Ribbons of Love Read online

  “Not sure all those girls would be happy to hear that,” I ribbed him, and he nuzzled along my nose.

  “All three.”

  My mouth dropped open. “Only three ever?”

  He nodded. “Including you.” He rolled us so we were on our sides. The intimacy of lying near his naked body delivered a rush of blood to my stomach. “I think seeing my parents’ relationship plummet to a fiery divorce showed me what I didn’t want, and those relationships although not bad, weren’t right. I cared for those other two women, but I never said that I loved them. You’re a first for me, too.”

  I traced a heart on his chest. “Have you ever had a … you know, test for STDs?”

  “Five months ago. Clean. No one after.”

  “Obviously, I’d never been with anyone before you.” I took a deep breath, readying to spit out what I was thinking. It was time to stop hiding behind my red veil of hesitancy and to live. “I’m on the pill, have been for years, and not that I can guarantee complete success, but if you don’t want to wear a condom, I’m fine with being responsible for the birth control.”

  He swallowed. “You’re sure?”

  “Bryson, I’ve never been in control of my life. My brothers pretty much led me around, telling me what I could and couldn’t do, but to be brutally honest with myself, I let them. I found it easier to be led than be the leader. This feels like I’m finally taking control of something. Kind of like giving you a…” My throat tingled.

  “A blowjob,” he finished for me.

  I closed my eyes. “Why can’t I even say it?”

  He rolled so he was half on me and his hand lifted my neck, pressing his forehead lightly to mine. “Maybe you’re not ready and that’s okay.”

  I remembered how my heart was pounding with excitement when I’d been between his legs. The hell I wasn’t ready. I pushed him to his back. “I’m giving you a blowjob.”

  A broad sparkling smile broke out on his face. “Nice.”

  I slipped down his body and what had been erect was now not. The softened form didn’t look quite as intimidating. I lowered my head and kissed the head of his penis. He inhaled a long breath. I opened my mouth and ran my tongue around the crown. A trickle of fluid caught on my tongue, lightly salty and kind of … minty?

  I glanced up and he’d propped his head on pillows and his eyes were lax, the blue appearing darker in the muted rays from the light outside coming through the window. When I returned to where I’d been there was something new popping up. I smiled. I truly affected him.

  I lifted my hand and grasped him. The flesh pulsed with rushing blood in my hand.

  “I can already tell that this is not going to be a good showing for me, Avery.”

  I didn’t care. I put my mouth over him and lowered taking in as much as I could. It wasn’t a lot, but he didn’t seem to mind. I met my mouth with my hand, rocking along his length slowly and then a little faster.

  “That’s good. Shit, that’s really great.” Soon, his body tensed, and he grunted with his words all mangled and tight, “Avery, sweetheart, we didn’t discuss … fuck. You need to move now ‘cause I’m going to…”

  But I didn’t want to move. I was ready, and for one of the first times in my life, it was clear what I wanted. I watched him while waiting, not knowing what to expect. I increased speed and his whole body jerked. The way he clenched his eyes shut, his fingers digging into my hair, and how his mouth fell opened was all so sexy. I had to be careful not to smile and risk a teeth-scrape situation.

  His deep moan of my name was like he was both concerned and satisfied.

  I swallowed quickly and backed away slowly.

  Mint and salt. Odd and yet interesting combo.

  He opened his eyes and stared at me. “You okay?”

  “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”

  He laughed. “I’m fantastic, but how are you really?”

  I moved to his side. “Not so sure about the whole swallow thing, but I loved everything else.”

  He rolled to face me. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. Ever.”

  I bit my lip and looked down at what was back to flaccid. “So how long until you can do stuff again?”

  Bryson chuckled. “Looking for a round two?”

  “Make love to me, Bryson.”

  His face softened. “You don’t have to ask me twice, beautiful.”

  And in the sparkling light through the window, we shared our bodies with each other.

  Love in snow…

  Chapter Seventeen

  Bryson

  My phone buzzed on my desk.

