Page 66 of Never Will I Ever

The tips of my fingers inch closer to his crease, still over the soaking wet fabric clinging to his sculpted ass. His grip on my shoulders tightens when I gently slide them up and down his crack while allowing my mouth to explore his neck. Hisbreathing kicks up a notch too, and at first I think it’s the desire causing him to hold on for dear life. But when the cords in his neck tense beneath my lips too, I recognize it as another emotion entirely.

Fear.

Freezing my ministrations instantly, I lift my gaze to collide with his once I manage to drag my mouth away from his icy skin.

“You good?” I pant, giving him a quick once-over.

I feel his cock twitch, and while his dick may have an obvious answer to my question, it’s clear from the tension now lining his body, his mind may disagree.

“Why would you think I’m not?”

Because your body feels like a rubber band ready to snap, for one.

“Just making sure,” I reply, holding his gaze. “Have you ever—”

“What? Had sex?” Avery bites out, taking my thought and running in his own direction with it. “Because, yes, I have. Obviously.”

I roll my lips inward in a piss-poor attempt to hide my amusement, particularly about theobviouslypart. It’s quickly become apparent that nothing is as it seems when it comes to Avery Reynolds.

“I was gonna ask about anal play, but I’m glad to hear you’ve swiped your V-card. Congratulations, by the way.”

I can’t stop the smart-ass comment from slipping out, and honestly, teasing him might not be the best move right now. In fact, there’s a huge likelihood for it to backfire, sending us straight back to where we were a couple weeks ago.

But if it can decrease his apparent anxiety by even a fraction, then I guess it’s worth the risk.

“Oh.” His cheeks take on a slight shade of pink as his teeth worry his lower lip. “No, I haven’t. But I have a feeling you already knew that.”

“Suspected,” I murmur softly. “But it doesn’t have to go any further than this, especially if we’re just gonna end up in a weird place after.”

His eyes snap back to mine, hardening to ice in an instant. “If you’re just gonna assume I’ll regret it, then maybe you’re right; we shouldn’t do this.”

Wait, what?

While I’m busy trying to catch up with his line of thought, he attempts to get out of my hold. I don’t let him go though, tightening my arms around him and keeping his body firmly pressed to mine.

This is what he does, I’ve come to realize.

He gets in his head and lashes out in the moments where he feels his control over a situation starting to slip. Like a caged animal terrified of being backed into a corner, he’s willing to do what it takes to get free. Most of the time, that means fighting his way out.

But it’s about time he stops reverting back to that instinct.

“Could you just chill for five seconds without taking everything I say to an extreme?” I challenge, pinning him with a hard stare. “I was asking because I don’t want to push past a boundary you’re not comfortable with. Not because I’m judging you for what you may or may not lack in experience.”

The frustration in his stare starts to thaw, icy gaze becoming pools of the sky’s reflection once again. It’s fascinating, watching it melt away before my eyes. Feeling the tension lining his body slowly release as he relaxes in my hold.

“You’re right.”

I blink, unable to stop a smirk from forming. “I’m sorry, what was that? I didn’t quite hear you.”

“I’m not saying it again,” he mutters, the definition of indignation.

A laugh bubbles up from me now that the tension has easedagain.

Avery Reynolds, always having to be the most stubborn one in the room.

I don’t let it deter me, though, and I slowly slide my fingers beneath his underwear until the pads brush over the top of his crease.

“Now that we’ve established that, I’m gonna ask you again. Are you good with this?”

---