Crashed (8 page)

Emily stopped to take a deep breath before continuing. “They were on the Dunlawton Bridge, heading toward beachside. God, only two miles from home.” He took her hand, running his fingers along hers, while his other hand fixed a strand of misplaced hair.

“A drunk driver was coming over the bridge the wrong way. He hit them head on.” She exhaled sharply, while another tear sprang from her reddening eyes. “They died on impact. The driver miraculously lived. I wish he’d died instead, though. But you know what they say about drunk drivers, they always survive because they can’t brace for the impact.” Letting out a tense, sarcastic laugh, she looked into Avery’s eyes. She could see the pity written all over his face. She had learned over the years to recognize the look, but there was something mixed with the sadness he felt for her. Something comforting, welcoming. Something about his gaze felt like home.

“I went through the house for about a week after they died. I tried to go through everything. I really did. But the day my ex walked out on me, and I was all alone in the world, I walked away from the house and never came back. Until tonight.” Her chest hurt as she continued to recall Jared’s voice as he left, ‘I just have too much on my plate to deal with all this.’ With that, he’d jumped into his black SUV and Emily never saw him again, until he’d shown up at the hospital and then again today. She’d hated him from the moment he walked away from her. Completely crushed by his lack of compassion in her deepest time of need. She didn’t know if she every truly loved him, but she never mourned the relationship they’d had. She’d just been too numb.

“Until tonight. Avery, you helped me be able to come up here.” She turned to him and placed a tender kiss on his cheek before lying back against the deck once more. She stared into the distance, the orange sunset engulfing the sky, and she couldn’t help but smile among the sorrow which filled her soul. Her parents were watching over her. Maybe they would finally be able to smile with her now that she was finding happiness in her life.

“Emily, I don’t even know what to say. God, you are so amazing.” He rested his lips against hers once more in a chaste kiss.

“Then don’t say anything, just lie with me. I don’t need more than your arms right now,” she said while snuggling into his embrace, placing her head on his chest. His heart echoed under her ear as she placed her unoccupied hand on his taut abs, slowly running her fingers along the seams of his clothing. The waves crashed in the distance as the sun continued to set. While the night had not turned out as either of them planned, neither would complain. The ties that bound them together had strengthened that evening.

***

The couple walked through the door of Emily’s apartment, never breaking the grasp of their hands. Kicking off her sandy shoes, she turned to look at Avery standing in her foyer with a clear look of uncertainty on his face. He didn’t know whether he should kick off his shoes and relax with her or head back out to his truck for the night. It wasn’t long before Emily answered the question for him.

“Do you have anything you have to do tomorrow?” Biting her bottom lip, she swayed from one foot to the other, while eagerly waiting for his answer. She batted her big blue eyes at him while his lips turned upward in a seductive grin.

“Nope. Not a thing. Why, ya got something in mind, Sugar?” He started kicking off his shoes while she drooled over the southern twang which could melt her into a puddle on the floor. No matter how much he spoke, it did it for her every time.

“I was actually hoping you would stay the night with me, Avery.” She smiled up at him, catching his magnificent green eyes in a gaze. “I don’t want to be alone,” she admitted. It was nothing short of honesty. The night had taken an emotional toll on her. No matter how
new
their relationship was, she didn’t want to be left alone to her thoughts tonight.

“I don’t think there’s anywhere I would rather be, Emily,” Avery answered her honestly. They could do nothing but watch movies, or hell, play board games and he would be perfectly content with her company. Everything was just so easy with her.

“I’m going to grab a couple of movies from my shelf. We can watch them in my bedroom. I want to relax a little bit, if that’s okay with you.”

He nodded, moving with her to the living room. He wanted to pick out a movie. After all, the last movie was her choice.

“How about Fools Rush In?” Emily questioned. “It’s one of my all-time favorites.” He couldn’t help but agree to the 90’s romantic comedy when her face beamed with such enthusiasm about it. After the night they’d shared, he would have watched anything which would’ve kept that smile secure on her face.

“You got something to sleep in, Avery?” Emily pulled open her dresser drawer and tossed a nightgown on the bed as she slipped her hot pink fuzzy slippers over her toes.

“What the hell are those?”

