Chapter Fourteen

Hearing those words.

Feeling her pussy clench.

Seeing her pain release and love flood.

Touching her in a place reserved for me.

I steel myself to hold back from giving into this blissful euphoria she brings to me and slow my thrusts. “Love you.” I take her lips, gaining a semblance of control as I let her ride her orgasm through. I’m nowhere near done but I scoot my hands under her back so the counter doesn’t scratch her for what I have planned.

She tries to lift her torso and I shake my head. Dipping my head, I capture a nipple and pull it with my teeth, extending it to a hard peak. She’s pushing up, riding me from below and I’ll allow it. I alternate tugging her nipples while she grinds. Having enough, I seat myself balls deep and swallow her grunt of satisfaction. “You trust me?” I need to hear her say it again.

“Yes.” She cries as I push in deeper.

“Bring yourself there.” I continue thrusting as she drags one hand down her body and circles her clit. Her other hand tugs her nipple and she arches her back pushing my cock deeper in her pussy.

Avery Michaels is a hellcat in bed and I’m a lucky bastard getting to experience it— for the rest of my life.

“You know what I want, baby.” I give her a sinister smile.

“Yeah.” She chuckles and shivers when I hit her spot with the tip of my dick.

“What do you have to do?” I ask.

“Get there.” I nod.

“Quit talking and do it.” I watch her pupils dilate. Her breath quickens and I work her with my dick, slamming into her over and over. Her pussy feels like a vice grip when she climaxes and I give her a few shallow thrusts to allow her to ride the aftershocks as I pull my hands from under her back. I pull myself from her body and replace my dick with two fingers so I can coat them before I drag them through her ass cheeks.

I wink at her as she continues playing with her clit and I work her backdoor. “Just the tip, baby?” I tease.

“Not if you wanna live.” She challenges me and I let my finger slide in and I’m rewarded with a deep moan. “Yes.” She hisses.

She’s riding my finger and her own as I slip a second one in and still to let her take the lead. She keeps moving and doesn’t miss a beat, as she demands, “More.”

Pushing my dick in her pussy to coat it, I swivel my hips a few times and she loves it when she’s full of me. I grip the base of my cock and push the tip in her ass. “Caden.” She’s vocal when I’m not doing what she wants.

“Have to go slow— only have your lube down here.” I smack her ass to still her. I keep using her juices to coat my dick as I inch inside her until I’m fully seated. “There you go greedy.” I take her mouth as I slowly move in and out of her ass.

Her head is thrown back, her back arched so she can push her ass into me and she’s fucking gorgeous. I cup her pussy, using my heel to rub her bundle as I insert my thumb inside her and she screams. “Fuck.”

I do just that. A bit harder with each push, and I feel the tingle in my spine. “Again, Aves.” I half demand, half plead.

“Yes.” She shouts her release and I pull out, marking her stomach with my seed as I swell with pride. Nothing hotter than Avery wearing me all over her.

“Caveman.” She rolls her eyes. “But, I’m not complaining.” She grins and I reach for a paper towel to clean her up.

“We need another shower.” I scoop her off the counter and jog up the stairs, damn near tripping over the dog. He sits outside the door as I clean her up and pull her to my chest to take this moment in. Warm water beating our bodies, sated and so full of love.

“Sleep,” she yawns into my chest.

“Okay, baby.” I dry her off, run the towel down my body as I follow her to bed and she tangles herself up in me. Sleep comes easy for both of us and in the morning I stretch and feel her burrow deeper.

I move without waking her and sit up to start coffee and take the dog for his morning constitutional. “Shit!”

Avery bolts upright. “What?”

“We forgot to put the damn dog in the crate and I legit stepped in the reminder.” She falls back to the pillows laughing her ass off as I waddle to the shower using my heels to walk. “It isn’t funny.” I holler.

“You’re right. It isn’t funny. It’s fucking hilarious.” I hear her cooing the fucking beast as she takes him downstairs to go outside. I don’t know what the point is— he used our floor as his grass.

I wash my foot and go in search of bleach for the tub. She’s drinking coffee with a serene look and I can’t be pissed any longer. “Go get in the shower. I’ll clean the floor and tub.” She grins at me and I kiss her lips but she pulls back so I don’t linger.

“Sore. Used. Ecstatic. Brunch with our friends and parents in an hour and I wanna be able to walk.” She shoves me away. She issued a challenge I can’t back down from. Time to hit this outta the park. Fuck the floor. Fuck the tub. And I’m most certainly gonna fuck my woman.

My hand is at her back leading— okay supporting— her into the restaurant. Our parents are at a separate table and I can’t blame them. “You ride a horse on the way to join us?” Emberlee asks.

“She rode something.” Mason remarks— without a straight face.

“Fuck yeah she did.” Saylor high fives my girl and I marvel at the insanity swirling.

“Enough. Her dad is ten feet from us.” I grimace.

“He can’t carry on a plane.” She smiles. “He can, but he doesn’t like to stow his precious underneath in cargo.” I gawk at her.

“His precious?” I stumble.

“My gun’s name. My girl is my princess. My gun, her protector, is my precious.” Brian interrupts and I choke down my tongue.

“Daddy.” Avery chuckles. Fucking chuckles at his not so subtle threat. “He put a ring on it.”

