Dinner at Eight-epub

by Jess Dee

  “She’s scared, but grateful you’re here with her.” Ava bit her lip. “I never wanted to talk about what Anthony did to me. Not with anyone. But I needed you to know.”

  “Thank you for trusting me.”

  “Always, Jar.” Her eyes closed as her hips moved ever more sensually.

  His gaze was drawn to her breasts. Ripe and luscious, they swayed in time to her rocking and made his mouth water. “You’re so fucking gorgeous, baby.” She lit his blood on fire. “The last time you sat like this, you couldn’t fuck me because I had my pants on.”

  She popped open one eye, glancing down to his bare waist. “And look at that. Not an item of clothing anywhere to be seen.”

  “Would you like to fuck me now?”

  “I would love to fuck you…another time.”

  Jared’s heart seized.

  Ava opened her other eye and gazed into his. “I’d rather make love with you now.”

  Jesus. He was so fucking gone for her. There was that purring sound again, rattling through his chest. “Whenever you’re ready, beautiful girl.”

  Ava continued to rock, seemingly in no hurry. Jared ached to hold her, so close and so tight he had to consciously stop himself from digging his fingers into her arms and dragging her down on top of him. He’d waited a lifetime for this moment. Now that it was here, he could hardly breathe from the anticipation.

  And when she leaned forward, bracing one hand on his shoulder and grasping the base of his cock with the other, the anticipation reached fever pitch. His blood boiled, his dick throbbed and his chest stuttered from lack of oxygen.

  Her hair swept over his face, the ends tickling his cheek and neck. He inhaled her familiar fragrance, and knew nothing had ever smelled better.

  Ava lifted her hips, positioned his shaft just so, and with careful and precise motions, lowered herself onto his erection.

  She enveloped him slowly, her pussy encasing him like a tight, hot sheath.

  Fuck, it felt good. So damn good. Thank God for the condom. It tamped down some of the heady sensation. Without it, his staying power would be about zero. He’d blow like a leaky gasket touched by a lit match.

  At least this way he had a chance of lasting, oh, a grand ten or twenty seconds. Maybe.

  When Jared was buried to the root inside her, she stilled and gazed at him with heavy-lidded eyes. Her pupils were huge black spheres rimmed with emerald.

  “So fucking gorgeous,” he murmured appreciatively.

  “You are,” she agreed. “Handsome and sexy. Even better than the high school Jared.”

  He smiled. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”

  “I certainly hope so.” And then she was moving, rocking her hips again, only this time, instead of moving back and forth, like she had minutes ago, she rocked up and down, lifting, dragging her pussy up his shaft before changing directions and dragging that tight, slick flesh back down again.

  Earlier, he’d grasped her hips to direct her swaying. But Ava needed no such assistance now. She glided around him like a dancer, her lithe, supple body swiveling wantonly over his.

  Jared held his hands open. Not to reassure her, like he’d done earlier, but in open invitation. If Ava linked her fingers with his, they’d be even more connected.

  Without hesitation she thread her fingers through his and held them tight, increasing the intimacy between them. Jared brought each of her hands to his mouth and kissed them as he caught her gaze and held it.

  Last night, when he’d gone down on her, it had been with a greedy, desperate need to taste, explore and discover the woman he’d loved for years. This morning, the greed and desperation were still there, but so was a soul-deep hunger. Jared needed the emotional connection with her as much as he needed the physical one.

  Making love with Ava gave him that. Instead of him giving and Ava taking, or the other way round, they were in this together. The two of them were one.

  Jared thought his chest might explode from the rightness of it all. After years of loving her from afar, Ava was here. The real, living, breathing, stunning woman was connected to him, a part of him.

  He could easily sit up now and take one of her tempting nipples in his mouth. He could wrestle the reins away from her by thrusting upward and plunging himself ever deeper in her depths. Their combined pleasure would undoubtedly leave them both sated and shaking in ecstasy. Or he could flip her onto her back and drive into her mercilessly, sending them both reeling into rapturous bliss.

