Page 273 of Heartache Duet

I try to hide my disappointment, but fail, because I can’t fake it when I say, “I had to shoot my shot, right?”

Her hand comes up, palming the back of my neck, and before I know what’s happening, she’s pulling me down to her, whispering, “Come here,” as she does, and then she kisses me. And there’s no pause in her kiss like there was in mine. No hesitation. Her mouth opens, her tongue searching mine and when they meet, a million fireflies collide, lighting up the night sky, filling my lungs with magic. I curl my hands around her waist, lift her off her feet, and break the kiss just long enough to sit on the couch, her hips straddling mine. I go back to kissing her again, drowning in the way she feels pressed against me, the way my palms run smoothly along her bare legs. She has her arms around my head, her fingers grasping my hair, pulling, and fuck, I’ve missed this. She jerks back, gasping for air, and I can’t get enough, so I go to her neck, taste her there, all while my hands drift up and down her thighs. I pause a beat, my hand edging beneath her dress, the edge of her underwear right at my fingertips. She pulls on my hair, tilting my head back, and captures my mouth. And just when I begin to lose myself again, she pulls away. “Maybe we should slow down?”

The only thing I can think to say is, “Huh?” Because I’m not really thinking. Obviously.

“Maybe we should wait.”

I drop my head on her shoulder, wait a moment for the blood to make its way back up to my brain. “I don’t know about you, but I’ve waited a year and a half for this.”

Her eyes roll. “As if you’ve been waiting.”

She’s delirious. She has to be. “I have.”

“Right.” She nods once. “So, you’re telling me you haven’t been with anyone since you and me?”

I lift my chin. “Yes.”

“I call bullshit.”

I adjust her on my lap, just enough so I can access the phone in my pocket. I dial Austin’s number, set it on speaker and hold it between us.

“Hey,” he answers.

“Yo, have I been with any girls since Ava?”

“Haven’t even looked at one. Why?”

I hang up, my eyebrows raised all: See? I told you so.

“Okay,” she says, with a brattish lilt to her tone.

“Why? Have you?” Before she gets a chance to respond, I cover her mouth. “Wait. Don’t answer that.”

Both her small hands clasp mine, and she lowers it for me. “I haven’t been with anyone.”

“Good.” I point between us. “Can we go back to what we were doing now?”

She bites her lip, nods as she murmurs, “Mmm-hmm.”

With her mouth open on mine, I ask, “Can I touch your butt?”

She laughs, and I breathe in the sound, let it warm me. “Yes. You can even touch the side of my boob if you want.”

“Fuck, yes.” I kiss her deeper. “It’s my lucky day.” My phone rings, and I grunt in frustration. Austin’s stupid face lights up my screen. “What?” I snap. Ava laughs into my neck, her hands flat on my stomach. She pushes down, grinding into me as she sucks hard on my neck. “You’re so fucking bad,” I whisper, grabbing a hand full of her ass to bring her closer to me.

“Why am I bad?” Austin asks.

Ava muffles her cackle on my shoulder.

“What’s up?” I say into the phone.

Austin replies, “Are you coming back tonight?”

I tug on Ava’s hair until I can see her face clearly and ask, “Am I going back tonight?”

She doesn’t skip a beat. “Nope.”

FIFTY

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