We Never Kissed

Chapter 16

Alex

Present Day

When I walked into the house that was my second home for as long as I could remember, I felt an unexpected hesitation. Sue and Denny had given me a key in high school and firmly told me they better not ever answer the door to me again. But now that Ava was there…and her buddy Gunnar…I almost worried I’d see something that wouldn’t sit well with me.

And that was exactly what happened. The soft music playing should have been my first clue. What the actual fuck is going on here ? Okay, it took me a second to figure it out, but that didn’t mean I wanted to see a shirtless Gunnar lying on his back, his tanned pecs glistening as he held Ava up by her ankles while she balanced herself holding his ankles. They were like human goddamn bunkbeds! If I wasn’t instantly annoyed by the scene, I might have been impressed by their form and strength, two straight-as-arrows fit bodies holding a push-up pose.

Thankfully, they hadn’t noticed me, which gave me time to pull my more rational self into place. Because the last time I saw someone touching Ava, I’d overreacted; that would only piss her off.

They’re just friends , I reminded myself. And apparently doing couples yoga. And touching each other. Lucky bastard! I took a few deep breaths and belted out, “Honey, I’m home!”

They both turned their heads in my direction, still frozen in their poses.

“Alex?” The way Ava said it told me she was not expecting me.

“Hey, bro,” Gunnar said with a smirk. The word bro sounded foreign coming from his mouth. Gunnar slowly lowered his arms until Ava’s lower half was resting on top of him, so she had no choice but to do the same. Those few seconds before she rolled off him, their bodies pressed together, felt like someone ripping a hangnail off of my thumb, while Gunnar clearly enjoyed the whole scene.

Popping quickly to her feet, Ava said in a panicked tone, “What are you doing here?” She darted her eyes toward the kitchen where her mother likely was—if the delicious smell of garlic bread was any indication.

“I’m here for dinner,” I said, holding up the bottle of wine I’d brought.

She mouthed the word fuck , and I tried not to take it personally.

Gunnar came up behind her. “We’re glad you’re here, aren’t we, Ava honey?”

I rolled my eyes, but before either of us could respond, Gunnar said, “Well, I’m going to hit the shower.” He got two steps before, he shot a look over his shoulder. “Unless anyone wants to join me…”

Ava and I both glared at him.

“I’m kidding. Geez.” As he walked down the hall, I heard him mumble, “Someone needs to get some.”

When Ava turned back to me, I lifted my brows, as if to say I could accommodate that request for her.

Her response was to shoot a look over her shoulder. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

“I suppose since you live here, I figured you knew. I come for dinner the last Saturday of every month, but because of game night, I missed.”

“I should have known something was up. Mom never makes manicotti. Says it’s too much work.”

I showed her a half grin, proud of my special treatment. “I guess I’m worth it. Now if you’ll excuse me…” I moved past her but not before giving her ass a little smack. Those tight yoga pants were irresistible. I was sure her mouth was hanging open, so I didn’t need to look back, just continued on to the kitchen. Business as usual.

Sue greeted me with a giant hug, then took the wine from my hand. “How are you, sweetie?” she said, patting me on the shoulder with her free hand.

“Good. Busy.”

She flipped the light switch on the oven and peeked in, replying, “Grab yourself something to drink, then you can give me a real answer.”

“What do you mean?” I chuckled and pulled a beer from the fridge. Popping it open, I quickly added, “Sammy and Cass coming?” hoping that would distract her. Sue was like a drug-sniffing dog at the border.

“Dax has an ear infection. And you know what I mean.” She leaned against the counter. “I know what the one-word answers mean. Are you dating someone? Is that it?” She grinned as if she hoped that was it. Too bad the truth would wipe that smile right off her face.

“I’ll be closing that Brilliance deal I told you about…” I took a long pull from my beer. “How long before we eat?” I hadn’t thought about facing Sue, keeping this from her. I knew I would have to, but I didn’t realize how hard it would be.

Sue shot me that disapproving mom look. “Uh-huh. I see. I suppose you’ll tell me about her when you’re ready.” She pulled a stack of dishes off the counter and pushed it out to me as if the message were clear to set the table. “Dinner in about half an hour.”