  But as physically satisfying as all of those options would be, they could never give him the emotional gratification he felt now, staring into her eyes. This was, perhaps, the single most perfect moment of Jared’s life.

  “If I died now, I’d die a happy and content man,” he whispered, voicing that same realization for a second time.

  She frowned. “Speak for yourself. I’d be mad that you left me hanging on the precipice of a major orgasm.”

  He grinned. “I’d never leave you hanging.”

  “Please. You did last night. Several times. Brought me to the edge and left me there.”

  Ava never lost her rhythm. As they bantered back and forth, she continued to rock, inflaming every cell in his body.

  “Yeah, but admit, it was worth it in the end.” She’d rocketed over that precipice, sobbing his name.

  “It was worth it. I’m just peeved you made me wait over ten years to experience it.”

  “I solemnly swear, starting from today, I will make up for lost time.” He had to close his eyes and catch his breath before he could continue. Ava squeezed her inner muscles, momentarily sending him to a different plateau. “Spend the morning in bed with me, Torres,” he panted. “We’ll make up for the entire first year.”

  “Pretty sure of yourself, aren’t you?”

  “Just sure that I’ll never get tired of making love to you.”

  She offered him a tender smile. “You’re one of the good ones, Jar.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “Oh, great, here we are, making love, and you’ve lumped me together with Levi and Spencer.”

  The smile became a grin. “Okay, correction. You’re the best of the good guys.”

  “See?” He smirked haughtily. “It’s like I said. You’re totes in love with me.”

  Ava laughed. “I love making love with my best friend,” she corrected. “Even if he is outrageously smug.”

  “Not smug, baby. Just happy to have you in my arms.” He let every bit of that happiness show on his face.

  She breathed his name, and her eyes began to smolder.

  The air seemed to crackle, like electricity sparking between them.

  The teasing and jokes stopped. Ava began to rock faster, harder, taking him deeper. Jared could no longer hold back. He rocked too, arching his hips, thrusting up.

  Ava moaned and moved ever faster.

  Jared’s reprieve was over. The condom provided no relief against her relentless heat and tight flesh. His balls pulled tight against the base of his dick, and his release built.

  “Jared…” Her lids closed, blocking out those stunning green eyes. “J-Jar—” She faltered, losing her rhythm. Her breasts—those beautiful, bountiful, bouncing breasts—seemed to grow even bigger, the nipples beading into hard, tempting buds.

  He thrust higher, deeper, giving up his own battle to keep his eyes open.

  “Oh God.” Her cry filled his ears, the rich tone musical against his uneven panting.

  Jesus, he wasn’t going to last.

  “Oh God, oh God, oh God.”

  Ava jerked. Her pussy clamped down around his cock. And then she was coming, shuddering on top of him while crying out his name.

  The rhythmic clenching of her inner muscles was passion overload for Jared. He couldn’t hold back. As Ava writhed and moaned above him, he yielded to the fire in his balls.

  Christ. He was coming inside of the woman he loved. Shooting in her velvety depths. If he weren’t wearing a condom, his come would coat the walls
of her pussy.

  The thought only made him climax harder. His back arched, his torso lifting off the bed. A fuzzy voice at the back of his head suggested he loosen his grip on her fingers, lest he hurt her, but Ava was gripping him just as tight.

  For endless seconds, Jared blocked out every thought, every sound. He was aware only of Ava’s pleasure and his own. Heard only her satisfied groans and his heavy breathing. Felt nothing but the spectacular rapture of his release and the gratifying vibrations of hers.

  And when the final shudder of pleasure racked through his body, and he’d spurted for the last time, he let his body drop back on the bed and his head on her pillow. As he lay gasping for breath, Ava’s grasp on his hands relaxed, and she fell forward, landing with her chest on his and her face burrowed in the crook of his neck.

  Long moments passed before either of them could speak. Neither seemed to be in any rush to break the connection.

