Chapter Twenty-One

Avery

I had managed to keep from moving into Jake’s room last night, claiming there was no point. It wasn’t like Janice was going to show up on a Friday night or Saturday morning. Jake insisted we get it done as soon as possible, just in case they did make surprise weekend visits. I had spent the day moving stuff into the master, hanging up my clothes, and going back to Sally’s to get more of my things.

It was late by the time we got the house staged to look like we were truly newlyweds anxious to start our life together with Iris. I was a nervous wreck. I couldn’t believe I was actually going to sleep in the same bed as Jake. Deep down, I kept thinking there had to be another way. I could sleep on the floor. There was no way anyone would know whether I was in the bed, on the floor, or maybe on that sofa in the room under the huge picture windows. I could sleep there!

“You ready for bed?” Jake asked, standing up and stretching.

The words sent my heart racing. We had been sitting in the living room, watching television together. I had been putting off the actual going to bed and insisted we watch a movie. I knew Jake knew I was stalling. I didn’t care.

“I guess,” I said.

He extended his hand, helping me up off the couch. Together we climbed the stairs. I couldn’t help but feel as if I were being led to my own doom.

“I’m going to change,” I said, grabbing my chosen pajamas for the night and heading into the adjoining bathroom.

I wasn’t thrilled to be wearing so many clothes to bed, but it was for my own well-being. I put on the jacket to my tracksuit and headed into the bedroom just in time to see Jake’s shorts drop to the ground. He was standing there in only his boxer briefs.

I gasped, trying hard not to look at him. “What are you doing?”

“I’m going to bed. What are you doing? Planning on going for a run?” he quipped.

“No. This is what I’m sleeping in.”

“Uh, don’t you think you’re going to be too warm?”

I shrugged a shoulder. “I’ll be fine. You need to put on some clothes. You can’t get into bed like that.”

He grinned, pulled back the covers, and got in bed. He was propped up on the pillows, still smiling at me, when he patted the empty spot next to him.

“Honey, come to bed,” he said with a cheesy grin.

I slowly made my way to the bed, removing the jacket of my tracksuit to sleep in the T-shirt and pants I had on. I climbed onto the bed and lay flat on my back, stiff as a board.

“We’re sleeping, nothing else,” I stated for at least the tenth time that night.

“I know. No hanky-panky. Got it.”

“I would prefer it if you wore some clothes to bed. I don’t like sleeping next to you when you’re basically naked,” I complained.

“Don’t look and don’t touch and you won’t have to be reminded.”

He reached out and touched my leg under the blankets.

“Stop it,” I said, jerking my leg away.

He then used his foot to run down my lower leg.

“Knock it off! No touching!” I glared at him.

“It’s not like I’m actually touching you. Your pants have you well protected.”

I turned to look at him, and he was still smiling. The man was enjoying all this far too much. I reached over and turned off the light on my side of the bed and waited for him to do the same. He didn’t. Instead, he rolled onto his side, propped his head up with his hand, and looked at me.

“What are you doing?” I said in exasperation, afraid to look directly into his eyes.

“I’m looking at you.”

“Why?”

He was quiet for so long, it worried me. I turned to look at him.

In a low voice, his eyes boring into mine, he said what I had feared the most. “I want to make love to you.”

The way he said it sent heat pooling between my legs. “No. We’re not doing that. Go to sleep, or you’re going to be sleeping on that couch.”

“Avery, I love your body. I want to taste it. I don’t think I properly ate you out our first time. Let me put my face between your legs and lick your pussy until you come.”

“Jake!” I protested, horrified and aroused by his nasty words. My legs involuntarily closed, my knees rubbing together, sending a shiver of pleasure racing through my body.

He looked down at my chest, which was heaving up and down with my sudden, rapid breathing. He met my eyes before sending his down my body in a slow, thorough perusal that made me feel as if my skin were on fire.

“I want to bury myself deep inside you, Avery. I can practically feel your body under mine, your sweet pussy tightening around my dick as you orgasm. Your tits are the perfect size for me to cup and fondle before I suck on your nipples, drawing out your orgasm.”

My mouth went dry and my body turned into a quivering pile of goo. I couldn’t believe how his words affected me. I didn’t want to feel hot and horny. I wanted to hate him. It was so much easier and safer to hate him. I could practically feel him between my legs. I closed my eyes, trying to stop the passion from coursing through my veins. My skin felt too tight for my body and overly hot. I wanted to rip off my pants and fan myself.

“Can you feel me in you?” he whispered. “I could make you feel so good. All you have to do is say the word, Avery, and I will have you screaming in pleasure. Do you want me?”

I gulped down the “yes” that threatened to cross my lips. I could not fall under his spell. I would not let myself get sucked into his smooth words. With every ounce of strength I possessed in my overheated body, I rolled to my side, giving him my back.

“Go to sleep, Jake,” I managed to get out. The instant I heard my voice, I knew he would know how much he had gotten to me.

I heard him chuckle before he turned out the light. “Suit yourself, babe. You’re missing out. I know you’re going to be dreaming of me tonight.”

“No, I’m not. This is for Iris. Nothing more.”

