Kissing Fire (29 page)

She skipped to my side of the bed and was straddling
me before I knew what happened. Her lips were on mine, and they
were wet and warm. My hands grasped her hips and I heard her
moan.

“Someone is happy to feel you so close,” I said.

“I think he wants some attention,” she said.

“Correction. I know he needs some attention.”

I moved my hand between us and touched her sex,
seeing if she was ready for me.

“Damn, you’re always so wet for
me.”

“Now Preston. I need you now.”

She shifted and slid my hardness into her. Her hands
squeezed my shoulders as we began our rhythm, back and forth, but
then her hand moved to my face and grabbed it, hard.

She stopped moving altogether and clenched her
thighs against mine. “Preston, you need to hear this,” she said
firmly.

That got all of my attention.

“I love you and I plan on us being together. I’m
tired of you blaming things on you being fucked up. You need to get
over it. Understand?”

Fuck!

“Well...”

“No! Either you understand or you
don’t. We have to move beyond this now. I love the fuck out of you
and I can deal with your past. The question now is can
you?”

Those damn eyes of hers, not blue and not green,
were blazing at me. Whether it was from passion or love or the raw
intensity of her honesty, I wasn’t sure. But I knew in that moment,
I had to release all that baggage from my past and do what she
said, or I’d be living my life without Avery.

“Yeah. For you I can do anything.”

She smiled, kissed me and then said, “Good, now I
wanna be on the bottom.”

“But I was liking you on top,” I protested.

“I don’t care. This is my call right now.” She
brushed the back of her hands across my nipple piercings and she
had me...she had me bad.

A few moments later, she was moaning in my ear,
“Harder, Preston, harder. Yeah, oh yeah.” And then I felt her
spasming around me as she cried out my name. Oh, it was so worth it
to let her have her way.

Chapter 27

Avery

Every now and again, a girl just needs to take
control, and that’s what I did. I knew Preston needed to have his
drawers jerked in a knot, but since he wasn’t wearing any at the
time, I did the next best thing. Yeah, he was in shock, but I
didn’t care. I was so done with hearing about how messed up he was.
Well, weren’t we all? Okay, maybe not to the degree he was. But, we
all had issues and we needed to stop blaming our problems on
them.

After our sweet love making session, which was extra
special because of my stipulations (or I thought so anyway), we had
our talk.

“Here are my demands. I’m calling them that because
that’s what they are. They’re relatively few, but they’re deal
breakers. So, if you’re unable to agree to them, you better speak
up. You ready?” I asked.

“I am.”

“No lies ever. I don’t care what it is or what it
has to do with. Never ever lie.”

“Agreed. No lies. Ever.

“No matter what happens, I can’t accept your
profession. I’m sorry. I would never normally ask this of someone,
but what you do is way too risky for me. I can’t handle not knowing
if you’re alive or dead on a daily basis.”

“Agreed. No more DEA.”

I wasn’t expecting that answer. “So, what will you
do?”

“I’ll figure it out. What’s next on your list?”

“No more excuses for you being fucked up.”

“Now that’s a tough one.”

I looked at him and wanted to cave. It was killing
me not to take him into my arms and tell him it would all be fine,
but I knew it would be wrong. Preston had done this for too long.
He had buried his issues and not faced them and look what happened.
They had almost ruined his life. The time had come for him to
boldly face what he’d endured and to conquer his fears of it. If we
were ever going to have a healthy relationship, that’s what he
would have to do.

“I know it’s tough, but it’s nonnegotiable. You know
I love you. Now you have to love yourself enough to do this.”

“I’m not sure...”

“I’m not asking you to do it alone. I’ll help and
there is other help out there.”

“I don’t know if I can talk about it.”

“You’re going to have to. Nonnegotiable, remember?
You have to decide how much you want us.”

“Oh Avery, I want us more than anything.”

“Then you have your answer, Preston.”

He inhaled deeply. “I’ll need you for this. There
are things...so many things you don’t know yet.”

“I’m here. I’ll always be here.”

