Page 53

Dropping my bag on the kitchen counter, I open the fridge and pull two bottles of water out, offering him one silently.

He takes it from me and butterflies swarm in my belly as his fingers graze mine, I look away, clearing my throat and shuffling my feet nervously.

I watch as he twists the top off his bottle, his lips wrapping around the top. My mind can’t help but think back to when we kissed; the way his hands gripped at me and the way his mouth fit against mine perfectly.

“Ava? Did you hear me?” My eyes move to his and I frown.

“What?”

“I said, I’m sorry for doing that. I don’t know what came over me, when I saw him touch you, I just...” He scrubs his hands down his face as he leans against the counter.

“You can’t do things like that,” I say, repeating my earlier statement to him, placing my bottle on the counter and wrapping my hands around it.

“I know.”

We both stand there, the tense atmosphere making me uncomfortable.

“But...” he says, lifting a brow as a smirk rises on his face. “He was shocked though.” He chuckles, but I don’t find it one bit amusing.

“I can’t even... just forget it and go, I have a paper to do.”

He studies me, his eyes scanning my face. He pushes up off the counter and I instinctively move backwards, my back hitting the fridge. His eyes burn with... is that hunger? They flick down to my lips making my breaths come harder and faster.

“You’re so beautiful, I don’t know if I can stop myself any longer,” he whispers, his deep voice making my eyes flutter closed. He places his hands on my waist and I gasp, my skin burning wherever he touches.

“Corey? What are you-”

“Don’t tell me you haven’t felt it,” he says as I open my eyes. He shakes his head and licks his bottom lip. “It can’t be just me.”

“Felt what?” I whisper, afraid to talk too loud.

“I never stopped thinking about you, Birdie. Every fuckin’ day over there I thought about what you were doing and how you we’re feeling.”

“You never called me,” I say, my voice breaking.

“Fuck,” he says, leaning his head back as his hand grips me harder. “I didn’t know whether you wanted me to call you, I... I thought I was doing the right thing.”

“Of course I did,” I say, my brows pulling down into a frown. I longed to hear his voice and see his face for so long but after a year, I gave up hope.

He brings his head back up, sucking in a breath as he meets my eyes. “I tried to tell myself that this shouldn’t happen.” He shakes his head. “But, fuck, I can’t hold back anymore. Not since we kissed. All I’ve been thinking about are your lips, that sweet fucking taste. Tell me you haven’t thought about it and I’ll walk away right now.”

“I... I...” I scan his face, moving my hands up his arms and over his shoulders, placing them either side of his neck. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it either.”

His eyes flare just before his lips slam down onto mine.

I shouldn’t be doing this. I really shouldn’t be doing this but, fuck, I can’t stop myself. Her coconut shampoo invades my senses the closer I get and once she tells me that she hasn’t been able to stop thinking about it either, I can’t stop my lips from slamming down onto hers.

Her hands wander down from my neck and onto my shoulders, holding on for dear life. Pushing against her, I run my tongue along her bottom lip, asking for entrance. She opens up and when our tongues meet, her moan makes me rock hard and I push against her even more, making it known what she’s doing to me.

Pulling away suddenly, I take two steps back and shake my head. “I shouldn’t have-”

“What?” she asks, her hands fluttering to her lips.

“After everything you went through-” I look away, not able to look her in the eyes as images from that day flash through my mind. I really fucking wish they’d stop doing that.

“Are you freaking kidding me?” My head snaps up at her tone and my eyes widen when I see the anger burning in her eyes. “Why did you do that?”