Page 69 of Maid in Heaven

Ava tried to breathe, tried to speak, but could only nod. He felt her swallow hard beneath his grasp.

His finger slid deeper, and Ava rose to her tip-toes, panting in the darkness, feeling the cold knob of the door dig into her lower back.

“Before you go,” he slipped his middle finger deep inside of her, feeling her damp thighs part for him, easing open to accept him, “I want another kiss.”

Ava leaned forward, lunging to press her mouth to his with a fevered eagerness like nothing she’d ever felt before.

“No.” The word was quiet, stern. He tipped her chin back so that her head touched the tiny window behind her. “Not there.”

The hand on her neck loosened, and his body lowered. Ava’s face was on fire, body trembling. She heard the rustle of fabric as he kneeled down on the mat and pulled her skirt over his head.

“Oh fuck…” Ava’s eyes fluttered as she felt the warm, wet caress of his tongue in her pussy. He sucked gently on her clit, diving in again, lapping her up like a man parched.

She covered her mouth to keep from moaning out loud and bucked slowly against his face.

A moment later, the fabric rustled again, and he rose. She could barely make out the smile on his face as he licked her off of his lips. His body pressed to hers, and she juddered with deep breaths. He nudged her ear with the tip of his nose and whispered, “Goodnight, Ava. Get home safe.”

24

Ava pulled up tothe front of Will’shouse, equipped with her lowest-cut V-neck shirt and a bottle of wine, hoping to spend some time gazing intothose blue eyesof his. After a sleepless night and a long day of unsuccessful job interviews, she needed comfort.Needed stolen kisses in the hallway. Needed the eye contact that made her want to tremble.

So when Will invited her over for dinner, she jumped at the opportunity, no longer caring if her lack of hesitancy seemed a little desperate or eager. After what he’d done to her the night of the charity prom, she wantedmore.

She loved the rush she got from knowing he desiredher, too. It was all-consuming.

The streetwasquiet. Most had settled into their warm homes away from the blistering winds. The night sky was wide open, allowing an unimpededview of the millions of brilliant stars that sat like a dusting of glitteron a blanket of black.

She grabbed the unopened bottle of pinot noir from the passenger seat and steppedout.She looked up at the house and froze. On the stoop stood a woman, one a similar age as Ava. The woman was talking to Will, hands stuffed into the pockets of her tattered jeans.

Will stared at Ava, still talking to the woman, face creased with annoyance and frustration.Ava got out but stayed by her Denali.

“Everything… okay here?”

“Yes,” Will said curtly, leading the woman off the porch with a gentle hand. “She was justleaving.”

A wash of jealousy and anger bubbled to the surface, displaying on Ava’s face like a movie on a theater screen.“Who is she?”

Before Will could answer, the woman pivoted quickly, spinning out of his grasp and bolting back into the house.

Will scrambled to grab her. “Goddammit!”

But the wily woman was through the door already, shouting, “Star?”

Will chased the woman inside.

“What the hell…?” Ava followed with caution. Once inside, she watched Will disappear down a hallwayand gritted her teeth. She was afoolto think someone like Will would want tobe monogamous. They hadn’t technically said they were exclusive,but part of her still felt betrayed. She assumed they had something uniquelyintimate, but suddenly, she wondered if she was just one of many.

In a haze of anger, Ava rounded the corner.

Willstood, gripping the shoulders of the woman,just outside of Starla’s bedroom. Ava watched the flurry of waving hands and arms and heard the stream of whispered growls.

“And who the fuck isshe,Will,” the woman growled, face contorting to a look of disgust.

“She’snone of your business!Nothing in this house is your business,” Will whispered.

Willtugged her down the hall and into the kitchen.Beneath the warm pendantlights,Ava finally saw the woman clearly.Her face hosted gaunt features, sunken cheeks,and black rings around her eyes. Her skin was pockmarked with scabs, divots,and scars. Her rumpled T-shirt hung loose on the emaciated form beneath. In the light, irritated track marks painted a clearer picture of the woman’s life.

“What’s going on? Who is she,” Ava asked. Her burning stare bore into Will, demanding an answer.

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