Page 106 of Seduction in Spades

“He’s used to late nights.” I don’t mean to sound so surly, but I’d rather Avery focuses her concern on me and not Ryder, who I’m sure charmed her twenty-four-seven.

“You should still check in on him while I make us food. You need to rest your stitches anyway.”

At least she still cares about me, if only as a second thought.

I grab a seat on a stool and send Ryder a text. I don’t expect a reply for a few hours. Most likely, he didn’t get to Boston until five. Three hours of sleep is not enough to run on, even for me.

Immediately, my phone vibrates in my hand.

Ryder:Be still my heart. You’re thinking of me when you should be naked with your woman right now. She asked about me, didn’t she? Avery dumping your ugly ass for someone who can grill her a filet mignon to perfection and whip up a chocolate mousse meant to be licked off her body?

I roll my eyes. Why the hell did I text him? Oh, yeah, because he saved my ass and took care of my girl. I owe him, but I won’t tell him that or it will make his head even bigger.

Nolan:It’s a pity check-in since you’re not getting laid and I am.

It’s a semi-lie. I’ll get laid eventually. Hopefully. Not that I’m going to rush our sexual relationship. Not when there’s a lot of healing left to be done between Avery and me. And more than the physical.

Avery peers over my shoulder and snorts. “What’s with you two and the sex talk? If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you two have the hots for each other.”

“Trust me. My hots are one hundred percent for you.”

“Maybe. The bromance is pretty hot and heavy though.”

I hook my arm around her waist and pull her close, trapping her between my thighs. “This is where I would normally insert a hot and heavy sexual innuendo.”

“But...?”

“But we’re starting over.”

“Is that what we’re doing?”

“I think so. I’d like to.”

“I don’t know.” She runs her nails on the back of my neck and through my short, cropped hair. “I really like how we started.”

I squeeze my thighs around her. “I do too, but I’d like to erase the past few weeks.”

“I don’t.”

“Avery.” I skim my hands up her legs and rest them on her hips. “I was an asshole to you.”

“Yes. We agreed on that already. But that’s part of this, isn’t it? The dating and getting-to-know-you stuff? The good and the bad.”

“Yes and no. There’s a learning curve involved in relationships, but that’s no excuse for how I treated you.”

“You were a dickhead. You had your reasons, and I understand them, but you were still a dickhead. You’re also remorseful and genuine in your apology. I accept it and forgive you. Let’s move on.”

“That easy, huh?” I slip my fingers under her sweatshirt and skim them across her skin.

“Not easy at all. I’m new to this dating thing. Maybe I forgave too easily, but that’s on me if it comes back to bite me in the ass.”

“The only biting on your ass will be with my mouth.”

We spend the rest of the afternoon hiking and talking about trivial things like the weather, favorite cookies, and favorite body parts. Avery shared a lot this morning, and I’m proud of her.

We tiptoe the flirting line and avoid the bedroom. While my cock wants nothing more than to be buried deep inside her, it won’t help the rebuilding of our relationship. Or actually admitting we’re in one. Because, fuck, we are. I’m not letting her go again.

I make grilled cheese sandwiches and soup for dinner while she packs her things in the other room. After our simple meal, we load our bags into my car and start the drive back to Boston. We’re quiet for a while until she breaks the silence.

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