In My Arms (2 page)

“Hey Ava, I was wondering where you got off to.” I draped my arm around Ava’s shoulders. “I suggest you remove your hand.”  I stated simply as I watched his face and movements with precise scrutiny—something I had learned through years and years of mixed martial arts.  If I knew how to do anything, it was to watch and anticipate people’s moves, and I was undeniably good at it.

“I’m Trevor.”  I pulled her closer to me as I openly glared at the man. “
Her date
.”  I clarified when the man glared back at me. 
Wrong move buddy
! I could feel Ava tense slightly under my arm, but she didn’t deny it which made my decision to proceed very easy.

The man reached out and shook my hand firmly. “I’m Kyle, her
boyfriend
.” He snarled. The man may have been slightly taller than me, but there was no way he would stand a chance if it came to blows.

“Ex!” Ava snapped as she pulled her arm out of Kyle’s grasp.  “He is my
ex boyfriend
.” Ava stressed as she glared openly at him, absentmindedly rubbing her arm where I could see red finger marks beginning to develop.  It took all of my willpower to not pummel the cocky man right then and there.  I could see that there was a lot more to this story, but now was obviously not the time to figure it out.  I just wanted to get her away from this asshole.

“Come on babe, let’s dance.” I gently pulled Ava toward the dance floor, stopping when Kyle grabbed my arm.  “Ava doesn’t dance.”  He said a little too confident for his own good.

I looked at my arm where Kyle’s hand was holding and then back up to the man.  I could see Nick and Tom headed my way out of the corner of my eye, obviously preparing for this to go bad and ready to back me up. I flexed my forearm and looked him in the eyes, daring him to make another move.  I guess the menacing look I gave him must have done the trick because Kyle removed his hand before I even spoke.  

“She doesn’t huh?” I looked at Ava who looked like she was almost in shock as she tried to figure out what was happening right in front of her. “
Well Kyle
, maybe she was just waiting for the right partner.”
Asshole!
  “If you’ll excuse us.” I turned Ava back to the dance floor and led her out, still holding her close.

When we were far enough away for Kyle to not hear us, Ava whispered, “I really don’t dance.” I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close. “Follow my lead, he’s still watching you.” She trembled slightly and I wondered if she was afraid of me or Kyle.

She answered my question when she put her arms around me and allowed me to pull her against me. She let me to lead her in soft fluid movements, placing my hands on her hips. 

“You want to tell me what the hell that was about Trevor? That is your name, right?” Ava asked as she plastered a smile on her face for Kyle’s benefit.
Ah, there is that confident woman I saw before.

“I guess I just assumed you needed saving from that guy.  Want to talk about it?” I smiled innocently down at her.

“I don’t need saving from anyone, and besides, I don’t even know you.  Why would I talk to you about my personal life?”  Ava grumbled even as she seemed to lean more into the safety of my arms.

I sighed. God, I wasn’t doing the best job with her so far. I was completely off my game with this girl.  “Look, I’m sure you don’t need saving, but when I saw him put his hands on you I saw red.”  I wrapped my arms tighter around Ava’s waist, pulling her even closer, instinctively feeling very protective of her.  I leaned down closer to her and couldn’t help but smell her hair as it lay across her shoulders.   I swore she gasped which made me, in turn, almost groan out loud.

“There is obviously a history there, and if you don’t want to talk about it that’s fine, but no man should put his hands on you,
ever
.”  I growled.  Her eyes widened.  “I’m sorry Ava.”
I
was scaring her now.

 “I need to go find Talia.  It’s late.  I really should go home.”  She claimed, not sounding very convincing.

Before she could pull back, I leaned down and covered her mouth with mine. She let out an involuntary moan.  I ran my hand up her spine and wrapped her hair around my fist, gently pulling back to raise her face. My tongue moved lightly across the seam of her lips, until it was able to slip gently between her parted lips.  I made gentle sweeping, swirling motions inside her mouth, delirious by the sweet invasion.

When I felt her tongue begin to mingle with mine, I groaned, nibbling and teasing and taking pleasure from the soft caresses of our lips and tongues moving in sync. Before I was ready, we were forced apart by an overzealous dancer.  I steadied her before reclaiming her mouth with another quick kiss. 
God she was amazing!

