28. Ava

28

AVA

The ride home is quiet. I'm processing. What he did was conniving, sneaky, and downright fucking sweet. I want to be mad at him for it, yet I'm not. Stepping into that gallery, peering around only to be shocked with people staring at my work, beautifully hanging on the walls. It took my breath away. It made me feel valued, seen and appreciated.

But what Cal did, his actions, I was riding a fence of punching him in the face or kissing him senseless. It was waging war, a list of ‘how could he' versus ‘damn I am so lucky to have him'. I gotta say the pro list was gaining momentum.

The drive didn't leave much time to ponder everything spiraling through me. Landing on a decision, one I know will take us to the next level. I think I'm ready. I hope I'm ready. But most of all, I hope he's ready.

Cal, well, he is everything I didn't know I needed. He knew. He knew the moment we met and did his damnedest to make sure I knew it. But I was scared. I'm not anymore. I want to leap, knowing that I have been holding myself back from the moment I laid eyes on him.

Kiel did impart one lesson on me: to never take for granted those precious moments, the moments that will be what you one day look back on. It's not the grand gesture that flashes the brightest; it's the small things. It's the simple touches, the soft kisses, the key points where you can see that person who loved you more than you thought was plausible, showing their affection as it spills over its boundaries proving they will go to the ends of this world for you.

Tonight, I'm taking that lesson to heart and putting into motion the next chapter of my life.

The truck comes to a stop, and Cal turns to me, opening his mouth. Narrowing my eyes, I shake my head no. He gets out to come around to my side. I'm not truly angry. I'm biding my time. Needing those few seconds to fortify myself, I'm ready but I don't want Cal to read this wrong. I want him living it with me, not wondering if this is a twisted thank you.

Swinging the door open, he assists me from the seat. He moves to let go, but I lace our fingers, leaning into him and siphoning a bit of his strength as we walk quietly to the door. Once we enter, he turns off the alarm. I trudge quietly up the stairs, hearing his muted thumps following me.

Breathing deep, I open the door, heading to the window, not bothering with the lights. I stand there and I wait. The anticipation increases my need. I look up to see he flicked on the hall light on his way up. I watch his silhouette hit the room. Crossing my arms, Cal joins me, wrapping me up in his arms, gently kissing my head.

"About tonight. I-"

"Cal can you unzip me?" He stills. Ever so slowly, the heat of his hand around my waist moves. Sliding my hair to the side, he gently lifts and unzips the dress. Pulling the straps off, I let it fall, leaving me in black lace lingerie and heels.

Turning to face him, his arms fall limply to his side. Our chests brushing with each breath. I let the heat of my gaze land on his, hoping to convey my want. Steeling myself, lowering the guards that I built around my heart, I open up to him. His breath stutters as he notices that I have let him in, wrapping my arms around his neck. Pulling him to me, I kiss his stern lips with the barest of a kiss and whisper against them. "Please," I murmur.

His body jerks; those tiny words unleash his beast. Cal grabs me, slamming me into his hard, strong body. Hands travel in opposite directions, one latching on my ass and giving it a firm hard squeeze while the other reaches behind my neck. His thumb hooks my chin, forcing me to peer into his eyes. Passion flares hot and heavy.

"Be sure," he rumbles, the vibration tightening my nipples. The intensity swirling in his cerulean blues only brings forth another gush of wetness to soak my panties.

I need this.

He needs this.

We need this.

Staring him down, biting my lip hoping to hold back the smirk that wants to bloom, I nod at him. Leaning down, he takes my mouth, devouring me. Mapping me. His hands glide over every bit of exposed skin, slowly traveling closer and closer to my breasts.

Spinning me and backing me up until my legs hit the bed, we flop down. Grabbing my wrists, he pins them to the bed. Huffing, he pulls back and growls, "Leave them there." Nodding, I intertwine my fingers and hold on to the blanket.

