Elliot Bay Bookstore smelled like paper and hope. Like ink and coffee. Like hardwood floors and cedar shelves and homemade Nutella pop tarts. Outside the store a steady rain had picked up, the sky zinging and electric and filled with the smell of fresh, earthy soil.
Petrichor.
“What’s that?” Avery asked, tilting her head up to Geoff. “Petrichor?” He must have said it out loud.
He squeezed the hand she’d placed in his. “The smell of rain.”
“You’re such an English major,” she teased.
His chest tightened. “Does that mean you don’t like the bookstore?”
“Are you kidding me?” Avery’s eyes brightened. “I love it. You’re forgetting who you’re talking to.”
He nuzzled the side of her head. “Impossible.”
She grinned up at him, tracing her fingers over a hardbound copy of Practical Magic.
Geoff nudged her side. “You keep eyeing that one.”
Avery blushed. “This is going to sound silly to you, but when I was a little girl, there was a copy of it in my local library that I just loved. I checked it out so many times that the librarian told me I’d reached my limit.” He could picture her, a young Avery with big eyes and a wide smile, chewing her lip in concentration as she read. “After that, I wanted my own copy,” she continued, “but they’d come out with all the new copies that had the cover from the movie version. And, you know, that’s not the same.”
“Not at all.” He grinned at her. Who knew that a distrust of the movie version of books was a shared connection? He’d always felt that way, too.
Geoff lifted the book from the shelf and clutched it against his chest.
“What are you doing?”
He held Avery’s eye. “I mean, right now I’m browsing. But I’m going to buy this for you.”
He’d buy her a hundred copies on a hundred different days if he could keep her smiling like he could do no wrong.
He traced his finger down the spine of the book. “Why this story? What about it?”
Avery’s eyes took on a sheen of excitement, so bright in the dark day. “I love the idea of magic, that there’s something more than you can see in the everyday. I kind of took that idea and ran with it when I went to college, tried to make everything beautiful with my words.” She blushed. “Anyway, it’s also a story about love—between men and women, sure, but between sisters, too.” She flicked her eyes up to his. “Also, there’s a rabbit.”
“Why do I feel like the rabbit was the real thing that won your heart?”
Avery grinned. “I never had a pet, but I always imagined that if I picked, I’d have a rabbit. And when I grew up, I planned to do magic tricks and grow flowers that made the whole street smell like the sweetest memories you could imagine.”
“Wow,” he breathed out. “Some book.”
She gave him a shy smile. “It is.”
“Then I’m glad you get to take it home with you.”
She leaned onto her toes and kissed him, and her touch sent all the dark shadows skittering to the corners of the room. “I’m glad I get to take you home with me.”
“Me too.” Geoff backed her against the wall, kissing Avery until her shoulders bumped against a bookshelf filled with fiction, a hundred stories and hundred lives crammed between the pages. She giggled, and his chest loosened. He pushed a lock of hair behind her ears and opened his heart to her.
“I think I’m falling for you, Cheese Girl.”
Her grin was electric, cosmic. They were atoms and moon dust and tiny, sparkling particles of stars.
“It’s all part of my evil plan,” she whispered, and he sealed his mouth over hers.
The kiss deepened quickly, Avery’s heart slamming against his. She slipped one hand up the back of his shirt, her palms hot against his skin.
“Bathroom?” he whispered as his cock tightened, and she nodded, tugged his hands.
They stumbled through the aisles, giggling like children, and made it into the tiny room. The bathroom only held a toilet and a sink, but it would do.
Geoff locked the door tight behind them, swung his gaze back to her. “This has gotta be fast, Cheese.”
“Not a problem,” she said. “I’m already so turned on.”
She was wearing a short skirt and tall boots, and Geoff pushed her skirt to her waist, slid her underwear aside so he could feel her. “So wet for me,” he groaned as he slipped a finger inside her.
Avery grinned. “Told you so.”
