AVA
“You two are so cute. Never in my life could I imagine Colton Thompson being so affectionate. It’s like he can’t keep his hands to himself when you’re around,” Layla murmurs in a breathy whisper while I wash my hands. She’s so dramatic sometimes. “Did you expect him to agree so easily? I mean, once you told me you wanted to invite him, I wasn’t sure he would come.”
“Why?” I turn off the faucet and lean against the countertop. Layla turns to her right and looks at me, her eyes glimmering with warmth.
“Because it meant he would meet your dad. And I wasn’t sure he would want that. It’s kinda serious for just hooking up.” She grins at me, and I can’t help but smile too. “The boy is smitten; it’s hard not to notice.”
“I’m happy he’s here.” I scan the room without seeing anything. I didn’t expect my dad to know him. Dad can obviously tell me more about how they met, but I want Colt to open up to me himself. It’s important to me.
“I kinda noticed that,” she chortles, draping a hand over my shoulder and pulling me into her for a hug. “How do you feel about him?”
“I like him,” I confess, and she hugs me tighter.
“What if he wants to date you?”
“No. We’re just having fun, no obligations.”
Didn’t you promise to be exclusive, Ava?
I wonder if I can turn off my inner voice, because recently it has been saying things I don’t want to hear.
“But what if—”
“No.” I don’t let her finish. I step back abruptly, frowning like a kid. “I have no future with him, and I don’t want to drag myself into another shitty situation that will break my heart.”
Aren’t you already too deep in your feelings for him?
I grit my teeth, turn around, and saunter to the door and out of the bathroom. I want to find Colt and go back home. I have no desire to be at this party any longer, and I honestly regret coming here in the first place. It was a stupid idea, and I should have said no when Layla suggested it.
The first person I see once I step into the living room is Jefferson. Our eyes lock for a moment, and then he checks me out. My skin is burning hot under his gaze—not from desire, but from shame. I hate that fucking asshole, and I despise myself even more for how I feel in his presence. As if I’m still the same girl I was when we were together. As if I’m still someone who allows a guy to treat her like an object. His fucking property.
“Wow,” he murmurs, ambling closer and blocking my way. “Stunning, as always.”
“Bye.” I try to walk around him, and of course his fucking wall of muscles won’t let me. “What the fuck do you want, Levi?”
“To talk to you.” He steps into my personal space, towering over me and instantly making me feel like less than I am. Physically and mentally. “I saw you earlier with another hockey player. It looks like your type hasn’t changed, babe.”
“You’re definitely not my type,” I sneer, balling my fists.
“The guy is well-known in our circle. He’s just as much of a player in real life as he is on the ice rink. Thompson is no better than me—actually, even worse. The dude has fucked almost every girl there is. I can’t believe you fell so low and became a slut.”
I suck in a breath, a sudden coldness hitting my core. “Go fuck yourself, Levi. No one wants you.”
I push past him, heading to the front door as quickly as possible considering all these people dancing around me. What I always forget is my size. I need to push through the crowd, while that fucking idiot just takes a step, and people automatically get out of his way.
“You need to drop the fucking attitude, Ava,” he hisses through his teeth, grabbing my elbow and stopping me in my tracks.
“Fuck off.” I pull my hand out of his grip, turn around, and push him away as hard as I can. Surprise crosses his features as he stumbles back and almost trips over people in the crowd.
“You’re a fucking bitch.” Jefferson yells. His shocked state holds him back for a moment as he tries to steady himself.
I don’t wait for him to stand up. I wheel around and march to the front door, put on my jacket, and stomp out of the house. I just want out. I don’t hear a sound. I don’t see anyone or anything. I want to have at least a moment alone. To get myself together and erase that fucking jerk from my mind.
“Ava.” I hear my name, but I refuse to stop. I’m not in the fucking mood for talking. “Ava.”
“What?” I freeze on the spot, not looking at Colt. Why can’t he take a hint? I don’t want to talk to him. I don’t want to talk to anyone. Even Layla.
He jogs over and stops in front of me. His gaze is tense, but he seems lost. He has no idea how to handle my anger, and it only proves how little we know about one another. Isn’t that what you want, Ava? Just sex, no strings attached?
