrously. I’m trying to learn from their mistakes. I don’t want us to hurt each other by using other people to do it, if I can control that I will.”
“Chris, no matter how fucked up or great our families are you can’t control what happens in a relationship, shit happens. Look at my parents and me. They’ve been married for years.”
“They’re happily committed to each other?”
“God no, they’ve been separated for years but every holiday they come together and put on a united front. It works for them. They mostly did it for me when I was younger. It’s just a habit now.”
“Your point is?”
“We are not our parents. You can’t control love and life. What will be, will be, no matter how hard you try to fight it.”
That’s the irrefutable truth.
Ava
It’s been four weeks of sublime bliss. I haven’t stopped smiling since we’ve been together. I can count on one hand how much time we’ve spent apart. Other than those times, we’ve spent every night in my bed. The sex is unbelievable. But it’s more than good, it’s sensual yet more intense of a sexual connection than I’ve experienced in any other relationship. You would think I would be the dominant one. I would too, but you’d be wrong. The contrast he presents is irresistible. I’m under whatever this happy spell is he has put on me.
We are almost perfect except for the minor arguments we run into. I’ve heard him complaining to himself a couple times as he puts it ‘my loud over bearing controlling side is out.’ Trust me, he has not seen it fully. When he does, that’s going to be the ultimate test of this relationship. Without question, those are the days we have not spent together. I believe the biggest issue he has with our relationship is my unwillingness to give in to his compromises. I’m working on it.
For me, Sage is the biggest problem with us. I should have known she wouldn’t give up so easily. She’s the buzzing gnat in my ear, by my side every other night when he leaves my bed to console and counsel her, disturbing my peace. I want to flatten her against the wall, wiping off the residual mess left behind with satisfaction.
The spell of happiness woven around us and my accepting attitude, started to wear off when our first major fight came, after having dinner with Nick and Cat.
“Hey, Cat what’s up?” I take a row of shirts off a rack and switch them to the back of the store to make room for new inventory. A new shipment of summer clothes came in.
“She lives! Is it really you, Ava? I haven’t heard your voice in so long I need to make sure.”
“What are you talking about? We talked...” Hmm when was the last time?
“It’s been so long you can’t remember, can you? Since the hook-up of the century with my brother, you’ve forgotten all about me.”
“Not true.” I deny. I know we spoke last week. I even sent you a text on...” Shoot, if I need to stop and rack my brain to remember...was it yesterday or the day before? Oh, I’m becoming one of those women who gets a man and forgets about her friends. Not good.
“Soon, Jace won’t remember what his godparents look like. Oh, well,” she sighs. “I’ll tell the story of how one day a beautiful tall temptress with silk spun hair as black as onyx and drop dead curves, enough to kill a village of men with the slightest twitch of her hip, finally bewitching his uncle capturing all of his attention. That’s the tale I’ll have to tell him.”
“Don’t you dare bring the baby into this to make me feel guilty cause it will work every time. Damn you.” I take a sleeveless shirt hanging it on the empty rack feeling a prick of guilt. We haven’t seen my cute little stinker really since Chris and I have been together. “You tell my stinker doodle not to worry I’ll be over there to kiss on him and spoil him rotten.”
“Stinker doodle?” She laughs. “Oh god, I don’t know what kind of love you two have going on but it’s changing you. My brother is working miracles,” She says in mock shock.
Laughing lightly, I pick up another blouse. “He’s definitely working something on me. What he’s working is real satisfying between my legs, ears, and heart. It has me dripping with happiness every night.” That will get her.
“I told you this kind of talk about you and my brother will not be allowed. As your best friend who’s about to jump ship, you better cut it out. Blasphemy to my ears. I don’t want to hear what you two do, no drip, no drop, nothing!”
“Serves you right.”
“Moving on. Let’s have dinner to catch up. Better idea, double date, it’ll be fun. Me, Nick, you, Chris, almost like when we were younger but he’ll like you this time. No arguing and he’ll want to hold your hand because you’re his, baby. Oh, I’m going to cry. See what happens when you soften that hard exterior. You finally got him.”
I laugh out loud, the clothes forgotten. She’s right, I finally got him. Let’s hope I can keep him. Keeping up the softer side of me is proving trickier than I thought. Loud, vocal, and in your face, is my first impulse.
‘You need to trust me. Trust I won’t do anything to disrespect you and what we have.’
Hard to do with late night calls he doesn’t want me to hear. The few nights we’ve argued and he’s spent away from me, I wonder... I was Sage not too long ago. I knew she wasn’t right for him, but still. She’s more tenacious than I thought. Sympathy shit gets them every time.