He swirled her arousal onto her clit, and she rode his hand, her hips pumping for him even as she unbuttoned his jeans.
All the air escaped from the room, leaving him breathless. “I need to be inside you, Ave.” There was nothing in the world more important than this.
Geoff reached for her, so eager, so urgent. The idea of not being inside her right now was unbearable, and he groaned as he shoved his boxers down just far enough to free his cock. He’d always loved sex, but sex with Avery had become a need, a demand. The moments they were locked together in intimacy, nothing else mattered except for her. Here he could keep her heart safe at the same time he shattered her body.
Their teeth knocked together as they fumbled for buttons, pawing through layers of clothing. Geoff rolled on a condom while she braced one hand on his shoulder, the other against the wall. Then he lifted her, the corner at her back taking some of her weight off of him. He pushed her underwear to the side and lowered her down onto his cock, the air hissing out between his teeth at how wet she was. This was so wildly different from anything before, all this connection, like light was going to spark off of them every place they touched.
Avery stood on the tiptoes of one foot as she took him, the other wrapped around him, her heel digging into his ass. Her head tilted back, her body thudding against the wall as he fucked her, raced with her, needing her to take his terrified heart and make it whole.
“So good,” she said. “You’re making me dizzy.”
He smiled against her mouth, then moved his face to growl into her ear. “Turn around.”
She dropped her foot and spun, bracing a hand against the wall and dropping the other to circle her clit. Geoff gripped her hip with one hand, cupping the other over her hand on the wall and holding them both upright as he slipped into her again.
“God, I really can’t get enough of that,” she panted, pulsing back against him, accepting him like he belonged inside her from the start.
“I can’t get enough of you.”
This time the pace came easier, a tireless rhythm where their bodies took over and they moved like one, the heat and the sweetness building, the explosion inevitable, impending.
Geoff felt Avery’s body tighten, stiffen, and he kissed her shoulder as she came. Then his fingers flexed against her skin as he followed her, collapsing against her back, the two of them this laughing, sweating mess.
Maybe this was what people were always smiling about when they talked about being in love.
Maybe this was what it felt like—the whole wide world outside while you locked yourself in a tiny room and saw stars.
Chapter 21
“You know what I just realized?” Avery asked.
Sophie looked up from the sugar cookies she was frosting and fixed her with a desperate look. “That the wedding of the century is in less than three weeks and I still haven’t nailed down the perfect cookie design to wow the masses and skyrocket my business to the top?”
Avery nodded slowly. “That. And also that the wedding of the century is in less than three weeks and I don’t have anything to wear.”
Sophie snorted and returned her attention to the cookie sitting on her kitchen counter. “I’m not too worried about your ability to pick something gorgeous to wear. You always look put together and beautiful.”
Avery frowned and reached for one of the cookies that Sophie had rejected because it was, in Sophie’s words, “trying too hard.” As if a cookie could try to do anything but taste goo
d. “Maybe we can help each other out,” she said. “We nail down this design today, and then we take a break from all the sugar and go shopping.”
Sophie raised her chin and smiled. “You’re on.”
“Good.” Avery bit into the cookie, the sweet dough and frosting mixing together on her tongue. “For the record, the taste and texture of these cookies are perfect.”
Sophie brightened. “Really?”
“Yes, really. You are a genius, and everyone’s going to love you.” Avery eyed what was left of the cookie in her hands. It had Vanessa and Jeremy’s initials frosted in deep blue over top of the birch tree motif they were repeating throughout the decor. “When it comes to the design, I know you said this was trying to do too much. And I agree that you’re cramming a lot onto two square inches of cookie. I think you need to simplify.”
Sophie looked at the cooling rack, where the frosting on a dozen cookies was setting to the perfect consistency. “Weren’t you the one who told me to keep things on brand?”
