Page 68 of Along Came Amor
“The gossip, the teasing, the judgment. And when it’s over, theyneverlet you forget about it.” She slashed a hand through the air for emphasis.
Ah. He was starting to see what the problem was. They’d barely even begun, yet Ava had already raced down Worst Case Scenario Boulevard to where they were broken up. He needed to bring her back to the present.
“Is that what this is about?” He kept his tone gentle. “You’re worried about the aftermath?”
“Of course I am! Do you know what happened after I told them Hector was leaving me?” She plowed on before he couldsay anything, continuing to pace back and forth in quick, angry strides. “My grandmother reacted like the apocalypse was coming. Like we all had to go into survival mode because I was both husbandless and childless. Hector’s mother called me every day crying about how sadshewas, and my sister-in-law sent me no less than a dozen phone numbers for couples therapists. My great-aunt told me to apologize for whatever I’d done so he’d take me back, whilehisaunt told me cheating is a normal part of marriage and I should stop making a fuss. Like the divorce wasmyidea.”
Roman’s hands balled into fists as he pictured what she described, but he tamped down his response.
“I hate that you went through that,” he said carefully. “And we’re going to come back to it later. But what does that have to do withus?”
“If they knew about you...” She shook her head, cutting the comment short. “No. I can’t go through that again. We’re done.”
She was so beautiful in her cheerful yellow dress, pacing the room like an anxious daffodil, that it took a moment for her words to sink in. When they did, panic flared. “What do you mean,done?”
“Whatever we were doing, it’s over. I can’t see you again. Not... not like this.”
His first internal gut reaction wasNo. No, they couldn’t be over.
But it was true they’d never made any commitments to each other. In fact, this whole thing had been founded on a lack of commitment.No strings, no feelings. At the time, that had been an easy promise to make. Now?
Hedidhave feelings. Feelings forher. And he knew he wasn’t the only one who’d gotten attached. She cared more than she was letting on, but fear was getting the better of her, and now she was ready to toss it all away.
Ava turned to leave. “I need to get back to the party.”
So Roman played the only card he had left.
“Why did you text me?”
When she paused at the door, he went on.
“You said you wanted to see me. Something happened, didn’t it?”
Her shoulders tightened and she didn’t answer, but he already knew. Something must have triggered her need for her coping mechanism. If that’s all he was to her, well, all relationships had to start somewhere.
“What do you need, Ava?” He lowered his voice to a seductive growl. “Do you needme?”
Her back heaved like she was breathing hard, then she spun around to face him. “Yes, damn it. I do.”
The words were a fierce whisper, as if she were scared to say them out loud, but they were all Roman needed to hear.
Striding forward, he caught her in his arms. Her eyes were wild as she strained against him, fisting her hands in his lapels and tugging him closer. Propelled by the thick tension surrounding them, he gave them both what they wanted and crushed his mouth down on hers.
It was always passionate when they were together, always hot, but this level of desperation and intensity was new. They’d never kissed like this, like she would consume the very essence of his soul if she could, like the world could end at any moment.
He fucking loved it.
“I need you,” Ava panted between kisses. “Now, Roman. I need you now.”
“You have me,” he growled, spinning her to face the door. “Anytime, anywhere.”
He hiked up her dress, grabbing fistfuls of fabric in his haste. Her palms pressed to the door and she arched her hips toward him. He was glad he’d started carrying condoms in his wallet.
Something told him to hurry, that if he took too long, she’d start second guessing the entire situation and run away. Better to make sure her mind was otherwise occupied.
Crouching behind her, he tugged her panties down and helped her step out of them. After tucking them into his pocket, he skimmed his hands up her legs, loving the look of them in her high red sandals. The heels made her a smidge taller than he was, which was sexy as hell. He pressed kisses to the backs of her knees and thighs, and nipped at her ass cheek before parting her so he could see her bare pussy.
“You need this?” he asked, brushing his thumb over her folds. “From me?”
