Ava

“I wonder what this means,” Sandy mused, playing with the paper between her fingers. “I want to know what kind of date he plans to take you on.”
“Whatever it is, it’s up to him.” I plucked the note from her fingers and returned it to my purse, annoyed that she’d gotten ahold of it. I’d decided to take it with me to work for some bizarre reason—for the comfort, I guess, and Sandy had found it while looking for a pen.
“I’m so jealous,” she swooned. “I wish he was taking me on a hot date.”
“It’s going to be a cold date.”
“Well, whatever kind of date it is, it’s with Elijah Trevino, for hell’s sake. Elijah Trevino.”
“Heard you the first time.”
Sandy stared at me, a smile tugging at the sides of her lips. “You guys screwed last night, didn’t you?” she asked. “That’s why you had a note this morning. He was at your place, and you screwed.”
When I didn’t answer, she slapped her knee and burst into giggles. “Was he good?” She leaned in, her eyes meeting mine with intense pressure. “Was it magical?”
“It was good,” I said nonchalantly. Okay, it had been better than good, but that wasn’t any of Sandy’s business. It had been phenomenal—fanfuckingtastic. Elijah Trevino was the best screw I’d ever had.
“Better than good,” Sandy said, catching the flush in my cheeks. She leaned in again, lowering her voice to a whisper. “If you guys decide on a threesome, count me in.”
***
Work seemed endless that day, but I knew it was only because I was eager to go home and see Elijah again. I’d worried a few times that he would forget about our date, that some blonde bimbo would show up at his fancy house and demand a screw.
Ava who? he’d say later, his arm firmly around some stripper. Yeah, I fucked her once.
Honestly, I’d never had much luck with relationships. I found most men I met shallow and lazy, but I never could blame them. As my friends would say, I just knew how to pick ‘em. I imagined that Elijah Trevino was no better than the other assholes I’d dated over time, but I didn’t care. Not anymore. I needed to get laid, if nothing else. A long-term, serious relationship wasn’t even necessary. I needed to find a personal life outside of work, which had always been a genuine distraction in my inability to forge a healthy relationship. Work came first to me; it always had.
“Has Katie updated you on Sara’s whereabouts?” I asked Sandy, pushing aside a heap of paperwork that I knew I needed to get to.
“Nothing yet,” said Sandy with a sigh. “She’s distraught.”
“Worried enough to send the police after her,” I muttered.
“I know you hate when she does that, but this time it was primarily out of concern,” Sandy assured me. “Katie thought she might be a threat to herself or others. That’s why she called them.”
I nodded and leaned back in the office chair, stretching my arms above my head. My back and neck hurt, and I was ready for the weekend. “I hope she’s okay. She’s just a kid. Usually, we’ve heard from her by now.”
“Maybe she skipped town with a boyfriend,” she said with a shrug. “It’s not like she’s obligated to stay here.”
“I know. I just—worry. I worry about the people she seeks out when she’s on her own. They’re sketchy at best, dangerous at worst. She deserves better.”
“I agree,” Sandy said, reaching for her pile of paperwork to take back to her desk. “But it’s not up to us. I’ll be sure to text you this weekend if I hear anything. Katie will, too.”
“Thanks, lady.” I turned my attention to the computer to type up some admission forms for our newer teens. As I focused on my work, the front door to the building opened, and the little bell rang. I glanced over my shoulder, disinterested, but froze when I caught sight of a man coming through the door, holding an enormous bouquet. He was entirely consumed by them; there must have been at least fifty of them, if not more.
“Can we help you?” Katie asked, coming from her office on the other side of the door. “I think you have the wrong place.”
“Is there a Miss Ava Harding here?” the man asked, setting the glass vase bouquet on the front desk. Katie and Sandy both turned to look at me. Katie looked confused, but Sandy was practically salivating.
“She’s right here,” she called, pointing to me. The man picked up the bouquet and crossed the floor, setting them down on my desk with a smile. “The card is in the bouquet,” he said. “Have a lovely day.”
The delivery man hurried out the door before I could ask him any questions, so I stood up, admiring the flowers and feeling my heart's slight flutter grow with each passing moment. Sandy was already by my side, scanning the bouquet for a card. Even Katie came over, gazing curiously between the flowers and me, confusion etched on her forehead.
“Who are they from?” she asked, reaching out to finger one of the silky petals.
“Who else?” said Sandy, plucking the card from where it popped up between the stargazer lilies and white roses. She opened the card, glanced at me for the okay, and then began to read.
Last night was perfect.
I am still thinking of you. I will see you tonight.
“Elijah?” Katie repeated. “I didn’t know you were dating anyone, Ava.”
“I’m not. Technically.”
“They just hooked up,” Sandy added. “But he’s taking her on a date tonight. A real date.”
“Do I know of this man?” Katie asked. Sandy and I exchanged a look. I could see the admiration in her eyes, highlighted with a small tint of jealousy. I almost didn’t want to tell her, just because she was my boss, but I knew that if things got serious between Elijah and me, she’d know eventually anyway.
