by Kaci Rose
“I will. Can you text me that wine she likes and the cigars he likes? I want to pick some up for them.”
“I’ll text them when I get the picture of you and your new beau.”
“Okay, Mom.” We both laugh and say goodbye.
Denver nuzzles my neck. “I like that you called me your boyfriend to your parents.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” He kisses a trail up my neck.
“Well, my mom is withholding information from me until I send her a picture of you. So how do you feel about taking our first official couple selfie?”
“Is this a for-your-mom-only selfie or one I can post to my social media and tell everyone you are mine.”
“You can share it.”
“Good, stand up.”
He walks up behind me, pulls me back into his chest, and leans his head next to mine. I put my phone up and take a picture of us both smiling.
“Take one with my phone?” He hands me his phone.
We are standing the same way, except this time when I go to snap a picture he leans in and kisses my neck.
He looks at the pictures. “Perfect, send me the one you took, and I’ll send you this one,” I say as I text the first one to my mom and she replies quickly with the information I asked her for and a few heart emojis. My aunt taught her about emojis last year and she has been overusing them ever since.
There is a knock on the door frame and look I up to see Carl.
“Hey. Dad said to have to take a look at these books too, some he says are old, but neither of us paid much attention to them.”
We spend a few hours in the study, and he pulls out several books all worth a few hundred dollars each that I send with him to consign. By the time they leave, I am emotionally drained but so happy I have Denver by my side. I can’t imagine trying to do this alone.
It doesn’t escape me that he was here and knew exactly what I needed. Kyle wouldn’t have even given a second thought about ditching me. Then I remind myself to stop comparing Kyle and Denver. I already know Denver is a much better man, he’s proven it time again, and now he’s mine.
Chapter 15
Denver
I save the photo of Avery and me as my background on my phone and I plan to share it everywhere later. I want to scream from the rooftops that she’s finally mine.
Once Carl and Simon leave, I can tell she’s overwhelmed.
“Why don’t we get out of the house?” I ask her.
“Yeah, I need to do some shopping. I want to pick up a few things for the Burns’ before we go to dinner tomorrow and we need wine. Lots of it. Let’s have dinner while we are out too, my treat.”
“Avery, you will not be paying while we are dating.”
“This isn’t a date and I want to thank you guys for today and celebrate my grandparents being crazy collectors.”
I shake my head and laugh.
We head to the mall and she finds the wine and cigars easily and as we pass the sports shop her eyes light up.
“I know what to get Eric! Come on.” She ducks into the shop and I hesitate for a moment before following her.
“Denver Bolter? No way!” The middle-aged man comes around the counter to greet me.
I just smile.
“I’m Jerry, I own the shop. I can’t believe you’re in my shop.”
“Well, my girl here is looking for something, but hasn’t told me what.” I smile over at Avery.
“I want one of your jerseys,” Avery says, and walks to the MGU section.
“I can get you one back at school.”
“I need it tomorrow, for Eric, so I want to buy one here.”
“Oh, we have them right here…” Jerry shows her.
“Perfect. Eric can open the jersey then you can sign it in front of him while his parents get photos. I saw his eyes light up when he met you.”
“You can have the jersey if you sign one for me,” Jerry says.
“I appreciate it, but we’ll pay for the jersey to stay on the good side of the NCAA. I’m happy to sign one for you though.”
“Of course, sorry, I wasn’t thinking,” Jerry says and shakes his head.
I smile and sign the jersey for him as he rings Avery’s purchase up and then I take a picture with him before we head out.
“I think Eric is going to be over the moon to spend dinner with you. He’s a good kid.”
I smile. “He reminds me of myself at that age. I saw him outback practicing earlier. He could have a good football career in front of him, if he keeps his head on straight.”
My mom meets us back at the car holding a few bags that she loads into the trunk.
“Where do you want to go for dinner?” I ask Avery.
“What are you two in the mood for?”
“I’d love something local, not a chain,” Mom says.
“I know just the place.” Avery smiles and gives me directions.
“Loveless Cafe?” I ask her.
“You can’t get any more Nashville then Loveless.”
We walk in and find out there is an hour wait, until the manager recognizes me.
“Are you the Lighting Bolt?”
“That’s what they call me.” I smile but I’m a little uncomfortable with all the attention I’ve been getting today.
“Oh, man, you are a legend around here! My dad is going to be so mad he went home early! Can you wait here a minute?”
I nod and look over at Avery who shrugs and smiles. I take in all the signed pictures that cover the walls that range from Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash to Kenny Chesney.
“My dad has this picture hanging in his office. If you would sign it, I can get you seated now, we just had a table clear.”
I’m not used to all this fanfare back at school, but then again, Mountain Gap is a small town. I glance over at Avery and she is looking back at me, her eyes shining. Not a single bit of resentment over the attention. Mom has such pride on her face it makes my heart burst. I realize then that I do all this for these two and if moments like this make them this happy, I hope they never stop.
I sign the photo and take a picture with the guy before he takes us to a table at the back of the dining room.
