Chapter 8

eight

?. . .?

Ryan

My phone buzzes incessantly in my pocket as Ava and I walk hand in hand through the quiet streets. I ignore it at first, not wanting anything to interrupt this perfect moment with her. But the vibrations persist urgently.

"Sorry, I should probably check this," I mutter, flashing Ava an apologetic look. She nods understandingly as I reluctantly pull out my phone.

"Callahan." I bark into the receiver. It's my Captain from the precinct. There's been a major break in the Carmichael case and they need all hands on deck. I'm being called back to the city immediately.

"I understand," I reply curtly before hanging up. A heavy sigh escapes my lips as I turn to face Ava. Her brows are knitted together in concern, those soulful eyes searching mine.

"What is it? What's wrong?" She asks softly, squeezing my hand.

"That was work. There's an emergency and they need me back in the city ASAP." I explain, my jaw clenching in frustration.

Her face falls and she pulls her hand away, folding her arms protectively across her chest. "Oh. I see." She replies, her voice tinged with resignation. "Well, I suppose this mountain town fantasy couldn't last forever..."

I reach for her, but she takes a step back. "Ava, wait, it's not like that. This thing between us, it's real."

But I can see the doubts taking root behind her eyes, the way her shoulders hunch inward. "It's fine, Ryan. I get it. You have your big city life to get back to. And I have my little bookstore. We're from different worlds."

"That's not true! Ava, please. Just let me explain—" But she's already turning away from me, picking up her pace.

"I should go. Safe travels back to the city, Officer Callahan." She says over her shoulder, her voice cracking on my name.

I watch helplessly as she retreats down the sidewalk, her curvy figure disappearing around the corner. Fuck! I scrub a hand over my face.

What Ava and I have is special. In just a short time, she's turned my world upside down in the best way. Those soft curves, that brilliant mind, the way she looks at me like I'm her hero...I can't lose her.

I start moving in the direction she went, determined to make this right. To make Ava understand that no distance can change how I feel about her. That this small town girl has completely captured my big city heart.

My heart pounds as I pick up the pace. The city can wait—I have to find Ava now. I sprint in the direction she ran off, scanning the quaint storefronts lining the street.

Then I hear it—a scream piercing the air up ahead.

Ava .

Rounding the corner, I see red. Some scumbag has his filthy hand clamped around Ava's arm as she struggles to break free, her beautiful face etched with fear.

"Get your fucking hands off her!" I roar, closing the distance in a fury. The adrenaline is singing in my veins.

The guy looks up, startled, his grip loosening just enough for Ava to wrench herself away. She stumbles back, clutching her arm. My vision tunnels on the soon-to-be dead man.

"Who the hell are you?" He spits, squaring up to me. I can tell by his weaselly face this is Ava's dirtbag ex. Call me a stalker, but I quickly put all my cop resources to work and found out just how the fucker was when I found out about him. The one who made her doubt herself, broke her heart.

I don't bother with a response. I let my fists do the talking. One solid crack to his jaw sends him reeling. He swings wildly but I dodge, my training kicking in, and land another blow to his gut. He doubles over with a wheeze.

Grabbing his collar, I wrench him up to snarl in his face.

"I hear you're a city boy. If you know what's best for you, you'll crawl back into whatever gutter you crawled out of. Got it? And if you ever so much as look at her again, I will end you. Understand?"

He makes a choking sound I take for assent. With a final shove, he crumples into a pile on the pavement, out cold.

Breath heaving, I turn to Ava. She's staring at her ex's prone form, then up at me, her green eyes wide and glassy with shock.

"Ryan..." she whispers, starting to tremble.

In two strides I'm there, pulling her tight against my chest. She clings to me, hands fisting in my shirt.

"I've got you, sweetheart," I murmur into her hair, running soothing hands down her back. "You're safe. I'm here."

I'll always be here for her, no matter what. This brave, beautiful woman has me, body and soul. And somehow, I'm going to prove it to her.

I hoist her up in my arms, ignoring her startled squeak. "What?" I grin down at her. "Am I not the strong, rugged hero you dreamed of?"

Ava blushes.

That blush does wonders for my ego. I carry her back to her store, up the stairs to her cozy apartment above. Kicking the door shut, I lower her to her feet.

"Stay," I growl, voice gravelly with need as I unbutton my shirt.

Her eyes devour every inch of bared skin, sending a red-hot pulse straight to my groin.

I push my pants down, freeing my rock-hard erection. Her eyes widen, then travel down my form.

"Ryan..." she whimpers, desire glazing her eyes.

"Tell me what you want, kitten."

"You," she moans, uncrossing her arms to tug at her hoodie. "I want you, Ryan. So badly."

"Damn right, you do." I stalk towards her, backing her against the wall. "And you're gonna have all of me, Ava. Every inch, until you're branded with my touch."

I crush my lips to hers, devouring her sweetness. Ava responds with equal fervor, her soft curves molding against me seamlessly.

"Do you not get how obsessed with you I am?" I manage between kisses, trailing my lips down her neck. "All these beautiful curves are mine ."

Her breath hitches as I cup her breast, thumbing her hard nipple through her shirt. "Ryan..."

"Say it, Ava. Tell me who you belong to."

"Y-you," she gasps, hips arching into my touch.

"I'll fuck you so hard, I'll put a baby in you," I growl, slipping a hand between her legs, finding her drenched. "So the entire world will know who you belong to."

"Yes, yes, please."