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Who is that guy?” Colton asks.
Jefferson’s words ring in my ears, sounding louder and louder with each passing moment.
“No one.”
“What did he say to you?”
“Nothing.”
“Why did you push him?” His tone becomes lower, and the wrinkle between his brows deepens. His annoyance is rising, and it won’t be long before he loses his patience and snaps at me. And honestly, I want it. I want him to leave me alone.
“He deserved it.”
“Why?”
“It has nothing to do with you.” Only it does. I didn’t like what Jefferson said about him, what he insinuated.
“If it has to do with you, then it concerns me.” He raises his voice. My chest is ready to explode, so much it hurts. I bite my inner cheek, eyeing him from under my eyelashes. He cares, and I don’t fucking need that.
“Bullshit,” I mumble and spin around, intending to leave him.
Colton wraps his arms around my waist from behind, crashing me into his chest and lifting me. He stalks to his car, unlocks it, and opens the door of the backseat. He pushes me inside, and I fall flat on my face. Tears spring to my eyes, and I dig my fingernails into the seat. Why can’t he leave me alone and give me time to calm down? That’s the only thing I need.
“I’m taking you home,” he rasps and slams the car door. A second later, he’s starting the engine and driving away from the party. I’m seething, and it increases with each beat of my heart, with each turn his car takes. I’m not one to keep silent, and I explode.
Sitting up straight, I meet his gaze in the rearview mirror. “Stop the car.”
“No.”
“Stop the fucking car, Colton.”
“No.”
“Stop it.” I hit his seat with my hand. A fury fires up my whole body, and I have no control over my emotions anymore. Tipsy Ava always makes bad decisions, no matter the consequences. “I want out.”
He grimaces, as if from a sudden toothache. “No.”
I slide to the door and yank it, trying to open it. It’s useless, and I know that, but if I’m wound up, I never know how to stop. “Stop the fucking car and let me out.”
I hear him curse, and the car begins to skid. I bang my head on the window, and my vision blurs from pain. I pissed him off so much, he almost lost control of his car.
The vehicle stops abruptly, and I look out the window. We’re about ten minutes away from my house, close to a local park.
Colton jumps out and comes to my door. The next thing I know, I am staring at his face, which is contorted with anger. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“Let me out.” I put my hands on his chest, pushing him away.
“No.” he shouts, not budging even an inch.
“Let.” I push more. “Me.” And more. “The fuck.” And more. “Out.” My legs are on the ground, and I look up, meeting his cold stare. “Move.”
Rage is the only emotion I recognize. He rakes his gaze over my face, his nostrils flaring. My heart skips a beat, and my mouth falls open. What the fuck is this? Oh my God. I’m sick in the head—my fucking pussy is wet.
Colt inches closer, grabbing my throat with his palm. He lowers his face; his mouth is less than an inch away from mine. “Stop being a fucking brat.” His tongue traces my bottom lip, and my nipples pebble from the contact. “Get in the car and bend over.”
“Wh-what?”
He lets go of my throat, winds his hand around my waist, and spins me around. His other hand on my back pushes me facedown into the backseat. Colton lifts the skirt of my dress and drags my tights down, still not touching my panties.
“How wet am I going to find you, Ava?” he asks huskily, unzipping his fly. “How wet are you for me?”
And my fucking brain stops functioning. I lift my ass higher, hearing him tear the condom wrapper. I look over my shoulder and meet his gaze. “I’m dripping.”
Colton glides my panties down and presses the tip of his cock to my opening, wetting it with my juices. I want him to fill me. I want him so bad, it’s the only emotion I still have. My anger and frustration have dissolved, replaced by primal desire. I’m a fucking goner already.
He slides into me, and I shut my eyes tighter. This time, he doesn’t give me any opportunity to adjust to his girth. Fire surges through my veins, and my clit throbs. I love how he makes me feel. I love the feeling of him inside me, how he stretches my pussy until he’s balls deep. I feel complete as he slides deeper, slamming his hips into mine and digging his fingernails into my ass. There is no tenderness, no slowness like there was before. It’s wild and unpredictable, fulfilling and emptying at the same time. As soon as he moves away, I want him back.
