Page 81 of Reckless Encounters

“No, everything is not alright,” she says through a shaky breath, wiping away a stray tear.

“Angel, what’s going on?” I brace myself for the other shoe to drop. Everything has been going so perfectly. Almost too perfect.

She wraps her arms around my middle and nestles into me. Holding on for dear life, as if afraid to let go. Fuck, is she letting go?

“What happened?” I ask, pulling her in closer.

Ava remains silent, and then slowly uncurls herself from my chest. My stomach drops with the space she’s created. This is it, isn’t it?

“It’s silly… I think I'm PMSing. I'm sorry for being so emotional.” But the tear trailing down her cheek tells a different story.

“Don’t ever apologize for how you feel. Tell me what’s running through that mind of yours,” I say, bringing my knuckle to her lips, which are currently pulled to the side. A tell-tale sign she has something she wants to say.

“Forget it… It’s not important. You came in here all happy about something. What did you want to say?” Ava asks, trying to change the subject.

“Angel, everything you have to say is important. From the minute you wake up to the minute we fall asleep, I want to know it all. I live for your random thoughts and the little things that make you smile. I love the way your eyes light up when you taste something delicious, and the way they darken when you're thinking of the next bratty thing you can do to get my attention. The way you get a satisfied grin when you get your latest sketch just right. I want all of it… So please, tell me.”

She eyes me cautiously, like what she’s about to say might scare me.

“Myapartmentisready…” she rushes out on an exhale. But I can see the disappointment in her expression.

“Is that a bad thing?” My heart swells at the thought of her being upset about leaving. If I'm being honest, I don’t want her to go. I’ve never felt as alive as I have with her being here.

Ava gnaws on her lip. She doesn’t want to be the one to break, the one to take the leap. I don’t blame her; I always told her not to.

So, I’ll do it for her.

“Would I be selfish if I said I don’t want you to leave?”

Her eyes shine as a sweet grin spreads across her face. “What are you saying, P?”

“I want you to stay here, permanently.” As if knowing his name wasn’t included, Binx rubs up on me with a meow. “Him too, I guess,” I add with a chuckle.

“Are you serious?” she questions, biting her lips to contain her excitement.

“Yes, Ava Marie Pierce, I want you to live here, and not in the guest room. In my room, with me.”

Within the next second, she’s tackling me onto the couch and showering me with kisses. My hands grab hold of her ass and pull her body closer to mine. I need to feel her everywhere, all the time. I don’t want this feeling to ever fade, because I finally realize what this is… It’s love.

I am head over heels in love with this woman.

“The thought of moving out made me so sad. I didn’t want to leave. I—” I place a finger over her lips, stopping her from robbing me of this moment. One I knew was coming. From the moment she opened that sassy ass mouth of hers, I knew she was something special, something to cherish.

“I love you, Angel. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t yearn to be by your side,” I tell her, my gaze locked onto her emotion-filled hazel eyes. “I was stupid to ever push you away. I think deep down I knew how easily I could fall for you, and that’s why I acted the way I did…trying to keep you at arm’s length. Too afraid of what would happen if I let someone new in. Thank you for seeing past that, for seeing me.”

Her eyes shine with emotion.

“Oh, Parker... I love you too. I was just so afraid to tell you. Terrified that hearing those words would scare you away.” She wraps her arms around me, and I hold on tight. Savoring the feel of this moment. One I never believed would happen for me.

“The first night I saw you, I felt an immediate attraction. I know you did too. I remember an excitement I had never experienced, but then your last name and my assumptions about people who grew up with money had my guard fully up. Even after that, I was insanely attracted to you, hence why I gave in so quickly at Masqued. I hated myself for how badly I continued to want you after that night. How much I thought about you. Then I saw you catch the bouquet at Wes and Sloan’s wedding, and I knew you had your sights set on a fairytale, one I could never give you... Or at least, that’s what I thought. Now I know that couldn’t be further from the truth. The only thing I’m scared about is losing you.”

She pulls away slowly, placing her hand on my chest. Her eyes bounce between mine, shining with love and affection. Everything I’ve yearned for all these years. Leaning in, I kiss her, hard. Letting our connection run free as we wrap ourselves around each other.

“Wait, what did you have to tell me before?”

“It can wait. Right now, I need to show my girl how much I love her.”

She cups my face in her hands as I stand with her body around mine, my palms holding her up by her ass.

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