Burn: Book 3 (The Heat Series)

by MJ Masucci

  “You’re going to be a gorgeous bride and all mine.”

  They kept contact the entire drive to Sandy River with his hand on her bare knee, and she covered his hand with her own. The connection with him heated her body, and she felt tingles up her spine. Would that ever change? Would there be a time when they were together that his touch wouldn’t heat her body? She hoped not.

  They spent most of the day in the pool house looking at his laptop on the kitchen table. There were so many wedding venues, but Ava wanted something with a water view. They called a few places to make appointments for the next weekend to discuss available dates.

  “Okay, so now that we have places in mind, we need to decide on a date.”

  “I want it to be warm, or the water makes no sense,” Ava said.

  “Then we are talking next spring or summer.”

  Ava groaned, “I don’t want to wait that long.”

  “Well, then we have a quandary. I doubt we are going to find a venue that has any open dates until next year.”

  “The latest date I would get married is early October. After that, it gets too chilly in New York. Maybe Rachel can pull some strings; she always has contacts.”

  “You can talk to her, but we are going to have to scramble if they can give us a quick date. Lots of arrangements to make.”

  He began kissing her lips, sucking on her earlobes and stroking the back of her neck with his fingers.

  “Are you trying to seduce me, Mr. Wilder?”

  “Why would you think that?”

  “Because I find what you are doing incredibly arousing.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I’ll stop.”

  Her green eyes flashed fire, “You better not,” she whispered.

  Several hours later they lay in his bed, sated and exhausted, legs entwined. The sun had gotten low in the sky and lit up the bedroom in hues of orange.

  “Are you hungry?” He asked.

  “I’m exhausted. I’m not sure I have the energy to eat.”

  He frowned and knitted his eyebrows.

  “We ate a big breakfast so stop worrying. Are you always going to watch that I eat?”

  “I want you to be healthy.”

  “I am healthy. I feel fine, and I’m not far from my regular weight so stop being a worry wart.” Then she claimed his mouth with her own.

  They were asleep when the door to the pool house opened. David crept into the house and went over to their room, peering into the half opened door. Ava was on her stomach with the sheet twisted around her waist; her full bare back was exposed. Xander was turned on his side facing her with his hand touching her shoulder.

  David stood for a moment looking at her and wishing that it was him in the bed next to her. He would worship her body as if she were a queen. He wanted to run his hand down her bare back and lower. Xander stirred, and he crept away from the room and left the pool house. She was never going to be his.

  The next morning Xander woke early. He quietly got out of bed and put on his running attire. He wanted to run on his own. He went the same way they had gone yesterday, finding it increasingly harder to breathe as he got closer to the scene of the accident.

  When he got to the guardrail, he stopped. He ran his hand over the scarred metal then climbed over the railing and slowly went down the hill. He stopped at the spot that was the final resting place of the SUV and knelt down, running his hands over the renewed earth. It had once again become thick with weeds, and any evidence of their accident was long gone.

  He became emotional, and the tears dripped off his cheeks as he leaned back on his haunches to sit down. He wiped at his tears and rose to start up the hill, hesitating at the area he had found her lying in a bloody heap. Again, there was no evidence of what had taken place here almost five years ago. As he climbed over the guardrail, he felt as if a weight was lifted from him.

  They had survived this horrific occurrence in their lives, and now it had all come together. They were whole again, one with each other. He looked up to see Ava leaning against the rail further down. She kept her head bent waiting for him to approach her and he did.

  “I needed this. It was cathartic.”

  “Do you feel better?”

  “Yes, I do. I’m glad I came.”

  He hugged her and kissed the top of her sweaty head. Then he tugged at her ponytail so her head would tip up and placed a hard kiss on her lips.

  “I treated you like a piece of meat yesterday. I’m sorry for that.”

  “I knew you needed it and I can’t say that I minded the sweaty sex against the door.”

  “We will have to try that again. Do you want to continue or go back to the house?”

  “We should continue. I need to work off all this food that Natalia is making.”

  They continued to run a couple of miles more before they turned around to head back. The dampness of the morning was starting to burn off as the sun rose higher in the sky and along with it came more heat.

  Today her dad would be coming home, and Ava wanted to make sure that he was comfortable. At noon, Felice arrived with him in the car and Xander helped him into the house. Since the master bedroom was on the first floor, it would be easy to tend to him; he was a horrible patient and insisted on sitting in the library.

  By 1:00 PM, the rest of the family joined them at the house. The children had to be warned not to climb on grandpa since he had a “boo boo.” Ava and Xander decided to get them from underfoot by taking them down to the pool. She changed into an emerald green bikini that matched her eyes. Xander slipped on his board shorts and sunglasses while Ava climbed into the pool to play with her niece and nephews. He loved watching her with the children.

  An hour later, Brooke and Walter joined them with a sleeping Savannah in tow. Brooke looked much happier now that Walter had surprised her with the lake house. They were like teenagers, kissing and touching each other. Ava couldn’t resist by yelling from the pool, “Get a room!”