  Inevitably, Jared’s softening dick dictated he pull out of her, and when he did, Ava rolled over with a satisfied sigh.

  Eons later, he pushed himself off the bed, promised a hasty return and disappeared into the bathroom.

  With the heat that had radiated between them rapidly cooling in his absence, Ava began to shiver. It started with a slight trembling in her arm, followed by goose bumps breaking out along the entire length of her body.

  Within seconds, she was ice cold and trembling. She pulled the doona up high, burying herself in its warmth.

  It didn’t help. The cold she’d experienced last night was back.

  She heard the toilet flush, water running.

  Maybe another bath would help?

  Jared began to sing a tuneless song.

  And as he sang, the goose bumps lessened. So did the trembling. The doona began to feel heavy, uncomfortable.

  Her internal temperature did a complete one eighty, and as cold as she’d been seconds ago, now she began to sweat. Perspiration beaded on her forehead and a sense of claustrophobia hit. She couldn’t breathe.

  Dear God. What had she done?

  The bathroom door swung open. “Brekkie? I can make you eggs or take you out somewhere? Your call.”

  Jared walked into her bedroom, naked. His body, long, slim and beautifully muscled, would have taken her breath away—if the air she’d just inhaled wasn’t trapped in her lungs.

  Panic was quickly getting the better of her.

  “I-I can’t.” Ava swung her gaze to the opposite side of the room, her heart thudding. “I have yoga every Saturday morning at eight.”

  “You go twice a week?” His disappointment was audible.

  “Three times. Early Monday morning as well, before work.”

  “And you can’t skip a day?”

  She felt his gaze settle on her face. Overwhelmed by what had happened between them in the last twelve hours, she couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes. “It’s my soul food. I need those classes. They keep me going.” True. The classes had saved her sanity.

  But Ava had just lied. She’d been lying for nine months.

  “Okay then.” The acceptance and understanding in his voice only increased her sense of claustrophobia. “I’ll miss you.”

  She sat up and tucked the doona around her body, focusing intently on the linen. She feared she might hyperventilate if she looked at him and had to confront what they’d done. “Um…”

  “Yeah?”

  “Can I tell you something?”

  “Baby, you can tell me anything.”

  She picked at an invisible piece of lint. “I don’t actually do yoga.”

  “You don’t?”

  “No. I do MMA.”

  “Huh?”

  “Mixed martial arts.”

  “Fuck me. You’re learning to fight?”

  “I’m learning self-defense myself. But yeah, I fight too.” Yoga was a front. If everyone thought that was where she went, they wouldn’t question her choice to do MMA.

  “That shit is vicious. Explains the six-pack, though. And the biceps.”

  “The training’s tough,” she agreed. “Two hours of intense exercise and sparring, three times a week.” Finally she looked his way. Jared stood a few steps away from the bed, regarding her thoughtfully. “I wouldn’t have gotten through the last nine months without it.” For far too long, she’d been scared of her own shadow.

  “They taught you well.” His eyes flashed with wry amusement, and she knew he was thinking about the death grip she’d had on his balls.

  “They taught me to fight dirty.”

  “Does it help?”

  She wouldn’t sleep at night without it. “I’m confident in my ability to take a man down—and keep him down.”

  “You almost took me down a couple of times.”

  Ava frowned. “I’m sorry about that. It’s like I said, you confused me. That first kiss… The irrational side of my mind took over, and I reacted on instinct. The same thing happened last night.”

  “You were magnificent,” he whispered. “Both times.”

  “I was out of control.”

  “You were in absolute control. You knew what you had to do to protect yourself, and you did it.”

  “At your expense.”

  “Would it ease your conscience if I told you I was relieved you do MMA? At least this way I know you’re safe, no matter what happens.”

  It was why she did the classes.

  “Don’t give them up. Ever. And don’t miss one for me. Or anyone else for that matter. Go. Get ready.”

  Ava nodded, but made no move to dress. “When will I see you again?”