“Elijah Trevino,” I said, taking the card from Sandy. “One of our best sponsors.”
Katie’s eyes went wide. I could tell she wasn’t expecting that. “You slept with Elijah Trevino?” she confirmed. “The billionaire?”
“Not just the billionaire,” Sandy said, sitting back down at her desk. “But also, one of Seattle’s most eligible bachelors.”
Katie was silent for a moment as she pondered this. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she spoke, leaning forward a bit to lower her voice. “Okay,” she breathed with a small smile. “I want all the details from here on out. I guess Sandy and I will be living vicariously through you.”
“Fine by me,” I said with a laugh. “Just be prepared that it might be short-lived. I can be, erm, difficult to handle for men.”
“I don’t think that will be the case here,” said Sandy with a shrug. “From what you’ve told me, he seems pretty into you.”
I smiled. “It’s only because he doesn’t know me yet.”
***
After work, I went home to get ready for the date. I was nervous, like a teenage girl on prom night, and I wasn’t sure if I could get through tonight without somehow humiliating myself in front of Elijah. Butterflies fluttered around in my stomach, making my palms sweat, and multiple times I almost talked myself out of going tonight.
I tried on six outfits, and none seemed good enough to wear. When Elijah arrived, I was still wrapped in a cheap satin robe, pouting about my lame style. He knocked on the door, and when I opened it, he handed me another rich bouquet of stunning flowers.
“You’re a flower guy,” I teased and put them to my nose to smell. He wore a tuxedo, his hair brushed back, eyes shining into mine. He was smiling like something was funny, and I realized it was probably because I was still in a robe with nothing under it after a few seconds.
“Not what I had in mind, but you look gorgeous regardless,” he said, and I was surprised when he leaned in for a kiss. I let my lips linger on him for a few seconds, taking in the aroma of aftershave and Elijah. It was delicious, and the tingling down below rekindled, lighting my soul.
“I can’t find anything to wear.” I went to the kitchen to put the flowers in a vase, trying not to pout but failing miserably. “I’m sorry. Are we going to be late?”
“Sorry?” Elijah repeated. “You don’t ever have to be sorry when you’re with me, Ava. We’re on my schedule. And my schedule is your schedule.” He crossed the room, took my chin between his fingers, and kissed me again. My knees almost buckled. Shit. What was it about this man that made my insides tingle and light up with a simple kiss?
“We shouldn’t be doing this right now. We have somewhere to be.” I swallowed, trying not to look straight into his eyes because that got me every time. He was mesmerizing, demanding attention, and I found myself helpless when Elijah was around.
“As I said,” he murmured. “It’s my schedule.” He leaned in again, his soft lips hot against my cheek. I caught my breath as he quietly trailed his fingers up and down my bear arms, forcing goosebumps to rise on my skin. I tried to turn away so we wouldn’t get distracted, but he kissed my neck, stopping me in my tracks. I froze, helpless against his charm as I lifted my face to his, desperate to feel his lips against mine and his hands all over my body. His free hand had traveled down my arms, my waist, and to my ass. Now he was squeezing it gently, rubbing, and I took a small step into him, the warmth of his body wrapping me in a cozy cocoon.
“Are you sure we won’t be late?” I whispered.
His head came in again, teeth teasing my lower lip. He seized me around the waist and pulled me into him, tangling one hand in my hair, tightening his grip. A tiny gasp slipped between my lips, and my body automatically pressed into his. My hands traveled up and through his hair and then down again, mussing it. His excitement grew against me, his dick throbbing against my groin. I sneaked my hand down to grip his cock, pleased when a tiny gasp of surprise escaped him. I knew he’d been with plenty of women, so it was a compliment when I could get him to react so intensely.
“We can be quick,” he said in my ear and nibbled it with his teeth.
I kissed him again, urgently this time, and without even a moment’s hesitation. Elijah picked me up, setting me on the kitchen counter, not bothering with taking me to the bedroom. I reached down and unbuttoned his tuxedo pants as he undid the robe tied around me. He gazed at my naked body, hunger in his eyes.
“Don’t hesitate,” I said. “Just do it.”
Elijah did not waste any time shoving his hard throbbing dick into me. In an intense moment of heat and desperation, he pounded into my sensitive pussy. I closed my eyes as he kissed and sucked on my neck, nibbling on the sensitive skin around my breasts. He thrust into me repeatedly, filling me up, gently at first and then harder—just how I liked it. My breath came in quick, sharp gasps, body tingling from head to toe, screaming for more.
“Keep going. Harder.”
He drove deeper, faster, his hands tangled in my hair, muscles tensing with every movement. When I finally met his eyes, he smiled that smile that made me want to hold onto him and never let go. I fondled my breasts, pinching my nipples with a moan, which only drove him deeper. I could tell he was nearing climax as his pace sped up, but before he came, he slowed again, refusing to finish before I did. I snaked my hand down, playing with my clit, an explosion of eroticism taking me in its grip.
