Page 73 of Beautifully Broken
“I’m always happy to give you my full attention and learn more about you.” The backs of his knuckles gently brush my cheek. “I’ll bring dinner over for us. Will Adam, Lauren, and your brother be around?” I know he’s asking about food inventory for my family. He’s not hinting to see if we have the place to ourselves. Braiden would show up with extra food since he reallyisthat amazing of a person.
“It’ll be just us. I’m fine cooking or picking something up.” I giggle, but I seriously appreciate him. “You don’t have to always be the one feeding me.”
“Iwantto take care of you, Ava Rose. I enjoy spending time and money on you.”
Once again, he has me swooning. But then my phone dings, reminding me of why I’m here.
“Have fun at practice. I’ll see you tonight, lovebug.” His lips meet mine, and my heart picks up pace. Too soon, he pulls away with a smirk, knowing exactly how he’s made me feel.
And now, I’m even more determined to work through this.
Chapter 4
Braiden
Removing the keys from the ignition, I wait before heading to Ava Rose’s door. The strong smell of salty ocean air filters through the window, calming my nerves. She looked uneasy this morning when she asked me to come over. Her breathing picked up like it did the other day when we began to fool around. I’m not sure if I should prepare myself for the worst, or act like she’s just gonna tell me a cute but embarrassing childhood story. I don’t even know what the worst could be, but this is psyching me out more than being on the starting block at the Olympics. Whatever she’s willing to share, it’s personal. Grabbing her favorite sushi order from the passenger seat, I step out and praise mother nature for the lack of wind. It’s a beautiful warm night on an ocean cliff across from San Francisco.
A perfect night with my perfect girl.
Quiet pop tunes bring my attention to the backyard, where I find Ava lying on a chair by the pool, absorbed in a book. My eyes immediately fixate on her perfect ass as she’s positioned on her stomach. I’ve never seen this thong bikini, and as much as I love being around her family, I’m thankful they’re gone so I can really enjoy the view. My cock hardens from her teasing bottom, but that’s not why I’m here. Setting our sushi on the outdoor bar, I walk over, my shadow covering her as her book quickly closes.
“Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you, lovebug.”
She peeks over her shoulder before turning onto her back. My eyes fight to stay on hers instead of roaming down to her full breasts, the dip of her waist, and lower to her muscular legs I desperately want wrapped around my head.
She’s worth the wait, however long that may be.
“You’re good. I don’t startle easily.” She sits, taking my hand to I help her up. Arms wrap around my neck while she pushes her sun-warmed body against mine. She moans, flexing her hips into my cock. “My new bikini cause that?”
“You in a messy bun and sweatpants can cause that.” Grinning, I lean down, kissing her softly, but tug on her bottom lip before pulling away. “But yes, you’re a delicious smokeshow in this.”
Her stomach grumbles, making me chuckle.
“I brought sushi.”
Eyes lighting up, she kisses my lips quickly. “Mmm. You’re the best.”
I’ve learned Ava inhales her sushi as if she’s been deprived of it for decades, and tonight is no different. I keep quiet as the ocean waves act as a soundtrack to our thoughts. I don’t want to initiate the mystery topic as we finish eating, but now that she’s fed and looks relaxed, I begin with something general.
“Did you manage to get through that paper you were struggling with the other day?”
She was vague about the topic, but said it meant a lot to her and solidified the direction of her career.
“I handled it, and I think I’ll be getting a great grade.” She smiles softly as her eyes tell me she’s holding something back. “Summer classes are tiring, but I’ll be thrilled to graduate early.”
“What was the paper about again?”
She hops off the barstool and nods toward the pool. “I turned up the heat this morning, so it’ll feel like a bathtub if the cool breeze kicks in.”
“Always thoughtful.” I follow her into the water, knowing floating around helps her relax and collect her thoughts. It’s my solace too. “Does this mean you decided what law sector you want to specialize in?” I rephrase my question for a final time. She’s mentioned wanting to become an injury lawyer but still didn’t feel like it was fulfilling enough.
There’s a short nod as her eyes swing to the right, debating about how to answer or if she even will.
“I’d love to specialize in sexual assault cases.” A nervous laugh follows her statement as she sinks farther into the water. “Winning cases in that field would bring me so much satisfaction, but also, it’s a heavy topic for people to deal with.”
“I’m proud of you.” My arms open, pushing water behind me as I casually lean back. “Sounds like you put a lot of thought behind it, and you’re right, it takes a strong person to handle cases like that.” As my hands reach the pool wall, I give her some space to talk, but she comes closer.
“Yeah. I know I could handle it, though.” She’s chewing her cheek like she wants to elaborate, and I fight like hell to keep my composure, wondering if my thoughts about what she’s possibly endured are being confirmed.
