Chasing the slipstream, p.18
CHASING THE SLIPSTREAM, page 18
“What about the just sex deal?”
“We can alter it.”
“Friends with benefits?”
“Lots of benefits. Tons of them. Sounds good?”
“Why not,” she breathed out.
“Why not?” he parroted, bemused, his hands running down her ribs. “Will you ever stop being a brat?”
“But are you sure you want this with me?”
He stilled, a deep crease forming between his furrowed brows. He found her gaze, gaping at her incredulously. “Yes.”
“But…”
“But what? Tell me.”
She sighed heavily, shoulders sagging. “I don’t know, Rowan. You seem like a stable guy. Steady. Well-balanced and anchored to your commitments. I don’t want to hold you back from hooking up with other women. I just—sorry. I’m rambling. Whatever I’m trying to say doesn’t make sense. I’m nervous.”
“I make you nervous?” He smirked. “One point for Rowan Emerson.”
“I’m trying to be serious here.”
“And I’m trying to tell you that,”—he grabbed her hand to place it above his prominent bulge, causing her eyes to widen slightly—“I don’t want anyone else. No one can be a better friend with a cunt as sweet as yours, Avery.”
She couldn’t help but laugh at the foul words leaving his mouth, yet a crimson blush had appeared on her cheekbones. When he placed a tender kiss on her nose, then her cheek, and on her jaw, he heard her sigh softly.
Rowan was baffled by his actions. His affection.
With her head tilted to the side, she had granted him more access to her skin just as he grabbed the back of her thighs to wrap her legs around his waist.
“Okay, but wait.”
“Anything you want, sunflower.”
“We need to set a few rules.”
He groaned. “Seriously?”
“Yes.” She cradled his face, prying him away from her soft skin to force him to look at her. Unconsciously, he leaned into her touch. The look on her face shifted from aggravated concern and seriousness to a certain tenderness. “I don’t want this—us—to impact your performance and especially your career. If we get caught—”
“We’ll be careful. I’d never put you in danger. Would never take the risk of getting caught because I don’t want you to be fired.”
A tantalising smile illuminated her features. “Are you finally admitting I’m the best PR officer you’ve ever had and that you don’t know what you’d do without me?”
He rolled his eyes. “Let’s not go too far.”
“It’s always going to be work before anything else, okay? I’m not going to distract you. You’ll come to me only when you need to get it out of your system, and I’ll do the same, but we have to stay professional.”
God, that overbearing, controlling side of hers. He was so turned on. Could fuck her right then and there. “Rules. Okay. Yeah. Anything you want.”
“No hooking up when we’re travelling.”
“Are you shitting me?” he bellowed with disbelief. “We travel ninety percent of the season, dude. When can we bang, then? Winter break? Yeah, no, fuck that.”
She was amused. He wasn’t. “Fine, dude. No hooking up during race weekend—that means Friday through Sunday night. You need to focus.”
“Okay, but what if I need to release some tension before a race or something?”
Avery shook her head. “Not happening.”
“Fine. I respect that. You want us to be professional. Fine.”
She giggled. Giggled. Hooking a finger under his chain, she said, “You sound petty. Stop. I just don’t want it to be weird between us.”
“It’s not. It won’t be.”
Doe eyes blinked up at him. “Promise?”
“I promise, sunflower.”
“We have to be extra careful of everything we do. Where we meet. When we meet.”
He nodded. “You got it.”
“We can’t tell anyone.”
“Obviously. My lips are sealed. You’re my secret.”
Something flashed in her eyes, but he couldn’t put a word on that strange emotion.
“And when you meet someone else, someone new, you tell me so we can end things. Same goes for me.”
Rowan nodded, but he didn’t want to meet anyone new. Didn’t want her to meet another man.
None of this sounded like two friends seeking a relationship where only lust could take over, where feelings were unwelcome. But, somehow, he didn’t care.
“Deal,” he said despite the tightness in his chest.
“Deal.” She extended her small hand, and he shook it with a firm grip. She tried to grip him harder, causing him to chuckle.
“Good. Now, come here.”
Cupping her chin, he brought her lips to his, and the contact set his entire universe on fire. Explosions of overwhelming sentiments. Fireworks of incomprehensible yet unyielding desire. Kissing Avery had never felt so good.
Her lips parted, allowing his tongue to explore her mouth whilst their breaths entwined. Slipping his hand to her neck and aiming for her chest, he pushed his hips into hers, eliciting a gasp to echo.
When her hands fell onto his pecs, he smirked, but she pushed him away.
He blinked.
She had the audacity to shrug sheepishly.
He let her go, confused, and she pushed herself out of the pool.
And then, she bent over to grab his jaw, pecked his lips, and whispered, “Goodnight, Rowan.”
He watched her walk to the lounge chair to retrieve her towel, hips swaying and perfect round, generous ass in his field of vision.
“Are you fucking serious? Leaving me here alone with a raging hard-on?”