  Xander joined her in the water and started teaching the boys how to dive.

  “Uncle Xander, watch me,” William screamed as he dove off the side of the pool.

  “Uncle Xander?” Ava whispered.

  “Hey, eventually I will be their uncle so why not?”

  Walter went to the side of the pool to help William perfect his technique, and Ava took the opportunity to steal his lounge chair. She sat next to Brooke and stroked Savannah’s head. She adjusted the umbrella so that the baby was out of the sun that had started to encroach on the area where they were sitting.

  David entered the pool area carrying a small duffel bag, and Brooke waved to him.

  “Hi, Brooke,” he said while ignoring Ava and heading into the pool house.

  “What was that all about? He ignored you. I notice he does that a lot. What’s going on between you two?”

  Ava glanced at the men in the pool, “I made a stupid mistake, and he won’t let me forget it.”

  “What mistake.”

  “We had sex,” she barely whispered.

  “Say again,” Brooke asked incredulously.

  “I fucked him,” she said just a little louder.

  Brooke looked horrified, “Please tell me that you didn’t.”

  “We did. I did.”

  “Ava, he’s our stepbrother.”

  “But he wasn’t when we did it.”

  “So what is his problem?”

  “He wants more. He’s in love with me.”

  Brooke was about to say something when David passed by them with the same duffel bag.

  “He’s angry that I can’t love him back and he has been trying to sabotage my relationship with Xander.”

  “Like what?”

  “At Sam’s wedding, he told him that I kissed him at the rehearsal dinner when he kissed me, and Xander was very upset. I had to explain what happened. The last time we broke up, it was because I told Xander I wouldn’t sleep in the pool house. Felice let it slip that I was there.”

  “Was that
when you told me, he said you were morally bankrupt?”

  “Yes. I’m thinking now that Daddy is settled that I should go home with Xander tomorrow. David wants me, and nothing I say will stop him from trying.”

  “I was wondering why he walked out when you announced your engagement.”

  “Please don’t tell anyone. I’m embarrassed that I slept with him and Daddy would have a fit if he found out.”

  “I’m not about to raise his blood pressure, but you need to make better choices.”

  “I know. Thanks for understanding.”

  Xander came out of the pool and stood over her, dripping cool water onto her legs.

  “I need a shower. Do you want to join me?”

  “I could use one, too.” Ava knew that they weren’t just going to shower.

  “See you later,” they said in unison to Brooke.

  As Ava was stripping off her bikini, her phone rang. Xander had already gotten in the shower. Upon checking her phone, she noticed that it was from Liam’s number. She peeked into the bathroom to make sure he was under the water and then she hit the button to answer the phone.

  “About time, bitch. I’m not too happy you ignored me when I last called.”

  “What are you talking about? I answered the phone each time,” she lied.

  “Don’t argue with me, you filthy slut. I want you to know that I didn’t do a very thorough job with Jayne. She is still alive but barely. I will be sure to correct my mistakes with you and the asshole. There is no escape, Ava.”

  Before she could answer him, he hung up. She shivered and hugged herself as she laid her phone on the dresser. Suddenly she didn’t feel like taking a shower. She pulled on a t-shirt that was draped on the bed and sat down at the edge of it.

  “Sweetheart? Are you coming?”

  “I don’t feel like it,” She called back.

  She heard the water turn off, and a dripping Xander came into the bedroom with a towel around his waist.

  “Ava, what’s wrong?”

  She sighed loudly, “I didn’t want to tell you this because I know you’ll get upset.”

  He looked at her with panic on his face, “What?”

  “Liam has been calling me regularly.”

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” He ran his hand through his wet hair several times. “When did this start?”

  “A few days ago.”

  “And you thought you would keep this from me?”

  “I didn’t want you to get angry like you are now.”

  “I’m worried about you. You’re under a lot of stress. I almost knew something was wrong, but I thought it was your father.”

  She scrubbed at her face with her hands. “I don’t know what to do. I thought maybe he would stop, but he has called me several times, even at three this morning. I’m going to ask Roger if his phone can be traced. Maybe they can find him that way, and he will be out of our lives.”

  “They should be able to trace his phone based on the cell towers his signal bounces off him. Is it the same number each time?”

  “Yes, for the last few days it has been. He told me what he did to Jayne, and he said that though he didn’t kill her, he will make sure to kill us. I don’t want to die, Xander. I don’t want you to die, either.”

  “We aren’t going to die. I’m not going to let him get to us, and if he does, then he is going to be the one to die. You said you knew how to shoot. Do you want to go to the shooting range today?”

  “We could. The Sandy River Gun Club has a range. Daddy belongs to it, and I have been there so I should be able to get in without a problem. Do you want to go with me? All you need is ID to get into the range.”

  “I think we should go and get some target practice.”

  “I’ll shower and then we can go.”

  Chapter 10

  Xander was impressed with Ava. She really did know what she was doing when it came to handling a gun. She expertly aimed and emptied a full magazine from the handgun she was using. When she called the target back to her, it had a grouping right in center mass, at the heart. She looked so sexy when she was shooting, and he felt himself twitch.

