Page 55 of The Bachelor

Shane snorted. If it were any other woman he would think she was just trying to be coy, but he knew Avery was serious. “Just run your hand up and down on it, maybe squeeze it a little.”

The sleepiness was fading from her eyes and she stared down at his cock, which invariably made it leap a little as he grew even harder under her scrutiny.

“Holy crap,” was her opinion. “It’s alive.”

She cracked him up. “Avery. Focus, please.”

“Okay, sorry.” She took a deep breath. “Wait, was this my idea or yours?”

“Yours,” he lied. Then immediately admitted the truth. “Of course it was my idea, what are you talking about? But only if you want to.”

“Of course I want to. I just doubt my ability to do that.”

“Just do whatever feels right, and trust me, I will be fucking putty in your hands.”

She looked intrigued. “I do like the sound of that. Wait. Let me get ready.” She shook her hands out and pulled her hair out from under her shoulder.

It was like she was getting ready for an Olympic race. Amused, Shane just lay there and let her tackle it however she wanted. Then she shocked him by gripping the base of his cock and instead of stroking him, bending over and encircling him with her mouth. He groaned, not expecting the full-on contact.

“That’s a good start,” he murmured.

She pulled back. “Really?”

“Yes. Don’t stop.” He lazily watched her study his cock then descend on him again.

Watching her only added to his arousal. Avery was curious, exploring him with her hand, reaching down to cup his balls while she took him into her mouth. Her hair was spilling over him and she gave little sighs as she teased over him with her tongue. He’d let her do this all morning, entirely at her own pace. He felt languid, relaxed, aroused. The scent of her was on his fingers when he raised his arms to fold them behind his head. For a second, he wondered why in the hell her crazy ex wouldn’t want her to do this before he banished that thought. The fucking idiot had missed out on something amazing, but his loss was Shane’s gain.

“Am I doing this right?” she asked. “I don’t feel like anything is happening.”

He wasn’t sure what she thought was supposed to happen, exactly, but maybe he needed to give her more reassurance, encouragement. More direction. “I’m just enjoying it, trust me, you’re doing fine. Go a little harder if you want.”

Avery took his request seriously. She squeezed the base of his cock and went down on him with renewed enthusiasm. He was no longer relaxed. That was some serious sensation she could drag out. “Yeah, that’s it, honey, keep going.”

Maybe it was because it was Avery, and because he knew she was doing what he wanted, he felt his balls get tight and his whole body tense. He was going to come, so he reached down and urged her head off of him. Then he took her hand and used her small grip with his to finish the job, wanting to close his eyes but needing to see her face. Her expression was one of awe. She watched their hands moving together and caught the final result all over her fist.

Then she fucking licked her lips.

Which made him groan out loud, unable to hold it in any longer. “Damn, you’re trying to destroy me, aren’t you?”

She glanced up at him and blinked, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “That’s what I was hoping for.”

Shane shook his head, his throat tight. There were many ways she could destroy him and he had a feeling she was going to manage every single one without even trying.

TWENTY-SEVEN

Avery wandered around Shane’s house in her bare feet and his T-shirt. She had always wanted to wear a man’s shirt like this, while he made coffee and she was sleepy, hair rumpled, body sore from good loving. This would only be more perfect if Shane had a dog that would follow alongside of her. His house had surprised her. She really had been expecting some modern condo, lots of glass and metal and leather. But his house had creaky hardwood floors, rich wood trim, leaded glass, and teal living room walls. There were black-and-white photographs from around Nashville and in what was most adorable of all, pictures of him and his family on the fireplace mantle. It was an odd glimpse into the private life of public figures, as there was one of Jolene laughing, sticking her tongue out and going cross-eyed while he made a crazy what-the-hell face next to her.

It was the kind of picture Jolene would never want made public. Avery saw who she had to assume was their other sister, and she was worldly looking, smirking, her hair dark, pin straight. It was a group shot taken in this very living room, all three siblings and presumably their mother, a woman who looked pretty damn proud of her children. She was small, hair ashen and very Farah Fawcett, her skin surprisingly smooth, her eyes happy. Like she’d been through the worst, and was just now enjoying life. Which apparently, she had. It made Avery sick to think of Shane and his family enduring what they had.

He hadn’t asked about her family and she was glad he hadn’t because while she was happy to share stories about Mama she wasn’t prepared for the usual look of disbelief people gave her when she said she didn’t have a father. It was hard to explain. That yes, her mother knew who her father was, but no one believed her. That her father had no clue and was now deceased. Plus oh, right, he was famous. Not like president of the United States famous, but well known in certain Nashville music circles, with plenty of Grammys to his name.

Not to mention that she was sure Chance Rivers was her half-brother. Shane would think she was nuts. Hell, maybe she was. But she believed her mother. It made her feel guilty just thinking about hiding that from Shane because of his connection to Chance.

She needed to be honest with him.

He came into the living room with two coffee mugs, wearing nothing but his underwear. Her eyes traveled his incredible body, and she couldn’t believe the things she had done naked with him.

Holding one of the mugs out to her he said, “Sugar and cream.”

---