  Avery: Hello. What’s the d-code for the Triple R party?

  D-code? Decode? That can’t mean that.

  “Hey, Breigh?” I leaned back in my chair.

  She tipped hers back across the aisle. Her jet-black lashes flickered as she smiled. “What’s up, Welch?”

  “What’s ‘d-code for a party’ mean in girl text speak?”

  “Probably dress code. Like casual—jeans. Or fancy—dress with heels.”

  “What if I’d like her to wear both heels and tight jeans?”

  Her eyebrows rose like she had higher expectations for me. “Don’t be that guy.” She raised her voice. “Cause I know you’re not Greenstein.”

  “There can’t be two of us in the world,” Jake yelled from the next row of cubicles. “We’d take over!”

  I laughed and spun my chair.

  Bryson: Casual, jeans are fine.

  Avery: Thanks.

  Bryson: I’ll be over about six. Party starts at 6:30.

  Avery: See you then. I love you.

  Bryson:

  I paused my message as my phone flashed another text.

  Quinn: Can’t wait to see you tonight.

  Ignoring Quinn was the road to take. Emie couldn’t keep her trap shut.

  Bryson: I love you.

  With a huge smile on my face, I sent the text and focused on getting supplies ordered for next week’s big install.

  ****

  I rang the buzzer to Avery’s apartment. While I was waiting for the latch release, a guy walked up behind me.

  “Hey.” I greeted him with a chin-jut.

  “Good evening.” He nodded his stocking cap-covered head.

  I stepped out of the way. “Sorry, you probably need to buzz someone.”

  “Thanks.” He lifted his suitcase, stepped up, and I watched as he pressed the button corresponding to Avery’s apartment.

  “You know Avery?”

  He dropped his suitcase with a thud. “Yes. You know Avery?”

  “Yes. Bryson Welch.” I held out my hand and he shook it.

  He crossed his arms. “Aidan Knicely. And how do you know Avery?”

  “I’m her boyfriend.”

  Aidan’s head reared back. “The blind-date guy?” His eyes narrowed when I nodded. “Huh. Nice to meet you, Bryson.” He reached over and pressed the buzzer several times in rapid succession. During the buzzer assault, the latch released. He opened the door and waved me in before him.

  “So, which brother are you?” I couldn’t remember if Avery had told me names in order or not.

  “Youngest.”

  “I thought you weren’t going to make it back.”

  Aidan’s voice stayed steady, but he clutched the handle on his suitcase tighter. “Change of plans. No one knows. Wanted to surprise Avery first.”

  “That’s great. Then you go first.”

  We walked to her door. It was open a crack but Avery wasn’t there. We stepped inside, and I closed the door.

  Her airy voice drifted from the bedroom. “Bryson, I’m back here! I got caught in traffic and I’m running late. You’d better stay out there or I might make us really, really late.” She giggled through the last sentence.

  Aidan spun to face me. His glare was about what I expected after her last comment. I didn’t move. The eye-to-eye staredown continued.

  “Aidan?” Hope and disbel
ief vacillated in her voice.

  I broke the stare and glanced behind her brother, then mumbled a cuss word in response to the incredible image crossing the room. Her hair was curled into long springs of red. Her shoulders were bared in a chest-hugging strapless dress that flared out at her waist and emphasized her womanly curves. Every smooth inch of peach skin glowed. She wore the sexiest shoes I’d ever seen, sparkling with each step of her feet. Being very late or staying here for the night filled my brain.

  Perfect.

  Aidan turned to face her. “Hey, Red Ribbons.”

  The words that exited her mouth were so mangled and garbled that even the best translators in the world would’ve been stumped. Her emotional state was charming and told me how much her brother meant to her.

  Her body crashed into his and he lifted her off the ground. “I love you too, sis.”

  She sobbed into his shoulder. “I’m so glad you’re here. Christmas wouldn’t have been the same.”

  Aidan was as affected as Avery and choked out, “I know.”

  I stared, and my throat tightened. This was how family should be. Not the expectation-based relationships that were the norm with my mother and sister.

