Chapter 30: Chapter 30

AVERY

Reed and I make our way back to the table. As I slide onto the seat next to him, I can feel the weight of several pairs of eyes on me.

~Are my lips really that swollen?~

Reed chuckles as I touch them, trying to look casual. He leans close, whispering so only I can hear.

“Yes, you look like you’ve been thoroughly kissed. Guess that was too much.”

I give him a shy smile, but it’s hard to really care about it when I’m still buzzing from Reed Everett kissing me senseless.

~Let them know. Let them all watch next time for all I care.~

“I think I might have some of your lipstick on me,” he adds, a deep chuckle resonating from his chest.

He swipes his thumb across his bottom lip, showing me the evidence and earning a round of head shakes from everyone at our table. Normally, I’d be absolutely mortified to be caught like this, but Reed has a way of always making me feel comfortable.

“Are you two good, or…,” Beth asks, a knowing look in her eye.

“We’re good. We’re good.” Reed clears his throat, trying to sound serious, but the hint of amusement still lingers. “I promise, we’ll be good from now on.”

“Sorry,” I apologize, lifting my glass to take a sip of champagne.

Beth smiles. “Honestly, it’s nice to see Reed so lively tonight. It’s a big change from how he is at the office.”

“That’s enough of that,” Reed says with a wave of his hand.

“Oh, come on, Reed. You’re so uptight.”

“I’m not uptight,” he scoffs, sounding offended. “I’m just there to work.”

Beth rolls her eyes, leaning into her husband. Blake raises his glass in approval.

“You’re a good influence on our Reed, Avery. Even if you two are ‘just friends.’”

I can feel Reed’s gaze on me.

~Is he expecting me to correct them? I’m not sure we are “just friends” anymore.~

I mutter a quick thank you before taking another sip.

Dinner arrives, the steaming plates of beef wellington with a side of roasted garlic potatoes and asparagus smelling heavenly. The table goes quiet as we all dig into our food, the sound of knives and forks scraping against expensive plates filling the silence.

***

When the table is cleared, Blake stretches his arms over his head and looks at Reed.

“So, why haven’t you brought Avery around before? Afraid we’d like her more than you? We do, by the way.”

Reed gives a quick laugh and shakes his head before looking at me. “We only reconnected a few weeks ago. I hadn’t seen her for a few years before that.”

“Reed is my brother’s best friend,” I explain, taking another sip and smiling over the rim at Reed. “We grew up together but lost touch after graduation.”

“Reed is your brother’s best friend?” Beth says.

I nod.

“And does your brother know how close the two of you are?”

Reed grimaces. “Not exactly.”

Beth catches on quickly, a sly smile spreading across her face. “And by that, you mean he doesn’t want you anywhere near his sister, am I right?”

Reed clicks his tongue and makes a gun with his fingers. “You got it.”

“So, he doesn’t know about this little date tonight?” Blake says.

I’m quick to correct him. “It’s not a date. I’m just doing Reed a favor.”

Beth and Blake laugh.

“Right,” Beth says. “It’s ‘not a date.’”

Blake, with a curious glint in his eyes, asks. “How many of these ‘not dates’ have you been on?”

“A few,” I reply, trying to keep my tone as neutral as possible. “We went to a movie together.”

“Was it a chick flick?” Beth jumps in, her eyes darting between us.

“No,” Reed lies.

I can’t help but gasp. “You liar!”

Beth’s perfectly manicured eyebrow shoots up. “Reed Everett at a chick flick?”

“Yes. And he even enjoyed it,” I admit, laughing into my glass.

Suddenly, Reed’s hand is on my knee, giving it a gentle squeeze over my dress. A wave of desire washes over me, starting from my belly and spreading down my legs.

Emboldened, I mimic his move, but I don’t stop at his knee. Instead, I place my hand on his thigh, feeling the muscles tense under my touch. His jaw tightens as his eyes flick to me, a warning in them.

Conversation shifts as Blake starts rambling on about his garden, but all I can focus on is Reed. His hand moves from my knee to my thigh, gripping it tightly. The feeling leaves me breathless.

I put my glass down and freeze. A smug smirk spreads across his face, his fingers sliding up my thigh and making their way toward the slit in my dress.

His hand inches closer to the flaming desire growing between my legs. Each gentle stroke of his fingers sends shivers down my spine, and I know we should stop. But I don’t want to.

My hand mirrors his movements. The darkness returns to his eyes as his fingers reach the edge of my underwear, tracing along the lace.

