When she sees me, a smile lights up her face putting that dimple on full display. That familiar gut punch hits me and I don’t think. I just react. Her eyes widen once she sees the intent in mine.
“Hey I-“ I cut her words off with my lips.
Her hands fly to my shoulders as my arms wrap around her waist. Her lips part on a sigh and she sways into me as I deepen the kiss stroking my tongue inside her mouth. My dick springs to attention as our tongues swirl and tangle together.
“Fuck,” I breathe pulling away after a few minutes. Her eyes open slowly and the glazed look in them makes me want to throw her over my shoulder, run to my office and fuck her until neither one of us can move.
“What was that for?” she asks.
I shrug. “I couldn’t help myself. That seems to happen a lot around you.”
A blush hits her cheeks as a laugh slips out of her mouth. I pull one arm back and keep one wrapped around her.
“There goes another cheesy pick up line” she says and the way she’s looking up at me has my chest tightening with some unnamed emotions. I try to tamp down on them as a smirk crosses my face.
“I know. I can’t seem to help myself around you.”
She goes to reply when I see the first flash. From the way Ava stiffens against me I can tell she saw it too.
Fuck. For a moment I forgot who I was and where we were outside. Scanning the crowd, I see that several people have their phones out, anybody could have taken that picture. Giving Ray a look, he nods back knowing what to do.
I steer Ava into the club. Linking her fingers with mine, I lead us up the stairs into my office.
“Wow,” she says looking around and going over to the window. “This place is beautiful. You can see the whole dance floor and bar from your window” she says.
I pick up my office phone and place a quick phone call to the kitchen so that they know to bring up the food I want prepared. I circle the desk and go to her.
Wrapping my arms around her waist, I rest my chin on top of her head. She melts back into me placing her smaller hands over mine. Fuck this feels right.
Looking out over the dance floor of my club with her in my arms nothing I realize that I’ve never felt so at peace before.
We stand there in silence for a few minutes just taking everything in. Even the silence between us feels comfortable. Usually when you’re in the room with another person there’s an overwhelming urge to feel whatever silence there is. Not with Ava. I’m comfortable just standing here being together.
Soon, one of the cooks is knocking on my office door. Reluctantly I release her to go get our food. Closing the door behind me, I begin setting up our meal. I pull out a few hamburgers, French fries, drinks and for dessert a large slice of chocolate cake.
“Mm that looks good,” she says taking the seat across from me as I spread the food out on my desk.
We eat and chat for a little while before she starts to fidget slightly. I don’t know if she realizes she’s doing it, but I easily recognize it as her tell that she’s nervous or uncomfortable with something.
Putting down my fork I focus my attention on her.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Nothing…well something,” huffing she rolls her eyes before meeting mine directly, “There’s something I need to tell you that I think will help you better understand a few things about me if we’re going to be spending more time together.”
“Okay “I say. Little does she know there’s nothing she can say to deter me from wanting to be with her.
Looking down at her lap she starts talking “As I told you yesterday, I was in foster homes until I turned eighteen. I never dated in high school because nobody wanted to get that close to me. Once I got to college, I didn’t really know what I was doing when it came to talking to guys. Lisa and Jayden tried to help acclimate me to the dating world. I tried dating around a little. It didn’t…um go to well.”
Dread builds in my stomach. “What happened?”
“The first guy’s name was Eric. We met in English Lit, during my freshman year, and I thought he was really nice. He told me how difficult it was for him to date because he never seemed to have anything in common with other women he was attracted to. We bonded over our love of books and he made me feel special. We went out on two dates. One night we went back to his place and things started to get physical, but I just wasn’t feeling it. When I told him, I wasn’t ready to have sex he dumped me saying he couldn’t date someone who wasn’t giving it up.”
Rage and protectiveness swamp me. Fucking asshole. “What about the second guy?”
She eyes me warily, “Are you sure you want to hear this? I can stop.”
“No, no. Keep going. Please.”
Blowing out a breath she continues. “The second guy, well, he was worse. His name was Matthew.”
The way she says his name
