Page 102 of Against The Tide

As I walk through to the living area, I pause and smile at the way Iris is so engrossed watching The Cat in the Hat. We read it again last night before I tucked her in, and every day we go through our new routine where Avery bathes her and I read her to sleep, I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to do that in our own home. The bungalow isn’t massive, but it’s plenty big enough for the three of us. And every Saturday morning, the sight of her surfboard and suit beside mine has me thinking that that’s where it belongs all the damn time. They belong with me all the damn time.

“Pizza!” Iris’s excited yell draws me from my thoughts as she jumps up from the couch.

Before I’ve reached the kitchen, she’s already dragging her small stool over to the crockery cabinet and taking down plates one by one like Jo taught her to do so she can help set the table.

“Where’s your momma?” I ask, putting the pizza boxes down on the counter.

“Showering.” Iris replies with a shrug. “She said she got messy helping you.”

At her retort, my heart picks up its pace. My insides warm as a wave of heat rolls through me, heading all the way down south at the memory of Avery’s and my quickie earlier.

“You want me to go tell her to hurry up?” Jumping down from her stool, Iris looks up at me expectantly, bright eyes wide as she watches me wash my hands and joins me at the sink to wash hers too.

“No, that’s okay. I’ll go tell her pizza is here while you finish setting the table.” After I’ve dried our hands, I grab some paper plates from the cupboard above the fridge, along with plastic cups. “No dishes tonight.”

“Yes! Does that mean we can watch a movie together instead?”

“If your mom says so, yes, we can.”

“My choice?”

“Aaah…depends. Are there flying ponies?”

“Umm…” Iris side glances away from me.

“Why don’t we try something new? Halloween is coming up…maybe something spooky?”

“Addams Family?” she calls after me as I head upstairs.

“Didn’t you watch that with your mom the other night?”

“Yeah, but you weren’t here. I wanna watch it with you, Doc.”

Looking over my shoulder, I’m greeted with her Puss in Boots eyes and cute pout. “Addams Family it is.”

The kid is impossible to say no to. Much like Avery, she has me wrapped around her finger, and there’s no other way I would have it as I watch her run to the couch and set up the movie while Jo is napping in her favorite armchair.

When I reach Avery’s bedroom, she’s facedown on the bed, her towel wrapped around her. Her breathing is light and even. I’m surprised she’s asleep with the way her legs are jutting off the end of the bed awkwardly and her wet hair is stuck to her neck and back. Any other person would be cold and uncomfortable, but she’s passed out.

Well, I need a shower anyway, so I might as well let her rest a little longer while I do so quickly. It takes me no more than five minutes to hose myself down and get myself clean. Once I’ve put on the flannel pajama pants that Jo thought would be more comfortable than my sweat shorts, and a fresh T-shirt, I wake Avery up gently.

“I’m too tired to move,” she groans, looking up at me through the coarse strands of her mane. “Oh my God, what have you done to me?”

It’s impossible to hold back my chuckle as I finger her hair from her face to reveal her ruddy pink lips and dainty nose.

“Pizza’s here.”

“I only ordered it like two minutes ago,” Avery mutters with a pretend sob, rolling to her back with my help. When I stand, lacing our hands together so I can pull her up, she grins up at me. “Consider me thoroughly screwed, Dr. Reynolds.”

“Hmm…you can still move…”

“Barely,” she retorts, looking over her shoulder when she pauses in front of the chest of drawers and drops her towel.

Avery’s a sight for sore eyes with her creamy skin and sinuous curves. The dimples at the base of her back accentuate her perfect ass, but it’s the bruised crescent on the curve of her shoulder that snags my attention. The bite mark I left in the barn, flushed pink against her skin.

She’s standing in front of the mirror, fingers ghosting over it. A smile tugs at her lips while she nibbles on them. Like she’s trying to hold it back. When she tilts her head to get a better look, her thighs press together. Rubbing.

Fuck. Fuuuck…