Mr. Jameson continued. “I would like to put more accounts into your capable hands, for you to work on together. I don’t know how you two did it, but whatever it was, it worked, and I am really looking forward to seeing what else you two can put together.” I wonder if he would like to know that our best work happens because of major sexual tension. Probably not.
“Do you mean that Trevor and I are working as a team on the other accounts also?” Ava asked, still smiling.
“Yes.” He stated without question. “Apart you are talent for this company, but together, you are a force to be reckoned with.” He stood up and both Ava and I followed suit. “Congratulations you two. Great job!” He reached out and shook our hands as he dismissed us.
We walked back to our office without a word, but the excitement that I felt was barely contained. We were almost there when that tool Josh stepped out in front of Ava. “Hi Ava. I heard the presentation went well. Do you want to go out and celebrate?” She stopped and looked at him with her mouth open. When she didn’t say anything, I stepped in. “Not now Josh.” I grabbed her arm and led her away, shaking my head at the poor schmuck.
She walked through our door and stopped. When I had fully closed it she turned and launched herself back into my arms. I held her tight, running my hands over her soft ponytail. She looked up at me, smiled and then laid one hell of a kiss on me. Before I could get my wits about me, she pulled back.
“We need to celebrate! Let’s go out tonight, I’ll call Talia, you call the boys.” She already had her phone pulled out of her purse and was texting like mad.
I was still astonished by the kiss, but grabbed my phone anyway. Nick and Tom better be up for a celebration, if she kisses me when she’s happy and excited, I was bound and determined to keep her feeling that way!
***
“She kissed me.” I told Nick and Tom while we waited at the table for Ava and Talia to show up. We decided to celebrate at one of the clubs Ava and I had gone to alone. We found a table up in the loft area overlooking the dance floor. Nick was quite impressed with being able to scope out his prospects from up here.
“What do you mean she kissed you? Like the first one?” Tom looked at me with surprise.
“Shit, I wish! No. It was just a quick one, but damn if it didn’t still give me a semi.” I shook my head. “She makes my body react like a fifteen year old just by walking by.”
“Well, control yourself young man, she’s about to walk by.” Tom laughed.
“Hey boys!” Ava took the seat next to me and Talia made herself at home between Nick and Tom.
“Hey Nick.” Talia leaned back in her chair looking over the rail. “I bet you can even spot the fake ones from up here.” We all busted up, remembering their last argument regarding the authenticity of his blonde bombshells ‘assets’.
“Funny.” He rolled his eyes.
The girls ordered their drinks and then started talking.
“Oh Talia, how was your date the other night?” Ava asked as she sucked on her straw. What I would give to be that straw. I shook my head. Ridding my mind of the thought.
“Ugg! I swear I am one bad date away from becoming a lesbian.” Talia shook her head in disgust as both Tom and Nick faced her with their mouths open, clearly putting some visuals together.
“Down boys.” Ava giggled.
“Maybe I can trouble shoot the problem with your dating tactics Talia, you know, let you know what you are doing wrong.” Nick challenged. “Care to share details?”
"My business isn't your business. So unless you're my thong, don't be up my ass."
“Nice.” Tom mumbled smiling. He was always a little quiet around Talia. Either he liked that she was putting Nick in his place, or he was wishing he was a thong right about now. Maybe both.
“I think it’s time for some celebration shots. Who’s in?” Ava clapped in excitement.
Two glasses of wine and several shots of Tequila Ava had everyone out on the dance floor. Nick had found a harem of girls that he was currently surrounding himself with and Tom and Talia were doing a mighty fine bump and grind.
Ava and I had started off very innocently, but quickly found ourselves once again in familiar territory. She was rubbing her hands over my chest as she wiggled her fine ass. I took her arms and wrapped them around me, pulling her closer, wanting to feel her pressed up against me.
Tilting her face up, she smiled, right before she leaned forward and ran her tongue up my neck, stopping right at my chin and nibbling softly. I groaned. She was killing me!
