Heart stuttering, she stood still, helpless to move.
His voice was a deep rumble of sound, caressing her like fingers trailing lightly over naked skin. “I don’t know how to stay away from you.”
A shiver raced down her spine. “We don’t have a choice. The bachelorette party is next week, and Ally will be back. We’ll be busy, and then after the wedding, you’ll go home to DC.”
The pain of not being able to see his face, touch him, talk with him, crashed through her. But nothing had changed between them. He couldn’t give her what she needed, and she had to protect herself.
“What if I tried?”
She jerked, staring up at him. His face seemed tortured, as if uttering the words had cost him. She pressed her fingers against his lips. “Don’t say it unless you mean it. I’m looking for a man who’s not afraid to love me and take a chance on a future together.”
He reached up and released the pins in her hair, letting the curls tumble free. A moan rose to her lips as he pulled through the strands, his hands strong and soothing on her scalp. “All I know is I’ve never felt like this before. Not with any other woman.”
A terrible hope ignited within, but her fear smothered the flame quickly. What was he promising? A two-week affair? A long-distance relationship? Would she be waiting for him in desperation to call, or spend weekends with her, until he slowly realized he didn’t have enough to give?
Her voice shook as she raised herself on tiptoes. “What do you want?” she demanded.
“You. Damn you, Avery, for making me want.” He gripped her head, and his mouth crashed over hers.
She kissed him back with a touch of violence and need. The dam within her broke, and she pushed her tongue in his mouth and sank her nails into his shoulders, then bit his lower lip. He cursed, reslanted his mouth, and took the kiss deep, forcing her to arch back under the ferocity of leashed male hunger.
They kissed a long time under the ripe full moon, until she finally managed to rip herself out of his embrace. Panting, she gazed at him like an opponent in the ring, ready for another round. “I need to go home.”
He stepped back, his breathing heavy. He nodded. “I’ll walk you back to your car.”
They didn’t speak or hold hands. The aching sexual tension throbbed between them like a mocking taunt, and she knew all she had to do was touch him one time before they both surrendered, damn the consequences.
She opened her door and slid into the front seat.
“I’ll see you this week about the final plans for AC?” he said.
She nodded. The empty ache inside stretched and yearned for more. “Carter?”
“Yeah?”
She nailed him with her stare. “Figure it out.”
Then she closed the door and drove home.
Chapter Sixteen
Avery picked at the healthy parfait in front of her filled with plain Greek yogurt, fresh fruit, and homemade granola. It was definitely good, but nowhere near the ecstasy of a chocolate croissant. But Madison’s had been out, and she knew she should be more like Bella and eat healthier.
“Do we want to discuss anything before Gabe gets here?” she asked, trying to muster some enthusiasm. Her usual energy had been lacking the last few days since her kiss with Carter. She kept checking her phone for a text, and swearing she saw him around every street corner. She fantasized about him showing up at her doorstep and declaring he wanted a full-on relationship with her, then dragging her to bed.
So pathetic.
Taylor’s pink hair shimmered in the light streaming from the window. “Yeah, what’s going on with Carter?”
Bella looked up from the laptop, suddenly interested. “You owe us an update. Zoe couldn’t stop talking about her beach day with him, and then Gabe recruits him to help you at the Bankses’ wedding?”
She shifted in her chair. Usually, she told her sisters everything because nothing interesting happened in her personal life. But lately, she’d been close-lipped, afraid to tell them about the real feelings she was developing. She wondered how much she should share, and then realized it was too late.
They’d scented vulnerability.
“Did you sleep with him?” Taylor demanded, the diamond in her nose winking outrageously. “I swear to God, Avery, if you slept with him and kept it from us, I’m gonna be pissed.”
Avery gasped. “Are you kidding? You were the one who said to start knocking and give you privacy.”
“That’s different. I’ll happily share all my sex stories with either of you. I just don’t want you actually seeing it.”
Bella laughed. “Good to know, T.”
“I didn’t sleep with him,” Avery said stiffly. “We just . . . kissed.”
“Did you have an orgasm?” Bella asked.
She dropped her face into her hands and groaned. “Oh my God, we’re not teenagers anymore, guys! I refuse to talk about this with you.”
“Aww, babe, you did have an orgasm!” Taylor said proudly. “Good for you.”
“Are you going to see him again, or was it a onetime thing?” Bella asked.
All the ragged emotions hit her at once, and she was suddenly fighting tears.
Her sisters sensed her shift in mood, and in moments, they were crowded around her. “Did he hurt you?” Taylor asked. “I’ll fuck him up good if he did.”
She sniffed and tried to laugh. “No. I’m just stupid and fell for him.”
“But that’s a good thing,” Bella said, stroking her hair in a motherly fashion. “You deserve to have a relationship and be happy. What’s the problem?”
“He doesn’t believe in love. Or marriage. He won’t tell me why, but he’s so damn stubborn about not wanting to commit to one person for the rest of his life. And I’m not asking him to put a ring on my finger after a few weeks—but I need to know I won’t get hurt!”
Bella clucked her tongue. “That is surprising because he’s so wonderful with Zoe. And he raised Ally. Was he divorced before or something?”
Avery shook her head. “No. Maybe he got hurt in the past? I don’t know. I told him I can’t get involved when there’s no possibility of a future together.”
“Why?”
She looked at Taylor. “‘Why?’” she repeated. “Because it makes no sense. I’m already falling for him. We’ll have some type of long-distance relationship, I’ll want more, and he’ll end up breaking my heart. There’s no happy ending here.”
Taylor frowned. “Well, that’s a lousy way to look at life,” she said. “Are you telling me you say no to anything that doesn’t guarantee a happily ever after? ’Cause that’s just lame.”
Avery stared at her sister, temper snapping. “Thanks for the support, T. Of course you wouldn’t understand why I shouldn’t explore a relationship with someone who’ll end up walking away.”
She shrugged. Her sister didn’t even seem bothered by the jab. “Maybe he won’t. Maybe he needs time to see if you’re the woman he can take the leap for. I’m disappointed in you, babe. You quit before you even got to play.”
“Um, T? Maybe you should back off a little,” Bella suggested, likely seeing the look of fury on Avery’s face.