  Avery wiggled in his arms. “Okay, you can put me down.”

  He set her feet to the floor. “What are you two going to be really, really late for?”

  She blushed. “You heard that?”

  “Yep.”

  She stepped around him and pulled me down by my coat collar. “God, you’re gorgeous,” she whispered in my ear. “I love you.”

  I kissed the lingering tears away. “You’re gorgeous morning, noon, and night, Avery, and I love you, too,” I said it so Aidan heard.

  He smirked. “So, Red Ribbons is in love?”

  She bit her lip and smiled. “I am.” She lowered her head to nuzzle against my side. “Did you two meet?”

  Aidan pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Yeah, outside waiting for you to let us in, out of that freaking cold.”

  “You live in Massachusetts,” Avery threw back. “It can’t be balmy there!”

  “Not this cold. My nuts were about ready to fall off.”

  I chuckled. “Mine, too.”

  Avery pushed into me for the comment, and I pushed back to feel her softness against me again.

  “Aidan, would you like to go to the Triple R holiday party with us?” I asked.

  “No, I don’t want to be a third wheel to your plans this evening. I can go see big brother and the girls.”

  “Aidan, please! I want you there with me.” Looking up at me, she added, “With us.” She tipped her head back and those deep red curls decorated her bare shoulder like the ribbon on a present.

  Unzipping his coat, he shrugged it off. “All right. I need to shower to get the smell of plane off of me. I’ve been traveling since the red-eye last night, three stops with hours of layover to get here.” He grabbed his suitcase.

  She pushed on his back down the hallway. “Stop whining and hurry up!”

  Turning around, she rushed her steps across the carpet, and we met lips to lips. We broke away, panting, and the softness of her eyes told me if Aidan wasn’t here there was no way we would be attending that party.

  “You look like a dream,” I whispered.

  “You are every dream I’ve ever had, Bryson.”

  I kissed her bare shoulder and goose bumps rose on her chest. “I love the dress but it’s not a fancy party. You don’t have to dress up.”

  “I want to. This is only our second date. It’s important to me.”

  I cupped her bare shoulder blade and her skin heated under my palm. “You are important to me, Avery.”

  Her arms brought us together for a long hug. She backed away and pointed to her face. “I’m going to go fix all this.”

  “Want me to join you?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Not a chance.” Her tall heels brought her eyes to my lip level. She stared at them and licked hers. “Definitely later,” she moaned.

  I kissed her forehead, and she twirled toward her bedroom, her dress floating around her silky thighs. I turned on the TV and scanned channels until I decided on music. But not holiday music. In a few minutes, Aidan made it back to the living room. He was on the phone, finishing his conversation before he sat on the other end of the sofa.

  He turned, and by his locked jaw, I could tell this wasn’t going to be pleasant.

  “If you’re even thinking of being the temporary kind of boyfriend—”

  “Aidan, I plan to do whatever I can to keep her and keep her happy.” I held his glare.

  “She’s a real catch. You throw her back and you’ll answer to three angry men.”

  I rubbed my hands together. “That’s what the fish tattoo is about, isn’t it?”

  Aidan chuckled. “Yeah. I thought I was being sly. I guess maybe the right guy can figure it out.”

  “If she asks, will you tell her what it means? I don’t like keeping secrets.”

  “If she asks, yes. Otherwise, when the time is right, I will. So what do you do, Bryson?”

  We traded basic life information. Harvard Law didn’t sound like a day at an amusement park. Every time he said, “But it’ll be worth it,” or “But it’s only three years of my life,” I remembered my conversation with Jake. Aidan and I were about the same age, but he sounded almost miserable, and I was happy with my life. A beautiful, sweet, and honest girlfriend, a job I enjoyed with people I considered friends, and I was making a decent living without the stress of mountains of loans. Although I didn’t look too far ahead, I could see a future that had a lot going for it.

  “You guys ready?” Avery broke our conversation.

  “I’ll drive myself,” Aidan offered.