  She held her breath, waiting for his answer. As desperately as she’d missed him while he’d been away, she needed time out now. Time to catch her breath and to consider what she’d done.

  She’d just made love with her best friend.

  Made. Love.

  With the same man she’d warned not to fall in love with her, because she was incapable of loving him back—or loving anyone, for that matter.

  Perspiration slid down her spine. Her chest burned.

  “After your cla…” Jared frowned and must have reconsidered his answer. “That’s up to you.”

  “Can I call you?”

  He hesitated before flashing her a smile she couldn’t read. “Any time.”

  Ava floundered. One thing she’d always been able to do was read Jared’s expressions. As far as she was concerned, his face was an open book.

  Unease slithered through her belly and a part of her ached to grab hold of his hand, tug him down on the bed beside her and kiss him. Again and again and again, until the worry and regret and fear vanished beneath his exquisite touch.

  The other part prayed he’d leave soon. Walk out of the flat and give her time to gather her wits about her.

  Ava twisted her fingers together to stop herself from reaching for him. “Would it be okay if I didn’t call right away? If I took some time and space, to, you know, process everything that’s happened between us.”

  The unreadable smile remained. “Take as much time as you need.”

  Ava studied him for a long moment. “You scare me, Jar.” Oxygen jammed in her lungs again. “This, us.” She gestured with her hands, waving between them. “Scares me.”

  Jared closed his eyes and scrubbed a hand over his head. “The last thing I ever want to do is scare you.”

  “I know.” Her voice was meek.

  He found his pants and pulled them on. “You’ll phone when you’re ready to see me?”

  Ava nodded.

  He tugged his shirt on next, watching her as he did up the buttons. “I want you to know something.”

  “Yeah?”

  He closed the distance between them and took her hand in his. “You may have stopped believing in happy ever afters. But I haven’t.” He pressed a kiss to her palm. “You can fight me on this as much as you want. You can pull away and take time out when you need it. But I’m going to keep coming back until you realize yo
u love me too. I promise you, baby, we’ll get our happy ending. You and I. Together.”

  And as sweat beaded on Ava’s upper lip, Jared squeezed her hand and left, giving her time and space—just like she’d requested.

  Chapter Eleven

  “You look like shit.”

  Greg tossed the comment Jared’s way as he walked into the lounge room and set a cup under the coffee machine.

  Jared, stretched out on the couch, eyed his brother without comment. It was mid-Saturday morning and Greg was only just arriving home. He hadn’t been at work.

  It was seriously time for Jared to get his own place. Greg needed his flat back. Jared had gone to see a couple of rentals during the week and hated them both.

  “You also look like you just got laid. Which is a bit of a mind fuck, considering the looking-like-shit part of it.” Greg pushed a button, and the familiar grind and churn of the machine filled the room. “You okay?”

  Jared rubbed a tired hand over his face. “Long night.” Long morning too.

  Greg’s eyes narrowed. “How’s Ava?”

  Jared stared at the ceiling.

  The scent of fresh-brewed coffee filled the air.

  “Tea?” Greg offered.

  “Nah, thanks.” He must really look bad if his twin was offering.

  “Want to talk about it?”

  Did he? The thoughts that troubled him weren’t his worries to share. Not all of them, anyway.

  “Might as well get it off your chest, bro.”

  A small smile tugged at Jared’s lips. He would discuss this with his brother at some point, and they both knew it. If something happened in their lives, they spoke about it. Always had, always would. The question was, was he up to talking now?

  His gut twisted as the now familiar sense of helplessness wound its way through his chest. “You ever been impotent?” he asked.

  “Jesus, no.” Greg blanched, then threw his brother a sympathetic look. “That’d explain the looking-like-shit-when-you-just-got-laid thing.”

  “Let me reword that. You ever felt impotent? Powerless in a situation you wish you could control but can’t?”

  “Ah, that kind of impotence.” Greg screwed up his face in concentration and plopped down on the opposite couch. “Yeah. A couple of times. Diagnosing Mum’s tumor, for one.”