Taking Avery’s hand, I pull her up the stairs and into my bedroom. After pulling her top off over her head, I slide my hands around her ribs and undo her bra.

I can’t wait any longer. Pushing down the way I really felt for her was crushing me, but now that I’ve released all those feelings, I’m overcome with need to claim her body as mine, the way she’s claimed my heart as hers.

She lets her bra fall to the floor, and I can’t help but smile at her perfect tits — my perfect tits. My dick swells.

While she takes off the rest of her clothes, I pull mine off. Once we’re both naked, I pull her against me and close my eyes at the skin-on-skin contact. I push my fingers through her hair and bring her lips to mine.

Our kiss becomes frantic, my cock now rock hard with anticipation.

Avery wiggles out of my hold and drops to her knees. I struggle to suppress a groan, knowing we have to be quiet. But fuck me, this is too good.

She licks up and around my shaft, and I’m unable to take my eyes off her. Squinting in the dim light, I can make out her full lips as they take me into her mouth.

Bobbing her head, my shaft runs back and forth over her prodding tongue. I have to grab her head to compensate for the intensity. When I think things can’t get better, Avery angles her head up and the next thing I know, my cock is halfway down her throat.

I can’t stop my hips from thrusting, and shivers pulse through my body. This is fucking crazy. My balls tighten, and I grip her head and try to pull her off me, but she clamps her hands onto my legs and sucks harder, holding me in her.

As much as I love this, and I really fucking love this, it’s not what I want tonight. I bend and hook my arms under hers, pulling her off me and onto the bed. I want to take my time with her.

My hand finds her mound, and I push my fingers through her folds and into her entrance. Her pussy is dripping fucking wet, and my fingers glide easily against her, pushing on the spot I know drives her wild.

Avery’s breathing gets heavier by the second, and she moans. I yank my hand away and lightly slap the side of her hip and rest my hand over her mound.

I lean over her and whisper, “Quiet.”

She opens her mouth to respond, but I shush her.

Lying alongside her, I take her clit between my fingers and roll them around it.

In a low voice, I say, “You have to be quiet.”

Her breath is fast and ragged, and she rocks her hips as my fingers move. I let go of her clit, and push two fingers into her dripping wet pussy. I want to taste her so fucking bad, but don’t trust her to be quiet.

I pump my fingers in her until her legs are bending and flopping around and she’s gasping for air. My cock strains against her side, and I can’t hold off any longer.

After taking my fingers away, I move on top of her and push my cock straight in her.

Avery lets out a quiet moan as I move deeper into her. I shush her again, and she bites her lip.

As my hips move, my mind races with all the things we’ve said and done. With the idea of having Avery at my side as Piper grows. And of having her here with me when Piper’s grown up and moves out.

Most of all, it screams at me for almost pushing her away. With almost losing the most amazing woman ever, just because I was too fucking stupid to see what was in front of me.

Heat races through my veins, and the growing tingles in my cock block out my ability to think. I thrust harder and faster.

With my lips to Avery’s ear, I say, “Come for me, baby. Come for the man who loves you.”

She gasps and convulses underneath me, but she’s quiet. Which means I’ll have her in my bed every fucking night this summer. Even if Piper is home.

My hips move faster and faster, and my balls draw tight against me. Finally I can deny myself no longer, and my dick erupts, sending enormous shudders up and down my back.

Out of breath, I lean down and brush my lips against hers, the full lips that first made me want her.

“I love you too,” Avery says.

They’re words I never thought anyone other than Piper would ever say to me. Words I never thought I’d ever want nor need anyone other than Piper to say to me. But in reality, they’re three words that fill me, calm me, and make me know my life can be more than what it was.

After a quick kiss, I pull out and lie on my side, rolling her onto her side and pulling against me, not caring about the cum leaking from her. All I care about is having her in my arms, always.

The sound of Avery’s breath lulls me to sleep.

In the morning, I wake up and feel the most refreshed I’ve ever felt in the morning. Avery is still lying tight against me, exactly where she should be.

A door bangs shut, and a moment later Piper thumps down the stairs. I should talk to her.

Avery is still asleep as I slip out of bed and pull on boxers, shorts and a t-shirt. I make my way to the kitchen, where Piper is eating a bowl of cereal.

“Have a good sleep?” I ask.

“Same as always.”

Without even making a coffee, I sit at the table.

“Can I talk to you about Avery?”

Piper shrugs, and says, “Sure.”

“What do you think about me dating her?”

“It’s great. She’s so awesome, and it’s so nice to have her around to talk to.”

“So it doesn’t bother you?”

“Why would it? It’s about time you had a girlfriend, I never understood why you didn’t date.”

“I was busy with you.”

“So what? Lots of my friends have divorced parents, and they all date. I was worried no one liked you.”

“Hardly,” I laugh, “I was the one who didn’t like any of them.”

“Until Avery moved here.”

“Exactly.”

“I’m really glad she moved to town. And it wouldn’t bother me if the wiring in her house never gets fixed.” Piper takes a mouthful of cereal and chews with a big grin as my mouth hangs open at her comment.

I get up and set up the coffee maker. As I move around the kitchen, I realize how loose my shoulders feel, and how light I feel all over. With Piper’s official approval, every last thing has fit into place.

“Got a cup for me?” Avery asks as she enters the room, a big smile on her full lips.

“Morning, Avery,” Piper says.

“Good morning. Sleep well?” Avery says, and sits at the table with Piper.

While I make the coffee, the two of them talk. My back is to them, and I half listen to their conversation and half wonder how there’s always so much for them to talk about. The two of them are amazing. I’m the luckiest fucking man on the planet.