Key To My Heart (Love Conquers All)

by Wells, Victoria

  Ava didn’t miss Langston’s eyes traveling up the length of her thigh, nor the passionate heat they held. If she were honest with herself, she’d admit that the attention felt awesome. It made her feel beautiful and desired. However, Ava wasn’t quite ready to admit such a thing, not when she was so unclear about her feelings for Langston.

  Pulling the crisp cotton sheet up, Ava tucked her legs beneath it before adjusting two pillows behind her back. “All right, I’m ready now for my royal treatment,” she teased, smiling.

  Ava tucked her bottom lip between her teeth. Langston had moved in real close as he settled the serving tray loaded with goodies over her lap. He smelled so good—a mixture of soap and his own unique masculine scent.

  Simultaneously, Ava and Langston reached for the silverware wrapped in the pink linen napkin. When their hands connected, Ava looked away. Her face burned a tinge of pink the same shade of the napkin as heat shot through her. “Sorry.”

  “No need for an apology,” Langston assured her, removing the silverware from the napkin and setting it on the tray. Ava’s heartbeat kicked up a notch when he leaned in lovingly spread the linen napkin over her lap. She thought she would die when he reached over, sliding the thin strap of her gown back onto her shoulder.

  Why did he do that? Why did he torture himself by touching her? Her skin felt soft and silky, just like he remembered. It certainly didn’t help that Ava shivered from the contact, which was not meant to be so intimate. Nevertheless, it had become a lover’s touch as long, strong fingers caressed her skin. That simple touch was the spark to ignite a longing that lay dormant and simmering for years. Sure, Langston had other women since Ava. But none of them sparked Langston the way Ava had. And he doubted any other woman would be able to accomplish such a feat.

  Ava cleared her throat. Her fingers slightly trembled as she reached for the silverware. “Thanks, Langston and my Zoe. This looks so good.” Cutting into the omelet, Ava put a piece in her mouth and slowly chewed. “Mmm, this is good.”

  “Mommy, can I have some?” Zoe asked, climbing onto the bed.

  “Zoe, let your mother—”

  Before he could finish, Ava cut him off. “It’s OK, Langston. I’ll share with my Zoe.” Patting the bed next to her, Ava smiled. “Come on, baby.”

  The small child eagerly hopped onto the bed next to her mother. Ave cut a smaller piece of the omelet. “Open up.” Ava giggled when Zoe opened her tiny mouth. She looked like a little bird.

  “What’s so funny, Mommy?”

  “You are. You look like a little bird waiting for momma bird to give you a worm.”

  “Ewwww! A worm!” Zoe squealed.

  “Hmm-hmm, a worm. That’s what momma birds feed their little baby birds.”

  “I’m glad I’m not a baby bird! Yuk!”

  Langston and Ava both laughed at Zoe’s disgust over eating worms. “Well, I guess I better get back downstairs,” Langston said.

  Ava watched him turn to leave as she handed Zoe a slice of turkey bacon. “Hey, Lang, why don’t you go get your breakfast and bring it back up here to eat with me and Zoe.” It was more of an invitation, not so much a question.

  Langston smiled. “I’d like that. I’ll be right back.”

  Chapter 24

  After they’d all but gorged themselves on the Mother’s Day breakfast Langston and Zoe had prepared, the trio lay in bed stuffed like Thanksgiving Day turkeys. It wasn’t long before a nap claimed them as their lids grew heavy from the early morning meal.

  Forty-five minutes later, Langston was the first to wake, surprised that he’d fallen asleep. He wasn’t accustomed to taking naps. However, neither was he accustomed to getting up at six in the morning to cook breakfast, nor pigging out like there was no tomorrow.

  Opening his eyes, the most beautiful vision greeted him. Zoe had climbed beneath the covers and snuggled closer to her mother’s body. Ava’s arm was curved around the small body in a tender embrace. Without much thought, Langston positioned himself on his side, gingerly placing a muscular arm protectively around his family. Softly kissing Zoe’s forehead, a content smile danced across his lips. Love Bug, I’ve got you your mommy, and I’m never letting her go. With that thought, Langston rejoined his family in dream world.

