Page 39 of We Never Kissed

When we reached each other, his arms went around my waist, mine around his neck. “Damn, my shirt never looked so good.”

“Glad you don’t mind. I like it because it smells like you.”

He grinned and then dipped his head to capture my lips. His strong hands were splayed on my back, pressing me into his firm body. I’d longed for this moment for so many years my heart raced at the thought of Alexfinally making me his. It was actually kind of surreal, so when Alex pulled back, it felt like he’d read my mind.

“I…” An awkward smile played on his lips.

“What?” I could feel his chest rise and fall between us.

He took my face in his hands. “This… Us. It’s—”

“Hard to believe?”

He nodded. “Ava, I’ve watched you go from a girl to a woman to…the most amazing and beautiful person I’ve ever met. I just needed a beat, you know? I…want to do right by you.”

My heart filled with warmth. “I know. But if you’re worried if I’m sure…I’ve never wanted anything more in my life.” Saying those words while his eyes were locked on mine was like a double shot of whiskey flying through my veins.

Alex’s gaze narrowed for a second before he said, “Goddamn, Ava, if you knew how much I want you right now.” He drew me back against him, then lifted me up. I gasped in delight and wrapped my legs around his waist as he walked us back over to the bed. We kissed for long moments before I felt him lower me to the ground. His eyes panned down to the top button of his shirt I wore, and he grinned. He undid the first button, then the second, his lips blazing a trail over my skin with each button lower, and when he finally pulled it away from my breast and lowered his mouth to me, my breath caught.

I held the back of his head to me, but he didn’t linger long, instead kissing a trail down to my stomach until he was on his knees in front of me. He placed soft kisses on my stomach, and when he pressed his cheek against me and held me tightly, I felt my throat tighten with emotion.

I’d almost got lost in the moment, when I felt his fingers slide along the border of my panties and then slowly lower them to the floor, where I stepped out of them. When he raised back up to his full height, the hunger in his eyes set my whole body ablaze. Deftly, I unbuttoned his shirt, and when I pulled it away from his taut chest, my eyes homed in on the scar there. I ran my finger over the rigid surface, then placed a soft kiss on it. Alex’s fingers weaved through my hair before he tilted my face up to his. He kissed me deeply, slowly, then as if a switch was flipped, he devoured me, and I moaned into his mouth. When his hands left my face, I heard him undoing his belt and then his pants.

Alex lowered me to the bed, settled on top of me, and stared into my eyes. One of his hands sought mine, and he laced our fingers together just before he connected our bodies and finally made us one. Everything about his movements felt so right, so good—the way we fit together so perfectly, the way our bodies instinctively found a seamless rhythm. And when he brought me to the height of pleasure, I didn’t hold back, took everything he gave me,calling out his name as his head fell to the crook of my neck, and he joined me in an exquisite free fall.

After, as our bodies rested, still entwined in each other, I couldn’t help but smile, even as a tear slid from the corner of my eye. As if he knew, he pulled me tighter against his body, and I couldn’t imagine another moment more perfectthan this.

Chapter 22

Ava

Wearing the hotel robe, my hair still damp from the shower, I stood in the doorway of the bathroom, watching Alex sleep. Lying on his back, bare-chested with the sheet tucked at his waist, he looked like one of those dreamy magazine ads for cologne or…sheets.

When his eyes opened and quickly found mine, it seemed as though it were their sole purpose. I felt myself blush. Alex reached his hand out to me, and I stepped forward.

“You showered without me,” he said when I took his hand. Then he yanked me to the bed so I landed halfwayon top of him. My mouth went right to his, and we shared a deep kiss that took my breath away.

Alex pulled back, and I said, “I’m sorry. I don’t want to be late to the office. We slept late…” Since I’d told my parents I was meeting with my boss, I figured I might as well while I was in Vegas.

He winced. “Damn, I’m sorry I forgot.” He gave me a peck on the lips before sitting up. “I better get in there before I won’t let either of us leave this bed.”

I was tempted to blow off my appointment with my boss, even for just a few minutes in bed with Alex, especially with the replay of last night flashing in my mind. But he was already up, helping me be responsible.

“I’ll be quick,” he said before closing the door.

I realized too late that my makeup was in there. Were we at the stage of sharing bathroom space? I decided to pack instead. I knew he took fast showers anyway.

When I went to the side of the bed to grab my shoes, Alex’s phone chimed on the nightstand. He had it set where a preview of texts showed on the screen.I shouldn’t look.Dammit, don’t look, Ava. I sawJessica, and couldn’t stop myself. I spun the phone so it wasn’t upside down and read,Honey, are you all right? Not like you to skip out on a Monday. Called your office…

That was the bitch making herself comfortable in Alex’s kitchen.

“Read anything interesting?”

I straightened and whirled around to him, my face burning hot. “I”—I shook my head—“have no excuse. I’m sorry.”

“You don’t trust me?” He tilted his head condescendingly but didn’t look the least bit angry. In fact, he seemed pleased, which was probably worse for me and my embarrassment.

“No…I do. It’s just. It was that Jessica woman.”

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