Total pages in book: 19
Estimated words: 17621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 88(@200wpm)___ 70(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 88(@200wpm)___ 70(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
"Baby." I grin down at her. "I meant about us."
She scowls adorably. "I was getting there, Dawson."
"Well, then, by all means…" I motion for her to continue.
She inhales a deep breath before launching into another list. "Our parents finding out and disowning us, or our parents finding out and getting divorced because of us, my job finding out and firing me, your job finding out and firing you, your fans finding out, the media finding out and our business being plastered all over the news, or—"
I lean down, silencing her with my lips on her. She grunts softly, resisting for a moment before she melts into the kiss. Once I'm confident she's done, I pull back. "You finished now?"
"What?"
"Yeah, you're done," I say, chuckling, as I crawl onto the bed beside her. Before she can protest or move, I haul her onto my lap so she's straddling my hips. "None of that shit matters, Ava."
"It does. I can't express to you how much it matters."
I crook a finger beneath her chin. "Do you want me?"
"I…"
"Don't lie or I'll turn that pretty ass red," I growl.
Her eyes go glossy before she blinks. "That is not hot," she mumbles to herself, making me grin. And then she huffs. "Yes, I want you, okay? I've wanted you since I met you. But my mom is crazy about your dad. I will not be the one who ruins that for her."
"Who said you would be?"
"Um, did you forget what just happened in my kitchen?"
"We ate dinner."
She glowers at me.
"You came all over me, and looked so fucking perfect doing it that you made me come all over myself," I say. "Still don't see the problem, sweetness."
"All of that!" she cries, flinging her arms around wildly. "It's all a problem, Dawson. We did sex things in my kitchen. You're my stepbrother."
I buck my hips slightly. "You trying to get me to do more sex things to you right now, baby? Because if you keep reminding me that I'm your stepbrother, that's what's going to happen."
"You…I…" She splutters and then makes this sound like her head is two seconds from exploding.
"I'm just teasing, baby," I say, laughing and grabbing for her hands when she tries to wrap them around my throat. "I only say it because I fucking love the way you look at me when I do."
"Like I want to kill you?"
"Like you're in heaven and hell at the same time," I murmur, resting my forehead against hers. "Maybe I know a thing or two about feeling that way, and maybe I like knowing I'm not the only one."
"I'm too young to have gray hair," she mutters, wriggling down until her head is against my chest. "You're going to give me gray hair. And probably angina."
I squeeze her ass, chuckling. "There are plenty of things I'd like to give you. Neither of those are on the list."
"Too late," she mumbles.
"It's going to be fine, Ava," I promise. "Just trust me."
She cranes her head back, looking up at me with those wide blue eyes. "That's the problem, Dawson," she whispers after a moment. "I want to trust you. I want to believe that this can work. I want to think that we can do this, and no one will get hurt."
"Then what's the problem?"
"The world doesn't work that way," she says sadly.
"It will," I vow, meaning it.
She sighs, settling against my chest again. She doesn't say anything, and I'm guessing that means she doesn't believe me. She will, though. One goddamn way or another, I'll make sure her world works that way.
I don't have a choice, not if I want to keep her. And, more than anything, I want to keep her. She's it for me. I've known that for the last year. Now, it's time to get her on the same page and get her used to the idea.
And while I do that, I will be inside her at every available opportunity. I'll get her addicted to me, my cock, and the things I do to her. If that's how I get her to give me a chance, I'll take it. I'll fucking run with it. And just like when I'm on the field, I won't miss.
Chapter Five
Ava
When I wake up, Dawson isn't in my bed. I just lay there for a long time, convinced last night was a dream. I do such a great job convincing myself that I'm shocked when I see his marks on my throat in the mirror when I stumble to the bathroom.
"Crap," I groan, burying my face in my hands. It wasn't a dream.
I don't know if I want to kick my feet and squeal or crawl under the nearest rock and hide.
Unfortunately, I don't have time to do either. If I don't get my booty in gear, I'll be late. The last place you want to show up late is to a room full of eighth graders. They'll demolish the place.