Page 29 of Jack

He collapsed on top of me, heaving and sweaty, while I tried to regain my sanity. That was sex? Holy shit, I’d definitely been doing this all wrong.

“Gotta deal with the condom,” Jack mumbled as he rolled over. He staggered off the bed to the adjoining bathroom where I heard water running then a toilet flush. I had yet to move when he rejoined me in the bed moments later.

I felt him brush the hair back off my face and opened my eyes to see him staring at me. “You okay, Ava?”

I nodded my head, trying to make my vocal chords function but finding it difficult.

He looked at me with great seriousness. “But most importantly, could you tell when you had an orgasm?”

I snorted in outraged laughter and grabbed a pillow, hitting him repeatedly. “You are such a jackass.”

He laughed and dodged my hits before grabbing the other pillow and hitting me back. “Ava, you asked me to help you, and now you’re mad?” he asked with mock chagrin.

“You’re ridiculous,” I laughed and hit him one final time.

“I guess I’m going to have to keep trying, then,” he lamented with a grin.

I didn’t know if I could survive any more of his assistance.

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Chapter 18

Jack

I woke up and looked to my right, staring in shock at the bright blonde hair spread out on the pillow next to me. I’ve never had a woman sleep in my bed, Christ, I’d never even had a woman beside my mother in this room. While part of me was jolted to see another body lying next to mine, there was something enjoyable seeing Ava in my sheets, wearing my scent, exhausted from the pleasure I had given her.

I reached out my finger and traced it over her naked shoulder, watching goosebumps pop up on her flesh, then snatched it back as if her skin was made of lava. I flopped on my back, sparing a quick glance at the small pile of condom rappers on my nightstand, and wondered what the hell to make of all this. I needed some space, some time to think.

With other girls, I would simply tell them to leave. Of course, that would have happened hours ago, right after sex. With Ava, I felt…conflicted. I didn’t want to hurt her by rushing her out the door, but I was overwhelmed with the need to be alone.

I decided to go to the bathroom, maybe the noise would wake her and that would create one less awkward part of our morning. I took a shower, and by the time I came out to get dressed, she was sitting up and yawning. She looked so fucking sexy with her flushed skin and messy hair, I almost forgot how freaked out I was.

She shot me a sleepy smile, her golden-green eyes sparkling with affection, as she rolled over to prop her head up on her hand. It was that smile, the soft one that made me feel like my chest was caving in.

“Hey, showered already?” she asked conversationally, not yet reading my mood.

I dropped the towel and quickly pulled on a pair of sweatpants. “Uh, yeah, I woke up and thought a shower would be good.” I sounded so fucking weird, even to myself.

Ava’s smile dimmed, her brows drawing together slightly as she finally caught on to the vibe. She looked at me for a long minute, then quickly got up and started to put on her clothes.

“Look, you can take a shower if you want,” I offered. What a gentleman.

She shook her head as she pulled her leggings back on, and I was again distracted by the body I wanted to fucking devour last night. I still wanted her, that was part of what was fucking me up. My worst nightmare had been realized – I actually liked a girl I was sleeping with.

She pulled her t-shirt on. “I should get going.”

I hated this. I hated the look on her face, but I needed to get my head straight before I did or said something fucking stupid.

“Ava, wait.”

She turned, her green eyes looking so wounded and disappointed it felt like a roundhouse to the gut. “What?”

“Look, last night was amazing, maybe the best sex of my life, but I don’t usually do all this stuff with girls. I don’t have sleepovers, and I most definitely don’t date.”

“I don’t remember asking you to date me.”

I grimaced. “You didn’t. I was just, you know, clarifying things.”

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