Chapter 18

Eighteen

AVA

"Come on, Ava. Live a little."

"I live just fine."

He pulls to the side of the road and jumps out, and I sit up and watch him run around the front of the truck. As he reaches for my door, I slam the lock down.

"Oh, Ava!" He's laughing, and it takes everything I have not to join in with him.

"You're insane," I spit out and cross my arms, refusing to move from my seat.

"Look what I'm doing for you! Come on out here! You're not going to melt!"

I sit with every doubt and reason to say no running through my mind.

Don't do this.

He's just trying to make you look like a fool.

He's going to ruin the class.

He's giving me life.

I undo my belt, and he backs up from the door. The rain is getting harder and his hair is plastered to his forehead; his wet shirt is sticking to his chest, outlining every ridge of his abs that I'd love to trace with my tongue. But even more so, the smile that awaits me is clouding my brain and telling me to ‘just get wet, Ava.'

I push open the door, and Maverick is right there to help me down. I squeal as he spins me from the truck, holding my waist when I get my footing. I shake my head and laugh. "Now what?"

"Now we dance." He quickly climbs up through the passenger door, leaning across the seat, turning up the radio, and putting the windows down.

"Your truck is getting soaked! Mav! Shut the door, close the windows!" The air is crisp and the rain makes it a bit cooler, but all I can feel is my heart pounding and my blood racing. I've never had a man make me feel so alive.

"Nope, we need to hear the music. Come on!" He grabs my hand, running me to the back tailgate and opening it. He jumps up into the bed of the truck then turns with a hand out. "Come on!"

Maverick lifts me effortlessly onto the tailgate. The back window is already open, allowing the music to echo around us. Small puddles gather in the truck bed as the rain falls harder. I try to shield my eyes, wiping the drops from my face, but he stops me.

"Dance in the rain, Ava." Luke Bryan is on the radio crooning about not wanting the night to end. We're parked in the middle of nowhere, on a country back road, and I can't think of any place I'd rather be.

He brings me closer, his hands on my hips while mine naturally encircle his shoulders. I look away from him because suddenly I'm feeling a lot. Emotions that I have only ever written about are washing over me, and I'm not sure how to handle it.

"I don't like you, Maverick."

"Liar. "

He takes a step back and grabs my hands, spinning me in a circle before pulling me back up against him. "Ever sleep with a student before, Ava?"

I throw my hands up in the air and huff out, "Always a joke!"

"Oh, there's nothing funny about how I'm feeling right now." He cups my face with his hands, and the kiss that follows is what bestsellers dream of writing about. It's passionate, it's warm, it's him leading the way. I can feel his emotion, and when his tongue teases my lips, I open, letting him in, pouring back to him everything I'm feeling.

I don't have words for it, but I want it. I want him . I've never had these types of feelings about a man, and it's clear to me my marriage was not out of love, but out of convenience.

He pulls back, raindrops dripping from his face. "That kiss tells me that you like me, Ava."

"I'm an expert. I wanted to make sure I taught you the correct way to kiss."

His eyes search my face and his lips turn into a smirk. "Let's see what else you know."

We pull into my driveway and he cuts the engine. The rain is still heavily coming down, and the drops hitting the roof and the ticking of the engine cooling off are the only sounds around us.

"Come on, I'll walk you to the door." He jumps out and comes around, and I have no time to process where I want this night to go. I know how I'm feeling, and at this moment, I don't want him to say goodnight. But there's no time to rethink those thoughts or weigh a decision before he's opening the door and helping me out of the truck. We run to my front porch, which is silly since we're already wet. We stand close together, shielded by the small overhang.

"What's next, Mav?"

"I'm not sure. We haven't gotten to that part in the class yet." His teasing words let me know he's okay with where we are right now.

"If you don't know what to do next, then we're in bigger trouble than I thought."

He holds my look of challenge, and I've decided, with those words that came out faster than I could think about whether they were a good idea, I'm going to let my heart lead me tonight.

He leans against the doorframe and studies me. "I think we could be in trouble either way."

"Then let's figure a way out of it."

"You have to open the door first, princess." His jaw ticks and his look is intense. "Unless you want to give your neighbors a show, I suggest we get inside quickly. I'm losing what little self-control I have."

