short while earlier, I didn’t want to hang around for much longer, or else my knuckles would end up sinking into Justin’s smug face. After all, I had only really come to the party to see Ava and to congratulate Marcus.
On my approach, Ava stopped giggling and stared wide-eyed at me, as if I were a ghost. Despite that discouraging reception, I continued anyway.
I preferred outside alone under the moonlight, and definitely not at a party filled with people who stopped talking every time I entered the room. Frozen in silence, the guests seemed to watch my every move as if I were some common criminal.
Ava touched Cassie’s arm, who, much to my relief, walked away.
“I need to ask you something,” I said, looking around me.
Justin had just entered the room, and although I enjoyed watching him suffer as I twisted a knife into his jealous gut, the last thing I wanted was a shouting match.
“Not here, though. Do you mind if we step outside for a moment?”
I felt her tension while she held my stare. “I’ll meet you there in a minute.”
It shouldn’t have been that difficult. I’d never found it hard to attract a girl before. Normally I let them pounce on me. But this was different.
Ava was different.
Staring up at the starlit sky, I sensed Ava’s presence and turned.
“Hey.” She stood before me.
I fell into those big blue eyes and lost myself again. Ava was so deep, I could imagine drowning in her. A voice from within told me to stop this game. After all, I could get at Justin in other ways. But as I soaked in her beauty, I remained rooted on the spot.
Her rosy-cheeked face seemed to glow under the moonlight.
“You look very beautiful,” I said.
“Is that why you wanted to see me, to tell me that?”
I nodded. “Yeah… pretty much. And to also ask…” I combed back my hair. “Um… would you… I mean, be interested in…” My stammering did me no favors. I sounded like a fool.
“Interested in what?” She tilted her head.
“Going out to dinner with me.”
Her mouth had just opened to answer when my fucking brother came stumbling out.
“Here comes fucking trouble again,” I uttered under my breath.
With a cigar in his mouth, Justin blew the smoke in our direction.
Waving it away, Ava said, “Justin, can you smoke that somewhere else?”
I decided to kick the boot in further by taking Ava’s hand and staring into her eyes.
“She’s too good for you,” Justin snapped.
I turned to face him. “She’s too good for you. You’re nothing but a drug addict.”
He came and stood close, pointing at me. “And you’re nothing but a dirty criminal.” He looked at Ava. “You know he’s a drug dealer, don’t you?”
Ava’s face crumpled in dismay. “I can’t do this.”
My shoulders slumped in frustration as I watched her run back inside.
I grabbed Justin by the neck. “Listen, you fucking prick, you know those drugs weren’t mine, because they were yours.” I pointed my finger inches from his face. “I’ll get you.”
I kicked him in the shin, leaving him to cry out in pain.
Smoothing down my jacket, I brushed back my hair and went back inside.
Ava was nowhere to be seen.
Assuming she’d gone to the powder room, I headed in that direction and found her leaning against a wall.
Enough was enough. No more pussyfooting around.
Sensing my presence, she turned, and I spotted tears in her eyes. I brushed her cheek, and a deep need to hold her swept through me. I took her into my arms, and Ava melted into my body.
The fit was perfect, as if she was meant to be there.
Her body’s warmth fused with mine while I took a deep whiff of her fresh, fragrant hair. I kissed her cheek and then my lips landed on hers. They trembled at first as I caressed them with mine, slowly and tenderly, savoring every little moment, because that was the sweetest tasting kiss I’d ever experienced.
As I drifted off into a sensual world of voluptuous softness, something darker and needier took over. I pressed against her curvy body, while my hands landed on her tiny waist and drew her in so close, I could feel her heart beating.
Impatient and hungry, my tongue entered deeply, possessing her silky tongue in a delicious tangle.
While still locked in her arms, I managed to open a door and, not caring whose bedroom it was, waltzed Ava into the darkened space.
We fell onto the bed, and before I knew what was happening, my