Your Irresistible Love (19 page)

“Let’s.”

“Uh, I just realized I don’t have a bikini.”

“There is one in my closet somewhere.”

“You have a woman’s bikini in your closet?”

My hand is over her breast and I swear I feel her heart stop for a second.

“It’s Pippa’s. She bought it a few months back so she can swim when she’s here, but she hasn’t used it yet.” 

Her body goes lax underneath me. “Sorry. I’m silly.”

“No, you’re not.” I trace her lips with my fingers. “But do you really think I’d tell you to wear the bikini of a woman I’ve slept with?”

She shrugs. “A man once tried to convince me that the thong I found in his pocket belonged to me. It had glitter on it. I
hate
glitter.”

“He was a jerk.” A vein pulses in my neck at the thought that anyone dared to hurt and humiliate her; that they didn’t appreciate how wonderful she is. I do, and I will make sure to let her know every damned day.

“Yeah, he was. I figured most men are.”

“I’m not most men.”

“I see that.” She smiles, this time coyly, and I lower myself to kiss her. Ava pushes her body into me, but she’s not looking for a sexual response, just reassurance. This is one of the rare moments—like when I overdosed her with Tylenol—when she lets the vulnerable part of her show. At least her body does. I know she won’t admit that aloud. Yet. I’ll earn her trust. I don’t want her to feel like she has to hide anything from me.

After we pull apart, we go upstairs. She puts the bikini on, I jump into swimming shorts, and then we go outside.

“I can’t believe you have your own swimming pool. Why do you ever leave your home?”

“Work?”

“Oh yeah, that.”

Facing the pool, she raises her arms, closing her eyes. “I love the wind,” she announces unnecessarily, because I can read it on her sweet face. She enjoys it like it’s an expensive wine or caviar.

It’s refreshing to be around someone who finds happiness in such small things. Other women would’ve snorted at the idea of a weekend in. Who wants to stay in when there is a hot, expensive restaurant opening? Or so many shops she could hit? I remember those days as if they happened in another life. Fake, meaningless. No matter how much I gave a woman, it wasn’t enough. Her birthday? A new car was in order or diamonds as expensive as a car. I didn’t mind, not at all. I’m glad to share and make a woman happy, but I’d never dreamed women only wanted from me the luxury my money could buy.

Ava wants me, and in a few short months, I’ll have to let her go.

I enter the water first, and she follows.

“Gaaaaaah,” Ava exclaims. “The water is freezing. Fuck.”

I don’t get the rest of the sentence because her teeth are chattering. I hurry to her, wrapping my arms around her as she presses her breasts against me.

“The water is a bit chilly. It’s not freezing.” I try not to laugh at her, really, I do; but I end up laughing anyway.

“Yeah, a thousand degrees chillier than I expected. Why didn’t you tell me?” She looks at me accusingly, but all it does is make me want to kiss her. I rub her back and arms.

“You’ll be warmer in a sec.”

“Yeah, right.” Despite her protest, she lays her head on my shoulder as I continue to rub her. After a few minutes, she says, “That’s better.”

“If you swim, it’ll be even better.”

We end up swimming for hours, intermingled with lying in the sun and fooling around like we’re teenagers. That’s what I love most about Ava. She makes me forget who I am.

“I’m hungry,” I announce at lunch.

“Me too. Let’s shower.”

***

Ava showers first, and then I do. She’s sitting on the bed punching a pillow when I come out of the shower.

“Why are you beating the crap out of that pillow?”

“I’m not; I’m picking my hair off it. Sorry, I didn’t realize I left hair everywhere, including your pillow.”

“Well, you should be sorry for hijacking my pillow in the first place.” I hug her from behind, wrapping my arms around her waist and pressing my crotch in her delicious ass.

“Like you minded.” She turns to face me with a devilish grin. “You slept on my boobs.”

“Men are resourceful in times of need. You didn’t just take my pillow. You hijacked the entire bed.”

Her mouth forms an O. “I did not.”

“I should’ve taken a picture. You practically kicked me out of the bed. You did that in your apartment, too.”

“I won’t believe that unless you show me proof.” She pinches her nose, frowning. “I’m getting really hungry. You don’t want to argue with me when I’m hungry. Will you cook again?”

Tilting my head, I laugh against the soft skin of her shoulder.

“So, the princess wants to be spoiled. What do you want to eat?”

“I get to pick?”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t care what I eat, really. As long as you cook naked.”

“Feisty, I like it.”

With her hand in mine, I make my way to the living room.

“I’ll grill us something,” I say.

“Cool. I want to help. Give me stuff to do.”

“Nah, stay there and look pretty. It’ll be safer for both of us.”

She squints, breaking into a grin. “So you think I’m pretty?”

Wiggling my eyebrows, I say, “Very. Especially when you’re naked, like now.”

The grill is on the terrace, so we move there as I prepare the meat. We also throw on robes, because the breeze isn’t too forgiving. As I watch her savoring every bite, I can’t help grinning. I become intoxicated with her enthusiasm and good mood.

“This is the best food ever.” Sighing dramatically, she adds, “You are perfect. Can I keep you?”

“Which part of me, my cooking skills or my mad in-bed skills?”

She looks up at me from between her lashes, offering me a seductive smile. “I’ll have to wait to see what other skills you have before I decide.”

After we finish eating, I ask, “Do you want to go to your place to get some clothes?”

I register a strange surprise in her eyes. She turns her back, pretending to clean the table, and I can’t gauge her reaction anymore.

“You want me to stay here the whole weekend?” she asks.

“Of course I do. I’m not nearly done with spoiling you.”

“Okay.”

Hooking my arms around her waist, I rest my head in the crook of her neck, inhaling her sweet woman scent.