“I don’t know if I will ever get used to what a big deal you are.” Avery shakes her head once we sit down.
“I’m not used to it. It’s not like this back at school.”
“Well, I’m so proud of you, baby. I knew you’d grow up and do amazing things,” Mom says.
“What’s good here?” I ask, hoping to change the subject.
“Everything.” Avery laughs.
I get a BBQ sampler platter, Avery gets fried pork chops, and Mom gets the fried chicken. We all share food and talk. There are so many smiles around the table. Avery loosens up and seeing her and my mom together, is better than I imagined it ever would be. We share a few slices of pecan pie before we head out.
“That food was so good, I can’t remember the last time I was this stuffed!” Mom jokes.
“Oh yeah, I need to grab something real quick, I’ll meet you guys out at the car,” Avery says.
“We can go with you,” I offer.
“No, it’s okay, I’ll just be a minute.” She smiles and winks at me.
A few minutes later, I get a text.
Avery: Pop the trunk
She included a wink face emoji and one holding his finger to his mouth in a shushing emoji.
I follow her request and a minute later she is back and putting something in the trunk.
✽✽✽
Avery
As soon as his mom started raving about the food here, I knew the perfect gift for her. I went back and got a large gift basket with a cookbook, biscuit mix, a few other mixes, and their jams. They even gift-wrapped it for me.
Now I just need a gift for Denver. I’m thinking about it as I make my way back to the car and place the basket in the trunk. A man walks by with a Tennessee Titan shirt on, and it hits me. The perfect gift.
/> When we get home, I sneak away and call my dad and tell him my idea. He says he can do it but needs to make a few calls first.
Once we get settled, we watch a few Christmas movies before his mom heads up to bed. I get a text from my dad telling me it’s a go and he was able to line everything up. I smile at how quickly he pulled it off.
“Why don’t we go get ready for bed and then snuggle up in my room to watch a movie?” I ask.
He nods and we head upstairs. We are cuddled in my bed watching TV when I look up at him. “Thank you for today, by the way.”
He pulls me closer. “Nowhere else I’d rather be.”
I lean up and kiss him. I mean for it to be a short, sweet kiss, but something ignites in me the minute my lips touch his. I pull his head down to mine, deepening the kiss, and I can’t seem to get close enough. I swing my leg over his hips and straddle him just to get closer.
We spend the rest of the movie making out like teenagers. I can feel how hard he is under me and I am so turned on, I know we both need relief.
“God, I want you so bad,” I say to him between kisses as I grind down on him.
“I want you too, sweet girl, but our first time is not going to be with my mom down the hall. But I will always take care of you.”
Before I know what he is doing, he has me flipped over onto my back. He runs his hands up my thighs and over my hips. One of his hands finds my core. I have on thin cotton shorts that I love to sleep in, and I can feel the heat of him through them.
“I can feel how soaked you are. Can I take off your shorts?”
All I can do is nod because there is nothing that I want more. He slides the shorts slowly down my legs and then runs his rough hands across my skin. He pushes my legs wide and positions himself between my thighs. He runs his nose over my panties before moving them to the side.
“So beautiful,” he murmurs to himself as he rubs his thumb over my clit causing my hips to jerk and my breathing to hitch in my throat. “And so responsive.”
Then his tongue is on me and I lose the ability to think, all I can do is feel. The warmth of his tongue circling my clit, the electric pulse waves radiating off of me and pulling at me to fall over the edge. His five o’clock shadow rubs against my thighs, and the vibrations of his moans pulse through me.
As he sucks on my clit, I grab his hair and hold him in place because I don’t think I could stand it if he stopped, but in the next moment he moans, and it pushes me over the edge. I have enough thought to grab a pillow to cover my face as I come harder than I ever have before in my life.
“Wow.” I try to catch my breath. He places a kiss on the inside of each of my thighs before tugging my underwear back in place and kissing his way up to my lips.
“That’s how I felt watching you come undone like that. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.” He kisses my neck and then rolls to the side so his weight isn’t on me.
I look over at him and sit up. His eyes track me as I make my way to him.
“My turn.” I smile.
“No, sweet girl, this was about you.”
“And it’s still about me, because I want this.”
“Avery, I love going down on you and I don’t expect anything in return.”
I grab the hem of his pants and start to pull them down. He doesn’t try to stop me.
“All the more reason I want to do this. Plus, why wouldn’t I love to go down on you and watch you come apart for me?”
Denver squeezes his eyes closed and tosses his head back on the pillow. He lifts his hips and helps me get his pants and his boxer briefs out of the way.
Now I’m getting my first look at his cock and boy is it impressive. Long, hard, and thick with come dripping from the tip. I can’t let that go to waste. I lean down and lick the come off and he groans.
I look up at him and when his eyes meet mine, I slowly take him into my mouth as I watch his breathing pick up. He never takes his eyes away from mine.
I work him in and out of my mouth, taking more each time until he hits the back of my throat. I use my hand on the base. When his hand runs through my hair it makes me moan and his hips jerk.