I hold my breath.

~A kiss is one thing, but this… It’s just a game of chicken, right? He wouldn’t—~

I bite my lip to stifle a moan as his hand ventures higher, his thumb brushing against me through the thin fabric. For a moment, I consider giving in to the need coursing through me.

But then, reason kicks in when I remember we’re at a table full of people. Disappointment flashes across his face as I grab his hand and reluctantly pull it away.

With Reed’s touch no longer on me, I can finally tune back into the conversation, but it seems we’ve missed a lot. Beth and Blake are getting ready to leave.

Beth gathers her coat and takes Blake’s hand. “It’s getting late, and we only have the babysitter until ten. It was nice meeting you, Avery. Hope to see you again.”

Reed bids them goodbye and waits for Harrison to leave before turning to me. “I think it’s time we left too,” he whispers, taking my hand. “I win by the way.”

He pulls me toward the elevator.

I cross my arms and scowl at him. “I didn’t lose. We were sitting there with your coworkers, Reed.”

“And you pulled me away, which means you lost.” He shrugs as he presses the elevator button.

“No, I didn’t!”

The elevator arrives, and we step in.

He turns to me, leaning against the wall. “You want another round?”

The doors close and the tension between us reaches a boiling point. Something inside me snaps. I step closer to him.

“Clock’s ticking, Avery. What’s your next move,” he teases, his eyes burning with desire as his hands slide along the metal handrail in a silent challenge.

I move toward him, crashing my lips to his as I let everything go. All of my inhibitions, all of the hesitation that’s held me back, all of the fear that I’m not good enough for Reed Everett.

Right now, he wants me. Even my dread that Josh will discover I’ve been fooling around with his best friend evaporates.

He groans as my tongue slips past his teeth, engaging his in a gentle dance. My fingers find their way into his hair. His large hands slide down my body to grip behind my thighs, and I gasp when he lifts me, spreading my legs around his waist as he spins and presses me against the elevator wall.

His tongue asserts dominance over mine as he presses his firm body into me, ensuring that I feel every inch of him. Every ripple of muscle straining beneath his clothes.

I moan when I feel the hard bulge of his arousal dig into me, barely contained by the desperate fly of his pants. But he consumes my little cries as if they’re essential for his survival, swallowing down every whimper as if they were the sweetest candy.

It’s as if he can’t get enough, like he’s addicted to me, and I understand the feeling all too well. I’ve felt the same constrictive need wrapping itself around my throat ever since he walked into the clinic. Something happened that day, an invisible force binding us together in a way we can’t escape.

I know this is only going to end in heartbreak, but I can’t run from it. I don’t want to. Every path leads me back to Reed. And I want him.

“Doesn’t anyone get a room anymore?” scoffs a middle-aged woman in a dated, pink-satin skirt and blouse as the elevator doors slide open.

I quickly disentangle myself from Reed, and we move to the side as she shakes her head in disgust and joins the others coming in. I glance at him, catching his proud smile. He shakes his head and looks down at the floor, shoving his hands in his pockets as he tries not to laugh.

Silence fills the elevator as it descends to the lobby. The woman exits first, followed by the rest, leaving Reed and I alone for a moment before we step out. We look at each other and burst into laughter.

As we head toward the doors, my mind starts to panic. We’re waiting for a cab when I nervously turn to Reed.

“So, um, should we talk about what just happened?” I ask.

“Talk about what?” Reed says, shoulders still shaking as he continues to chuckle about the woman’s shocked face.

“Reed, I met your dream girl,” I admit.

He stops, staring at me with this confused look on his face. “What?”

“She was in the bathroom. I know it was her because you wanted to kiss me as soon as I got out. You saw her, didn’t you?”

“Avery, what are you talking about?”

I cross my arms, glaring at him and trying to figure out if he’s messing with me. He stares back, the smile slipping from his face as he realizes I’m upset.

~I can’t believe I fell for that. All that shit he said. He was just trying to make her jealous. He doesn’t even want to admit that’s what he was doing. Unbelievable.~

“You know, Reed,” I say, frustration making my tone sharp. “I’m all about helping you win your dream girl because I want you to be happy. But it’s not gentlemanly to use one woman to make another jealous.”

“Avery, I’m not—”

“Don’t. Good night, Reed,” I snap, turning on my heel and climbing into a waiting taxi.

He stares after it as it pulls away from the curb and takes me home.