CHAPTER 2

AVA

I collapsed onto the couch in Dad's living room, my suitcase finally upstairs in my old room. The house smelled exactly the same, like lemon polish and ocean air from the open windows. Ryan had carried everything up for me without even breaking a sweat. Those arms. God. I was still recovering from the drive home.

He dropped into the armchair across from me, stretching his long legs out. His shirt pulled tight across his chest and I had to look away quickly.

"You okay?" he asked, that deep voice making my stomach flip.

"Yeah," I said, forcing a smile. "Just tired. Thanks for hauling all my crap up the stairs. You're a lifesaver."

He grinned. "No problem. Mark would have my head if I let you struggle."

I laughed. "Dad's so dramatic."

We started talking and we didn't stop. Hours went by. He asked about college, my business management degree, how I was nervous about the corporate job waiting for me in the city.

"It's good money," I said, tucking my legs under me. "Stable. But honestly? Graphic design is my real passion. I do it on the side. Freelance stuff. Logos, posters, whatever."

I shifted on the couch, pressing my thighs together. I was wet. So wet. Just from talking to him. This was ridiculous.

We talked about his firm, how he'd expanded it, big projects on the coast. He told stories about Dad from their military days that had me crying laughing.

"Your dad once tried to cook for the whole unit," Ryan said, shaking his head. "Burned everything. We ate charcoal for dinner."

I snorted. "Sounds like him."

My phone buzzed. Dad. Video call. Perfect timing.

I answered quickly. "Hey Dad!"

His face popped up, tanned from wherever he was. "Baby girl! Are you home safe?"

"Yeah," I said, turning the phone so Ryan came into view. "Your best friend played chauffeur like a champ."

Ryan leaned in, waving. "Hey man. She's all settled."

Dad grinned wide. "Good. Thanks buddy. I owe you."

"You owe me nothing," Ryan said. "She's family."

Dad laughed. "Still. Don't let her burn the house down while I'm gone."

"Hey!" I protested. "I'm not that bad."

Ryan smirked at me. "She almost flooded the kitchen trying to make coffee earlier."

"I did not!" I swatted his arm again. His very hard arm. Sparks everywhere.

Dad cracked up. "You two. Same as always. Picking on my little girl."

"Someone has to keep her in line," Ryan teased.

"Yeah yeah," Dad said. "Listen, change of plans. Work wrapped early. I'm flying back tomorrow. Home by noon."

My eyes widened. "Really? That's awesome!"

"Missed you kiddo," Dad said. "And I wanna catch up with this guy too." He pointed at Ryan. "It's been too long since we grabbed beers."

Ryan nodded. "Definitely. Safe flight man."

"You bet," Dad said. "Love you Ava. Be good."

"Love you too," I said.

The call ended and I set my phone down, grinning. "Tomorrow? That's so soon."

Ryan smiled back. "Good news."

We sat there a second, just looking at each other. The air felt thick. Heavy. His eyes dropped to my lips for a split second and my heart slammed.

He cleared his throat suddenly. "Shit. I forgot. I have a client meeting in an hour. Virtual, but I need to prep."

"Oh," I said. "You can use Dad's office if you want."

"Nah," he said, standing. "I brought a change of clothes. I'll shower quickly in the guest room and set up there. Do you mind?"

"Not at all," I said, trying to sound normal. Shower. Him naked. Water running down that body. Fuck. My core throbbed hard.

He grabbed a duffel from by the door. He must have brought it in earlier. "Be right back."

He headed down the hall to the guest room. I watched him go, biting my lip so hard it hurt. I was soaked. Completely drenched. My panties clung to me and every shift on the couch made it worse. I couldn't stop picturing him. Those hands on me. That voice growling my name.

I tried to distract myself, scrolling my phone. But my mind kept drifting. What would he feel like? Rough? Gentle? Both?

His phone buzzed on the coffee table. He must have left it. The screen lit up. Incoming call from "Client - Harbor Project."

I stood quick. "Ryan!" I called. No answer. Probably already in the shower.

I grabbed the phone and walked down the hall. The guest room door was closed. Water was running. I knocked soft. "Ryan? Your phone's ringing!"

Nothing. The buzzing kept going.

I twisted the knob slowly. It wasn't locked. "Ryan I have your"

The door opened a crack and I froze.

I heard a groan and a moan.

"Ava."

My name. On his lips. Like that.

Holy fuck.

My face burned nuclear red. Heat flooded everywhere. I backed out fast, pulling the door shut quietly. The phone stopped ringing as I bolted down the hall.

I slammed into the living room, heart pounding like crazy. I dropped onto the couch, burying my face in a pillow.

Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck.

He was thinking about me. Touching himself to me. Saying my name.

I was shaking. My whole body on fire. Wetness soaked through my panties now. I pressed my legs together hard but it only made me ache more.

I bolted up the stairs like my life depended on it. My heart slammed against my ribs so hard I thought it might burst. He had no idea I opened the door. No idea I heard him.

"Ava."

Fuck. The way he groaned my name. Deep. Desperate. Like he was losing control.

I slammed my bedroom door behind me and leaned against it, breathing ragged. My face was on fire. My whole body was on fire. I slid down to the floor for a second, thighs clenched tight.

I was dripping. Literally dripping. My panties were soaked through, clinging sticky to my skin. I could feel it every time I moved. Wetness coating my inner thighs.

I couldn't take it anymore.

I stood up shaky and yanked my sundress over my head, tossing it aside. My bra came next. Then my panties. I peeled them off slow, watching the wet spot in the crotch. God. I was a mess. For him. Because of him.

I crawled onto my bed naked, the cool sheets making me shiver. But I was burning up inside. My pussy throbbed so bad it hurt. Aching. Needing.

I spread my legs wide, knees bent. My fingers slid down my stomach, trembling. I was so slick. So ready. One touch to my clit and I gasped loud.

"Ryan," I whispered to myself, eyes squeezing shut.

I pictured him in that shower. Water running down his hard body. Those big hands wrapped around his cock. Stroking himself thinking about me. Groaning my name like that.

Fuck yes.

I circled my clit slowly at first, teasing. But I was too far gone. My hips bucked up. I dipped two fingers inside myself easily, so wet they slid right in. I moaned into the pillow, biting it hard.

Deeper. Faster. I pumped my fingers, curling them just right. My thumb rubbed my clit in tight circles. Pleasure built fast, hot and intense.

I imagined his mouth on me. His tongue licking where my fingers were. Those gray eyes looking up at me while he devoured my pussy. His stubble scratching my thighs.

"Oh god," I whimpered, muffled against the pillow. My free hand grabbed my breast, pinching my nipple hard.

I was close. So close.

"Ryan... please..."

I thought of him pinning me down. That big cock stretching me. Filling me. Fucking me rough because he couldn't hold back anymore.

That did it.

I came hard. So hard my vision blurred. My pussy clenched around my fingers, pulsing over and over. Juices gushed out, soaking my hand, the sheets. I shook uncontrollably, biting the pillow to muffle my cries.

Wave after wave crashed through me. My toes curled. My back arched off the bed.

It felt endless. Best orgasm of my life. And it was all because of him.

Finally I collapsed, panting. Sweaty. Spent.

My fingers slipped out slow, glistening. I brought them to my mouth without thinking, tasting myself. Salty. Sweet.

Holy shit.

What was I doing? This was Ryan. Dad's best friend. Forbidden.

But I didn't care. Not anymore.

I wanted the real thing. I wanted him inside me. Groaning my name for real.

And after what I just heard?

He wanted me too.

He wanted me. Ryan Hale wanted me.

And god I wanted him back.

What the hell were we going to do now?