We both came at once and collapsed in exhaustion, flushed, and trying to catch our breath.
“I’m almost ready to go now,” I said with a smile, gently kissing his lips. Elijah braced my ass and lifted me from the counter quickly, standing me up on shaky legs in the kitchen. “I just have to get dressed. Five minutes.”
Trembling slightly as adrenaline and ecstasy pulsed through my body, I went to the bedroom and picked a dress, choosing a black satin one with a shawl for when it got chilly. Elijah waited patiently for me, watching me flit across the house with a grin on his face. That grin, that stupid grin that could bring me to my knees just thinking about it.
He was—delicious.
As we were about to head out the front door for our mystery date, my cell phone rang a few minutes later. I looked at the number and didn’t recognize it, so I hit ignore and stuffed it back into my purse. Elijah took hold of my arm in his, and we walked down together, avoiding the rickety elevator, but I didn’t care. Every extra second I got to spend with him was worth it.
“You look stunning,” he whispered as we walked, his lips brushing my ear. A jolt of excitement traveled down my spine, and I blushed.
“You don’t look too bad yourself.”
“I don’t hold a candle to you, Ava.”
“Flattery, sir, will get you everywhere.”
Smirking, Elijah leaned in and kissed my cheek. We were barely down the sidewalk to where Malcolm was waiting with an actual freaking limousine when my phone rang again. I dropped Elijah’s arm, agitated, pulling it out of my purse to check the Caller ID.
“I’m sorry,” I said with a sigh. “I better get this. Whoever it is has called me twice now.” Aggravated, I pressed Send and pushed the phone to my ear. “Hello?”
At first, there was only silence. I stood there for a moment, listening, confused, and was about to hang up the phone when a tiny, meek voice spoke.
“Miss Ava?”
I put my finger in my other ear to block out the noise of the city street and ducked my head, turning away from Malcolm and Elijah, who shot me a puzzled glance.
“Who is this?”
“It’s … it’s Sara.”
“Sara!” I turned to Elijah and held up one finger, pleading for patience. He nodded, understanding, and stepped back to allow me to take the call. A million horrible thoughts raced through my mind as the hair on the back of my neck stood stiff. The last I’d heard of the girl, Katie had called the police, and they were on the lookout for her. So how was she calling me now? “Sara, are you okay? We’ve been worried about you.”
“I need help.” Her voice was low, near a whisper, as though she were hiding from someone. “I didn’t know who else to call without getting into trouble.”
Elijah approached me and squeezed my shoulder, an expression of concern written on his face. The small gesture made me feel better, stronger, like I could deal with this as long as he was by my side.
“What’s going on?” I asked into the phone. “Are you with the police?”
“No,” she said and started to cry. “If I let them get me, I’ll go back to juvenile detention. I can’t go back, Ava. I can’t!” Her cries turned into hysterical sobs, and without thinking about it, I turned and pressed my face into Elijah’s jacket, suddenly overwhelmed. He placed one hand on the back of my head and held me there, just holding me while I spoke into the receiver.
“I won’t turn you in,” I told Sara. “So please don’t hang up the phone.”
I knew how these kids worked; as soon as I made her feel trapped or at risk, she’d hang up, and I wouldn’t hear from her again. I couldn’t let that happen. If I could help her, I damn well would. I cared too much about these kids; they were my only family nearby.
“Can you come to get me?” she asked meekly, sniffling through tears. I looked at Elijah, pulled the phone away, and put Sara on speakerphone.
“Where are you?” I asked. Through more tears and jumbled, frightened words, Sara rattled off some location downtown—a dangerous district.
“So, can you come?” she asked. I looked at Elijah, who nodded without hesitation.
“Yes,” I said. “Do you want to stay on the phone with me?”
“I can’t,” Sara whispered. “He might come back. Please just get me, okay? I’ll be here.” Then she hung up. I stared at the phone, tempted to call the number back, but I knew that might not be safe for her, so I pocketed it instead and looked at Elijah.
“I’m sorry.” I took his hands in mine and shook my head, trembling. “I’m so sorry. I can’t leave her there; I have no idea what trouble she could be in.” I took a deep breath, trying to hold it together. “Can we take a raincheck on this date?”
“Of course, we can,” he said. I stood on my toes to kiss him and then to the curb to hail a cab. Before I could, however, Elijah pulled me back.
“What are you doing?” he asked. “I’m coming with you.”
I stared at him. “Why?” Then, knowing I sounded like an asshole, I lowered my voice. “You don’t have to come with me, Elijah. This is my job. I wouldn’t want to involve you in something dangerous.”
“I don’t have to do anything,” he said, taking my hand in his with a gentle squeeze. “And I know that. I want to go with you, so I’m coming with you.” Before I could continue to argue, he turned to Malcolm, who still stood standing patiently near the limo.
“I got the address, sir,” Malcolm said and tapped one finger to his head. “Shall we go then?”