Sex is unique. It depends a lot on your partner. I can’t say I have a lot of experience, but I know what gets me off, and I know what cools me down. I know my body and how I like to be touched. I’m all for trying something new, but except for a few times, sex was pretty ordinary. With Colton, it’s blissful, driven, and sensual. He doesn’t need to ask about the things I want him to do to me. It’s like he knows everything about my needs, like they are his own. It’s pure passion and infinite lust, but there is something else too. Something else is forming between us, and I’m definitely not ready to acknowledge it.
“Does it feel good?” Colt pumps into me steadily and without holding back. I whimper as he slaps my butt. My legs are shaking, and the peak of my orgasm builds up.
“Yes,” I breathe, and he pulls my hair, fisting my braids. “Oh God, please don’t stop.”
“Maybe I should—wasn’t that what you wanted? For me to stop?” His movements gradually slow down, and I feel my orgasm fading away. “I don’t think you’re ready to come just yet.”
I look over my shoulder, glaring at him. He smirks, slaps my ass, and picks up the pace again. As he slowly rams me from behind, pleasure builds in my lower abdomen. He’s going incredibly deep. The sound of our bodies slamming against one another is spellbinding. It makes me forget everything around me. Except him.
“You feel so good inside me…please don’t stop…don’t fucking stop, Colt…”
But he does. He slows down, and my almost-there orgasm slips away from me again. I hide my face in the seat, shutting my eyes tight. I fucking hate him for that. It’s pure torture already, and him depriving me makes me see red.
“Please, Colt…I need to come…please…” I whine, admitting defeat.
He tugs on my braids as he starts to move again, his thrusts long and hard. I rotate my hips, meeting him halfway, desperate in my desire to come.
“Anything for my little brat.”
Colton fucks me so deep, I see stars. I bring my hand between my thighs, find my clit, and rub it fast. My legs give out, and my toes curl as I come, moaning his name. “Choke my dick, baby…just like that…”
His grip on my ass intensifies, and he groans, spilling cum into the condom. He continues fucking me, prolonging our orgasms and making me feel like I’m on cloud nine.
Colt steps back, helps me fix my clothes, and then takes the condom off. He hides his dick in his pants and looks around for a trash can. Once he has gotten rid of it, he returns to the car and climbs into the backseat with me. He pulls me onto his lap, circling his hands around my waist and looking into my eyes.
“Let’s try this again.” He smiles as I wrap my arms around his neck. “What happened?”
I snicker, licking my lips. “I saw someone I can’t stand.”
“Who was that guy?”
“He’s my ex. Jefferson. Levi Jefferson.” I take a deep breath and exhale loudly. “I think you know him. He plays for—”
“The Gladiators,” he tells me. “What did he say to you?”
“He saw us together and said I must have fallen really low to be seen with someone like you.”
“Someone like me?”
“He said you’ve fucked almost every girl ever.”
“I don’t fuck just anyone. I’m not Clay.”
I punch him in his shoulder, and he laughs. “You just called your best friend a manwhore.”
“I’m stating the obvious.” His hand slides lower, and he palms my butt. “What else did he say to you?”
“I hate when he touches me. I hate how he makes me feel, bringing back all the bad memories. I can easily brush off what he says, but all that combined with what he said about you…it made me lose my shit.”
“You pushed him good,” Colt murmurs, cupping my cheek with his palm. “But I honestly freaked out. I was afraid Benson or I wouldn’t make it in time and he would do something to you.”
I press my forehead to his and gaze deep into his eyes. “Thank you, Colt, and I’m sorry for my behavior. I was being irrational and reckless.”
“What did he do to you? It must have been pretty bad for you to react to him like that.”
I keep quiet, but then inch toward his lips. “Can we talk about it some other time? I don’t want to get into my past right now.”
“Promise to tell me everything?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want to go home?”
“I want you to kiss me,” I urge him, and he grins.
“Whatever you wish, Ava.” With that, he pulls my face to his, and our lips connect.
This guy is like my own reflection and a total stranger at the same time. It’s like someone cursed me, and other people cease to exist when he’s around. And honestly? There is nothing in the world I love more than losing myself in him.
