Kissing Fire

by A. M. Hargrove

  “Well, I love it.”

  We made our way back to where the guys were and Caroline showed me where everything was. “If you can’t find something just ask or dig around,” she said.

  Before she could get any further, I pulled her to me and hugged her. “Thank you. Thank you for making me feel so welcome into your home. And thank you for loving my brother.”

  “Oh Avery, I’m so glad you’re here,” she said as she hugged me back.

  Justin and I were getting ready to leave when he got a phone call. He checked the caller ID and said, “I have to take this. Hang on.” After several minutes, he hung up and said, “I have to go in. The surgeon on call has a major case of food poisoning. They had to admit him. I’m next on rotation. Sorry guys.”

  “Me too honey. Hope they don’t kill you tonight.” Caroline kissed him.

  Just Miles looked at me and asked, “Would you like for me to take you to your hotel so you can get your things?”

  No. What I’d really like to do is drag my tongue all over your body but...

  “Well, I can do this another time.”

  Caroline piped in, “Don’t be silly. Miles, that would be awesome. While you two are gone, I can get dinner started. Here are my keys. Take my car.”

  We went out through the side door and into the garage--what, were there six stalls in this thing? There was the customary Range Rover. Justin had this thing about safety and he thought those were the best. We got in and off we went. I think I must have been drooling because there was a wet spot in the front of my blouse by the time we got to the street. Even Just Miles’ hands were sexy.

  “So, is it Ava or Avery? I was getting conflicting messages back there.”

  “Um, both actually. Avery is my given name. I was named after my grandmother, Avery. I was called Ava to avoid confusion. I truly prefer Avery and now that I’m not living in Charleston, I think it’ll be easier.”

  “What’s so bad about Ava?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. I always felt like it was an older woman’s name. I never felt like a little girl. All my friends would have an ‘ie’ on the end of their name. Like Lizzie, or Katie, or like my sister-in-law, Lexi. And there I’d be...Ava.” I used a deep, dramatic voice when I said my name and he laughed. “It was always sort of grumpy sounding to me.”

  “I see. And Avery represents what?”

  “Well, if you ever met my grandmother, you’d get it. She’s a total sparkler, that one. And that’s exactly how I want to be.”

  “Hmm. So exactly how do you see yourself now?”

  “Miles and miles from being a sparkler, I can tell you that.”

  He gave me a quick glance but his eyes went straight back to the road. I felt like he wanted to learn more about me and that topic, but yet, he didn’t ask. He switched to my job and he kept my brain occupied all the way to the hotel. I blabbered on and on about me the entire time. After I shut up I thought to myself what a bore I had become. What kind of a person does that...blathers on and on about themselves without regard for anyone else? What the heck was wrong with me?

  He came up to my room and when we got there I was immediately aware of him. His presence filled that space. Then I became acutely embarrassed because all my things were strewn everywhere. My panties were on the floor, along with my pink and lavender polka dotted nightie. All my intimate garments were out on display for anyone to inspect. It was like I was having a show and tell. And so help me, there were my Spanx. Holy Mary Mother of God!

  “Oh dear God!” My hand flew to my mouth as I looked around the room.

  His eyes were absorbing everything...and I mean everything. And then, there it was in all its glory...my newest and greatest best friend in the world. My Magic Wand, out on display, with all of its attachments right next to the flat screen, propped up no less, like they were all begging, yes begging to be noticed.

  I gulped, not once, not twice, but three times.

  And then, I thought I said it in my head, but apparently I didn’t. “Jesus, Mary and Joseph, what the hell am I gonna do now?”

  “Well, Avery, I think the best thing you can do is pack everything up like we originally intended.”

  Did Just Miles really say that? I whipped my head around and there he was. Staring at my toys with a smile on his face.

  “Fuck, fuck, fuck.” I clapped my hand over my mouth again. That was one word I had stopped using a couple of years ago. Or I had tried very hard to anyway.