  “Lang?” Ava softly whispered over Zoe’s sleeping head.

  “Yeah, baby?”

  “What are you doing?”

  Langston grinned as the palm of his large hand massaged her hip. “Nothing.” Langston couldn’t help himself, especially with her being so close. His hands were itching to touch her. She had better have been glad Zoe was between them, or he’d be doing more than merely massaging her.

  Ava gently leaned up on her elbow to stare down at him. Raising a perfectly arched brow, she said, “I wouldn’t call you feeling me up while I’m sleeping nothing.” Ava’s heart quivered when he gave her the most adorable smile.

  “Nah, baby, I’m not feeling you up. I’m just relieving your stress.”

  Ava’s laugh bubbled forth like a sultry musical note. She should have told him to cut it out, to stop touching her. But she couldn’t. Not when his hands felt wonderful caressing her body. “No, you’re relieving your own stress.”

  It was the sultry laugh that was his undoing. The impulse he’d been holding back for several weeks overpowered him. Bracing himself up on his elbow, he used the hand that’d been caressing her hip to cradle the back of her head. No resistance met him as he pulled her close, his tongue gently sweeping her mouth from corner to corner. Nor did she fight it when he slipped his tongue into her mouth and began to explore her sweetness.

  A soft moan escaped from deep within Ava as she allowed Langston to deepen the kiss. Another moan followed when he tenderly drew her bottom lip into his mouth and begin to nibble.

  Breaking the kiss, he told her, “Now that’s one of the ways I want to relieve my stress.”

  Ava had to pull herself together as she tingled all over, anticipating the other ways he wanted to relieve his stress. “Well you better find another way, buddy,” she teased as she eased out of the bed and headed to the bathroom to take a shower and prepare for their day.

  eee

  Despite reservations Ava held regarding her feelings for Langston, she was losing the fight to keep him at a distance. This feels so right, Ava inwardly confessed to herself as she, Zoe, and Langston held hands, enjoying a leisurely stroll through the U.S. Botanic Garden. The sun was shining brightly and the temperature was a balmy seventy-eight degrees. The day couldn’t have been more perfect.

  After returning from the Botanic Garden, Charles prepared them a wonderful dinner out in the courtyard. Ava was totally caught off guard when Langston presented her with a gift after dessert was served.

  “What’s this?” she asked when he handed her the small box.

  “Open it and see,” he shot back, grinning at her and throwing Zoe a wink, which made the little girl cover her mouth and giggle.

  Ripping the paper off the small box revealed a black velvet jewelry box. Tears blurred Ava’s vision when she opened the box and found a gold locket with a picture of Zoe as an infant inside.

  “Lang, this is beautiful. Thank you,” Ava softly whispered, touched by his thoughtfulness. Now whenever she missed Zoe she could open her locket and look into her beautiful, tiny face.

  “You’re welcome, baby.” His voice was deep and husky as his eyes darkened in heated passion.

  “Can I see?” Zoe asked, hopping out of her chair and running over to her mother. “That’s a picture of me when I was a baby.”

  “It sure is,” Ava confirmed, kissing Zoe on the top of her head.

  eee

  Now as Ava leaned against her SUV, preparing to return to Philly, a sense of melancholy seized her. Each time she had to leave was getting harder and harder, especially today. Today had been one of the most special days of her life. Langston had made her first Mother’s Day with Zoe beyond special.

  Fingering her locket,
Ava sighed. “I don’t want to leave,” she told Langston. It was almost nine o’clock, and she really should be getting on the road. But for some reason she couldn’t bring herself to get in her car.

  “Then don’t,” Langston said. “Stay another night. Zoe’ll be so happy to see you in the morning.” Langston was playing dirty, and he knew it. But if it meant keeping Ava with him one more night, he’d play dirty and wouldn’t feel an ounce of guilt about it.

  True, Zoe would be delighted to wake up and find her mommy at the kitchen table. Langston and Ava had discovered the first couple of weeks Zoe had a pattern of becoming quiet and a little sad around five o’clock on Sunday evenings. She knew it was time for Ava to get back to her life in Philly. It tore up Ava to see her little girl so miserable. So instead of leaving after dinner, lately Ava had stayed to help Zoe with her bath and read to her until she drifted off to sleep.

