Letting me take her in the arse showed me something solid. She trusts me. She was willing to give herself to me in any way. I need to explore every possible avenue, hunt down every sign that she’s completely and utterly in this unchartered territory with me. I’m terrified. For myself, but more for Ava. She’s given me a gift unknowingly, and I need to treasure it. For the past week, I’ve only found peace when I’m touching her.

How on earth am I going to balance that? How am I going to make sure I give her what she needs while ensuring I get what I need to maintain this bliss? I’m reasonable enough to accept it’s going to be tricky.

“Jesse?” she whispers, my name loaded with a million questions. And I know what one she will ask.

“Hmmm?”

“How old are you?”

I inhale and flex my hold on her arms. It doesn’t matter. So why won’t you tell her, Ward? “Twenty–two.” Soon. I’ll tell her soon. I slowly inch my way out of her as I kiss her back, my face strained in discomfort. “Come here.” I avoid her hips for risk of her jerking out of my hold, taking her waist instead. I frown, looking down, my sated dick deciding it’s not so sated anymore, twitching and standing to attention again. Fuck me, haven’t you had enough?

I turn her and lift her onto the counter, catching her slight alarm when she sees my condition. She’d better get used to that. I can’t stop myself from responding to her, and I don’t want to. I take her arms and rest them over my shoulders as I move between her thighs, absorbing her face. It’s been too long since I’ve seen it. And her eyes. She’s real. I could never refute that when they’re sparkling so madly. “Are you okay?”

Her smile is gorgeous. Satisfied. “Yes.”

“Good.” I move in, hugging the shit out of her. “I’m not finished with you yet.”

She wraps everything around me, legs, arms, and all. “I noticed.”

“You have this effect on me.”

Her face goes straight into my neck. That’s amazing too. Everything with this woman is amazing.

I exhale my contentment and free up my hold, leaning back slightly to get her in my sights. Her cheeks are flushed. Beautifully flushed, and I can’t help giving them a light caress. “Are you hungry?”

“Ish.”

“Ish,” I mimic, and she grins. Amazing. “You have a cheeky grin. I love it.” I drop a light kiss on her mouth.

“Shit!”

“Mouth,” I grate, giving her displeased eyes. “What’s the matter?”