“Mmm Ava, what are you up to?” I smiled and dug my fingers into her sides, not sure if I was trying to hold her closer to me or stop her. No, definitely not stopping her.
“I might be up to no good.” She smiled against my neck.
“You’re up to no good huh?” My voice sounding a little gruff.
“Definitely no good.” She whispered as I felt myself growing even harder, if that was even possible at the moment. “Wanna be bad with me Trevor?”
I lifted her chin so I could see her eyes. “Are you sure about that?”
“Take me home Trevor.” Holy shit, she didn’t have to ask me twice.
“Come on.” I grabbed her hand and pulled her over to where Talia and Tom were.
“Tom, can you take Talia home?” I must have looked desperate because he didn’t even question. He just smiled at me and nodded. I didn’t hang around for anything more.
***
We barely made it in the door of Ava’s apartment before I pressed her hard up against the door, threading my hands around her neck and pulling her into me. Leaning in I sucked her bottom lip into my mouth, nibbling as I ran my tongue over it. When she opened her mouth and moaned, I took my invitation and devoured her mouth, putting every bit of desire I had felt over the past weeks into that kiss, capturing her mouth with hungry urgency.
I moved my hands slowly and methodically down her shoulders and over her breasts, gently kneading and stroking them while, grinding my body into hers.
Her moans and pants heightened my senses like never before. I was aware of every curve of her body as it pressed and rubbed up against me.
“Oh god Ava!” I breathed.
“I want you Trevor. Please.” She pleaded.
I pulled back and looked deep into her eyes, looking for any uncertainty. Nothing.
“Bed, now.” I commanded.
She giggled and grabbed my hand, pulling me toward her bedroom. She turned the corner and fell.
“Ava! Are you okay?” I stood over her.
“Oops! Gravity check!” She giggled and at that moment I realized just how intoxicated she was. Shit! I couldn’t do this, not like this. When I took Ava I wanted her stone sober, unable to doubt why I was with her.
I reached down and helped her up. She started to pull me toward the bedroom again, but I stayed where I was. She looked confused as she turned around. “Trevor?”
“Ava, come here.” I pulled her to me.
“What’s wrong Trevor?” She looked worried. I closed my eyes, trying to get control of the situation.
“I can’t do this Ava. Not like this.” I ran my fingers over her cheek.
She shook her head. “You can’t?”
“Ava, I care about you. I don’t want…” She pushed me away.
“Well don’t I feel like the fucking idiot!”
“Ava, wait…You don’t understand.” I tried to pull her back to me, but she shook her head, backing away from me.
“Don’t.” She put her hand out. “I understand just fine. I can’t believe I fell for this again.”
“Again? What are you talking about?” I was fucking this up again.
“This is just like the first night we met. That first kiss.” I saw a tear roll down her cheek.
“Ava NO! Please, you don’t understand. That kiss…” She interrupted me again.
“Yeah, that kiss was an act, but this…” She swung her hand between us. “I thought this was di
fferent. I thought we were past that. I’m so stupid.” She wiped her tears and my heart broke for her. I wanted her—God I hadn’t wanted anyone as much as I wanted her, ever, but I didn’t want her to regret this because she had been drinking. I was trying to do the right thing here damn it!
“Get out Trevor.” She spoke so softly that I almost didn’t hear her.
“What?”
“Get out! Go!” She yelled. “Please Trevor, just go.” She covered her face.
“Ava?” I begged.
She shook her head. “No more. I can’t do this anymore. Please. Just. Go.”
“I’m sorry.” I opened the door, wishing that I knew what to do. “I’m sorry.” I mumbled as I closed the door behind me.
How did I turn such an amazing day into this? I’m such an ass!
Chapter 8
Ava
How do I let this happen? Why do I allow men to screw with me? First Kyle, and now Trevor? Granted, Trevor was not mean to me outright, but somehow what had just happened felt worse than anything Kyle ever said to me.
