Crashed (11 page)

That would remain to be seen.

***

Two long and extremely tiring days later, Avery sat at the bedside of his mother as she took her last breath. Emily had stayed back at the little country house with his gran, making arrangements with the county funeral home. Of course, the final service plans would be in the hands of Avery and Gran. She continued to tip toe around, while trying to help the best she could. The last thing she wanted to do was step on his toes during this difficult time. Although recalling her own experience, she’d wished someone would have stepped up to help her and Amelia.

Thinking of her sister, she realized they hadn’t spoken since she abruptly hung up on her earlier in the week. She felt guilty, but couldn’t help but still be bothered by her sister’s flat-out rude reaction.
Would it be too much to ask for a supportive sister like most girls had?

She decided to text her sister, just to let her know she was away, in case she was trying to look for her.

In Georgia. Be back in a couple days. Avery’s mother passed. Dinner when I get back?

It took a half hour before Emily’s phone alerted her of an incoming text message. Amelia had finally replied.

Who is Avery? We’ll talk when you’re back home. Xoxo

Emily let out a small laugh. Things with Avery were still so fresh, she hadn’t even taken the time to talk to her frigid sister about her new hot fireman love.

New boyfriend. Hot fireman. Remember? You’ll meet when we get back.

Instead of letting Gran cook again, Emily took over the kitchen for the evening. Both Avery and his gran were far too exhausted by their loss to do anything. Emily picked up the slack on everything they couldn’t handle. Cooking just happened to be on the agenda for the night. She whipped together her mother’s famous macaroni and cheese. Saying Gran was impressed with her kitchen skills would have been an understatement. She had the couple virtually married off with Emily barefoot and pregnant in her beautiful country kitchen. As much as Emily found it all to be insane, it also made her heart skip a beat, or twelve.

“Gran, we’re going to have to talk about arrangements for when Emily and I have to leave at the beginning of next week.” The mood in the room switched from somewhat cheerful to troubled. Before Gran could begin with her suggestions, Emily took a deep breath and just spit it out.

“Gran, I think you should come back to Florida with us. We can take care of you there. It’s beautiful, and we have plenty of room. I have two spare bedrooms in my apartment alone.” A collective gasp of shock came from around the table. Avery and Gran just stared at her in shock. Florida? Her apartment? Was Emily really moving his grandmother into her apartment? For Emily, it seemed like the only logical thing to do.

“You don’t have to, Emily. I could set up the guest bedroom at my house for Gran,” Avery argued while washing down a mouthful of macaroni and cheese with his sweet tea. “We’ll get her all set up when we go back.”

“Does this ol’ lady get any say?” Gran interrupted. “I don’t want to leave Georgia. Do I have to?” she asked them both. Avery didn’t want to argue with Gran, but there was nothing he could do. His life, and job were in Florida and he wasn’t about to move back to Georgia and leave Emily behind.

“Gran, listen. I don’t want to do this. I know you love this house, this is the only home you’ve ever known.” He paused and ran his fingers through his hair, letting out a deep breath and continuing. “But unless you want to go in one of those damn old folk homes, you gotta come back home with me.” Gran wore a scowl on her face. She wasn’t happy with the ultimatum before her, but she also didn’t want to cause Avery any more stress or pain than he was already being forced to deal with.

“Can I at least pick where to live when we get there?” she joked as she took a sip of her tea. “I may want to stay with her just for the mac n’ cheese, boy.” They all started laughing as the dismal mood of the day lifted.

Chapter Seven

Under the Stars

“What do we need all these blankets for?” Emily questioned while Avery piled them into the back seat of his truck. It was dusk and the sun was slowly starting to set behind the rows of trees which wrapped around the house. The night air was perfect, much cooler than the blazing day had been. It was comfortable, a southern, summer night.

“Trust me,” was all he said while he led her to the side of his pickup. Emily wore a light blue spaghetti strap sun dress which fell just below her knee, complimenting her eyes flawlessly. Her feet were bare; she held a pair of white jeweled flip-flops in her left hand. She slid up into the truck with Avery assisting her, his hand snug around her waist. His heart skipped a beat, taking in her beauty. It seemed like days since he’d been able to truly take a look at her and appreciate everything she had been taking on for him. The thought that she so willingly took this mess on for no other reason but her feelings for him, really made him understand the deeper connection they shared.