Her lips were pink and swollen, and she was breathing in short pants.  “Wow.”  Ava whispered.  
Yeah, wow!
  Holy shit!  I don’t think I’d ever had such a hot kiss. I smiled as I looked over her shoulder.  “He left.”

***

Ava

I flinched when I came back to a painful reality. 
Are you kidding me?
The most undoubtedly amazing kiss we’d just shared was no more than part of Trevor’s game to make Kyle jealous.  I had just allowed myself to be a pawn in a ridiculous cock fight between to arrogant men. 
Stupid Ava!

Stepping back, I put a much needed distance between us.  Smoothing my shirt and tucking my hair behind my ear, I looked back up at him, working hard to restore my much needed self control. “Well thanks.  Glad you could give him a good show.”  I retorted. 

I turned and grabbed Talia just as she moved by me on the dance floor.  “Come on.  Let’s go.”  Thank God Talia was too far gone to put up a fight as she stumbled behind me.

 “Ava wait!” Trevor shouted as he pushed his way through the crowded dance floor trying to get to me.  I picked up the pace, practically dragging Talia now.   “Slow down girl!  Where’s the fire?” She giggled behind me, gripping my arm so she wouldn’t fall as I dragged her through the parking lot.

I looked back to see Trevor reach the door to the parking lot just as I was shutting my car door.  Thank god for the crowd that slowed him down.  He jogged toward my car, waving his arms, but I backed out and drove onto the road before he could stop me.

I looked in my rear view mirror in time to see him punching the light pole next to him so hard that he left a dent. 
Well, this was an eventful night!

“I suppose you don’t want to talk about it right?” Talia giggled. I was thankful that she was drunk.  Hopefully she wouldn’t remember this in the morning.

Chapter 2

Ava

“Oh my God, I am dying!”  I heard Talia groan from her bedroom.  I couldn’t help but smile, knowing how completely out of it she had been last night and quite frankly shocked that she was even awake yet.

I poured my hungover friend a glass of cold orange juice, put a couple of pieces of cinnamon toast on a plate and moved down the hall to the bedroom.  I had crashed at her apartment last night.  After getting her to bed and calming myself down, I didn’t feel like driving back to my Aunt’s place.

“Good morning sunshine!”  I set the plate and glass next to the bed and headed into the bathroom in search of some aspirin, returning with the bottle a minute later.

“Thanks.”  Talia whispered as she tossed the two pills in her mouth and swallowed them with the juice. 

“Remind me of why you think this is fun?”  I laughed softly at my friend’s distress.  I never understood the appeal of getting completely smashed.  You always seemed to regret it the next day. Well shit, who was I kidding?  I was completely sober and I was regretting last night too.   I can’t believe I allowed myself to fall for that crap.  Here I was trying to regain control of my life and I allow some stranger at a club to make me lose my senses.  I am grounding myself from going out!

“
This
is not the fun part Ava.”  Talia grimaced as she took a bite of toast.  “However, last night was way beyond!”  I giggled at the sparkle that appeared in her eyes.  Talia was always the life of the party. Amazing and caring ER nurse by day, spontaneous party animal by night!

“Please, do you even remember any of last night?”  I lay back on her bed closing my eyes and stretching my arms over my head.

“As a matter of fact, do.”  She pushed her covered foot into my ribs.  “Especially a certain friend of mine making out with a sinfully hot man on the dance floor!”

Of course she remembers that
.  I groaned and rolled over to my side, propping myself up on my elbow.  “It wasn’t like that.”
Damn, I really wish it had been!

“Really?  ‘Cause it sure looked like
that
was exactly what it was like.” She smirked as she took a bite of toast.

“Kyle was there.” I knew that would get her attention.  She hated Kyle.

“Excuse me?  How did I miss that prick?” Talia’s sat up looking concerned.  She was the one helping me pick up the pieces, and if she hated him before, she now looked like she could kill him.