“Totally. But you could divide and conquer.” Avery popped the rest of the cookie into her mouth and chewed thoughtfully. “Why not do two separate versions where you split out the design elements? One cookie could have their initials, and the other could have the tree motif. You could change up the color of the background and the accents for each design. I bet they’d look pretty striking together.”
Sophie grinned. “You are a genius.”
Avery gave a small curtsey. “Thank you, thank you. Though, I can’t believe we spent so much time on something people are going to devour in ten seconds flat.”
Sophie shot her a look. “You should see how much time it takes just to decorate a smoothie bowl to share on Instagram each morning.”
“Well, whatever you’re doing, it’s working for you.” Avery brushed the crumbs from her hands. “Anyway, now that we’ve solved the great Cookie Debacle of the Century, can we please go shopping?” She pressed her hands together and made puppy-dog eyes at Sophie. “Pretty please?”
Sophie set down her icing tips and rubbed her palms over her apron. “Let me frost one sample of each design, and then you’re on.”
Avery grinned. This was going to be fun.
“This is awful. Why did I leave dress-shopping until the last minute?” Avery twisted her hands together and stared down at the skirt of the dress she’d slipped on. It was one of those poufy designs that could have been super flattering on the right woman. Instead, she just looked pregnant.
“Let me see it,” Sophie called through the fitting room door.
Avery grimaced at herself in the mirror before stepping out to show Sophie.
“Yeah, definitely a no-go,” Sophie agreed. She craned her neck to peer over Avery’s shoulder into the fitting room. “But what was wrong with the black one?”
“Too predictable.” Avery made a face.
Sophie frowned. “You’re putting a lot of pressure on a dress.”
Avery sighed. “It’s just that I want to look perfect.” She started rambling, that quick way of talking she had when she got nervous. “It’s a big work thing, and it’ll also be the first time I’m out as a couple with—”
Holy shit.
She’d almost let the cat out of the bag.
She slapped a hand over her mouth, and since that was also the most obvious thing ever, she tried to pass it off like she was covering a yawn.
“Gosh, anyone else super tired?” she asked. She turned away and pretended to study herself in the mirror. “Must be the sugar crash hitting. I should have cut myself off after three cookies.”
Sophie was not buying it. “Excuse me, did you say ‘couple?’”
She was definitely fucked.
“Um, maybe?” Avery lifted her eyes and met Sophie’s gaze in the mirror. Her friend wore a mischievous expression, her eyes narrowed, but a smile on her face.
“That’s what I thought. So, spill. You’re seeing someone?”
Avery slipped back into the fitting room and closed the door between them.
“Yeah, I am.”
She didn’t want to lie to Sophie. Hell, her best friend had been there for her through so much—from her family finally finding its way again after her dad found consistent work, to both of them going off to college. Sophie had listened on the phone for hours after Avery’s ex had broken her heart, had sent her just-because flowers and chocolate. Avery and Geoff needed to get their act together and bring Sophie up to speed or shit was going to hit the fan.
She unzipped the hideous dress and pulled it over her head in a cloud of charmeuse and chiffon.
“At least that explains why you’ve been so mysterious lately.” Sophie snorted. “I was starting to think you were ditching me because I always smell like sugar these days.”
That made Avery smile. “I’m sorry, but how could that be a bad thing?” She reached for another dress and pulled it over her head. The skirt on the deep-blue dress grazed right above her knees. The dress had a fitted silhouette, and though it had sleeves, they were made of lace, so her skin showed through in a sexy peekaboo effect. The whole thing was fun but sophisticated, and it didn’t hurt that it totally fit Vanessa and Jeremy’s color scheme.
Sophie’s bright voice filtered through the slats of the dressing room door. “Tell me about your mystery man. Would I like him?”
Avery’s cheeks heated, and her voice came out small. “Yeah, I think so.”
“Great! When can I meet him?”
She bit her lip and forced her voice to stay neutral. “Well, um, he’s going to be at the wedding. So, I guess you’d see him there.”