He nodded and his eyes, God his eyes were filled
with all sorts of things. Pain, love, insecurity, hope, everything
that he couldn’t put into words. I loved his eyes. Reaching out for
his cheek, I placed my palm against it and said, “We’ll do this
together Preston and we’ll be better for it.”

“I just hope I’m doing the right thing for you, is
all.”

“Well, that train’s left the station.” I kissed him.
“I really love your pierced nipples,” I said as I played with
them.

“Okay, let’s not get off topic here. Next,” he said,
grabbing my hands.

“Vail. I want to live here and start a
business.”

“Done. Next.”

“Wait. What do you mean done? What about the cabin
in Montana?”

“I’m selling it.”

“You are not. I love that place.”

“We’ll get a place here.”

“It won’t be the same,” I sighed.

Preston looked at me, his gaze dark with something I
couldn’t define. “Look, I loved you before we even got to the
cabin, but I almost destroyed that love there. I don’t ever want to
go back there Avery.”

“But you’re going to. And do you know why?”

He shook his head.

“Because that’s where the journey will end. You’ve
been running from your demons for far too long Preston. It’s time
you face them, and when you have, you and I are going back to
Montana. Together.”

********

He agreed to everything. Everything single thing on
my list. We’d ordered in a huge breakfast and were finishing up,
when he said, “So now it’s my turn.”

“What do you mean?” I asked in confusion.

“You didn’t think this was going to be one sided did
you?”

Well, duh, I kinda had.

He laughed, reading my mind.

“Okay, go on.”

“I want to know all about why you are so self
conscious.”

I rolled my eyes. So much so, it hurt. Then I had to
rub them. “Jeez, Preston, how many times do we have to go through
this?”

“As many as it takes.”

“I just am.”

“Huh uh. You know that’s not it.”

I groaned again. “I was always held to a higher
standard. It’s the family thing. My brothers are smart and good
looking, I guess. I was supposed to be like that too.”

“And?”

“And I’m not.”

“Bullshit. You are.”

“To you, yes. To my mom, not so much. I mean she
acted like it and all, but there was always that little critical
thing going on. You know, ‘Avery don’t do this.’ Or, ‘Avery not
like that.’ My hair was always too long, too short, too thin, too
thick. My brothers never saw it because they got all the mama love.
You know, it’s just different between guys and their mothers. My
grandmother saw through it and she would always whisper something
really loving to me. That’s why I wanted to start using her name.
The last time I saw her she told me that she thought I was awesome.
She also said my mom was always commenting on how fat I was but
that she thought I was perfect. That’s my grandmother for you. So
there you have it. Why I’m fucked up, I guess.”

He stared at me for the longest time without saying
a word. When I couldn’t stand it anymore, I blurted out, “You know,
that’s what she would always do. Just stand there and look at me,
not saying a word. That’s why I get so damn squirmy when you do
that.”

His arms were pulling me against him before I could
even finish. “Don’t ever mistake my looks for hers,” he whispered
against my hair. “I’m just amazed at how perfectly adorable you are
and that she would dare to find fault with that.”

“You always know how to say the right things to me.
I’ll give you that.”

“Avery, I’m not trying to say something just to make
you feel better. I’m giving you honesty from my heart.”

“I know and thank you.” I kissed him.

“So tell me about your old boyfriends,” he asked
with a chuckle.

“Jeez, aren’t you the nosy one?” I laughed for a
second, but then it died a fast death. “There really isn’t much to
tell. I hardly dated until after college. Oh, I went out here and
there, but I was always too busy with school. After I moved back to
Charleston, things seemed okay, but then I realized guys wanted to
date me because of who I was. That was always fun. Going out with
someone that you ended up liking and then hearing through your
girlfriends that he was only after you because of your money and
family connections. Then my friends even started to drift off after
a while. Everyone always thinks being wealthy is great, but it’s
not been a fun ride for me.”

He looked at me with a heated expression and
suddenly I remembered the bracelet.

