Page 34 of Along Came Amor
“I just... want to make it clear what we’re doing here,” she said, but the huskiness in her tone gave her away. “I don’t expect anything from you. And as for me—”
Her breath hitched as he brushed his fingertips over her folds. When she didn’t continue, he paused. “You were saying?”
Her eyelids fluttered. “I don’t remember.”
He pressed soft kisses to her shoulder, nuzzling her hair and inhaling the faint scent of orange blossoms. “You want to know what I think?”
She leaned into him and tipped her head back to rest against his chest. “What?”
“I think...” He drew his fingers up to swirl them over her clit. “...that we are two consenting adults who enjoy each other’s company, and if we want to get together occasionally for mind-blowing sex, then we should.”
“Exactly.” She sounded relieved. “I’m glad you understand.”
“There’s only two things I want from you.”
Her eyes went wary. “And those are?”
He bit back a smile. Had she really thought he would let her set the terms without a little negotiation? Who did she take him for?
“One: you let me make all the arrangements and pamper you.”
She sucked in a breath, probably to complain, but at his raised eyebrow, her lips settled into an adorable pout. “Fine. But don’t go overboard. What’s the second thing?”
“That you believe me when I say I like every part of you.” He slipped his middle finger inside her, finding her soft and dewy. “Even the wet bits.Especiallythe wet bits.”
She uttered a gentle groan, her body going pliant against him. He worked his finger back and forth in her tight heat, teasing her. “Do you believe me?”
When she nodded, he added a second finger.
“Mmm, I do believe—oh! One more thing.”
He nuzzled her neck. “You drive a hard bargain, lady. What’s your one more thing?”
“I don’t...” She let out a little whimper as he began to pump his fingers faster. “I don’t think we should communicate. In between our, um, meetings. I’ll reach out to you, and if you’re free, we’ll—”
“Do this?” He picked up the pace, fucking her with his hand.
“Yesss.” It was more of a moan than a word. And after that, it was the only word she said for some time.
After round two, she lay against his side with her head on his chest.
“You know,” she said softly, “I’m not up front like this with anyone else in my life.”
“No?” He tucked her curls behind her ear so he could seeher face. Her eyes were closed, and she was the perfect picture of relaxation.
She shook her head, and the curls sprang free. “With you, I can do the opposite of whatever I’d normally do. It’s refreshing.”
“Why me? How am I different?”
He tensed, waiting to hear her reasoning. He’d once had a woman he was dating tell him she didn’t see him as a real person because he was rich. As if having money—something he’d come to later in life—meant he didn’t have feelings.
“You’re easy to talk to,” Ava mused, idly tracing the outline of one of his nipples with her index finger. “And it’s probablybecauseyou have no connection to anyone else I know. It means I can come to you when... when I need to.”
“Happy to be of service,” he murmured.
So, Ava wasn’t using him for his money, or his business, or for fame. But shewasusing him as a coping mechanism.
It rankled a bit, but Roman couldn’t really blame her. He didn’t know what it was like to be divorced, didn’t know how he’d navigate the emotional aftermath if he were in that situation. He’d had business ventures fail, but that wasn’t the same thing.