She didn’t look at him when she waved in farewell. “Sorry, lover boy, but you’ll have to take care of it on your own tonight. Sweet dreams.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
📍MIAMI, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Sprawled on the sofa, Rowan waited for her answer. Regardless of his patience, he could feel his fingers tremble with anticipation as he stared absently at their message thread.
Today wasn’t necessarily his favourite day, but he had forced himself to smile and pretend he was having a great time. He’d had cake, had received numerous wishes, but he didn’t care that much for his birthday.
After celebrating with the team and participating in PR activities for Media Day, Rowan had managed to get a hold of a Polaroid. He’d snapped a photo of Avery busy eating a piece of cake and scribbled a note on the back of it before slipping it into the back pocket of her jeans when no one was watching.
All he needed now was to let go of that pent-up stress, get laid, and see Avery. Obviously, he had spent some time with her these past few days, that mutual hostility now long forgotten. He hadn’t managed to get some alone time with her though, and it was slowly yet surely driving him mad.
Rowan
Did you get my note?
Meet me tonight, the note said.
Sunflower
Yes.
Rowan
Meet me in my room
Sunflower
What are we going to do?
Rowan
Each other
Sunflower
You have no filter whatsoever.
Rowan, the hotel is flooded with team members
Rowan
So? We’re young and reckless baby. Nothing has stopped you before.
Room 555
Sunflower
I’ll kill you if we get caught
Rowan
As long as I get to bury my head between your thighs, I’m fine with the consequences
Rowan was electric with need. He was yearning for Avery’s touch. He craved her like he was addicted, but he refused to find a cure to lure him out of this bewitching spell.
The instant a soft, almost inaudible knock resonated, he opened the door and pulled Avery in by her wrist. He pushed her against the closed door, instantly slanting his mouth on hers. The gasp she emitted was swallowed by him as he let his tongue stroke hers in a languid motion. Avery moaned softly, winding her arms around his neck as his hands found the back of her thighs.
He hoisted her up effortlessly, refusing to break their fervent kiss.
She was wearing cotton shorts, and imagining her walking around with those on made his cock swell. He pushed himself into her centre, a moan catching inside her throat. She made him feel like a teenager; he could come inside his joggers just by rolling his hips against hers, listening to her soft whimpers.
“Wait,” she breathed out.
A frustrated groan rumbled inside his chest. “I’ve been wanting to kiss that bratty mouth of yours all day long and now you’re stopping me? It better be for a good reason.”
Gently, she pushed him away just enough so that he could stare into her eyes. Doe eyes glinting with tenderness. Mesmerising, doe eyes he couldn’t get out of his mind, no matter how hard he tried.
“Happy birthday,” Avery murmured, extending a small box his way.
“What is it?” His eyebrows had drawn together in slight confusion.
Damn it—why was she constantly, continuously good to him? What had he done to deserve her?
“The birthday present you’ve been dying to receive.”
A smile danced on the corner of his mouth as he reminisced of the moment he’d taunted her for not gifting him anything. Her reply had been: “You’re already gifted by my presence.”
He let her down on her feet, forgetting about his painful erection. He grabbed the box and opened it. He blinked. Raised his brows in shock. Looked at her.
“Is it poisoned?”
She scoffed. “You’re hilarious.”
He expelled a breath.
“Sunflower,” he whispered in awe. “That’s very…”
She folded her arms across her stomach, as if self-conscious. “That’s too much, isn’t it? I knew I shouldn’t have done that.”
“I was going to say that it’s very thoughtful of you.”
She stared up at him, uncertainty etched on her beautiful face. “Really?”
“Yes.”
There was a small pecan pie in the box, its smell heightening his senses and making his stomach grumble.
“I know it’s not your mum’s recipe,” she started, “but this is mine. Well, with a slight twist because Kam gave me her recipe for the cream, but yeah.”
“That’s adorable,” he acknowledged with a smile. “Thank you.”
He placed the box on the desk before grabbing her face. His lips skimmed hers, a shiver rolling down his spine when her fingers looped around his wrists.
“You’re too good for me,” he whispered.
“Don’t say that,” she whispered back.
“It’s true.”
She shook her head before kissing him softly. But Rowan didn’t want delicate touches and lovers’ caresses tonight—he wanted to release the tension corrupting his body.
Angling her head to kiss her deeply, he groaned when her hands fisted the front of his shirt. He walked them to the bed and pushed her onto the mattress, pinning her wrists above her head.
He didn’t allow her to break the kiss until he heard her panting. Locking her legs around his hips, she pulled him into her, and the contact of his bulge on her centre made her writhe.
“Patience, baby,” he rasped, smirking.
Slowly, he ground into her, his breaths as heavy and staggered as hers. His lips found the curve of her jaw, trailing kisses down the side of her neck. He nipped at her skin, his hands skimming her thighs.
“No hickeys,” she ordered.
“Bummer,” he said. “I really want to mark you as mine.”
“I’m not yours,” she argued, followed by a scoff of disbelief.
“Really? Is this why you’re under me, ready to beg for my tongue or cock to fill you up?”
