“Caroline, that is grand. You are such a smart little girl,” Will said as she finished reading to him. She slipped off his lap and ran to plop beside Muffy, waking the pup while she petted her.
“Uncle Will and Miss Ava, let’s play a game,” Caroline said. “I’ll take Muffy outside for a minute while you set up the game.”
“I’ll come with you.” Will held Muffy while Caroline skipped beside him as they left.
Ava chose one from a closet filled with toys and games. She placed the board game on the floor, and when Will and Caroline returned, they all sat around it to play. She was constantly aware of Will being attentive to Caroline, giving her his full attention.
Watching Caroline, Ava marveled at the change that had been so quick. When they finished two rounds of the game, Will asked Caroline if she wanted to see a movie and suggested she get ready for bed first.
“I want Miss Ava to help me get ready for bed,” Caroline said.
Ava nodded and Will left to take Muffy out again.
Later, Caroline curled in Will’s lap while the three sat on the sofa to watch a movie. Rosalyn came in to view the movie with them. Ava noticed when Caroline began to nod and shortly she was asleep. Will paused the movie to carry Caroline to bed.
Ava went outside. The evening was beginning to cool. Lights were on the veranda and pool. Finally Will returned, pulling her up into his arms to kiss her hard.
Her heart slammed against her ribs the moment he drew her into his embrace. Then she closed her eyes, clinging to him to return his kiss. When she started to move away, he held her with his arm around her waist. “I want you in my arms. I want to make love to you.”
His husky voice was as tantalizing as a caress. She longed to follow her heart and kiss him. Instead, she held his forearms, feeling the solid muscles. “Will, we’re not getting more involved,” she whispered, her heartbeat racing.
“I’d say we’re already involved, darlin’.” As his arm tightened around her, she resisted. He leaned closer to kiss her again, but she pulled away.
“Will, you’re not listening to me. We’re not having an affair. I’m doing a job with Caroline, which I think is phasing out rapidly. Her reading is beyond kindergarten level.” Ava took a deep breath. All the time she talked, Will showered kisses on her temple, cheek and down to her throat.
He raised his head to look into her eyes and she couldn’t move or talk. Her heart pounded while her lips tingled. Desire enveloped her, a hunger that erased everything else.
“No,” she whispered, her protest feeble, far more faint than all her words had been. Will placed his lips on hers and kissed her, his tongue stroking hers. She trembled, standing stiffly for only a moment and then melting. She kissed him passionately as if starved for his loving. As her hands swept over him, he picked her up and carried her inside the cabana, kicking closed the door in the bedroom. Clothes were tossed away. When she fumbled with the buttons on his shirt, Will ripped it away, buttons popping. He yanked open her shirt, pushing it off along with her bra. They kissed while they undressed each other. Standing in front of her, he lifted her up and she wrapped her long legs around him, winding her fingers in his hair while her other hand pressed against his muscled back. Her heart pounded with desire and joy. This is where she longed to be, dreamed about—in Will’s arms.
He lowered her on his thick rod and she gasped with pleasure as they loved with desperate urgency. She wanted him with a deep need that consumed her. Loving him was a necessity. She cried out in ecstasy when she climaxed as he pumped furiously and shuddered with his release.
Clinging to him, she slowed while rapture wrapped her in euphoria.
She kissed his shoulder lightly and soon he shifted her. When she stood, he picked her up to carry her to the bed, yanking away the covers. He lay down beside her and pulled her into his arms.
He combed her hair from her face. “I’ve wanted you so badly, you’re all I think about,” he said gruffly. Her heartbeat quickened in response to his words and the look in his eyes.
“I wasn’t going to do that again. Will, we’re going where I wanted to avoid from the start.”
“I didn’t notice a lot of reluctance on your part just now,” he whispered. “Ava, this is good between us. It seems right, inevitable from the first moment. Go with what you want.”
“Maybe you can move from relationship to relationship so easily, but I can’t. To say the least. I need commitment. For all your wealth, that’s something you can’t give me. Making love is an intimate, binding event. I can’t deal with it without commitment.”
“We are both dealing quite well,” he said, showering kisses on her face, her lips and throat.
“Will, are you even listening to me?”
“Of course. You’re amazing, fantastic. I’ve never known a woman like you. You’re the sexiest woman ever,” he whispered. “Your kisses burn me to embers.”
She wanted to put her hands over her ears. His words were golden chains that could hold her heart captive. She kissed him lightly, just to stop the compliments. She rolled away and stood. “Will, I’m dressing and going in. Otherwise, we’ll make love all night long.”
“Which is the best possible idea,” he said, propping himself on his elbow and looking at her as she stood nude before him. She turned away and grabbed up his shirt to yank it on. “I’ll borrow this for a minute so I’m covered,” she said, picking up her other clothes.
“The view was much better before you found my shirt. Ava, come here,” he said in a husky, coaxing tone that curled her toes and stirred desire again.
Without looking back, she clutched her things and rushed for the door. “I’ll dress and go, Will. You stay right where you are,” she flung over her shoulder, pulling on clothes as she went. There were two bedrooms, a living area with a bar, and bathrooms in the cabana, but she yanked on her things and dropped his shirt in the hall. She hurried out and across the veranda, half expecting Will to stop her at any moment.
In her room she closed the door and leaned against it. She had to find other arrangements for the evenings. She couldn’t be alone with Will night after night and still avoid succumbing to his seductive ways.
She pulled out her laptop to search for condos or apartments in the area. She would finish her time with Caroline, but she had to move out of Will’s mansion and get away from him before she moved into his bed for an affair that would last until Will walked away. Each time they had made love, she was more deeply in love with him, her heart bound to him more. She couldn’t imagine a time when she wouldn’t love him, whether she was with him or away from him, but if there was any hope of getting over him, now was the time to move away. He talked about her being special and said wonderful endearments, but there was no commitment from him, nor would there be. The sooner she moved on, maybe the less she would be hurt.
Ten
In the morning Ava dressed in a black shirt and black capris with sandals. When she went down to breakfast, she heard Will’s deep voice and another male voice in the dining room.
“Ava,” Will said as she approached the doorway. “Come meet my brother
