Page 35 of Avery's Hero

Turning us, I lay her back on the bench seat of my truck and settle between her legs. Our bodies are still pulsing. Propping myself on my elbows, I frame her face in my hand and look down into those endless pools of blue. I know what I want to see in them. Instead, I find they’re filled with uncertainty.

“Don’t pull back,”

Voice roughened, Avery says, “I wasn’t.”

“Truth. Always the truth between us. You don’t have to hide.” I brush my fingers along her temple, “Don’t pull back. Not now.”

After blinking a few times, her color starts to turn a deeper shade of pink. “I guess I was.”

“It’s okay. It’s a lot to take in at once.”

She sighs softly, and bites at her lip. “Too much.”

“Let’s get you dressed. See if we can act like two normal people for a couple of hours.”

A little smile tips her lips up. “We’re definitelynot normal.”

“Birds of a feather,” I lean down and press a kiss to her forehead.

She goes instantly still. “You kissed me.”

“I said I would, just not on the lips.”

“You’ve got such restraint.”

Laughing, I rise up on my hands, holding my torso above her. “It took everything I had not to come knocking on your door demanding answers a year ago.”

“What kept you from doing it?”

“My ego.”

“Really? That surprises me.”

Nodding, I watch her beautiful eyes as they catch the light from the nearby street post.

There’s uncertainty in her expression. “I’m not sure what I would have done if you did come looking for me.”

“We wouldn’t be having this problem right now if I had.”

“I would have never interviewed for a job where you work.”

I brush my knuckles over her perfect, smooth cheek. “We might be married by now, and you wouldn’t have to work.”

She stares at me, downright confusion in her eyes. “What in the world are you talking about?”

“If you’d marry me, you wouldn’t have to work.”

She pushes up on her elbows. “But I’d want to work. What else would I do?”

“Whatever you like.”

“This is the weirdest conversation ever.”

I slide back, and hold the condom as I ease myself from her tight center. A groan rattles around in my chest. “God, that was fucking unreal.”

“Wait, I’m not done with this conversation about marriage and work.”

She pushes up until she’s sitting on the seat as she searches for her clothes. I can see the look in her eye now and know she’s gone all cerebral. “Why would you say anything about marriage?”

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