She’s playing on his good guy side and guilt. As long as I remember to keep my cool and not play into what she’s doing, things between Chris and I will be fine. First thing that’s going to happen is we’re going to have another conversation about these calls and seeing her. Which he better not be doing. If I’m upset about these phone calls, then he should know better.
Best I put this out of my mind for now. Cat’s right, I got him.
“We are not going out, we are having dinner at my pl
ace. I’m cooking. Bring my godson with you so I can love on him.”
“Even better. What time is good for you?”
“The earliest I’ll be able to make it home tonight is six. Seven, seven-thirty would be a good time. I’ll call Chris and tell him we’re having our first dinner guests.” The door opens and Chloe walks in. “See you then,” I say to Cat, ending the call. Perfect timing, I need to speak to her about doing alterations for an elderly customer. She wants to add a sheer gauze panel to a revealing low cut dress. She’ll be here at two.
Talk about a series of unfortunate mishaps. Starting with the customer who came in for dress alterations, Mrs. Frost. She tried the dress on and explained what she wanted. Chloe had a simple quick solution which would take no more than fifteen minutes. Then she would try it back on and be on her way. Well she tried it back on then said she changed her mind, now the dress made her look two matronly.
Customers always right, she takes it back off, tells Chloe exactly what she wants to be done. Chloe does it and she’s still not happy. We had to go through two hours of that until I finally told her, ‘We can’t help you. I will gladly give you back your money.’ After all that, she says she’ll take it the way Chloe first fixed it. I had to take Chloe aside to calm her down. She was so through.
An influx of customers came in while dealing with Mrs. Frost and managing Chloe’s temper. First time that’s happened, I’m not complaining, not the ideal time with only Emma and I. I missed lunch, went outside to grab a sandwich. Rushing back my freaking heel gets stuck in a grate snaps clean off!
My sandwich drops on the ground rolling out the wrapper, squeezing the cup in my hand the freaking iced coffee splashes down the front of my clothes. One time it doesn’t pay to have a wet chest. To top it off, I get a ticket for failing to signal on a turn. I don’t know why I decided to drive. When will I learn? Traffic was horrible. It took me forever to get home.
By the time I did, I knew I wasn’t going to make anything in time. I had to get back in the car and order something for the diner when I was supposed to cook. I knew my day was officially fucked when I came out and saw the orange paper on my windshield. Double parking. What the fuck else was I supposed to do. There is no parking, it’s fucking Manhattan!
I’m too through with this day.
I rush inside, take everything out of the containers, throw them away, and put the food in the serving bowls. I pour a tall glass of red wine and take a deep breath, savoring the first taste. First time today, I’ve gotten what I wanted.
I’m setting the table when Chris comes in. “Hey you.” He puts his hands on my side kissing my neck.
Sighing from his kisses and happy he’s home, I place my hand on his cheek holding him to me. “Hey you.”
He has his own keys. Yeah, I know we’re moving fast but it made sense with him here so often. And as it’s been proven, when we get on each other’s nerves he can go to his place. I don’t tell him but I miss him terribly when he’s not here with me. It suddenly becomes empty here without him.
I don’t have a key to his place but why would I need one, right? The majority of the time we’re here. The only time we’ve been to his place is the one time he dragged me to the basketball court to play one on one with him. I was not happy but I looked great in my athletic wear. I was accessorized out.
“Do you need me to do anything?” he asks, lips brushing over my skin.
“You can get the glasses for me.”
Hands flat against my stomach pushing me back against him he’ says, “I meant like helping you to take this off.” I suck on my bottom lip loving the way we fit together. He pulls my wrap shirt out of my skirt. I try to hold his hand straightening the table cloth with the other knowing we won’t have enough time.
He spins me around and I gasp, “Chris.” Hands on my hips he deposits me on the table. “Stop that.” I slap his hand away. He ignores my unconvincing protests successfully unraveling my shirt, exposing me in an envy green lace bra.
“I missed you.” He palms my breasts in his hands making me moan, squeezing them together, kissing me deeply. My mouth falls open for him automatically at his touch. It’s so hard to resist when he’s like this. Legs spreading, being forced apart by his body, excited by what I know is to come. Him, hot and hard in me. Fuck.
My tongue slides against his and he retreats breathing heavily licking a slow line across my lips. “You taste like wine, sin, and everything I like that’s bad for me” he says sinking his teeth into my flesh making me whimper with need, as he forcefully enters my mouth.
Oh...yes. This is what I want.
I strain to breathe, losing all coherent thought lost in his almost brutal kisses. Tongue lashing through my mouth, swelling my lace covered breasts. I’m heated from inside out saying, “Yes, Chris, yes.”
