We Never Kissed

Chapter 11

Ava

I stared at the screen on my laptop, waiting for Alex to come back. He’d said he wanted to get comfortable, lose the suit he’d had on for more than twelve hours. My heart raced at the slim chance that he’d come back half-dressed, which I wouldn’t have minded in the least. I heard him come back into the room—his bedroom—and then he crawled onto his bed, wearing gray sweatpants— good lord —and a black UCLA T-shirt.

“Miss me?” he said, his arm draping across his chest after he adjusted the level of his screen.

The way his bicep pressed the limits of his shirt had me wondering if someone turned the AC off. Damn, this man is hot . Facetiming wasn’t something we had ever done much of, but given our circumstances, we both seemed to crave seeing each other’s face instead of just texting.

“I figured you were primping…” I laughed.

He gave me a sexy half grin, but his expression might have had a hint of embarrassment. “I don’t primp.”

“Uh-huh. Your hair just naturally looks that amazing.”

He ran a hand through his thick mane, messing it up yet somehow making him look twice as sexy. We stared at each other for a few beats before he said in that deep heady tone, “Well, I missed you.”

He knew exactly what he was doing, and it was working. I pushed myself higher up on my pillow, nerves bundling inside me. I wasn’t used to navigating this type of conversation with Alex, even though I’d had plenty of fantasies about him.

When I didn’t say anything, still left speechless, he said, “Lower your camera…”

My heart pounded double time. “What?”

He laughed. “Your shirt… I want to see what it says.”

“Oh.” I let out a breath, then made the adjustment so he could see the words, which read: Dance Your Ass Off .

“Do I make you nervous, Ava?”

Yes . “No.”

“You’re breathing pretty heavy over there. What can I do to help you relax? ”

“Alex, I’m not nervous…” I blew out a breath. “Okay, I am. You’re not?”

His eyes darted away for a few moments, then, “You’d think… But seeing you, that kiss… Knowing we’re alone right now. I’m feeling something entirely different.”

Shit . “If you think something’s going to happen right now…” I coughed out a laugh. “I’m in my parents’ home.”

“So, afraid you won’t be able to keep quiet?”

My mouth fell open, then I looked away, shaking my head. After a moment, I turned back to the screen, leaned over so he got a nice view of my cleavage, and whispered, “You know what I think… You’re all talk, Alex.” Just to mess with his head, I ran a hand down my neck, then grazed the side of my breast. “I think you love the chase, and if I turned the tables on you, started taking my clothes off right now… you’d run for the hills.”

His dark eyes had pinned me, taking in every word, and his lips parted yet he wasn’t responding.

“Now who’s breathing hard, Alex? Nothing to say? I mean doesn’t a little secret cybersex with your best friend’s little sister make you—”

“Whoa!” He shook his head and huffed out air. “Fuck, Ava, you had me right up until you mentioned your brother. Talk about sabotage. What are you doing to me?”

At first I laughed, hard, but then when I saw the genuine look of concern in his gaze, I sobered quickly. “This is really a big deal to you?”

“Isn’t it to you?”

I sat crossed legged and clasped my hands in my lap. “I couldn’t care less what Sammy thinks.”

“And what about your parents?”

I narrowed my gaze on him, wondering how he could doubt their love. “You should know after all these years, they think of you as a son.”

Rubbing his chin, he said, “Exactly. And if we start something up and it doesn’t work out, you still have them.” The despair in his expression killed me.

“So what? We go back to Alex and Ava one point oh?”

“Shit, I don’t want that either.”

“What do you want, Alex?”

He adjusted himself so he was sitting like I was and said, “I want you , Ava. Always have. Always will.”

Holy Hell . For a moment, my heart stopped yet my pulse beat like a drum in my ears. I knew I needed to respond, but it was all too much, especially so soon after Mark. Alex’s gaze flicked away at my silence. “Alex…” When his eyes came back to me, I said softly, “I feel the same way…”

We stared at each other for several long beats, a longing in my chest aching to be near him, to touch him, feel his lips on mine again, to have him right here in my bed with me. “Maybe… we don’t have to tell anyone. We figure out a way to be together, see how things go between us first.”

A wide smile grew on his face. “I like that idea. Wanna come over?” He laughed. “Too soon?”

“I think so. But, what if I came over on Friday night? We have game night on Saturday so we’ll see each other then too.” As soon as I’d said it, I felt regret. Was I ready to be alone with him in his apartment? I knew exactly what would happen if I was.

Alex paused before his answer, his mouth tightening all of a sudden. “Friday will be…tough. Work stuff.” A sense of relief washed over me until he added, “Maybe Sunday but we can confirm at game night…”

“Oh, okay.” Even though I was hesitant, something about his response had me a little insecure. But then, he turned things right around.

“Great. But for now…” He winked, one corner of his mouth bumping upward.

“Alex, no…” I was tempted for sure.

“Okay, how about taking your top off.”

I laughed with him that time. “Come on…”

As the two of us reined in our laughter, I must have missed my bedroom door opening, because Gunnar landed with a soft thump on the bed next to me .

“What are we doing?” He turned to my screen. “Oh, hey, good-lookin’,” he said to Alex.

Alex and I both looked guilty, even though we’d literally done nothing of suspect.

“Hey, Gunnar,” Alex said awkwardly.

“I’m guessing by the clothing and uptight faces I didn’t miss the party.” He grinned and lifted his brows. “You know, three beautiful people like us could do some serious damage together.”

My mouth flew open, and I smacked him on the arm. “Gunnar!”

“Please tell me he’s joking,” Alex said.

“Sure, yeah, ha-ha.” Gunnar scooted off the bed and walked to the door. “You guys are no fun.”

When the door closed behind him, I said, “Maybe that’s my cue to go.”

“Wait, you mean I don’t get to watch you sleep?”

I tilted my head at him. “It’s not pretty, Alex.”

“Oh, I know that.” He laughed. “But I wouldn’t mind. Since I can’t touch you, I had other things in mind.”

“Oh, my God!” I made a face, even though the prospect of Alex making do while he watched me was not unpleasant at all. “Have you no self-control?”

“Honestly, I don’t know how I’ve done it all these years. You opened a door, Ava. The beast is out, and he’s hungry. ”

Oh, God . I couldn’t wait to experience all he was referring to, but I still played along. “Down, boy.”

“I’m afraid it’s too late for that. Goodnight, Ava.”

“Goodnight, Alex.”