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“Cookies?” I didn’t even look at what she sent.
Her giggle cheers up the room. “Yes, Steele. Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, banana bread with almonds, carrot muffins, and chocolate croissants. All made from scratch.”
“You trying to make me fat?” I grin as I dig through the box, finding the muffins. Pulling one out of the sealed bag, I take a big bite and moan at the flavor. “Damn, girl. These are good.”
“Yeah?” I nod at her uncertainty. “Good. I was worried they might dry out. What else do you like? I can send more things.”
“You,” I mutter around another bite, leaning back in my seat. Her shocked face is, precisely, what I wanted. “Would it be too forward of me to ask what you’re wearing?”
Her eyes widen as she looks from me to down at the blanket covering her chest. “Probably.” Even through the screen, I can hear the heat in her tone.
Leaning forward, I allow my eyes to wander down what I can see of her body. “I’m asking anyways.” I was kidding at first, wanting to tease her. But now, I’m dying to see what she’s got on. I have a feeling she could make a paper bag sexy.
Twisting her lips from side to side, Ava nods her head, and I sit closer. “But you should know, I’m not wearing this because I thought you were going to call.” Standing up with the blanket pressed to her chest, she places her laptop on a solid surface, and once I can see her full length, she drops the blanket to the ground.
I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.
Chapter 7
Ava
For the past three weeks, Steele and I have video chatted at least three times a week, and I’ve realized what I felt for him before was still a schoolgirl’s crush. It had to be. Because the emotions I’m experiencing now are way more intense. More poignant.
I miss him. Ache for him on a soul-deep level. I worry late into the night until I pass out from exhaustion, and what makes everything so much worse is that I’m terrified to say the words I didn’t understand were true until we connected.
At the end of every call, I want to say I love you. I want him to know. But I chicken out at the last second, and then it’s too late; he’s gone, and I’m left disappointed in myself for not having the guts to speak truth to what I feel.
Shaking my head, I need to concentrate on what my professor is saying before I daydream myself right out of school. I record each class so that I can relisten should I miss something even though I’m taking notes. It’s helped a lot the last couple of weeks.
There are hundreds of students in this class, so I don’t think anything of it when the door opens. Not even when I see the military uniform, dark, close-cropped hair I’ve been dreaming about, or the bouquet of flowers.
It’s not until my name is called that I look at the face of the newcomer and nearly melt in my chair.
“Steele.” I whisper his name, afraid if I say it too loud, he’ll disappear on me.
“Ava.” I nearly liquefy at the way he says my name. So much emotion in the sound. Standing, I push my way through the middle of the aisle I’m sitting in and rush down the stairs, my body in complete control as I jump into his arms.
I don’t hesitate to kiss him, lay my lips across his and devour his mouth. His hands on my ass flex and squeeze as he takes control of the moment, only pulling away at the hooting and hollering from the class behind us.
“I have to go,” I tell my professor, who nods, understanding. The girl who sits next to me brings me my bag and sweater, and Steele carries me out of class.
We don’t get far. Dropping me to my feet, Steele pins me against the nearest wall and continues where we left off. Without an audience this time.
“Goddamn, am I glad to see you,” he mumbles as our lips clash. Tongues tangle, and my heart beats so hard, I think it might thunder right out of my chest.
“Yeah? I didn’t know you were coming. I thought you would have gone home.” Biting my lip, I don’t want to hear that he’s leaving me again.
“My parents wanted me to.” I’m not starting off on the right foot with them. “But I told them about you and how we haven’t done more than talk. That I needed to be here, to feel you, kiss you, hold you in my arms. I told them I had to fucking know.”
“Know what?” I gasp.
“If what I was feeling for you was because of distance or because I really do fucking love you.” Peace washes over me at his words.
“And? Do you know now?”
“Ava, baby, I knew a long fucking time ago. I love you, and there isn’t a damn thing that could stop me from being with you.” He leans down to capture my lips, slower this time. He savors the moment, pulling me closer by the hips.
“My apartment is only a few minute