The ass. Such an arrogant ass.

I barely slept a wink. My body was supercharged after Jake’s little fun with words. Sunday morning, I woke up cranky and irritable, which was made worse by his chipper attitude. I couldn’t be around him all day. I ended up leaving and spending the day with Sally, not wanting to be near the man. I didn’t trust myself not to take him up on his offer to help get rid of the ache he had caused.

Thankfully, that night he didn’t tease me. We went to bed early, me fully covered in my tracksuit and him in his boxers, again. I didn’t bother pointing out his state of undress, afraid it would only encourage him. I needed sleep. I had to be at my best for the first day at my new job in the morning. Jake seemed to respect that and left things alone.

I had barely gotten to work when Jake called my phone.

“What?” I said, answering the phone.

“Good morning to you, too.”

“Jake, you know this is important to me. What do you need?”

“Don’t panic, but Janice is going to be coming by tonight.”

“What!” I shouted, obviously panicking. “Why? Already?”

He chuckled. “Yes. It will be fine. I’m going to make dinner and we will wine her and dine her. You’ll be home by six at the latest, right?”

“Yes,” I croaked out. “I’ll go straight home after work.”

“Good. See you then. And, Avery?”

“Hmm?”

“Have a great first day,” he said before hanging up.

I held the phone in my hand, suddenly feeling sick to my stomach. I did not need this. Not today. Not when I had so much riding on doing well at the job and then impressing Janice.

I took a deep breath. “You can do this,” I whispered before walking into the building where my new job was.

I was escorted to my small office and given a stack of paperwork to fill out. My jumbled emotions ranged from pure joy at finally having the job I had gone to school for to complete terror about the dinner with Janice.

I had no idea how I was going to lie straight to Janice’s face. I sucked at faking anything. My face tended to say what I was feeling. I wasn’t as smooth as Jake. I hoped he could handle most of the talking. I could smile and nod. That had to be enough.

The paperwork blurred in front of my face as my mind kept drifting to the meeting with Janice. I couldn’t afford to screw up. I had to pull it together for long enough if I wanted to get Iris. A young woman with a lunch cart stopped at the open door of my office.

“Would you like a sandwich? Soda? Iced coffee?” she asked cheerily.

“Yes!” I practically shouted the word. “Soda, coffee, and a sandwich.”

She smiled. “You’re going to be my new favorite customer.”

I laughed. “Thank you. It’s my first day, and I was too nervous to eat this morning and need a pick-me-up.”

She nodded her head. “You’ll like it here. The people who work on this floor are the best. Accountants tend to be stuffy people, but not here.”

“Thank you,” I said with a smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Damn straight you will!”

I laughed and took my goodies and sat back at my desk. I slammed the iced coffee, ate my turkey sandwich, and then drank the caffeine-loaded pop. I felt human once again and managed to breeze through the rest of the day.

At five minutes to five, I shut down my computer, grabbed my purse, and waited. I didn’t want to leave early on the first day, but I couldn’t afford to stay even a minute late. Tomorrow I would make up for it and work later if that was what was needed. When the clock hit five, I bolted out the door, waving to my new coworkers and racing to my car in the parking garage.

I managed to get to the house in record time, thanking my lucky stars there hadn’t been much traffic. The moment I opened the door, I was greeted with a delicious smell coming from the kitchen. Jake was making dinner, and it smelled divine. It still blew my mind that the man was such a good cook.

I set my purse on the entryway table and headed for the kitchen, excited to see what he was making tonight.

“Hi,” I greeted.

He turned away from the stove and grinned. “Hi yourself. Did you have a good first day?”

I nodded. “It was okay. Boring first-day paperwork stuff. Dinner smells so good. What did you make?”

“Stuffed chicken breasts, wild rice, and some steamed veggies.”

“Wow. That sounds amazing. I can’t wait.”

I watched him move around the kitchen with graceful ease. He was completely in his element. He poured a glass of wine and handed it to me.

“Thank you.”

I sipped the wine and took a seat on one of the barstools to watch him work. It was mesmerizing to see him move about, stirring one pot and sliding on pot holders to remove the chicken from the oven.

There was music playing softly overhead. I looked up and, for the first time since we had moved in, noticed the speakers in the ceiling.

“What are you listening to?” I asked.

“The Piano Guys. Do you like it?”

I nodded. “It’s different. I don’t think I’ve heard it before.”

He smiled. “I saw them in concert. I was surprised I liked it. I’m not a big classical music fan, but I like how they play regular songs and add their own twist.”

I was about to reply when the doorbell rang. My head shot up, and I looked at him, suddenly terrified of what was about to come. I had been lulled into a false sense of security with the music, the delicious aroma, and the wine.

“Relax,” he said in that soothing tone of his. “We got this. Be yourself and remember you’re madly in love with me.”

I gulped down the last bit of wine in my glass before realizing that had probably been a mistake. Why had he given me wine before our first home visit? Alcohol was probably not a good idea. I watched him wipe his hands on a towel as if there was nothing big about to happen.

I hated how calm he was. I was jealous of how calm he was and hoped some of it would wear off on me.