  “I guess you do know what you are doing with that, don’t you?”

  She smiled widely, “You should see what I can do with a rifle. Do you want to try?”

  Xander wasn’t sure he wanted to since he was against the use of guns, but this could be a matter of life and death for them. He came over, and she showed him how to load, aim and shoot the weapon. His first several shots went wide of the target as he got used to the kick of the gun. But as he squeezed the trigger more gently for a few more shots, he got closer to where he was aiming. When the target was pulled back, he saw that a few had hit the head and neck area. Those were as good as the heart in his mind. He was hoping he would never have to use it, but it was comforting to get some experience.

  They spent the next couple of hours at the range, and Ava showed him how to use the gun safely. He saw her in a new light, she was confident and as good a teacher as any, even though it had been several years since she held a weapon.

  After they were finished, they went to town to have a late lunch at a small diner. Ava was surprised to see Vance Albridge. He had lost weight and must have had a hair transplant. He looked almost as handsome as he had in high school, but not more handsome than Xander. He stopped by their table to congratulate them on their engagement and to ask how Jason was feeling. Ava felt his eyes travel her up and down. Eat your heart out, you jerk.

  “I didn’t expect that,” Xander said as Vance walked away.

  “I doubt he would have done it without the weight loss or the hair restoration.”

  “I thought something was different about him. He has more hair.”

  They both laughed, and she wiped a bit of mayonnaise from the corner of his mouth. It was a gesture that was so benign, yet it turned him on.

  “I want you,” he whispered.

  “Get the check.”

  The trip home was a lesson in futility. She couldn’t keep her hands to herself and neither could he. Twice he pulled over to kiss her, slipping his hand up her shirt to touch her breasts. She, in turn, stroked him through his shorts. He was so hard that his balls ached.

  Their passions partially deflated once they got to the house. The driveway was full of cars, and the entire family was waiting around for dinner when they entered the house.

  Quietly, she cursed. “Dammit, what are the odds?”

  Xander mouthed “later.” But she couldn’t wait for later. She was so wet, her breasts tender and aching for his touch. She needed to figure out a way for them to be alone immediately.

  She said hello to everyone, her eyes never leaving Xander as he circulated the room. He looked up and saw the need on her face. It was the same need that he was having a hard time hiding. He moved around the room until his hand found her back and steered her towards the back door. Everyone was preoccupied with the children. They practically ran down the back lawn to the pool house.

  As they came through the door, he was unbuttoning his shorts, tugging at the zipper. She was wiggling out of hers and had them halfway down when he pushed her onto the bed. He kneeled in front of her, stroking his hard length while petting her to make sure she was ready. Then in one motion he positioned himself and thrust into her.

  She kicked at her shorts trying to get them off her ankles so she could wrap her legs around him, all the while crying out with each hard thrust. Nothing was gentle about their union. He pressed his mouth against hers, and he forced her mouth open with his tongue. She dug her nails in his backside trying to get him as deep as he could go. His grunting and breathing grew heavier until he murmured her name with a thrust so hard her head pressed against the headboard.

  Then he continued to move until he felt the familiar ripple against him and she started to come, crying out his name loudly. He planted kisses on her cheeks and forehead, sucked at her neck until she finished. Then he rolled over taking her
with him, so she was lying on top.

  “I’m sorry, I came first, I just couldn’t hold it any longer.”

  She put her head on his chest listening to the pounding of his heart until it subsided and became a dull thud. He wrapped his arms around her and held her to him.

  “I think we have to go back up to the house. They are going to be wondering where we are.” She glanced at the bedside clock noticing that it had only been twelve minutes since they had entered the room. She thought it had been longer.

  “Do you really want to go?”

  “No, but I’m sure it will be expected.”

  “We always have tonight. I have to leave at noon tomorrow.”

  “I can’t stay here tonight.”

  He released her and rolled her to his side.

  “Why not?”

  “Because it’s not proper now that my father is home from the hospital.”

  He stood up and began wiping himself with a towel, then started to pull his shorts up.

  “We’re engaged. I’m sick of this shit. You act like a shy virgin and if everyone only knew how you were in bed.”

  “How I am in bed is nobody’s business. This is my father’s home, and I don’t want to upset him.”

  “You know what, fine. Fuck me and then go back to your childhood bedroom like you’re all chaste and righteous. I don’t care.”

  “Why are you being like this?”

  He threw her the towel, “Clean up. We have to be presentable.”

  “Thanks for making me feel like a whore,” she said as she went to the bathroom, locking the door behind her.

  When she came out of the bathroom, Xander was not in the pool house. She went back up to the main house where everyone was having appetizers that Natalia had prepared. She had no idea where Xander was, but she was so angry with him that she didn’t care at the moment. She found Alicia in the kitchen feeding Jackson in his high chair.

  “Can I do that for you?"

  “You would be doing me a favor. I’m exhausted. He’s teething and kept me up for half the night. I could use a nap.”