At least with Kyle I expected it. I knew he was a jerk. Trevor had a way of looking at me like I was the only one in the room. He made me feel special. For weeks he’d been openly flirting with me, but the one time I take him up on it he turns me down.
I’m such an ass!
I filled my large tub with water, poured some lavender and chamomile oils in and sunk down, closing my eyes and trying to forget tonight. If only the damn phone would stop ringing!
After about the fiftieth ring and text alert, I said to hell with it and got out. I turned the damn thing off without even looking at it and went to my room. It was almost midnight and I had work in the morning. Oh! How was I going to face Trevor in the morning?
I pulled the covers back and climbed in, not even bothering to put on any pajamas. The tears started again and I fell into a restless sleep thinking about how messed up my life was becoming.
The walls I let down had shot right back up—higher than ever.
***
“What the hell happened last night?” Talia was in rare form this morning.
“What do you mean?” I tried to fake innocence. I really didn’t want to talk about it. It was still too raw and I was still feeling so stupid.
“Don’t pull that shit with me girly! Tom told me you guys left, and when he was driving me home, Trevor called him going absolute ape shit crazy. Spill it!” I held the phone away from my ear and could still hear her.
“Talia, I’m an idiot. I all but forced myself on him and he turned me down. That’s the last time I use a little liquid courage. I made myself look so stupid. It’s okay. I’m not sure I am really that interested anyway.” Yeah, she wasn’t going to buy that.
“Bullshit! A sober heart conceals, what a drunken mouth reveals, or in your case, a drunken body and lips. Don’t even try to deny it missy, and if you must know, I’m pretty sure he was kicking the shit out of himself too. He seemed really upset Ava.”
I sighed. “I can’t do this right now. Meet me for drinks after work. Are you on call tonight?”
“No, I am not on call and this is not over. I will meet you at the bar down the street from your apartment. You know….the one with the cute bartender? Yummy!” She laughed.
“Fine, I’ll be the one there missing their self respect.” I hung up the phone.
My friend is the kind of person that would flirt with the firemen while my house was burning down, but I loved her anyway.
Someone was looking out for me for sure. As soon as I walked into work, Chelsea gave me a folder of information and told me that I needed to head straight over to the Daniel’s headquarters for an impromptu meeting to get some specifics on the account that they wanted us to have. I wouldn’t need Trevor as no decisions were being made, so he would stay here and work.
“Thanks Chelsea!” I turned and hopped on the elevator, locking eyes with a very unhappy Trevor as the doors closed.
***
By the time I got to the bar, Talia was in full flirt mode, leaning up against the bar.
“Why, that's such a lovely shade of whore you have going on.” I whispered in her ear.
She turned and smirked at me. “Thanks! It compliments your bitch quite nicely.” She grabbed our drinks and led me over to a far table, ready to go Dr. Phil on my ass.
“So spill it. What happened when you saw him today?” She took a sip of her drink.
“Nothing.” I stated proudly.
“Nothing? You mean you ignored him all day?” She looked shocked, knowing that was so not my style.
“Not exactly. I had to work outside of the office today, so unless you count a five second staring match as the elevator doors closed, I didn’t have any contact with him.” I shrugged.
“You are such a chicken shit.” She shook her head in mock disgust, or it could’ve been actual disgust come to think of it.
“I know.” I couldn’t argue that. “I don’t know what to say Talia. It’s been so long since I was on the dating scene. Hell, I actually never really was, no thanks to Kyle. I should send him a bill for all my time he wasted.” I giggled at the thought. “I have no idea what I’m doing. You should have seen me last night. I was all over him and he still turned me down.”
“Ava?” Talia put her hand over mine. “I think you’re wrong. I think he really likes you. You should have heard him last night. He would not have sounded like that if he didn’t care.”
“Thanks Talia.” I smiled. I had no idea what I was going to do, but it felt good to have such a great friend. Sometimes a girl just needs her best friend…..and a strong drink.