His hands feel as if they’re everywhere. He works fast hiking up my skirt. “Quick before they get here.” His tongue and his lips on the pulse point of my neck suckling.
I giggle when he tickles me. Jogging us somewhat to awareness. “They’ll be here any minute, Chris.” It comes out so weak I can’t believe myself.
He hooks his fingers through my hair forcing me to heave a breath with him coming as far as possible between my legs. His erection slams into me, hand behind my ass grinding into my swollen flesh. Nearly making me beg for the stabbing pain and glide of his flesh against mine, building me higher and higher to an uproarious high only he can bring me to. I give in to the pleas on my lips for more. “Yes please, Chris. Fast and hard.”
Biting my jaw, grazing his teeth across my skin, he’s says, “Good girl. You’re learning.”
I moan dragging out a weak, “Yes.” aching for him to fill me.
My head falls back when he tweaks my nipples. He pulls out a condom from his pocket placing it on the table. And the door bell rings. Kill me fucking now! I lift his jaw from the kisses he’s sprinkling over my chest for one last regretful kiss.
“I told you,” he says, making my eyes pop open.
Is he serious? “No, you didn’t. I told you.”
“No, I told you. Next time you should listen to me. You know I’m always right. You’ll learn.” Kissing me once more he straightens his clothes leaving me half-dressed sprawled on the dinner table.
“Huh.” I huff extra loud jumping down. I hurriedly fix my clothes and he smacks me on the ass. “Ow! What the hell, Chris?” smiling he strides off to get the door like he’s not affected by what we were about to do.
He looks back at me smiling and says, “Hurry up babe, it’s rude to keep our guests waiting because you want a quickie. No bueno.”
“Me?” I could strangle him. “It was you.”
“Well, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it, beauty.” He winks at me.
My eyes roll so far back I see dots. No bueno. I look down at myself right as he opens the door to make sure all my goodies are back in place.
Nick and him do the guy hand shake. He hugs Cat and takes Jace. “Hey little man. It seems like you’re twice the size you were the last time I saw you.” He takes off his hat bouncing him up in the air. He laughs down at his uncle grabbing at his nose. Chris makes airplane noises flying him around the room with nonstop giggling. I love seeing them together. Adorable.
“How you doing?” I say hugging Nick kissing his cheek. “I see you came straight from work all suited up.”
He hugs me back with one arm kissing my other cheek. “You know as long as I have the love of my life by my side I’m great. I would ask how you’re doing but I see your greatest endeavor has my son in a fit of laughter.”
I push his shoulder stepping back smiling, shaking my head. “Like you like to tell me, behave yourself tonight.”
“I make no promises but I can if you can. Being we are both Alexanders I wouldn’t count on it.”
“At least you both know you’re trouble. Come here you!” Cat pulls me into an exuberant hug.
“But the trouble is, oh so much
, fun. And judging by you and your brother, you Reeds do like trouble.”
“Yes we do.” We both do a little bounce.
Nick shakes his head walking off saying he’s going to save his son’s dinner from ending up all over Chris. I turn headed for Jace, too. Cat links her arm through mine taking me off track in the opposite direction.
I try to turn back. “I want to hold my godson.”
“You have plenty of time to play with Jace. Walk with me, talk to me. She strolls us over to the dining-room table I was sprawled across minutes ago. Away from the guys sitting in the living-room. “I’ll help you set the table. How are things going with my brother?” She wiggles her eyebrows.
She stops in the middle of the table and I pass her a plate. “We’re doing good. First time I’ve been this happy in a relationship. I always knew we were right for each other and it would be good but this exceeds my expectation. You were right about us balancing each other out.”
“I’m so happy for you guys.” She looks over at Chris laughing and playing on the floor with Jace. “He seem really happy. I’m glad he finally came around to seeing the amazing side of you I’ve always been allowed to see.”
“Thanks,” I say, moving down to the end of the table with her to set the last plate in its place. I bite my lip looking at Chris. “He’s kinda special. He makes me feel special every time he looks at me.” Distracted, watching him rolling around on the floor with our godson, I feel that nagging feeling coming back to me.
“Ava?” I look at her holding the last plate in her hand staring at me. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“I know you better than that. Are you two having problems?”
“Not exactly. It’s just what if he gets tired of me? You know how I can get. I’ve been able to rein in my mouth. Not saying the first thing that naturally comes to my mind especially when we have a disagreement. You know that won’t last. I have to tell it like it is, no holds barred, roll with the punches. What if he decides a woman like Sage is what he really wants.”
Imperfections Take Me As I Am (The Imperfections Series Book 3) Page 19