Chapter Two
Ava groaned as she placed sliced apples in each of the twins’ lunchboxes. Logan was having another go at his favorite subject. “We don’t need a dog. In fact, the very last thing we need is a dog. I’ve been through potty training and I don’t have a deep-seated need to housebreak a puppy.”
“I’d help,” Logan protested indignantly. “It wouldn’t be that bad. All kids need a dog and it would teach them responsibility.”
The old “the kids would help take care of the pet” ploy. Her own mother had fallen for this when Ava had been around ten. Of course, it had been Ava’s mother who had ended up taking care of their dog Lazarus. Lazarus had certainly been loyal to Carol Hayworth as well. He’d followed at her heels every day that he’d been on this earth. Ava’s mother had been heartbroken when Lazarus passed on.
The last thing I need is something else to feed and take care of.
Reining in her impatience, Ava snapped the lids on the lunchboxes closed. The carpool would be here any minute and the kids were still brushing their teeth. One tooth at a time. Slowly. While Ava applauded their efforts at dental hygiene, their pace could sometimes make her crazy when she was trying to get them to summer day camp on time. Or anywhere, for that matter.
“You and I both know that Brianna and Colt aren’t ready for the responsibility of a pet. They can barely dress themselves. They’re six years old. I’d be the one that would end up taking care of a puppy.”
“I said I would help.”
Finally the twins scampered into the kitchen just as the carpool pulled up into the driveway. Ava slipped their lunches into their backpacks and both she and Logan gave kisses and hugs before they trotted away and off to day camp with their friends. They’d have a morning of arts and crafts, soccer, and video games – if it rained. They absolutely loved going and as a bonus it gave her four hours of quiet.
She returned to the kitchen and sighed at the mess. Logan had indeed made pancakes this morning and it looked like a tornado had hit their kitchen. It didn’t improve her rapidly declining mood. He needed to drop the puppy thing.
“A dog is a lot of work.”
Refilling his coffee cup, Logan gave her his patented wicked grin. “We could just have another baby instead.”
He wasn’t getting it and she had to resist the urge to reach out and smack his forehead. Hard.
“We need another child like we need holes drilled in our heads. You’re never home,” she replied sharply, grabbing the batter bowl and beginning to rinse it. “And yes, I know you’re trying to be home more but that hasn’t happened. I’m barely able to find time to work now even with the kids finally starting school or going to morning camp. Can you imagine the chaos around here if we had another baby and a dog?”
They’d have to sedate me.
Ava loved her husband and children more than her own life. There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for them, but she was an introvert at heart. She needed a few minutes of peace each day to recharge her batteries. Just five or ten. Logan was talking about taking the small amount of time she had each day to get shit done and tossing it out the window.
“I’m really trying to be home more.” Logan took the bowl out of her hands and placed it by the sink before turning her to face him. “I meant it when I said that I would be and I’m going to make it happen. I know you have it rough when I’m gone all the time and that it isn’t fair. Believe me, I worry about that. I’m just asking for a little more time. Now go take a shower and let me handle these dishes. When I’m home, everything isn’t your responsibility.”
For a moment Ava was going to argue and then realized he was right. It was force of habit to do it all herself, taking the world onto her shoulders, but Logan was standing next to her and he’d made the mess. He could clean it up.
She wasn’t even going to tell him how to clean it up, although she was sorely tempted. She’d learned soon after the twins were born that supervising him changing a diaper wasn’t a great way to get him to do it. He did things in his own way. Just because she wouldn’t use that spray cleaner to wipe up the countertops didn’t mean it was wrong.
Although it totally was. But I’ve learned to keep quiet.
She allowed him to push her toward the bedroom where she stripped off her yoga pants and t-shirt before stepping under the hot, steamy spray of the shower. A sigh escaped her lips and her muscles loosened as the water beat against her lower back. Resting her head against the wet tile she allowed herself to relax for the first time today.