***
I got to work early so that I would be in the office first. It was silly, but I felt like I could handle it better if I was already seated when Trevor came in.
I was busy organizing my notes that I took yesterday so that I could go over them with Trevor when he set my coffee down next to me.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before looking up at him. My heart was beating like I’d run a marathon. “Hi.” My voice sounded soft and I chastised myself for sounding so wounded.
“Ava, I’m sorry.” He looked horrible and I felt bad for being so mean to him. It wasn’t his fault that I’d thrown myself at him—that he had to stop me.
“Listen Trevor, I should never have pushed things as far as I did. I'm really sorry. It won't happen again.” I couldn't gauge his mood or what the look he was giving me meant, so I just went back to work.
“I had a meeting yesterday with the Daniel's group. I have some notes to go over with you whenever you're ready to get started.” I heard him sigh, but I didn't look back up. I didn't want his pity. This was my issue, and I wasn't going to allow it to affect my work for one more day. It wasn't his fault I misread the signs, right?
We jumped right into our work without discussing anything else. We worked right through lunch before we even realized, and finally sitting back and taking a break, I couldn't believe how hungry I was.
Trevor was still looking over some information. His eyebrows were pulled tight together and he was biting on his bottom lip. I still couldn't help but appreciate him. He was gorgeous. His jaw was slightly squared and he had a bit of stubble casting a shadow on his face. His hair was messy from his hands running through them, but my favorite part of his face was still his eyes. They were the most interesting shade of green with beautiful golden flecks in them. They were surrounded by long black eyelashes.
Almost as if he could hear my thoughts, he raised his eyes and looked right at me. I gasped from being caught staring, but he didn't say anything; he just gave me one of those half smiles of his and closed his folders, stretching.
“What do you think about us calling it a day Ava?” It was almost four o'clock anyway. We had accomplished quite a bit, and I needed to get something to eat.
“Yeah, that sounds good.” I stood up and packed up, not looking back up at Trevor, but I could hear him doing the sa
me.
We walked out together and caught the elevator down. I wished the tension wasn't there. Trevor had become someone I'd really enjoyed spending time with, and it pissed me off knowing I was the cause of the tension. Hell, I was the one who told him I wanted to be friends in the first place, so how could I be upset just because I'd changed my mind, and he no longer felt the same?
I stepped out into the lobby and turned to say goodbye to Trevor, but I felt his hand on my arm. “Let's go eat Ava.”
Part of me wanted to say "no thanks" but he looked hopeful, and I couldn't deny that I wanted to go with him anyway. I just nodded as he led me out onto the street. The sun was sitting low in the sky and the sidewalk was bustling with people. Trevor held tight to my arm and kept me close so that we could maneuver through the crowd. I’m not going to lie, the feel of his hand on my arm still sent chills through me.
“Are you cold?” He raised his eyes at me. I shook my head and gave him a reassuring smile.
We walked the few blocks to an Italian restaurant. It was packed already, but we were able to get a table in the back.
We chatted a bit more about work and some of the new accounts we might be working on, and then Trevor proceeded to tell me about Nick's most recent hook-ups that just so happened to be complete disasters. He didn't seem to pick his women very well.
We joked about how he and Talia seemed to always be at each other. It all came down to the fact that they were so very much alike—strong-willed and stubborn as all get out.
“What does Tom do?” I can't believe this had never come up. I knew that Nick was in accounting, but over the past couple of weeks, I hadn’t had the chance to talk to Tom as much. He was much quieter than his two friends, that’s for sure.
“He is a teacher.” He smiled. I could totally see that.
“What kind of teacher?” I asked as I dipped a piece of crusty bread in the olive oil and herbs, careful not to drip on myself.
Trevor finished chewing his bite, “He teaches ninth grade health and he coaches junior varsity soccer.”
I nodded. I bet he was a good teacher. He seemed to be very patient. “I’m sure he does well with that age group.” I smiled as Trevor looked at me curiously.
In My Arms (Philadelphia Series) Page 5