Chasing Ava: A Bachelor of Shell Cove Novel (The Bachelors of Shell Cove) (11 page)

“Long line of golfers in the family. We play at Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course several times per year. Golf and free parking are parts of the package.”

The next thing Ava saw was the gleaming, sphere of Future World filling three hundred and sixty degrees of her field of vision.
 

“You ready to leave Spaceship Earth?” That was Logan referring to the adventures of the park, but she lost her anchor to this world on that dance floor. With him.
 

“Doctor turned astronaut?”

“I can be anything you need.”
 

Stomach dip number one. She did her best to appear unaffected by his presence. She nodded in his direction before facing forward. Waiting. Not wanting to acknowledge how much his words excited her.
 

Logan started their trek through the well-orchestrated, vivid color villages of Oktoberfest to Mission Space.
 

“Okay. The lady wants thrill rides. Let’s do this.” She knew the roller coaster rides available in the park. But, her wayward eyes took in his muscled body and he was the only ride she wanted.
 

As the day progressed, Logan’s touch became more familiar. Handholding at first, then his well-defined, muscled arm around her shoulders. Now the weight of his arm circling her waist had her pulse outrunning the Disney monorail. The rightness of them together wasn’t lost on her. Stomach dip number two.
 

The sun was setting and the lunch hour had come and gone. She enjoyed being with Logan, but an audible tummy growl reminded her that they had failed to eat lunch. On her lunch date, that had extended into dinner. A man who got what he wanted. She should be upset, but truth be told. It was the best time she’d ever had.
 

The smell of jumbo smoked turkey legs and greasy fried dough sailed through the air. Ava smiled because she was getting one of each. 

“Why the huge grin?”

“The thought of biting into one of those colossal turkey legs and then stuffing my mouth with the biggest funnel cake I can find.”

She saw Logan zero in on her lips, flames alight in his eyes.
 

“You’re not listening.”
 

“I heard you, but I’m stuck on the biting and stuffing part.”
 

She blushed until her face felt fire engine red. 

“Sweetheart, I’m making you blush. Such a pretty blush, too. Tell me more things you want to eat, it’s fueling my fantasies.”

“I don’t want to eat anything else,” she said, shyly. He looked disappointed at her obvious cop out.
 

For some reason, she didn’t ever want to disappoint him. 

She offered a compromise. “I want to drink a half gallon of the fresh squeezed lemonade from the cart in front of us.”

“I’ll make you a deal. You have a seat on the only empty bench in sight.” He pointed to a bench partially hidden by a pretzel cart. “I’ll go and make all your food fantasies come true.”

“You don’t have to wait on me Logan. I’ll walk with you.”

“No. You will do as I said.”

“Fine. You, cave man bring food. I, cave woman will prepare our table.” Secretly she was relieved Logan wanted to get their food.
 

She wished she had worn sneakers. Her sandals were modern day torture devices. Hot coals would have felt more comfortable. She tried not to limp, but that was near impossible with the heat of eight hours on asphalt trapped between her foot and the leather uppers.
 

Logan returned with their food. She was ravenous. The pain in her feet slipped to second place on her priority list when the fragrance of food reached her nose. Every morsel he put in front of her she devoured with gusto.

“You have a healthy appetite Ava Walters.”

“Are you calling me a piglet?”

“There’s my funny woman again. I’m glad you’re not one of those women who don’t eat on a date.”

“Wow, you’re easy to please. I’ll be sure to eat all my food the next time we’re out.” She realized her mistake immediately. She looked up hoping Logan had missed the implication of her words.

The smile on his face told her he had not. “I look forward to the next time. You pick the place.” He came to his feet, extending one hand down to her. “Come on, the Grand Illusions Light show starts in thirty minutes, let’s find a better view.”

He grabbed the hand she offered pulling her to her feet. They walked a short distance until they found a small spot on a grassy hill.
 

The fireworks were spectacular. She was glad they stayed to watch the show. It was time to leave the theme park and head home. She was giddy from the unexpected wonder of the day. The craving she had for Logan had grown exponentially as the hours slipped away.
 

“Ava?”

“Yes, Logan.” She felt her body leaving the ground.
 

“Hey, what are you doing?” She giggled. His left arm held her knees and his right arm cradled her back.

“You’re smart, you tell me.”
 

Her left arm, hip, and thigh made contact with hot, stone-hard muscles as Logan pulled her into his body. She pulled her arm free to wrap around his neck. She should’ve gone ramrod stiff in his arms, but the naughty nurse was in control and she rested her head on his chest.

“This is inappropriate.” Her fingers were making slow circles on his chest. “Put me down,” she said, in a dreamy voice. “I can walk.”
 

“Let me carry you. I saw you limping. I’ll put you down when we reach the car.” She started to wiggle in his arms.
 

“Ava stop squirming or I will toss you over my shoulder for all the Mouseketeers to see.”

“You wouldn’t.”
 

“It would give me great pleasure to have your sweet little apple bottom close to my mouth. I have some ideas about us creating a magic kingdom all to ourselves.”
 

Her feminine center heated at his words. She took in his calm expression. He was serious about what he wanted to do to her. She gulped at the realization.
 

