Thawing Ava, page 10
She finished her third slice and rinsed off her plate. Nine o’clock and still no Brice. Not even a phone call and I’m the one that deserves a spanking? Her pussy tingled at the thought of Brice’s hand on her ass. Just the idea of his hands on her body brought back her arousal. He’d promised her that when he got home, they would be doing some bondage. She wanted to go through with it, but there was still the practical part of her that warned against it. The sex-starved vixen reasoned that she’d never get this opportunity again. Who, or rather when would she find someone so sexually compatible and unafraid to show affection in public?
Perry had hated to hold hands with her. Brice went for it without hesitation, initiating contact with her in public whether she was ready for it or not. The more time that passed, the more differences showed up between the two men that she couldn’t deny. Brice was nothing like her ex, that was for damn sure. Brice was open-minded, honest, accepting, and affectionate. Just having him hold her hand or wrap an arm around her waist sent a thrill and filled a hole she hadn’t realized was there. Ava hadn’t realized just how starved for affection she was. His desire was obvious to her, his confidence refreshing. He wasn’t arrogant or cocky; he was just sure.
As much as she tried to fight against her attraction, it was making her grumpy too. She didn’t want to deny herself this time and ignore her sexual instincts. Okay, for tonight I’ll allow it, but if it fucks up his game, no more. I’ll use a vibrator, she promised herself. Now that that had been decided, there was only one other thing to do: call Davis. She couldn’t avoid her brother forever.
She grabbed her cell phone and scrolled through her contacts. Ava chose his number and hoped he was asleep or his battery had died. She didn’t want to dissect her relationship with Perry with her brother. From day one Davis had called it on who Perry truly was as a person. Eating crow didn’t sit well with her.
He answered on the first ring. “Can’t talk now. We’ll do lunch tomorrow. Dinah’s, corner of Rose and Hedgewater. Use GPS. Later, Sis.”
Ava stared at the phone, the dial tone beeping through the speaker. “How the hell am I related to him?” she shouted to the empty apartment.
She turned her phone to vibrate and put it down. Irritation warred with affection. At least he didn’t sound pissed with her.
“Sometimes I wondered that too.” Brice’s voice, low and full of amusement, carried over to her from a few feet away. The clunk of keys hitting a hardwood surface echoed around the space.
She whirled around at how close Brice was to her.
“How did you… Are you a ninja?” How had she missed him? That door was too well oiled.
“Took martial arts when I was younger. Learned how to move quietly to eavesdrop on my older brother and his friends.” He gave her a mischievous grin. “God, I’m starving. So, pizza here?”
“In the oven.” She decided to bring up the issue of decorations right away. “Um, Brice, how’d you like the apartment to be decorated? And if it’s okay, I’d like to get a tree. Something small, I promise. I can do it while you’re at practice.” Ava waited for rejection.
He opened the oven and grabbed a slice. Brice answered without looking at her. “Sure. What’d you have in mind? I never decorate. Too busy with the season and other engagements. And I wasn’t going to say no, so why do you look like I was going to hit your puppy or something?”
She grinned. “Nothing insane. Just simple decoration, tinsel, lights, a tree. Leftover crap from Perry.”
“Don’t put up anything too high unless I’m here. I don’t want you to get hurt, okay? The ceiling is so fucking tall. I’m scared of the cleaning crew using ladders to clean up there because that’s a long fucking way down. Good for summer and if the AC conks out. Bad for winter and decorations. And I’m not Perry. Perhaps you need a reminder.” His eyes darkened to the color of a forest at dusk.
She shifted in her seat and looked down at the counter. “Okay, deal. So are you too tired for…?” She wasn’t sure she wanted to finish that sentence.
“Say it, Ava,” Brice ordered.
Heat flared in her face and prickled along her ears. She licked her lips. “Um, are you too tired for what you promised me?”
Brice shook his head, and her heart sank. “Ava, be explicit. Tell me what you want.”
