Chasing Ava: A Bachelor of Shell Cove Novel (The Bachelors of Shell Cove)

by London, Siera

  The feel of him squeezing her tighter to him reassured her all was well.

  “I can carry you across a dozen parking lots. Besides, in my arms is where I want you.”

  Minutes later they reached his car. He placed a quick kiss on her lips.

  “Now I will put you down.”

  He placed her on her feet next to the Lexus’s passenger door, reaching into the pocket of his khaki Dockers for his car keys. He unlocked the door then turned to capture her fingers in his warm grip.

  “Kiss me, Ava.” That sexy baritone combined with the request, had her wetting her lips in anticipation. He wasn’t taking, he was asking. She could refuse, but truth was she wanted to kiss him.

  She hesitated a brief moment before she rose up on her toes and tentatively kissed his lips. When she would’ve backed away, he grabbed her around the waist lifting her up to his eye level. Her back was rested against the doorframe. His hold was firm, but not unyielding. Seductive.

  “Again.” He gently directed her.

  This time she didn’t hesitate. She captured his head in her hands and savored the feel of his lips on hers. His mouth was warm, invitingly wet and she was lost. Lost in the sweet taste of mutual satisfaction. She’d tasted and wanted more. Theirs tongue dueled for dominance, then he drove into her mouth with the skill that only an experienced lover could master and subdued her hunger to his will. The moan she released echoed through her as he captured it with the warm heat of his mouth.

  Logan abruptly ended the kiss. “Get in the car Ava.” She tried to gain access to his mouth, but he pulled back. She looked at him, hunger that mirrored hers. The confusion she felt must have shown on her face.

  “I had to stop sweetheart. Don’t look at me with wanting in your eyes. There’s a part of me that is significantly larger since you placed those hot lips on mine. Are you ready for me to get lost in you for hours because that’s what will happen if we continue? I’m willing to give the Mouseketeers something to talk about if you are.”

  She vigorously shook her head side to side.

  “No, I’ll pass on that scenario.” She touched her forehead to his, rubbing her hands over his shoulders, grappling to restrain the desire raging in her.

  He laughed, placing a quick peck on her cheek before lowering her to the ground. Helping her into the car, he reached across, buckled her seatbelt, closed the door, then rounded the car and slid in behind the wheel.

  “Are you ready to go home?”

  “I guess. Yeah, I am,” she responded with more certainty than she felt.

  They rode in companionable silence for the first half hour. She must have dozed off because she awoke to discover her hand resting on Logan’s thigh. High on his thigh. She felt the defined muscles underneath her fingers. They itched to touch his bare flesh. She gave a tentative stroke to the warm flesh underneath her palm. At the feel of his muscle contracting she let her gaze rise to meet his. The electricity flashing in his emerald depths caused goose bumps to bead her skin. She fought the undeniable urge to move closer. To surrender to the beaconing desire radiating from him. To give into the pleasure his eyes promised. He rested his hand over hers, delivering a slow, circular caress to the back of her hand.

  “Don’t stop, Ava. Nothing about today can be undone. And trust me, nothing can get any harder than it already is.”

  She could not agree more.

  It was approaching midnight when they pulled into Ava’s azalea lined driveway.

  Logan exited the driver’s door and rounded the car. He couldn’t resist pressing his lips to hers as he helped her out of the car.

  “Thank you for a lovely day Logan. I had a good time with you.”

  The evening’s magic had dissipated as the highway miles led them back to North Florida and awkwardness laced her words.

  He could see the dismissal coming the closer they drew to home. He hadn’t stopped her when she slowly pulled her hand from his thigh to rest in her lap.

