Page 64 of Pretty Relentless

“I love it.Ghostbusterswas one of my favorites when I was young. My dad and I used to watch it a lot. That andThe Karate Kid.”

“Classics,” I reply, pulling the baked bread and lasagna out of the oven. Carefully, I take them both to the table and cut servings. “I was a huge fan ofDays of ThunderandTop Gunwhen I was little.” I scoop a piece of lasagna for Ava and take two for myself. The bread I cut into thin strips, which is Annabelle’s preferred way of eating it. It takes longer to cut but it’s so much easier to eat.

“Oh, my dad definitely watched those. This looks and smells so good,” she replies, placing a napkin on her lap.

Joining her at the table, I prepare to dig in. “Let’s eat.”

I’m not paying an ounce of attention to the show. Don’t get me wrong, I’m staring at the TV, but instead of watching the drama unfold on the screen, I’m thinking about the woman currently sitting beside me, snuggled into my side, and resting comfortably beneath my arm. We fit together so easily, naturally, contentedly.

I could get used to this feeling every night at the end of a long day.

About an hour into the program, Ava shifts against me. “Gavin?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you watching this?”

I open my mouth to lie, to tell her I am, but that’s not what comes out. “Well…”

Our eyes meet, and I can not only see the fire blazing in those brown orbs, but I can feel their heat. She’s moving,crawling on my lap and straddling my thighs, just as she did in my truck a couple weeks back. Only this time, we have plenty of freedom to move. “I wasn’t really watching it either,” she confesses.

“Why not? I thought you really wanted to see it,” I reply, my hands flexing against her hips as I hold her in place. I’m certain she can feel my quickly growing erection pressed between her thighs.

“I was, but then…”

“Then…” I repeat, wanting to hear her say the words. The last thing I want is to make wrong assumptions, so if she wants this thing between us to move to the next step, she’s going to have to ask.

She exhales slowly and whispers, “And then I was snuggled against you, and I couldn’t stop thinking about that bed.”

The corner of my mouth ticks. “My bed, huh? What about it?” I ask.

Ava rocks her hips, grinding on my cock, that invisible thread tethering us together tightening. “It looked so big and inviting when we were in there earlier. Perfect for cuddling.”

Her short nails dig into my chest through my long-sleeved T-shirt. “Definitely worth exploring,” I bite out through gritted teeth as she wiggles on my lap.

Leaning forward, she brushes her lips across my own. “I’m ready, Gavin. I don’t want to wait any longer.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive,” she murmurs before pressing her mouth firmly against mine and opening.

My tongue slips inside, tasting, as it glides with hers, and my hands cup her ass, holding on tight as she rocks against me. She whimpers as our movements create sweet friction between us, driving us both absolutely wild. And while I’d love nothingmore than to hear her come, feel her let go above me, I have more planned for the rest of our night.

Pulling back, I ask again, “You’re sure? We can do other things without sex.”

Her fingers slip into my hair as she presses her chest firmly against mine. “I want to be with you, Gavin. I’ve thought about nothing but feeling you inside of me all day. Well, all week really.”

I can’t help but smile at her confession. “I like this bolder version of you, Miss Rutledge.”

She gives me a sassy little grin herself. “I’m becoming rather fond of her myself, Mr. Pierson.”

And with that, I’m moving. I stand up, holding her against my chest. Ava wraps her legs around my waist as I head toward my bedroom. The moment I cross the threshold, I walk to my bed and gently lay her on top of my comforter. She looks like a fucking goddess, her red hair splayed out across my pillow and her breasts rising and falling as she breathes deeply. Her eyes are filled with desire, with hope, excitement, and maybe a hint of nervousness.

I know I have to make her feel at ease, to feel good, give her pleasure, and there’s nothing I want more than to do all of the above. To be the man who makes her forget her own name and leaves her completely spent and boneless. To make her come so hard, she’ll never remember what it was like to be with anyone but me.

I’m the man for the job.

“May I take these off?” I ask, waiting for her to nod yes before I remove her clothes. I start with her jeans and sweater, leaving her lying on my bed in her light blue bra and panty set. They’re silky and soft, with a thin layer of lace over the top, and I’ve never seen anything sexier in my life.

---