All that time, Aver had kept me close, always touching me, until we'd boarded the ferry. Now, he just stared out the window, his hands shoved into the pockets of his designer jeans.
I sighed, slumping back in my chair. That hadn't taken long. I should have known when a gorgeous man whips you away for a night of carnal pleasure and then offers you a free vacation, it was too good to be true.
"Are you tired?" Aver asked.
"No." There, let him learn what it felt like.
"Are you hungry? I'd planned on stopping by the grocery store on our way up, but we can get you something now."
I crossed my arms. "No."
Aver leaned forward. He kept his hands in his pockets, but now they were balled into fists. "Do you regret coming with me?" He didn't ask his question very loud, but there was a subtle intensity that made the small hairs on my arm stand straight up. Aver's gaze slid to my goosebumps, and he leaned back. "I'm sorry," he said quickly.
I wasn't sure what he was apologizing for, but I believed his remorse. He couldn't hold my gaze for very long before his eyes twitched away.
"What's going on with you, Aver? You were so excited for me to come, and now you aren't."
"I am. I want you with me." He held his hands out in the space between us.
He was offering me the choice, but it was one I took immediately. "Then what happened? I know we haven't known each other long, but you can talk to me. I'm a world-renowned listener."
Aver met my gaze, and the torture I saw there took my breath away. It didn't make sense. Nothing had happened, and yet he looked torn apart. He sighed heavily before bringing my knuckles to his lips. "It's the transition, going from the city to…home. It's…jarring." He'd chosen his words so carefully I knew he was holding things back.
For some reason, seeing his inner conflict only made me more confident that I'd made the right choice in coming with him. Much of him was still clouded in mystery, and a few times, I'd convinced myself he was more than human. This proved he was just a man like me. And sometimes, men needed to be coaxed into sharing the things that ate at them. "I understand. I haven't heard a siren in hours, and my eye is beginning to twitch."
"No, it isn't."
He would know. Though he'd spent most of this ferry distant, I'd felt his gaze on me whenever I wasn't looking. If I'd noticed him watching me that much, odds were there were also times he watched me when I hadn't noticed. I had a crazy hunch if I asked him how many times I'd inhaled since sitting down, he'd be able to at least ballpark a number. I pouted. "It was a comical exaggeration and my attempt at relating."
"You did a very good job. I feel very related."
I tugged my hands, but Aver's fingers tightened. "Eww," I squealed, continuing to tug.
Aver pulled me so fast I gasped, afraid my face was about to slam onto the floor between us. He caught me, tugging me up like I was nothing more than a feather that he lifted into his lap. "I really am sorry," he said between kisses. "I shouldn't have let my negative mood affect you. And if you will accept a bribe to forgive me, I swear to get chocolate chips to go with our pancakes."
I snorted. "You are forgiven…but only if you get bananas too."
He cupped my face, kissing the corners of my lips before claiming them entirely. In between the kisses, he whispered something so quiet, I couldn't be sure of what he said. But I thought it sounded like he repeated two words: "Thank you."
The rain had started the moment we drove off the ferry. Since we were first class, we'd been able to get into our cars and off the ferry first, so we didn't have to wait in a line of traffic.
A few minutes later, Aver pulled us into the parking lot of a Village Market. The moment he cut the engine, the skies opened, releasing rain in streams.
"Why don't you stay here?" Aver suggested, needing to talk louder over the sound of the rain hitting the car. "I'll run in. We both don't need to drown."
I smiled and pretended I had to think about my answer. "Are you sure?" I cocked my head to the side to increase the confused puppy look.
Aver narrowed his eyes. "Uh-huh. Wait here, my prince." He leaned in and gave me a quick kiss.
I caught his wrist before he could open his door. "I thought I was your pet?" That moment, when he'd first called me by that name, I'd nearly orgasmed on the spot. I loved it, but it wasn't one that you could admit to loving, was it? You had to pretend to hate it, at least until it'd been long enough for you to convince his dick it couldn't live without your mouth.
"Yes, you are my pet prince." He leaned in, and I thought he was going in for a kiss when he suddenly lifted my hand to his lips. "I'll be quick." He grabbed the handle, pausing as a woman ran by his door toward the entrance. Aver's fancy wool peacoat was about to get soaked, but he didn't hesitate. He opened the door and exited quickly.
I watched that tight ass run. Each downward step, the ass muscle on that side clenched. After he disappeared inside, none of the other asses could compare, so I stopped ogling and grabbed my phone. As they had required of me when I told them where I was going, I sent Jorge and Sam my exact location so if I disappeared later they could give a timeline of my night. I'd done this at their request every thirty minutes and had promised to until we got to the cabin.
Jorge's text came first. Was I right? R u his sex slave now?
I shook my head. Jorge said sex slave like that would be a bad thing. Not yet, but there's time.
Sam's name popped up next. Be serious for a second. You're okay? Everything is how u thought?
Most of the ferry ride had been confusing, and I'd kept feeling like Aver regretted asking me to return with him. But everything else that he'd said and did convinced me otherwise. Things are perfect, guys. Really. He's not real. I mean it.
Jorge sent a vomiting emoji while Sam sent a heart with a question mark. I was pretty sure he meant for me to be cautious and to question things that didn't feel right. Though I loved that he cared, I had a sudden urge to defend Aver. I wouldn't; he didn't need defending. How are things there?
It felt safer to keep the conversation on things happening in Seattle.
Sam's name popped up with three dots. They pulsed there for a moment before disappearing. Moments later, there were three dots again. I could almost picture him fighting with himself, sitting behind his desk at the You Belong shelter. He wanted to protect me, but he also wanted to support me. Things are exactly the same as they were. You've been gone hours.
I know, but life can change in a moment!
Remember that, Holly Golightly. Sam sent seven heart emojis and two lines of kissing faces.
Jorge jumped back in. Ok, onto the actually important things. U send us a pic of his dick ASAP. I need to witness this Rod of Wonders.
I looked up and all around me as if worried someone had seen Jorge's text and would tell on me or something. I won't be taking a pic of him without him knowing. Srry.
I don't believe ur actually sorry, but I accept the apology all the same. Have fun!
Sam sent a waving hand, and I sent back as many hearts as the text box would allow. Before I could feel too homesick, Aver came out the exit, carrying shopping bags on both arms as he sprinted across the parking lot. He opened the back door first, unloading the wet bags in the back seat before jumping behind the wheel