An Unlikely Deal(37)

She only increases the suction on my cock.

Holy shit. If this is a hallucination, I never want to be sane again.

With a guttural cry, I come. She drinks me down, eager, as I explode inside her mouth.

After a little time, she raises her eyes and meets my gaze. They're full of soft emotion, and I suddenly realize what I've been trying to deny to myself all this time.

I love her.





Chapter Sixteen



Ava

I step out of the shower, wrapped in a fluffy white robe. While I was washing, Lucas ordered some late brunch items from room service. Apparently, a butler has taken my clothes to unwrinkle and freshen them up. I would normally feel a bit shy in a situation like this-the butler undoubtedly knows what we were doing-but right now I'm basking in the afterglow of hot orgasms.

Standing at the table, Lucas pulls out a chair with a gallant grace I find irresistible. The grim tension that hung around him like dark clouds is gone, replaced by an air of replete satisfaction. He's put on a shirt and slacks, and looks delicious, smelling slightly of soap and the musk from our time in bed together. I feel my body quicken again, and it's all I can do to not squirm.

"I wasn't sure what you wanted, so I ordered a little bit of everything," he says with a boyish smile that makes me melt.

As I sit down, he reveals food on multiple plates covered in steel domes. I gasp at a full platter of lox with all the trimmings, caviar, egg omelets with bacon and sausages and potatoes, a bowl of fresh berries, a plate of thinly sliced roast beef and a bowl of salad lightly tossed with what smells like a vinaigrette dressing. There is also a large basket of warm, freshly baked bread. 

"Are you trying to feed the entire city?" I tease as I place a stiff white napkin on my lap.

"I think the Osaka metropolitan area would need a bit more than this." He considers, taking his seat. "Or maybe not. Japanese people don't eat much."

"I see you've become acquainted with the portion sizes here."

"Reacquainted. But yeah."

That makes me pause. "You've spent time in Japan?"

"Only about a semester. It was an exchange program I did." He shrugs. "Eat. Please. I feel like it's my fault that you've lost weight in the last two years."

"It has nothing to do with you. I've just been really busy."

Busy hiding things from him, my subconscious whispers.

Not wanting to ruin the moment with my secrets, I smack the thought aside and take a big forkful of the egg omelet. It's fluffy, with lots of cheese, and cooked to perfection.

"I want to make this official. Move back to the States with me. Ava, I might be the most infuriating man you've ever met, but I'm open to reform. Just give me a chance."

I hesitate. I want to say yes. But it's not that easy, not anymore. I half shrug. "You aren't the most infuriating man I've ever met in my life … "

"I swear I'll take care of you. I'll do everything I can to make up for the job you lost. I'll help you get a new job, introduce you to people."

The intensity of his gaze sears me. He isn't just saying this to have me as a regular bedmate again. He really wants me back, and he really wants to make this work. I wish I knew why, but I'm afraid to ask. If he doesn't say, "Because I love you," what will I do?

However, staying in Japan is no longer an option regardless of what he says. I wouldn't stay even if I got another job offer here in the next ten minutes.

"If it's about the hassle of a trans-Pacific move, I can send a moving crew immediately to your apartment and have them pack everything," Lucas offers. "We can probably leave by tonight. The plane's ready."

My mouth parts. This is all much too fast and too sudden. "Lucas, I can't just drop everything and go."

"Why not? You don't need to give the school any notice."

"I have friends here."

"Like that guy in the bar?"

"For your information, he's Bennie's boyfriend," I say dryly. "As in, there is no way he wants me in his bed."

He gives me a semi-baleful look. "Why didn't you say that before?"

"Was there any point?" I take a sip of the freshly squeezed grapefruit juice that came with our meal. "Look, Lucas. I need to figure out what I'm going to tell Bennie. I can't just leave him. He's been my best friend since we were kids, and he's basically been the sole constant in my life."

Lucas stares at me for a moment, assessing and weighing my words. Finally he says, "I feel like what you're doing is withdrawing from me."

From the way he immediately flushes, I know he didn't mean to reveal so much of himself. My heart aches. He's been so vulnerable to me in this room. And I don't want to hurt him by being evasive or dishonest. "No other man has been able to occupy my thoughts the way you do."