I dig the key from my bag, open the door, and we walk inside. I lay my things down on the entry table before locking the door behind us. Maverick stands beside me, not giving me much room to move around, and the look on his face is pure need. When he speaks, his voice is low and on the brink of snapping.

"Princess, I don't want to sound like a dick here, but I'm dying for you right now. So if you don't want this, me, you need to say it now. I'll walk back out that door and drive straight home. I'll jerk off at least three times while thinking of you before I go to sleep, but it's your decision whether I do it alone or with you."

His words give me power. He's not ashamed to say what he's thinking or what he's feeling, and I love that. I want to know how turned on he is. I want to know if it's because of me.

"I don't want you to leave, Maverick."

"Oh, thank fuck." He rushes me, picking me up, and my legs circle his waist. We kiss, and I can't get close enough. His hands hold me under my ass, and I can't help but grind myself against him. "Which way?" he mumbles against my lips.

"Just walk. Find the hall. Last door." I can barely get the words out, my body taking over my thoughts. He carries me with ease and we enter my bedroom. Lightning flashes and lights up the room for a second or two and also illuminates his gorgeous face.

"Ever make love during a storm, Ava?" He drops me to the bed and leans over me, kissing my neck. I whimper as he pulls at my jersey, pushing it up and exposing my belly and the small piercing I have there.

"Well, well. What does Little Miss Princess have here?" He flicks the ring with his tongue and looks at me from under his lashes. "Not so stuck up after all? I have to say, I'm a bit impressed."

I roll my eyes. "I'm not a complete goody-two-shoes." I shrug and look away. "I wanted to do something for me after my divorce. This felt like a badass thing to do."

He chuckles and says, "Definitely bad ass," in a tone that isn't exactly sarcasm and leaves me smiling that he likes it. He moves around and nips at my ribs. I run my hands through his hair as he undoes the button on my wet jeans, yanking them over my hips and down my legs. "Don't grade me based on how I pull off wet clothes."

I laugh, helping him pull them off. I wiggle and sit back as he drops them on the ground, pulling his own shirt over his head. I take my jersey and shirt underneath it off, the wet clothes making a thud as they hit the ground. "I think you did well under the circumstances."

He pulls at his own jeans, jumping around to get them off, and it makes me laugh. But when he stands in front of me, gripping his cock through his boxers, my breath catches. His body is magnificent, a strong broad chest with dark hair that leads down to exactly what I need.

The lightning flashes again. "Fuck, Ava, you're gorgeous. I knew you would be. Seeing you that day running in spandex, god you starred in all of my wet dreams since that day." He walks to the other side of the bed and turns on the small lamp I have. "I need to see you. I need to see what I'm doing to you, memorize it all, and most of all, I need to see how much you love it."

"So sure I'm going to love it, huh?"

He lets out a laugh. "Ava! I see I'm rubbing off on you already."

"I've seen no rubbing so far," I taunt him, watching as his eyes drift over me and a sly smile appears.

He prowls closer and I suck in a breath as he urges me to my back and lays down beside me. His fingers trace around my hairline and down to my jaw before lightly tracing my lips. "Do you know how often I've thought about these lips?"

I roll them inward. I don't know why I feel like a virgin right now, but everything Maverick does is done with precision. He's teasing, but the frat-boy humor is gone, and in its place is a man. A strong man who is ready to show me all he needs and deliver on his promises.

"So I don't know what a book boyfriend would say here, but I can tell you one thing. I'm not leaving this bed until you've come on my fingers, my tongue, and my cock. I want to hear you scream my name, and I'm going to make sure the next sex scene you write will be with me in mind." He lets his fingers drift over my lips once more and I flick them with my tongue. His low rumble of a growl vibrates through my body, sending electric currents straight to my pussy. He rolls over top of me, propping himself up with his hands on either side of me while he licks and nips the swells of my breasts.

"Your body is telling on you right now."

"What do you mean?" I run my hands through his hair and across his shoulder blades.

"You say you don't like me, but your nipples are hard, begging for my mouth. And your eyes are dilated with lust. It's not the look of someone who wants me to stop."

"Maybe you're growing on me after all."

He jumps up to his knees and straddles my waist. I can feel his hard cock pulsing against my belly. He takes my hands, placing my palms on his chest, encouraging me to run them down his body. "I need you to touch me, Ava. I've imagined your hands on me since the first day I saw you, but now I need to feel it."

