Page 217 of Malice and Surrender
Avro laughed, his eyes lighting up. “Now, that is definitely worth having a bad knee. I just hate that I’ve leaned on Jace so much over the years. For so many different things, it feels like it’s all I do.”
“So what. Do you realize how much Jace and I need and lean on you with things that have nothing to do with your knee or how well you can do doggie style?” Avro chuckled. “I mean think about it. Who is it that Jace calls whenever something is bothering him, when he’s excited about news or needs advice? It’s you. Who helped me feel safe around men and helped me open up to even having a relationship? That was also you. Who took me shopping for the perfect dress for last night? Who has given me countless pep talks, made me laugh, or anything you do just by being you. So you can’t work for a few months, we will be fine. So you can’t cook everything you want. It gives you time to look up more recipes you can try. Don’t stress. We’ll get through this together.”
I ran my thumb down his cheek and then over his lips, which should be on a magazine cover.
“I get all that I do, but…” He sighed. “I’m scared and don’t even want to say it out loud.” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath that shook his whole body. “What if I never dance again?” He opened his eyes, and they were filled with so much worry. “I was lucky I healed as well as I did last time, and my knee is still falling apart. Dancing may seem like nothing to everyone else, but to me…to me, it’s the lifeline to my sanity. If that’s taken away, what do I have left?”
“I hate to sound like the positivity queen. Especially when I feel anything but and would be just as scared as you are right now if roles were reversed. But… what I do know is that you’re Avro, which means that no matter what is thrown at you, you will find a way around it or will figure out a new passion to throw yourself into. I’m not saying it will be easy. I’m just saying you have so many options you can’t dream of yet. Dancing may end up reserved for at home, but no matter what, you will be okay. I’m making it my mission.”
I smiled and kissed his cheek, then the side of his neck, and his hand snaked around my waist.
“Is that so?”
“Oh, it’s very so,” I said, slipping my leg over his lap to straddle him. Avro pulled me as close as I could get to his body, the warmth he radiated instantly blanketing me. “But, no more not telling me important things like your knee.”
Cupping my face, Avro licked and nipped along my lower lip until I opened for him. Just like the first time he kissed me, the tenderness and emotion behind the kiss wiped everything else away. For a few moments, the world was perfect with candy canes and gumdrops.
“I promise to tell you everything from now on,” Avro said, breaking the kiss.
“Do you want to tell me what this dirt is that Kai and Jace have on one another?”
“Nooooo, how about we leave that for another day when we can all talk about it,” Avro said, and I could agree with that. It made sense to have them tell me themselves.
“That seems fair enough, but I do want to know.” He ran his hands through my hair, and I moaned. He had a magic touch.
“Good, because I suddenly have other things on my mind.”
“Is that so? Like what?” I teased and wiggled in his lap. He drew in a sharp breath that ended with a groan.
“Like getting you out of these clothes. Might as well christen the house before you leave it.” No one could pull off a sexier and more inviting grin than Avro.
“I think I could be talked into that.”
Avro
It felt like forever since I had Raine all to myself, and I wasn’t wasting this opportunity. I was pretty sure that even if we told Raine about my uncle and what happened, she would find a way to move past it, but the worry wormed its way into my mind. If she left…no, I couldn’t let that happen again.
Ever so slowly, I pulled down the zipper on the hoodie she was wearing. She loved these, and I didn’t know how she wasn’t always melting in the heat. I smiled as Jace’s band T-shirt was revealed underneath. I couldn’t have planned for their connection to be this strong if I tried.
Raine pulled the hoodie off her arms and tossed it aside before pulling the T-shirt over her head. A strangled groan tumbled from my mouth as I stared at the black lace bra.
“You’re so sexy,” I said, my thumbs playing over her nipples, already hard and calling to me. “I have no idea how I managed to wait so long to taste you. I craved to feel your touch every night.”
“Truth?” I nodded, and a pink blush spread across her cheeks. I wanted to eat her up. She was so adorable and sexy. All wrapped up in this beautiful package. “I’d dreamed of kissing you for months,” she whispered like that was the most intimate thing we’d shared to date. “Every time you arrived at work, my heart would beat faster. I worked hard to keep the feeling suppressed so you wouldn’t notice me staring.”
Nothing could wipe the smile off my face. “You have no idea how much I love hearing you say that. Not the suppressed part, of course.”
“I still can’t believe this is real,” Raine said and slowly pushed herself to her feet.
“I’d always held out hope this was where we’d end up. I admit I hadn’t been prepared for a few of the other surprises along the way,” I said and stood, but the pain in my knee flared, and I grimaced.
Raine wrapped her arm around my waist. “You good?”
“Yeah, just moved too fast. I have to keep reminding myself to go slow. I’ll be fine.” Cupping her face, I smiled, and her eyes filled with mischief.
“I have an idea,” Raine tugged at the bottom of my shirt, and I lifted my hands and arms so she could pull it off. “I’m going to take your jeans off, and I want you to lay down on the couch for me.” Her smile was wicked and promised a lot more than a hot kiss. I was so ready for all of it.
“I will in a minute. I just want to look at you. You make my heart sing, Raine. I feel so complete having you and Jace. I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I really don’t mind Kai either.” I looked down at Raine’s hands on my arms and let go of her face to look at the ring Jace had given her.