He laughed as she rounded the bed, bringing her eyesore house slippers into his view. She couldn’t help but join in his laughter. They were damn hideous, but damn were they comfortable. She didn’t make it a point to keep them around the house; everyone who’d visited over the years never let her live them down, so now they stayed hidden in her bedroom. “My house slippers. Aren’t they adorable?” She teased with sarcasm. “They are honestly, ugly as hell, but fuck they are comfortable!” She laughed, heading for the bathroom. “I’m going to get changed and wash my feet off. Feel free to get comfortable, I’ll be out in a few,” she said and disappeared behind the cream colored bathroom door.

While Emily turned on the shower water, Avery paced back and forth in her bedroom, thinking of what the hell he would be wearing to bed. He finally settled on no shirt, and his boxers. Just like he slept every other night of the week. He shimmied his pants down and tried to ignore his erection. Just the idea of sharing a bed with Emily was enough to make his manhood do inappropriate things.
Stupid dick.
He thought while trying to tame his already growing hard-on.

When Emily made her way out of the bathroom, her eyes flew to Avery lying on her bed shirtless.
Helllllllllo, lover.
She thought while approaching the TV.

Avery grinned, watching her quickly turn toward the television, away from him. It was then he noticed what she was wearing—a little nightgown which fell just above her knees. Not short and sexy, but not grandma length. In his mind, it left just enough to the imagination, and damn his was already going a million miles an hour.

“You ready for
Fools Rush In
?”

Emily turned, asking him while slipping off the hideous slippers, pulling the covers back slightly and hopping up onto her lifted queen size sleigh bed. Avery laughed at Emily’s effort. “You ever consider getting a bed closer to the ground?” She smiled and playfully punched him in the arm while settling in under the cream and pink floral print comforter.

“I love my bed!” she answered playfully. “I mean, isn’t it completely gorgeous? It just
goes
in a beach house, right? That’s the look I was going for when I found it at Rooms 2 Go.”

God, he hated that place. It had been a nightmare just trying to find simple furniture when he moved to Daytona. The women in that showroom-hell-hole had eaten him alive and spit him back out, but not before dropping over three thousand dollars on furniture. “It does go with everything in here magically. You sure you weren’t some kind of interior decorator in another life?”

“God, you don’t know how much I would love to do that.” She was beyond serious. It had always been something which interested her. Between Pinterest and her own desire for crafting projects she would die to make a career out of it.

The thought of a career change frightened her, but after contemplating her letter of resignation it had become a genuine idea. The sky was the limit for her future. She didn’t care who would support her dreams. It was clear her sister didn’t approve of much she did with her life, not that she cared what Amelia thought anymore, anyway. Change was starting to sound good, lots of change.

***

“Could you imagine living that story?” Avery questioned with a look of genuine curiosity. The movie had ended only minutes before and they were mulling over what to watch next.

“Yes, actually. Since I watched that movie for the first time eons ago, I secretly always wanted to end up knocked up by some random one night stand.” Sarcasm dripped off her words as she laughed at Avery. “Seriously though, could you imagine having that kind of attraction? It’s what all little girls dream of.” She moved to the edge of the bed, reaching for the two movies they had to choose from.

As she nudged off the bed, her bare ass came in full view of Avery’s eyes.
Commando? Oh, dear lord!
He thought, desperately trying to forget he had even been able to see anything.
Down boy!

“Okay,
The Princess Bride
or
Legally Blonde
?” Emily turned around to catch Avery staring a hole through her back.
God, he looks gorgeous in my bed
. He let out a chuckle.

“Girly or girly? God, such a crappy choice.” They both started laughing.

“I don’t have the best movie selection, sorry. I’m a chick, I like chick movies.” Emily didn’t watch movies that often. In fact, the first time she’d kicked her DVD player on in almost a year had been a few days earlier to watch Serendipity with Avery.

“I guess I will go with...” He let out a long pause while pretending to be deep in thought. “
The Princess Bride
. Hello, my name is Indigo Montoya. You killed my father, now prepare to die.”

After switching on the DVD player once again, Emily looked back at Avery, slowly licking her lips, and made a running leap onto the huge cushy bed.

“I have to tell you a secret,” she whispered while moving up the bed, crawling to where Avery laid.

“And what is that?” he replied, without breaking eye contact.