I sweep them down his torso and to his thighs, dipping lower to his inside thigh but not touching where he wants me to.

"Do you remember the second day I came into your office?" His fingers dance across my belly.

"Mm. When you came in to apologize for being a jerk? I remember."

He pinches my side and I yelp. "I liked you then. Know why?"

"Why?"

"Because you took initiative. You patted my dick and walked past me like it was nothing."

I laugh. "I have no idea where that came from, but I needed to get your attention."

"Well, you got it. I went to the bathroom and jerked off to the thought of you on your knees in front of me. It was so fucking hot, I came so fast, and I was back in my seat in class in a matter of three minutes."

"Let's just hope you last longer than that tonight."

He takes my hand and places it on his cock. I squeeze him, and he hisses through his teeth. "I'm not going to lie. I may need to jerk off first before we go any further."

I sit up, pushing him back off my waist; the thought of him working himself in front of me is so hot I can't get the idea out of my mind. I whisper, "Would you do it for me?"

He furrows his brows. "What are you asking, princess?"

I roll my lips inward, and I can feel the heat crawl up my neck. I can't believe I'm asking this. "Would you touch yourself, for me?"

"I fucking touch myself for you all the time. "

"Mav!"

"Ava!" he responds with the same exasperation, and leans forward, consuming me in a kiss before speaking against my lips. "Ask me. I want to hear you say it."

"I just did!"

"Okay, I'll let you off the hook this time. On one condition." When I don't speak and raise a brow instead, a slow smile spreads across his face as he steps onto the floor and pulls his boxers off. "I want you to do it."

I'm blinded by his cock. It stands straight from his body, weeping at the tip. I don't even know what he just asked, but I'm nodding because right now I'd do anything for him. "Ava, I need your hands on me, and I need you to get me off."

I move to the edge of the bed and lean up on my knees. We're the same height like this, and I can look him in the eyes when I grip his cock in my hand. His eyes roll back then flutter closed before he takes a breath and opens them again.

"Fuck, princess. I knew it. I knew you'd be amazing at this."

I stroke him, using his own pre-cum to easily slide my hand up and down. We both look down and watch together as I stroke and squeeze his tip. His hips move slightly with each of my downward motions before he raises his hand and traces the straps of my bra.

"Take it off, Mav."

He undoes the clip, sliding the straps down my arms and letting my tits fall from the lace. "Fuck, you're beautiful." He circles my nipples, tugging gently. I make quick, short strokes before playing with his tip, circling my finger around his slit, which is leaking. With my other hand, I cup his balls.

"Ava, keep doing that and it won't take me long." He dips his head, capturing my nipple, sucking in rhythm to my strokes. This moment is so insanely intimate, I've never done this before and my whole body is on fire for him. His shaft is rock hard and he pulls back from me, breathing erratically.

"Are you close?" I ask, and he closes his eyes, nodding. "Good. Step back." I release my grip and his eyes open sharply in disappointment. "Just wait. You're going to like this." It comes to me quickly as I see our reflection in the standup mirror against the wall. I step off the bed, turning him toward the mirror, and I wrap my body around him from the back, reaching around to his front and grabbing hold of his cock again. He throws his hand out, catching himself against the wall as his breathing becomes ragged. "Watch in the mirror, Maverick. Watch my hands." He keeps his eyes on me for a few strokes. They're full of want and need before he looks down. I continue to stroke him, pressing my bare breasts against his back. He throws his arm back, pulling me tightly to him, and I let my one hand wander over his chest while stroking him with the other.

"Princess, use two hands. Get me there now."

I kiss his shoulder and wrap both hands around his cock, stroking and squeezing his tip. Within moments I feel his body become rigid, and he's shouting out and comes all over the front of the mirror. His head leans loosely forward on his neck while he gets his breathing under control.

"If you don't write that scene, I will." He turns facing me, his cock still slightly erect. "And now it's my turn." He backs me up to the bed before pulling my panties down and dropping to his knees with them. He trails his nose up my thigh, nipping my skin as he goes, before diving right into my pussy. My hands are in his hair as he throws my right leg over his shoulder. I lean back on the bed, moving my hips in time with his sucks and licks. "You're so sweet, Ava." He swipes his finger through me, spreading me open for him before he flicks at my clit. I jump at the sensation, my mouth falling open, and his finger goes straight to my mouth. "Taste yourself, Ava." Before I can second guess what's happening, I'm licking his finger clean. He chuckles as I grind on his face faster. "Not so shy anymore, are you?"