  However, the passion and desire in Langston’s eyes told her now that he was the one who wanted her to stay. And God help her, she wanted to stay with him too, but she was so afraid to cross that bridge again.

  “Lang,” Ava breathed out, so unsure of herself and what she was about to do.

  Langston leaned into her personal space. She shivered when he whispered in her ear, “Yes, baby?”

  “I’ll stay.”

  Chapter 25

  Giving Ava some privacy, Langston went upstairs to look in on Zoe. Coming back downstairs, he walked into the den and found her` on the phone. Disconnecting the call, she explained, “I just called my mom and dad to let them know I was staying another night.”

  Langston nodded. He didn’t mind her contacting her folks at all. If anything, he wanted them to know she was safe with him. Langston was very much aware that Ava’s parents were somewhat leery where he was concerned. “Did you leave a message at your job yet?”

  “Yeah, I did, right before I called Mom and Dad.”

  “Good,” Langston said as he stood there gazing at Ava, passion burning in his eyes. All day he’d forced himself to stay grounded in the here and now, although he found himself repeatedly reliving the most intimate moments he and Ava had once shared—moments where naked, writhing bodies burned up tangled sheets.

  “Come here,” Langston commanded in a deep, sexy baritone.

  Ava lowered her lids to half mast, gazing at Langston through long lashes. A coy smile curved her lips. “No.”

  Langston raised a brow. Ava’s heart did a triple beat when he flashed her the sexiest grin. “No?”

  “No,” Ava repeated, shaking her head and enjoying playing this little game of hard to get. The sexual tension in the room and Langston’s devouring stare awakened and stirred parts of her body which had lain dormant for years. No man had ever made her body respond the way Langston had. And for that she’d reward him with some sensual teasing.

  “How bad do you want it, Lang?” Ava sighed, licked her lips, and ran slim fingers through her shoulder length, dark, naturally curly mane.

  “Girl, why you playing with me?”

  It only took Langston a few long strides before he reached Ava. She didn’t have time to bat an eye before he grabbed her, his mouth coming down hard on hers. Langston let out a loud moan when Ava pressed her breasts firmly against his chest, causing his manhood to fully come alive.

  Opening her mouth, Ava welcomed Langston’s aggressive tongue as he delved, stroked, and took possession of her mouth. Reaching up, she put her arms around Langston’s neck and returned the kiss with just as much fervor.

  Breaking the kiss, Langston’s fingers trembled as he began to unbutton Ava’s blouse. Who in the hell made this blouse with so many damn buttons? he wondered. Becoming frustrated, Langston ripped the front of the blouse, sending buttons flying everywhere as he yanked it from her body.

  With a flick of his wrist, he had Ava out of her pink satin bra. Ava let out a soft moan when Langston took her mouth in another passionate kiss. Leaving her lips, his mouth traveled down her neck, placing sweet butterfly kisses there. She cried out when his tongue glided over the swell of her breasts before circling a tan nipple and bringing it to a tender peak.

  Ava cradled the back of Langston’s head as he drew a firm nipple into his mouth. There was no way she could stifle her cry as he began to greedily suckle her like a starving man. She thought she would lose her mind when the suckling turned to gentle nibbling. Her knees buckled when he paid the same attention to the other breast as his hand expertly traveled down to unzip her slacks.

  Langston’s manhood throbbed as he slid a finger into Ava’s moist heat. She was ready, just for him. Ava groaned in disappointment when he broke contact to remove the rest of her clothing, and then his.

  Lifting Ava in his arms, Langston carried her over to a leather wingback chair nestled in the corner of the large room. Placing her on her feet, Langston sat in the chair and reached for Ava. Pulling out of his grasp, she pointed to his erect manhood. “You got a raincoat for that thing?”

  Langston chuckled as he nodded to the pile of clothes on the floor. “In my wallet in the back pocket of my jeans.”

  Ava put her hand on Langston’s chest, stopping him as he stood to go retrieve his jeans. “I’ll get it,” she said.