Leaning back, he quickly and efficiently rips his clothes from his body, leaving him bare. He's an Adonis - rippling muscles, and a hard, thick cock with a shining tip. I lick my lips. I know what he tastes like. It takes everything within me to not jump up from my prone position and swallow as much of his throbbing cock as I could. I'd eat and lick him up like my favorite ice cream. But I don't move. Why? Only because Cal demanded that I not move.

It's hotter this way; the desire is building with this teasing game.

Prowling towards me, he climbs the bed as though he is a predator who has sought and found his prey. I wonder what wicked things are flying through his mind. His face is tight with lust and his eyes are an inferno of need. Leaning down, his mouth traces its way from my mouth to the corner of my jaw, placing soft kisses as he goes. Arching my neck, giving him more access, I feel his tongue gliding down the tendon on my neck.

I moan as his teeth sink into the juncture of my neck, marking me as his. My back arches wanting more, needing more. Thankfully, he doesn't stop his journey south. He nips and licks his way to my breasts. Cupping them, he massages them, alternating between my taunt nipples. He places open mouth kisses along my breast until it's right over my nipple, which he sucks into his warm mouth. The suction is almost to the point of pain, making me groan with need. Cal sucks hard on my nipple, then slowly releases it. A jolt of pleasure hits my clit as he bites down, the sensation sending more wetness to dampen my thighs.

Desperate for relief, I seek out something, anything to put pressure on my clit, only to realize Cal has his legs between mine, opening me up to him. A whine of neediness slips between my swollen lips.

Cal chuckles and comes back up for another taste, licking my lips. He nips at them before taking my mouth again. "You need relief," he murmurs against my lips.

Nodding at his words, a whiny plea slips out. "Cal, I need you."

"No, baby. I need a taste. You can hold out, can't you?" His commanding tone makes me want to comply with his wishes as he slides down my body, biting and licking until he gets to the junction of my hips. Kissing each hip bone, he looks up at me to pleasure and neediness that clouds my eyes.

But he waits. He is allowing me the control I didn't have for so long, and with that, I want to cry out in victory. Instead, I dip my head, giving my physical consent. A smirk hits his lips as he growls his triumph, fisting the crotch of my soaking lace panties and ripping them from my body.

Sinking down, Cal puts his face right against my pussy. He breathes me in and groans in satisfaction as my sweet, musky wetness crawls over his senses. Cal wraps his arms around each leg, pinning me to him and pulling me wide open. Puffs of hot air hit my exposed pussy once, twice, before I feel his tongue swipe from my opening to the tip of my clit.

Sucking my clit into his mouth, he ravishes my pussy, lapping at me until I'm squirming with the urgency to find relief. Nothing helps. His tongue is feather light as he takes his time.

Savoring me.

Learning me.

But my urge to climax is strong, which makes me want to grab his hair, shove his face in my pussy and ride his face to release. I clench harder at the bedding to stop it from happening. He told me not to move and, damn it, I want to listen to him.

A writhing mess, I resort to begging. "P-please…" I moan as he sucks my clit back into his mouth. "I-I-I need-" Breaths come out in heavy pants as his finger slips inside and hooks, gliding over my g-spot. "Cal," I breathe.

God damn it. It feels so good. My body is tighter than a bow. The tingles of rapture fire along my body as my back arches further and further, hoping and needing the pleasure I seek, but being denied.

He continues to lick me as though I was the sweetest dish that has ever laid before him, and he can't bear to leave a single speck of it left.

I love it.

It sends shivers of pleasure sparking rapidly across my nerve endings. My hips rock up and down, desperately grinding against his tongue and face. As I rock more and more, his tongue moves back each time, so that the pressure of his licks are the same no matter what I do. Frustration builds alongside pleasure.

I can feel it, the building. My muscles start to spasm and tense with the impending climax. As the peak comes into sight, Cal leans back, face dripping wet. "I want to be inside of you."

He crawls up my body, grinding his hard cock over my clit, making a moan slip from both of us. Leaning down, he takes my mouth as he slides inside of me. I taste myself as I suck his tongue deep into my mouth. It heightens my desire as Cal slowly tortures us both. He slips inside of me, inch by delicious inch. I wrap my legs around him, groaning as skin hits skin.