“Where are we going?” she questioned again, snapping him out of his daydream. Since dinner, Avery had been unusually quiet. The stress of the situation was starting to get to him and no matter what Emily tried to do to help, she felt as though she was failing. She let it slide, though. Had Jared actually stuck around two years ago when she dealt with her own loss, she would have been more distant than Avery was being.

“My favorite place in Georgia,” he said with a modest smile before rounding the truck to get in himself. The engine roared to life, and they traveled slowly around the back of the house on the grass. Soon enough a small dirt road appeared in between a break in the lush greenery. They drove slowly along the road, which began to slope down toward a small creek. Avery pulled the truck over to the side of the road and reversed it before coming to a stop at the edge of the water, leaving only a few feet from the tailgate to the water.

“When I was a boy, I loved this spot. No matter what bad would come my way, I could always come here and clear my mind.” He paused before turning toward Emily. When their eyes met, fireworks began to fly once again. The days of hurt and pain were slowly drifting away while their attraction drifted back, front and center. “I’ve never brought anyone here; it was just too special to share—until now...” he added before jumping out of the truck.

Emily followed suit, meeting him at the front of the truck as he walked around. He swept her off her feet, carrying her around to the bed of the truck. She hadn’t noticed before they left the house, but he’d thrown in an air mattress, and turned the bed of his truck into a comfy bed. “Join me, my lady?” He lowered her down into the bed of the truck. She lay comfortably on the mattress, resting her sandy hair on a pillow he’d grabbed off his gran’s couch. He turned to pull all the extra blankets around them he’d taken before leaving the house.

“Now the blankets make sense, you sneak,” she said with a chuckle. When he jumped over the side of the truck bed, she lost no time before snuggling next to him, resting her head in the crook of his arm. They lay together, speechless, just listening to the soundtrack of nature. The creek ran with the occasional splash, the crickets chirped their own symphony of nature, dogs barked in the distance, and while Emily’s head rested on Avery’s chest, she marveled at the sound of his heartbeat.

The sun continued to set in one of the most beautiful scenes Emily had ever seen. Everything had been nothing short of storybook perfect. Avery’s grip tightened, pulling her closer to his warm body. While he only wore a thin white undershirt and a pair of jeans, his body radiated enough heat to keep her warm. He finally broke the silence.

“Emily, please don’t tell me I’m the only one who thinks there is something really special between us?”

His words took her off guard. She expected him to spill about the emotional mess of losing his mother and the days of stress they’d just lived through. Instead, he was opening up to her about their relationship, something she hadn’t even thought about since making their way to Georgia.

She inhaled sharply, completely taken off guard. “Yes, there is something really special between us, something I’ve never felt before.” She ran her fingers through his messy hair while gazing at his face, mentally cataloging the way he looked right at this moment. His strong jaw was lightly covered by two days of stubble, his eyes slightly puffy from the tears he’d shed. But despite the rough days, he still looked absolutely edible. Slowly, her fingers drifted down his still body, running circles along his taut stomach.

“Good. Because, I don’t know if I could move on from all this without you by my side,” Avery whispered, moving in to gently kiss her, weaving his fingers through her silky hair, and parting her lips with his soft tongue. Emily kissed him back with everything she had, allowing her hands to explore his body. As Avery’s kiss became more desperate, she took the hint to run her soft hands along the waist of his faded blue jeans, slowly inching down until she came in contact with his growing erection. At her contact, he let out a throaty cry of pleasure. Without their mouths breaking their lustful battle, Avery thrust his jean covered cock into her hand before rolling on top of her and pressing it onto her moistening center.

She let out a small gasp of surprise as his body ground against hers. The simple friction sent her fingers sliding through his mess of blond hair, gently tugging as she bucked her hips up to meet his slow strokes.

“Avery?” Emily questioned, only breaking their kiss for a split second. As his lips left hers, they slid up on her neck until she was finished speaking, gentle sucking and licking down to her naked collarbone. “Tonight,” was all she said.