Shit. She hadn’t even thought about it until now, but that put a very real deadline on spilling the beans to Sophie. Maybe it would ease the knot in her chest that she got every time she lied about herself and Geoff. Or maybe Sophie would disown them both. Hard to say.
“Awesome!”
But it wasn’t at all.
Avery stepped out of the dressing room and did a little spin for Sophie. “What do you think?”
“You’re gorgeous. Can you dance in it?”
Avery busted out the Macarena, then mimed a conga line. She grinned at Sophie. “I think we’ve got it covered.”
Sophie’s clapped her hands together and smiled. “Then you’ve got yourself a dress, you heartbreaker, you.”
Chapter 22
“I like your costume,” the woman in the sexy nurse outfit purred. She skimmed her mouth over the edge of her drink like she was trying to show off the power of her pout, but since she only held a ubiquitous red Solo cup in the hand that wasn’t occupied by a stethoscope, the move didn’t have quite the intended effect.
Geoff made himself nod, grimacing as her hand landed on his bicep. His eyes swept the room, searching for Avery, searching for Sophie. Searching for any excuse to wriggle free of the eager nurse, really.
The house party Sophie had hooked up for them this Halloween was surprisingly busy, given that it was a weeknight, but it helped that the hosts had done the place up. Fake cobwebs hung from every surface of the Victorian house’s lower level, and tall black taper candles flickered on the drink station and buffet tables in the formal dining room. Dim lighting and a low, sensual soundtrack enhanced the mood, and all around the house people clustered together, inhibitions long since gone.
“So, are you a big literature fan?” the nurse asked.
Over her shoulder, Geoff caught sight of Avery entering the room. “What? Um, yeah…”
He let his voice drift off, his throat too thick at the sight of his girl to do anything more than stare.
Sophie’s invite to the party had come at the last minute, but somehow Avery had managed to pull together a miracle of an outfit rather than the kind of hack job costume he’d thrown together. She wore an elegant, sexy black gown that dipped low in the back, and her hair was loose around her shoulders—tousled in a way that made him want to run his hands through it and use it to pull her toward him. But the ma
gic of her costume was its simplicity—the only other item she wore was a black mask that looked like it was made of filigree lace. It cast her eyes into the shadows, made her more mysterious and alluring than he’d ever seen her. A striking red lip highlighted a mouth he wanted to devour, and the bodice of her gown pushed up her breasts in a tempting display.
God, she was gorgeous.
And she was his.
“Those books are some of my favorites,” the nurse was saying, but all Geoff could notice was the way his heart stopped when Avery caught his eye. Just a whole pause, his blood traveling through his veins—a skipped beat, the rush of wind in his ears.
Avery’s eyes dropped to the nurse’s hand caught on his arm, and her lips pulled together in a frown.
He should play the part, stay away from Avery and be the dating expert he just told the nurse he was. But all he cared about was that some guy had just approached Avery, handing her a drink. The stranger in a tux was stealing her attention, making her laugh. In their formalwear, they looked like they belonged together, and Geoff bristled.
He moved without thinking, leaving the nurse propped up against the wall with her mouth rounded in an O.
He strode across the room, and Avery’s eyes flew open behind her mask as he pushed past the James Bond wannabe.
“Avery,” he breathed into her ear. He pressed a hand against the small of her back, which was exposed by the low dip of her dress. Her skin burned hot under his palms, and the smell of strawberries and chocolate filled the air. If he didn’t get her out of here soon, he might lose it. “Can I see you in the bedroom? You seem to have a wardrobe malfunction, and it’s probably better if we discuss it in private.”
Her eyes sparkled, and she let out a low, throaty laugh. “Sounds like a big problem.”
“Oh, it is. Huge.”
Avery excused herself from James Bond and followed Geoff through the winding house and up the stairs, biting back a smile.
It was reckless, sneaking around together in a house where his damn sister was partying, but he needed Avery. Now.
His Temptation (X Enterprises Book 4) Page 12