“Do you want to tie me down on the bed and use sex toys on me?” He hadn’t talked about vibrators and dildos, but she decided to throw that in there and see if he’d be put off. Brice had mentioned that he wanted to watch her masturbate, to see how she liked it, but this was putting her pleasure completely at his control.
The room grew hotter, and the fireplace wasn’t even on. She toyed with her phone. His gaze weighed on her, caressing the column of her neck, swirling around her breasts, and slipping down her stomach to whisper against her thickened labia. She could feel his fingertips ghosting over her flesh.
“Look at me, Ava.” Brice’s voice was deep, dark, hardened with command.
She met his gaze. “Yes?”
“I told you before you never have to feel ashamed with me over your desires and needs. You have to be honest with me and me with you. Now using sex toys on you—do you want me to use the ones I have, or do you want to use yours?”
He had sex toys? “Why would you have sex toys?”
He chuckled and replied, “I always wanted to be prepared in case I found a lover with my interests. If we came back here, which was rare, if ever, I’d be ready. Good enough explanation?” He moved around the counter.
She reached out and gave his hand a squeeze. “Yes, and thank you for not getting defensive with my asking.”
“Another Perry thing?” His eyes narrowed, and anger flared briefly before it disappeared to be replaced by an emotion she couldn’t identify.
She nodded. “Yes, but I want to move on from there, do things I was denied, and finally acknowledge and give in to my desires.”
He cupped her cheek and gave it a stroke before he stepped back. “Good. Just let me take a shower, okay? Marsh talked me into a workout while analyzing my games. I feel like I’ve pushed myself so hard that I’ll need some massage therapy tomorrow. Sex will help, though.” He gave her a kiss on her cheek, finished his slice, then went into the bathroom.
Hope or nerves, she wasn’t sure which she felt more of. Elation and satisfaction filled her; finally, she’d have the sex she always wanted with a man who actually wanted to please her and who understood her sexually. Did she dare hope that Brice would give her all she needed? As much as she wanted to put all her pleasure-filled dreams on his shoulders, she couldn’t be the only one with desires in the bedroom.
They’d talked about her needs, but what about his? Would being with her and getting to do what they’d never done after Christmas really make up for all those years apart? Brice was gorgeous, sexy, and confident, a walking sexual dream just waiting to come true.
It could all work out, but only if they both kept an open mind. Despite her thoughts, doubts crept in, things Perry had instilled in her that she couldn’t deny. Would he think her too sexually adventurous if she did agree to bondage and domination on their first encounter? Maybe they should just try one thing at a time? Could they only do just one thing? Her head felt heavy with the door Brice had opened with their talk. Her tummy fluttered. Would Christmas end up being like their last one together, minus the sick part? They had a second chance. She didn’t want to blow it. The last five days had been wonderful getting to know him again, slipping into his world so easily. Sex was only a part of their issues. She had to understand why he’d been acting the way he had. Argh. Stop it, she ordered herself.
Trying to distract herself from when he’d come out of the shower wasn’t helping her state of mind either. Ava refocused on what Brice brought to the table. They could talk about emotional issues once the sexual tension had been eased. For one thing he wasn’t opposed to dirty talk in the least. He talked a good game, but could he back it up? We’ll see.
Ava headed to the full-length mirror near the door and took a good look at herself. Perry hadn’t commented on her curves and her waist, but why would he go for a size 2 if there hadn’t been something wrong with her being a size 14?
She ran her hands over the sides of her breasts, down her waist, and over her hips and let her arms fall to her sides. Brice seemed to love her figure. The only fault she could find in her weight was that she needed to exercise more. Clothed was totally different than nude. Would her rounded stomach truly be sexy to him? What about her full breasts? How about her ass? He liked to caress her hip, but would it turn him off to see her cellulite up close and personal?
Her mind went a mile a minute supplying all the embarrassing things that could happen. He could lose his erection or tie her down and leave her or bind her and then take his pleasure while ignoring hers. She felt so vulnerable. It was as if her time with Perry had wiped away any sexual experience and awareness she had. She ran her hands over her belly. The flutters in her stomach had turned into a hundred butterflies trying to do the cha-cha. Stop it, she ordered herself once again. This isn’t helping things.