He pulled away, gazing passionately at her, looking into her sparkling blue eyes before composing himself enough to speak the words he couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Are you sure, Emily?” Instead of crashing back down on her lips, he continued staring into her eyes with passion, hoping, but waiting anxiously for her response.

“Yes, Avery,” was all she said. She didn’t need to elaborate on her feelings. Their eyes and actions said more than any words could.

“Good, because I need to be inside you tonight, Emily.” He lowered his lips back down, running his tongue along her plump bottom lip before diving back into her intoxicating mouth. Her hands met with the hem of his thin white T-shirt, tugging it upward before slipping it over his head. Running her fingers up and down his gorgeously sculpted back, she gently raked his skin with her nails with each pass, as he continued ravishing her mouth. She started working on the button of his jeans with care, rubbing his hard length, slipping her hand into the small opening of his pants. Taking his thick length, she slowly stroked it as he moved his kisses south. With luscious licks and nibbles, he feasted on the flesh of her neck until he met the fabric of her sundress.

“I never thought I would find you,” he whispered against her skin, moving his lips to the hidden zipper of her dress, pulling it down slowly with his teeth. One by one, her arms were pulled out of the spaghetti straps which held the dress up. His kisses continued down her body, leaving no piece of glistening flesh untouched.
Oh God, she isn’t wearing a bra.

The cool night air met her creamy breasts, immediately puckering her nipples. Her hands continued working on Avery’s pants until she found his zipper, slowly pushing it down, slipping her fingers into his belt loops until she leisurely eased them down.
Oh, shit. He is going commando.

His strong hands gently guided her dress down, lifting off of her only long enough to slip it down her legs before he returned to the warmth of her body, clothed only in a skimpy pair of hot pink panties. His hot breath fanned over her damp panties, his hands gently stroking her thighs as he breathed heavily over her lush form. As he gently nudged her sex with his nose, smelling her arousal, his erection began to throb harder with each touch.

“Are you real?” Emily questioned as Avery continued worshipping her body, kiss by kiss. Kneeling between her thighs, he lowered his mouth, tracing his tongue up until it collided with cloth once again. The silk of her panties was the only piece of fabric separating their bodies from joining as one under the cloak of the night’s sky. In the distance, thunder rolled as Avery sat up, his fingers curled under the seams of her thin panties. Slowly, he eased them down her soft legs while he kissed every inch of her inner thighs. Once her panties were off, he glanced up at her bare, glistening center, and smiled, tossing her panties aside. Her breathing hitched and his heart started to race as they continued to explore each other’s bodies in the most loving manner a person could. No inch was left untouched as they moved closer to consummating their relationship, only lit by the full moon above them.

Without a second thought, he lowered himself back down between her thighs, taking in her swollen, wet, bare pussy. Showering kisses along her stomach and down her legs, he teased with each lick before slowly placing a gentle kiss on her vulnerable femininity. A low hum vibrated from her body, giving him the approval he needed. He explored her perfection slowly with tantalizing licks, relishing her sweet taste. Her moans grew louder as her hips slowly lifted up, signaling her desperate need for him.

Never removing his mouth from her center, he slowly inserted a single finger inside while sucking on her hard nub, causing her to fly apart beneath him. Her first orgasm exploded like the thunder in the distance. Her fingers thrust through Avery’s hair as she moaned, calling his name with her climax.

While her body came down from her orgasm, he kissed a path up her body, resting his head on her stomach. Her fingers caressed his hair and down his back, circling his tanned skin as sweat beaded across his shoulder blades.

The sounds of the night filled the air, frog’s croaking, crickets chirping, the slow swish of water on the creek shore, and Emily’s slow pants echoing through the trees. Her hand found Avery’s chin, bringing his lips to hers for a tender kiss, full of the passion and affection they’d both poured out with every action. Her tongue explored his mouth, tasting her own arousal fresh on his lips. He inched up her body, cupping both of her breasts, while feathering light kisses down her neck to her heaving mounds. Tenderly taking each peak in his mouth with care, he sucked, licked and teased her until Emily started moaning below him again, signaling she was ready for him.

“Emily?” he questioned as he rose above her, looking down and getting lost in her eyes. He was waiting for one last word of approval before they moved forward.