“I’m so close, Avery. God, your mouth feels like heaven.”
I suck harder but this time I bring my other hand up to cup his balls before giving them a light tug and it’s enough that he starts to come in long hot spurts down my throat. He pulls a pillow over his face seconds before he lets out a long groan. I swallow down every last drop and when he removes the pillow from his face, he is breathing hard. I give the head of his cock a kiss before climbing back up him.
When my eyes find his there is almost a look of wonder in them.
“Come here, baby.” He pulls me up to him and tucks me into his side. “I’ve never felt anything like that, I can’t even explain it.”
“That’s how you made me feel.” I snuggle into him with my head on his shoulder. “Will you stay with me tonight?”
“I don’t think I could get out of bed if I wanted to, but I definitely don’t want to.” He kisses the top of my head and pulls the blanket over and sleep pulls me under.
Chapter 16
Denver
My heart is racing, and I can’t catch my breath. It’s the same feeling I have when I wake up after having a sexy dream of Avery, except this time the pleasure is still building.
When I open my eyes the sight in front of me steals what little breath I have left. Avery has her mouth around my cock again and before I can even stop myself, I’m coming down her throat.
“Holy fuck, that is one hell of a way to be woken up.”
She gives me a smile and I pull her up to me for a kiss.
“That was the best way to be woken up. But it’s your turn now.”
I flip her over and take my spot at what is now my favorite place in the world, between her thighs. She is wet and already close to orgasm.
“Did having your mouth around my cock do this to do you, baby?” I lick her desire off her lips.
“Yes,” she gasps.
“I don’t think you know what that does to me.” I thrust two fingers into her and watch her hips buck. “Knowing how turned on you are by my cock in your mouth. I don’t have the words for it.” I suck on her clit, running my tongue over it faster and faster until she falls apart for me.
I kiss my way up her body, paying attention to her breasts over the tank top she wore to bed. I’ve gone down on my girl twice, but I’ve yet to see these gorgeous tits that have been tempting me for years.
I slowly inch up her tank top, kissing up her stomach as I do. I pause a second before her breasts come bouncing out of the fabric. They are perfect, full, and round, with dark pink nipples.
I look up at her and she is watching me with her lips slightly parted. I grab one in each hand, they are a bit more than a handful. I massage them memorizing the feel of them in my hands.
“I love these,” I tell her, but I don’t take my eyes off my hands. I lean down and suck one into my mouth while I pinch the other nipple. Then I turn and do the same to the other. I don’t want to ever let them go but the need to have my arms around Avery wins out, so I tug her tank top back down.
I lie down beside her pull her into my arms, kissing her shoulder, neck, and the top of her head.
“I don’t want to get out of bed.” Avery sighs and wiggles against me. There isn’t an inch of space between us and I love it.
“Well, it’s not even 9 a.m. I think we can get away with lying here a bit longer,” I tell her.
“Tell me about your favorite Christmas memory.”
I can’t help but smile. “One year my mom worked on this big project with her boss, she was the secretary then, but she was working some long nights to help out. I remember going into the office a few times over Thanksgiving break. They won the contract and her boss, who is a nice guy, gave my mom a raise and a weekend away at his cabin in Gatlinburg. So, we went up the day after Christmas for five days. Just being in the moun
tains with a bit of snow and all the lights around town was magical. We walked downtown and got hot chocolate, some homemade donuts, and fudge.”
“It sounds amazing.”
“It was, my mom loved that cabin, but we could never have afforded it. That why I bust my ass in football. If I can get into the NFL, I can give her things like that and take care of her like she did me.”
Avery places a hand on my cheek. “You are amazing. You take care of her more than you realize, Denver, and she looks at you like you hung the moon. If the NFL is what you want, then I know you will get there and do it, because you are good. Really good. But make sure it’s what you want too.”
“I have everything I want right here, right now. My mom is happy and safe, and I have you in my arms. I’ve wanted this for so long, Avery, and now that you’re here with me, I feel like I can do anything.”
“You can do anything.” She looks up and gives me a shy smile. “I have a confession.”
“Uh oh, good or bad?” I tighten my hold on her.
“Good for you.”
“Well, color me intrigued.”
She laughs. “I wasn’t ever one of those go-to-every-football-game girlfriends, but even when I was dating Kyle and I was at the game I watched you more than I did him. I was there when you got the ball at the Arizona game and ran it forty yards. I was cheering so loud for you I lost my voice the next day.”
This girl. Does she even know what a simple confession like that does to me?
“I was always hoping you were watching at the games. I lied to myself often telling myself you were, I would push harder for you, to make you proud.”
“God, Denver, I am so proud of you. I always have been, you are an amazing, strong man and I’m sorry I didn’t see that the first night.”
I kiss her forehead. “We are right where we are meant to be, but I smell coffee, so I also think we need to get downstairs.”
We spend the morning packing up the den and pulling everything out of it since it’s the room that needs the most work. I swear she timed it so every time I looked up, she was bending over a box with her ass facing my way, teasing me.