He pulled away to watch her reaction. As expected, her tanned skin flushed, allowing patches of red to colour her cheekbones. He loved the power he held over her.
“I hate you.”
He grinned. “I know.”
He watched her chest heave as they held gazes. Slowly, he trailed his perusal down her physique, his breath catching for a heartbeat. She wasn’t wearing anything beneath her cotton top, showing peaked and hard nipples straining against the fabric. Dark hair spilled over the pillow. Avery looked good in his bed.
“God, Avery,” he breathed out. “Your beauty is otherworldly. You’re stunning.”
He smirked when she blushed again, but a smile spread across her swollen lips.
“Do you say that to all your no-strings-attached hookups?”
“No. Just you. There’s only you.”
He kissed her again. Claimed her by roaming his hands all over her body. Stole each one of her breaths away.
Avery arched her back when he palmed her breasts over her clothes, fingers threading through his hair. He groaned because she felt heavenly in his hands. Perfect. Made for him.
He trailed his hands down and pushed her shirt up, but she grabbed his wrists, stopping him mid-movement.
“Can you leave my shirt on?” Her question was almost inaudible.
“Anything you want. Can I ask why?”
He left coaxing caresses on her hip, encouraging her to use her voice.
She lowered her stare elsewhere. “I’m a bit self-conscious about my body. I just—I’m not ready to show it to you yet.”
Rowan’s heart shattered. Avery was one of the most exquisite women he’d ever seen, to the point he’d always thought she was out of his league.
He kissed her softly. “I hope that one day you trust me enough to lay completely naked. But just so you know, I think you’re perfect the way you are. I respect you, your body, your demands, but you don’t have to hide from me. This is a safe space for both of us.”
Avery pulled him in. “Thank you, Rowan. You have no idea how much this means to me.”
After easing her again with kisses, he plunged his fingers inside her shorts. They skimmed over her lace panties, and she bucked her hips upwards.
“Are you already wet for me?”
She mumbled incoherent phrases against his mouth, causing him to chuckle. Pressing his fingers on her clit, she released a heavy sigh as she held onto the back of his neck. Rowan circled her clit whilst peppering kisses down her throat, her collarbones, and the swell of her cleavage. He found her taut nipple over her shirt, wrapping his mouth around it. Sucking on it, he looked up at Avery to find her already staring at him, lips agape and eyes dark with desire.
But just as he was about to slip his fingers inside her panties, her phone rang.
She sighed, digging into the pocket of her shorts to take the device out. She threw it on the bed, letting it ring as she got lost in a haze of pleasure when Rowan’s fingers quickened their pace.
“Answer it,” he demanded.
“Later.”
“Answer it,” he repeated. “Be a good girl and act like you’re not busy with me.”
She threw him a glare and grabbed her phone, then hit the green button. “Hey.”
“Speaker,” Rowan mouthed, tugging her shorts down her legs. “Now.”
Avery rolled her eyes, and he slapped her covered clit. She yelped, throwing him a dangerous glare.
“No, no, I’m fine,” she answered, breathless. “Just bumped my hip on the corner of the desk.”
“Speaker,” he whispered as he spread her legs open. He bit the interior of his cheek at the sight of the red lace contrasting with her dark skin.
When she finally hit the speaker button, Eliott’s voice filled the stillness in the room. Rowan was drowning in jealousy and possessiveness, but he reminded himself it was him who was between her legs at that exact moment. He caressed her shins, her knees, and her thighs, holding her gaze as he pressed his thumb on her clit.
“Are you still joining me?” Eliott asked.
Rowan stilled and narrowed his eyes. Avery raised a defiant brow.
“Oh, uh…” She bucked her hips, eyes nearly rolling when he applied more pressure. “Rain check? I’m not feeling very well.”
“Really? Do you want me to bring something to your room?”
“N-no.” Rowan started kissing the inside of her thighs, inching dangerously close to her core. “I think I just need to go to bed. It’s been a long day.”
“That’s fine.” Disappointment was laced to his tone regardless, and Rowan couldn’t help but snicker in triumph. “We can do that another time.”
“For sure,” she quipped.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
Rowan latched his mouth around her nipple, dampening her top. He was now drawing circles on her clit with two fingers, fast and hard, ready to make her come.
“Totally fine. I need to go. Bye, Eliott.”
“Good night, Av—”
His sentence wasn’t even finished when she ended the call and threw her phone somewhere on the bed. Rowan rose to face her lips, jaw tightened.
He dipped his fingers lower, pushing into her entrance, her panties still creating a barrier between them. “What was all that about?”
Avery gripped his forearms, nails digging into his skin. “Oh, fuck.”
“Answer me,” he said, slowing his pace down. “Why the fuck does Eliott call you late at night?”
She huffed. “He wanted to have a drink with me.”
“Like a date?”
“No. Like two colleagues catching up.”
“Sounds like a date to me.”
“Are you jealous?”
Rowan scoffed. “No, because you’re here with me.”
“Exactly.”
He retrieved his hand, causing her to whine. “You know what? Since you’re such a brat, I’m not making you come.”