Later, when we were all seated at the table, there was an awkward vibe with Gunnar there and not Sammy and his family. Denny talked about his looming retirement, Ava filled us all in on the apartment it looked like her and Gunnar were going to get, and Sue told the story of a champion of a baby girl born at just twenty-eight weeks and, of course, she teared up as she relayed the details, even with the happy ending.

As if a switch flipped, Sue turned to Ava and said, “So, heard anything about this new girl Alex is dating?”

Ava’s eyes popped wide. “What? Me? Why would I—”

“Ooh, who’s the lucky lady?” Gunnar cut in. I wasn’t sure if it was to save Ava or to goad me.

I dug into my cheesy pasta tube and took a big bite, occupying my mouth.

“Why are we ganging up on Alex?” Denny put in. “Leave the man alone.”

I grinned, not just for the support but because he called me a man and not a boy, which had been his practice. “Thank you, Denny. Truth is my life isn’t that interesting. You all know how much I work.” I turned to Sue. “That’s why I appreciate these meals so much. This is amazing, by the way…”

Sue gave me a genuine smile that time. “You’re welcome. And I’m sorry to give you such a hard time.”

Despite her words, I knew she wouldn’t let this go.

After dinner, we all pitched in to clear the table and put things away. Surprisingly, Gunnar offered to do the dishes, since Sue and Denny wanted to catch a movie. That left Ava and me to fend for ourselves. When she suggested we watch a movie, I couldn’t say no. Anytime with her, being near her, just looking at her, I’d gladly take over anything else. But if I were being honest with myself, it was getting harder and harder to hold myself back. Waiting to be with her had been killing me, and the fact that I couldn’t have her yet, made me want her all the more.

So, when I entered the living room and found her on the couch—having changed into some skimpy short pajama bottoms and a tank top—I almost lost my shit.

My pulse sped up as she stared up at me, a sexy grin pulling at her full mouth, her hand resting on the blanket next to her. My brain went wild with the things I could do to her under that blanket.

“Are you coming…” she said in a soft silky tone.

I looked toward the front of the house. Sue and Denny should be gone for hours… And Gunnar, well, I’d handle him if he bothered us.

Screw it . “Oh, I’m coming all right.”

Taking a seat next to Ava on the couch that I’d spent many days and nights on over the years, watching sports with Sammy was more than surreal—but in a way it felt wrong. Sure a bunch of us kids would pile in there to watch a movie, and many times Ava was there, but I never planned to feel her up on it under a blanket. Sue and Denny would likely be home close to midnight, and Ava had texted her mom a random question just to make sure everything was all right and there were no mishaps that would bring them home early. But it wasn’t all about getting caught. This was their little girl—in their eyes anyway.

As she went through the guide and we debated which movie to see, we were sitting close enough our legs touched. She rested her free hand on my thigh, and I didn’t know if it was done absentmindedly or not, but when she began moving it up and down, my loose-fit jeans suddenly felt snug with the blood racing through my veins. I crossed one leg over my knee, resting my ankle on it.

I wasn’t sure what Ava saw happening tonight, but the longer she rubbed my thigh the more I saw myself needing an all-or-nothing scenario .

“Rom-com, action? Or thriller?” She turned her head, and her lips were inches from mine, so full and stained light pink.

“I don’t care,” I said shortly.

Narrowing her gaze, she said, “Since when?”

I shook my head, torn between everything I wanted and the sense of doom—however irrational—looming over my head.

Setting down the remote, she turned her body to face me. Her wavy dark hair draped over her shoulder. “What’s wrong?” she said, stroking her hand across my cheek like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“This… This whole thing feels off.” I glanced around the room, my eyes landing on a framed photo on the mantel of all of us at one of our trips up to Big Bear. Ava, barely a teen, looking adorable and innocent. “I don’t know if I can do this with you tonight . ”

Instead of getting annoyed with me, she grinned, leaned in, and dragged her lips along my jaw. “You didn’t have a problem the other night, on our date…”

Her bodywash floated under my nose, and all I could see was her in the shower, her skin glistening with droplets of water. “That was different,” I whispered. “We weren’t here ….” When her lips found mine, I didn’t fight it. I couldn’t. Tucking my hand behind her neck, I held her in place so I could get my fill of her, plundering he r mouth like a starved man. Instinctively, I leaned back as we kissed, pulling her with me until she was flush on top of my body, her knees straddling my lap. My hands smoothed down her back, and I stopped at her round ass, where I pressed until she moaned into my mouth.