  Tonight would not end the same as their first night together. Before he could ruin the day by saying the wrong thing and she could react, he laid claim to her mouth. Pushing past her lips deep into her mouth. Initially he was alone in his quest, and then he felt her tongue tentatively stroke his. Ava’s honeyed taste filled his mouth, fueling his need for her. He sucked and nipped at her lips. As he pulled her body closer, he pushed deeper, palming her head, holding her lips captive. She circled his waist. Her hands pressed into his back. He felt her fingers as they tensed and relaxed along the length of his spine. Like she was testing his solidity. Her lithe form filled the “v” between his legs and he coaxed her to continue the oral erotic dance till they both were near mad. Breaking their kiss, he studied her. Except for soft breathy panting her demeanor was calm, but he felt her rising heat against his skin.

  “That was my attempt to stop your dismissal.” He could see the truth of his statement reflected in her eyes. “Now that I have your attention and you are not focused on insignificant things outside of us, I think you are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on and I am going to taste every inch of your mouth.”

  She looked dumbstruck.

  “You’re joking, right? If that was the warm up kiss, I’m going to require cardiac resuscitation after the real thing.”

  “I’m well trained. I can bring you back to life.”

  “I believe you can.” She looked at him with expectant eyes. He could feel the heat of her body pressed into his. Her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt as if she secured her grip before a wild ride. But he wasn’t ready to give into her seductive pull yet. He needed her to acknowledge that something real was happening between them.

  “I’m waiting for you to say “yes,” Ava.” He knew passion and desire radiated from his piercing gaze. He wanted more than a kiss. He was sure he saw the same need, the same emotion, mirrored in her eyes.

  Desire flashed across her soft features.

  “I will take care of whatever you need.”

  “Yes,” she said on a breathy whisper. His right arm closed around her waist as the fingers of his left slowly ascended up her neck to close around her nape. He angled her head with his powerful hand as his mouth descended on hers.

  He’d kept his craving for Ava on a short chain all day, he wanted to demand, to conquer, to take her, but he didn’t. His body instinctively knew what she needed. To keep he would have to earn her trust, a subtle seduction of give and take. He loosened his hold on her giving her free rein to take what she wanted. Her kiss was far more dangerous than anything he had experienced.

  There was care in her touch, a sense of awe, as her hands performed a provocative dance on his body. Her kiss ignited the fire in his veins. He deepened the kiss, stroking every corner of her mouth, savoring the taste of her. “You taste too good to be true.” Stopping only to take a breath, their gazes met.

  What he saw seared his soul. He knew she desired him, but to see pure hunger reflected in her eyes floored him. His next kiss branded her, staking his claim to this woman, his woman. She was a perfect vision. Her eyes sparkled after their kiss. Her response to him was untamed and primal, though she tried to hold back. He would slowly melt her apprehension. She was his.

  “More Ava, give me more,” she opened her mouth to him and he left no recess untouched. His hand abandoned her tresses, caressing the curve of her shoulder, the swell of her breast. The feel of her taut buds under his fingers shot fire straight down his abdomen and spread through his groin. Logan’s body was tight with sexual tension. He wanted to bury himself in her.

  Soft sounds of satisfaction flowed from her lips and he captured every one with his mouth.

  A blast of pure lust raged out of control. He was losing control from her kiss. He shook with need. This woman evoked sensations he didn’t realize he was capable of experiencing.

  Walking away from Ava tonight would be the most difficult thing he would ever have to do. But she needed this time to accept their relationship. It was his
responsibility to give her what she needed. That thought made leaving bearable. He would do anything for her, including sleep alone tonight.

  Ava’s heart thumped with the power of electric paddles against her chest. She drank in his taste and his caress. This wasn’t kissing. This was his version of oral lovemaking. When he slowly sucked her tongue deeper into his mouth, she moaned, and pulled him closer. Thank goodness she didn’t still live with her parents. Her mom would have turned on the porch light as soon as the car pulled in the driveway.

  He spoke into her mouth, “Do you want me to come inside tonight?” His breathing was labored and deep.

  She groaned inwardly, not allowing herself to speak for fear she would say yes.

  She had to put a stop to this before she started ripping his clothes off to reach the magnificent body she could feel through his shirt. Just then, she felt the evidence of his arousal press into her stomach. Shock edged her words, “Oh my Todd, you really do want me, a lot.” That last part she kept to herself. He was aroused because of her. She had done that to him.