To distract herself, she decided to clean things up. There wasn’t much to put away. Within five minutes everything was spotless once more. The pizza had been wrapped and was in the fridge, the plates were in the dishwasher, and the counters were wiped down.
The shower had stopped, and she could hear Brice moving around, but he hadn’t come out of the bathroom just yet. What was he doing in there? Did guys get just as nervous as women did when it came to sex? Was he trying to get it up? Jerk off? Manscape?
She looked down at her outfit: jeans, boots, socks, and a fleece top, not sexy at all. Her underwear was bikini style and a simple cotton bra. She’d stopped going for sexy when she noticed that Perry didn’t seem to give a shit about her lingerie. Ugh, I’m pathetic. She turned toward the stairs, ready to go up change. I really need to go shopping if this works out.
Brice sneaked up on her and snaked his arms around her waist and held her tight to a hard, hot, solid wall of muscle with a prominent erection digging into her ass.
“Nope. Not going to let you go change.” Once again Brice had gone ninja on her and read her mind.
“How—”
“You don’t notice anything when you’re deep in thought, which allows me to walk up to you without you hearing me.” Brice smelled of water, soap, and, underneath it all, male musk. “You also look nervous and like you want to run.” He brushed his lips over the side of her neck.
Ribbons of heat slithered through her body to coil in her belly. Her heartbeat picked up the pace, and her pussy heated. Her labia thickened, and her clit began a dull throb. Her limbs became relaxed as he rocked against her. She leaned back into his embrace, trusting him to keep her upright and safe. It felt like being home, and she melted into that sensation.
“Don’t run from me, honey. You’re beautiful as you are. I wouldn’t have this hard-on if you weren’t.” He rolled his hips and slid his cock above her ass once again. “Trust me. There’s only me and you here. Nothing to worry about. No pressure. We’ll go slow, okay?”
“Okay,” she whispered, her voice so low and husky she almost didn’t recognize it. Tears burned in her eyes at his words. Again he’d called her on her fear, and again he soothed away her nerves. How did he do that? And how can I do that for him? Yearning to ease away his troubles tugged at her stomach, mingling with the desire to please him, to take away his burdens and give him nothing but pleasure.
He blazed a path down her neck with slow kisses that lit up her skin from the inside out, enhancing her awareness of his hands on her hips, the solidity of his hard, muscled body, and the soft presses of his lips. His grip increased in strength but didn’t hurt.
“So soft and smooth, like silk.” His tone was ragged. He slid his hands up her waist and traced her curves until he came to her breasts. “So full, they overflow my hands. I bet they’re responsive. Perhaps you’d like to try clamps, hmm?”
“Maybe.” She had read about them, and she did enjoy a hard pinch to her nipples. “I…I don’t know.” Her breasts heated and tightened at the suggestion. She couldn’t ignore the throb of her nipples. The need for contact, his touch, anything to alleviate the hardness of the tips filled her. She wanted his hands everywhere on her. “Please—” she started. Unused energy sparked through her body, filling her with tension. She wanted to move, to writhe, to find some way to expend the growing intensity that saturated her. A desire to be tied down and controlled grew until she almost couldn’t take it. Brice had to do something.
“We can try it later. Now what do you need?” He took her breasts into his hands and cupped their fullness before giving them a squeeze.
She let out a moan. Ava molded her hands around his and kneaded her breasts. Lightning shot straight to her clit. Her pussy fluttered in response. Moisture dampened her panties. She moaned again and rocked her hips against his erection. He rewarded her efforts with a low, husky groan.
“Your body is lush. It is perfection. I’ve longed to feel you against me, under me, above me, surrounding me. I bet your pussy is nice and wet and your tits ache for my mouth and fingers.”