“The fact that you just quoted
The Princess Bride
, in my bed, without a shirt on...was probably the sexiest thing I have seen, ever.” Before he had a chance to say anything, Emily lowered her lips onto his, kissing him while she straddled his lap. As her hair started falling around her face, his hands instinctively began running through her golden locks, gently tugging with urgency as their feverish kiss continued.

With each swipe of her tongue, Avery could feel his erection growing between the two of them. Thankfully, he was under the blankets while Emily still remained above the comforter. Although he did wish there was nothing separating him from her center.

“I’m sorry, wow...I don’t know what got into me.” Emily laughed as she moved to the other side of the bed, getting comfortable under the covers again. “I guess it’s just been a while since I had a man in my bed. I don’t do
horny
well at all.” She chuckled to herself, but Avery was all business, only shedding the smallest grin.

“Believe me, it’s okay. I’m in the same boat, completely.” He shrugged and snuggled closer to Emily, wrapping his arm around her. She moved in, laying her head on his chest. They both struggled to pay attention to the movie. Minutes went by and Emily couldn’t hold her tongue anymore.

“This whole thing with us…” She paused to compose herself. If there was something Emily was always uncomfortable with, it was sharing her feelings, especially after being so open and honest in the past with it only leading to hurt. “I feel like there is just something here. I told myself from the start, I want to take things slow. But whenever I’m with you, I want to throw all caution to the wind.” She exhaled and ran her fingers through his gorgeous sandy hair. Before another word was exchanged from either of their lips, Avery rolled over, pinning her on the bed with a grin.

“I told myself I would take this slow too. I like you so much. But when I’m with you, Emily, I just can’t control myself. It’s like my body has a mind of its own.” He lowered his mouth carefully, kissing up and down her exposed neck, continuing to bare all his thoughts along the way. “I’ve never been with someone I felt so close to, so
in tune
with before. I want my days to begin and end with you, Emily.” His tongue darted out of his mouth, licking a short length from her collarbone to her ear before slowly sucking on her pierced earlobe.

“I’ve tried to behave, Avery. I really have. But now that I’ve had just a little taste of you, I just can’t stop,” Emily whispered as her lover continued working on her sensitive neck, her hands roaming all over his smooth chest.

“When you got up before to put in the movie… God, Emily. Your ass,” Avery choked out as he worked his lips to her mouth.

“HA!” She laughed out loud, breaking the intimate moment between them. “You saw my ass?” She continued laughing while tears rolled down the side of her face. “I knew I should have kept my panties on!” Her face started to turn a shade of embarrassed bright red. If there was one thing Emily wasn’t a fan of, it was panties. She could go the rest of her life without wearing another pair; life was just more comfortable that way. Sitting in the bathroom earlier in the evening, she debated keeping them on, only settling on losing them when she remembered she would never be able to sleep in them.

“Oh, yes, I saw. The view was beautiful.” Before Emily could continue her school-girl-like embarrassment, Avery worked his way down from her lips, on a mission to taste her luscious breasts. Emily gasped before reaching her hands into his hair while unleashing her dirty mouth.

“Oh, yeah, baby, suck on my tits,” she cried as Avery pushed her low cut nightgown to the side, kissing around her pebbled nipple before taking it into his mouth, sucking ever so lightly. Her moans filled the room. She was completely frozen under his spellbinding touch. He worked his way across to her second beautiful mound, while he continued to love the other with his large calloused hand.

“Oh. My. God. Avery,” she cried out again as his kisses sent a touch of lightning through her humming body. It had been so long since she’d been touched in this way. Her hormones were in overdrive and the only thing she wanted was Avery buried deep inside her wet center.

“You like that baby?” he questioned while moving further south, heading for her deliciously soaked slit. Emily could only reply with a wild moan, encouraging Avery in his journey to take their relationship to another level.

She had made his work easy for him, pantiless and wet with anticipation for him. Her bare pussy glistened in the light of the television behind him as he gently ran a single finger over her swollen bud. Emily’s body went wild with the simple contact between his finger and her hungry, wanton sex. “Oh! Avery!” she cried out, craving his mouth on her mound.

While dipping in to run his tongue along her aching femininity, he slowly eased a single finger inside her. Her moans filled with desperation while he feasted on her dripping pussy, lapping up her generous juices. She was by far the most delicious woman he’d ever had the privilege to taste. Damn, he would never be able to get enough of this.