  Logan immediately jerked from his oral exploration of her neck. His hands stilled on the soft flesh of her upper arms.

  “Whose name did you call me?” he growled.

  She was slow to respond, still reeling from their kiss and the feel of his erection against her belly.

  “I didn’t call you anyone else’s name.”

  “I haven’t lost my hearing.” His hold on her transferred to her shoulders as if he were bracing himself for a blow. “Who is Todd, Ava?” His sexy, green eyes flashed with anger, then she understood what he was thinking.

  “You misunderstand.” It was her turn to soothe him. She softly rubbed the tension from his arms.

  “I know I heard another man’s name on your lips after I had my tongue down your throat.” He looked unhappy and she was sorry she’d opened her mouth.

  “I’m not explaining myself well. I don’t casually say the Lord’s name. Instead of saying, oh my God, I say, ‘oh my Todd.’ I could never mistake you for someone else.”

  The vibrations in his chest transferred to her where he held her arms. He could not contain his laughter.

  “You are rare treasure, Ava Walters.” The laughing had shifted to a wide smile. “What you’re saying is, my kiss, my touch feels so good you want to call out to the heavenly father. I can live with that.”

  He smiled down at her and all of her good sense leaped right out of her head. Whatever he asked next she was willing to give it.

  “Give me another kiss, Ava. Let’s add some new phrases to our vocabulary,” he groaned.

  “I don’t know if my kisses...” he pulled her closer, squelching her concern. Circling his waist with her arm, she pulled him down to meet her lips. Everything she wanted him to feel she poured into their kiss. She tried to wrap herself around him, pulling him closer with each tug of his lips. Her breasts rubbed against his chest and she pressed deeper into him. This was the most erotic experience of her life. A strong arm at her waist pulled her up into his body. She wanted to fuse into his body, blur the lines between him and her. He groaned then took control of the duel between their mouths. His kiss was soft, hard, giving, taking … and soul stirring.

  He ground his hardness into her stomach, stoking the fire burning in her core.

  “You do this to me Ava, no one else. I want to give you everything you need. You want me too.”

  It was a statement neither of them could deny. The physical proof that she could excite a man like him pulsed against her belly adding to her yearning for Logan.

  She did want him, but could she allow herself to have him? Sample a larger portion of his sensual temptation.

  Of its own volition, her tongue tasted the skin at his neck. She slowly licked across his pulse, nipping him lightly with her teeth. His hands tightened on her waist.

  He pulled back to look at her face. “Did you just taste me?”

  She had upset him already. She took a step back embarrassed by her actions. “I’m sorry,” She dropped her head. A fine tremor started in her hands and was becoming more obvious as her anxiety rose. She needed to get control of herself.

  “Don’t apologize. I appreciate a woman who shows passion for her man. You want me and I want you too. Nothing happened that warrants an apology.”

  He was right. She wanted him with an urgency that overwhelmed her. He reached for her, lowering his lips to meet her mouth. Ava pressed her lips together, effectively stopping his next kiss. Ava swallowed hard. It was time to end the night. “Logan, we should not talk about intimate, I meant to say personal …” She stopped abruptly. “You should go home.”

  “Okay, I’ll go.” He said evenly, looking down at her.

  “Okay?” That was easier than Ava had anticipated.

  He shrugged at her stunned expression.

  “I’ll go because you are not ready for anything else. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “All right. No wait, I can’t see you tomorrow. I have plans.”

  Logan stood stone still. “Who do you have plans with tomorrow?” His tone coupled with the stiffened stance took Ava by surprise.

  “My family is coming over for dinner.”

  There was a prolonged pause between them. She didn’t extend him an invitation knowing he would not ask. He was too arrogant to ask for most anything. A crease formed between his brows at her silence. Yes, she had deep throat kissed him a few times, and would do it again, but she was not inviting him to dinner.