"Preston, do me a favor and bring me my jacket
please."

He looked at me strangely, but did as I asked.

Digging in the pocket, I pulled out the box from
Tiffany's. Smiling, I opened it up and took out the bracelet. "Will
you put this on me please?"

His eyes locked with mine and the sentiment
radiating from them, reached into my heart and soul. "Oh Avery, I
would be very honored to place this around your wrist," his voice
laced with emotion. He fastened the bracelet around my arm and took
my hand and placed it over his heart.

"Did you really mean what you wrote on this
card?"

"Of course I did."

"Well then, could you please tell me because those
were such beautiful words, I'd love to hear you say them."

"This bracelet represents my love to you Avery,
always encircling you and never ending. I love you sweetheart."

"Preston, this is the most beautiful thing I've ever
seen. Thank you. I'll cherish this always."I leaned over and gently
kissed him.

"I'm very pleased you like it. I wasn't certain...I
wanted to get you something with true meaning behind it, so I
thought this, along with the flowers would be... "

"They were absolutely perfect. Thank you." I kissed
him again.

He ran his thumb across my lower
lip. That tiny gesture always seemed to have a direct link to my,
well, you know. “So, you’ve never been in love before me?” he
asked.

I crossed my legs and squeezed, trying to push back
the surge of need that had flared within me. “Nope. You’re my
first. Is that bad?”

“No, it’s not bad. Why would you ask that?”

I uncrossed and recrossed my legs. “I don’t know.
Just wondering.”

“Avery?” His voice seemed to caress my every nerve
ending.

“Yes,” I answered, hoarsely I might add.

“Why are you fidgeting so?”

“Because you make me that way.”

“Hmm, well then, let me see what I can do about
that.”

Like I said before, Preston was fast. One minute I
was squirming and the next he was spooning behind me. His hand was
splayed across my hips, his fingers circling my little nub while he
slowly and sensuously moved in and out of me. My arms were above my
head, clutching onto him. At first I purred, then I meowed, then
I’m positive I screeched, and quite loudly too, as I yelled at him
to rock me harder.

It took awhile, but eventually when I could finally
breathe again, I told Preston he was my catnip.

“That’s about the sexiest thing you could’ve said to
me Avery,” he laughed.

“But it’s true!” I insisted. “I don’t know what you
do to me, but you bring out the, well, I’m not really sure what it
is.”

“Don’t worry. I love bringing it out of you.”

“It’s a good thing because I have a good bit of it
to bring out.”

“I want you to make me a promise.”

I squinted my eyes at him. I had a feeling he was
going to wheedle something out of me that I might regret later.

“Can it be conditional?”

“Nope.” He picked up a piece of my hair and wound it
around his finger.

“Okay. I promise. Now, what did I just promise?”

“That you’ll listen to me and stop beating yourself
up. I know what I see and I see beauty before me. That’s it.”

“Okay.”

He laughed and I knew why. It wasn’t going to be
that easy, but I would try. The trouble was, it would be hard to
automatically get rid of years of being told you were something you
weren’t.

He nibbled my neck and then leaned back. “Don’t
doubt what I tell you about yourself. Ever.”

I covered his hand with mine and laced our fingers
together.

“So, did you want to ski today?” I asked.

“I would love it. I want you to take me to the back
of the mountain and teach me some of your special tricks.”

Covering his body with mine, I framed his face and
touched my thumbs to his cheeks. “I have no tricks, but I’ll take
you anywhere you want to go.”

He kissed me, like he hadn’t kissed me in months.
And then he answered, “I watched you ski for the last few days.
You’re amazing and super fast. I couldn’t keep up with you. I want
you to teach me how you do that.”

I squinted my eyes at him for the second time that
morning. “Have you been spying on me?”

“Kind of,” he admitted.

I sighed.

“Why?” he asked.

“Well, I’ve had this feeling that someone’s been
watching me. And now I know why.” I pinched him on the ribs. Then
my palm drifted up and brushed his nipple. “I think I want to get
my nipples pierced,” I said.