  Taking the condom from his wallet, Ava went back to Langston. As he reached to take the protection from her, Ava shook her head. “Let me do it.” Langston grunted at the touch of Ava’s soft hand as she put the protection in place.

  After the condom was in place, Ava leaned down, swiping her tongue across Langston’s full mouth. Gently she prodded her tongue between his lips. This time he allowed her full control and possession. Ava alternated between suckling his full lips and his tongue. Contact was never broken as she straddled Langston.

  Ava gasped in Langston’s mouth as he gripped her waist and gave a hard thrust of his hips, completely filling her. He held still for a moment, giving her time to adjust to his size. He could tell it had been some time since she’d last made love. He had to tap down the wave of jealousy threatening to bubble to the surface. He didn’t want to think about her being with another man.

  The moment their bodies connected, their eyes locked and held. There was no turning back. “Are you sure about this?” Langston whispered, gently kissing Ava’s moist lips.

  Ava let out a soft chuckle, looking down at their joined bodies. “Uh, don’t you think it’s a little late to be asking me that?”

  Langston chuckled too. “I guess you’ve got a point.”

  Cradling Langston’s face in her hands, Ava kissed his forehead, nose, and lips. “Lang, I’m sure. Love me. I just want you to love me and I want to love you.” Sliding her hands down to his shoulders, she firmly held on and began to move up and down his solid, long length, coaxing Langston to follow.

  Ava’s head fell back and her eyes crossed as he leaned forward, circling a turgid nipple with the tip of his tongue. Arching her back forced him to take more of her into his mouth. Langston anxiously accepted the offering as he fervently feasted on her breasts.

  Deeper. He wanted to go deeper. Cupping her firm derriere, Langston stood and lowered their bodies to floor. Ava verbalized her disappointment when their bodies disconnected for a moment. Panting, a visible frown marring her beautiful features, she asked, “What are you doing?”

  Placing a finger to her lips, he hushed her. “Shhh, baby, I’m going to take care of you.”

  As he lifted her legs, settling her calves against his muscular shoulders and slowly re-entering her, Ava purred, “Oooh, Lang, you remembered.”

  He wanted to say, Damn straight, girl, I remember what drives you up a wall. But instead he let his pelvis do the talking for him as he stroked her, massaging her most sensitive erogenous zone. The stroking started off nice and deliberately slow, teasing and coaxing Ava to raise her hips, meeting him stroke for stroke.

  Neither of them wanted the lovemaking to end as their bodies became reacquainted. In an attempt to forestall the inevitable, the lovers maint
ained a slow, leisurely pace. Each sensual movement propelled them to the edge of the cliff. Falling, falling, falling over the side of the cliff, Ava screamed and Langston growled as their bodies shattered out of control, bringing them to full completion.

  The couple lay on the floor, enjoying the feel of damp, tangled limbs as their breathing returned to normal. Neither was in a hurry to let the other one go.

  Believing his body weight was too heavy, Langston attempted to push himself up. “Don’t,” Ava whispered as she wrapped her arms tighter around Langston.

  “I know I’m heavy,” Langston stated, kissing Ava on the side of the neck.

  “I don’t care,” Ava purred, turning her head to the side and giving him free reign of her tender spot.

  Langston chuckled at Ava’s not so subtle move. Rolling with her and positioning their bodies so they were lying on their sides, he said, “I care.”

  “I know you do.” Ava smiled, gently kissing Langston on the lips before nestling her head beneath his chin.

  eee

  Ava held Langston’s hand, following him as he led her upstairs. Approaching Zoe’s room, Ava stopped to peek in. The little angel was softly snoring and sound asleep. Gently shaking her hand free, Ava held the front of her blouse closed as she tiptoed quietly into the room. Stooping down, she gently pressed her lips against Zoe’s forehead. She couldn’t wait to see her baby’s expression when she went in to wake her in the morning.

  “I’m sorry. I just love kissing her,” Ava said as she tiptoed her way back to Langston.

  Taking her hand in his, Langston leaned down, tenderly kissing her on the lips, “Don’t ever be sorry for loving our daughter. She’s waited so long to have you.” She shouldn’t have had to wait for you at all. Lovingly smiling down at Ava, he silently swore, I’m going to make it up to both of you.