  He remained quiet, his verdant eyes seeming to study her, then his posture relaxed.

  “What time will you finish dinner? I’ll come by later in the evening.”

  She released a breath she didn’t know she was holding.

  “They are usually gone by six thirty.”

  She had stumbled into a foreign land. Years of listening to her instincts were hopeless against his magnetic pull.

  “Ava,” he spoke with caution. “There’s something between us and I’m not walking away without discovering what it is. I want us together. Today was good. Let’s see where this leads. That is, if it’s okay with you?”

  “I like being with you, too. I’ll try, Logan,” she said, doubt in her voice.

  “Don’t look so forlorn, sweetheart. I’m a man, not an alien.”

  Except what was happening between them was foreign to her. The feelings his presence awoke were alien.

  “Stop worrying about the job and other people. I’ll see you after six o’clock tomorrow.”

  He kissed her forehead, her lips, and then he was gone.

  She knew a restful sleep would be elusive tonight. Logan bombarded her dreams. He was touching her everywhere and it wasn’t enough. In her dreams, she unleashed her hunger on him, triumph in her feminine power, bathing him in seduction.

  Ava awoke the next morning, panting, drenched in sweat with moisture pooled in between her legs. She was in real trouble.

  Chapter 8

  It was her Sunday to host the Walter’s family dinner. The new Minister of Music preferred the dance club remix to every hymn. The Blessed Life Baptist Church Senior Adult choir had sung four selections in forty-five minutes. More parishioners were filling the pews thanks to the choir’s improved sound quality, so the Pastor overlooked the time encroachment. At the benediction, Ava pushed through the Sunday morning worshippers exiting the small red brick church in a full on sprint.

  No corner of the historic church and the surrounding collection of administrative buildings were untouched by the sun’s rays. Beads of perspiration dotted her nose before she arrived at her Jeep. She didn’t have time to spare.

  Ava had just placed the sliced pork loin on the dinner table when her parent’s red sedan passed her front room window. Aron’s SUV was next. She was about to return to the kitchen for the ice bucket when an all too familiar station wagon came to a stop in at her mailbox. Oh no, not today.

  The dining table was the largest piece of furniture in Ava’s li
ving area. The small two-bedroom, one and a half bath bungalow had a combination living/dining room area. Every seat at the table was occupied save for one.

  “Ava, this meal is better than the last.” Don’t smirk at your elders.

  This was her punishment for daring to put a Baptist choir on a time limit.

  “Thank you Deacon Hill. It was kind of you to drive Granny Lou over this afternoon.” Aron, her younger brother by eighteen months looked across the dinner table with a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. Granny Lou needed to cease and desist with these matchmaking attempts.

  “No trouble, my dear. I’m a man who appreciates good food in the company of a beautiful lady.” It was obvious he loved inviting himself to other people’s houses. This was the third time in two months he had commandeered a meal by conveniently driving Granny Lou to Sunday dinner. He was a pleasant, yet persistent man. She wanted to scream, but she remained attentive to the conversation.

  Ava pressed and released the flesh of her left forearm as her eyes threatened to drift yet again, to the ill-fitting Afro wig perched haphazardly on his baldhead.

  “Another piece of cake before you leave, Deacon?” Ava rose from her chair moving into the kitchen.

  “No. My dear girl, I’ve had my fill this afternoon.” He reared back in the chair, bringing his hands to rest on his huge belly. Ava closed her eyes in a failed attempt to destroy the mental image of the pregnant abdomen accompanying the man at her table.

  “I’m glad you enjoyed the pork tenderloin. You should join Granny Lou for a home cooked meal at my parent’s house. She and my mother cook a larger variety of food on their Sundays.”

  He seemed to consider the option before he spoke. “That’s nice to know, but your momma lives another twenty minutes from here. I prefer coming to your house.” This conversation wasn’t going in the right direction. The right direction meant him staying away from her family dinners. Maybe a different approach was the answer.