Cal pauses. Taking in the moment, I squirm as he stares down at me. A slither of fear creeps over me. In the next moment, he flips us both on the bed, until I'm staring down at him instead, still fully seated on his hard length.

Neat trick.

"Ava, sweet, you control this." Staring at me, he gives over the control, knowing I might trickle into my past. I nod and rock my hips, the sensation sends goosebumps across my skin.

My need crawls to the forefront. My fear dissipates with each rock of my hips. Letting my body do what it needs, I shut off my mind and thoughts and just enjoy . I start rocking faster, but I need more. Shifting so my feet are planted by his hips, I start bouncing. My tits jiggle with the motion, Cal's eyes watching the movement. Finally, he reaches out to start pinching my nipples. Each sharp pinch sends a tingle of pleasure to my clit and slowly winds me up more and more.

Moaning loudly as I climb further and further into the clouds of desire and want, I rock, bounce and swivel my hips, hitting all the spots inside of me. Fucking hell, it all feels so good but I need more, so much damn more.

Cal grips my hips and thrusts into me as I continue to ride him. I feel him tapping my cervix with each thrust, making me hungrier and hungrier to fall over that edge. But it's still not enough.

Fuck it, I know what I need. Taking a huge breath, I reach over to the nightstand and grab it.

I hand it to Cal. "Please, I need it." I'm a damn mess, tears of frustration build and build. A sob flies out. I can't reach my peak without it. I have to have the pain mixed with my pleasure.

He stops thrusting, reaching for it. "Ava, if we do this, you are giving me the control … All of it." Raising a brow, he waits for my consent. Rotating my hips in small circles, I nod.

He slams me onto my back against the mattress and drives into me with so much force that I slide back. It feels so good. He reaches forward, collaring my throat, squeezing it, letting me know he is in control. Ramming into me again and again, sending moans of echoing pleasure about the room, my eyes slide shut as the rapture builds and builds.

Feeling the cold metal slide against my collar, I arch my back, waiting for the freeing feeling of the blade slicing my scarred skin causing a stinging pleasure. The tip punctures just below my collar bone, stopping just as quickly as it starts. My eyes pop open. He was waiting for me, staring into his heavy blissed out eyes. I feel the blade slide to the top of my belly button.

I moan as the sting feeds the rapture of this moment. Cal slices two marks on my inner thighs. He squeezes my throat and pulls me to lean on my elbows. "Look," he growls at me. I watch as my blood glides down my thighs. The crimson smears against him and me, mixing together. The sight causes my body to spasm.

Feeling how close I am, he takes the tip of the knife, placing it right against my clit. If I grind up to meet his thrusts, it will slice. It's hot. So fucking hot. It drives me further and further towards release and the sight sends Cal over the edge as his thrust hits hard, diving deeper. Placing the cold flat edge of the blade against my clit, he presses down and drives into me again. I cum screaming his name.

Cal slumps down on me. I take his full weight and love it. Running my hands up and down his back, feeling the sweat from our activities and the strength from carrying the world on them, I know there is no place I'd rather be than right here.

Sliding off me, Cal wraps me in his arms, kissing my forehead as I drift off to a nightmare-less slumber with butterflies in my stomach and happy thoughts filling my head.

Waking with the need to pee, I roll out from under his heavy arm. Taking care of business, I step back into the room, leaning against the doorframe. I stare at Cal. He is laid out on his back, arms stretching out searching for me in his sleep. He is always searching for me, keeping me steady and moving forward.

I know here and now that our future is whatever we can make of it. Looking back will only sink us, and with so much in front of us, we need to be looking towards the horizon.

Quietly, I slip back into bed beside him. Immediately, he curls around me, so protective, even deep in slumber. With the knowledge that Cal is at my back, I fall into a restful sleep with a smile on my face and hope in my heart.