“I want to feel you, Avery,” she moaned, her voice cloaked in deep desire. Her words were all he needed. Reaching in between their wanton bodies, she gripped his cock and gently rubbed it over her swollen clit, back and forth before nudging the damp opening to her sheath. As he slowly thrust himself into her, inch-by-inch with tenderness and care, he cupped her chin, pulling her gaze to his.

“Oh, shit, you feel so good,” was all he could say as he pushed the last bit of his length in till his balls pressed tightly against her warmth. Her gorgeous pussy stretched to accommodate his throbbing cock. His mouth dipped back to her lips, tasting and teasing with every thrust into her body. His deep moans echoed the sweet sounds she made under his lips.

“Oh, God, Avery! Oh, fuck!” she breathed out, running her hands over his tight abs and straight up to caress his strong chest, bucking her hips up to meet his slow thrusts. Her second climax of the night was slowly building deep in her stomach as his hard length grazed her G spot. Her moans grew louder and her kisses became more feverish. “Avery, yes!” she screamed as he pushed deeper into her, slowly falling over the edge of her orgasm.

Her pussy throbbing around his swelling cock was all he needed to meet his own climax. Biting down gently on Emily’s shoulder, he thrust one more time into her lush, wet center. “Oh, yes!” He choked out while spilling his seed deep inside her welcoming body. A choir of moans filled the night sky as the couple slowly came down from their lovemaking.

***

Wrapped in a blue fleece blanket and in the arms of the man she’d just made passionate love to, Emily drifted off to sleep with Avery’s chest as a pillow. Only when the rain started to gently fall, did the couple decide it was time to make their way back to Gran’s house. Avery would have loved to spend the entire night under the stars with Emily, but mother nature had different plans.

A sharp crack of lightening jolted Emily awake as Avery reached for her dress and his jeans, all of which were balled up by the tailgate of the truck. They scrambled to get clothes on and into the dry shelter of the cab. With nothing but his jeans on, sitting low on his gorgeous hips, Emily had a good view of his well sculpted V cut. Avery jumped from the truck bed, offering his hand to help her out behind him. Instead of jumping onto the ground, Emily landed in the strong arms of Avery, quickly and methodically wrapping her legs around his waist.

Forgetting about the warm rain gently falling from the sky, their lips met once again. Tongues tangled in their passion which was still burning as bright as the full moon above them, struggling to sneak out from behind the passing clouds. Laughter spilled from both of their mouths as their kiss ended and Avery moved them to the passenger’s side of the truck. Opening the truck door, he slid Emily’s bare ass down onto the seat before jogging around to the driver’s side.

“I’m soaked.” She laughed as the diesel engine roared to life and the headlights kicked on, barely lighting the dark path which led to the farm house. “I’ll warm you up when we get back,” Avery said with a mischievous grin spreading across his lips. His mood had improved over the past couple hours while they hid away from reality in the woods. Emily couldn’t help but realize they had peeled back a new layer of their relationship. No longer was she scared, though. Her chest swelled with the possibilities of a life with Avery.

***

Like two teenagers breaking curfew, Avery and Emily snuck in the house, trying not to wake Gran. The jig was up when they crept through the front door to see her sitting at the kitchen table. Soaking wet and caught! They both let out a laugh while Gran stood, poking Avery in the chest and saying, “I hope you plan on making an honest woman out of her, Avery Daniel Martin,” before she continued to her bedroom closing the door louder than normal.

“Does that mean we have to get married?” Emily questioned while they both fell onto the floor laughing like a couple of children. Before Avery could reply to her outlandish comment, she blurted out, “But it would have to be in Vegas. With Elvis.” She clasped her stomach, trying to control her howls.

“Come on, let’s get you in the shower before you get sick,” Avery said, picking her up off the floor and climbing the rickety stairs to the second floor bathroom. Kicking the light blue door shut behind him, he placed Emily down on the sink before turning and starting the shower. As the water heated up, the steam started filling the room.

“I’ll leave you to warm up. Want something from your bag?” Avery asked before turning for the door, pulling a plush white towel from the closet and placing it on the sink for her.

“Just grab me my black yoga pants and a T-shirt, please,” Emily answered while her dress dropped to the floor and she stepped into the shower. Avery froze, taking in her stunning body before walking out.