“Move in here,” I find myself saying. She freezes in my arms, and if I’m honest, I’m doing some freezing myself. Well, now it’s out there, and it feels damn right. “I want to know you—all of you. I can’t get enough of you.”

She fidgets in my arms, her ass pressing against me.

“Sebastian. . .”

I breathe out in relief, because there’s no protest in her voice, just confusion. Well, since I’m already on a slippery slope, to hell with it. Here goes nothing. Wrapping my arms tighter around her, I whisper against her neck, trailing up to her ear. “I like waking up next to you, and having you here. I like your hair on my pillow, and even getting kicked out of the bed. If I had it my way, I’d spend every minute with you from now until you have to leave.”

“Me too.” The confession comes like a mouthful of fresh air. Damn it, why does this feel so good and so right?

Finally, she turns to face me. The mix of emotions in her eyes mirrors my exact feelings. This is uncharted territory for both of us.

“But I’ll keep my apartment.”

“Sure. Your boss has to believe you live there.”

***

We return from her apartment late in the afternoon. The woman owns
a lot
of clothes, and I grew up with three sisters. At sunset, I grab my woman, a bottle of wine, and two glasses, and we sit outside, watching the sky.

“This is hands down the best view of the sunset ever. It should be in one of those guides for tourists. Great house, great view,” Ava comments.

“Hmmm, could this be the best because you’re in my arms?”

“Oh yeah, that too. Better not put it in the tourist guide though. Wouldn’t want visitors expecting this. I don’t like to share.” She shudders lightly in my arms, and I hug her more.

“You won’t have to share me, Ava. Don’t worry about that.”

“I do worry. That I’m not enough.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I wasn’t enough for my exes. If I was, they wouldn’t have done what they did.” She pastes a smile on her face, like it’s a joke, but I can see right through her.

“Ava.” I cup her head in my hands. “Any man who doesn’t spoil you every day doesn’t deserve you.”

“That applies to every man except you.” She giggles.

I grin, towering over her, and drag my knuckles lightly over her cheeks before kissing her. This sweet woman, with a body made for sin and a smile to match. She’s barely moved in, and I already dread the day she’ll leave.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Ava

The next three weeks go by in a blink of an eye, or so it seems. There’s plenty to do at the office—which I am used to. What I am not used to is coming home and not being alone. Since the Bennetts found out I moved in with Sebastian, they find an excuse to drop by every other evening.

Like the eternal pessimist I am, I keep waiting for the fairy tale to end. If something is too good to be true, it probably is—that’s what Mom always said. The trouble? Sebastian’s more amazing with each passing day, and his skills in bed are unmatched. Seriously. This man can do things with his mouth that should be illegal. Okay, so maybe fairy tale wasn’t the right name for this.

Unless it’s the adult version, that is.

“Sebastian, stop, or I’ll be late,” I say, without much conviction in my voice. He smiles against my swollen flesh and lifts his mouth. He keeps his finger on my clit, applying pressure.

“You’re the one who said you want to be woken up like this every morning,” he whispers in my ear as I dig my fingers in his back, my breath frantic. Tension builds inside me. My hands roam over the hard lines on his naked torso, his manly scent overwhelming me. 

“I don’t, thiwatonow,” I babble, spectacularly aware of all my nerve endings. The rhythmic movement of his finger ignites me.

“I love it when you forget English.”

That’s when I come. Hard and fast. I plant my heels in the mattress, bucking against his strong hand. He captures my orgasm in a kiss, holding me close to him until my breathing and heart rate slow down.

“Good morning,” Sebastian says.

When I’m certain I can string coherent words together, I say, “Good morning to you too, handsome.” Supporting himself on his forearms and knees, he towers over me. “I really need to shower and go meet your sister.” It’s Saturday morning, and Pippa and I scheduled a girls’ day out for today.

“You’re taking advantage of me, you know that?” he asks, tracing my lower lip with his thumb.

“And I’m enjoying every minute of it.”

I shower quickly, putting on a light green dress. When I arrive in the living room, Sebastian’s talking on the phone. He has his business face on. I catch the word
senator
, and grin. Yes! This is Sebastian Bennett, ladies and gentlemen. Wakes me up with an orgasm, and then talks senators into doing whatever he wants. More proof that his mouth is magic. 

Tiptoeing around the place, I make myself a sandwich and eat it, then strap my sandals on. Sebastian catches up with me as I’m about to leave the apartment.

“You’re taking over my family.” Hooking his arms around my waist, he pulls me to him for a kiss. He lightly brushes my lips, but he’s only wearing boxers, and being this close to his bare chest is a dangerous endeavor. I might end up not leaving, after all.

“Does it bother you?”

“Well, I’m a greedy bastard and want you all to myself.”

“You know what I mean.”

“No, Ava, why would it bother me? You’re not my dirty little secret. Even though you can be dirty in bed.”

“I thought you liked it,” I say shyly.

He pushes me against the door, spreading my legs with his knees. In a quick move, he pins my hands above my head. “I love it when you’re feisty. You look at me like there isn’t anyone else in the world you’d rather be with.”

“Well, there isn’t,” I say truthfully.

“I’d better let you go, beautiful.”

“You call me beautiful a lot.”

“It’s true.”

“Mmmm. . .” He plants a soft kiss on me and lets my hands go, caressing my shoulders. Sebastian doesn’t just say those things, he makes me feel them by the way he looks at and touches me. He worships my skin and my lips.

When we break apart, he says, “Have fun.”

“Jealous you’re not joining us?”

Sebastian steps back, finally leaving me free to move from the door. “It’s a girls’ day out. Enjoy it. Besides, I have a hunch Pippa’s going to take you to her favorite interior design shop. I love my sister, but spending more than five minutes there makes me want to punch someone.”

I grin. “She did mention she wants to go there. Do you want me to buy anything?”