  I was about to offer a ride, but Avery agreed with his decision quickly and handed him a set of apartment keys.

  “You know where the West O Ballroom is?” I asked.

  “Yeah. I’ll see you guys there.”

  I helped Avery into my new truck. In fifteen minutes we were inside of the rental hall. My stomach growled as we walked by the buffet to an open table.

  “I heard that.” Avery giggled while slipping off her long coat. She dropped it over the back of a chair. “Go get something to eat. I’ll get us drinks. What do you want?”

  “I’ll get the drinks and you can start the buffet.”

  A puff of air escaped from her grinning mouth. “No. I can get the drinks and I’ll be back to fill a plate in a minute. The line at the bar isn’t long but if you keep arguing with me, that might change. You get your food.”

  The time to back away from the redhead is now.

  “Beer, please.”

  “I’ll be right back.”

  Watching her cross the room, those heels lifting what was perfect and round and … my stomach growled again. I made my way through the buffet and returned to the table before Avery. I waved Aidan to the table, followed by Jude and Presley, then made introductions.

  Avery handed off my beer before she excused herself to the buffet, and Aidan headed to the bar with Jude.

  “So how’s the truck working out?” Presley asked.

  “Great. Haven’t had to put it in four-wheel drive yet, but I’m assuming that day is coming.”

  “Next week is supposed to be bad. We had a rush today of people wanting to test drive. I thought you’d be my last sale for the year, but several drove and purchased today.”

  Presley’s face paled and her eyes darted to Jude. I watched as he eyed up the table, and by the set of his jaw it was clear what was behind me.

  “Hey, bro.”

  I stood. “Hello, Emerson.”

  “Hello, Presley.”

  Presley brought her eyes back. “Good evening, Emerson. How are you?”

  “I’m here, so I’m assuming that’s probably uncomfortable for you.”

  “Nope. Again, you give yourself too much credit.” Presley was holding her own, so I let it play out. Emerson could
do with being taken down a few notches.

  Emie inspected her fingernails. “I see you kept up with the workouts.” Her eyes cut to Jude. “Although with a stud trainer like Jude for a boyfriend, I’m sure you’re getting plenty of workouts.” She brought her eyes back. “You’re getting screwed constantly, right?”

  Presley pushed back from the table and started to stand. I grabbed my sister’s elbow and dragged her to the corner of the room.

  Emerson jerked her arm from my grasp. “What the hell, Bryson?”

  “I’m done, Emie. Talking to Presley like that is unacceptable. You will not be allowed to harass any of my friends … or my girlfriend.”

  “Your girlfriend?” Her eyes narrowed.

  “Yes, I told you I have a girlfriend.”

  She glanced around. “Is she here?”

  “Yes, she’s at the buffet.”

  Her eyes narrowed in on the line. “Didn’t Quinn text you today?”

  “She did.”

  “And you texted her back?”

  “No, I didn’t.”

  “Bryson.” Avery’s soft voice lifted above the music.

  I turned and reached out a hand. She wound her fingers in mine and smiled as she neared, but her hand was shaking. I wrapped an arm around her.

  “Avery Knicely, this is my sister, Emerson Welch. Emerson, this is Avery.”

  Avery held out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Emerson.”

  Emerson ignored the outstretched gesture. “I need to go find someone.” Her boot heels clomped across the wood floor.

  I guided Avery against me, her fingers dug into my shirt. “God, I’m ready to just be done with her.”

  Avery’s body shuddered against mine. I rubbed her bare shoulders. “Bryson, you can’t do that. Family is important.”

  “I can’t put up with her self-centered attitude anymore.”

  Avery sighed. “Don’t do anything drastic or you’ll regret it.”

  Drastic regret. That defines my sister.

  “Are you okay?” I asked.

  “I’m a little tired. Someone kept me up all night last night.” The lights of the dance floor lit the soft pink blush of her cheeks.

  “Second best night of my life, Avery.”

  “And the first best?”

  “Two nights before that.”