  Then I started chanting out loud, “Ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod whatamigonnadonow?”

  The next thing I knew, strong hands were on my arms and he was gently pushing me into a chair. “I think you need to sit down for a minute. It’s not the end of the world Avery. Matter of fact, I think it’s kinda cute. Especially the attachments. Yeah, I really like the attachments. And the purple and pink polka dotted nightie.”

  “You like the attachments?”

  “Yeah. Now that we have that established, let’s get your stuff packed up, okay?”

  I nodded at him. I thought he was kidding me, but he wasn’t cracking the tiniest hint of a smile. Maybe he liked girls with toys. Maybe I needed more toys. I could do more toys. I liked this one. I would be open to more. I smiled.

  “That’s better,” he said as he patted my arm. An arm pat. What I really wanted was an ass pat. I was gonna have to work on that. My hand and his ass because I swear to God his was made to order.

  Chapter 6

  Just Miles

  When she walked in the room, I couldn’t think straight. Tall, curvy and undoubtedly the most gorgeous woman I’d ever laid my eyes on, I felt my lungs empty of every last tiny bit of air that had been in them. She had the face of a goddess, heart shaped and gentle, not chiseled and hard like many of the women had today. Okay, that goddess thing was one gigantic cliche, but it was true. Full lips that complimented her captivating smile drew me in like a gigantic magnet. I was in serious trouble here.

  When Caroline had started to introduce me as her brother I had to think fast so Miles Patterson popped into my head. I think I had a passport with that name on it which is why it rolled off of my tongue so quickly.

  Just Miles, she called me. She could call me anything and I’d answer to it. Damn, she was really something. How could fate have intervened so cruelly? Now she would haunt my life forever.

  When Justin’s phone rang and he had to back out of taking her to the hotel to get her things, another force took over my mouth and spoke those words of offering to do it in his place. My brain was not cooperating with my mouth in the least today.

  On the way over there, I laughed to myself because she wasn’t catching my diversionary tactics at all. I didn’t want her asking me one question. With the way my brain was functioning, no way in hell would I be able to stop myself from answering her.

  Entering her hotel room nearly took it out of me. I wanted to pull her into my arms and kiss the hell out of that mouth of hers. Her panties were tossed around the room and I had a vision of her...a very naked vision that made me jerk in my pants. I could imagine her long, shapely legs, wrapped around me, and her voice, husky with passion as she cried out my name. When she started asking Jesus, Mary and Joseph for help, it took every bit of self control I had not to lay her down on that bed and show her that her little wand was nothing in comparison to what I could do to her.

  Strength, I needed strength when I was around her. Why the hell did my brother-in-law have to have such an incredible looking sister?

  “Well, I guess that’s everything then.”

  I looked at all of her suitcases and chuckled. “Planning to stay awhile?”

  “Yeah, I’m moving here, remember?”

  Nodding, I said, “Right.” My brain was on one thing and it wasn’t her clothing. It was the absence of it.

  She bent over one of her bags to tuck something in the pocket and her hair fell forward. It was long shiny, pale brown that had been kissed by the sun, leaving its lightened streaks behind
. But her ass, dear God, her ass had me imagining my hands gripping it as I pumped into her, bringing her to the most amazing orgasm she’d ever had. Christ, I needed to get my mind straight here! But hell, that ass of hers was unlike any I’d ever seen. She was so...soft and inviting. My arms struggled with the urge to hold her. I didn’t even realize she had stood back up and was looking at me.

  “That’s rude, you know.”

  “I’m sorry,” I choked out. I wasn’t really. I wanted to stare at her for the rest of my life.

  “I’m going to call for a bellman.”

  “Yes, good idea.” Suddenly, I was tongue tied. I watched her pink mouth as she spoke on the phone. I wanted those lips on my body. Anywhere would be fine. My hand would do, or my arm. Even my pinky finger. I would die a happy man for one touch from her plump lips.

