Peace.

It'd been a long time since I felt so peaceful.

I squinted at the sunlight and turned my head on the pillow. Ava was sleeping on my chest, her naked body nestled into mine. Exhaustion hit us hard last night. We cuddled in bed after I'd cleaned her up. I kissed her and whispered sweet nothings in her ear. She drifted off to sleep with a smile on her lips and her arm resting on my waist.

I moved a strand of Ava's hair out of her eyes and shifted slightly so I could hug her to me.

I needed to check if the power was back and get our breakfast ready, but there was no way I'd leave her alone after last night.

Warm lips pressed against my chest. I smiled, stroking a hand down Ava's back. "You're awake."

"So are you." She giggled softly, touching me. "Is it a morning thing?"

"Waking up with you naked had something to do," I said into her hair, kissing it. "How are you feeling?"

"Great." Ava looked up at me. "What about you?"

"Amazing. Are you sore?"

Wrapping her arms around my neck, Ava pressed herself to me even more. "I told you I wasn't; don't worry. It didn't even hurt. I thought it'd be much worse."

"I had to make sure."

And I'd never been a girl's first until her. I smoothed my hand over the curve of Ava's waist. Her skin was impossibly soft to the touch. It'd be hard not to get hard when I had her like this.

"Do we have hot water?" Ava asked. "I could stay in bed with you all day, but I'd rather brush my teeth and bathe first."

"Let's go check. Or you could stay in bed and wait for me."

Ava threw the sheet off her body. "No, I'll go with you."

I handed her the robe and pulled my shorts up my legs. Lacing my fingers with Ava's, I led her downstairs.

Lucky for us, we had electricity. "Breakfast first?" I asked.

Ava nodded. "I'm starving. I can't believe we fell asleep so early last night."

"We needed some rest. Besides, there's plenty of time to do everything we want today. Coffee?"

"Yes, please. Let me help you."

I stepped aside to let Ava get to the kitchen counter. She got busy making sandwiches, and I fixed our drinks.

We headed to the porch and sat on the wooden steps, facing the garden.

"We have to put some chairs here," said Ava. "Or one of those cute porch swings I've seen."

"Good idea. I think a loveseat on the back porch won't hurt, either."

Ava rested her head on my shoulder and hummed, sipping her coffee.

We didn't talk much while we ate. When the food was gone, I ran a hot bubble bath in the bathroom upstairs.

Ava gathered her hair up and glanced at me shyly. Her fingers undid the knot of the robe. The silky fabric glided down her body and landed in a heap on the floor. My shorts joined it.

I got in the tub and waited for Ava to do the same. Her back touched my chest as I wrapped my arms around her. She leaned her head on my shoulder and turned it to look at me.

"This is the perfect morning."

My lips brushed Ava's. "And last night was the perfect night."

She smiled. "I've thought about my first time lots of times, but I've never imagined it'd be like that."

"Like what?"

"Passionate and tender and sweet. I heard so many horror stories I half-expected it to be awful. I thought I'd be a nervous wreck or act awkward."

"You were amazing. And even if it were awkward, it'd still be perfect because it was our first time. That's something we'll remember."

Ava trailed kisses along my jaw. Her wet lips moved down to my neck, and she caressed it with her mouth.

Every inch of my skin tingled in anticipation. She hadn't touched me yet, and I was already on fire.

I cupped Ava's face with my hand and pressed my lips to hers, kissing her slowly. Need thrummed in my veins, making me light-headed.

Swiftly, Ava turned around and kneeled between my bent legs. I couldn't tear my eyes away from her wet skin.

She poured body wash onto her palm and extended the lather over my neck and shoulders, massaging my skin.

My muscles relaxed. I closed my eyes and threw my head back, letting her touch me.

Ava's hands glided over my chest and moved down to my abs. She traced the ridges of my muscles with her fingertips, touching me everywhere except for the place that wanted her the most.

"Let me return the favor," I whispered, palming her breast.

Ava kissed my lips. "In bed."

The water had turned lukewarm by the time we rinsed off and got out of the tub. I dried Ava with a towel and wrapped her in a terry cloth robe.

We reentered the bedroom. "Look at that." Ava pointed at the window. Raindrops drummed against the glass, and dark clouds covered the sun.

I hugged her from behind, resting my chin on her shoulder. "I guess we'll stay in bed. How unfortunate."

"I know a few things we could do to pass the time."

"Me too."

Ava giggled, biting her lip. I sure as hell had sounded hopeful. "I meant reading. There's nothing better than reading in bed on a rainy day."

Wrong. Making love was way more appealing. Especially when she looked like this—wet skin and rosy cheeks, and nothing under the robe.

"You're not reading about other strapping men when your man is dying to love you, baby. But if that's what you want, I can read you a chapter in my sex voice."

Ava turned around in my arms and tilted her head to the side. "Sex voice?"

"Come here; I'll show you."

Ava's laughter echoed in the room as I scooped her up in my arms and placed her on the bed.

"Gotcha." I smiled, hovering over her. "Now, let's get under the covers. There's something I'd love to read."

"What's that?"

I untied Ava's robe. "You. Let's start with little marks and scars. Do you have any?"

"I guess you'll find out." Ava raked her fingers through my wet hair. "But I want to do the same. Undress, Jimmy."

I pushed the robe off my shoulders and threw it onto the armchair. I shouldn't have looked at it, though — all it did was make me remember last night and Ava on my lap while I kissed and touched her.