“Twice.” I volunteer sounding like I joined a soprano group. This man terrifies me and hasn’t given me a reason to fear him. Maybe because of what I do to his daughter in our private time or maybe because I know I’d kill for her so I don’t doubt he would.

“Order your food and come see your mother. She’s having a fit with leaving you here. I’ve tried to tell her you’re in good hands.” Mason snorts at Brian’s description and I kick him under the table. “But she refuses to acknowledge this is your new home.” He kisses her forehead and rushes back to Abigail’s side.

“This is gonna suck.” Avery groans.

“Tell me about it. I think my dad is chomping Xanax with our impending move to New York.” Emberlee shares.

“Shit, my parents are like. . . bye. I think it’s ‘cause my mom gets to go shopping when she visits so it’s a win-win situation for her.” Mason tells us.

“I think I’d be happy if you were my son and moved.” Saylor informs him.

“Nice, Shortstop.” I high five her.

“You miss me.” Mason is so sure of himself.

“This is weird.” Brody looks at all of us. “Three months ago, we had no clue y’all were a couple— fuck, you’ve been together longer than any of us.”

“And I’m not knocked up. Winning.” Avery cheers.

“But sitting here,” Brody continues, “you’d think this was normal. It doesn’t feel like there’s been this secret. It feels right. Like it’s always been.”

“It does.” Saylor nods.

“We told y’all several times the past year.” I remind them. “Yet, nobody took us at face value.”

“Whatever.” Lee Lee waves her hand. “This feels like it’s normal. Something we don’t get a lot of in this group.”

“Because she’s always been mine.” I gaze at Avery and she kisses me quick as she stands.

“Eggs. French toast. I’m going over to calm my mom so she doesn’t flood the restaurant with her tears.” I watch her walk— looking like she’s bowlegged— to her parents and I sit back and realize how easy it is to breathe.

“What are the plans?” Saylor pounces.

“Huh?” I don’t know where she’s going.

“Wedding. Babies. Life.” She lists off talking points like we’re discussing stocks.

“Uh, don’t know. In the future. With her.” I answer to the best of my ability.

“Some of us need warning. We have to plan shit. Babysitters. Time off work.” She’s driving her point.

“Don’t forget dog sitters.” Mason adds and ducks as Saylor’s fist flies across the table.

“You’re an ass.” She growls.

“Okay. We’re in public.” Brody reminds everyone. It doesn’t matter and he should be used to this.

“Basically, to recap . . . we’re all happy you and Aves are together and you quit lying to everyone.” Mason shrugs. “But that means everyone’s sexual exploits are off the table.” He shudders. “I can’t imagine hearing what she does in bed. That’s Avery.”

“When do you ever shut up when it comes to sex?” Lee Lee points.

“But it’s Aves.” Mason’s eyes widen. It’s classic.

“And she has a vagina and Caden has a penis. I know that isn’t how it works with you and Breck. Only one of you have the anatomy and we can figure out which one since she’s the one who bought a purple toy.” Saylor bites and Mason turns red.

“I hate that fucking thing.” He pouts.

“I bet. Showing you your inadequacy every single day. That’s gotta sting.” Saylor and Mason don’t stop. Ever. Deacon shakes his head and Mason is pondering a response but Brecklynn saves us.

“When will y’all fly in? Wedding is Thursday.” Her grin is huge.

“Tuesday afternoon is when I booked. I wanted a few days with her, and she’ll want some time in her gallery. I’m hoping she’ll paint a bit.” I miss seeing her at the canvas.

“Make sure she wears a cap. I don’t want her hair streaked for my wedding.” Breck begs.

I shrug. Fuck it; if she walks through life with multi-color hair, I could give two fucks.

Or one.

I’m quiet as I watch her paint. The sun is peeking over the treetops and she’s so engrossed in her work she doesn’t realize her puppy is covered in paint. He’s darting through her legs, running under the table with her pallet and catching the drippings with his fur. That’s definitely a dynamic duo in the making.

Seeing the blues, clay oranges, and baseballs floating makes me pause. The game is forever a part of my life and I’ve looked into some leagues here to play recreational, but I wonder if she’s missing it? It’s been just as much a part of her life as mine— does she wish I’d followed Mason? The offers were there but my heart lies somewhere else.

“Hey Picasso.” I step closer to her.

She puts the brush down and turns with a sleepy smile. “Hey.”

“Whatcha painting?” I study it and there’s an element that isn’t completed so I don’t know what the outcome will be.

“A gift for Breck and Mason.” She points to certain features and I sigh in relief. “This,” she shows me the unfinished part, “is going to be her camera capturing the field and pitcher’s mound.”

“Why all the baseballs floating?” I quirk my brow.

“Their future baseball players.” She grins. “I think it’s gonna be sooner than Breck thinks.” I don’t doubt Aves— she’s been front and center with dealing with the other girl’s pregnancies.

“I love you.” I kiss her head. “Do you miss this?” I nod to the painting.

“I miss watching you. But I saw the forms you had by the desk. It looks like I’ll get to see my man in those tight pants soon enough.” She winks and leans back into me.

“Or no pants works.” I suggest.

“We leave tomorrow. I need to get this done.” I deflate but catch her silent laugh. “Kidding. I can’t resist you naked. Or in clothes.” I scoop her up, round the puppy and lock us inside for a few hours.