  She cleared her throat. “Ahem.” I looked at her eyes. They were large, almond shaped and I wanted to fall right into them. They reminded me of the Caribbean Sea. They couldn’t decide if they wanted to be blue or green. I would imagine, depending on her mood or the time of day, they could be either or both. That was okay with me because I loved both colors equally.

  “Are you even listening to me?” she wanted to know.

  “Pardon me?” Her voice sounded like silk as it swished against itself. I was drowning in the sound of it. I didn’t ever want her to stop speaking.

  “I asked if you were ready.”

  “Whenever you are.”

  “Let’s go.”

  We headed down to the Lobby so she could check out and then we were in the Range Rover, driving back to Caroline’s.

  ********

  “Miles, can you take her luggage upstairs and show her to her room? She’ll be in the one across from yours.” Caroline was busy preparing dinner so I got all of Avery’s things up to her room and showed her where everything was.

  “I’m really sorry you had to do all of this today. You didn’t know you were going to be a pack mule, did you?”

  I laughed. “No worries Avery. It was my pleasure.” That wasn’t the whole truth. What really would be my pleasure would be to see her naked and hear her calling out my name. Or to have my mouth on her lush breasts. I could only imagine what they’d look like. Plump, full and begging for my mouth to suck on them. I jerked in my pants and knew I needed to get my mind out of the gutter.

  “I think I’ll change before dinner,” she said quietly before closing her door. I stared directly into her eyes until the door cut me off.

  That was my cue to get the hell out of her face. Giving myself a quick adjustment, I went back to the kitchen to see if my sis needed a hand with dinner. She was making one of my favorite things ever, her homemade lasagna.

  We chatted as I prepared the salad. She was layering everything in the pan and getting it ready to put in the oven. I had opened up a couple of bottles of wine and I whispered to her, “Remember your mannerisms. Don’t do anything the old girl would’ve done. Tone, action, gestures.”

  She was nervous. I could tell by the way she was fidgeting and the erratic movements of her eyes. “Stay calm and you’ll be fine.”

  I poured her a glass of wine and soon we heard the clicking of Avery’s heels as she approached. God, she looked amazing. She had changed into a pair of white jeans and a white sleeveless sweater. Those jeans clung to her and it should have been me that was wrapped around her like that. I had to walk away for a second to make another slight adjustment to my junk. Things were heating up down below.

  “Mmm. This smells good. Can I do anything to help?”

  “Yeah, there’s an antipasto tray in the fridge. Can you pull it out so we can snack on it?”

  Avery put the tray on the counter and I asked her, “White or red?”

  “White please.”

  I poured her a glass of pinot grigio and we both sat at the bar while Caroline stood on the other side as we chatted.

  “So did you get settled?” she asked Avery.

  “I did and thanks again for having me. You all are great to do this.”

  While Avery and Caroline talked, I pretended to listen, but what I was really doing was stealing glances at her mouth as she spoke. She had this habit of dragging her perfect teeth across her lower lip. I was sure it was because she was a bit on edge. I thought she’d caught me a couple of times checking her out, but I was able to divert her attention back to Caroline. This was going to be a long night.

  As the night moved on, Caroline would glance at me every now and again, I think because she needed a bit of reassurance. She was doing great. Avery didn’t suspect that she was the old Terri at all. Caroline had lived in this role now, had really become this new person and had put Terri to rest so even she believed in herself. That’s what made it work so well.

  The lasagna was ready and Caroline was letting it rest the required fifteen minutes before serving it. She heated up the bread and I distributed the salads.

  “We’ll eat at the table in here instead of the dining room. We don’t usually eat in there unless we have a large crowd,” Caroline explained.

  “Sounds great,” I answered.

  “Yeah,” Avery agreed. “I don’t normally even eat at a table. I just eat in front of the TV. That’s my usual evening.”

  Everyone laughed. “I know what you mean. I do the same a lot myself. That is when I have time to eat dinner,” I automatically responded.