We lay side by side. "Me first," Ava said. "Where'd you get this one?" She smoothed the tip of her finger over the small scar on my shoulder.

"Swimming," I said. "There was a stone I didn't notice when I dove into the lake."

Ava kissed the mark. "And this one?" Her hand was on my jaw, caressing it.

"You don't really wanna know." I chuckled.

"Of course, I want to know. Tell me."

"Okay. I got my first facial hair and had very poor shaving skills."

Ava giggled. "Oh my God."

"Told you. In my defense, I'm better at it now. I can shave with my eyes closed."

"That's not why I was laughing. I have a similar scar."

"From shaving off your beard? No way."

Ava smacked my chest, blushing. "No, silly. I have it in a different place."

"Where?"

My eyes widened when Ava said nothing. "Baby? Down there?"

Ava groaned, nodding. "It was awful. I had to call Harper, my friend who's also a gyn, and ask her what to do cause the cut bled so much, and I was too embarrassed to ask Dad."

"Poor baby. Now I wanna see it and kiss it."

"That's dangerous territory."

"And I'm a brave man."

Ava's robe joined mine on the armchair. Her hand slid down her body and stilled.

I leaned down and pressed my lips to Ava's stomach, kissing my way to the place she was pointing at.

A small scar was barely visible on her smooth skin.

"No more razors for me," Ava said. "It's been wax ever since."

I kissed the scar. "I'm jealous."

Ava's breathing turned fast. "Of?"

"Anyone who got to see you and touch you before I did," I whispered, moving my mouth lower. "Let me kiss you, baby."

Nodding just barely, Ava opened her legs, exposing herself to me. I couldn't get enough of the sight in front of my eyes.

Putting my mouth on her sex, I caressed her with my tongue, gauging her reaction.

Ava's hips lifted off the bed. I smiled against her skin and kissed her faster, teasing the small sensitive bud with my lips.

She was ready. I felt her wetness on my tongue, and the little moans that fell off Ava's lips were enough for me to crave more of her and everything she wanted to give me.

I put one of my hands on her breast and smoothed my thumb over her nipple. She loved it. I learned it yesterday while we made love, but there were too many things I still wanted to try.

I bit her inner thigh softly and returned to the spot that was burning for my touch, restarting the kisses.

Slow, fast, slow.

I got lost in her, in pleasuring her, in listening to her whimpers, and feeling her caresses on my skin. She touched me everywhere she could, as if she needed contact with my skin as much as I needed her to touch me.

Ava was close. Her moans grew louder, more desperate, and she fell apart under my mouth.

"That's it, baby." I kissed her once more and moved up so I could see her face.

Ava's eyes were closed, but she opened them when she felt my breath on her neck.

"I love loving you," I said, kissing her throat. My lips moved to her breast and wrapped around the peak. "So damn much."

She didn't stop me and didn't say it was too much. Ava circled my hips with her legs and rocked into me.

"Fuck," I breathed out, stopping the kiss for a second. "I'm so hard for you."

"I want you." I heard her soft voice. Ava's hands glided up and down my arms, tracing the contours of each muscle. I positioned myself between her legs and slanted my mouth over hers.

"Tell me if it hurts," I rasped between deep, wet kisses. Edging forward just barely, I aligned myself with her entrance and pushed inside.

Feeling her without anything between us was bliss. Everything about her was. Ava made a needy noise in the back of her throat while I sucked on her tongue and swiveled my hips, giving it to her slowly.

My damp skin rubbed against hers. It was as if our bodies were made to fit as if we were complete when we loved each other.

"Hold on to me," I said in Ava's ear.

Her legs tightened around me. I slid my arms under her body, holding her to me as I thrust faster, sucking on her earlobe and then neck. Ava's fingertips dug into my back with each movement of mine.

"Too much?" I whispered, slowing down.

She sought my lips with hers. Her tongue circled mine, and her hands gripped my behind, urging me to move.

I moved one of my hands to her front to caress her. Sleek wetness covered my fingertips. I barely brushed them against her clit when Ava cried out into my mouth.

I put distance between our faces and watched Ava let go as she threw her head back and squeezed her eyes shut. I slid out of her to enter her again, and then once more. I moved fast and rough, encouraged by Ava's tugs at my hair and her hands roaming my body.

The orgasm hit me hard. Every muscle of mine coiled up and then relaxed. I shook, reeling from the onslaught of sensations she made me feel. It might've been our second time, but there wasn't anything more natural than this. Nothing more natural than us together.

"Are you okay?" I asked Ava, putting my weight on my forearms.

She cupped my face with her palms, smiling. "More than."

"I was rough."

"It was perfect. I would've told you if it hadn't been."

I rolled us over. Ava pressed her cheek to my chest and kissed my pec, eyes closed. "Maybe we could stay in this house forever. I like the idea."

"Me too." I smiled slightly, caressing her spine and her bum. "What's out there, anyway? You're everything I need."

I didn't want to remember calls and emails existed. I had no desire to let anyone burst our happy bubble, but after a while, Ava had to text her dad to let him know we were okay, and I reached for my phone to power it on.

I wished I hadn't as soon as the screen lit up.

Wyatt: Meeting at my office at 9 am on Monday. Not Andre, you.

More steam. Sorry, not sorry.
Does anyone miss the drama?