"Maverick, please. It's been so long." My needy voice echoes through the room. The lightning flashes and thunder crashes and I feel this moment is so pivotal. I've been missing this passion for so long that I don't know what I'll do now that I've had it.

"How long?"

"Since someone else has given me an orgasm? Years."

His eyes flick to mine as I look down on him. "We're going to make up for those years, starting now." He inserts a finger, biting my clit as I scream out my release, riding his face unashamedly.

He laps up every last bit before making his way up my limp body, sliding me further back on the bed. "That was the sexiest fucking thing I've ever seen in my life." He plays with my pussy while sucking on my nipple. "I'm addicted already. I want another one, Ava. Can you give it to me?"

My head rolls to the side as I throw my hands above my head, arching my back. I just want him to touch me, take me, do whatever he wants. I feel so desperate for more of him. "Yes. I need more."

He chuckles a low, dark laugh. "That's exactly what I needed to hear." He goes to his jeans and digs around for his wallet. "Don't think bad of me, but I wanted to be safe." I scrunch my eyes at him as he pulls out a couple of condoms and throws them on the nightstand.

"Those better be brand new," I speak in a stern voice.

He laughs. "They're new. I bought them today."

"What!" I exclaim.

He fidgets and wears a shameful look. "I was hopeful you'd want to be with me."

Hearing him whisper insecurely, I put my hands out, calling him to me. He comes close, and I wrap my arms around him, kissing him. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For being honest and not dropping a sarcastic line there. You could have, and you didn't. So thank you."

He smooths his hands down my back and to my ass which he grabs with a handful. "Want more honesty?"

"Always."

He spanks me. "I need to fuck you from behind. This ass is so tempting. Now turn around." He spins me, and I fall onto my stomach before he grabs my waist, lifting me to my knees. I let out a scream but push back against him. He spanks me again. "You're a fucking tease, Ava."

I wiggle my ass and look over my shoulder. "Put one on, Mav, and quit wasting time."

His lips smirk, and I watch with enraptured eyes as he tears open the condom wrapper and slides it on his thick cock. He steps up behind me, teasing my pussy, squeezing my ass, and licking his lips. "I'll try to be easy, but Christ, Ava. You should see how hot this looks from my side." He slides inside of me, and I let out a low moan, his cock stretching me in all the right ways. He pumps slowly at first, encouraging me to relax. "Princess, let me all the way in."

I let out a breath and lay my chest on the bed, allowing myself to open fully for him. "Oh, that's good, baby. That's so good." He works his hips, his thrusts increasing with speed and force before slowing again and swirling his hips. He reaches under me, flicking at my clit before softly rubbing it with his thumb. His chest is draped over my back as he whispers into my ear.

"You're soaking wet, Ava. Do I make you that wet?" He grabs my ass and pumps a few times before slowing and placing his hand on my back again. "I don't know what to do first. I want to finish, but I don't want to stop looking at you like this. I need to fuck you hard, but I need to feel your pussy grip me tightly too." He spanks me, and I moan. "And I need to hear you do that." He spanks me again, and I call out his name. "Say it again, Ava."

"Maverick!" I lean up on my hands, arching my back the best I can as he grabs my ass and begins to pound into me. The burn is so delicious, and I can't help the noises coming from me right now. "It's so good, Mav. Harder, Mav. Please."

"Princess, I'm going to break."

"Then break! "

He spanks me hard before grabbing my hips and thrusting deep and hard before his body locks up and he barks out a shout. He slows his movements, still thrusting deep and steady. "Your pussy is holding me hostage, Ava."

I laugh at him but it quickly turns into another moan as he falls across my back, sliding his hands underneath me to pinch my nipples. "Are you sore?" He slides out from behind me and lays on his side next to me. We're both breathing in the same pattern.

"It's a good sore."

"I told you we were going to make up for those years." He leans over to kiss me. "But now I need to see how you look coming on me while bouncing on top, Ava."

"How on earth can you go again?"

He slides the condom off before tying it off and getting up to throw it in the trash. "I'm going to play with you until I can. But you bet your fine ass, we're going again."