“Holy hot cross buns!” Gunnar said from the doorway, and the two of us popped up, breathing heavily and exchanging awkward glances.

I didn’t say a word because I’d either come off looking like a jackass or say something rude that would piss one of them off.

Ava pulled her tank top back into place and said, “We’re…just about to watch a movie.”

“Looked more like you were making one.”

I shot a glare his way, but he threw up his hands and said, “Ah, shit, I just remembered I’m supposed to facetime my honey Cheryl.” He waved a hand at us and walked by, adding, “Keep that volume up nice and loud now, kids. I hear any panting, and I’ll come back wearing a bow and a smile.” He laughed like it was the funniest thing he’d ever heard.

“I’m sorry,” Ava said with a wince once he was gone.

I clenched my jaw. “And you’re going to live with that guy.” Somehow I had to come to terms with that. Or maybe I should just have Ava move in with me. Then I could tie her up in my bed and never let her go .

“He’s not growing on you just a tiny bit?” Her brows hung in wait.

I had to be fair—at least the guy supported us. And he was fucking funny sometimes. “I don’t know. Ask me again after you guys move in together.”

Grinning, she said, “How about we forget all that and watch a movie?” She pulled the blanket over herself and halfway over me. “Maybe we can cuddle?”

It was an ambitious plan that was tougher than we’d both thought. Twenty minutes into the movie, I couldn’t keep my hands off her. Feeling those silky thighs, which she’d draped over me, knowing only a thin pair of pajama bottoms and some panties separated me from heaven… As if my hand had a mind of its own, it caressed along her inner thigh, moving higher and higher each time.

When my fingers brushed inside her shorts, along the seam of her underwear, I heard her breathing labor, glanced over and saw the heady look in her eyes. I definitely didn’t want to alert Gunnar to anything, but I had to have this small taste of Ava, bring her a little pleasure. Clearly she wanted it. Tempting fate a bit more, I continued moving my hand where I knew she craved it to be. Her chest filled and mine did too. Her mouth parted, and I closed the distance between us, connected our lips, searching with my tongue. As our kiss grew deeper, more intense, so did the movement of my hand until Ava’s groans of pleasure grew so loud I drew back, smiling with pride but also to give her a warning look as I slowed my hand. She, of course, giggled but gripped my wrist to hold it in place, then leaned back in to capture my mouth.

This side of Ava was surprising and completely welcome. I brushed my lips over her mouth. “God damn, Ava…” I whispered. “Do you know how bad I want you right now?”

“I actually do,” she said breathlessly. Her eyes darted to the hall. “We could go in my room?”

My girl’s will power was worse than mine. “What happened to waiting?” I said with a small grin so she wouldn’t think I was criticizing her. “That was your idea.”

“I know, but… It literally feels like we’ve been waiting years for this.”

I knew exactly what she meant, but I wasn’t about to have our first time be under the Steadmans’ roof. “Don’t get me wrong. I want you… Badly .” I ran my thumb over her bottom lip, aching to kiss it again, but another pang—something else—hit me square in the gut. “Physically, emotionally…I want it all. But, Ava, there’s already been these feelings here that I don’t quite know what to do with, you know? You, Sammy, your parents…I’ve loved you all for so long and now with you…there’s all this other…stuff, and I’m not sure how I’m supposed to reconcile that.”

Her gaze had held mine with every word I spoke, a tenderness in them I wasn’t sure how to take. She sighed. “You’re right. I feel that too.” Then she giggled. “It’s just…when you touch me…pretty much all reason goes out the door.”

I didn’t resist then, moved in and nipped at her mouth. “Now that’s my girl.” My hand was still resting between her legs, unmoving. “We’ll have our time…” With my lips against hers, I said, “And I’ll want you to scream my name. Tonight, though… I can at least give you a little preview, but you’re going to have to keep that little mouth quiet.”