Chapter Thirty
Sebastian
I watch her from afar for the next two hours. Ava’s her confident self again. She orders everyone around and keeps checking every little detail that could lead to confusion on the presentation day. As I expected, she treats Simone as if nothing happened.
Ava is a strong, independent woman. The thought that the lowlifes who cheated on her made her doubt herself even one bit, makes me want to find those idiots and smash their faces. She’s amazing, and any man who doesn’t see that is a fool. Their loss, my gain.
I almost came undone seeing her like that inside. My beautiful Ava was so fragile, so scared that I might hurt her. I flex my palms, rage coursing through me. No one will hurt her again. I’ll see to that. I want Ava just the way she is. She wiggled her way into my every thought, filling a void I thought would remain unfilled. I won’t ever desire another woman.
After precisely two hours, I walk up behind her. She’s dismissed almost everyone, and she’s now looking for something in her bag, with a lovely frown on her face.
“Your two hours are up,” I tell her over her shoulder. She flinches, but then turns around, a grin spreading on her face.
“I know.”
“Where do you want to go?”
“Home, but I’m starving. Let’s pick up some food on the way.”
“That’s my girl. Nothing can stave off your appetite.”
“Nope, not really.”
We buy tacos on our way home and devour them in the car. She’s silent the whole way, as if struggling with something. She wants to tell me something, but I won’t pressure her. When she’s ready, she’ll talk. Once inside the apartment, that moment seems to arrive. Ava looks up at me, her face flushed.
Leaning against the kitchen island, she says, “Sebastian, I want to apologize for the way I reacted back there.”
“What exactly do you think you must apologize for?”
“Crying. Trembling. Basically, losing my shit. You didn’t have to see me like that.”
“You were vulnerable.” I push a strand of hair behind her ear, kissing her forehead. “When you moved in here, I told you I wanted to know every part of you. I meant that. I’m not here just for the fun or sexy times. I’m here to love you. Every part of you.”
Her tiny body squirms, and she offers me a shy smile.
“I want to make one thing clear. The fact that those assholes cheated on you is not your fault. Trust me. You’re wonderful.”
“You, Mr. Charmer, must give me the name of the charm school you attended. Men worldwide need to follow suit.”
“Oh, it’s Mom’s school of I’ll-kick-your-butt-if-you-mistreat-a-lady. It was very effective.”
“Well, I’ll let her know she did a wonderful job.”
“She did. Now,” I drop my head to her ear and whisper, “I believe we have unfinished business.”
Instantly, goose bumps form on her arms, which is one hell of a turn-on.
“Is that so?” Her voice is playful and, at the same time, uneven. “I don’t remember.”
“You don’t?” I feather my lips on her neck and shoulder, enjoying hearing her breathing pattern become more labored.
“No, was it dessert?”
“You can call it that if you want to.”
I hoist her up in my arms and she tilts her head back, laughing. I’ll never get enough of her laughter. After getting us to the bedroom, I lay her on the bed and lean against the windowsill.
“Strip,” I tell her.
Ava wets her lips and unzips her dress in one swift move. She picks up the hem of the blue fabric, pulling the dress over her head. I suck in my breath when she remains in nothing but her bra and thong.
“Take off your bra.”
As her breasts spill free, my erection threatens to explode in my pants. I lean down to her, kissing her lips, cupping one breast greedily, letting my hand slide further down.
“You soaked your thong.” I groan, stroking her slit with my finger over the damp fabric. Shuddering, she closes her eyes. I discard my clothes fast, and take her thong off too. She moves to the center of the bed, watching me. She’s so fucking sexy.
I join her in the bed, wrapping my hand around my erection, pumping up and down, squeezing it the way I like it.
Ava’s eyes widen in surprise.
“Touch me,” I tell her. Obediently, she closes the distance between us, coming so near that her delicious breasts touch my chest. She looks me straight in the eyes as she takes over stroking me. “God, you’re good, baby. So good.”
I want to drive her crazy tonight. I want to drive her crazy every night. Tasting her mouth, I claim her lips, dragging my knuckles down the sides of her body, enjoying the goose bumps forming on her skin. I squeeze her sweet ass with both hands. She’s gorgeous, perfect, and knows what to do with that hand of hers.
In one second, I change everything. I kiss her hard, pushing her back on the bed, parting her legs with my knee. I move my mouth downward, paying attention to first one of her breasts, and then the other. The way she arches her back drives me crazy.
“You’re fucking perfect,” I mutter against her skin as I continue my descent, settling between her legs. I run my tongue over her inner thigh, inching toward her sex with exquisite slowness. By the way she digs her nails in the mattress, I know I have her exactly how I want. I place my mouth on her clit, sucking it gently.
“Sebastian.”
She pushes her heels firmly in the bed, her breathing becoming more labored. That’s it. Lust shoots through me. I plunge one finger inside her, and another one, caressing her inner flesh. I crook my finger. She fists my hair, moaning. I continue to kiss her until I feel her tighten around my fingers, right before crying out from the orgasm. Watching her come apart completely burns my control. I grind my erection against her still sensitive flesh before driving into her, stretching her tight passage. Her breasts press against my chest.
“You feel amazing,” I tell her.
“You make me feel things I didn’t even know existed.” She pants underneath me, her skin glistening with sweat.
“I’m very pleased to hear that.”
She giggles in my ear, and I swear it’s the damned sweetest sound. I make her moan. Hard. I plunge into her faster, deeper, spreading her legs wider apart. I watch her unravel, fighting to keep my control, to last longer. Breathing through my mouth, I time my strokes, rocking in and out of her as she succumbs to her orgasm.
I spiral over the edge, coming hard, burying my head in her neck, screaming out her name at the same time she calls mine. Afterward, she cuddles against me, and I cradle her in my arms, kissing her forehead. This woman makes me want to have her and protect her. It’s the first time I want to give a woman everything.
As her breath falls into that peaceful pattern that indicates she’s asleep, I’m more certain than ever that I’ll never want another woman. She’s it for me. The one. I’ll be damned if I’ll let her slip away.
***
I can’t sleep. Not wanting to wake Ava, I’m leaving the bedroom when an idea strikes me. I open my laptop and start researching. One hour later, my master plan is done. I debate waiting until morning to tell her, and then decide not to.
Ava sleeps on one side, hugging a pillow. Her luscious hair is spread everywhere.
Sitting at the edge of the bed, I hover over her for a few seconds before whispering, “Ava.” No reaction. “Ava.”
“Mmm.” She hugs the pillow tighter, squishing her breasts against it. I’m tempted to push her on her back and suckle one of her nipples, but restrain myself. I’m on an important mission.
“I have an indecent proposal.”
“Can’t wait to hear it,” she says sleepily. “In the morning.”
“Nope, now.”
Lazily, she blinks her eyes open. “Is something wrong?”
“Nothing wrong, but if I tell you this when you’re up and buzzing, you’ll come up with a hundred reasons to say no.”
“No to what?” She closes her eyes again.
“Don’t fall asleep.”
“Then talk.”
“You said Dirk didn’t assign you to a new project right after you finish here.”
“Not yet, but I bet he’ll come up with something.”
“Tell him you want two weeks off. Let’s go somewhere, just the two of us.”
She opens her eyes again, and this time there’s no sleepiness in them. A smile playing on her lips, she pushes herself up on an elbow.
“Mr. I-didn’t-take-a-day-off-in-five-years wants to take two entire weeks off?”
“You make me do things I didn’t even contemplate before. You make me want those things.” I lean in to her, kissing her cheek.
“I’ll go with you, Sebastian.”
On that vacation, I will ask her to stay here in San Francisco with me.