Those words are my undoing. I pick her up, slamming her against the wall. Her legs wrap around my waist.

"Ryan," she moans, digging her nails into my shoulders.

"I got you, kitten." I slip inside her, filling her to the hilt. "So fucking tight."

"Ryan!" she screams, her head thrown back.

I start a punishing pace, thrusting into her, claiming every inch that's rightfully mine. Ava's nails rake my back as she moans my name endlessly. This complex, curvy goddess is my undoing.

"You feel so good, Ava," I groan, picking up the pace. "So damn good."

"Ryan, I..."

"What, kitten?" I growl, teasing her clit.

"I...love...you," she pants, arching her back. "Please don't ever leave me."

Those three words and her broken plea send me over the edge. With one final thrust, I explode inside her, roaring my release. As my dick convulses, pumping her full of my seed, Ava's body shatters around me, her walls clenching me tighter than ever before.

"I could never leave you, baby. You're mine. Now and forever," I tell her as I brush a strand of hair from her forehead, admiring her flushed face and the glowing sheen of sweat on her brow. Ava's eyes flutter open, hazy with satisfaction and something deeper, more profound.

"You really mean that?" She whispers, vulnerability seeping into her tone. "Even with your big important job back in the city?"

I cup her face tenderly, holding her emerald gaze with the intensity of my conviction. "Ava, listen to me. Yeah, my job is important. But you...you're everything."

I punctuate my declaration with a searing kiss, pouring every ounce of my devotion into the press of my lips against hers. She melts into me, her fingers threading through my hair.

"I love you," I murmur against her mouth. "So damn much. And I'll spend every day proving it to you if that's what it takes."

Ava smiles tremulously, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I love you too, Ryan. I never thought I could feel this way about someone."

"Believe it, kitten." I flash her a roguish grin. "You're stuck with me now. No take backs."

She laughs, the sweet sound warming me from the inside out. "I suppose there are worse fates."

"Damn straight." I nuzzle her neck, inhaling her intoxicating scent. "In fact, I can think of a few I'd like to explore with you right now..."

Ava shivers as I nip at her sensitive skin. "Again? But what about?—"

"The city will still be there tomorrow, and you can bet your ass I'm never going back there without taking you with me. From now on, where I go, you go, and vice versa," I assure her, walking us towards the bed. "Tonight, I plan on worshipping every single inch of you."

I lay her down on the quilt, taking a moment to admire the way her hair fans out on the pillow, her kiss-swollen lips, the heaving of her perfect breasts. My eyes rake over her sumptuous curves possessively.

"God, you're so fucking beautiful," I rasp, my voice thick with renewed desire. "I will never get enough of you."

"Then take me," Ava challenges, a newfound boldness in her eyes as she reaches for me. "I'm yours, Ryan. Completely."

A primal growl rumbles in my chest as I cover her body with mine once more, losing myself in her honeyed lips and velvet heat. This right here, buried inside the woman I love, is the only home I'll ever need.

The rest of the world fades away as we make love, slow and deep, savoring each gasp and moan, every tremor and clutch. With each powerful thrust, I pour my devotion into her willing body, branding myself on her very soul.

Ava arches beneath me, crying out her pleasure into the charged air, her nails scoring my back. I groan her name like a prayer as her silken walls flutter around me.

"That's it, baby. Take all of me," I encourage her through gritted teeth, fighting the urge to explode as her tight heat clenches me like a vice. "You feel how hard you make me? How crazy you drive me?"

"Yes! Oh God, Ryan!" Ava sobs, writhing beneath my pistoning hips. "Don't stop, please don't ever stop!"

"Never," I vow, reaching between us to circle her swollen clit. "I'll never stop loving you, Ava. Fucking you. Filling this sweet pussy with my cum."

She keens high in her throat, back bowing off the bed as her orgasm crashes over her. Her walls spasm around my throbbing cock, milking me for all I'm worth. With a guttural shout, I bury myself to the hilt and let go, painting her womb with thick ropes of my seed.

"Ava!" I roar, hips jerking erratically as I empty myself inside her fluttering channel. Distantly, I'm aware of her fingers digging into my ass, pulling me impossibly deeper.

"Yes, Ryan! Fill me up!" She moans wantonly, grinding herself against me. "I want it all. Want to be dripping with you."

"Fuck!" I hiss, stars exploding behind my eyelids at her filthy words. This shy, sweet bookworm is going to be the death of me. The best kind of death.

Slowly, I collapse on top of her, careful not to crush her. Ava's arms immediately wind around my neck, fingers toying with the sweat-dampened hair at my nape. I nuzzle into the crook of her shoulder, pressing languid kisses to her fevered skin.

"I love you," she whispers, her voice quavering with emotion. "I love you so much it terrifies me."

I lift my head to meet her shimmering gaze, my heart clenching at the vulnerability I find there. Cupping her face, I brush my thumbs over her flushed cheekbones.

"I know, baby. I feel it too. This thing between us...it's big. Life-changing." I drop a tender kiss to her trembling lips. "But I'm not going anywhere, Ava. You're it for me. The endgame."

A radiant smile blooms across her face, so beautiful it steals my breath. She draws me down for another slow, deep kiss that sets my blood on fire all over again.

"Show me," she murmurs against my mouth. "Show me how much you love me, Ryan."

And I do. Over and over, worshipping her body with reverent hands and ardent lips, until the first rays of dawn paint her satiated flesh in strokes of gold.