  “So Just Miles, what exactly do you do?”

  Oh hell! I’d opened myself up for that one.

  “I’m a private investigator.”

  “Really? How interesting!”

  “Not really. It’s very boring. Sitting and watching guys, trying to catch them cheating on their wives, or vise versa. Not very exciting.”

  “Oh. I always had this idea that it was a lot more than that.”

  Finally, Caroline piped in. “Miles always says he wants to do something more exciting, like become a banker.”

  “Ha! Why don’t you go into finance, like me? Now there’s some excitement for ya!” Avery added with a smile. I wish she hadn’t done that because all I could do was stare.

  Both women were waiting on a response from me, but my eyes got tangled up with Avery’s and the words got stuck somewhere between my brain and my junk. What I wanted to say wasn’t fit for present company...not unless I wanted my sister’s shoe up my ass.

  Caroline clapped her hands and said, “Well then, I guess we should eat.”

  “Yeah, I guess so,” I murmured, still wrapped up in Avery’s not blue not green eyes. Then the corners of her delectable mouth turned up, ever so slightly, and I knew I was in for it. When she took one side of her lower lip and put it between her teeth, I jumped up and said something, I’m not sure what, and headed for the nearest bathroom.

  My face was covered in beads of perspiration and my damn pants were so tight I felt like my circulation was getting cut off. I was a mess and needed to get control of myself. What the hell was going on here? I was thirty five years old, not some teenager for Christ’s sake. Cold water...I needed some cold water on my face. After I splashed some on, I didn’t really feel better, but I told myself I did. I needed to get my ass back out there or they would think something was wrong with me.

  They were waiting to take their seats when I returned.

  “Sorry. I realized I needed to wash my hands.”

  They both gave me odd looks but there wasn’t much I could do about it. We all sat down and started eating. I had to hand it to Caroline, she sure made some excellent lasagna. As I watched Avery out of the corner of my eye, I could tell she was enjoying it too.

  “Caroline, this is perfect. I think this is your best ever.”

  “Thanks Miles.”

  Avery had just taken another bite and she nodded. “Mmm. It’s wonderful.”

  I loved to watch that fork as it entered her mouth. For the first time in my life, I wanted to be a fork. Tonight, I would dream of becoming a fork...Avery’s fork. Oh, to be A
very’s personal fork and to feel her lips around me every day.

  What the hell Preston! Get your fucking mind off of sex and on this conversation damn it!

  “Miles? Are you listening?”

  “W-what did you say?”

  Caroline huffed, “I asked you if you wanted to go with me to show Avery some of the sights tomorrow?”

  “Oh. I’m sorry. I have some things I need to take care of.”

  Did I just see disappointment cloud her eyes? Oh, Avery. I’d love to go, but you can’t be tainted by someone like me.

  “Okay, but you’re gonna miss out,” Caroline teased.

  “Don’t I know.”

  At that moment, Avery went to take a bite of her lasagna, and I saw her hand tremble slightly. As most things like these do, it all happened in slow motion. The chunk of lasagna on her fork tumbled off and hit her white sweater right between her breasts, leaving a big red splat. But that wasn’t the worst of it. No, the beastly chunk then bounced off and continued to make its way to that very spot that I’d been dreaming of. That bastard piece of lasagna got to be the lucky one. It landed right where I would’ve given my left nut to be. It was proudly perched right between her legs, that little fucker. I sat there and cussed it out. I wanted to beat the piss out of it for even daring to go there...for having the nerve to touch her there.

  Because of my jealousy over that lucky chunk, I’d missed Avery’s acute mortification of having her white outfit completely ruined. She gasped. Then sighed. All I could think of was how I’d wished it was me that had produced those little sounds she emitted and not the offensive lasagna.

  My foot suddenly was being stomped on.

  “Ouch,” I cried. I finally tore my gaze away from Avery’s crotch to see my sister giving me one of her ferocious looks.