“Okay, I’ll be still.”
 

“That’s what I thought I heard you say the first time.”
 

Logan carried her through the theme park to one of the dozen exit gates. Some people openly stared at them as they fell in step with the exiting crowd. At the unwanted attention discomfort skirted up her spine. Attracting people’s attention was something she had avoided most of her adult life.
 

“You can put me down. My feet feel better.”
 

He ignored her statement, crossing the half-mile parking lot at a leisurely pace.
 

“I like carrying you.”
 

“You’re kind, but I have to be getting heavy.” He looked affronted. Realizing she had committed an ego infraction she rubbed her cheek along his chest in apology.

The feel of him squeezing her tighter to him reassured her all was well.
 

“I can carry you across a dozen parking lots. Besides, in my arms is where I want you.”
 

Minutes later they reached his car. He placed a quick kiss on her lips.
 

“Now I will put you down.”
 

He placed her on her feet next to the Lexus’s passenger door, reaching into the pocket of his khaki Dockers for his car keys. He unlocked the door then turned to capture her fingers in his warm grip.
 

“Kiss me, Ava.” That sexy baritone combined with the request, had her wetting her lips in anticipation. He wasn’t taking, he was asking. She could refuse, but truth was she wanted to kiss him.

She hesitated a brief moment before she rose up on her toes and tentatively kissed his lips. When she would’ve backed away, he grabbed her around the waist lifting her up to his eye level. Her back was rested against the doorframe. His hold was firm, but not unyielding. Seductive.

“Again.” He gently directed her.
 

This time she didn’t hesitate. She captured his head in her hands and savored the feel of his lips on hers. His mouth was warm, invitingly wet and she was lost. Lost in the sweet taste of mutual satisfaction. She’d tasted and wanted more. Theirs tongue dueled for dominance, then he drove into her mouth with the skill that only an experienced lover could master and subdued her hunger to his will. The moan she released echoed through her as he captured it with the warm heat of his mouth.
 

Logan abruptly ended the kiss. “Get in the car Ava.” She tried to gain access to his mouth, but he pulled back. She looked at him, hunger that mirrored hers. The confusion she felt must have shown on her face.
 

“I had to stop sweetheart. Don’t look at me with wanting in your eyes. There’s a part of me that is significantly larger since you placed those hot lips on mine. Are you ready for me to get lost in you for hours because that’s what will happen if we continue? I’m willing to give the Mouseketeers something to talk about if you are.”
 

She vigorously shook her head side to side.
 

“No, I’ll pass on that scenario.” She touched her forehead to his, rubbing her hands over his shoulders, grappling to restrain the desire raging in her.
 

He laughed, placing a quick peck on her cheek before lowering her to the ground. Helping her into the car, he reached across, buckled her seatbelt, closed the door, then rounded the car and slid in behind the wheel.
 

“Are you ready to go home?”
 

“I guess. Yeah, I am,” she responded with more certainty than she felt.

They rode in companionable silence for the first half hour. She must have dozed off because she awoke to discover her hand resting on Logan’s thigh. High on his thigh. She felt the defined muscles underneath her fingers. They itched to touch his bare flesh. She gave a tentative stroke to the warm flesh underneath her palm. At the feel of his muscle contracting she let her gaze rise to meet his. The electricity flashing in his emerald depths caused goose bumps to bead her skin. She fought the undeniable urge to move closer. To surrender to the beaconing desire radiating from him. To give into the pleasure his eyes promised. He rested his hand over hers, delivering a slow, circular caress to the back of her hand.
 

“Don’t stop, Ava. Nothing about today can be undone. And trust me, nothing can get any harder than it already is.”
 

She could not agree more.

It was approaching midnight when they pulled into Ava’s azalea lined driveway.
 

Logan exited the driver’s door and rounded the car. He couldn’t resist pressing his lips to hers as he helped her out of the car.
 

“Thank you for a lovely day Logan. I had a good time with you.”
 

The evening’s magic had dissipated as the highway miles led them back to North Florida and awkwardness laced her words.
 

He could see the dismissal coming the closer they drew to home. He hadn’t stopped her when she slowly pulled her hand from his thigh to rest in her lap.

Tonight would not end the same as their first night together. Before he could ruin the day by saying the wrong thing and she could react, he laid claim to her mouth. Pushing past her lips deep into her mouth. Initially he was alone in his quest, and then he felt her tongue tentatively stroke his. Ava’s honeyed taste filled his mouth, fueling his need for her. He sucked and nipped at her lips. As he pulled her body closer, he pushed deeper, palming her head, holding her lips captive. She circled his waist. Her hands pressed into his back. He felt her fingers as they tensed and relaxed along the length of his spine. Like she was testing his solidity. Her lithe form filled the “v” between his legs and he coaxed her to continue the oral erotic dance till they both were near mad. Breaking their kiss, he studied her. Except for soft breathy panting her demeanor was calm, but he felt her rising heat against his skin.
 

“That was my attempt to stop your dismissal.” He could see the truth of his statement reflected in her eyes. “Now that I have your attention and you are not focused on insignificant things outside of us, I think you are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on and I am going to taste every inch of your mouth.”