“He caught me as I stepped out of the bathroom.  I ignored him and tried to walk away, but he grabbed my arm.”  I looked down, noticing for the first time the faint bruises he had left around my forearm.

“That son-of-a-bitch!  I’m gonna kill him!”  Talia pulled my arm toward her for a better look, running her fingers over my arm checking for….who knows.  She was in a dreadful combination of mom and nurse mode.

“Simmer down tiger!”  I laughed at the pint-size blonde, who I was almost positive could put even the most obnoxious doctor in his place. 

“Trevor, the sinfully hot man, saved me.  He pretended he was my date.”  I rolled back onto my back, remembering how safe and protected I’d felt in his arms. 
Stupid, stupid Ava!
  There was no doubt in my mind that he could take on Kyle.  Trevor seemed arrogant, but he looked like he could back it up.  Kyle on the other hand was too arrogant for his own good. The bit of fear I saw on his face after he put his hands on Trevor was more satisfying than I could say.

“
That
is what the kiss was about—just a show for Kyle.”  I tried hard to keep the disappointment out of my voice, but it was impossible, and Talia noticed too.

“Ava, he may have pretended to be your date to get you
away
from Kyle, but there was absolutely nothing pretend about
that
kiss.”  She fanned her face with her hand.  “I almost came right there on the dance floor watching you two.”

I sat up with my mouth hanging open.  “Sometimes I really wonder about you. You are so wrong on so many levels!”  I stood up and walked to the door trying my best to hide my smile.  “I need to get home.”  I blew her a kiss.

I could still hear Talia giggling as I closed the front door, shaking my head.

***

I crashed down on my aunt’s sofa and groaned.  My feet were killing me! 

I’d spent the entire weekend looking at numerous apartments. My aunt had insisted that she didn’t mind me living with her, and we hardly even saw each other anyway because she worked nights, but after two years of living with Kyle, I was actually really excited about having my own place.

Out of the five apartments I had looked at over the last two days, I finally decided on one.  It was close to work and Starbucks—in the Center City business district—very important things.  It was also beautiful! 

The large apartment complex had been completely overhauled and the unit I would be getting had not even been lived in yet!  The floors were a gorgeous dark hardwood and the walls were freshly painted a rich crème color.  The kitchen was just begging to be used with its ample counter space, granite and top of the line appliances.  I had half a mind to take some cooking classes just so I could do it justice.

It was going to set me back a little more than I had planned, but I could afford it, and I wanted it.  It was time to think about my wants and needs for a change.

Next weekend was moving day.  I should let Talia know that she is helping me.  Most importantly, I should probably let her know so she could tone down the hangover.  She wouldn’t be any help if she was walking around like she was ready to shatter at any moment. 

I looked around, taking in my surroundings.  I really didn’t have much to move anyway.   After I caught Kyle in the disgusting act, the thought of bringing any of the furniture with me made me sick.  Who knows what and who had been on it? 
Gross!
Nope, I would make a fresh start. That meant I needed to go do some serious shopping this week.  I guess I would have to plan it for after work. 

As excited as I was about the new apartment, I was utterly exhausted.  If I was going to be worth a darn tomorrow, I needed to get some rest.

***

I juggled my coffee and cinnamon raisin bagel in one hand as I tried to maneuver my way through the glass door of the high rise office building. 

The hustle and bustle of the city in the morning was something that never got old.  I loved the energy of the people, if only someone would slow down enough to hold the door for me. Good thing for ample hips!

I managed to make it to the elevator with only one coffee mishap.  Hopefully I still had some of those little Shout wipes in my desk still.  The elevator doors finally opened to the fifteenth floor and I fought my way to the front to exit.

Monday mornings were always a bit crazy.  They began with the usual morning meeting with the staff on the advertising floor.  With so many new accounts coming in, I was hoping to head one of the projects for once.  I had worked in the advertising field for almost four years.  I had to be tough and tenacious. Driven.  Focused.  That probably had something to do with the demise of my relationship with Kyle.  Somewhere along the line my love life had taken the back burner, not to mention that Kyle was a complete ass to me.  I see that now more than ever.

“Good morning Ava.”  Chelsea, the cute red head receptionist greeted me.