Page 92 of Sawyer

“This is better.”

“Much better. Now would you sit the fuck down?”

“Let me help you set out the food first?—”

“Sit.” I point to the blanket.

She tilts her head. “Sawyer, you’ve already done so much.”

“Ava, you started this date with my dick in your mouth. You’ve earned your rest, so sit your free-spirited self the fuck down.”

She laughs. “You really areveryrude.”

“Yes ma’am, I am. Now sit, or so help me …”

She looks at me. I look back. I’m gripped by the fierce urge to grab her. Kiss her. Make her come again.

She got emotional a little while back. I don’t mind that. What I do mind is people lying about what they’re feeling. Covering up that shit, or sweeping it under the rug.

Ava, though, came right out with it. Her honesty, her vulnerability, is a nice change of pace. It’s also the world’s biggest turn-on. If she wasn’t starving and clearly in need of some food, I’d definitely be inside her right now.

I never knew I had this kind of stamina until I met Ava Bartlett. I barely need any time at all to recover when we’re together.

I wonder if your dick reallycanfall off from fucking too much. Guess I’m about to find out.

Rolling her eyes, Ava finally sits. “But I’m helping you clean up.”

“No you’re not,” I call over my shoulder as I head for the truck.

Patsy let me borrow a big wicker picnic basket, which I grab from my truck along with the reusable wine carrier Wyatt filled with several bottles that, his words, “are so good that they’ll definitely get you laid.”

He waved me away when I told him I didn’t need help in that department. “No pressure, but Ava’s a gem. Don’t fuck this up.”

Gotta love my brother for telling it like it is. He’s changed so damn much in the past few months, and it’s for the better.

I set everything down on the blanket. Then I run back to the car and grab my rifle from underneath the seat. Ava eyes it as I return to the fireside.

“Just in case,” I explain, double-checking that the safety is on before setting it down beside me. “We spotted a bear earlier this week. But it was about ten miles east of here, so it shouldn’t be anything to worry about.”

Ava’s eyes glimmer, reflecting the light of the growing fire. “That’s not terrifying at all.”

“I’m a good shot.” I pluck a corkscrew from the wine bag. “You wanna start with white or red?”

“Oooh, red, please.”

I open the bottle Wyatt told me to start with. Apparently you always drink the best wine first, because you remember it the most. A couple of glasses in, you might not care as much.

Or, in my case, you might be naked with your date by that point, so really, who gives a fuck what bottle you’re on?

Hold your horses, you horny bastard.

I’m wildly attracted to Ava. No question about that. Of course I want to fuck her tonight, preferably multiple times.

More than that, though, I want to get to know her. Learn her. Who she is, where she’s from, what her story is. Why she felt the need to bury her true self. The time we have together tonight—alone—is precious. As much as I wanna put my head between her thighs and stay there, we should talk.

I want to talk. Mostly because Ava makes me laugh. She also makes me feel like I can do no wrong. Conversation with her is effortless. Fun.

She also keeps it real.

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