Any sense of hesitancy faded at his words and actions. A scream of frustration filled her throat when he removed his hands, grabbed the hem of her shirt, and tugged up. She lifted her arms without protest, waiting for his next move. Her skin was tight, hot, and itchy. Her body was too small to contain all the pressure that grew within her.
He slid down low and placed kisses over the base of her spine to trace his way up her back. He took his time as she fidgeted, trying to keep motionless under his hands. She wanted to yank off her shirt and her bra but stayed immobile. He hadn’t ordered her, and she needed to hear what he thought of her bare body.
Brice tugged the sweater down her arms and off. Cool air kissed her exposed, overheated flesh. He ran his palms along her sides, over her stomach, up her torso to cup her breasts once again. He kneaded them with slow care, giving her more pleasure, and yet her nipples ached all the more.
“More,” she moaned. “Please more. Touch me, kiss me everywhere.” She stroked his arm and covered his hands once more.
Brice didn’t disappoint. “I can’t wait to explore every inch of you. Undo your jeans and push them down.”
She did as he requested, feeling silly when they scraped along her thighs, down to her knees, and pooled around her ankles. That sentiment didn’t last long as the cool air brushed against her bare skin. “Brice, can I—” she started to ask and then faltered.
“Let me take care of you, honey. Just tell me if it’s too much.” Brice moved to her front. He gave her a kiss on her lips that just whispered against the tingling, heated flesh, and bisected her body with butterfly touches of his mouth until he came to her mound. She dropped her gaze and watched him as he untied first one boot and then the other. Ava lifted her feet one at a time. He tugged off her shoes and then her jeans and socks. All that was left was her panties.
“Go sit down on the bed.” He rose.
For the first time she noticed he was completely naked, exposing the old bruises and worn scars as well as the tightly muscled body. Lean and athletic, not an ounce of fat as far as she could see. Masculine beauty in the flesh and all hers to play with. His face, ears, neck, and chest were flushed, and his nipples were tight buds. For the first time she noticed small silver barbells pierced thorough the ruddy flesh. Fascinated, she leaned forward, wanting to taste them. She moved closer to get a better look at his tattoos. Brightly colored in some places and black-and-white in others, but they all looked like they belonged together.
Her gaze slid down his body from the shallow well of his belly button to the line of auburn hair to the neatly groomed curls that formed the base of his groin. From the patch of dark auburn hair rose his cock: thick, flushed red with the veins standing out clearly, the flared head wide and mushroom shaped with a pearl of precum glimmering at the slit. He came to her; his penis bobbed with each step. She licked her lips. Every inch of the rod was all for her. Only for her.
Chapter Nine
Brice grabbed his shaft and stroked himself from root to tip, smearing the evidence of his desire with his thumb before taking the route in reverse. “Do you want me? Do you need me as much I need you?”
Ava’s gaze was glued to his cock. “Yes.” Her tone came out ragged, unrecognizable. Never had she wanted to touch, taste, kiss, lick, please someone as much as she did him. All thoughts of her past sexual experience were gone, burned away by the desire in Brice’s eyes, voice, and the way he moved toward her. She’d never felt more wanted before.
“Take off your bra. Show me your breasts,” he ordered. He continued to stroke his cock.
She reached behind and undid the clasp. Her breasts fell as her bra slipped down her arms. Ava tugged it off and let it drop to the ground. Time stretched like a rubber band. Her nerves returned. Are my breasts sagging too much? Do they look fat? Anxiety began to bat away some of her arousal.
“Stop it!” he snapped. “I’m not Perry. Look at me, honey. Take me in. Tell me what you see. Is my dick limp because of your breasts? Do I look like I’m going anywhere?”
He dragged a chair over and sat down, his legs splayed open. Brice took his time, running his hand up and down his shaft. His mouth dropped open; his tongue darted out to wet his bottom lip. “I’m so fucking hard for you I could come any second, but I won’t. Can’t. Not until you do. Before I tie your sexy ass to my bed, I need you to touch those sexy tits for me. Cup them, squeeze your nipples, show me how you like to be touched and teased. Please me by pleasing yourself.”