She really ought to apologize to her husband. She’d been snippy with him and she didn’t mean to. Sometimes the stress of things got to her. She was trying so hard to be everything to everyone and Logan kept telling her she was taking on too much. She didn’t need to be a room mother and volunteer for the PTA. She didn’t need to take on such an ambitious writing schedule. Add in Brianna’s dance class and Colt’s soccer club and she was getting hardly anything done all that well. It was all suffering and she needed to reevaluate what was really important.
The slam of the bathroom door made her jump and she whirled around just as the sexiest man she’d ever seen opened the shower door while he efficiently stripped out of his clothes. Her mouth watered at the sight of those flat abs and what lay just below. He’d kept her up half the night last night celebrating his homecoming, but it looked like he wasn’t done.
Lucky me. A couple of orgasms are just what I need.
Logan quirked that sexy eyebrow and his gaze swept her from head to toe. “How about a little company?”
Since he wasn’t wearing any clothes, Ava reached out for the only handle that was handy, her hand wrapping around the base of his cock.
“You can come in if you wash my back.”
They were going to empty the hot water heater this morning.
* * * *
Logan had been gone too damn long. He hated being away from his family and with every trip his impatience with traveling grew. This trip had only been a week long, but it might as well have been a month. He’d missed so many things with his family, but he’d also missed…this.
Pressing Ava against the tiles of the shower, he could feel her body flush against his. Her pert breasts with their rock hard nipples, the curve of her belly, and her sexy legs which were beginning to part ever so slightly in anticipation of what he might have in store for her. She might have believed he’d assuaged his pent-up hunger last night but it wasn’t even close. He’d never get enough of this woman.
The hot steam billowed around them as he kissed his way down her body, starting at the hollow of her neck and ending around her bellybutton, making her squirm with delight. Her fingers carded through his now wet hair and she held on as he insinuated himself between her thighs, lifting one onto his shoulder. His questing fingers found her wet and ready but he wanted her screaming for it. There was nothing in the world so wonderful as Ava saying his name as she orgasmed.
She braced her hands on his shoulders as his tongue went to work. She cried out as he flicked over her clit a few times, but he wasn’t inclined to make this short and sweet. Lazily, he drew his tongue along her folds until she was panting, her nails digging into his flesh.
Glancing up he could see her head lolled to the side, her eyes closed and her lips parted as she struggled for breath. Water cascaded down her body, creating the most beautiful human waterfall effect he’d ever seen. He might have watched it in fascination all morning but his own cock was hard, throbbing, and making demands. After last night he ought to have more control, but he was as horny and ready as a teenager. The blood pounded in his ears like a freight train and the pressure in his lower back built to a crescendo.
Short and sweet isn’t so bad.
“I love you, Ava.”
This time he went in for the kill, his tongue doing devilish things to her swollen clit until she shattered into a million pieces, crying out his name as she fell apart. Her legs gave out and he caught her, keeping her from falling into a heap at the bottom of the shower. Standing, he lifted her off of the floor and wrapped her legs around his waist as he pressed his cock into her waiting warmth. Tight. Like silk.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew he’d been with women before Ava but damned if he could remember even one of them. She’d made it so they didn’t even exist. She’d taken over every facet of his life and heart and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
They clung to each other as he pistoned in and out of her, the only sounds the splashing of water and their ragged breaths and moans. Ava urged him on. Faster. Harder. A frisson of electricity ran down his spine and he knew he had only moments left. Reaching between them he placed his thumb on her already sensitive button and rubbed soft circles around it.
Her explosion came on the heels of his own and he had to concentrate to keep from falling to his knees. They didn’t move for a long time, content to simply be as close as they could possibly be. Eventually their heartbeats slowed and their breathing evened out. Logan lowered Ava’s feet to the tile floor, holding her until he was sure she could stand on her own.
“Baby, we should do this more often.”
Laughing, Ava leaned against the tile wall, her hands still stroking his chest and arms. If he were a cat he’d purr with contentment.
“If you were home more, we would.”
Consider it done, good girl.